posted on October 21, 2004 08:03:22 AM
This new fee policy is very confusing and I can't seem to get a straight answer from CS.
I was on the $12.95 monthly plan - Vendio changed me to a pay as you go on a 55MB image program.
My image file was like 5.46MB so I delete some stuff and now it's under 5MB.
My last bill went from about $23.00 average to $39.00. I think I will be getting a credit on some of this but can't even say that for sure.
If I go back to the $12.95 plan will I still be charge a image fee or do I have to go over a certain amount or something.
Am I just missing something or am I about to get some really big fees here?
I have been using Vendio less and less lately as I really like having a shipping calculator on my page which allows me to add handling as ebay does. I can schedule launchings, invoice and follow up almost everything right from MY EBAY page. I find less and less people using my check out.
I am thinking of just using Vendio to store a few photos on the auctions that require extra photos and using ebay photo for all the others.
Does anyone use ebay's sales manager who has used Vendio's before?
posted on October 21, 2004 09:03:13 AM
I can't figure it out either. I pay as you go so my first was 3mb I listed a couple of photos over that so they up'd my fee to 5MB but when I deleted all my photos that I don't need I am back to 1.7MB. Will I automatically get a reduction in fees or will it stay at 5MB. I can't find that anyplace.
I have never listed through eBay is it hard. I like the vendio templates but since I am only listing sporadically it doesn't make any difference any more. I just want to finish the inventory I have and the cheapest way.
posted on October 21, 2004 11:08:27 AM
It's easy to list directly to ebay now. But you have to be careful with the fees or they will get you. A little here, a little there and before you know it - you've paid a huge sum for one listing. But they do tell you the total before you launch.
posted on October 21, 2004 11:19:04 AM
With the notice of my billing was this:
Your current invoice may appear higher than usual only because the new monthly minimum Image Hosting fee is prepaid like other Vendio plan fees. As long as your Sales Manager, Tickets Manager and/or
Vendio Stores fees equal or exceed your monthly minimum Image Hosting
fee, you will pay nothing extra for Image Hosting.--------- I can't say that I fully understand the image charges but this will be quite an increase from the past. I'm also thinking about listing with Ebay but I need a place to store images, for FREE.
posted on October 22, 2004 01:37:40 AM
maybedee
I think I read that too. I guess I missed the part about Vendio changing my plan for me?? I can't really see why they did that unless it's because they get 10 cents a launch all month instead of 5 cents after the cut off. Lucky for me that I have not listed with Vendio nearly as much this month.
I read on the other board that you can still set preferences to have your photos automatically deleted - so that's still ok.
Here's something else I've notice since the new fees - You can now upload the same photo over and over (not that you need too but the system will now allow it now where it wouldn't before) and the system renames it for you. I use SMPro mostly but just upload my photos sometimes in the Manage Images.
So I guess they didn't really change that much and maybe it won't cost more at all, as long as you keep your image files down. But boy did they confuse everyone and this could have lost them some long time users too.
[ edited by ladyjewels2000 on Oct 22, 2004 01:41 AM ]
posted on October 22, 2004 03:16:20 AM
ladyjewels2000 and others...
My October statement looks like the listing fee is still reduced to 5 cents after the first 50 ten cent listings. Or is that just the Pay As You Go Plan.
It looks like the Vendio incentive is to list higher priced items with fewer images. Of course I am now becoming more disciplined about deleting my images at auction end, I'm deleting the images from Vendio but keeping them on my computer just in case there is a problem.
It is confusing and I need to wait until the next billing to figure it out. I don't sell a lot of stuff so I need to see if I am working for Vendio, Ebay, and the cable company instead of myself.
Comparing plans is like trying to choose the right health insurance policy.
When you get something, something else is taken away! I need a cup of coffee!
posted on October 22, 2004 08:56:55 AM
I think the gremlins have migrated from Ebay and PayPal to Vendio. This is the first time I've been sincerely disappointed in Vendio, after touting it to all my friends. What a screwed-up mess! I still don't understand what I'm paying for. One of my accounts was nearly twice the cost of the other, although both have about the same amount of activity going on.
Imagine if you have a brick-and-mortar store--and your customers have to figure out some code to know the price of an item.
Also, I've suggested strongly that they have a middle-level between 5MB and 55MB. I think many of us would fall somewhere in there. I have no more than 12MB, and usually about 6MB, and yet I'm charged for 55MB. Go figure.
And Lucy has asked (with no answer yet) why, if she's paying for 100 images in her Vendio Gallery, only 72 are showing.
I think we all need to go into Vendio Services in community and tell them how we feel about the way they've instituted this new stuff. It's not up to their usual high standards.
posted on October 22, 2004 09:18:26 AM
I think Vendio could have done a better job of explaining this mess and certainly let down loyal users by not announcing the change properly - a mass email announcing the change would have been a nice gesture!
Here is my understanding of how the billing works - you probably should post questions in the Vendio Services Community Board (though it seems every time they try to explain how things work it just seems to be more muddled!):
Our October bill contained the following in addition to our normal fees:
1) pro-rated image charge from date of new image plan implementation to end of September.
