posted on February 2, 2008 02:28:39 PM new
I read about an Ebay Cyber Union being started on CNN's comments page. I emailed the person starting it and this is the reply. If you are interested in signing up for the Union, please email Nancy at [email protected] (put Cyber Union in the subject line):
Thank you for becoming a member of the eBay Seller Cyber Union.
I have quite literally been overwhelmed with the number of people who have signed up - at this time well over 100 members and the number grows every minute.
I truly believe, if we sellers stand together we can have a voice which will be heard by the eBay executives. Although eBay is not our employer, the decisions they make have a tremendous impact on our lives and income. As the economy continues to become depressed, more and more people will depend on the income they earn as an eBay seller.
I hope by starting this union and gaining attention in the media – eBay will be forced to listen to their paying customers – the sellers. I believe the negative attention eBay will receive will force them to rethink the higher fees and idiotic feedback changes.
Ebay and its subsidiary, Paypal have a virtual monopoly in the online auction business which is why they feel that they can do anything with impunity. If we, the sellers, stand together we can apply the monetary pressure that will affect the stock and profits of the corporation. Stopping the flow of money is the ONLY thing eBay understands and the Only way we will ever have a voice.
I am working on a press release and I will be distributing it to the press early next week. Please continue to spread the word – the more members we have the more impact we can have on eBay.
posted on February 2, 2008 04:13:10 PM new
There is no link. You just have to send her an email. She'll put you on the list and you'll get the information via email.
posted on February 2, 2008 05:24:57 PM new
As the economy becomes more depressed or slipping into a recession,more folks will come to sell on Ebay.
Ebay can argue it is trying to help sellers get higher bids by weeding out the not so sought after merchandise and sellers who do not provide good customer service.
Lets say we all join the union and win,so Ebay will now offer 5 cents listing fee and every coffee mug,match book,ash tray is on Ebay ,how will that help us get good bids?
Back then when I first started on EBAY,a starting bid of 9.99 is the minimum we will ever consider,now I see 1.99,2.99 or 99 cents or 1 cent?
Someone even mention no Paypal withholding fund for 10 days,most of us have access to our fund immediately after it is deposited into our account,if a seller account has been restricted,he should work on getting it unrestricted,this is industry practice,not Paypal.
And making the 10 days listing option free will just leave those ashtrays,coffee mugs,matchbooks on Ebay longer.
How is that going to help the sellers ??
The problem may not be Ebay,it is US,there are too many SELLERS and not enough buyers.
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on February 2, 2008 11:08:14 PM new
Here is the latest email I received from Nancy. Please get this out to as many as you can. It makes perfect sense:
Dear Members,
As some of you may know, eBay executives held an Ecommerce meeting in January with its top 200 Powersellers. It is no coincidence that shortly after the meeting eBay decided to make changes in fees and policies that disproportionately affects the small seller.
I firmly believe that it is eBay’s intention to drive the small seller out of the arketplace in order to help increase the profits of the huge powersellers. Once all the small sellers have gone, the larger sellers can charge more for their items because of limited competition. What Donahoe, eBay’s new leader, does not realize is that when the great deals are gone the buyers will go away too.
I know some people are saying that if sellers do not like the changes eBay makes then they do not have to sell on the site. While that is true, I believe over the last 10 years eBay, Inc and its subsidiary Paypal have become a monopoly. There is no other online auction site currently that can compete with eBay and its domination of the virtual marketplace.
There are tens of thousands of small sellers who depend on the global marketplace to earn a living. It is my hope and belief that if we stand together we can put enough pressure on eBay to rethink its current corporate strategy. Our primary goal is to hurt eBay in its pocketbook through decreases in revenues and in stock prices. When the stockholders see their stock crashing; they will speak and eBay will listen.
This will not be an easy or short fight. One week of boycotting will not affect eBay’s bottom line but it is a start. As members of this Union , I am asking you to do the following.
1) Recruit as many members to the union as you can. The more members we have the more legitimate we become. There is strength in numbers. My ID has been blocked from posting on any of the eBay community boards but I have posted in other areas on the web – Please get the word out – use youtube, facebook and other public websites.
2) Participate in the boycott – it is scheduled - Feb 18th – 25th. Please remind all members not only to refuse to list – but DO NOT BUY. This boycott may have to be extended. Remind buyers that if the small seller leaves eBay then the great deals and selection will go with them.
3) Get information about the union and the boycott to as many media outlets as possible. Negative press is the best weapon we have especially in affecting the price of eBay stock. I am hoping to recruit a law firm to file a class action suit against eBay or other legal action against them.
4) Call and write your United States Congress. It is election year and a great time for those up for election to take a stand with the little guy. It would be great if John Edwards would take up our cause or speak on our behalf. He is a big union supporter and may have some free time on his hands now. If you can call or write him about our cause – he may be willing to help.
5) Lastly, I ask you from this day forward - to not participate in the eBay Feedback program. Do not give any feedback to buyers or sellers. EBay has made the system useless and dishonest. I will refuse to participate in the program. I will also be adding to all of my remaining auctions the following phrase.
“Dear Customer,
I regret to inform you that because of eBay’s new rules regarding feedback, I will no longer participate in the program. Ebay has forbidden me to leave honest feedback so I will leave nothing.
