eBay

vssoutlet · ‎04-10-2020

Some thoughts on eBay fee deferrals.

I appreciate the eBay Fee Deferral program. It certainly helps during these hard times. But I'm afraid that putting off March's fees and adding them to April and May (50% each month), might make a bad situation worse. Most sellers are feeling the majority of the pain in March, April and likely May (based on current statistical projections, the earliest that the economy will have even a semblance of normalcy is June). Therefore, this deferral will load one month's payments into two likely very painful months. eBay may want to consider taking March, April and May fees and spreading them out over the last six months of the year starting in June. Otherwise, many of eBay's best sellers may not make it through these hard months.

Just a thought.

dhbookds · ‎04-10-2020

Perhaps one thing sellers should do during this time is "pay as you go"........i.e. pay fees when you sell stuff. That still would leave the store fee open, but adding a buck or two or three to each payment may help with that.

In my opinion, the economy is going to be "off" for more than a couple of months. How that affects the individual sales is unknown.....some will probably prosper, some stay the same, some have much less. Depending/expecting Ebay to mitigate fees is gambling both on sales and on Ebay to do something. If one acts proactively to take care of fees, they can only come out ahead......again, in my opinion.

luckythewinner · ‎04-10-2020

@vssoutlet wrote:
Otherwise, many of eBay's best sellers may not make it through these hard months.

The best sellers have a business plan and a budget, and recognize that a part of each sale is not really their money.

They know that paying their fees is vital to their business, and they keep those fees in reserve to ensure their account remains in good standing.

vssoutlet · ‎04-12-2020

I’m thinking not only of the sellers but about ebay as a viable ongoing business. Ebay could also cut FVF as a mitigation strategy. We are having hard times and they will likely continue into the summer. Ebay would be doing the equivalent of government stimulus for sellers. With the borrowing of money basically free to large corporations, it’s in eBay’s best interest to take a short term hit to keep sellers in the game.

go-bad-chicken · ‎04-12-2020

@vssoutlet wrote:
I’m thinking not only of the sellers but about ebay as a viable ongoing business. Ebay could also cut FVF as a mitigation strategy. We are having hard times and they will likely continue into the summer. Ebay would be doing the equivalent of government stimulus for sellers. With the borrowing of money basically free to large corporations, it’s in eBay’s best interest to take a short term hit to keep sellers in the game.

First off I am a seller who is always going to be onboard with eBay lowering it's FVF's. And I will be the first to crow about it the moment that anyone provides me with the soapbox to climb upon. I mean seriously the FVF's for the Media categories (12% for yall that have not been paying attention for the past couple of years) is A God D@%$! crying shame, **bleep** I SAY! IMPO. But eBay does what eBay does.

What I don't think that you have quite thought through and which I believe that eBay has thought through is the fact that a lot of eBay sellers are going to receive some of that government cheddar. And therefore they (eBay) have positioned themselves to also be the recipients of some of that government cheddar. So if that holds true then there would be no need for eBay TO CHOOSE to take any "short term hit to keep sellers in the game."

Because most sellers are going to be choosing to keep themselves in the game.

But if you are going to give me a soapbox then.........."eBay lower your God D@%$! FVF's for the Media category!"

mam98031 · ‎04-12-2020

@vssoutlet wrote:
I’m thinking not only of the sellers but about ebay as a viable ongoing business. Ebay could also cut FVF as a mitigation strategy. We are having hard times and they will likely continue into the summer. Ebay would be doing the equivalent of government stimulus for sellers. With the borrowing of money basically free to large corporations, it’s in eBay’s best interest to take a short term hit to keep sellers in the game.

I haven't had any of my personal vendors offer to lower fees or rates at all. Power, Gas, Garbage, Water, phone, etc. None of them have stepped forth with that kind of offer. Nor has any online venue I use.

I'm unsure how you link this thought together "about ebay as a viable ongoing business?" Are you suggesting that if they don't lower fees they will somehow become less viable as a business? How or why would that happen?

Speaking for myself only I do not spend any money paid to me for sales on Ebay or any other site I sell on until I deduct my fees, postage and pay my suppliers. As without them I don't have a business in which to earn money. But that is just how I do it.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

vssoutlet · ‎04-12-2020

I hear you, my friend. I have also applied for said “cheddar” but am thus far free of that cheese. Ah, if only I were an airline that spent its money on stock buybacks!

ITo funny how these huge multi-billion dollar corporations cry for public bailouts when they have to close up shop for a month. If we are going to bail them out, perhaps they should be required to keep an emergency fund like insurance companies do and that stock buybacks should be prohibited.

go-bad-chicken · ‎04-12-2020

@vssoutlet wrote:
I hear you, my friend. I have also applied for said “cheddar” but am thus far free of that cheese. Ah, if only I were an airline that spent its money on stock buybacks!

ITo funny how these huge multi-billion dollar corporations cry for public bailouts when they have to close up shop for a month. If we are going to bail them out, perhaps they should be required to keep an emergency fund like insurance companies do and that stock buybacks should be prohibited.

If you have not already done so then I would suggest that you look at applying for one of the SBA loans. I did (on the 1st day that they were made available) through Wells Fargo and have already received my loan (last week) at 1% interest.

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

mam98031 · ‎04-12-2020

@vssoutlet wrote:
I hear you, my friend. I have also applied for said “cheddar” but am thus far free of that cheese. Ah, if only I were an airline that spent its money on stock buybacks!

ITo funny how these huge multi-billion dollar corporations cry for public bailouts when they have to close up shop for a month. If we are going to bail them out, perhaps they should be required to keep an emergency fund like insurance companies do and that stock buybacks should be prohibited.

Not to worry, the $1200 stimulus checks haven't even been released yet. If I understand it correctly, they are suppose to start getting released next week.

IDK if the larger corps have gotten any money yet either.

The democrats held up the bill because it called for NO oversight for the Big companies getting some of the stimulus money. That changed [as it should have IMHO] before they all signed. But unfortunately when it got to the Presidents desk he vowed to defy the oversight on big business.

https://time.com/5814076/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-corporate-bailout/

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

vssoutlet · ‎04-13-2020

I applied the first day it was available. Apparently there was some problem between the banks and the government. Apparently the govt was not clear on the terms and of course the banks LOVE to lend to use small businesses. I also applied to the State of PA. If you haven't looked into state aid, you might want to do that. They may have something to offer.

Fortunately we fall into the same "Non-Store Retailer" category as Amazon (a REALLY tinnnnnnyyyyy Amazon), so we can stay open. We have a single worker there at a time for safety.