2) Credit for Vendio Plan, FVF, and listing fees since date of implementation (this probably offset the image charge in #1 above)
3) Image hosting fees for month of October (image hosting paid in advance).
Our November bill will contain:
1)Charge for image hosting for month of Movember
2)Credit for Vendio, plan FVF and listing fees (this probably will offset the charge #1 above).
The October bill is larger than our "normal" bill because we are paying image hosting one month in advance. Sure would have been easier to understand if they didn't have the plan implemented in the middle of the month!
**********************************
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on October 22, 2004 09:45:08 AM
Thank goodness I am winding down.
I guess everyone wants a piece of the pie and soon they will be getting a bigger piece than I get.
I will probably list one week out of the month so It probably will take me another 6 months, but since doing ebay I have done not much of anything except garage sales and estate sales. I am listing my importent items and saving the rest for a garage sale. Grandchildren are more important than hasseling with NPB and bidders that want to buy your items off eBay because they think they can get them cheaper.
I have also found that my $15.00 Mall space is giving me some activity. I only have a small jewelry space. I sell one item and have the rent paid for a month. Can't beat that.
posted on October 24, 2004 07:56:43 AM
What bothers me is all of these fees are one month in advance. So, we are actually paying twice for the service (one chunk for image hosting and one chunk for your prepaid services[whatever you use, store, etc.]. Yes, it will get credited back at the end of the billing cycle but in the meantime VD has the funds.
Beth
www.vintageads4u.com
posted on October 24, 2004 09:53:16 AM
I am pretty sure the "float" Vendio will get with the funds does not balance all the ill will generated by this change. They must be taking lessons from ebay!!
Too bad they couldn't wait to implement until the end of a billing cycle - too bad they didn't notify all users by the email addy on record of the change and give an example, based on current usage, of what the image hosting fees would be on the next statement. Instructions for deleting images (including emptying the recycle bin) and instructions for opting out of image hosting, if desired, by such and such a date would have done a lot to promote good will.
I still think Vendio's product is the best around and the image hosting is a good deal and very reliable.
**********************************
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on October 24, 2004 11:41:22 AM
I sell in the antiques and collectibles area and have always paid the "pay as you go plan" and I, too, have touted this to a lot of people. I have a lot of elderly people who find it easy for them to upload images and write up auctions at their own speed but launch it at the time they need to.
I've been selling on eBay since 1997 and at first you could pretty much sell year round.
Now--in the antiques and vintage collectibles, I find it best to sell only between Nov and Feb (maybe through March or April--need snow on the ground in half the country).
I signed up for the $9.95/month plan. Do they still bill for the months I don't use?
I can't find a straight answer on this one.
posted on October 24, 2004 03:32:45 PM
i agree the fees are a mess,to high ,and to confusing ,,,,,
HELLO VENDIO VIP'S WE DESERVE BETER THAN THIS ,WE MADE VENDIO WHAT IT IS.
I GUESS THE MEG VIRUS IS CATCHING.
posted on October 25, 2004 02:24:40 PM
I've been trying to list directly to ebay and I have to admit I miss Vendio on some points.
I like the images I get from Vendio - ebay's just don't pop.
I may stay on the pay as you go - turn off the post sells and use my ebay page instead. List with Vendio for the first launch and do all relist with ebay. This could end up costing me more in the long run?
I just don't really like having to make this decision at this time of year??
posted on October 25, 2004 04:14:18 PM
ladyjewels2000, How does doing the relist with Ebay benefit you? I have never listed with Ebay, it's been Vendio from the start for me.
First, free image hosting is still available to any Sales Manager plan, except the difference now is that it is no longer unlimited. We could no longer provide unlimited free storage since we introduced the option to store images permanently - that would have strained our systems and affected performance for everyone. (Note that the auto-delete feature is unchanged. You only need to manually delete your images if you are trying to reduce your image storage.)
Now Image Hosting is free as long as your Sales Manager fees are the same or higher than your Image Hosting fees. In other words, Image Hosting is now a monthly minimum. This way we could tie the amount of free image storage to Sales Manager usage so that only users who store more than usual will need to pay more.
To make it easier for users to see this, we added more information on your statements. See the screenshot of the Online Statements page. Here, you'll see Monthly Minimum which is based on your Image Hosting plan. Below that is the credits you accumulate as a result of Sales Manager subscription fees, listing fees and final value fees. When the credit equals the minimum, you'll know that you'll pay nothing extra for that month.
Now, as for why your first bill appears larger, it's just because Image Hosting is prepaid. See this explanation of the sample billing line items:
9/30 Image Hosting Plan: 55 MB (pro-rated) $5.00
- This marks the start of new Image Hosting fees. Image Hosting becomes a separate plan with it's own pricing. Like other Vendio payments, Image Hosting is prepaid so that's why this charge appears immediately.
10/15 Image Hosting Credit $5.00
- Credits appear at the end of of your bill so that we can properly account for all credits for the month. This example shows a full refund since the credit is the same as the 9/30 charge, meaning that Image Hosting was free.
