Ebay policy changes

Posts: 342 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 1:17 pm

killjoy32 wrote:

wel its funny you should say that jason, cos i had an instance the other day. perfect for what i was saying.

i sent a guy 2 mods. i dont have to, but i packed them in a jiffy, in a plastic sleeve to protect the mods and then two pieces of thick card, to help keep the parcel firm and then write do not bend on both sides. pretty good job, if i have to say so myself. not only that, i sent the package out 2 days after payment (would have been quicker but work didnt permit the time), still pretty quick imo, as he got it the morning after. he left glowing feedback, but marked my DSRs with "average"
so my ratings temp went from 4.9 to 4.8.

is that fair? i didnt think i offered an average service. without blowing my own trumpet, i felt i offered a damn f-ing great service, not only that, i but i e-mailed him and advised of the parcel being sent too!!!!

now thats what i am on about. i feel that i have been hard done to there and there isnt a damn thing i can do.

his reply to me upon questioning it, was "i just left average, i always do". well no shit sherlock...that really helps things. so my DSR goes down for no real reason at all, because some muppet cant grade things properly!

really p's me off for sure. i wonder sometimes, why i bother making the effort to go an extra yard. oh maybe it was the £0.07 i charged for handling, which covers a brand-new jiffy, materials etc.....hmmm yea i guess i overdid it there

Rolling Eyes

feckin dumbass

needless to say he is blocked now, cant be arsed with it.

Al

Thats the exact thing.

As a seller I would want to screen buyers who only leave average DSRs because an average DSR in ebay terms isn't average it means a seller is going to lose sales, lose discounts offered by ebay and can even be suspended from selling, because buyers think the seller is averrage (3 stars).

The DSR system works this way. 5 stars means that the seller is given a good rating. 4 stars means a bad rating, 3 stars a very bad rating, 2 stars the seller sucks, and 1 star the seller is a complete bastard. But 4 stars says satisfied, so buyers think, okay, I was satisfied but not overyjoyed so the give 4 stars, only to ebay it means the seller isn't doing their job. Satisfaction isn't enough. Well that is ridiculous.

BTW I figure I just lost my 100. Sold a dvd set 4 days ago and the buyer just responded that they can't pay by paypal. can only send cash. I'm pissed because I thought if you only listed paypal as the single payment method they needed to pay by paypal. So I say, I don't recommended cash, send a USPS money order. The guy thanks me and tells me he is sending a check. I think it is about $60 a bounced check at my bank now, so I email him back and tell him absolutely not... I'm just waiting for the neg or neutral now.

Posts: 342 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 1:23 pm

mbassoc2003 wrote:

You know what. I don't generally care whether a seller has 2 stars or four stars. If I want an item I'll buy if from them. If their negative feedback says 'this guy wrapped my woodgrain in brown paper and shipped it in a bag of rocks' and there's a stack of other people leaving similar comments, then I might think twice.

On the whole, I don't think eBay buyers really care much about any of the rating systems. They are looking for a bargain. If you've got the one they want, you get the sale. When it gets closer to market value, or up into the collectables, on the whole you're dealing with intelligent people, and they know not to put too much weight behind rating systems and negative feedback. And if they aren't that intelligent, then maybe you don't want to be selling to them anyways.

Don't worry about all that eBay crap. Put up good product with accurate shipping costs. Pack it as if it was gonna be handled by monkeys (it is!), and ship on time. Business will do just fine.

Except ebay offers a %15 discount if you have a high DSR. So true that the buyers might not give a toss about stars but some do, so that's sales lost, and then there is the bottomline. Between ebay and paypal the fees really eat into profit from ebay and %15 savings is nothing to sneeze at.

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 1:31 pm

JZavoda wrote:

Except ebay offers a %15 discount if you have a high DSR. So true that the buyers might not give a toss about stars but some do, so that's sales lost, and then there is the bottomline. Between ebay and paypal the fees really eat into profit from ebay and %15 savings is nothing to sneeze at.

But that's part of Ebay's fake carrott and stick approach, Jason. Don't pine for the 15% discount because ITS NOT REALISTIC ANYONE IS GOING TO GET IT!!! When the change came, I wasn't trying to get a discount and changed practically nothing, because I figured if I even got a 5% discount (which I finally got this month) it was a bonus, pure and simple.

