posted on May 14, 2001 08:09:37 PM new
So says this Pink, sure wish they'd make up their freakin minds.
Posted by [email protected] on May-14-01 at 19:30:55 PDT
I am very pleased to let you know that we have some announcements that will be forthcoming. One of them is that email links will be allowed on the View Item page.
......Katy
posted on May 14, 2001 08:48:53 PM new
Yup, same one. Seems the PTB are changing their minds on a weekly/daily/hourly basis. Don't blame Katy, she's just the messenger.
posted on May 14, 2001 09:15:36 PM new5. May I link to multiple images of my item from the View Item page?
Yes. The image page may contain discrete links to other pages that offer items for sale outside of eBay, but may not contain descriptions of or links to individual items on other sites.
Am I reading this that website links might be allowed again also?
posted on May 14, 2001 09:27:32 PM new
No. I believe that wording is to allow for some of those dumb azz pic links that some sellers use. You know, the ones where there isn't a pic, just a link that takes you to the pic. Cheapo freebie pic sites.
posted on May 14, 2001 09:30:50 PM new
Yes, website links are allowed on the About Me page or on the page containing a larger view of your photo (the unwritten "two-click" rule), but it looks like you can't link from About Me to INDIVIDUAL items for sale or to other auctions or fixed-price sites (other than half.com, of course).
posted on May 14, 2001 10:26:15 PM new
Interesting article, RedDeer.
Once again, eBay finds a way to make good honest mom-and-pop sellers sound like they are doing something dishonest and sneaky. So now, those of us who established websites (in my case selling unique, different vintage items) are "cheaters?" Those of us who list regularly on eBay in order to help attract traffic to our websites are BAD BAD BAD?
posted on May 15, 2001 06:20:31 AM new
When did eBay ACTUALLY announce that email links weren't allowed? It certainly wasn't spelled out in the new policy page. This illustrates the danger of taking for granted the validity of any private conversation an individual seller has with eBay over what is actually stated in their terms, as if there is actually some cohesive thought going on at eBay.
posted on May 15, 2001 06:41:05 AM new
bemused ........ eBay also didn't announce in their new policy that URL's couldn't be used as watermarks on pics, but that's what they're saying now. It seems to me they make this stuff up as they go along. From what I could gather the fact they they weren't mentioned as being allowed, should have been taken as they were then not allowed.
Make sense? I didn't think so. But that's what the reps have been stating on the various eBay boards.
posted on May 15, 2001 09:25:24 AM new
eBay is constantly "making it up as they go along" because they don't anticipate all the clever ways sellers think up to get around these inane policies. As I said in a different thread, they constantly try to shut the barn door after the horses have gotten out.
Lisa B
(Who keeps getting purchase inquiries about unsuccessful auctions thru eBay's "Ask The Seller A Question" form.)
posted on May 15, 2001 01:56:56 PM new5. May I link to multiple images of my item from the View Item page?
Yes. The image page may contain discrete links to other pages that offer items for sale outside of eBay, but may not contain descriptions of or links to individual items on other sites.
I guess this is the notorious "two-click rule" that I've never understood.
3. May I link to other pages that I have developed from the View Item page, such as pages with information for new eBay Users?
No. You may only link to your own eBay or Half.com listings from any of your View Item pages. You may link to informational or help pages that you or others have developed from your About Me page.
Same as above. I've got two clickets to paradise...
I have a couple of thoughts on this matter. First, eBay is declaring open season on sellers. eBay's claim of "only a venue" is based on a comparison to newspaper listings. A newspaper rents space, the party is free to place any (legal) item or advertisement. eBay's policy has now gone way beyond "only a venue."
I agree that off-site sales is a problem for eBay. However, the harder they try to squeeze sellers, the more sellers will respond by finding ways to circumvent the rules. The rules above allow links to non-commercial sites, but those sites themselves in turn may contain links to commercial sites.
For me, this is about attitude. And in my opinion, eBay has declared war on sellers.
Second, I can live with almost any policy, as long as it is applied fairly to all parties. eBay does not police auctions. It's largely a matter of chance if any infringing ad comes to the attention of eBay's SafeHarbor. I'm not going to risk my 4000 feedback on a stupid link, but other sellers cheat the system, and also maintain several seller IDs, or else simply create a new ID as soon as they are banned.
