ebay- new rules?

Elizabeth · #1 06/02/08, 09:57 PM

I have been an infrequent ebay user during the last few years, but occasionally pop on the site and buy something. Tonight I tried to list a book for sale and got a message saying that due to the low number of transactions I MUST accept paypal as a form of payment. I don't want to use paypal- ever since ebay bought the company it has gone downhill- the same as ebay- higher fees, more restrictions, forcing the user to accept (and pay for) unwanted services, etc. In addition to forcing the seller to use paypal, they can also hold my payment for up to 21 days- and no mention of paying any interest on the $$$. What a bunch of greedy so and so's! I also see that they have raised their rates- again. When I started selling on ebay, shortly after their inception, they charged less than 3% for the final value fee. They are now charging (I think) 8.5%, and up to 12% on items which sell for between $25-1000.

I think I am done with ebay. They are a perfect example, IMO, of a company that had a great idea, started out offering good service at a good price, and then got so greedy that they have priced themselves out of my reach. I used to be able to sell a variety of miscellaneous items (books, clothing, some beekeeping equipment, odds and ends, a few collectible items, etc.) for decent prices which people could afford to pay, still allowing me to make a small profit. Now, it costs so much more to be able to sell an item, and on top of that, shipping costs have increased dramatically, and they want to force me to use a subsidiary company of theirs so they can make even more $$$. I just bought an item tonight, before trying to list my book, and now I wish that I had not purchased it.

Does anyone know of an alternative online auction site for miscellaneous items? I don't use amazon.com, to sell, on principle, because they dramatically overcharge for shipping on some books, and I think that is dishonest so I refuse to sell through them.

Boy, if I wanted a career, I think I'd look into starting up my own auction website.

TxGypsy · #2 06/03/08, 12:23 AM

Yep, ebay is circling the drain. They also have a new rule where sellers cannot leave negative feedback for bad buyers. That put paid to me selling on ebay. Try craigslist.org Lots and lots of folks are craigslist addicts.

Yes I agree, we badly need a GOOD auction site.

Gary in ohio · #3 06/03/08, 11:04 AM

Hmm, Lots of people like to bitch and moan about ebay yet they never actually leave ebay.
I personally like the paypal required for new sellers. The only thing ebay has done bad is NOT validate users on the system. They did when the site first started, They would call you on the phone and validate your info. When you have millions of users its hard. Forcing people to paypal forces validation, at least financial validation. I dont except anything but paypal for my auctions, Its just not worth the hassle. I have never had an issue with paypal. yes some payments can be help upto 2 weeks, but thats because there ACH electronic checks and those can take time. A direct credit card will be available immediately for transfer.

I like craigslist as a buyer but I dont want people trampling around my house to look at something they might buy. Had way to many lookie show up and not enough buyers.

amyd · #4 06/03/08, 12:35 PM

I was using bidville.com for some things, mostly clothing, but they are closing now, too. I'd love to have an alternative for E-bay.

I do use e-bay some, for some items I know would bring a better price there, but it's kind of like shopping at Wal Mart, if there were a better alternative at least kind of equally as convenient, I'd use it. Since there's not, I go there.

Ken Scharabok · #5 06/03/08, 01:02 PM

On eBay's new seller feedback rules I current have three disputes open for an unpaid for item(s). Following the rules I can eventually file for a refund of listing fees and eBay will give them an unpaid item strike. However, I cannot leave them negative feedback to alert other sellers to avoid them as deadbeat bidders.

As a protest I have stopped leaving any feedback as a seller.

flowergurl · #6 06/03/08, 01:24 PM

I don't use paypal and never plan to. I don't bid on anything where the seller only accepts paypal. I do sell a few things there once in awhile, but mostly I buy things I can't find around me.
I once bought a plant from a seller and sent them payment right away. I guess somebody at their nursery misplaced my payment.
AFter a month and no plant, I e-mailed them, called them on the phone all with no reply.
As a last resort I posted negative feedback for them.
Which finally got a response from the seller.
They called me and were quite rude and did finally ship the plant. Then they left a Negative feedback for me and left the comment section blank.
I believe this is one of the reasons for the change in the rules.
To prevent unfair spite ratings being left.

coondog · #7 06/03/08, 01:32 PM

Well I could create a new auction website for homesteaders, but would anyone use it?

