amber
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posted on May 10, 2007 04:31:32 AM
Once again I am being offered power seller status. I have turned it down every other time, but I thought I would ask on this board, as I am sure several of you are power sellers.
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agate18
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posted on May 10, 2007 04:48:08 AM
The one thing that is an advantage is you get a phone no to use when you have a problem that needs to be sorted quickly. and your emails are usually answered quicker then when you are not a powerseller.
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pixiamom
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posted on May 10, 2007 05:06:24 AM
Why would you turn it down? What is the downside?
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amber
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posted on May 10, 2007 05:10:56 AM
pixiamom: the reason I have turned it down in the past is the pressure of keeping up my sales totals, especially in the summer which is pretty dead for craft items which I mainly sell.
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 05:14:03 AM
You can elect to not show the Powerseller logo next to your name in your listings if you think it is disadvantageous (I haven't seen a downside). Many sellers who can't be powersellers will tell you that they would never buy from a PS, but I don't think it matters to buyers.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 10, 2007 06:10:19 AM
What are advantages to being a power seller?
If you are the kind of person who needs to be working for someone else, who thrives on attaboys and pats on the head, you are the kind of person who will glory in and be exalted by your PowerSeller status.
If on the other hand you understand clearly that PowerSeller "status" is nothing more than a cheap marketing gimmick designed to motivate you to list more and more and more, you will be sensibly unimpressed by such an "honor".
fLufF
--
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on May 10, 2007 06:10 AM ]
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mingotree
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posted on May 10, 2007 09:16:18 AM
"""pixiamom: the reason I have turned it down in the past is the pressure of keeping up my sales totals, especially in the summer which is pretty dead for craft items which I mainly sell.""
What pressure?
You are not "locked in" to being a PS. So what if your sales go down...they don't punish you for it.
Oh, the REALLY BIG upside is you get a MUG!!
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2007 09:19:04 AM
The PS board can be helpful (and entertaining) at times.
I'm just a lowly bronze so I don't know about the phone support. I also don't know if I truly believe that my emails are answered any faster than those of other sellers but I still use the PS link when I need help.
If you keep your logo off, nobody else needs to know when your sales totals drop and you get booted. (Yes, I've been booted numerous times.)
You can leave the program at any time. Why not sign up, turn off your logo if it makes you uncomfortable and see what you think?
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 09:29:00 AM
I never got a mug 
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2007 09:43:31 AM
As I recall, the free mugs weren't exactly free as you still had to pay shipping/handling.
Maybe I'm remembering wrong. It's been a few years and many brain cells have died in the meantime.
Damon used to give out free PayPal t-shirts to people on the PS board but then he quit and that stopped.
They sent me a free business card holder once.
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mingotree
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posted on May 10, 2007 09:53:23 AM
neglus, you had to request the "free" mug.
I didn't get it...I don't need another blankety blank mug!
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2007 10:00:50 AM
I think coffee mugs secretly reproduce in the cupboard at night.
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davidsmom
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posted on May 10, 2007 11:00:57 AM
I have been a power seller for 6 years. I agree with fluffy, though I feel no pressure to keep my sales up or care if anyone pats me on the head. Being a power seller means nothing to the seller and it sure is a sales pressure ploy for Ebay.
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pixiamom
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posted on May 10, 2007 11:53:57 AM
Cheap marketing gimmick? Of course! Every good sales organization/ venue has something similar - giving special recognition for performance. Very few bennies come with Powerseller and I don't think it means much to buyers (and it shouldn't). Recognition is a powerful motivator and oh so cheap to implement.
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deur1
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posted on May 10, 2007 12:02:08 PM
I am a PS , been one nonstop for around 8 years.
What does it mean?--- Nothing
I can see no redeeming value , status or sales increase simply by having the PS on your page.
It is sorta like the lil stars you got in kindergarten, kinda makes you proud when you first get it. Then it is "just there" like the stars on your childhood fridge - fading glory.
To the buyer it mean nadda
JMO , not divine revelation
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roadsmith
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posted on May 10, 2007 12:49:58 PM
I've been a power seller, off and on, and I didn't take advantage of any of the "benefits." The one thing I know is that most of the power sellers I've bought from have what I consider poor customer service--slow to answer e-mails, slow to ship, poor communication.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
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pmelcher
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posted on May 10, 2007 02:06:52 PM
I just got a 'fishey' notice that I qualify for Silver Power Seller. Yeah right, click right here and apply. Be careful out there.
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 02:24:03 PM
Roadsmith - did your service deteriorate when you became a PS? Do you think that when someone acheives PS status, everything goes to hell in a handbasket? Maybe you just notice it because you have higher expectations of PS? There are bad sellers at every level - not just PS or especially PS.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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roadsmith
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posted on May 10, 2007 03:08:16 PM
Good point, Neglus. No, my own service didn't deteriorate. My observation is a very subjective one; generally speaking, *for me,* the higher the number of feedbacks, the more impersonal and often careless is the service to me as a buyer. I know there are exceptions. . . .
