posted on October 2, 2001 03:25:34 PM new
I just listed an AFA auction. ebay put at the bottom that the total payment may also include reimbursement to the seller for shipping and handling costs. Did I miss something. Have the AFA rules changed?
[ edited by tree411 on Oct 2, 2001 05:46 PM ]
posted on October 2, 2001 04:15:59 PM new
"This is an Auction for America listing. eBay will forward the winning bidder's payment for the item to the The September 11th Fund. The total payment may also include reimbursement to the seller for shipping and handling costs. Important:You must pay for this item using eBay Online Payments so that all proceeds for the item can be sent to this charity. If you are not on the eBay U.S. site you will need to go to the eBay U.S. site to pay for this item."
Gosh, your are right. There it is. This is the first I have heard about it. Ebay's cry for sellers to help out!
posted on October 2, 2001 04:32:23 PM new
From ebay's announcement board:
***Auction for America Update***
As Auction for America enters its third week, we want to thank all of you who have been listing, bidding, buying and helping others by donating time or donating cash. Your efforts to date have been tremendous. We also would like to take this opportunity to update you on the program and some changes that we're implementing.
*Shipping Charges
In response to community feedback, we have improved Auction for America. For all new listings starting today, the seller will have the option to be reimbursed by the winning bidder for their shipping costs.
Sellers will be able to enter a shipping amount in the Instant Purchase field within the eBay Online Payments section of the Sell Your Item form. This amount will then be displayed to buyers and shipping costs will be charged accordingly. 100% of the auction proceeds of the item will still go to charity. However, sellers can now be reimbursed for shipping costs through eBay Online Payments.
The shipping cost will not be deductible if the seller is reimbursed. Sellers will receive a tax receipt only for the price of the item.
We strongly encourage sellers to specify a fixed shipping amount up front in the Instant Purchase field in order to be reimbursed. If you do not know the shipping cost up front, please contact your buyer immediately after the auction closes to determine the correct shipping amount. Buyers will have the opportunity to enter the correct shipping amount when paying through eBay Online Payments.
We would like to extend a special thanks to all those sellers who kicked off Auction for America and donated shipping.
*Success to Date
To date, tens of thousands of users have listed items on Auction for America. Over 80 percent of these items are ending successfully. Items listed by the eBay community run the gamut from brand new Palm m505 handheld PDAs and Club Med Carribbean vacation packages to an official Pete Sampras-autographed tennis racket, a TV script signed by cast members from "General Hospital", and a 1934 Bentley 3.5L. One of our favorites, however, is the little girl in Texas who with her mom is selling sold virtual soft drinks and artwork.
Auction for America has collected $4,000,000.00 in auction sales and cash donations. This is a wonderful start for just over two weeks of activity. But, over the next 85 days, we want to do more! Every indication is that Auction for America is introducing new bidders to eBay, so we urge all our users, both buyers and sellers, to take advantage of this opportunity to meet new customers while supporting a tremendously important cause.
If everyone in the eBay community buys and sells at least one item, we will more than meet our goal. Thousands of Americans impacted by the tragedy of September 11th and their communities are counting on our help.
Thank you for your support of Auction for America.
posted on October 2, 2001 05:18:34 PM new
Two things:
1) lets see if theis new Announcement helps increase A4A listings. They have been steadily declining and today the total count of Auction for America auctions was 20521.
2) It will be interesting To see if sellers will take advantage of the fact they can now charge shipping. It is bad enough under normal circumstances there are unscrupulous sellers who rack people over the coals on shipping charges. It should be interesting to see what emerges, and if there will be sellers who will overcharge people on shipping to make up for the item they are "donating" especially in light of the lack of sales or slow sales for some sellers. I think this may open a whole new can of worms.
While I think this is great news for sellers who complained that donating the item for charity was fine while donating the shipping as well would hurt them eBay should have done a little more home work before rolling out A4A.
Obviously it was made clear to eBay donating both the product and shipping was not expectable and the numbers show it.
posted on October 2, 2001 05:36:28 PM new
I saw that on their announcement board jsut a few minutes ago. I for one, want to give eBay credit for listening. I don't personally care if they did it to suit themselves. I don't even care if I'm paying for the shipping on the ones ending tomorrow (after all, I knew the rules when I donated). I just want eBay to know I appreciate the change. As the saying goes, if you are quick to criticize, you should be as quick to praise.After all, isn't this what so many of us were unhappy about (yes, I know some are unhappy about the whole thing..but all the local biz's are helping and I have no problem with eBay doing their part)..paying the shipping? Thank you eBay.
posted on October 2, 2001 05:39:26 PM new
tree411,
Please edit the auction number from your post. I can give you about 45 minutes to make the edit and if it isn't done, I will have to delete your post which in turn will delete the thread because it's the first post.
posted on October 2, 2001 05:58:35 PM new
Ok, here is my 'thumbs up' to ebay for recognizing that after 2 weeks into the program there us no way they are going to make the 100 mil mark so they started changing the rules.
