Community Chat, January 15 @ 1:00 pm PT - General Topics

[Anonymous]

Join the Community team here at 1 PM PT on January 15th for our Weekly Chat with eBay Staff. We don't have a set topic this week, so please bring any general questions you may have about buying or selling.

The chat will be open for questions from 1-2 pm PT, at which point we'll close thread from additional responses. After this time, we'll continue to work on responding to any queries that might still be unanswered.

If you're new to the chat, welcome!  Simply Reply to this post with your question from 1-2 PM Pacific Time and we'll be happy to look into it for you.

*Please note that we're not able to address account-specific queries. Questions regarding your account should be directed to eBay Customer Service.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Hi Tyler, After getting it to work from the Seller Hub link, I just tried again using the original link and it worked fine that way too. Strange. Anyway, looks like it's OK for now. Thanks again! (from now on , however, just to be safe, I'll always go there from Seller Hub)

[easterbasset]

I noticed that my 'default' auction duration pre-fill as either 5 or 7 or 10 days. I sometimes wonder if it is using that pricing guidance algorithm and plugging in an computed 'best' length.
I strive to be acutely aware of when items that are employment related items (medical scrubs)end, I aim for those auctions to end on thursdays / fridays/ or a.k.a. clock punchers paydays.
It would be nice to learn how the durations get auto filled, as it is unlikely serendipitous.

[tyler@ebay]

---

@gwzcomps wrote:
Never got a followup from last week. It seems like eBay inconsistently enforces their policies. The policies are scattered all over the various pages and eBay hides behind vague wording. With how things are handled from a policy standpoint and a CS standpoint it comes off as eBay being very anti seller. Is there an "order of operations" when it comes to policies? When things like false claims by buyers is against policy it make no sense why sellers (that don't offer returns) are punished for false claims. Kind of follows the sentiment that eBay lies about valuing their sellers and just want to squeeze us for as much money as possible.

---

Hi @gwzcomps - I didn't get to your tags last week, I'm sorry about that. The short answer to your question is that there is not currently a plan to give a single page of policies to reference, short of what is in the Seller Center and Help Pages. 

From an order of operations standpoint, an eBay Money Back Guarantee request is going to trump a stated return policy. While a buyer is not allowed to make a false claim, without evidence that they have abused our system we'd see this as an assumption and wouldn't invalidate their coverage from our protection program. 

We offer protection for you if you are a Top Rated Seller offering 30 day returns, or 30 day free returns in general, this looks at your track record and willingness to offer a top-tier service, not whether or not the buyer's request is fraudulent.   Please make sure you're using the Report Buyer button within the request to alert the right teams to review. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

---

@vrykalak wrote:

@vrykalak wrote:

When you change an item from Fixed Price to Auction, the Fixed Price becomes the Buy it Now price, which means Best Offer is illegal. Could the system please TURN OFF Best Offer in this situation?
Also, the default Auction length is 7 days. I want it to be 10 days. Is there any way I can make that happen automatically?

Hi @vrykalak, can you give an item number example for this? We'll be happy to review something specific if you can provide it. As for changing the default option in the listing form, it looks like when I went to create an auction in your account the duration is defaulted to 10 days. Can you tell me where you are seeing something different?

---
Almost all of the 100 Auctions that are currently active in my account--except the ones that are specifically for Valentines Day--exhibited this problem.
When I changed them from Fixed Price to Auction, I had to change the duration from 7 to 10 days, and turn off "Best Offer" manually.

---

Hi @vrykalak, please provide an item number so we can review further.

[alan@ebay]

---

@easterbasset wrote:

Hello. I am thrilled to participate in the chat. I have been checking out the conversations every week. I have been impressed with the caliber of information , along with having it presented in clear informed manner.

As I am NOT in pacific time, it can be challenge to be here real time.

And that is topic of my question....

Why oh why won't all areas of ebays site function with time zone specific references to date and time.

When I create shipping labels via Buy Delivery, the time is current to my location. When tracking scan are uploaded, again, current to my zone (even when delivery scan is in zone that is not mine).

Can we get all selling functions to be cohesive on timelines?

Not only have I had some listing gaffs from being muddled about actual time, but even just now, I noticed this reply Auto saved with a message at top of my screen that informed me it occured at 3:22 PM.

---

Hi @easterbasset! We're glad you made it here today. Thanks for joining us. 

Here on the Community platform, you can adjust timezone settings to your timezone in your My Settings > Preferences. 

To access settings, click the dropdown arrow next to your ID and avatar on the right side of the Community. 

