Community Chat, December 16 @ 1:00 pm PT - General Topics

[brittanie@ebay]

Hi everyone! Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Chat with eBay Staff. We don't have a specific topic this week, so feel free to share any general buying or selling questions you may have.

The chat thread will remain open until 2 PM PT at which point we'll close it from additional responses. After that time, we'll continue to work on responding to any queries that might still be unanswered.

To post your question, click Reply in the lower right corner of this post, type your question, and hit submit between 1-2 PM Pacific Time. The format of our chat mirrors the format of our Community Discussion Boards, where each post will appear in the thread chronologically. The Community Team will review each question as it comes in, and will quote the original question in our reply. This quote and the reply will appear later in the thread, so just keep scrolling down to see our answers.

Missed the chat? Send your questions to the podcast by calling  888-723-4630 or email us at podcast@ebay.com and maybe your questions will make it on the air! Or listen to past episodes while you wait for next Wednesday!

[coinslabz26]

In seller hub I am seeing a notification telling me to sign up for managed payments. 100% of the items I sell are in a restricted category (coins). Why would ebay be having me sign up for managed payments when I am not eligible to accept that payment method? Has ebay decided to phase out this and other restricted categories?

How could I be enrolled in managed payments and have 100% of my inventory restricted? I know ebay stated that they are not going to phase out coins but making me sign up for managed payments seems to suggest otherwise.

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here

[justsc92]

I could use eBay help in deciding if an item is acceptable for sale on eBay.

A world renowned artist, paints a beautiful oil painting, and marks on the front and back

of the canvas, “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1”.

That same artist decides to print 1000 reproductions, and keep the same markings “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1” on each of the 1000 reproductions.

So no copyright or IP issues. 

But probably unethical, and likely fraud to make 1000 reproductions with the same “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1” markings as the original oil painting (valued at  $60,000 to $80,000) .  Could these markings cause confusion, cause mistake, or be meant to deceive future buyers?

As a court could define fraud as conduct that breaks a legal or moral duty to another person, causing damages.  A scheme reasonably calculated to deceive persons of ordinary prudence and comprehension might also be applied as a definition for fraud and could apply here.

So would eBay consider this a fraudulent item?  Could these painting reproductions with markings “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1” even though the prints are not an original or an oil painting, and the production run is 1000 and not just 1?

Can these be sold on eBay?   If not, why not in terms of the policies of eBay?

If not (as it is a fraud and not IP or copyright or VeRo issue), where does this fall for eBay policy?

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Edit: A reply to your post can be found here

[golfingaddict]

Thanks for having this discussion.  

Thanks for the update on the announcement board about shipping delays.  It is nice that ebay is acknowledging our struggles with slow mail.

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Edit: A reply to your comment can be found here

[gwzcomps]

Why does eBay not vet its buyers they same way they vet their sellers?  You are more than happy to throw honest hard working sellers under the bus but rarely deal with bad buyers.  eBay’s dishonest behaviors are consistent though.  It seems enforcing selling policies are top priority.  Buying related polices are clearly just there for show.  I find it to be odd eBay takes the time to write buying policies they don’t enforce.  Maybe that time could be diverted to something more profitable.  Like stopping illegal activities within the company? 🤔

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Edit: A reply to your post can be found here

[firstelm_group]

Hi - I’d love to know what, if any, additional help eBay is going to provide to sellers impacted by USPS delays. I’ve already had to do my first refund because the buyer isn’t going to receive their item by Christmas. This is in spite of sending the item early enough for it to arrive on time, sending updates, etc. I’m very concerned that I’ll have many refunds to do in the coming weeks for something that is 100% out of my control. I don’t feel like I have any choices here because I’m working hard to get and maintain “Top Seller” status. I’d appreciate any guidance you can provide. 

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here

[mam98031]

Just in case we don't get together next week I just wanted to make sure to extend BEST WISHES to everyone.  I know the celebrations are different than previous years but I hope we can all make the best of them.  My sincere wishes for everyone to have a fantastic Holiday Season!!!

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Edit: A reply to your comment can be found here

[donsdetour]

Hello Brittanie and Crew:

Thanks for chat with all us user today.

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Edit: A reply to your post can be found here

[postcardcountry]

Now that sports cards have been given a special deal...

What can we postcard, photograph, ephemera and other paper items sellers do to receive the same special attention? 

How do we get the ear of Nicole Columbo and the other decision makers?

Offering us this same advantage would be to the benefit of eBay, providing you with the opportunity to be THE PLACE for these types of items.

If I were to create a facebook group for ebay sellers of those items, would I be allowed to mention / invite on this site fellow sellers to join?

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Edit: A reply to your post can be found here

[golfingaddict]

I have a question about a seller that is drop shipping.  I purchased an item from them because it said that the item was coming from California.  I thought it might have a chance to get here sooner given all the delays etc.  Well it turns out the seller is drop shipping and it is now shipping from Connecticut.  

Do  I have any options regarding this order?