And just to comment on shipping, I refused to offer free shipping since I use priority mail (to get there quicker, and supplies are free), and as a matter of fact RAISED my shipping costs to make up for the USPS higher costs. So, I raised shipping, and refuse to offer free shipping, what happened? My DSRs went UP enough the last few months to give me a discount. Shocked

Try to figure that out. The campaign to force everyone to use "Free Shipping" only helps Ebay, it does nothing to improve your DSRs, feedback, or bottom line.

Mike B.

Posts: 342 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 2:23 pm

Badmike wrote:

But that's part of Ebay's fake carrott and stick approach, Jason. Don't pine for the 15% discount because ITS NOT REALISTIC ANYONE IS GOING TO GET IT!!! When the change came, I wasn't trying to get a discount and changed practically nothing, because I figured if I even got a 5% discount (which I finally got this month) it was a bonus, pure and simple.

And just to comment on shipping, I refused to offer free shipping since I use priority mail (to get there quicker, and supplies are free), and as a matter of fact RAISED my shipping costs to make up for the USPS higher costs. So, I raised shipping, and refuse to offer free shipping, what happened? My DSRs went UP enough the last few months to give me a discount. Shocked

Try to figure that out. The campaign to force everyone to use "Free Shipping" only helps Ebay, it does nothing to improve your DSRs, feedback, or bottom line.

Mike B.

I disagree, free shipping has gotten me some regular customers and helped my more humdrum postings get a little notice on the listing pages. It has helped my bottom line, and its saved me from having to try and work out shipping costs, which I hate with a passion.

It is a carrot, the %15, and since I'm a closet cleaner now instead of a reseller I doubt I'll reach the sales to even make the lowest level of power seller. but that doesn't stop me from wanting it, just a tiny, eeny weensy bit anyway, and I like the %100 and good feedback from people. To someone still in the brotherhood it is a different story and I've mentioned elsewhere that a lot of ebay customers never check what the shipping is or figure the shipping cost into what they are actually paying. To me $20 is $20, whether I spend it on something delivered or out of a storefront. So if I pay $10 for a high bid and $10 more for shipping I count that as $20 spent on the item, but talk to a lot of newbie buyers and they think they've only spent $10.

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 2:42 pm

JZavoda wrote:

I disagree, free shipping has gotten me some regular customers and helped my more humdrum postings get a little notice on the listing pages. It has helped my bottom line, and its saved me from having to try and work out shipping costs, which I hate with a passion.

It is a carrot, the %15, and since I'm a closet cleaner now instead of a reseller I doubt I'll reach the sales to even make the lowest level of power seller. but that doesn't stop me from wanting it, just a tiny, eeny weensy bit anyway, and I like the %100 and good feedback from people. To someone still in the brotherhood it is a different story and I've mentioned elsewhere that a lot of ebay customers never check what the shipping is or figure the shipping cost into what they are actually paying. To me $20 is $20, whether I spend it on something delivered or out of a storefront. So if I pay $10 for a high bid and $10 more for shipping I count that as $20 spent on the item, but talk to a lot of newbie buyers and they think they've only spent $10.

I agree with a lot of this, but as long as your shipping costs are transparent I've found that buyers will be understanding. Since I do practically everything flat rate it's there on the table for anyone to compare. I think most buyers get pissed when there are hidden costs, which I agree is getting harder to do since DSRs came into being because although you made the money upfront as the seller you may get hammered on DSRs by the buyer. Plus I'm pretty flexible with buyers if they contact me beforehand, and people who deal with me know that and take advantage of the fact I'll lower the fees for multiple item buys.

My theory on Free Shipping is that the only one really benefitting is Ebay. First, many sellers who use Free Shipping simply raise their item fees (Titan games does this and has stated so), which just puts more money in Ebay's pocket. Second, Ebay has gone to great lengths to push the Free Shipping model as saying it will increase sales, but when I actually crunched the numbers, the amount of money I would lose paying for shipping vs the amount of extra sales I would have to have to justify the practice.....the gulf was phenomenal. Third as I said I actually saw my DSRs rise during the same period when I both raised shipping fees and didnt' use Free Shipping, which tells me that buyers are mostly concerned that the item arrives quickly, and in a relatively undamaged state, more than they care about perhaps saying a few cents and getting the cheaper shipping, but having it shipped slower and maybe in a brown envelope that gets banged up.

But, it's all anectodal I guess! If I didn't want to mess with shipping (which I will agree is a beast if you haven't done it day in and day out the last ten years like I've been doing, I'd hate to have to start dealing with it now) the Free Shipping would be a good marketing tool, and if I wasn't selling for a living I would definitely use it.

