posted on July 24, 2001 06:45:06 PM new
I have to admit, if Ebay does go ahead and ultimately forbid direct contact between buyers and sellers, I will discontinue both my buying and selling on the site.
WHY?
Because I deal in older paper collectibles, and I need to be able to have access to who I am dealing with, since there may be several questions and/or communications that are needed to be sure of what I am bidding on. The same is true of my bidders when I am selling.
Additionally, if a problem arises, especially relating to condition, I need, as do my buyers, the ability to get ahold of the other party in the transaction.
I have been a very big fan of Ebay, but that potential change would result in my permanent retirement from the Ebay "community".
Unlike other changes they have implemented, THIS change would be an insurmountable obstacle to my getting what I pay for, and therefore would not be worth the risk.
By the way; Maybe retailers could deal with no contact or limited contact, as they are more likely to be selling new items--which people may already know about, and therefore not need to have much communication between buyer and seller, ala half.com.
posted on July 24, 2001 07:10:10 PM new
I think contact will be available in the future but through eBay's server, as now.
Edited to add- Even if eBay institutes a half com no contact system, eBay could give a sh*t less about another small seller leaving - you're not their perferred customer anymore. AW is following the same path.
posted on July 24, 2001 10:25:20 PM new
My off site sales are better than ever, especially as my eBay name is the same as my email address. A no-brainer if anyone wants to contact me. I also have links to my web site with my contact info as well as my other auctions available on my ABOUT ME page.
When I buy I contact the sellers directly whenever possible. I simply email them through ebay asking them for their web site address. When they respond, I then then have their email address with which I can ask them for their price lists, or especially the direct price on the item I am interested in.
When I sell, I state in my EOA notices that anyone can contact me for ANY reason without fear of being ratted on. EOA notices are sacrosanct, and eBay does not dare screw with these since there is no lawyer on the planet who would not see interference with these as a blatant restraint of trade.
Even HALF.COM is not impervious. I found a great book seller there when he simply sent his items in boxes with his company web side printed on them!
In short, there are ways to stay one step ahead of the b*st*rds.
posted on July 24, 2001 11:30:46 PM new
Could someone please explain where they have
heard this? I know that sellers are not supposed to send potential buyers unsolicited e-mail...hence the new ebay mail system. Is rbay seriously considering prohibiting ALL
buyer/seller communication? If they are, they are out of their ****ing mind. As a seller, I like to hear from my buyers
to make sure that they are compitent and not
deadbeats. As a buyer, I would be VERY LEARY
about sending payment to a seller who I haven't even communicated with.
posted on July 25, 2001 12:44:19 AM new
It is done day in and day out on Half com, eBay's up and coming revenue generator without major problems. You're not even allowed to include sales material in the shipment other than an invoice.
eBay does not want their service, which you pay for, to be an avenue for anyone to develope their business independent of eBay fees.
The Half com model is exactly the communication model eBay wants. eBay already stated that they will be incorporating the Half com model into eBay. What else could they be referring to ?
Do you really think that the email modifications eBay has made has anything to do with spam ?
Before you know it your EOA notice from eBay will only contain a zip code for you to calculate a shipping and/or an insurance quote for eBay to then deliver a total to the buyer. It will all be credit card transactions before the dust settles, and you'll get your money every 30 days.
posted on July 25, 2001 04:37:33 AM new
I think it may be the final straw for many of us, tho I haven't done that much on ebay this year and am gradually moving on.
That was the reason I never sold on halfcom, that and the fact I don't want to sell 25 cent books tho I guess now it's 75 cent books.
