eBay

disneyfanatic1515 · ‎05-29-2018

I am a member of 10+ years here and Im feeling like I dont even own my stuff I sell. The fees are getting too high, dont have any control of my listings with them adding best offers when they feel like it or charging shipping fees on top of already high shipping prices to ship our items, my fees are based on their messed up grading system and much more like no protection for us. REALLY@@!! I have ended all my listings and refuse to sell here anymore until who ever owns EBAY understands all you are doing is hosting our stuff and should charge only for that, paypal is a separate entity and does charge a small fee for their part, but it is within reason!!! We are not in school and dont need to be graded for higher fees, on stuff we own. All you need to do is host and add the paypal link in the ad. Thats it.

tunicaslot · ‎05-29-2018

Let's be fair tho - sellers are also being graded by buyers who just don't get their way and will lie to get back at a seller. I only have a 1.06 return rate ( knock on wood! ) and for the most part - I have honest buyers who admit they made a mistake as far as sizing. But.... I've seen an increase in false SNADs or neg/ neutral feedback because I won't give them a partial - just had one last week.

Other sites are booming and have no where near the regulations that Ebay has. Are there scam buyers elsewhere - absolutely - but I haven't run into one yet. In fact the one site makes the buyer prove the reason for the return and only gives them 3 days from the date of delivery to do so - and yet buyers comply. There is no money back guarentee - prove an item is not as described and then we'll think about letting you return it.

I love Ebay - but the MBG is only keeping bad buyers here - honest buyers are looking for a good product at a good price and will buy it where ever they find it.

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jonathankirkland · ‎05-29-2018

It doesn't matter if you or I or 100,000 other sellers quit selling here.

There are plenty of e-packet China sellers waiting in the wings to pedal their junk over here by the boat load and ebay is making a killing off it, so if it becomes exclusively a Chinese junk site, ebay will be just fine with that.

But to answer your question, True!!!!

goodluckselling · ‎05-29-2018

When talking to buyer who bought something on eBay and I ask them where they got it, the response is always I bought it on eBay. Not from so and aso on eBay but I got it on eBay and they shipped it very fast or something like that.

Buyers many times think they are buying from eBay and those who do know it is thord party sellers still blame eBay when a seller does not perform to there satisfaction. We see it here all the time in the forum.

Your desire to have eBay be just a host site is about 15 years late. eBay has not been just a hosting site forever. Buyers return here to shop because they know that sellers are less likely to scam them because eBay has the money back guarantee and this same guarantee lets sellers work out any issues with buyers on there own before eBay steps in. This sure sounds like you the seller have some control over how you react.

The fees have not changed in what seems like forever so I am not sure why you think the fees are getting to high? 10 years ago they were higher.

You have about 70 items in your completed listings and the product lines does seem to be outdated.
Not sure about the prices because most media is streamed today, so your price might have some effect on your sales?
Best offer is added to listing that are priced higher than the average selling price of the exact same item. It is there to encourage buyers to make an offer to help you make a sale. Otherwise the comparison shopping direction is going to kill your business waiting around for the perfect buyer to come along and pay your higher prices.

What protection are you looking for from eBay?

You have almost no title on your listings
Your pictures are dark and blurry
No item specifics, not even the cataloged info
Almost no description

Good Luck Selling!

readabouthorses · ‎05-29-2018

According to Trinton's recent posts, Best Offer is using similar listings not exact listings for price comparison. Unfortunately the system used to find those "similar" listings is a big secret so we have no idea what is being used.

Ebay uses the mama-theory .... because I said so. That is all it takes and your mama doesn't have to explain herself.

nawlinsron2 · ‎05-29-2018

If you call controlling the same as going to a 5 Star restaurant and the waiter hands you a lo cal menu...
...YES.

fisstan0 · ‎05-29-2018

You are trying to sell movies on an outdated movie format for more than what they have sold for in the recent past. That's not eBay's fault that's your fault.

keziak · ‎05-29-2018

I mostly sell on Amazon where the fees are much higher so I am philosophical about it here. But beyond that ebay is intrusive into how we run our businesses and it gets tiresome. I kept sucking up the new requirements for Top Rated + until the latest: must have free returns. Sorry, not going there. Nope.

dirk12955 · ‎05-29-2018

As sellers, We either adapt or die.

When ebay wanted me to offer free shipping? I did so, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

When ebay wanted me to offer extended return periods? I did so, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

When ebay wanted me to offer free returns? I did so, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

When ebay switched to the so called "No fault returns" garbage? It hasn't hurt my bottom line.

Now that's just me.

I figure if Ebay is good enough for me to fork over $250.00 per month for the right to sell on their site,

their site......... EBAYS site..... Then they are good enough for me to be flexible and learn to adapt.

Upstairs Mama said, She don't have to explain.

castlemagicmemories · ‎05-29-2018

@goodluckselling is right; the fees were higher here years ago. They charged according to tiers. The more you wanted for the item, the more you paid for the listing. You got one free picture and had to pay for any additional ones, IIRC.

I am really sorry you have decided to leave, but I understand you have to do what you feel is best for you. But ten years is a long time! Maybe you will re consider.

I understand you don't like all the things you detailed here. But you don't have to take a Best Offer if you don't want to, and you can raise your prices slightly to accomodate a small discount if asked. IOW, you can adjust to the added Best Offer, or just not use it. State your prices are firm, Best Offer is there in error and cannot be removed.

Since you mention higher fees for being graded, I wonder if you are referring to being Below Standard. Your fees do go up 4% to 14% if you are Below Standard, but if you pull yourself out of that and are Above Standard again, your fees will go back to 10%.