Mike B.

Posts: 161 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 2:54 pm

Do what my BMW Service department does when I go to pick up the car:

Advise the buyer to mark all 5 stars. Tell them that anything less than 5 stars is because something was wrong and was a failure on your part.

Don't leave it up to their good nature, educate them. It's part of your excellent customer service.

As a buyer, I've started mentioning in my feedback if I leave all 5 stars as well. It's my new A+++++++ (dear god that's so ridiculous).

Posts: 2523 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 3:32 pm

JZavoda wrote:

Except ebay offers a %15 discount if you have a high DSR. So true that the buyers might not give a toss about stars but some do, so that's sales lost, and then there is the bottomline. Between ebay and paypal the fees really eat into profit from ebay and %15 savings is nothing to sneeze at.

Fees only eat into profit if they are not factored in in the first instance. Total Cost + Profit Margin = Price.

I know that if you're trying to shift a box of used B2s in a market full of games stores selling used B2s, then your probably onto a loss there, but then that's just a case of trying to sell the wrong product in the wrong market. Regular market economics work here just the same as they do everywhere else.

As for the propensity of certain buyers to be swayed by eBay's insentive schemes, I would suggest these people are just as susceptable to buy life insurance based on television adverts. And again, you have to factor in whether your intended buyer has a low, moderate or high intelligence level.

Posts: 7612 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:26 pm

its not really about the money, its someone telling me i did an "average "service...thats what has pissed me off the most.

Posts: 342 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:33 pm

mbassoc2003 wrote:

Fees only eat into profit if they are not factored in in the first instance. Total Cost + Profit Margin = Price.

I know that if you're trying to shift a box of used B2s in a market full of games stores selling used B2s, then your probably onto a loss there, but then that's just a case of trying to sell the wrong product in the wrong market. Regular market economics work here just the same as they do everywhere else.

As for the propensity of certain buyers to be swayed by eBay's insentive schemes, I would suggest these people are just as susceptable to buy life insurance based on television adverts. And again, you have to factor in whether your intended buyer has a low, moderate or high intelligence level.

Believe me anthing that takes away money you've earned is taking it out of profit.

I know that this doesn't have anything to do with what someone is selling, just how buyers are being told one thing by ebay and ebay is saying something else to the sellers.

Posts: 4716 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 8:52 pm

There is something here that really saddens me.
I was reading through the new posts on this thread, and I suddenly realized how much this hobby now focuses on eBay. It's sad to see that trading/selling/buying revolves around a single entity. No, I'm not suggesting the old rec.games.frp should be resurrected as "THE" venue, but I think a lot of enjoyment is being lost due to eGay's rampant greed, and the need (for some) to get maximum prices for items. Terms like "profit" and "shipping expenses".............
As soon as I get unpacked, I'll sell off a good chunk of my stuff. If it goes for a good price, great, if not, great. I will definitely try the new selling site first. But all told, I am just happy to have been a collector and to have owned some pretty rare items.
Sit back and think about it. Since eBay's idiotic policies seems to be keeping some people up at night, those individuals might want to ask themselves why exactly they are in this hobby.

Posts: 2130 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 8:58 pm

Well this is the Ebay Thread Smile

Posts: 4716 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:07 pm

LOL, you know what I mean, Blackie. It really is a shame, no?

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:17 pm

Deadlord39 wrote:

There is something here that really saddens me.
I was reading through the new posts on this thread, and I suddenly realized how much this hobby now focuses on eBay. It's sad to see that trading/selling/buying revolves around a single entity. No, I'm not suggesting the old rec.games.frp should be resurrected as "THE" venue, but I think a lot of enjoyment is being lost due to eGay's rampant greed, and the need (for some) to get maximum prices for items. Terms like "profit" and "shipping expenses".............
As soon as I get unpacked, I'll sell off a good chunk of my stuff. If it goes for a good price, great, if not, great. I will definitely try the new selling site first. But all told, I am just happy to have been a collector and to have owned some pretty rare items.
Sit back and think about it. Since eBay's idiotic policies seems to be keeping some people up at night, those individuals might want to ask themselves why exactly they are in this hobby.

Yeh I've managed to work my way through anger by simply realizing I'm still doing what I want to do and ebay can't stop me; I'll do it if Ebay disappeared tomorrow. If it's not fun I don't want to do it, so I've managed to just ignore the stupidity of Ebay and move along. If I can work a deal with a private buyer, or throw something else in a transaction, fine. But I try not to get too worked up anymore except in an amusing way.

