Sellers Beware of New "Handy Assembly Charge" Feature Ebay Has Added To All Furniture Listings

[mostexcellentdesigns]

Ebay has added a new option on all used furniture listings which has done nothing but confuse and turn off my potential buyers. They added this box just below the Make An Offer button: Chair assembly from Handy - $72.00Handy will email you to schedule service. Handy Terms & Privacy Policy apply  We only sell used furniture and none of it needs assembly and I've already had several potential buyers ask why they have to pay for assembly (and these are only the ones who asked for an explanation and not the ones who just moved on to another seller's listing). This feature should be an option for a seller to add to their listing. Ebay has said this feature is here to stay even on my items that don't need assembly. Charish here we come. 

[everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures]

There is also the issue of the handyman guy damaging it whatever it is and then it being returned.

[everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures]

According to the rep if we do not want the add on services we can have them removed.

Not sure if this is true or not but it is what he just said

[everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures]

Ok so here is the scoop. They have to send a request and wait for a response and then can remove the add on feature (24-72 hours)
So it will be a couple days before I know if it worked.

But according to the rep I spoke with you have to call in and tell them to remove it.

I also gave them all the reason the removal was warranted....
first being it is a no assembly required item.
Buyers don't read and think it is an additional charge and it will cost us sales.
If it is damaged we will be forced to take the return etc etc

[magnoliascreens]

What's this you mention? Keeping fees down? Sorry, back on topic now... we discovered this today after an order came in. This new 'feature' was/is on 2 of the 3 items the gentleman purchased from us. Had heard nothing about the new 'feature' and it appears to us, this "offer" is something we are selling - in house and profiting from. Very confusing and I can see how it would likely steer myself, and others, scurrying from the listing and 'that' seller!.!.!

Guess I'll have to call, write, beg and plea to have it removed from our product listings; or move them into an untainted category that may not be ideal. SMH.

I try hard to not complain publicly about how often we have to modify our workflow, pricing, policies, etc; to simply maintain our economic viability on this platform. One expects to be better heard and treated by their partners, no matter what level they're at. We're no different.

The great news is; we're growing beyond what was projected early on. That could be great news for eBay too. Balls in their court though.

I'll call in after submitting this and try to not be tempted to select "Help with a hacked account" when requesting the call back. Lol!!!

PS eBay: If there's a profit share for those of us lucky enough to have this feature, please advise. 🙂

[moondogblues]

If all sellers have to call to get this 'feature' removed can you all imagine the call volume?

[moondogblues]

This is crazy...looked at a set of patio furniture that does not need assembly at all and found this:

Patio Set Assembly
Patio set assembly (up to 3 pieces) $97.00
Assembly of 1 patio set (up to 3 pieces) per product instructions
Moving to a new room is not included
Buying multiple units? Update service quantity in cart
Name, phone number, email and delivery address will be shared with Porch to fulfill service
Porch will call or text you to schedule service. Porch Terms & Privacy Policy apply

[moondogblues]

It's not just 'Handy'...this ad is from 'Porch'. Has anyone looked into whether these are legit companies?

[readabouthorses]

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@moondogblues wrote:
It's not just 'Handy'...this ad is from 'Porch'. Has anyone looked into whether these are legit companies?

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Walmart uses them and Wayfair uses them so I'm hoping they were checked out. I wonder if they are like the people you get when you go through Angie's List and HomeAdvisor or when you buy something from Lowe's and they have people who do the work like buying a new deck? I would worry about how well all these companies check out the people they recommend.

[everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures]

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@moondogblues wrote:
It's not just 'Handy'...this ad is from 'Porch'. Has anyone looked into whether these are legit companies?

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I briefly looked at Handy and it is a referral service...not with their own emplyees etc
It appears people sign up with them and Handy gives them referrals.
I personally do not want to look like I am endorising anyone doing anything if I do not know who they are and the work they do is acceptable.
I also do not want to deal with the additional risk of some third party damaging stuff that I will end up dealing with in returns or refunds.

[ozarkmountainhomestead]

I just found the "Handy" services link in my listing, prominently located right under my Buy It Now button.  It makes it look like my items need assembly or installation. Our items are handcrafted and do NOT need any assembly. Ebay just decided to insert someone else's link/advertisements into my listing, and this is so tacky.  It is misleading to buyers. Makes it look like they will need help with assembly or installactio, which they will not because they are completely finished and need no installation. Also, it makes it look like I am affiliated with this "Handy" servce. If they try to use Handy, and are not happy, guess who gets the bad feedback.  What if they accidentally check the Handy box and get a $36 additional charge. They will be upset with me.  This is the worst idea Ebay has ever had, and I hope they get rid of this link soon. I called customer service, but they were absolutely no help, saying it can not be removed, and trying to convince me it will help me sell more.  Really???