[brian@ebay]

---

@vrykalak wrote:

the QUOTE button has disappeared from the reply page.
This happened for the first time last week.

Also, when I tried to answer your reply, and copied the original post into the REPLY field, then added my reply, it vanished when I tried to post it, and gave me an error message saying something about not having authority to post to that page.

---

Hi @vrykalak, the quote feature is currently available on desktop only (I've provided a screenshot of what the quote button looks like is below). If you're using a tablet or phone then keep an eye out for this to be added soon!

[tyler@ebay]

---

@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:
Thanks Tyler! I have no idea why doing it from the other link creates a problem, but going from Seller Hub, it worked fine in Chrome.

---

Glad to hear that way worked @my-cottage-books-and-antiques - if you run into any other troubles with it would you grab a screenshot and tag one of us to a thread so we can look into it further? Thanks!

[krys888]

When and if will we get request combined shipping total options for the app? As a buyer to request? Most of my customers are mobile, which means they buy and I have to do shipping refunds because they can’t request totals from their mobile devices. That’s just ONE example of how we have to go back and forth between the app and website on our devices. We’re often told by ebay that the reason for some of their new features or changes are because “people on the internet expect that,” so I’m wondering why ebay doesn’t think people on the internet expect the app to be fully functional? Will the app ever be functional enough that we don’t have to go back and forth between it & the website? Navigating your site without a mouse is very frustrating. (Like no way to rearrange photos from the website via ipad.)

[krys888]

When will they fix the “Authentication Failed” problem here on the forum. Having to repost three or four times every time is tiresome.

[alan@ebay]

---

@mg152 wrote:
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to say hi and I’m trying to get some items listed this weekend. It’s been rough but life must go on. I really miss everyone.
See y’all real soon.
❤️❤️❤️🐶🐶

---

We are sending you lots of hugs, @mg152! Take care of yourself, and we'll see you on the boards soon. 

[krys888]

When are they going to fix the photo issue in the app? A week ago you told me you were on it, but I’ve heard nothing since I followed all your instructions and posted as you requested. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

---

@mihu-5160 wrote:

How about this:

You message me to this account directly thru the messenger. And then, you give me information on how to contact someone who will actually fix this. Seems logical, right? 

Nobody has any questions for eBay on here every week otherwise because, there are many more like me who have to be dreadfully intoxicated to spend any significant time around here.  I clearly stated right off that I didn't have any desire to use this venue because it's clearly not the venue, but your actual, badged venue of "customer service" is a dumpster fire eBay intentionally created. 

---

Hi @mihu-5160, contacting you through our messaging system is not an option. If you would like to provide an item number related to this situation, we can look into it further for you. Without this information, we won't be able to assist further.

[alan@ebay]

---

@krys888 wrote:

When will they fix the “Authentication Failed” problem here on the forum. Having to repost three or four times every time is tiresome.

---

Hi @krys888, we're working hard on fixing this one. It's a moving target due to the complexity of the issue so we're unable to provide an ETA on the fix. 

Thanks for your patience. I know this is a frustrating one. 

[Anonymous]

---

@vrykalak wrote:

@vrykalak wrote:

I saw another entry in my last invoice from eBay saying I paid $1 for a listing upgrade, which turned out to be a larger photo.
Several months ago, I noticed a fee of $7 for the same upgrade to several listings, that had persisted for three months before I saw it..
I NEVER turn that on, and I ALWAYS check before I list or relist an item that the fee is $0.00.
So eBay is setting it for me, and then charging me for it. Grrr.

Hi @vrykalak, as with all reports for issues related to a listing or fee, we need an item number to review this. We do not apply optional listing upgrades ourselves, but we can review if you provide an item number to discuss.
-----

This last one was: 383308954318

---

Thank you, @vrykalak. I'll take a look and see what might be going on.

[gracieallen01]

---

brian@ebay wrote:

---

...... For new or occasional sellers, we apply Best Offer if the item is listed above the recommended price, or does not sell within 8 days.

The reason this feature is added is because we've seen an increase in sales and buyer activity on listings when this feature is active. For example, we are seeing a 10-15% increase in buyer engagement, such as placing offers, messaging etc. and a recorded 10% increase in conversion. Ultimately, our goal is to help new and/or occasional sellers increase sales.

---

Hello Brian T.,

With all due respect, I would like to ask just how does ebay decide if a listing is above the recommended price  for a, say, Japanese Edo period Soma chawan, of a Tiffany Favrille thread wrapped beaker vase, or a Hasui pre-earthquake set of 8 woodblock prints or a Barye bronze court jester?  And, there may be various reasons why these things might not be sold in less than 8 days.