BELOW STANDARD due to COVID-19 issue in March and April.

[jgoebert2012]

I have been top rated for years. I have had the 1000 item store for the last 4 years.
I use the computers at my local library and do not have a smart phone.
When the library closed in mid-march, I did not have access to the internet. I thought, at the time, the the library would reopen after "15 days to slow the spread".
A few weeks later Ebay ended all my items and refunded buyers and I could not list any more items.
When my county went into the GREEN PHASE in May and the library was still closed ; I purchased a laptop and am currently sitting in my car using the local library's Wi-Fi which is now on consistently.
I contacted when I had access again and Ebay granted me full access still showing my TOP RATED status. I have sold a few hundred items since then to all satisfied buyers.
That is until the current new evaluation...now I'm BELOW STANDARD.
Soooo, What do you think ??

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

I am like upgradendmills..don't know whether to cry or not. Have you tried or checked into any of the programs for low income seniors? Such as FCC lifeline program..they give free or low cost internet to qualifying seniors or Comcast also offers $10 month home WiFi, free computer, and classes! As far as a printer goes,  many thrift shops will give them away as mine does or purchase them for a couple bucks and often times they are really nice ones with the manual/disc included. I wish things in the world were better and didn't have to social distance because you would be a great ebay teacher for someone wanting to learn how to buy and sell (just leave out the library part!) Well a few things to chew on..please keep in touch with the forum..there is some fun and chatty people here and it's all 👍 good!

[lamber9347]

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@jgoebert2012 wrote:

You are correct, I do not make a penny doing this.

I absorb the cost as part of my entertainment expenses.

I am retired and enjoy having something to do and interacting with people.

I don't need a printer because I use an "old fashion" black marker to write addresses.

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You seem to have a very good attitude about all this and kudos to you for that and your ingenuity. I am also retired and on a fixed income. I also sell mainly to entertain myself and enjoy the process plus meeting many great folks in other parts of the country. Where I feel you err is that there are ways for you to continue doing what you're doing but in ways that will benefit you and make things easier, plus be slightly more profitable for you.

You've received some great advice already. I'll second the idea that you can get a good printer at a thrift store for under $5.00, seriously. Brand new printers are now as low as $30 in store and many times come free when you purchase a laptop or computer. So many people end up with an extra printer they don't want or cannot find room for. 

If you want to use the library wi-fi go ahead but that will run it's course out as well on you. It's also dangerous because you are now available to hacking your personal info. It could lead to much more of a headache for you in the end. Just things to keep in mind. You'd have better luck making friends with a neighbor that will allow you to use their wi-fi. That way only that person will have access to your system. 

I hope you will re-think at least a few issues presented here so that it will benefit you in the end. We all are sellers and we all want you to succeed in selling with your account. You will change your metrics soon enough. You seem to enjoy doing this. You are a smart person, clearly!! Just make some minor adjustments. Best of luck to you.... 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

That is such a wonderful post lamber9347! I hope OP comes back and reads all the support that he has here...I still picture him in his car using the library WiFi...no that's just so sad he deserves better!

[mam98031]

Why didn't you call Ebay and get your store put on Vaca?  You could have avoided all of this mess and likely the negative FBs too.

I am sorry you had this issue, but this isn't something Ebay needs to work out for you.  This is something you need to work out for you.  You need a better process.  

How do you ship if you only have a laptop?  Are you hand addressing your shipments and then taking them to the post office and paying full retail?

And if you are working from various locations so you can use wifi, may sure you have your computer well protected or you risk your financial data to whomever is smart enough to get into your computer.

[mam98031]

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@jgoebert2012 wrote:

You are correct, I do not make a penny doing this.

I absorb the cost as part of my entertainment expenses.

I am retired and enjoy having something to do and interacting with people.

I don't need a printer because I use an "old fashion" black marker to write addresses.

Except for the two weeks between the library closing its doors and Ebay shutting down my account I have only had happy buyers.  But at the end of those two weeks I had 28 sales that Ebay had to end.

Good-till-cancelled didn't help me either...

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With as many packages as you do, it is likely you could buyer a little Zebra printer or other type of thermal printer and come out ahead.  The way you are doing it, you are paying full retail shipping prices.  That is a lot more expensive to do than pay online rates.  Or some other type printer that suits you.  There are lots of printers that are very inexpensive.

[myboardid]

just adding my 2 cents - Printing postage labels at eBay's discount rates will save you way more than the cost of a printer and the cost of the labels also.  And raise your prices or find things that you can sell for a higher margin.  You have a right to make enough money to cover the costs of doing business effectively, and without putting yourself at risk of being hacked. 

[jgoebert2012]

I truly appreciate your advise.

Do they sell a printer which can be powered from my car's cigarette lighter ?   Or would I plug it into my laptop's USB for power ?

When everything closed down in mid-March and we retired people were told to only go out for life sustaining needs during the expediential growth period, I thought of  getting an internet connection at my house but...well, nothing was open...and I wasn't comfortable asking a friend to allow me in their house just because of Ebay requirements.

I called my sister and had her turn my vacation settings on, but Ebay still displays your items..  There was no way to temporarily stop my store without ending all 1000 items.  LOL...live and learn

Then "15 days to slow the spread" turned into months

[jgoebert2012]

I did put my store into VACAtion mode and added a VACA message that I was offline until the library reopened in 15 days as was displayed on their front door.   Ebay still allows buyers to buy in VACA mode. They just display a small  message and accept the sales.

[jgoebert2012]

Thanks.

FYI.  My items seem to be relisting at 30 days.  So I can clear out some inventory before my contract ends and I can end my store in October.  Then a giant yard sale featuring 1000s and thousands of LPs and 45s still cramming two rooms of my house.  I truly look forward to it  MASKS FOR EVERYONE 🙂

I believe that as a BELOW STANDARD seller that I can only list 10 items a month...maybe I'll toss some Beatles and Stones out there. for grins 

[pjcdn2005]

They allow you to display your listings and allow people to buy them OR you can use the setting that hides and blocks your listings from any sales.  The second option is the one I use but some do use the first option and then increase their handling time so that they can ship when they get back,

[jgoebert2012]

I could swing the cost if I really wanted to be in my bedroom on a computer . There one more issue, I spent 30 years of my life as a computer systems analyst in a little cube.  I really don't want one in my house.  I was drawn into this by all the friendly people I've meet at the library, Goodwills and fleamarkets 

[jgoebert2012]

I am not familiar with that option !  I just know about the Vacation mode and fully end my store option.

If I had known that all libraries were closing and if Ebay was answering calls I could have asked if there were additional options.

[jgoebert2012]

I did have my account put into Vacation mode with a vacation message saying I didn't have access until the end of "15 days to end the spread".  Another person just told me about an option to hide my items from buyers without ending them, but the option I clicked on unfortunately did not hide the,

[jgoebert2012]

THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT I WAS HOPING FOR !!!

That I'm not the only one.  That eBay's COVID-19 protections were only temporary and that they have now ended.

AND ANY ISSUES INCURRED DURING THE SHUTDOWN WERE NOT WEIGHED AND FORGIVEN...BUT WERE ONLY DELAYED AND NOW WILL SHUT DOWN ANYBODY  WHO WERE GIVEN THE TEMPORARY PROTECTION.

[bills322]

what i dont agree with is ebay charging an extra 5% on selling fees for below std accts during a pandemic