New drop shipping rules

[richard1rst]

Sellers who drop ship through a RETAILER will find their listings dropped down in search results. (But not if you drop ship through a WHOLESALER).

So I am guessing that sellers who drop ship through Amazon will be amongst those lowered?

[mam98031]

These are NOT new drop shipping rules.  They are the same ones we have had to deal with for years.  Ebay is just now stepping up their game to try and enforce the rules on this.

Yes, if they are shipping through Amazon and not using their OWN inventory through FBLA on Amazon, they should be lowered in the searches.  I'm not at all sure how Ebay is determining this, but you would be correct.

[tunicaslot]

We can assume as much - I've posted on the Seller Update board where everyone should be asking these questions as that's where they'll be answered. 

I'm wondering about those sellers who use Amazon fulfillment tho for both venues. Not sure how they'll determine the difference.

[richard1rst]

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@mam98031 wrote:

These are NOT new drop shipping rules.  They are the same ones we have had to deal with for years.  Ebay is just now stepping up their game to try and enforce the rules on this.

Fair enough. The rules have existed, the NEW part keys in on their statement that they are going to start enforcing it.

But, also fair enough, how are they going to know which is which (unless someone complains)?

[richard1rst]

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how are they going to know which is which

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I wouldn't be surprised in the listing page suddenly includes a question "do you own the inventory or are you a drop shipper" and if you click drop ship they then ask where it is coming from. That would resolve it?

[rixstuff]

The thing is that most sellers who dropship from Amazon will never TELL YOU - that they SURE don't tell Amazon!    Walmart is also on that list of places to buy items and have them shipped to a different address as if you yourself did it.  It only works until it doesn't though.  A dropshipper will often buy from someone with a no return policy then agree to refund you for the wrong or broken item ONLY if they themselves can return the item or they direct ME to return it to the Amazon seller. NO! The EBAY seller has my money, the Amazon seller doesn't know me from nothing.

[upgradedendmills]

As a seller, I guess this could be considered a good thing.  But, if a seller can source items I want or need through a different venue and still make a profit by selling them to me and it saves me money or time searching myself, more power to them!  I feel that is a seller has a subscription to Prime or some other service that it is a cyber inventory for them and they have every right to sell any portion of that inventory for whatever markup they can get.

     In the last year or so two or three times I have sold an item that was either misplaced or out of stock due to a mistake on my part while listing where I put in a multiple quantity and only had one in stock that had already been sold. When I discovered my mistake I contacted my buyer, explained the problem, and with their approval, purchase a like item from another seller and had it shipped directly to my buyer as a replacement. This eliminated any lag time in getting my customer the time sensitive item they needed, generated extra revenue for eBay, and got me off the hook in a fashion. Doing it this way normally ends up costing me a few bucks, but keeps a happy buyer and saves them and me the trouble of refunding or a delay in shipping.  I don't know if this would be considered "drop shipping" by eBay and don't really care. I would like to retain the option to do it.

     Late in the evening of the Saturday the day before Easter I purchased a product on eBay. It was delivered in a "Prime" box to my porch on Easter Sunday at around 3 P.M.  Absolutely amazing!!!!! I don't know or care if this would be considered "drop shipping".  eBay got their final vale fees, I got my item faster than I could imagine, and hopefully the seller made a profit. I was so impressed with this that I immediately put in another order for more. Same results on the 2nd order. Win, Win, Win...………………………!!!

     I would hope eBay would encourage this type of sale instead of lowering a seller in the search results. Any thing less than that is restraint of trade as far as I am concerned. The seller I purchased from provided a product I wanted at a decent price and superior service. They have invested their own time and money in making that possible and there is no legitimate reason to put roadblocks up for them. Please feel free to tell me why I should feel differently about this.

[luckythewinner]

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@upgradedendmills wrote:

 if a seller can source items I want or need through a different venue and still make a profit by selling them to me and it saves me money or time searching myself, more power to them! 

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The only thing that matters to eBay is how many buyers voice their displeasure to eBay when they find out they are overpaying. Unhappy buyers will leave the site.

[upgradedendmills]

The only people buying anything from eBay are the sellers and advertisers. I don't think that they even come close to providing the one product they sell or reasonable customer service. Thanks.

[mam98031]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

These are NOT new drop shipping rules.  They are the same ones we have had to deal with for years.  Ebay is just now stepping up their game to try and enforce the rules on this.

Fair enough. The rules have existed, the NEW part keys in on their statement that they are going to start enforcing it.

But, also fair enough, how are they going to know which is which (unless someone complains)?

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That isn't what they said.  They said they are going to start to lower them in the search returns for sellers that are deemed to be breaching this rule.  

You are assuming this is their first attempt to get these sellers in line.