Earlier this week, I made the mistake of running a featured category auction in the software category. Then I looked at the other featured category ads. To a one, they were all copyright-infringing auctions for home-made CD-R software. Nearly every ad violated several of eBay's rules, but eBay does nothing to discourage those listings. And to be honest, I doubt eBay is trying very hard to stop sales of illegal software, when those listings make up the bulk of the featured ads.
If eBay wants to be serious, they can hire a couple of high school grads to browse the listings and find infringing items, without deputizing users (read, "look the other way" ). Also, eBay needs to evaluate its revolving-door policy regarding banned sellers.
There are more serious problems at eBay than off-site sales. I lose $500 a month to deadbeat bidders, and eBay does nothing to stop deadbeats. In fact, eBay profits from deadbeats, because eBay receives a listing fee, and then another listing fee when the item is relisted. Deadbeats can easily return under a new ID. The simple solution would be to REQUIRE EVERY USER to be ID verified. The cost would be minimal. Why has eBay not done this? eBay needs to start offering some protection to sellers, instead of grinding us under their heel.
posted on May 15, 2001 02:08:31 PM new
It seems to me that eBay is about to slap the face of the very sellers they've been wanting to attract to their site, the BIG BOYS.
Of course they'll expect them to pony up for the eBay Storefronts. That should be interesting ....
posted on May 15, 2001 04:32:05 PM new
Unless Ebay wants to handle the transfer of the goods, (Have the seller ship to ebay and then they forward the goods to seller, same for payment) there will always be room for off line transactions.
How in the world can they stop people from doing business together. Yes the buyer and seller were brought together by the ebay auction, ebay should get their fees, however they do not have control of what happens to those 2 people once the sale is over. I thought they were ruling out Gestopa related items (oh I guess Gestapo tactics are ok).
Ebay grew with the idea of bringing sellers and buyers together. I would never end an auction early and then do an off site transfer.
I do not consider myself a cheater because I have a Web site for my shop. Thats a different part of my business. If they do not want to allow a link so be it.
It is to everyones advantage, if a customer can look at my site, see a picture of my shop and realize that I am not a fly by night crook and be comfortable sending me hundreds of dollars before they receive an item.
Many people I know still do not have enough trust to purchase on line.
Now if Ebay would get rid of the stupid reserve they might not have to worry so much about lost revenue to other ways to sell. The auction is still the best way to sell.
I do not mind paying a FVFee after the item has sold.
posted on May 15, 2001 05:03:16 PM new
I think we have another example of very vague "eBayese" language in these linking rules. For instance, rule #5. I don't read this as allowing for links to your website, etc. which used to be allowed with the "two click" rule. I think they MAY be saying in "eBayese" that you can link to another page that has more pictures of the same item but you CANNOT link to another site that has anything for sale outside of eBay. I mean, how can you provide a link to other items for sale outside of eBay and at the same time NOT be able to provide links to individual items located on other sites?
This is very confusing and I think I've lost the will to even try to decipher the true meaning.
posted on May 15, 2001 07:26:09 PM new3. May I link to other pages that I have developed from the View Item page, such as pages with information for new eBay Users?
No. You may only link to your own eBay or Half.com listings from any of your View Item pages.
Ah well, so much for my "New User's Guide to Bidding on eBay", for which I had a prominent link at the top of every single one of my auctions over the years.
Good thing I gave up selling on eBay months ago, eh?
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
[ edited by godzillatemple on May 15, 2001 07:26 PM ]
posted on May 15, 2001 07:56:15 PM new
Good thing I zoned about it on my auctions and left it in.
We need a ZONED ubb
BTW, I am sure the "wholesale" cost for storefronts will be cheaper than the "retail" cost. So I am not that excited about the concept.
mildreds...I was just talking to a guy who buys tons online, but is still nervous about ebay. I was stunned. He was asking me about getting "bad" items. I told him all about the cool people I met. Bad apples are in the barrel, but it's the way of the world.
posted on May 15, 2001 08:48:52 PM newvargas, yep, that's my take on it as well. Vagueness (is that a word?) comes in real handy when one needs to cover their ass. LOL
Hi Neil, how are you doing? I think I understand what you're saying about the "BIG GUYS" if you mean the influx of the average size retailers to the site - the guys who list thousands of auctions and have a limited choice of items to list. These are the sellers eBay has been successfully trying to attract because of their mass listings which lead to mass listing fees. Also, these are the sellers most likely to purchase banner ads on the site. Unfortunately, some of these sellers are the very ones who have been taking sales away from eBay by offering merchandise at auction for a very low price in order to use eBay's venue to advertise their website.
