Why do so many stay?

[toptierties]

    For many years, I have found myself drawn to the link sporting those beautiful and comforting words "Community" looking for a bit of camaraderie, kinship, just feeling connected because, Lord knows, full time eBay can be an awfully lonely job - especially when you're a one person team. I have never been able to go to the Online Community Forum and engage a thread or a comment with more than a fleeting glance before a rapid retreat back into the safety and sanity of my personal account. Once at home , surrounded by listing drafts, store improvements, and marketing strategy - I vow not to return to the community again until it lightens up in the feelings and resentments area.

   Never have I voiced my own thoughts or opinions to the seller news announced by staff, updates provided by the techies and new tools being offered by the platform in the attempt to make seller's lives a wee bit less difficult. In good faith, the men and women employed within these smaller projects put themselves in our shoes in order to provide a better way of doing the tasks we do over and over each day.

   The above I have typed so lightly on the keys of my laptop so I can bang this out with every bit if force my fingers can muster... "If things are so terrible on this platform, if eBay is intent on running you into financial ruin, if it is so much better anywhere other than selling on eBay... WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?" This is the perplexing inquiry of the ecommerce ages, possibly the most important question to be lobbed at such a large miserable herd of whining and pitiful crybabies ever assembled on an ecommerce platform in the internet's short lifespan.

    If you actually believe that it is the intent of this platform to come up with immensely intricate schemes and institute plans so nefarious just to create obstacles for your sales that they're willing to sacrifice their own success and keep ebay's shareholder's from making a tidy profit- if that is the case you are making every time you open your soup cooler on a public page, forum, website, blog, etc. - you are nuttier than a snickers and should have your head examined right away. But please leave this community first, I'm tired of hearing you talk.

    Now, do I think all of eBays ideas are winners? Absolutely not! Do I think they try the occasional bonehead move to punish the very ones who bring in 100% of  the revenue - Hell to the no and so maybe you could restrain yourself to only 1 hairbrained accusation per quarter so that those of us wanting to only have a light hearted discussion with our kinsmen within eBay. If that is too much to ask of you negative nancys - then KICK ROCKS! How about any other eBayers who'd like something positive for a change, why don't you comment?

[rebell45]

Retreat to your safe space now that you've had your say.  Some of us enjoy learning and helping others.

[femmefan1946]

I find most of the long term posters are giving useful advice-- and sometimes tough love -- to those who come here with problems.

Even those with chips bigger than their shoulder.

[downunder-61]

As far as I can see this is your first post here so welcome.

But if as you say you are sick of hearing/reading all the complaintst you do not need to visit here if it causes stree. There is a chat forum if you just want to connect with people....

https://community.ebay.com/t5/The-Soapbox/bd-p/2124

[divwido]

Well, I am not staying.  in fact, I am sorting through all this **bleep** deciding what to keep.  Then, I start a new job sellling scuba gear over there.

[alcoforever]

Some of us really like to bash ebay at every opportunity, myself included.   But I will also jump to ebay's defense whenever a poster here wrongly accuses ebay of some evil act.

Actually, I like your post.   I also wonder why some of the posters are still here.

[vintagecraze50]

I Certainly do not enjoy hearing horror stories on here where people get ripped off. However, that can be a reality on here. Also, most people come here for help support, or just plain sympathy for the stressors they are experiencing. Yes,  I would like to hear more positive stories. Stories where people do feel empowered by being able to be here and sell. I really am appreciative that I can be here and not be OUT THERE, exposed to this virus. The place has literally quite possible saved my life in more ways than one. SO, yes, I am positive and grateful.

[ittybitnot]

 if it is so much better anywhere other than selling on eBay... WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?

@toptierties 

I don't sell here anymore.  After 21 years I certainly had enough.   I am still here because I BUY.  Still a good place to source merchandise to sell someplace else for more money. less fees, and less fraud. 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

We'll....alrighty than. You got that off your chest, but whom are you referring to? Regular posters who had guided, assisted and reassured other ebay sellers when customer service is basically nonexistent? I am on this forum ( as you did ask why) because I really like the other posters. Do I personally know them? No, but I know their wisdom, their experience and they're very intelligent in eBay's policies and guidelines. Sometimes we all " fess up" and have a little fun and it got us thru 2020.

      Sometimes we have a fellow poster that is having a difficult personal situation, we give them encouragement and yes even love. 

     So you see that we are all humans and it's time for all of us to be kind and understanding towards one another.

     I wish you success in your sales.

[gracieallen01]

Some of us haven't 'stayed'.  Some of us have been 'gone' for years, like me.  I've not sold here since 08, after a decade of selling on 4 accounts. 

However, some of us still hold out hope for a 'happening', and perhaps much betterment of the platform, whether it is merely wishful thinking or not.  Some of us still have memories of the 'good ole days' and want to try to help, warn, advise, provide a shoulder to cry on, etc., whatever.  Of course, that doesn't mean that some of us don't moan and groan and cuss a lot, too.

It almost sounds like you could fit in - should you put forth the effort and look at thins from a realistic point of view.  Life happens.

[katzrul15]

Who is the miserable herd of whining crybabies?  The regular posters or those creating the threads each day saying, I'm leaving?

Sorry.....not certain "who" the post is directed to?

[vintagecraze50]

The reality is that it really is not  that bad here in general. People would not stay if such was true for the majority of people here. All selling on the web has it’s challenges and rewards. I am completely in AWE of those who ave worked through a lot of stuff and STILL are here. Bless them all.

[popblox]

I wouldn't even be selling on eBay if it weren't for the decades of threads found here, with miles of posts from experienced sellers. I've been able to solve so many issues before they got out of hand, thanks to the incredibly helpful volunteers - as recent as last night.

Seeing how we're on the internet, this environment is just as susceptible to trolling and occasionally irrational views as anywhere else online. I don't take anything too seriously or personally, but I come back to pay it forward and I still learn something new almost every day, which benefits my business.

This forum is an amazing tool if you use it for the right reasons. 

[luckythewinner]

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"WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?" This is the perplexing inquiry of the ecommerce ages, possibly the most important question to be lobbed at such a large miserable herd of whining and pitiful crybabies ever assembled on an ecommerce platform in the internet's short lifespan"

"How about any other eBayers who'd like something positive for a change, why don't you comment?"

ROTFL. 

[eleanor*rigby]

@downunder-61 wrote:

There is a chat forum if you just want to connect with people....

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Just want to clarify that The Soapbox is not a chat forum to connect with people. There may be some appropriate boards to chat or connect with people on one of the other "eBay Friends" boards, but it wouldn't be The Soapbox.

eBay Friends Boards