What is ebay's biggest problem?...Learning?...Perception?...Common Sense?...(Write-Ins?)

[nawlinsron2]

Judges?

[dcintennessee]

@luv3labs, I hope this poignant post finds its way to eBay execs. You eloquently state something they are likely to have overlooked: disregarding (and downright abusing) eBay Sellers is costing them some of the most loyal buyers. 

I can’t entirely agree with posts about greed being the problem. A business is in business to make $$. The problem is that eBay execs are grossly misguided in their quest for higher earnings, and @luv3labs has perfectly explained the ramifications. 

[nawlinsron2]

I'd counter that ebay doesn't "think"...they let AI do that for them.
But...AI is only as strong as it's weakest programmer.

[retrose1]

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@dcintennessee wrote:

@luv3labs, I hope this poignant post finds its way to eBay execs. You eloquently state something they are likely to have overlooked: disregarding (and downright abusing) eBay Sellers is costing them some of the most loyal buyers. 

I can’t entirely agree with posts about greed being the problem. A business is in business to make $$. The problem is that eBay execs are grossly misguided in their quest for higher earnings, and @luv3labs has perfectly explained the ramifications. 

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I don't mind a business to be in business to make all the money they can.  What I do find offensive is the obscene amounts of money being paid to the higher ups that are doing nothing but running the place into the ground with short term glitch fixes.

[dolldesigns4u]

Applying their written rules to ALL sellers so there is an equal and fair playing field.

[dirk12955]

I have not read all 60+ responses, Forgive me if I repeat what somebody else has already said.

Ebay's Decisions for sellers and buyers need to be worked out with input from actual buyers and sellers.

I'm trying to run a business here. I have 50 years experience as either a collector or dealer. I don't need decisions about MY BUSINESS being made by people 1/3 my age
that have never bought or sold anything on Ebay.

[phono_0490xxxxxx]

Two words - ETHICAL CHALLENGED

The Corporation is like any other driven by profit with little regard to ethical practices. Sure, some are not and can be found on lists of ethical investment options for people who have care about the direction society and the environment is heading.  You won't find eBay on that list.

Policies the Corporation have imposed over the years instill a common divisive philosophy - it's a selfish 'whats good for me' position... aka FYJIAR.  This creates a toxic dog eat dog environment.

None of you can deny the 'seller vs buyer' conflict littering these discussion boards.

So it goes.

So here is the thing... guess who profits in the short term by this distrust? 

Those who 'sell' the 'solution' to the 'problem'.... with 'improvements' (TM) ?

When I first started here there was an emphisis on 'ebay community', 'community values'.

What have we got now?  

Many things I've seen implemented by eBay in the past have been more often than not rationalised... not justified.  They have been arrogantly brought down on users without any user consultation and more often than not each policy change has brought negative social consequences. 

If the majority of users had a higher capacity for critical thinking they would see through the rhetorical lies and organise to effect change.  But no, seems few 'blink' and step back to take a broader view on where it's going.. and then actually do something about it.

Personally, I've had mixed 'experience' trading on ebay.  My preferred trading method is through communication with others and 'local pickup' if possible. 

I've met [virtual and actually] very honest and obliging people. Thats been the case remotely... interstate and Internationally too.

And, there have been some less than great people to deal with; some deceptiors, some narrow minded, some just selfish by nature. Those would be about 1% of all trading here. Seriously.

And, seems a growing percentage of the 'affected', by what can only have been ebay instilled distrust in fellow users. Over 10 years that is definitely a growing proportion.

100% Ethically challenged. 

I won't say morally challenged, because that invokes 'morality' and 'faith'.

Some here may... your choice, no problem. But what are the attached 'values'.

Yeah.. I do have a 'social conscience'... call me a 'socialist' if you like.... even 'political'.

It can't be denied we talk policy and rules here - that is 'political'.

So, just consider what this selfish dog eat dog attitude leads to.

