Ebay policy changes

Posts: 82 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:46 am

lucyjoyce wrote:

To see your numbers, go to My Ebay, scroll down the left hand column under "My Account", and click on "Seller Dashboard". Good luck.

Yes, I see it now, thanks!

Posts: 1346 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:07 pm

Are these "PayPal discount coupons" valid?

Posts: 82 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:12 pm

serleran wrote:

Are these "PayPal discount coupons" valid?

Valid in what sense?

If you're asking about the ebay 10% discount coupons that (only) apply when you pay via paypal, then yeah, they work. I've used a few.

Sneaky way for ebay to slowly escalate the perceived market value for stuff. Of course, it only works for ebay in the long term, since they eat most of the discount that they give you.

Posts: 1346 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:54 pm

Valid, as in legitimate. Never seen one before, so I thought it might be a ploy.

Posts: 82 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:04 pm

Afraid of the Dark wrote:

Sneaky way for ebay to slowly escalate the perceived market value for stuff. Of course, it only works for ebay in the long term, since they eat most of the discount that they give you.

Maybe it's not as bad for ebay as I thought.

Since it only works via pay pal, the discount that ebay is eating ends up coming out of the fees for both ebay and pay pal. For joe schmoe sellers like me who aren't power sellers, the net fees for typical items are in the 13% range (counting both ebay and pay pal combined), so ebay appears to be well covered. (But I don't know how much the net fee is for power sellers.)

So maybe it really is just a sneaky way for ebay to slowly escalate the perceived value for stuff and/or a way to get you to buy something that you might not otherwise have bought. Thus competing with another bidder and driving up a price, or triggering a buy it now item earlier than it would otherwise have sold or for more than it would otherwise have sold.

Posts: 1346 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:09 pm

Well, it is only 10% which typically means "ooo, nothing" so I'm not likely to use it.

Posts: 82 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:19 pm

serleran wrote:

Well, it is only 10% which typically means "ooo, nothing" so I'm not likely to use it.

Hah, well, email the code to me, and I'll use it Smile

I forget what the upper limit is – ether no more than $100 discount, or no more than $10 discount.

For the price range of things I collect ($10-$150), that's almost a guaranteed push-me-over-the-top bid OR at the very least, free faster shipping.

And if t really does allow up to a $100 discount, that's pretty darn significant for D&D rares. Of course, timing has to be right, and you need to hope for the other bidders to not use the coupon.

Posts: 1346 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:28 pm

Naw, I think I'll auction it off.

Posts: 1007 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:51 pm

Sometimes that are only valid for a particular login, sometimes they can be used by anyone but only once and sometimes they can be used multiple times by different people (but only once per person).. I used to post em when I found em, have seen one in a while though..

Brette:)

Posts: 413 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:13 pm

Has anyone checked out the new ebay shipping price limits:

In some cases this is probably going to raise shipping costs for buyers.

Limits on shipping and handling charges for select categories
Starting in October, limits on shipping and handling charges* will be in effect for select categories. These maximums apply to the first flat-rate shipping service within or into the U.S. Sellers are required to offer at least one shipping option within the maximum and may also offer other options above the maximums for expedited or international shipping. Sellers can still use the shipping calculator to charge actual costs at or below the maximums or if their listings are not standard -- e.g., if you're selling an unusual large/ or heavy item, or a bundle-you can also use the shipping calculator to charge actual costs. See FAQs for more details.

Books
DVDs & Movies
Music
Video Games
Books Subcategory Description Maximum Shipping Cost
Accessories Address Books $4.00
Blank Diaries & Journals $5.00
Book Covers $5.00
Book Plates $3.00
Bookmarks $3.00
Other $3.00
Antiquarian & Collectible Antiquarian & Collectible $4.00
Audiobooks Audiobooks $4.00
Catalogs Catalogs $4.00
Children's Books Children's Books $4.00
Cookbooks Cookbooks $4.00
Fiction Books Fiction Books $4.00
Magazine Back Issues Magazine Back Issues $4.00
Nonfiction Books Nonfiction Books $4.00
Other Other $4.00
Textbooks, Education Textbooks, Education $4.00
Wholesale & Bulk Lots Audiobooks $10.00
Books > 101-500 $20.00
Books > 11-50 Items $8.00
Books > 51-100 Items $15.00
Books > 6-10 Items $6.00
Books > More than 500 $30.00
Books > Up to 5 Items $6.00
Magazines $8.00
Other $6.00

Posts: 1117 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:33 pm

I'm amused that Antiquarian & Collectible still gets the requirement of no more than $4 for at least one shipping option.

Posts: 1076 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:17 pm

g026r wrote:

I'm amused that Antiquarian & Collectible still gets the requirement of no more than $4 for at least one shipping option.

Here's the page where Jason got his information:

. . . http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/MaxShipping/

Unbelievable. For example, why do the following differences exist?

. . . VHS $3.00
. . . VHS Non-US (PAL) $5.00

. . . and

. . . Games > Guild Wars $6.00
. . . Games > World of Warcraft $3.00

Looking at the categories, I don't see Toys and Hobbies listed. Yet.

Posts: 406 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:00 pm

UK small sellers had best read up on the following. Including details of more fee hikes, a huge increase for basic shop sellers, sky-rocketing fees for low value BINs and a whole load of other stuff designed to transfer your money from your wallet and into eBay's insatiable bank account. I haven't sold anything on eBay for a couple of months now and I think it's some 30 odd days since I last bought anything. Feels great, they won't be screwing me over again. Once bitten, beaten to a pulp, dragged into a bush and f***d in the arse by a corporate gangster, twice shy.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/200808.shtml#2008-08-20113015

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:04 pm

JohnGaunt wrote:

Here's the page where Jason got his information:

. . . http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/MaxShipping/

Unbelievable. For example, why do the following differences exist?

