posted on October 12, 2007 12:57:45 PM new
Level Playing Field.
Oh, boy.
From the Independent Trade Publication for Online Merchants:
Final Nail in Coffin of eBay's 'Level Playing Field'
By: Ina Steiner
Thu Oct 11 2007 22:38:59
eBay has put the final nail in the coffin of its supposed operating philosophy of a "level playing field." The nail came in the form of black ink on the pages of Friday's Wall Street Journal with a quote from John Donahoe, president of eBay's auction and marketplace business. "While sellers will be given the same opportunities, he says, "we're going to emphasize and reward our best sellers. The ones who aren't will deal with the consequences or (receive) less exposure.""
This news followed Thursday's announcement from eBay in which it told users it will begin using Detailed Seller Ratings to influence search results beginning next year. Detailed Seller Ratings are feedback ratings left for sellers anonymously by buyers.
Ironically, eBay's largest sellers view the site as an advertising platform in which to acquire customers to whom they can then market directly. eBay's small sellers have long held on to their view of the site as a storefront on which to build a business. But even small sellers are recognizing the need to expand beyond a one-marketplace business model.
In the end, eBay's increasingly "unlevel" playing field may smooth the way for others to entice sellers to their playgrounds.
Wall Street Journal article (paid subscription required).
posted on October 12, 2007 01:51:42 PM new
I hope someone steps up to the plate and entices me from Ebay - I have a feeling this could be the end of my full-time job as a seller for the past 3 years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on October 12, 2007 04:04:55 PM new
But why would they, Caroline? eBay doesn't even want to be in the online auction business and they dominate it.
Trouble is, nobody knows yet what the Next Big Thing will be.
posted on October 12, 2007 05:09:59 PM new
so with this new 'search results' system, ebay is not going to show, automatically, soonest ending listings to newest???? that's just crazy!
posted on October 15, 2007 06:41:34 AM new
Let me preface this by saying I am an English Major. I took Philosophy classes in college to meet my math requirements. I think "Statistics" ranks right next to "Algebra Trigonometry" at the bottom of the list of things I like.
Were sellers' DSR ratings "weighted" or did "HobbySeller" (TOTAL FB 50, DSR 10 total - perfect 5's) get the same consideration as "LandofBargains" (Total FB 1 gazillion, DSR 1,000,000,000,000 - a sprinkling of 5 and 4 and points in between.)?
There are far more "HobbySellers" than "LandofBargains" selling on eBay. Even so, I am pretty sure most eBay sales are transacted with larger sellers. Hobbyseller's perfect 5 rating should not be given the same weight as "Landofbargains" ratings should it? The whole study seems to be designed to favor the small seller.
I can't believe there would be any validity at all in a study that shows less than .5% spread between top level performers and bottom level performers. Something is flawed and eBay should not use this half-a$$ study as a basis to structure something as important as DSR has suddenly become.
BTW - seller Bargainland has no listings again.
-------------------------------------
posted on October 15, 2007 01:54:27 PM new
Neglus: There is not enough information to answer with great certitude. However, if I had to guess this is what I think they did:
They aggregated all of the scores for each sub area:
For example 7500 star ratings for Item as Described. They then took the Median for that as well as the quartiles.
Then they did it for the next sub area, and the next.
So, I believe the answer would be, no, no weight is assigned nor lenience shown for the small hobby vs bargainland.
I find the whole rating shipping charges offensive simply because its passive aggressive. Everyone knows the minute they peruse my item what the shipping charges are going to be. If you don't like them, don't buy from me.
Beth
posted on October 15, 2007 08:27:07 PM new
Buyers are often make the erroneous assumption that the shipping charge is for actual postage and when it arrives with less postage than they paid, they're upset.
If the description of shipping charges says it includes a handling charge, then they're aware.