The RPGmarketplace is a good venue to list items but you HAVE to do your own marketing, driving people to the site yourself, which is the only drawback. Unfortunately I've been too busy myself lately to market it much, but if I was going to sell a chunk of my stuff there, I would definitely go to other sites and post links to let people know what I have up there after I listed, otherwise it will sit....nice if you don't care if it sells until you direct people there, but not good if you want to make money quickly.

Mike B.

Posts: 2130 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:51 pm

Deadlord39 wrote:

LOL, you know what I mean, Blackie. It really is a shame, no?

Yes sadly it is Laughing

Posts: 342 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 10:25 pm

Deadlord39 wrote:

There is something here that really saddens me.
I was reading through the new posts on this thread, and I suddenly realized how much this hobby now focuses on eBay. It's sad to see that trading/selling/buying revolves around a single entity. No, I'm not suggesting the old rec.games.frp should be resurrected as "THE" venue, but I think a lot of enjoyment is being lost due to eGay's rampant greed, and the need (for some) to get maximum prices for items. Terms like "profit" and "shipping expenses".............
As soon as I get unpacked, I'll sell off a good chunk of my stuff. If it goes for a good price, great, if not, great. I will definitely try the new selling site first. But all told, I am just happy to have been a collector and to have owned some pretty rare items.
Sit back and think about it. Since eBay's idiotic policies seems to be keeping some people up at night, those individuals might want to ask themselves why exactly they are in this hobby.

Well I'm in it for the fame and glory, and the women of course, but the money doesn't hurt...

Ebay exists because it offers something no one else does, and for some people the fun is spending big bucks on small cardboard boxes or shrinkwrapped items that will never be opened, or games that will never have their pieces puinched, hell, it's the isle of misfit toys. For other people its the thrill of the hunt, and the kill, and carrrying home the trophy and the stories of the big game, and others like selling, and carping about costs and figuring out how to save a buck or a penny here or there...

But like I said I started collecting rpgs for the fame, glory and women/ At least that's the story I'm sticking with.

Posts: 11 · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 5:14 pm

It IS possible to get the 15% discount. Just damned hard. I got a 5% for March and 15% for April. With May, I figure I have a 50/50 chance at getting 15% since one of my ratings seems to teeter between 4.7 and 4.8 everytime I check it.

I'm probably going to average 10% overall, which brings my fees to roughly the same level they were before the fee increases.

I'm actually quite shocked that I have a 4.8 for shipping time since I almost exclusively use media rate shipping for domestic shipping. But I'm not complaining...

I personally think that not all DSRs are created equal. I would rank them in order of importance as follows:

1) Item as described. Obviously if I purchase something, I want it to be what I purchased and not damaged, incomplete, or different.

2) Shipping cost. I don't like being gouged for shipping.

3) Shipping speed. When I purchase an item, I want it in a reasonable period of time and not a month later.

4) Communication. If the first 3 DSRs are fine, this one wouldn't even matter.

Posts: 9 · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 4:46 am

Well, that's me done - last item posted up yesterday after managing to sell off quite a lot of stuff to one of my local buyers.

I'll be trying Oztion (the second biggest online auction site in Australia) and we'll see if we can turn it into something big, cos after all, it's only volume that makes eBay as powerful as it is. Duh. Rolling Eyes

I saw the writing on the wall after my stuff - which has until now been bidded on by experienced ebayers - has THREE different complete noobs bidding. Methinks that buyers with bad ratings have re-signed up with untouchable records. Rolling Eyes

Kirri

Posts: 1007 · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:28 pm

Another auction site to open in australia to try and challenge ebay..

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23769411-7582,00.ht ml

Brette:)

Posts: 976 · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:08 am

beasterbrook wrote:

Another auction site to open in australia to try and challenge ebay..

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23769411-7582,00.ht ml

Brette:)

Unfortunately it is Sensis which can;t even get the yellow pages right Confused

We do know who dobed eBay into the ACCC....

http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/google-exposed-as-anonymous-ebay -critic/2008/05/30/1211654272331.html

Maybe Google will finally look at producing an auction site Rolling Eyes

Posts: 406 · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:22 am

Quote:

Maybe Google will finally look at producing an auction site

Even though Google has long since strayed from the righteous path I have to agree. At least when they do something they do it right.