I understand why eBay would want to curb this type of behavior and I agree that the links to other merchandise for sale outside of eBay should not be prominently displayed on the auction listing page. However, I do think links should be allowed using the "two click" rule since the World Wide Web's sole purpose is communication between individuals and hyperlinking provides this communication.. EBay wants communication to only flow one way on their site (to them) but at the same time they want the members of their community to provide links on their individual web sites which lead back to eBay. I don't think that's playing fair nor is it a good business decision since what goes around, comes around!!
So, I have to ask myself why they haven't formed a linking policy before now and incorporated it into the present set of listing rules. We've been asking for a formal, straight-forward policy concerning links for a long time and one that we could actually view on their site but to no avail. Until NOW. Well, I think I know the answer and I don't like it at all. IMO, eBay has purposely done nothing about the links because they wanted folks to get used to the idea of having links to other items for sale in their auction listings so they would be more inclined to PAY for the new storefront program when eBay BANNED the links. I'm sure linking to these storefronts will be allowed.
If that isn't manipulative and deceitful, I don't know what is and it certainly isn't an honorable way to run a business. This is just my opinion but one that isn't going to leave me soon. I don't like liars, I don't like deceit and I don't like sneaky or manipulative people or businesses run by these types of people. I also think many sellers are growing very, very weary of feeling like a pawn and being trampled in eBay's rush to increase their profit margins for the stockholders.
Email links are an entirely different issue and I don't want to get started on that subject tonight since I just wore myself out. I'm sorry for the rant but is this crap ever going to end?
they wanted folks to get used to the idea of having links to other items for sale in their auction listings so they would be more inclined to PAY for the new storefront program when eBay BANNED the links
BINGO
I have a sense their plan is going to backfire, big time.
posted on May 16, 2001 08:34:35 AM new
Blanche: I agree with you regarding the whole storefront thing.
I also agree that the reason eBay is just now getting around to cracking down on links is because of the BIG BOYS (potential?) for listing a few items on eBay for the purpose of steering traffic to their own websites for even BIGGER off site sales.
BUT... the BIG BOYS (who, as you rightly pointed out) are also the ones with enough money to consider Banner Ads and would be excellent candidates for eBay storefronts, with the perks of linking to their eBay storefronts via expensive banner ads and the like.
By contrast, the Mom & Pops of eBay either already have their own storefronts or probably won't afford eBays storefronts whenever they DO finally roll out.
My feedback regarding the Link Policy was that while this might be the area of concern, the regular everyday run-of-the-mill Mom & Pops (whether they even have websites or not) probably do NOT steer enough traffic away from eBay to be of any real concern. Let's face it, if they're selling less than $3,000.00 per month (the criteria for meeting the Bronze Level Power Seller status is a minimum average of $2,000.00 per month) it's not likely that they are using eBay completely (or even mainly) as a *front* for their own websites. Those sellers clearly just do not have the inventory to equal their eBay offerings in off site sales.... their websites and their eBay listings compliment eachother... meaning, that one is hardly worth the time and effort without the small benefit of the other.
Seems to me that eBay could have (and in MY opinion SHOULD have) updated the policy on links to websites to reflect the VARIETY of users selling patterns... something that would not hurt the Mom & Pops who are just trying to maintain sales with a combination of eBay listings and their websites.... but something that could address the potential revenue loss when BIG BOYS create links to draw BIG MONEY away from the site.
My simple solution for this would have been to set tougher limits on links for Silver Power Seller Level and Higher. THOSE are the folks with the great amount of Inventory.... (one of the criteria for SILVER power seller is $10,000.00 per month & GOLD level Power Sellers must sell an average of $25,000.00 per month) and those are the sellers I think eBay should have targeted for an updated Policy on Links.
In my opinion, the blanket policy on links will hurt the Mom & Pops and further erode the "level playing field"... especially when eBay turns around and begins making exceptions on links for some of the Big Boys (like the Real Estate Listings). HOW do the M&Ps of eBay compete with THAT????
I'm sorry for the rant but is this crap ever going to end?