Personally, I think sellers should charge the actual cost of mailing. Charges for time, gas and materials should be built in to the starting bid.
posted on October 15, 2007 09:40:00 PM new
London4, I understand where you're coming from. Were it not for eBay's crazy calculation of fees, I might even agree. S/H is the only safe haven for discounted eBay fees. All discounts given to the customer for multiple purchases must be come out of s/h or are subject to eBay fes. After discounts for multiple purchases, I am very lucky if I break even on s/h. Yet, the discount on shipping for multiple purchases does increase sales, which benefit both eBay an me.
posted on October 16, 2007 10:29:58 AM newPersonally, I think sellers should charge the actual cost of mailing. Charges for time, gas and materials should be built in to the starting bid.
So, you would rather eBay take a cut of your handling charge by paying a fee on it? Not I!! I pay enough in fees already.
posted on October 17, 2007 05:59:53 AM new
The original post was about best sellers. Ask a buyer what makes a good transaction on ebay and the response will be one whose listing is easy to understand, the description of the condition of the item being sold is accurate, the item is mailed on time and the shipping charges are listed.
If shipping charges are listed in the auction description as "A $3.00 fee is included int the postage cost for my gasoline charges and my time spent packing" buyers would not object.
People object when they don't know where their $$ going up front. They don't want to email the seller when the package has arrived to hear back that $4.00 of the $12.00 shipping charge was handling when they thought the entire amount was for postage.
posted on October 17, 2007 08:31:16 AM new
If you buy from Sears, Walmart, or any other name store, do they disclose where the handling fee is going? Would they even answer you if you ask? I pay more excessive shipping from the large online stores than I do with eBay sellers. I think it would take a lot of chutzpa (thanks, pixia) to ask a seller where they are spending the handling charge or to even expect them to disclose it in their ads. If you don't like the shipping charges when you look at the auction, don't bid! No one is forcing anyone to bid on something where the shipping charges seem out of line. eBay is a venue. They are not the "boss" and not the "owner" of the sellers on eBay or their stores. They need to stop acting like the "boss". If they don't, I'll ask for employee benefits.
Cheryl
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Oct 17, 2007 08:50 AM ]
posted on October 17, 2007 08:54:00 AM new
I am so SICK to death of eBay and its poor service to me and you their clients. 10 years of selling and now I find they really want Sears and Roebucks ... not me. I am glad I joined Ruby Lane and will continue to load that site up. For my business it has been a God send and "They like me". They ARE responsive to my questions and not with a form letter! Hell if you want to reach a HUMAN BEING at ebay you'd have to sit outside the building in California and grab someone as they walked in the front door. WHOOPS how could I forget the people that make these smart business moves.. go in the back door from the sub - basement! The tunnel to the "smart peoples" basement starts 2 blocks away from the actual building !!!! AND it certainly isn't marked "level playing field-start here"
[ edited by bjboswell on Oct 17, 2007 08:56 AM ]
posted on October 17, 2007 09:45:56 AM newHell if you want to reach a HUMAN BEING at ebay you'd have to sit outside the building in California and grab someone as they walked in the front door.
Take it from me. It doesn't work.
In fact, once they've identified you as a seller, they won't even make eye contact.
posted on October 17, 2007 12:04:56 PM new
HEY!!!!!!!!!! What the Hell happened to the highest to lowest price? I don't care about those OTHER choices,distance,when it was listed, when it ended Etc........I don't wanna WADE though ab unch of Crapolla,,I wanna know wht the Damn highest price that was paid.......
posted on October 17, 2007 07:58:06 PM new
It was mentioned that retail companies just add a shipping charge and do not break it down into shipping and handling. Why should sellers on Ebay have to do that if Walmart, LandsEnd etc don't?
Also it is difficult to detirmine exact postage when it comes to mailing small items 1st class ( unless one sells the same items all the time) because when packed and ready to go, the package can weigh a bit more than anticipated. I myself do not want to pack and seal and address anything before listing since there are NPB to contend with.
Caroline 
