Here is just the opinion of one seller:
Generally, I understand that fees may need to increase from time to time. However, in this instance, I believe this is uncalled for. Here is a brief run down of why:
Since switching to managed payments, the fees on sales tax alone went from 3% to 12%. This was a cost increase to all seller who switched from paypal. This cost takes the value of the platform down a notch, since it costs more for the same thing as before.
There in no more phone support. Yes, occasionally you can get a CS on the phone, but when you can, they are always CS that are from outside the US, and none of them have the power to resolve issues. Not only is getting helpful phone support important for the buyers, many times it's a necessity for sellers to have that support so we can offer the customer service eBay expects us to give buyers. We need eBay to do their job so we can do ours. Since the support we were used to getting is now gone, that takes the value of the platform down a few notches.
Glitches have plagued this platform for years. None of them ever get fixed, just swept under the rug. One of them, being eBay just relisting a sold item without the authorization of the seller. Many of us have thousands of items listed. We don't have time nor the inclination to comb over all our listing everyday to make sure something doesn't just "show up". We are busy listing products to sell, improving listings, and doing all the silly busy body work that this platform keeps foisting on us sellers. You aren't fixing anything eBay, so you can't possibly believe THAT is adding any value to us sellers, right?
Over the last few "updates" you have utterly disturbed/destroyed categories. From non sensicle item specifics, to destroying necessary sub categories, the lack of input from sellers who DEAL with these products, eBay has dropped the ball. Thousands and thousands of hours have had to be unnecessarily put in on our part, to satisfy some agenda eBay was chasing. These changes have not made sales any better. As a matter of fact, it's had the opposite effect, chasing away buyers and in some instances, sellers. What did losing sales do for sellers, buyers, OR eBay? How was any of that an "improvement"? I'm all for making this platform BETTER, but these changes made things worse. There is another loss of value to us sellers.
eBay has done a poor job of increasing buyers and traffic to the platform. Each year, the platform continues to slip and lose buyers. eBay keeps sliding farther down the ranking of selling platforms. Other platforms are eating your lunch eBay. You spend MILLIONS buying back stock, but spend next to nothing getting buyers to this platform. That's a pretty short term outlook. You aren't investing in the platform, making growth. Instead, you keep shrinking. That's not helpful to any of us sellers. So how is increasing fees justified when you are getting us LESS traffic? Other platforms INCREASE their market share, eBay is losing it's share. I'd say that a reason to NOT increase fees.
Look, I like the eBay platform. But lots of things need someone to actually do some work on eBay's end. We sellers have sacrificed and sacrificed. We have put in countless hours doing what you ask of us. We bust our butts to give the customer experince you expect of us. What about what WE expect? We want buyers, we want increasing sales, we want an easy to use platform. Seems like eBay is failing on their end of the bargain, and wants to charge sellers MORE for their failures. Business doesn't work that way. This is exactly why competition has popped up and why they are taking your market share. This is becoming an example of diminishing returns. We are asked to give more of our time, more of our profits, and swim in more stress. The payoff is getting smaller and smaller. Not much juice left in the squeeze. At some point, the executives are going to need to listen to us, or there won't be anything left to "improve". Many sellers have moved on, and the buyers with them. How many more do you want to lose?
See, this isn't just about increasing fees. You aren't offering more value for the increase, and we sellers know it.
mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