Please know that I appreciate your business and will continue to offer you great customer service and fast shipping as I have done for the last five years. Insertyoursellernamehere is an honest seller and we will do everything within reason to make your buying experience a positive one.”
Ebay should have no problem with this statement being in my auction listing since the feedback program is supposed to be voluntary. I would encourage all union members to write something similar in their listings or feel free to use my words (be sure to change the name).
I would like to thank each and every one of you for having the courage to take a stand against this mega giant. I know it will take a lot of work and a little luck to get the results that we want but our cause is just. What this corporation is doing to the thousand of small sellers across this county is unfair and unAmerican. We need to stand together to fight the absolute power eBay has in the online auction business.
posted on February 3, 2008 04:31:10 AM new
Nope. Nancy has several things wrong. Don't hitch your horse to this lady. The biggest sellers are the ones harmed the most by this new pricing structure. The announcement was made AT the conference and not as a RESULT of the conference. The structure DOES NOT favor the larger seller. Any seller initiative to get something done must involve the big seller. This one is just pi@@ing in the wind.
4) Call and write your United States Congress. It is election year and a great time for those up for election to take a stand with the little guy. It would be great if John Edwards would take up our cause or speak on our behalf. He is a big union supporter and may have some free time on his hands now. If you can call or write him about our cause – he may be willing to help.
Oh please. What is this lady drinking?
-------------------------------------
posted on February 3, 2008 06:42:27 AM new
Neglus is right: Baughman's facts are wrong, her conclusions dubious and her proposed solution unworkable.
This is just more well-meaning emotionally-satisfying claptrap, like rushing off to sign a petition no one in power will ever read.
Lordy, this is so reminiscent of the big flap over the Stores fee increases -- we were all supposed to close our Stores in protest. That worked out well, didn't it?
C'mon guys, please. Signing petitions, forming "unions", these are the acts of people who believe themselves
powerless.
posted on February 3, 2008 07:27:58 AM new
What does this woman sell?
Small sellers usually do not cross path with big sellers on EBAY,not in the collectibles and antiques categories?? or any worn and used items?
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on February 3, 2008 07:29:29 AM new"Look for the union label..."
Although I'm a huge supporter of Organized Labor, this lady ain't John L. Lewis!, and really, an eBay "union" is just so much spanked monkey banging the choked bishop...
eBay is headed in a NEW direction...
In the coming months look out for such FUN announcements as:
"Due to complaints of bounced checks and bogus money orders, eBay has decided to make PayPal the ONLY acceptable payment method..."
and...
"Due to complaints about over-charging on S&H, eBay will now provide the sellers with an easy-to-use S&H dialog box. Just input weight & box dimensions, & eBay will charge the "appropriate" fee to the buyer, charging him $10 (or whatever) and paying you $6, and, so sorry if you lose $3-$4 on every shipment..."
GOOGLE ain't coming to our rescue...
THE UNION will collapse, just like every attempt in the past did...
THE US DEPT OF JUSTICE is too busy burying the kaakaa-poopoo left behind by Dumbo's lap-dog to care a whit about an eBay anti-trust prosecution...
RALPHIE'S PLAN FOR SURVIVAL:
Learn, and LEARN, and then: LEARN SOME MORE about non-eBay STORES & SEO!
The ONLY WAY to survive the coming destruction of feeBay is to...LEAVE and set up yer oun STORE!
posted on February 3, 2008 07:56:25 AM new
Besides the option of leaving or expanding to other areas of selling, what are the options for letting ebay know that we don't like the new changes.
If Boycotting and signing a petition is not a good way to handle this then what is a good way?
What I do know is that when your in a Union and they say stop working for 2 weeks until we get things the way we want it. You as a Union member have no choice but to listen to the Union.
Back in the 1980's my husbands Union told the truckers no driving for 1 week. Well there were those who did drive and didn't listen to the Union and those drivers had to travel with rifles, Armored Vests, and take chances of being Shot at and pulled over and beaten. Which by the way did happen and some drivers lost there life also because they crossed the Union by working. Now I know this is an extreme example.
We all have different opinions and have to do what we feel is right but as I'm thinking to myself...what is the right thing to do?
I don't like the new changes, I also know that going else where is not what will work for what I sell.
posted on February 3, 2008 11:05:22 AM new
eBay knew the changes would start a riot & they knew before hand what changes they are going to recind.
It's an old trick, take away a lot & then suck you back in line by tossing you a few crumbs. Gives you the feeling that you accomplished something by protesting.
Seems to work everytime.
My guess it will have something to do with either stars or FB, but not the money.
posted on February 3, 2008 07:03:12 PM new
Union Shmunion. Do you really think 100 people protesting is even going to make a dent?
Frankly, I am still going to list a handful of items everyday, just as in the past. I have used Epier for years now as an alternate site plus have my own website now. I used Yahoo in the past and wish they were still around, as they were the best second site out there.
The key here is to have all of your items listed on the alternate sites and filter in ebay once in a while. If you sell it on ebay, then remove it from the other sites.
It's not rocket science and frankly the only way you are going to get buyers to the other sites is to post items at other sites and never remove them unless they are sold. Buyers will come, but it will take a very long time.
Ebay is a monopoly and for the most part, you are going to have to have your items their to sell them. Point is to diversify and quit depending upon ebay for your livelyhood.
[ edited by ST0NEC0LD613 on Feb 3, 2008 08:09 PM ]