A race to the bottom... lower than dog-do.

I'm glad my investment in this misery is virtually nothing.

[abfabvintage]

1. Making changes without testing prior to Live. Warning people in the UA agreements which only a lawyer can decipher, not little old me and only come out maybe weeks before implementation.

2. What focus groups do they use to implement these changes?

3. Can we get a running list of the Blues "will be getting back to the thread" that seems to not happen in all cases? Not faulting Blues, better than on hold with CS, but there are lot of them unanswered. 

4. Not splitting out Pre-Owned, Vintage, Used from the ghastly Mall items New.

5. Making changes where it takes everyone, buyers & sellers, to hunt around for hours to try and figure out where to go.

6. Search: totally screwed up even before recent changes. I go to Goo and E to find what I need for pricing, then Goo shows me what eBay has listed which you can't get doing direct eBay search. 

7. 30 day Return policies for clothing/vintage categories and all other categories that don't fit Collectibles & Art which still have 14. Deliberately setting me up for Rentals so the buyer can wear it, soil it, and return before 30 days as a SNAD.  And of course they also have the PP 180. 

[abfabvintage]

Sorry...and OH...that stupid big blue RETURN button?. On a previous thread I mentioned I bought for the first time in 10 years a watch just to see what buyers see at conclusion of a sale. Not only did eBay show cheaper items on the confirmed purchase, then again another set of cheap on the tracking estimate, and then again on received notice another set of cheap. And now presentday, after 2 weeks it is showing different and a LOT cheaper items. Positive feed was left by both parties in record time. So how long does that infamous button stay there? What, once the 30 day seller return window expires? Just not good for sellers. Maybe eBay now practicing psychology on putting thoughts into buyers heads that they never had. 

[annindallas]

Boy, are you wrong. DW's vision has nothing to do with earnings for their investors.

[phono_0490xxxxxx]

Well, the saying goes... 'In like Flynn' actually. And at 2%..  no, it would be 90% for Errol.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=In%20like%20Flint

And Flint Michigan... sad case.

Thats Corporate nature and the outcomes.

[ted_200]

I think that ebay's biggest problem is failure to realize that all buyers and sellers are NOT alike and trying to force them to assimilate to the ebay way of thinking instead of catering to each group individually.

All they have to do is keep the lights on (and the search engine working correctly).  They should let individual sellers do the thinking - those sellers already know how the group of buyers who buy their items think, and know how to cater to what that group wants.  

ebay is forcing sellers of used/vintage/antiques to conform to the site policies as if their merchandise is new, and to use ebay tools as if vintage merchandise have the same properties as new. 

They're doing that to buyers of same as well.  lov3labs excellent post ^^^ explains it quite well.  They drove them out as a seller, and they drove them out as a buyer - most of their suppliers are NOT eBay sellers now.  What eBay has done to other sellers in my niche... even though I still sell here myself... has resulted in my monthly spend on eBay being 5% or 10% of what it once was too.   

[ted_200]

Ebay's Decisions for sellers and buyers need to be worked out with input from actual buyers and sellers.

Well, to some degree, they are.  It's just that they're all big mass market retailers of NIB consumer goods sold at Fixed Price.  That's why the site looks more and more like Amazon.      

[drinkwine1204]

public opinion

I think people perceive ebay as where people "used to shop". I don't think it is seen as hip, fresh, cool, different, current

[nawlinsron2]

Somebody there associates "fill your cart with color" and "under $10/free shipping"
with all the above.
That "somebody" needs to get out and walk around someplace besides CA.
Maybe spend a week in Kansas City.

[suesbr144]

My view as a buyer:   I can buy items off of multiple sites new and used.   Ebay used to be fun with bidding.

My view as a seller:  why would I want to use auction?  It goes sometimes at a ridiculous low price from lack of seeing the item....and even when the price is ridiculously low, the buyer doesn’t have to pay immediately, if at all.