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
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mcjane
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posted on May 10, 2007 08:25:14 PM
The one thing I know is that most of the power sellers I've bought from have what I consider poor customer service--slow to answer e-mails, slow to ship, poor communication.
Have to agree with roadsmith on this, my findings too.
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LtRay
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posted on May 10, 2007 10:19:29 PM
Benefits of being a Power Seller- it means you are finally making money or losing it at a much faster rate  .
I debated getting that star too because I used to have a negative opinion of Power Sellers. Expectations of slow, impersonal service and lack of follow-up if needed but I think most of the PS I have bought from have come delivered quite well.
As for worring about keeping the status, I don't have time to worry about that star. I'm busy takin care of business. If the star disappears, the cause of worry will not be what is showing next to my ID.
I did not get a coffe mug either.
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amber
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posted on May 11, 2007 08:02:00 AM
Thank you for all the comments. The main advantage for me would be that I could actually get a phone call to eBay, something that has really frustrated me in the past. I guess I'll give it a try, but with the rate my sales are going, or should I say, not going, I don't think I will keep it for long.
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amber
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posted on May 11, 2007 08:06:14 AM
Okay, I just went to accept the offer, and this is what the email says.
Welcome to a community of sellers that have achieved exceptional levels
of success and positive feedback on eBay!
We invite you to join us as a PowerSeller
Why you become a PowerSeller?
PowerSellers are eBay top sellers who have sustained a consistent high
volume of monthly sales and a high level of total feedback with 98%
positive or better. As such, these sellers rank among the most successful
sellers in terms of product sales and customer satisfaction on eBay. We
are proud to recognize your contributions to the success of the eBay
Community!
If you agree with this rank please click here:
http://202.136.129.229/.cgi-bin/.ws/eBayISAPI.dll.html
Very important!
The registration is active only once
When you see this icon next to the member's user ID, be assured that
the member is a qualified PowerSeller who not only maintains a solid
sales record but also a 98% positive feedback rating based on transactions
with other eBay users. You can feel assured that your transaction will
go smoothly and that you are dealing with one who has consistently met
the requirements established by eBay.
It doesn't have my name, and also has a link to click on. I see red flags!
Any comments??
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otteropp
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posted on May 11, 2007 08:20:17 AM
I would forward that one to spoof@ebay first.
I also received the dubious distinction last month of becoming a Power Seller. It happens a couple of times a year when I have had a good 3 months. It will be gone within a couple of months the way things are going ( not going) this month.
Within an hour of receiving the REAL e-mail from EBay I also received a spoof one. Sometimes these things are spooky because you just know that the phishers are right into the EBay system.
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otteropp
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posted on May 11, 2007 08:23:11 AM
Amber,
Below is a cut-paste from the REAL Power Seller notification.
Follow the steps below and it will tell you if you really are a MAGNIFICENT Power Seller.
I know you are also registered in Canada so follow the .ca links as shown.
Membership to the PowerSeller program is FREE. Joining is a simple process:
1. Go to the eBay.ca home page (www.ebay.ca).
2. Click on the "site map" link located at the top of the home page.
3. Click on the "PowerSellers" link located in the centre column, under "Selling Resources".
4. You can then access your PowerSeller portal page by using the "PowerSellers Sign-In" option on this page.
5. Accept the Terms and Conditions.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 11, 2007 08:27:26 AM
"Why you become a PowerSeller?"
"If you agree with this rank please click here"
Fake.
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classicrock000
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posted on May 11, 2007 09:49:28 AM
"pmelcher
posted on May 10, 2007 02:06:52 PM
I just got a 'fishey' notice that I qualify for Silver Power Seller"
Yea I got the same message.I knew it was bogus right away because I dont sell silver-these people must think Im stupid...
[ edited by classicrock000 on May 11, 2007 09:51 AM ]
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amber
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posted on May 11, 2007 09:50:57 AM
Yes guys, you are right, it is a spoof. It fooled me because it's in "my messages", how does that happen? When I checked it more carefully and saw that my name was not there and there was a clickable link, I realized something was wrong. Oh well, I guess I won't be a power seller after all.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 11, 2007 10:26:23 AM
"Oh well, I guess I won't be a power seller after all."
You never know. Get busy listing, girl! Crack, crack! (That was my whip.)
I just thought of another PS 'advantage' and that is an entire PS dedicated floor at the upcoming eBay Live. I don't really read the Live stuff that comes in the mail so I am not sure what will be offered but it sounds as though they may be responding to complaints that past Lives have been mainly geared towards non-powersellers.
I am not going to Live but will be interested in hearing from those who do attend.
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kozersky
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posted on May 11, 2007 10:43:56 AM
duplicate post
[ edited by kozersky on May 11, 2007 10:46 AM ]
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