Lorrie Norrington
Hello...This is Lorrie Norrington, President of eBay Global Marketplace Operations. By now I hope you've had the chance to watch the Keynote and Executive Q&A webcasts from our annual eCommerce Forum held recently in Washington D.C. I can't think of a better way to start my new role than spending two and half days in discussions with many eBay sellers. I want you to know I'm committed to consistent communication, action and follow through. As a result, I'd like to let you know about our next steps:
1. To make immediate changes where we believe it benefits the health of our marketplace: We heard your comments about the need for media and category-specific pricing. Today, I am pleased to announce we are accelerating our plan to phase-in category-specific pricing for media. This fee cut will coincide with the site-wide pricing changes previously announced to take effect on February 20. In the Books, Music, Movies and Video Game software categories, we will be offering even lower insertion fees for the first three insertion tiers as follows:
$0.01 � 0.99 (auction-style only)
Original Categories Insertion Fee: $ .20
New Media fee: $ .10
$1.00 - 9.99 (auction-style and fixed price)
Original Categories Insertion Fee: $ .40
New Media fee: $ .25
$10.00 � 24.99 (auction-style and fixed price)
Original Categories Insertion Fee: $ .60
New Media fee: $ .35
2. To closely monitor the marketplace to ensure the changes we've made have the intended impact: We heard many of our sellers believe the shipping Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) needs to be re-examined. Also, we heard you when you said you wanted us to be transparent about participation in the PowerSeller discount program. Let me be clear: our goal is to improve the buyer experience so much that at least 50% of our PowerSellers qualify for discounts. We will run these changes as announced in Washington D.C., but we will closely monitor the data. If buyer trust in the marketplace is not improving as intended within the next six months, we will take action.
3. To stick with the changes we believe are right for the marketplace: We will proceed with our plans to evolve our feedback system and with the weighting of Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs) in search, as announced. They are both central to our plans and will aid in providing a great buying experience from sellers buyers can trust.
Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you how excited and honored I am to be serving the eBay Community. You have helped us to build an incredible marketplace over the years. I passionately believe that great service will lead to great customer experiences in 2008. I'm very committed to helping the eBay marketplace to become even more successful for you in today's competitive environment.
We literally cannot do this without you. The changes we announced better align our shared interests. By rewarding and differentiating our best partners, we will together deliver more of the great shopping experiences found nowhere else but on eBay.
Sincerely,
Lorrie Norrington
President, eBay Global Marketplace Operations
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posted on February 11, 2008 11:43:57 AM new
Hey that is good news! Thanks
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posted on February 11, 2008 11:45:37 AM newEbay is listening after all?
No, they're not.
They just sent in a woman to say essentially the same things the two men did. The difference is the female communication style ( "I'm listening to what you're saying" ) as opposed to male style ( "Here's how it's going to be, because this is what I've decided is best" )
If they'd been smart they would have led with the woman instead of having to put her in late in the game to try to save it.
I love the last two paragraphs, by the way. They are heavily weighted with feel-good words like share, honored, you have helped us, more successful for you, can't do this without you, etc. The immensely saddening part is that this message is born of a deep cynicism. It is anything but sincere. Believe in this message at your peril.
posted on February 11, 2008 11:47:12 AM new
Well... my interpretation of that certainly isn't that they're listening... their first point simply is a very thinly veiled attempt to try to stem the flow of sellers in those category from jumping ship to Amazon. I'm not sure it will be effective. Their second point basically just admits that half of their own power sellers (the people on eBay that are SUPPOSED to know what they are doing) aren't going to be getting good enough DSR's to get the discounts. And their third point just says that they're going to do what they want in regards to search... no matter what sellers want (and pay for).
I'm so glad I set up my own website... every time eBay makes their stupid shotgun approach changes... I see an uptick in traffic/sales (presumably as a result of more competitors leaving eBay, and hanging up the towel for good).
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posted on February 11, 2008 11:52:45 AM new
HMMM. At first I thought it was good that they wanted 50% of PS to qualify for discounts, now when I re-read it I am thinking the intent is the OPPOSITE of what I thought:
"2. To closely monitor the marketplace to ensure the changes we've made have the intended impact: We heard many of our sellers believe the shipping Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) needs to be re-examined. Also, we heard you when you said you wanted us to be transparent about participation in the PowerSeller discount program. Let me be clear: our goal is to improve the buyer experience so much that at least 50% of our PowerSellers qualify for discounts. We will run these changes as announced in Washington D.C., but we will closely monitor the data. If buyer trust in the marketplace is not improving as intended within the next six months, we will take action."