[ozarkmountainhomestead]

I called ebay to try to get it removed, but they were no help, and just said can't be removed.  Will try again. Maybe I will get a different representative. 

[Anonymous]

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@beardedbovine wrote:

brian@ebay

I'm all for ways to keep our fees down, but things like this should be very clearly marked as an advertisement to eliminate buyer confusion and make it clear it's not a service offered by the seller. The placement should not be within the box that includes price, shipping, offers, etc. Stick it in a separate box and label it as a sponsored service.

A lot of items showing the Handy services are not relevant. It's shown on all picture frames under home & garden --> home decor --> frames

A 4x6 tabletop picture frame offers the option of paying $36 for Handy to come hang it on your wall. The OP of this thread has pre-assembled furniture but the service offered is for assembly. The placements just don't make sense; there's no filter.

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Hi @beardedbovine, happy to clarify that while hanging a picture frame on standard drywall may not be the most common use of this service, some people do have brick, stone, or concrete walls and installation for these surfaces pose additional challenges. Additionally, there are many who are unable to hang pictures/frames due to health restrictions and the Handy service provides a great value to those individuals.

[a_c_green]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@beardedbovine wrote:

brian@ebay

I'm all for ways to keep our fees down, but things like this should be very clearly marked as an advertisement to eliminate buyer confusion and make it clear it's not a service offered by the seller. The placement should not be within the box that includes price, shipping, offers, etc. Stick it in a separate box and label it as a sponsored service.

A lot of items showing the Handy services are not relevant. It's shown on all picture frames under home & garden --> home decor --> frames

A 4x6 tabletop picture frame offers the option of paying $36 for Handy to come hang it on your wall. The OP of this thread has pre-assembled furniture but the service offered is for assembly. The placements just don't make sense; there's no filter.

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Hi @beardedbovine, happy to clarify that while hanging a picture frame on standard drywall may not be the most common use of this service, some people do have brick, stone, or concrete walls and installation for these surfaces pose additional challenges. Additionally, there are many who are unable to hang pictures/frames due to health restrictions and the Handy service provides a great value to those individuals.

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Given that this topic has been lying dormant for a month now, it might have been best left alone, but your answer above seems to be lunging at one minor point while ignoring all of the other major objections in the same post. 

Let's put them here in bulleted form so that each can be addressed separately:

• Things like this should be very clearly marked as an advertisement to eliminate buyer confusion, and make it clear it's not a service offered by the seller.
  
  
• The placement should not be within the box that includes price, shipping, offers, etc. Stick it in a separate box and label it as a sponsored service.
  
  
• A lot of items showing the Handy services are not relevant. It's shown on all picture frames under home & garden --> home decor --> frames. A 4x6 tabletop picture frame offers the option of paying $36 for Handy to come hang it on your wall.
  [This one was answered already.]
  
  
• The OP of this thread has pre-assembled furniture but the service offered is for assembly. The placements just don't make sense; there's no filter.
  

If eBay is going to continue with that third-party assembly idea, the problems and suggestions above really need to be taken into consideration. As with other innovations from eBay, it appears to have been pushed into public use without proper testing. A lot more refinement (especially in where the service should or should not be placed) is desperately needed.

[readabouthorses]

@Anonymous

So Trinton ... I gotta ask. Has Ebay made absolutely sure that these people who might be coming to my home are in fact legit and trustworthy?

I ask this because just recently in my state a family had a terrible experience with one of the people that were recommended by that service called HomeAdvisor. Turns out the guy was a con artist, had a criminal record and was not anyone I would want to invite into my home.

So what happens if a buyer chooses this service and gets ripped off? Who is responsible? The seller? Ebay? Does the service provider take care of any damages this person might do in a home? What if a buyer chooses the service and pays for it and the guy never shows up? How do they get a refund of their money?

[gracieallen01]

@Anonymous

Hello Trinton,

Has ebay checked out to see that the people who will be coming to do the work - through the referral service - are bonded and insured, as well if necessary, licenced through the state where they are working?

Also, have there been any suspicious reports that perhaps they are passing information on to their 'friends' who may be inclined to visit the person using the service sometime when they are not home?

I realize that ebay is 'just posting ads', but I think there might be - or at least, should be - some responsibility to check things out before doing so.  Just look at Craigslist and some others that got shut down because of illegal use of their services.

Do you suppose you could 'check with the team' responsible for the marketing, or whatever, and see if any due diligence has been done?