[richard1rst]

 For the record. I agree with your comments. I also have had an inventory mis-count  (or damaged item) once in a while and have done the same thing.

My comment was based on what eBay says they are going to do, it was not meant to suggest that it was a GOOD thing. Just a head's up to those who drop ship.

[mam98031]

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@upgradedendmills wrote:

As a seller, I guess this could be considered a good thing.  But, if a seller can source items I want or need through a different venue and still make a profit by selling them to me and it saves me money or time searching myself, more power to them!  I feel that is a seller has a subscription to Prime or some other service that it is a cyber inventory for them and they have every right to sell any portion of that inventory for whatever markup they can get.

     In the last year or so two or three times I have sold an item that was either misplaced or out of stock due to a mistake on my part while listing where I put in a multiple quantity and only had one in stock that had already been sold. When I discovered my mistake I contacted my buyer, explained the problem, and with their approval, purchase a like item from another seller and had it shipped directly to my buyer as a replacement. This eliminated any lag time in getting my customer the time sensitive item they needed, generated extra revenue for eBay, and got me off the hook in a fashion. Doing it this way normally ends up costing me a few bucks, but keeps a happy buyer and saves them and me the trouble of refunding or a delay in shipping.  I don't know if this would be considered "drop shipping" by eBay and don't really care. I would like to retain the option to do it.

     Late in the evening of the Saturday the day before Easter I purchased a product on eBay. It was delivered in a "Prime" box to my porch on Easter Sunday at around 3 P.M.  Absolutely amazing!!!!! I don't know or care if this would be considered "drop shipping".  eBay got their final vale fees, I got my item faster than I could imagine, and hopefully the seller made a profit. I was so impressed with this that I immediately put in another order for more. Same results on the 2nd order. Win, Win, Win...………………………!!!

     I would hope eBay would encourage this type of sale instead of lowering a seller in the search results. Any thing less than that is restraint of trade as far as I am concerned. The seller I purchased from provided a product I wanted at a decent price and superior service. They have invested their own time and money in making that possible and there is no legitimate reason to put roadblocks up for them. Please feel free to tell me why I should feel differently about this.

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I am a drop shipper of some of the items I sell.  I do it within the rules of Ebay.

For sellers that are breaching the rules of drop shipping, it poses a clear and significant problem as to buyer confidence in the Ebay.  By not doing this in the right way, there are increased chances of disappointing and/or upsetting buyers.  It happens far too often.  When you aren't doing it the right way things can be more frequently out of stock, damaged, delayed in shipping etc.  All things that buyers do not like.  

And that is an excellent reason to start to step hard on these practices.  It erodes buyer confidence in the site.  So this policy change should help us all.  Both buyers and sellers.

[upgradedendmills]

Regardless of where or how an eBay seller obtains any item they sell, they do not have the option of having their source take care of any concerns or problems.  Anything (good or bad!) that has to do with an item purchased on eBay is 100% the responsibility of the eBay seller. Rather the item was purchased at a flea market, inherited, stolen, or drop shipped makes no difference at all.  You don't have to go to the Flea Market Association of America, dig up their parents, contact their local police, or complain to Wally World or Amazon.  The seller is 100% responsible. If a seller tells you differently, eBay will back you up 100% of the time. 

[sapphireseal]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@upgradedendmills wrote:

 if a seller can source items I want or need through a different venue and still make a profit by selling them to me and it saves me money or time searching myself, more power to them! 

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The only thing that matters to eBay is how many buyers voice their displeasure to eBay when they find out they are overpaying. Unhappy buyers will leave the site.

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Yeah, it's a quick way to drive buyers to Amazon.   If the buyer figures it out, they will be ticked off and next time will go to Amazon themselves.  If the buyer DOESN'T figure out the seller was dropshipping . . . there's still a big chance they will see the item for cheaper on Amazon later and think, "Oh!  Next time I'll look there first, it's 15% cheaper!"

[upgradedendmills]

Call me stupid, crazy, or old fashioned if needed, but...………  The item I recently purchased and was referring to is fairly hard to find and I had purchased it from this eBay seller in the past. They were out of stock for my reorder, but went to the trouble to restock from their source and fill my order. My total was around $50 for this and a 15% savings would have meant going to a different site and dealing with a new system and seller for $7.50.  I am very pleased with the seller, price, and service. I have an Amazon account, but wouldn't consider going there for this item if I need to reorder. Price does not reflect the total picture.  There are two grocery chains near me. One is Wally world where I get a 10% discount and the other is a local chain.  The quality and service at the local chain are heads above Walmart and I shop there most of the time knowing it will cost me a few bucks.

     As long as I sell on eBay, I will do my buying here also, as much as is possible.