Mel- · #8 06/03/08, 01:35 PM

but ebay is making other feedback changes. you can now go into your seller preferences and block users who have had unpaid item strikes against them OR been reported by another seller for not completing transactions among other things (read the ebay announcement board).

you might try half.com for books. it is owned by ebay but not sure they have instituted the new rules over there.

ebay is what it is. they are changing. probably a lot of occasional sellers will go back to donating or garage sales.

so far as alt venues for misc items there really isn't a lot but I imagine some of these changes will create competition. for handmade items try etsy. for a free store of your own try ecrater.

Ken Scharabok · #9 06/03/08, 05:11 PM

flowergurl:

I would say a lot of the problem lies at your doorstep. You should have started to follow-up within about a week from payment. If no response from seller you go to the Site Map, at the bottom of middle column and look for Report Item Not Received. This initiates an eBay process for them to contract the seller and ask why they haven't shipped the item. I've only had to use it once and the seller almost immediately contacted me they had laid the sale to the side and simply forgot about it. They shipped immediately and refunded my shipping expenses.

wncramsey · #10 06/03/08, 08:32 PM

ebay owns paypal they bought it sometime back. This way they make more money.

Diane

neal68 · #11 06/03/08, 08:48 PM

Quote:

I don't use paypal and never plan to. I don't bid on anything where the seller only accepts paypal.

we don't bid on paypal either it is unfair to people who either don't use or can't because the don't have credit, debit card or just plain don't trust banks..... my bil who designs software and systems for security and firewalls, and he does work for the government, had his identity stolen from a "secure" sight any hacker worth his salt can get what ever he wants, and i don't plan to give them a chance to take mine

Karen · #12 06/03/08, 09:16 PM

I think it's a matter of people misunderstanding what Ebay is. Ebay is a business. It's goal is make as much money as they can. Ebay has discovered that their money is made through those using Ebay as their own business and choose to conduct their transaction as a business. It's been fazing out the "garage sale" type of selling for some time now and going for the volume sales; yet keeping the closeness of the Ebay community.

As an Ebay seller, I accept PayPal only. I've had so many problems with bounced checks or people not submitting payment promptly. It is also easier for a seller, who has many sales to track, have the PayPal benefit of easy tracking; proof (or not) of payments; etc. PayPal also gives us the benefit of proving an item has been shipped. It also helps with sales in that you can only pay for an item with an Ebay gift certificate if you do PayPal.

Personally, I can't see how anyone can really complain about the Ebay/PayPal fees. I think they are very reasonable. Gosh, if I had to get a store front, pay for a telephone and utilities, etc., it would cost thousands of times more. Plus I sure won't have thousands of people seeing each of my items either.

I figure the Ebay/PayPal fees are just the cost of doing business; just like you would have in any other business; only much less! I work those fees into the price of my item; just as you would work in your cost of doing business in any item. Besides, how bad can it really be? Every other similar site ends up shutting down. Plus, I'd rather have the coverage with Ebay than I would only have 1/8th of the traffic you get on any other site.

coondog · #13 06/03/08, 09:19 PM

a big issue for me right now with ebay is there feedback change thing

nathan104 · #14 06/04/08, 12:04 AM

With the new feedback system. I dont see what is to stop EVERY buyer from contacting the seller after the item is received and say they are not completely happy with it and want a partial or full refund or they will leave negative feedback. The seller will either have to refund money, or receive negative feedback. The seller then in turn has no recourse. They can not leave a negative or a neutral to warn others. A lot of sellers are going to start getting screwed over this way. Sellers should at the very least be able to leave neutrals.

flowergurl · #15 06/04/08, 12:33 AM

Sorry Ken I think a business should return calls and e-mails.
I also think they should not be rude and nasty to customers.

Elizabeth · #16 06/04/08, 07:09 AM

The point is, that you have a choice a as to whether or not you use paypal. Ebay has now taken away that choice for a lot of users. I don't see that as an improvement. I have very rarely had a problem with a bad transaction, and I was happy with the service they way it used to be.

