The future of eBay

[ebbyisme]

A lot of complaining lately and people posting with what they think eBay should do (including me). But it is what it is. At some point you either have to accept it or leave. If you are staying, why not make the best of it? Do what YOU can to improve the site. you can only control your own actions.

Ebay seems to be trying different things and someone always find some fault with it. Anything that puts the eBay name in public in a non negative way is a good thing for everyone.

So take some responsibility..... name at least one thing eBay can do, taking into consideration their  goals (They aren't getting rid of Chinese sellers or splitting the marketplace), to improve the site for small sellers and something small sellers can do to improve the site.

I try to make sure the buyer has a positive experience. One way is when a new user purchases from me (I have no idea if they are new or its just a new ID, 10 or less FB, created in last 60 days) I try to send a personalized "welcome to ebay" and thank you note. Also I try to send an extra item. Something related to their purchase or another of the same if it is an item they may use two. I've got a few new users to start selling when I suggested or they realized they could sell the free item and their original item would be free. The more paying users the less fees should be.

I never complain or blame eBay for something to my buyer. ie If it results in a loss, I suck it up and eat it. One time a buyer searched for a certain scale item and his search brought back my listing so he bought the item.... no excuses, no blame, I paid for return shipping and took the return.

It probably hurts my sales but I always try to under promise and over deliver... what do you do and what do you recommend new sellers do, especially in categories hurting for sale, to improve the site and it's reputation and hopefully sales.

[tonycea]

Read the forums, we post everyday about what eBay should be doing to help eBay.

[18704d]

Everyone is different, but here is my thoughts.

"Also I try to send an extra item. "

I never do.  It's just an extra thing they can complain about if they dont' like it.

" I've got a few new users to start selling when I suggested or they realized they could sell the free item and their original item would be free. "

I'd never tell them to sell the extra item so their purchased item  would be "free".  Why hint that they may get their original purchase for "free".  Imo, that's too tempting of a road to suggest to them.

"The more paying users the less fees should be."

No.  The more paying users, the higher company profits should be.

I never believen in 'trickle down'.

Thanks,

Lynn

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I don't want an extra item. Most of the time I don't want it. I don't want food from strangers. I don't want religious information or fridge magnets. I just want the thing I bought well wrapped and shipped as quickly as possible.

Did you all read the other day the post about someone ordering a comforter? The seller sent laundry detergent a day before it was to arrive. When the buyer pointed out the fragranced gift was a poor choice for many the seller said they would switch to sending paper towels. WTH? If I buy a comforter I want a comforter, I do not want paper towels (well maybe if they had minions on them).

Sellers are getting far off the track here. Buyers don't want bribes, they want their stuff, drama free.

[xgoblazersx]

You can try your hardest, but someone will always find a way to stick it to you.  Some people just can't be satisfied, and that's the reality of life; especially on Ebay.  I admire positivity, but yours is at a very faulty level.  Denying reality won't help anyone and the fact that Ebay has some major flaws like how one rep tells you one thing and then another rep says something completely different and a case that was in your favor is suddenly ruled against you even when a buyer admits nothing is worng with the item, it just doesn't fit; makes people feel sour agianst the site.  All of your little suggestions have been tried by everyone.  freebies, communication, it's not fool proof.  There are people who have been here very long and there are ust being genuinly screwed.  Instead of telling everyone to just, "get over it or move", why not acknowledge their feelings?

[victorjunkman55]

I've done it all, Nothing seems to work here when buyers don't see your listings. Good Luck to you.

[xgoblazersx]

That's so true.  Another site I order things from is notorious for their sellers, "cutesying" up their packages.  It's annoying unwrapping 6 little things in wrapping paper, tissue papers, and string.  I don't need all of that clutter along with a magnet, a bag of potpurri, perfume samples and other little gifts.  I have allergies and that scented stuff is just as bad as smoke for me.  A thank you card or wrapping everything in lump in a tissue paper caccoon, or just some beaded stuff is fine because it may require a little more protection.

[tonycea]

Exactly, eBay's idea of sending out colorful boxes to advertise their brand is wasting time, buyers want good selection, a search engine that is a real search engine, they want to deal with sellers that deliver the goods they ordered, simple, no fluff, no colorful boxes, no hype.

On a few of these measures eBay is failing miserably.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I got two items wrapped with glitter tissue paper yesterday. There is glitter all over my item and my office. I rip all that stuff off and throw it away. I do not notice what seller it came from. I got about six packages in the mail yesterday, a light day for me.

Extra ribbons, teabags, melted candy, fake flowers, polyester napkins. Just a few of the items I have had to throw away this week.

[reallynicestamps]

a personalized "welcome to ebay" and thank you note.

Good idea.

When I sell an SF book (specialty on another ID) I send a notice of a local SF con to the buyer. We fen tend to be a little introverted and conventions are a good way to meet like-minded people.

never complain or blame eBay for something to my buyer.

Great Ghu exactly!

The seller chose to sell here, with all its faults. And the buyer chose to buy.

Encourage the buyer to stay.

Also, it makes the seller look like a sookie-baby.

try to under promise and over deliver...

In my opinion, too many sellers have over-reacted to mobile usage. Some because they are scared that the mobile customer won't see everything they have to say. Some because it is HARD to enter complete and properly spelled information on that tiny keyboard.

Also I try to send an extra item.

Nope nope nope.

It adds to weight and possibly shipping costs.

It wasn't in the description.

Accidents happen. Chocolates melt. Perfumes are smelly. Small items get swallowed by babies.

A business card, yes.

A 'special offer', yes.

A discount number for future purchases, maybe. (they get lost.)

Because Canada Post has amazingly high shipping rates, I don't usually track my items and use colourful postage stamps* for shipping. Dishonest customers are not a problem in my categories, and I do get appreciative messages about them. YMMV.

*I also sell them at a discount. Sorry, Canadian postage only.

[tonycea]

.......or a boat load of foam peanuts that are not needed because they send it in a box that is way too large........

[timemachine777]

You can still do both. Complaints drive positive changes if enough people are making them. If they don't eventually get at least some of the changes that they want, they leave. The boards are a perfect example of that. Complaints were made after the face lift. Many, many complaints were actually made...some positive changes were made...Some people, left, and some people stayed. And the world turns yet another day.

[timemachine777]

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@tonycea wrote:

.......or a boat load of foam peanuts that are not needed because they send it in a box that is way too large........

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I hate packing peanuts, and I really hate Styrofoam. Static nightmare.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@tonycea wrote:

.......or a boat load of foam peanuts that are not needed because they send it in a box that is way too large........

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Gotta disagree with that one, I love getting packages with styrofoam peanuts. That means I don't have to buy any lol

[pingpong517]

well that is probably because something broke before...so they really want protection...and if it gets there safe...seller happy.