SPRING SELLER UPDATE has arrived

[b86fiero]

I just read the important news over on 

ecommercebytes

Many changes - new store tiers - stricter return policies - lots more.

Your thoughts??

[jmenterprises1]

Amen to that!!

[sharingtheland]

I sell clothing, and free returns are a death sentance to the smaller seller. When people have that nothing to lose attitude, they will order 5 things try it on and return it all or what doesn't fit. My concern is not about the damage of items, it's about I don't have to pay for return shipping...Free for all!!!

But you don't have to take free returns unless you want the TRS PLUS status.  I asked before:  How much is that + discount worth to you?

I'm pretty sure that the shipping cost of returning five items would wipe out your discount.

I've been TRS since the program began and have never ever considered jumping through the hoops for the + part.  

[ted_200]

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@sharingthelandwrote:

I want to make sure this gets seen so I'm repeating a post.  Below is a statement from a blue and it seems amazingly seller-friendly.  Of course, you'll pay a boatload in return shipping costs but if it eliminates that "ebay had to step in" defect...

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If you offer free returns, and a buyer returns an item that's not in the same condition as when you shipped it, you as the seller decide the appropriate amount to refund and then your job is done.

We want to make sure you’re protected, so if a buyer asks us to "step in" we will resolve the issue directly with the buyer and you won't have to worry about any buyer protection cases.  In some cases, we may give the buyer the rest of their refund and in other cases we may deny their request, but it will never affect your seller standards and we’ll monitor buyers who ask us to step in closely to ensure they’re not taking advantage of the program.  Also, if the buyer is unhappy with the outcome and leaves negative or neutral feedback, we’ll automatically remove it from your reputation.

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The approriate amount is ZERO! 

50% is a never-ending half-off sale at the expense of the folks who pay the bills.

[bubbleman2010]

The sellers of merchandise that supply far exceeds demand will be the ones most hurt by this roll out. If at time of listing you can't meet  or beat prices and terms of the items being shown in best match when it defaults to group listings your listing will never leave the gate.  Folks will use sales are slow due to school getting out and folks going on vacation and will continue to toss money down the rat hole until late Aug...

[b86fiero]

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@rockz1101wrote:

The only thing that concerns me is the push of the catalog. Our stuff does not fit into the catalog mold very well ~ penguins

same for me

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rockz1101 - wow!  you have some awesome looking rock specimens and beads listed.

I also have handcrafted cabochons (cut and polished by me), jewelry making components, beads, hand crafted jewelry and rock specimens and slabs currently not listed.

I have asked repeatedly over the past couple of years how eBay intends to add items to the catalog that simply do not have upc's or mpn's.  I have yet to receive a definitive answer. 

However,  over on the Spring Update discussion board about product driven results and the catalog my question about these type of items (plus nuts, bolts, screws, etc) appearing in the catalog received a less convoluted response from an eBay staff member than in the past.   A post regarding vintage, ooak and handcrafted items in the catalog got a staff member answering that unique and vintage items will be added to the catalog by the SELLER's. 

In the recent past I was told that seller's would be able to create their own mpn's or buy unique upc's for their unbranded items.  Not another peep on that since. 

How this will not turn into a giant molten mess is anyone's guess. 

[ted_200]

I missed the part where they said they would give the rest out of THEIR pocket.

They said they might.

I'm imagining a scenario of seller gets a rock back instead of a $400 bracelet.  Seller decides the appropriate amount to refund is $1 and ebay says to the seller, "your job is done."  Ebay picks up the remaining $399.   How long do we think this is going to last?  

Seller can only decide $200 or more is an appropriate amount to refund, per the blues over there... 

[roaringspring-sports]

Does anynody really know...If you have TRS Plus...does your listings get moved to the top of the search....if I drop the plus...are my items going to be buried...

[ted_200]

I also have handcrafted cabochons (cut and polished by me), jewelry making components, beads, hand crafted jewelry and rock specimens and slabs currently not listed.

I do too.   Some of it is currently listed.   Just not here.

I have asked repeatedly over the past couple of years how eBay intends to add items to the catalog that simply do not have upc's or mpn's.  I have yet to receive a definitive answer. 

Maybe the Chinese (who sell the bulk of that stuff here) have the answer...

[tunicaslot]

As far as me - you're wrong - if these changes do have an affect on my sales - I have other venues I will move to - I won't be using the sales are slow due to summer vacation - although most of us do have slower sales than.

Right now - I'm not chasing TRS+ and haven't in a long time - if my listings qualify great - if not - so be it - I've never chased it even when it was 20%.

I'm know others are on the actual seller update boards to try and get claification - but I'm sure they'll be along shortly and add their voices.

Lots of changes and we'll just have to see how things pan out. As of now only a select few catagories are involved and things can change in the future if it doesn't pan out the way Ebay thought it would so I'm still not crying the sky is falling.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@roaringspring-sportswrote:

Does anynody really know...If you have TRS Plus...does your listings get moved to the top of the search....if I drop the plus...are my items going to be buried...

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I honestly don't think it makes one bit of difference. 

[bubbleman2010]

Do you use your dashboard to look back at sales during the month?

[mn1111]

I'm trying to figure out if they mean the same thing, i.e. us paying to have an item shipped back that doesn't fit.  I just can't do that with my rate of returns and profit margin.  I just had to up my handling fees to cover the postal increases.  I start all of my auctions off at 99 cents which is a big risk as it is, having to pay return shipping for fit or remorse issues is a non starter for me (unless they up the discount back to 20%, which would basically even it out).

[my_boston_baked_beans]

Looks like vintage/antique just took a bullet, but I have been expecting that moving those type of items off eBay, and not getting rid of them! New direction maybe somewhere more sane...

[my_boston_baked_beans]

*getting rid of the* for good!!

[sharingtheland]

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@ted_200wrote:

I missed the part where they said they would give the rest out of THEIR pocket.

They said they might.

I'm imagining a scenario of seller gets a rock back instead of a $400 bracelet.  Seller decides the appropriate amount to refund is $1 and ebay says to the seller, "your job is done."  Ebay picks up the remaining $399.   How long do we think this is going to last?  

Seller can only decide $200 or more is an appropriate amount to refund, per the blues over there... 

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Oops, thanks, Ted.  I missed the 50% part - so much to read in so many different places...

Okay, change it to ebay picks up the other $200.  How long do we think this is going to last?