Increased monthly zero insertion fee listings for most sellers starting August 1

[jimsvinylvault]

Over a year ago I had over 3,000 items listed within the music (e.g. records) category. Therefore, I was system forced to move from a Premium Store to the much more expensive Anchor Store.
To this date I have just increased my inventory to 6,000 items.....and with my store selling low dollar and low volume, I am barely netting enough to pay my monthly eBay invoice. As I have told
several members of the eBay Seller Support team, unless eBay creates something in between the Premium and Anchor Stores (e.g. "5,000 FREE listings for a monthly contract rate of let's say
$175....okay, how about $200.00).

But to the point of this posting. I now read eBay's posting that IF I sign-up for MP, my Anchor Store will see an increase of 75,000 MORE free listings....pardon me, but whoopie...I can't even use
the 10,000. HOWEVER, that same eBay article states that the Basic Store moves from 250 free listings to 350 free listings; AND will now (under MP) include 10,000 more FREE LISTINGS!
Okay you smarties, I know you are now ahead of me....but:

My currently Anchor Store contract was renewed on June 1, 2020. Sooooo, if I suddenly decided to get 'some religion' and sign-up for Managed Payments, can I then MOVE DOWN to the Basic
Store (at whatever the current rate is for a 12-month contract) WITHOUT PAYING A PENALTY?

PLEASE, no guesswork.....expert answers (are you reading this eBay?) desperately desired. And I know that there are other people in the same 'boat' as me.....whether or not they want to go
with MP.

[jimsvinylvault]

THANKS!  GREAT RESPONSE!  Your assessment is precisely the one that I have made for the past 6+ months.  That is why I have been trying to push eBay into releasing a store between their Premium and Anchor stores.  So far, no obvious luck.....and as far as I know, their is no intent to it.   (Although one GUY on the Seller Support call told me "that they are working on such a release, but I CAN'T RELEASE ANY DETAILS".  Which was pretty much the whole call....he 'knew'  all the answers, but he couldn't share them with me at this time".  If he had been my employee back at IBM, I would have fired his butt!)

As far as staying with this self-imposed project, I am stubborn....so unless the finances increase (which would instantly cause me to call the 'adventure' as over), I am determined to try and take these various distributions as far as I can.  And NO, that doesn't mean I am interested in any other sites.....too much work....and if they are like the other BIG SITE (I don't type it), I found they don't have the reviewers AND that site just wasn't prepared to handle the uniqueness of the vinyl world.  So I am here until no later than September 11, 2022!

And yes, I know that IF the additional FREE listings (NOT the puny 250-350) is permanent within the Basic Store, that I will have to the math....which I am highly capable of doing.  The $278 savings per month has a nice tease to it, but I would have to calculate the penalty for moving downward.....if too much for too long, I will stay where I am.....short range point where I start to realize the $278, then I will calculate when I make that move.

Finally, the accountant advice.  I haven't peeked lately, but I have probably gotten all of my money back for the 100,000 records and/or picture sleeves, but if there is a smart way to roll out the donations for tax relief, I will do that....unless it drags on beyond 2022.  As far as everything else I have hoarded:  (a) The monstrous Elvis Presley vinyl collection:  I'll probably try eBay and maybe places like Craig's List to see if there is any interest, as a whole collection or broken apart into four logical groups; and (b) the boxes and boxes and shelves to my left of LP's:  Probably will just donate them....I doubt I will have time to list them....and then of course, there is the expense of buying cardboard mailers.... 

[points13]

My basic store just renewed and I received this message about cancelling

If you cancel or downgrade a yearly subscription before the last month of your subscription, you will be charged an early termination fee equal to one-third of the remaining value of your yearly subscription.

I figure this is what they will hold you to. The key I guess is wait till you have the option to get in the MP first and see the extra listings in your current store level. Then do the math on the remaining time. Got to figure going to basic is worth it with the 10000 extra. 

Reading some other threads on how to get in MP while not being invited to get the extra listings with no solid answers. So that may be the hard part or waiting game.

I also noticed the eBay supply store now has a LP mailer. Nice way to use your $150 quarterly coupon. I figure the free supplies off set the store fee somewhat.

[gracieallen01]

@jimsvinylvault 

From Wednesday, 22 July 20 weekly chat, below is question and response, by tyler, (12 of 55) regarding downgrading a yearly subscription.  Hope it helps - or defines ebay's stance.  It can be viewed here: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Weekly-Chat-with-eBay-Staff/Community-Chat-July-22-1-00-pm-PT-General-...

@randomsl wrote:

With the radical changes to the number of free listings offered to store subscriptions starting August 1, will we have the option to downgrade yearly store subscriptions without penalty?

Hi @randomsl  - there has been no announced change to the store subscription model itself. If you are in a yearly agreement there is not an option to downgrade without paying a termination fee. Thanks!

[jimsvinylvault]

Avoiding going all the way back to when I start posting on this subject, but here is an update (as of yesterday, August 1st) regarding the additional FREE listings.

Through all the discussions on this site....plus the information that is displayed on the eBay site...MOST OF US came away with the impression that either the huge FREE LISTING numbers were either: (a) A one-time 'gift' we would receive on August 1st; OR (b) possibly a 'gift' that Sellers(*) would get the first of each month.  *And most of us assumed that the Seller would have to be part of Managed Payments to receipt...no matter which way it was distributed.

Yesterday morning I checked my Seller's Hub to see if I did receive the 75,000 FREE listings (because UNFORTUNATELY I have system bullied into an Anchor Store....another story for another time?), even though I am waiting for eBay to activate my prior enlistment.  Sure enough, there within my 'Promotional Offers' section was the posting of 75,000 ADDITIONAL (I already get 10,000 each month).  However, the new news (at least to me....and you too IF you are honest....) was the notation that the free listing quantity was "effective August 1, 2020; and WILL EXPIRE July 31, 2022" .  Oh, and unlike other bonus offerings, where the system scored each new listing and/or releasing against BOTH the current monthly quantity AND the bonus quantity, so far it is only scoring it against the 75,000 (which means to me that I will probably use it up around June next year....).  So my always excessive quantity of 10,000 free listings will just sit there unused until approximately July 2021.  And NO, that is not a problem for me....once the 75,000 exhausts itself, I will 'ride-out' the monthly 10,000 free listings until I close-up shop on September 11, 2022......my 80th birthday, and I have promised my family that I will stop this project and (by some means) get rid of everything so that their Mother/Grandmother doesn't get stuck with all of this....assuming that I get there, it is a promise I will keep.  Enough.  Back to my vinyl mess!  Jim

[gracieallen01]

@jimsvinylvault 

Good Luck!  I know how many times I've 'retired/quit' over the past 50 years - then I find out just how much work 'retirement' is, and how easy it is to sell antiques, by comparison.  😀

[mddugout]

Increased monthly zero insertion fee listings for most sellers starting August 1 ?   are the ancor stores getting any more then the 10,000 ?   I could use more ...

Bob