As for making a profit- I'm all for that! But, when they start forcing people to use paypal just so that ebay can make more $$$, I have a problem with it.

I was one of the very early ebay users, and I was also one of the earliest paypal users- shoot, they PAID me to open an account with them. Then they continued to pay me for many months every time I referred a friend who also opened an account. When they started I was getting $10 per referral, later that dropped to $5. But it was nice while it lasted, lol. I loved ebay- it was a great idea and it was beautifully executed. Same with Paypal. But think about this- back in 2002 ebay paid 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS for paypal. That is one heck of a lot of $$$. Just because they couldn't stand to see someone else make $$$ (this was after ebay's first attempt at a billing service failed- you might remember Billpoint if you are a longtime ebay user). I don't remember exactly what ebay's fees were at that time- maybe around 3%? So, if they could afford to pay $1.5 billion for paypal then, just imagine the profit they are raking in with final value fees starting at 8.75% (or whatever it is now), plus the profit they make from paypal.

I know that a lot of people are still happy with both services, I just happen not to be one of them, and I liked it when I had a choice as to what kind of payment I could accept from my buyers. If the service was as great as ebay thinks it is, why do they have to force people to use it? My answer, it isn't that great, it's expensive to boot, and ebay/paypal should be happy with the huge profit they make from the people who do like and use paypal, and let the rest of us choose how to conduct our transactions. But hey, it's their ball game and they make the rules. All I can do is choose to sit it out, which is what I am doing.

Cindy in NY · #17 06/04/08, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathan104

With the new feedback system. I dont see what is to stop EVERY buyer from contacting the seller after the item is received and say they are not completely happy with it and want a partial or full refund or they will leave negative feedback. The seller will either have to refund money, or receive negative feedback. The seller then in turn has no recourse. They can not leave a negative or a neutral to warn others. A lot of sellers are going to start getting screwed over this way. Sellers should at the very least be able to leave neutrals.

I haven't had to use it yet but they do offer an option to report a problem with feedback. One of the problems you can report is Feedback Extortion. I don't like the new feedback situation either but didn't care for the old way either.

Darren · #18 06/04/08, 09:19 AM

I'm another one that passes up the Paypal only auctions. I've always paid with postal money orders. Sometimes, on expensive items, I've express mailed the payment. The seller does better anyway you look at it.

If you pay with a postal money order, and the seller doesn't ship, you turn them in to the postal inspectors for fraud. You don't have to waste time with eBay. Why should I waste my time when I can sic the feds onto them.

Ken Scharabok · #19 06/04/08, 09:34 AM

I suspect what eBay was trying to accomplish with making a PayPal account mandator for new buyers is that I have read a majority of the problems they have between buyer and seller are with new ones. For example, the teenagers who list newborn white babies and such or run the bidding up on items to very high levels.

I didn't keep statistics, but I suspect most of my non-paying bidders have been newbies.

ErinP · #20 06/04/08, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen

Personally, I can't see how anyone can really complain about the Ebay/PayPal fees. I think they are very reasonable. Gosh, if I had to get a store front, pay for a telephone and utilities, etc., it would cost thousands of times more. Plus I sure won't have thousands of people seeing each of my items either.

I figure the Ebay/PayPal fees are just the cost of doing business; just like you would have in any other business; only much less! I work those fees into the price of my item; just as you would work in your cost of doing business in any item. Besides, how bad can it really be? Every other similar site ends up shutting down. Plus, I'd rather have the coverage with Ebay than I would only have 1/8th of the traffic you get on any other site.

I have a very similar philosophy on this, Karen.
To me it's a simple matter of-- I'm making a good go of it on eBay. I have customers from all over the world. Even though my free standing website also does a good turn of business, there's no way it can begin to compete with the exposure I get on eBay.

I'm also a long-standing eBay and PP user, btw. In fact, I remember when PayPal wasn't PayPal.

I signed up to use X.com or something like that. I've been with eBay for over 10 years and have watched it go through a number of dramatic changes. Most of which are met with resistance and people loudly proclaiming they're done with eBay.
Me, I just keep plugging along. For the most part, eBay's been good to me over the years.