I THOUGHT it meant DSR's would be reevaluated if 50% of PS don't qualify. Now I am thinking they are going to make criteria stiffer so buyers are happier.
posted on February 11, 2008 12:17:42 PM new
I can just picture her with her liddle Power Point presentations, and her Power Bow biz suit...High heels clicking down the halls...
TOTALLY 100% CLUELESS, but, her section leader gave her marching orders: "Make the new "changes" (aka: "Business Buggery"] sound more "soft & gentle" -- it needs a feminine touch!...and about 400 gallons of K-Y Convincing Gook!
The biggest problem with the PINKS (and their assorted ilk) is that they think we're morons...Dumbos who will bend-over EVERY YEAR...Year in and year-out...
Think it's time to tell the "Lauries" and the "Biffs" and the "Grifs" and the "Muffys" of the feeBay world to take their DSRs and gently...SIT & ROTATE!
posted on February 11, 2008 12:24:02 PM new
neglus:
I think it means that the 'mega' powersellers want the discount and they cant get their stars high enough to qualify.
They are "listening" to the sellers they are catering to, and stroking the little guys with warm words and no benefit.
The hobby sellers are a warm fuzzy bunch who have made it clear they are on eBaY to have fun ~ the words you are reading are interepreted as '"oh, eBaY, you really DO care. I AM appreciated, I AM important. I am the foundation on which eBaY was built. I knew you wanted me to stay"
why make changes to the media category?
Easiest Amazon transition for sellers. Does eBaY want your auctions? NO. They want media 'sellers' to stay on eBaY as buyers.
posted on February 11, 2008 12:27:51 PM new
I think it means, blah, blah, blah, we're listening (yeah) but we are going to do what we said we were going to do and later we will "reevaluate" whatever didn't work really well for Ebay.
posted on February 11, 2008 02:08:58 PM new
Doesn't mean much to me. Skirting the issues and YES, the "feel good words", just make me want to cry! What sickening syrup.
posted on February 11, 2008 02:56:25 PM new
I don't know if they are listening, but this change means I will be doing more business on ebay. I was really disappointed with the changes in the fee structure, but this brings it more in alignment with what I expected...actually even a little better than I expected.
posted on February 11, 2008 03:28:13 PM new
Is the DSR requirement a message to the sellers-if you are making money from shipping,then you dont deserve a discount of 15%??
(If I am overcharging on shipping,then I must be undercharging on my item? and Ebay is getting a smaller FVF )
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on February 11, 2008 03:51:45 PM new
So they put the fee back up on the $1.00 - $9.99 to 40 cents not good. Because they did nothing to the FVF. This now increases the small seller, from their new price from 35 cents back to 40 cents. So now instead of 5 cents cheaper it will be the same. It looks as though they really don't care about the small seller and you can bet your boots I am not going to pay a FVF of 10.5% just so the power sellers pay less. If eBay thinks that they are nuts. I do have to cave in to the fees for about another month and then I am through. Vendio will also lose my fees because listing at other sites is rather easy. I store and my images on my computer instead of at a service.
Are their many small sellers here and if so what do you think?
_________________
posted on February 11, 2008 04:07:59 PM new
I think this change applies to Books, Music, Movies and Video Game software categories.
For other categories,the new fee is 35 cents.
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Lets all stop whining !
posted on February 11, 2008 04:10:57 PM new
They didn't increase the listing fee, they are comparing it to what they charge now. It still went down to 35 cents for other categories.
posted on February 11, 2008 04:58:46 PM new
I'm a small seller and I don't think the new changes will effect my profits. I'll just jack up the prices and keep working on my ecrater store!
posted on February 11, 2008 05:44:10 PM new
They lowered fees in those categories because Amazon.com is kicking ebay's big fat butt in those categories.
posted on February 12, 2008 03:54:35 AM new
Actually the media prices will be lower, it might help people stay with eBay. The prices are going down a bit from the new Feb 20th fees. In eBay speak they used the current (soon to be old) rates to make it look like a huge difference. Accurately reported new media rates would be: For .01 - .99, .10, down from .15. For 1.00 to 9.99, .25, down from .35. For 10.00 - 24.99, .35, down from .55. I may be tempted to sell some books and other media, we'll see.
posted on February 12, 2008 10:38:15 AM new
I can't understand why any Seller would run to Amazon to sell. No matter what you look up there is a ton of it listed and most of it for a penny. I have to say that I sell 5 times as much on E-Bay and Half.com as I ever did on Amazon. If these sellers are worried about their stars wait until they get over there selling! If I were going to try to get off E-Bay I would stick with an E-Crater store.
**********************************
Just wanted to let you know about this new website that pays us up to 36% of the seller's fees whenever we buy something on eBay.
We can also get cash back at other retailers and earn extra cash when other people shop.
Just use the link below to check it out and let me know what you think!