In any case, whatever you decide, I wish you all the best in the future.

castlemagicmemories · ‎05-29-2018

@fisstan0 wrote:
You are trying to sell movies on an outdated movie format for more than what they have sold for in the recent past. That's not eBay's fault that's your fault.

These are good points. OP, I don't know if you do this, my apologies if you do, but you can research what your items are selling for by going to completed listings. You may get increased sales this way if your prices are more in line with the market.

And actually, this is why Ebay is putting Best Offer on your listings. They put Best Offer on listings that they feel are over priced. If yours are, that's why Best Offer is showing up.

Of course, your prices are entirely your decision and your right. Just explaining why the Best Offer may be there, and how you might handle it if it is.

luckythewinner · ‎05-29-2018

@dirk12955 wrote:
As sellers, We either adapt or die.
When ebay wanted me to offer free shipping? I did so, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.
When ebay wanted me to offer extended return periods? I did so, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.
When ebay wanted me to offer free returns? I did so, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

And for another seller's experience ...

When ebay wanted me to offer free shipping? I refused, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

When ebay wanted me to offer extended return periods? I refused, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

When ebay wanted me to offer free returns? I refused, and it hasn't hurt my bottom line.

Controlling? Sure, the forced Best Offer is annoying. But that aside, I haven't found that they control me very much.

mr_lincoln · ‎05-29-2018

@disneyfanatic1515 Yes to eBay controlling their rules and regulations on their sales venue which costs Sellers "X" in fees (known up front). Being able to include the Fees in the sale price and still make a profit is the Seller's challenge and responsibility, be that on this or any other sales venue that charges to use their service. A lot depends on what one is selling. Someone mentioned China and ePackets ... well, I don't compete them on I would say 99% of what I sell ... I leave the 1% on the table just in case they are knocking off 100 year old cast iron pieces or plastic models from the 60s thru 80s or various train cars from the 50s thru 90s ...

For me one sale I remember was for a Mr Christmas table top Carnival toy that rotated and played music. It was made in China pre-2000 and I had the original box with molded protective styrofoam inserts. A Buyer from China, using a freight forwarding company won the Auction, messaged me shortly after the sale went thru, they asked if I would take the original box and put it in a larger box with extra bubble wrap and peanuts ... THAT was not included in the original sale and was overkill for packaging being shipped to a US address. So I messaged them and advised them if they wanted their forwarding company to add the extra packaging for the shipment from the US to China they were more than welcome to do so. I further pointed out the the original package came from China many years ago, landed in the US, was shipped to a dealer then sold to a customer and that it should certainly still be in good enough shape to ship all the way back to China.

No replybut a few weeks later received Positive FB so whatever happened worked out.

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

caninekopz · ‎05-29-2018

Kind of glad you brough this up. I do agree people identify Ebay as the place they bought something. Not so sure though that people think it comes from Ebay, I think they realise that it is comming from individual sellers. Same with Amazon, If I buy from there, which I rarely do, I look to see if it is from an idividual or a fullfillment center. But again we are asking too much for a buyer to investigate what and where they are buying from.

So as sellers, then do we get to go to Ebay when we have a problem? Like items being returned ruined and having to pay for shipping both ways becasue someone did not like something? I mean whats good for the goose is good for the gander, right.

Buyers come here for one thing....LOWEST PRICE. I tell you that because if Amazon sells if for a lower price they go there. Your remark about sellers being able to "work things out with the buyers" is not true. Buyers know they can request and wait and see if they get it free then on the last day file and send it back at the cost of the seller. My option is to take it back or give them thier money and product for free. Even though Ebay gives me the option of NO RETURNS, they do not stand behind my choice. Ebay does not offer any real protections for its sellers. Now before we dabate that, I understand that and am willing to accept that as I am on here selling. My issue is that Ebay does not stand behind my decision to not take returns. You see I can control my cost by not taking returns. Now I do not want to hear about people ripping off people and sending out SNAD items. If a seller has it stated clearly what the buyers is getting, then no returns when the buyer does not like it. Then I can contiune to sell my products at a cheaper price.

As you stated "eBay has the money back guarantee and this same guarantee lets sellers work out any issues with buyers on there own before eBay steps in. This sure sounds like you the seller have some control over how you react." Let the buyer and seller try to work it out. If the buyer is unhappy then they can pay higher prices for someone who takes returns, and the seller gets bad marks and no one will want to buy from them.

Rich

emerald40 · ‎05-29-2018

@disneyfanatic1515 wrote:
I am a member of 10+ years here and Im feeling like I dont even own my stuff I sell. The fees are getting too high, dont have any control of my listings with them adding best offers when they feel like it or charging shipping fees on top of already high shipping prices to ship our items, my fees are based on their messed up grading system and much more like no protection for us. REALLY@@!! I have ended all my listings and refuse to sell here anymore until who ever owns EBAY understands all you are doing is hosting our stuff and should charge only for that, paypal is a separate entity and does charge a small fee for their part, but it is within reason!!! We are not in school and dont need to be graded for higher fees, on stuff we own. All you need to do is host and add the paypal link in the ad. Thats it. Please everyone stop selling here till this place thinks about its controlling policies for stuff they dont even own!!!

You are still selling on ebay's platform and under their name.

Can you imagine if there were no rules here and ebay let sellers do whatever they wanted.

And buyers would leave in droves if they did not have any protection.

The only way you can have complete control is when you host your own site.

disneyfanatic1515 · ‎05-29-2018

Exactly really why should any of this matter? Its mine and all they do is host the ad. If you havent looked at my feedback already Im 100% that means im an honest seller who makes sure my product reaches you, not EBAY!! See our world is commercialized bad!! Who cares what I sell and what its worth to me or the buyer, you have a choice to either buy or move on, im not forcing nothing on no one, but Im being forced by EBAY is all im saying!!