. . . VHS $3.00
. . . VHS Non-US (PAL) $5.00

. . . and

. . . Games > Guild Wars $6.00
. . . Games > World of Warcraft $3.00

Looking at the categories, I don't see Toys and Hobbies listed. Yet.

Luckily, most items listed in the Toys and Hobbies categories are going to be "non-standard" (I.e.,, won't fit in a padded envelope or box) so it might dodge the requirements. For the time being.

Mike B.

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:25 pm

BTW, savvy buyers have already found loopholes galore in the draconian Ebay strictures. You are able to offer alternatives to the minimum prices as long as they are "expedited", i.e. faster. The trick is to steer the buyer there rather than the cheaper method, which often does not cover even shipping costs.

Here is the spiel I am working up for different categories. Mostly this will be for items that I take advantage of free priority boxes or envelopes to ship. Anything sent media mail or first class (although I send all single paperbacks first class now) adds cost due to supplies. Here are some samples of add on descriptions:

Record Albums
"I will ship record albums by priority or media mail Priority shipping will be in a well padded priority box and I will guarantee the item up to a full refund if it does not arrive in the same condition it was listed. Media mail shipments of record albums will be in a plain paper non-padded envelope and will take up to three weeks to arrive; thus I CANNOT guarantee it will arrive in the same condition it is sent or indeed in any sort of playable condition. Thanks!"

Rare or outsized books:

"I will ship books by priority or media mail. For books over $25, better protection and speedier shipping cuts down on damage to the items. Priority shipping will be in a well padded priority box and I will guarantee the item up to a full refund if it does not arrive in the same condition it was listed. Media mail shipments of books will be in a plain paper non-padded envelope and will take up to three weeks to arrive; thus I CANNOT guarantee it will arrive in the same condition it is sent. Thanks!"

Luckily the majority of buyers ask me for an invoice first. Hopefully this will continue.

Anyone notice international buyers/sellers get ROYALLY hosed? Not only are they exempt from the maximum shipping prices (as in you could still overcharge an international buyer for shipping with no repercussions if you are in the US sending overseas), they are supposed to follow maximum shipping requirements for any shipping TO a US address. So, for example, Cougie will have a set limit he can charge on books to the US; while I could hammer him with whatever pricing I desired should he win some of my books to send to him. I'm really surprised at this as I think most of the shipping ripoffs are internationally based; but it would have been extremely difficult to implement a "one size fits all" standard for overseas shipping. Not that Ebay might try it in the future, mind you Rolling Eyes

BTW, may I suggest rpgmarketplace.com for smaller purchases between Acaeum members in the future. No listing or selling fees; I plan to take huge advantage of this in the months ahead as Ebay continues to piss on their customers.

Another tidbit: Ebay stock dropped AGAIN today as it inches to it's all time low. Absolute geniuses, I tell you. Laughing

Today's
Open High Low Close
25.00 25.02 24.42 24.66

Previous Day's
Close
24.77

52 Week
High Low
40.73 23.52
11 Oct 2007 17 Jul 2008

Mike B.

Posts: 269 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:36 pm

The stock is down, but then so are alot of big name companies... this usually happens in a recession/bear market. Wink

Plus it's the end of august which is normally a down couple of weeks for stock market as all the buyers are out enjoying the last days of summer. The volume today was half of what it usually is... disgruntled power sellers selling off the shares Very Happy

The thing that stands out to me is it's PE ratio which as of today was 64 which I believe is about 20 points above normal... currently even higher than AMZN, which still has room to grow ( and I bought in at $5 after the .com bubble) where as the suits at ebay in an attempt to grow actually shrunk it's market cap by eliminating it's base.

We'll have to wait to see what the earning numbers are for the next couple of quarters, but I'm almost certain that the stock will be back up to around $30-35 by christmas, not that this means their back on track.
JMO

Posts: 11 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:52 am

Badmike wrote:

Record Albums
"I will ship record albums by priority or media mail Priority shipping will be in a well padded priority box and I will guarantee the item up to a full refund if it does not arrive in the same condition it was listed. Media mail shipments of record albums will be in a plain paper non-padded envelope and will take up to three weeks to arrive; thus I CANNOT guarantee it will arrive in the same condition it is sent or indeed in any sort of playable condition. Thanks!"

This will get you negged.
There's no way you can justify sending a record like that.
Just sayin'...

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:46 am

MadderMax wrote:

This will get you negged.
There's no way you can justify sending a record like that.
Just sayin'...

The point was any thinking individual WONT allow his album to be sent in a regular envelope and choose the extra protection..... Rolling Eyes

See, anything more than a plain envelope will cost me more than $4 to mail...and I'm not getting into my own pocket for shipping costs, sorry.

Mike B.

Posts: 11 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:28 pm

I understand but it'll still happen.
I think maybe one way of "herding the emus" (heh) would be to group LPs.
Ebay is so abusive of their food chain it is totally infuriating.
Am interested in any metal you may be selling in any case. Smile

Posts: 4544 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:50 pm

MadderMax wrote:

I understand but it'll still happen.
I think maybe one way of "herding the emus" (heh) would be to group LPs.
Ebay is so abusive of their food chain it is totally infuriating.
Am interested in any metal you may be selling in any case. Smile

Sorry MM no metal, not my tastes. I have a ton of 70s and 80s punk/new wave I need to sell. Have already gotten a few good sales, apparantly there are still a lot of vinyl lovers out there. Probably going to lay off the albums for awhile to see if Ebay changes their mind on the amounts.

Mike B.