eBay Sellers Make Statement, Site Not Listening

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eBay Sellers Make Statement, Site Not Listening

By WebProNews Staff - Mon, 02/25/2008 - 07:01

Protest makes national news, but eBay holds firm on increases

eBay disputed third-party claims about falling listings during a week-long protest by sellers opposed to fee increases imposed by the online marketplace.

An eBay discount on listing fees coupled with management sticking by changes to its policies left the situation between sellers and eBay as it was before the strike.

Depending on the source, eBay either witnessed listings fall to the range of 13 million, as USA Today reported (via DealsCart), or had no change, according to an eBay spokesperson.

Unfortunately for the protesters, eBay behaved as predicted and kept the hotly-disputed fee increases in place. Sellers believe these punish people who sell in small lots, even as eBay courts higher volume dealers.

That summarizes eBay's strategy for growth. They have targeted volume and are willing to give up some discounts in exchange for receiving more listings. In other words, eBay settled for a smaller piece of the pie, but they want a much larger pie on the table.

The end of the protest leaves small sellers with the need to take a hard look at what they want to do next. If eBay's fees make selling on the site an unwelcome proposition, places like Amazon.com or Overstock may represent a welcoming alternative.

In August 2006, a smaller scale UK-based protest called for Google to create an auction alternative. That has yet to happen, although Google has the pieces in place to put something together between its Base and Checkout products.

News Tags: Financial, Fees, eBay, Boycott, Auction

11 Comments

By J &C Cycles (WPN reader) - Tue, 08/26/2008 - 20:40

E- Bay Does nothing for small sellers

I got suspended today I had 46 listings up and have a 99.2 % positive feedback rating and they shut me down. Saying we do not do enough and our feedback score was too low. This was done with no warning what so ever. After 3 years of selling on there and compling with all there outlandish fees and rules they do this. Its not right we are small and run this from home so my wife does not haft to go nto work everyday and can stay home with the kids.

I was smart the sales have sucked in the past 3 months and the fees and changes they made suck. They do everything for the buyer and screw the seller. I put somthing else in the works having this feeling I was going to tell e-bay to eat crap anyway . But I was not ready quit yet I still have over 10k in inventory. Now what ? They suck and I am tired of it just because we get a few assholes out there that wants somthing for nothing it makes us all look bad. E-bay eat crap

By Michelle (WPN reader) - Tue, 05/27/2008 - 12:46

I was suspended

i have been with ebay for over 4 years and now they have suspended my accout saying that i have violated their policy...i did no such thing...someone keeps reporting me just to b hateful...that little "report this item" at the bottom of all auctions must be removed....i sad that just anyone can mess up everthing you have worked so hard for just because you are making a sale...i have lost all of my customers because now they think i am some kind of fraud...i hate ebay for letting this happen....i will no longer be selling or buying on ebay again and neither will the rest of the few thousand people i work with....they truely are showing their good sellers to the door...oh well their loss...their are now other great auctions out their and i am giving them a try...goodbuy feebay "go to hell"!...oh and thanks so much for protecting the sellers oh and did you forget that we are the reason you make money....very stupid!!!!

By Charly (WPN reader) - Thu, 05/22/2008 - 13:55

FeeBay really does suck

Totally agree, feebay is crazy with recent changes would not be as bad if you could fight neg feedback

I stopped last year on feebay as just to much hassle, we just stick to our site now

Consoles gadgets, parts and repairs

By Guest (WPN reader) - Mon, 04/21/2008 - 02:24

i agree 100%

By Guest (WPN reader) - Mon, 04/21/2008 - 02:22

ebay fees are way to much if

ebay fees are way to much if they see that you have sold on other sites they run to pay pal and grab your money they cannot wait they are way to damgreedy. they don't give a grian of salt about sellers . I am going to ubid or ebid live help is a wast of time they no nohting.

By boycott-ebay.net (WPN reader) - Fri, 04/18/2008 - 01:30

may 1st 2008 World eBay Strike

I urge all buyers and sellers on eBay around the world to take a stand against the greed that has set in to eBay' headquarters.

May 1st 2008 is the next worldwide eBay Strike day, join in and let eBay know now before it's too late. In 5 years people will be talking about the site that was "eBay".

eBay! What's eBay?

Make some NOISE!

www.boycott-ebay.net

By George (WPN reader) - Mon, 03/03/2008 - 02:07

Ebay running a nice profitable scam - registration issues

So here's how eBay makes millions while sticking it to sellers: they don't require any validation of identity nor proof of ability to pay for new buyers. So, someone creates a new account, bids on an item (or items) - and doesn't pay. Guess who eats the listing fees: yep, the seller. They now have to file a non-payment dispute, but they are out their listing fees. Ebay makes money off creating a bad system.

Solution: make everyone register w/a valid credit card. But you see, eBay doesn't care if they can pay or not because they still collect their listing fees.

A scam? Yep. Legal? Yep. Ethical? Nope - but eBay couldn't care less about being ethical.

By Andrew (WPN reader) - Wed, 02/27/2008 - 12:10

NEXT BOYCOTT STARTS MAY 1ST

The next boycott is already being organised starting May 1st. Many people who joined the protest last week have already moved their items to alternative auction sites or have simply stopped selling on eBay.

The action IS being co-ordinated at the following two places:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay/start

http://www.myspace.com/boycottebay

BOYCOTT VICTORIOUSLY!

By Guest (WPN reader) - Mon, 02/25/2008 - 16:35

the boycott was more about feedback

The fee structure is one of the reasons for last weeks boycott but the new feedback policies are more of a concern for sellers.

By Guest (WPN reader) - Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:25

Exactly! The media in

Exactly! The media in general seems to be having a hard time getting this story right. While no one wants to pay eBay even MORE for things such as lousy customer service, now we get to pay for the privilege of buyers scamming us, stealing from us, and affecting our sales through eBay's new, one-sided feedback policies. Sorry, but if I wanted to pay someone to take my money and products, I'm sure I could find tons of people right in my own neighborhood who would be happy to be of service. Shoot, I'm sure the word-of-mouth would spread so fast that they would start camping out at my front door!

By Guest (WPN reader) - Tue, 06/03/2008 - 02:35

Shockingly stupid, defies any logic whatever

Thanks for making me smile.... although with frustration. I'm a former Ebay seller - my last item ends tommorrow and I'm already set up on Ebid which looks really cool. Everything about it seems well thought out and with super consideration for sellers - their fees or lack of them is awesome. It blows my mind to even imagine what thinking process has led to pretty much all management decisions at Ebay for quite some time now. No matter what perspective you take (and I have looked at them all), there's no possible benefit in the long run and lots of possiblities for total failure for Ebay. Besides poor management, their reputation is at a new low. It's now a breeding ground for scammers, cheaters, liars, and just plain nasties to have a field day with the poor sellers..... now sitting ducks.