Now, if they add PayPal to the A4A's so they can get the other 70% of the people to possibly contribute, then they will have something!
I would list some items AND bid on others BUT alas that has not changed.....yet.
posted on October 2, 2001 06:14:39 PM new
Packer wrote::As far as I'm concerned the damage is done. Back peddleing isn't going to save them now, to little to late!
My hand is in the air for NO to listing in A4A.
Sold wrote:
Ok, here is my 'thumbs up' to ebay for recognizing that after 2 weeks into the program there us no way they are going to make the 100 mil mark so they started changing the rules.
******************
I don't understand..I don't think I mentioned saving themselves. I don't care if they make the amount they want or not (except for the fact that it would help people). But the big thing, is, helping people. I'm all for that, by being able to donate some of my stuff that wasn't doing diddly for me, and now because of A4A, is getting bids. It would be nice, if they add Paypal..I'm doubtful that they would, since they want to use their own paypeople.
You know, they are darned if they do, and darn't if they don't. Most people compained on AW that the thing they hated most was that people would buy from these sights over theirs, because if you both had the same item, they wouldn't have to pay shipping on the A4A auction. So for whatever reason (I really don't know for sure..I'll be positive and say they listened), eBay fixed that problem. Yes, I wish they would not have a little tick off that enables people to see just those auctions, and yes, I wish we could use PayPal..but this is their site and their choices, just like we have choices not to participate. But are we never allowed to thank them when they fix something we asked for? I seldom read anything good about eBay..even when they do good things, people complain. There are other Auction sites.But alas, they have no buyers over at the other ones. Ebay must be doing something right.
posted on October 2, 2001 06:20:56 PM new
Just muddies the waters & makes an already fairly confusing thing even more so.
I did list several items & 4 of them sold, so there was a small donation about $50 U.S. to the fund. Hope it helps in some small way. I never did care about eating the shipping costs, no biggie, but of course you also eat your time costs, and the cost of obtaining the goods sold, and since I'm Canadian as well, there is most likely no available tax deduction.
Anyway it puts some money into whatever fund they have & hopefully it goes to good use, but I sure won't repeat it, making a living is kind of important, and eBay was off-beam on this one from the start.
Appears they will fall terribly short from the goal, won't it be interesting though to watch what kind of strong-arm-tactics they use to try to compel people to jump on-board, as Meg trys to get the egg off her face, or ego, as it may be.
posted on October 2, 2001 07:35:58 PM new
Well I still don't see any point in running auctions where you simply do not make money. A stockholder expects eBay to run profitably and that still requires sellers to make a profit to pay the fees that makes the company viable. It would be much more effective to collect and funnel donations by productive eBayers than to pour enormous resources down the tubes that benefits no one.
I have the feeling this will backfire even more as people were getting free shipping, so now they will bid less...if at all. And some will do the old "shipping gouger" whiney wet diaper routine because they can't read a postal chart or use a calculator.
posted on October 2, 2001 07:38:48 PM new
I'll list a few things when they allow payment to be made via PayPal. There's no way I'm opening a Billpoint account.
posted on October 2, 2001 08:03:09 PM new
People just amaze me. Everyone complained about this and now you do not have to pay shipping. So find something else to complain about so you can justify not doing it.
I am glad you are such a small group or I would feel like leaving the country.
Not so proud to be an American here on AW.
Jim
Please feel free to make more excuses so you get warm fuzzies amoung yourself.
Edited to add thank you tree411 for listing an AFA. Tomwiii if you need help with that recent shipping you had to pay for just e-mail me and I can paypal you a couple bucks.
[ edited by LaneFamily on Oct 2, 2001 08:05 PM ]
posted on October 2, 2001 08:42:57 PM new
I am surprised by some of the reactions here. I guess if you just don't like the concept of AFA, there isn't any change that ebay can make that will solve the problem. But a huge complaint all along was that sellers were footing the bill for shipping which benefited nobody but the Post Office, and might hurt other auctions through enticing people to bid on items with free shipping.
Seems like ebay listened, whether for their own best interest or what, I do not know.
I am still considering the part about signing up for Billpoint but hey, I won't be paying them fees, they will presumably be paying me..somehow. How does that work anyway? Do I need to give them my bank account like I've given it to PayPal for electronic transfers?
I also read that the various funds have had such stupendous donations they hardly know what to do with the money. My heart feels heavy, though, because I worry that all too soon something else will happen and a use will be found for that money...
posted on October 2, 2001 09:44:56 PM newI for one, want to give eBay credit for listening... I just want eBay to know I appreciate the change. As the saying goes, if you are quick to criticize, you should be as quick to praise.
That's like thanking someone for giving you CPR after they held a plastic bag over your head for 10 minutes.