10/15 Image Hosting Plan: 55 MB $9.95
- Again, Image Hosting is a prepaid fee so this charge is for the next period 10/16-11/16. The credit that will apply toward this amount will appear at the end of the next statement. As long as your Sales Manager fees are above your minimum, Image Hosting will continue to be free.
Finally, to say we're expensive is just not true. Just take a look at our pricing comparison. Yes you can find cheaper alternatives but if you compare features for price, which is the true measure of value, you'll see we're still a great deal. Now if those cheaper services suit you then I can understand. But we are still a great deal.
In fact, we've worked hard to keep Image Hosting free for most users by using this system of credits. We could have simply charged more for everyone across the board. I hope everyone can keep this in mind.
posted on October 25, 2004 10:27:44 PM
OK - I think I understand the billing now, and overall my bill will not change.
The problem is the prepayment. I would prefer to pay as I use something, but such is life.
I still like Vendio. It is the absolute easiest for me and have no intention of leaving.
A straight forward message of "we now need to, in some way, charge for image hosting and this is how we are going to do it"" - would have made more sense. If, in fact, it is permanent storage that is the reason for the change, simply charge those using permanent storage.
Having said, that, I don't really have a problem with paying something for image hosting. With me, it is a matter of straight forward talk and action. The invoice cleared it up for me, but I will confess I was totally confused. It just doesn't seem like that confusion was necessary.
I do have one more question, there are months at a time I do not list. Will I still be charged for the image hosting?
posted on October 26, 2004 06:21:11 AM
Thanks Chuck - I think that does help. I'll let you know when I get my next bill. I think this could be a lesson for Vendio - most people don't mind paying for something as long as they know what it is they are paying for!!
posted on October 26, 2004 06:35:18 AM
maybedee
The reason I think it may work for me is that I put many photos in my listings. If I list directly with ebay and put 4 photos in the photos alone would cost me 45 cents, plus another dime for launch time and I don't really like ebay's photo. So if I list with Vendio and pay that dime (pay as you go) and it doesn't sell, I can then relist from ebay - have my 4 photos the way I like them. If it sells my listing with ebay is free and I don't pay Vendio to relist or for a FVF.
I think I need an accountant for this???? LOL
What am I missing??? Seems like this could work.
posted on October 26, 2004 08:53:55 AM
I still would like to know if I am not using Vendio services (no images, no nothing) for a month or two, do I still have to pay for the image hosting.
The reason I like Vendio is because I didn't have to join and agree to anything specific - just pay for something as I used it and if I used it.
posted on October 26, 2004 09:25:26 AM
nnt: I too would like to know if we'll be charged if there's no activity (and no saved images) in a given month. Perhaps a moderator could come in and tell us that. Some folks have more than one seller account and don't always use the extra one(s).
posted on October 26, 2004 10:17:09 AM
Hi roadsmith. As I understand it, if you chose an image hosting plan when you signed up you will be charged the minimum even if you don’t use the service.
Delete your images and empty recycle bin.
Click on:
My Account
Vendio Account/Online Statements
Click on Image Hosting Plan
Click on Cancel Image Hosting Plan
Then you should no longer be charged each month. Even if you keep your images but don't use them for several months, you will still be charged the basic rate.
I have several accounts and am currently only using one so I saved the pics from the other accounts and uploaded them to the main one before I deleted them from Vendio and cancelled the plan I was using.
posted on October 26, 2004 01:38:12 PM
Hi ntt and RoadSmith,
As I mentioned above, Image Hosting is now it's own plan and acts as a monthly minimum for Sales Manager plans. So if you plan to take a hiatus, you're best off discontinuing Image Hosting until you start again. Please note though that this deletes all your images immediately so you must be sure that those images are not attached to live listings, and make copies of the images if you want them.
kiara is right. You can manage your Image Hosting plan in My Service Plans.
Thanks for everyone's frank comments. I've tried from the beginning to explain things clearly. But sometimes, when you're so close to something, it's harder to explain to those unfamiliar. I'm glad my previous post is a bit clearer.
posted on October 26, 2004 02:53:40 PM
Chuck, I appreciate the information, and I was afraid that was the answer.
This really is my dissappointment with the plan. With my plan, I probably won't see an increase in fees overall, but I wouldn't mind paying a fee for image hosting - if I use it.
I don't like being a 'member' or having a 'monthly obligation'. That is what is so great about Vendio, Ebay and Paypal. If I use their services, I pay. If I don't, I don't pay. If I choose to take off a month or two, I don't have to remember to 'cancel' anything.
Why would it not be better for buyers and just as lucrative for Vendio, if the monthly charge for image hosting was charged with the first image uploaded in the month. Just let the charge be triggered by the first upload. Then, if they did not post enough auctions to offset the charge, it's there. If they did use it enough, give a credit.
posted on October 26, 2004 03:02:54 PM
Clarification - I don't m ind being a 'member' - just mind having a monthly obligation even if I don't use the services.