This is the second time I am trying to get these items.  The first order was supposedly shipped by FED EX on Dec 4.  The seller provided a tracking number but it has never been updated and shows no movement.  While I am sympathetic with sellers and shipping during this time, it seems odd to me that it has not even been accepted in 12 days.  Nothing, nada.. zilch.

It's a tough time being a seller and a buyer.  I am really tired of 2020.

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here

[mam98031]

On a few threads various members have expressed concern over CSRs in the call center having the ability to see their financial information.  Just regular CSRs that may or may not be based in the USA.  It is of real concern to many.  What is the Ebay policy on this?

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Edit: A reply to your post can be found here

[valueaddedresource]

On Saturday I noticed a change in the Promoted Listings FAQ.  I tagged tyler@ebay  in this thread but didn't get a response yet.

Here is the page from 11/6

and the same page from 12/12

I am reading these changes to mean that for sellers enrolled in Managed Payments, the Promoted Listings ad fees will be deducted at time of sale, like the FVF is currently.

Is this correct and if so, when will this change take effect? Will sellers be notified in advance or just start seeing fees deducted without notice?

Also just to confirm, how will the TRS $30/quarter credit be applied for those in Managed Payments? Does issuing the credit "toward your total account funds" mean it will be put in a seller's available funds for payout?

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Edit: A reply to your questions can be found here

[tyler@ebay]

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@coinslabz26 wrote:

In seller hub I am seeing a notification telling me to sign up for managed payments. 100% of the items I sell are in a restricted category (coins). Why would ebay be having me sign up for managed payments when I am not eligible to accept that payment method? Has ebay decided to phase out this and other restricted categories?

How could I be enrolled in managed payments and have 100% of my inventory restricted? I know ebay stated that they are not going to phase out coins but making me sign up for managed payments seems to suggest otherwise.

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Hi @coinslabz26 -  eBay will continue to allow sales of coins, paper money and bullion now and in the future. eBay sellers that frequently list in coins, paper money and bullion will not be required to register for managed payments until these categories are compatible. Until then, there is no action required and sellers can continue to sell on eBay as they do today.

If you have received a notification to register for managed payments please contact a payments-trained teammate so they can review this in more detail with you, as you should not be activated until support for the category is available. 

Required disclaimers:

As someone who is not an expert on managed payments I may not be able to address your question in its entirety. If you have been notified to register for managed payments you are able to request a call back from a payments-trained teammate by accessing any of the Help Pages related to payments and using the 'Have us call you' feature at the bottom of the page.

The information provided is accurate as of today's date (12.16.2020) but may become outdated in the future. If you are reading this at a later date please consider checking the Help Pages or request a call back from a managed payments teammate who can provide the most up to date information.

[donsdetour]

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@justsc92 wrote:

I could use eBay help in deciding if an item is acceptable for sale on eBay.

A world renowned artist, paints a beautiful oil painting, and marks on the front and back

of the canvas, “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1”.

That same artist decides to print 1000 reproductions, and keep the same markings “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1” on each of the 1000 reproductions.

So no copyright or IP issues. 

But probably unethical, and likely fraud to make 1000 reproductions with the same “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1” markings as the original oil painting (valued at  $60,000 to $80,000) .  Could these markings cause confusion, cause mistake, or be meant to deceive future buyers?

As a court could define fraud as conduct that breaks a legal or moral duty to another person, causing damages.  A scheme reasonably calculated to deceive persons of ordinary prudence and comprehension might also be applied as a definition for fraud and could apply here.

So would eBay consider this a fraudulent item?  Could these painting reproductions with markings “Original Oil Painting” and “Limited Edition 1 of 1” even though the prints are not an original or an oil painting, and the production run is 1000 and not just 1?

Can these be sold on eBay?   If not, why not in terms of the policies of eBay?

If not (as it is a fraud and not IP or copyright or VeRo issue), where does this fall for eBay policy?

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You need to do some research on this: the other prints done later may be of a different size than the original.

(usually is).

Proper research on timing of said prints would of course need to be listed in the description etc.

Keeping the title were it would not be confusion might be a problem.

It sounds like one of those things that would have a high probability of an item not as described case unless done very carefully.

[mam98031]

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@golfingaddict wrote:

I have a question about a seller that is drop shipping.  I purchased an item from them because it said that the item was coming from California.  I thought it might have a chance to get here sooner given all the delays etc.  Well it turns out the seller is drop shipping and it is now shipping from Connecticut.  

Do  I have any options regarding this order?

This is the second time I am trying to get these items.  The first order was supposedly shipped by FED EX on Dec 4.  The seller provided a tracking number but it has never been updated and shows no movement.  While I am sympathetic with sellers and shipping during this time, it seems odd to me that it has not even been accepted in 12 days.  Nothing, nada.. zilch.

It's a tough time being a seller and a buyer.  I am really tired of 2020.

---

Definitely report the seller.  The location in the listing, whether or not it is being dropshipped, is suppose to be the actual location it is shipping from.  You concern is exactly why Ebay has this rule.  I use to drop ship on a regular basis up until this past summer.  That location is important and is suppose to be accurate.