...and I have no problem with eBay doing their part. Thank you eBay.
Exactly what part are you referring to? eBay has contributed not a single penny to charity. The entire $100M is from sellers, not from eBay. And if you're referring to that "first $1M", well that didn't come from eBay either. It came from a separate company known as The Ebay Foundation, funded from special stock set aside years ago before the IPO. None of the money came from eBay corporate profits. Not one penny.
[ edited by StormThinker on Oct 2, 2001 09:57 PM ]
posted on October 2, 2001 10:48:23 PM newLooks like the hunt is on for the next dooms day plot.
Speaking of which, I just thought up yet ANOTHER potential landmine concerning AFA: Now that sellers will finally be allowed to charge shipping for AFA auctions, will be still be 100% protected against chargebacks as promised last week?
Are we, the lowly sellers, now going to have to assume the entire chargeback risk on a $100 item once again as "payment" for being allowed to collect our $5 postage fee? Who now assumes the risk? And how will it be apportioned? And will be be hit for a $10 chargeback penalty even if our pro-rata share of the funds is a measly few percent? Or perhaps we will be charged back for the entire bid amount now too.
Yet another nasty can of worms brought to you be the friendly folks at eBay...
Some say that I don't trust eBay. But that's just not true. I trust them entirely -- to service their own self-interest.
That's like thanking someone for giving you CPR after they held a plastic bag over your head for 10 minutes.
Exactly what part are you referring to? eBay has contributed not a single penny to charity.
********************
They donated the listing fees. A lot of what we are putting on, they would be getting listing fees for. They organized it, they gave us a space.
You think this is the same as someone putting a plastic bag on your head for 10 minutes??? Because eBay offered space to people who wanted to donate to help families of over 6,000 dead people? I believe you must still be breathing since you posted. I'm sorry you don't think your auctions will have any more life in them, and surprised that you think all of this is because eBay has a charity going. Is eBay also responsible for the drop in the Stock Market? Do you not think people may be holding onto their money right now, or perhaps would rather give it to a charity, so that they can feel they are doing something during this horrific time? This charity still has 3 1/2 months to go, they could have kept it with us paying the shipping. They didn't and I'm happy about it. Some people will never be happy with what eBay does, but they will continue to use eBay for their auctions...well, except you, your auctions have died, so I'm assuming you are done with eBay.
posted on October 2, 2001 11:05:27 PM newThey donated the listing fees. A lot of what we are putting on, they would be getting listing fees for. They organized it, they gave us a space.
This is not true. I know that's what eBay told you. But that's not how it actually works.
eBay is *NOT* donating the listing fees. They are charging you the fees just like normal, and then crediting your bill from a totally unrelated account at eBay. What this acheives is the exact same thing that happens when eBay "gives us" a free listing day. The fees are still charged to us, and show up as profit on eBay's books. Then, the give away to charity an amount equal to our fees. They do not do this out of the goodness of their heart. They do it for the same reason they do the free listing days: to deceive the stockholders and cook the corporate books, which pumps up the stock price, making the tops execs millions of dollars in stock options. Any financial expert will tell you this is true.
As for everything else that eBay is telling you that they are "giving away" in this AFA program: that is an illusion as well. Bidders would still be clicking on the same number of auctions per day even if the AFA auctions were not present. So the cost of hosting those auctions is actually zero.
And finally, eBay is receiving tens of millions of dollars in FREE advertising from this AFA program. It's not "costing" them anything. I know this to be a proven fact because eBay's own financial press releases state that the AFA program will help to make up for losses in other parts of the eBay site. Now how could this occur if eBay were not in fact financially protiting from the program as a whole. [I am not making this up -- check out the press releases for yourself.]
posted on October 3, 2001 03:33:31 AM newOk, let's see a show of hands. How many are going to rush to list your new and improved A4A auctions?
This (shipping cost) was a VERY minor part of what was /is wrong with AFA. That never did bother ME, I could have eaten shipping costs without a problem, since it wouldn't have affected my other auctions.
The Billpoint requirement is the biggest thing wrong with it, and I don't see them fixing that.
posted on October 3, 2001 04:22:21 AM new
I'm going to list a bunch of stuff I haven't been able to sell before. Might as well redo my inventory. I can handle it if I can get help on shipping.
posted on October 3, 2001 05:18:32 AM newAnd finally, eBay is receiving tens of millions of dollars in FREE advertising from this AFA program
DAMN! Doesn't that you make you absolutely quiver with anger. Imagine, ebay getting tens of millions of dollars in free advertising which means more people SEE the ebay name and HEAR about ebay and actually might COME to the site and BID on auctions!
WHAT was ebay thinking? We don't NEED more buyers. Why we can't keep up with all the bids we have now!
I think we ought to start an email campaign to close ebay doors to new bidders RIGHT NOW! After all, do we REALLY NEED to attract new buyers to the site who would waste our time spending their money on our auctions.
