I do think this helps some sellers.... not anyone posting here of course.This will benefit large sellers who are TRS+, increased visability, increased sales, without increased cost. For small sellers this is just another push towards the door. Don't forget big box, very large sellers and a lot of the Chinese do not sell under the user agreement, so this doesn't affect them at all. So increased visability for them with no downside.... and you are paying for it.
It would be stupid for most small sellers who aren't shipping a lot of packages a day to try to keep TRS+. The cost for some to travel to the PO every day for little return is not smart business wise. If I go to 3 day handling I may only have to make that trip once a week instead of every day, a lot less time and money. Some days it really isn't worth the added expense now but come May 1 the discount will seldom cover the expense. That is what I used the discount for (it wasn't extra) it covered the time and expense to make daily trips to the PO.
Does TRS+ get better placement then TRS status? You can be a TRS without being TRS+.
About 6 months ago I started selling on a cite that starts with an "F" and ends with a "book". Different inventory but shocked at how well things are selling, so I have already cut back here. Can't see spending 10 times the effort for 10% of the benefit/profit.
Reminds me of Walmarts recent troubles with their B & M stores. When they started they ruined the local community mom and pop stores then in the last few years, after years of dominance along came the Local community corporate stores that took a huge bite out of there sales. I went to an auction last week, everything nice sold for more then it sells for on ebay. (so why isn't ebay doing better with customers?) A local online auction is getting prices just as good as ebay with a tiny portion of users?!?! and they have terrible buyer requirements.... you can ONLY pick up between 10-2 on Saturday, if you want it shipped they do not ship but will put you in contact with a company that does at an added cost. Payments are very limited... cash or (can't remember if it is Visa or MC but only one), buyer' premium.... as far as older items ebay has lost that market, people are going elsewhere. The only thing I list now are special items that sell more on ebay then locally and junk but the ROI for some stuff isn't worth the time or effort anymore and the extra trips to the PO is now not cost effective.
A lot of small sellers are already losing money so I imagine most of them will continue. They seem clueless it is even happneing. Saw a seller on here not too long ago bragging about their great sales. Sure they had over 200 sales a month but on most of them they were losing money, and with over 95% of their items priced under $20 all the 0.99 auctions and $1 BINs they were lucky to be making anything net. They were happy with selling an item that weighed 3 pounds for $1 plus exact shipping.... I think most of these type of people don't know, and don't want to know they aren't making any profit already and will continue plodding along, which ebay is counting on.
@usmc*usnmom wrote:
@namele365 wrote:TRS Sellers are being punished for something in their control... Working hard to meet standards... There are NO standards for buyers... So yea... punish the seller but not the buyer? hmmm...
Taking away a GIFT is not a punishment. All these discounts and freebies are GIFTS. Gifts that frankly people should be thankful to get when they're given, instead of whining about when they're gone...
FWIW, I agree with your other points. eBay always referred to the discount, however, as one of the "benefits" of becoming a TRS.
Benefits
You can qualify to become a Top Rated seller by consistently meeting our performance standards for sales and shipment tracking.
Then, once you're a Top Rated seller, your listings can qualify for additional benefits. If your listings offer same- or one-business-day handling plus a 30-day or longer return period with money back option, you get:
The Top Rated Plus seal (
) displayed prominently
A 20% discount on final value fees (this applies to the final item price only, not to shipping charges)
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/top-rated.html#benefits
So you do your part because you've been enticed by the benefit promised. You receive the benefit, but then for no valid reason, that benefit is cut in half causing you to lose money...I think it's fair to say that qualifies for punishment.
