eBay

tyler@ebay · ‎09-02-2020

Hi everyone! Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Chat with eBay Staff. We don't have a specific topic this week, so feel free to share any general buying or selling questions you may have!

The chat thread will remain open until 2 PM PT at which point we'll close it from additional responses. After that time, we'll continue to work on responding to any queries that might still be unanswered.

To post your question, click Reply in the lower right corner of this post, type your question, and hit submit between 1-2 PM Pacific Time. The format of our chat mirrors the format of our Community Discussion Boards, where each post will appear in the thread chronologically. The Community Team will review each question as it comes in, and will quote the original question in our reply. This quote and the reply will appear later in the thread, so just keep scrolling down to see our answers.

Missed the chat? Send your questions to the podcast by calling 888-723-4630 or email us at podcast@ebay.com and maybe your questions will make it on the air! Or listen to past episodes while you wait for next Wednesday!

Tyler,

mg152 · ‎09-02-2020

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is well. It’s been a hard few months here. We’ve been at home since February soooo....

Anyway, I wanted to say hi. Thanks to eBay for the $25 coupon for being “one of the first”. Lol! I really feel old now. Ha ha. I’ll try to be online more, it’s just really rough with us being stuck home and me feeling a little nutty.
Now, I guess I’ll go find something to buy after I charge my battery. Hate to pop in and out but my battery is very low. Everyone hang in there! ❤️❤️🐶🐶🐶😀😀

Edit: Reply to this post can be read here

Patricia
eBay member for 25 years

bimmerpc1 · ‎09-02-2020

tyler@ebay wrote:
@bimmerpc1 wrote:
Adding on to @glgenterprise :

Last Friday eBay sent an announcement to Managed Payments sellers about automation changes being made to the returns process.

Three questions:

1) Will sellers still be able to provide RMA numbers prior to eBay automatically issuing a shipping label to the buyer?

2) Will sellers still be able to provide their own return shipping labels? We sell heavy and large items. eBay frequently offers their USPS labels for these types of returns but they are not a good solution: eBay's labels are not insured, they are typically much more expensive than the transaction's original shipping cost and the rates we get through other carriers.

3) If eBay automates all seller inputs for most returns, what happens with the partial refund process or when sellers wish to refund the buyer and not require the item to be shipped back?

Thanks
Hi @bimmerpc1 - answers below:

1. Yes, this process has not changed. If you use the RMA process, the return will be auto-accepted when opened. For SNAD returns, you'll have 3 business days to provide the RMA and, if you wish, an alternate label. For remorse returns, you’ll be given 1 business day.

2. Yes, as long as you utilize the RMA process.

3. A partial refund as part of the return flow is not available with auto-accepted returns. It would still be an option available to you before a buyer opens a return that meets the criteria for auto-acceptance. If you do not want the item back you should be able to set up automation rules that will help with that (My eBay>Account>Site Preferences>Return Preferences).

Great info, thanks

donsdetour · ‎09-02-2020

Are you aware that the new messages to users for signing up to Managed Pay is using old dates, and how soon will it be corrected??

It would help if they actually new the dates this is to happen not past dates..

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here.

unusual_retail · ‎09-02-2020

Something needs to be done by eBay for the gross amount of bootleg and counterfeit shirts being sold here. It basically looks like Canal Street in NY back in the 1980s. Since vintage clothes has made a big comeback over the last few years, the amount of newly made reprints has grown significantly.

Every high dollar vintage shirt (concert tees, WWF, etc.) is being reprinted by unlicensed vendors, and a lot of these are coming from Asia. It's illegal, and they don't hold the license to reprint these items.

And don't suggest the community step up, it isn't the communities responsibility to police your site. The community should find the few that make it through to finish out the filtering process, they are not the front lines. eBay holds a responsibility to crack down, because thousands of dollars are made daily through illegal activity. You, as a company can be held liable if this starts to leak to the artist that are being defrauded.

mam98031 · ‎09-02-2020

@millcreekrescue909 wrote:

That's true. But eBay has never forced you to buy an eBay return label before. Not even Amazon does this. I can buy return label cheaper than eBay return labels.

For me, since I have the RMA checked as a requirement, Ebay has never auto issued a label for me either. At least not until after I assigned an RMA to the return. Then they did. Or if I wanted I could have chosen to do my own label.

Which brings up another good question. For those that don't have a RMA number required on returns checked off in their Return preferences, how will eBay know if a seller would prefer to send their own return shipping label? Is Ebay just going to assume they don't? I can see where that could be a real issue for some. Especially on heavier stuff.

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

brian@ebay · ‎09-02-2020

@millcreekrescue909 wrote:

TECHNICAL ISSUE

When I click on a sold item in Sellers Hub I get a vacation hold notice. My store is not on a vacation hold.

@millcreekrescue909 this is a known issue that is effecting some sellers. It's odd for sure and I'm sorry you're currently effected by it. I'm not aware of a workaround, but you can try placing your store on vacation and then turning the vacation setting off a few minutes later to see if that resets it and fixes the messaging. I'll add your example to the ticket our tech team is reviewing.

Brian,
Community Team

pburn · ‎09-02-2020

@glgenterprise wrote:
What was the criteria for this magical $25 coupon. I have 3 different accounts of differing ages and activities - none of which have gotten this coupon?

That's how I feel every time there's a promo for the mobile app only, or only for certain brands, or only for certain categories, or only for sellers, or, or, or . . .

All promos have limitations or restrictions or minimum purchase limits or whatnot. Most are by invitation only. Some members get them, some don't. If they missed you last time, they'll catch you next time. Whatever.

I registered with eBay in 1998. I am a buyer only. I received a coupon. It clearly states, "A $25 coupon for being with us since the start . . . just for our first members."

tyler@ebay · ‎09-02-2020

@carlqsportscards wrote:

I noticed the $25 coupon I got said it's not good for auctions and best offers. I've never seen that restriction before, so just wanted to confirm that's correct. And if so, why?

Hi @carlqsportscards - yes, that is correct, the terms and conditions of this coupon disallow purchases through Best Offer and Auction-style listings. I don't have a reason for that I'm afraid.

Tyler,

unusual_retail · ‎09-02-2020

Same goes for vintage shirts. Vendors, primarily from Asia, are reprinting valuable shirts from the 80s and 90s and selling them here. No other resale site allows them to the level that eBay does, I think eBay is going to run into some serious trouble if the counterfeit problem isn't fixed soon.

Technology has advanced quite a bit and eBay is very far behind when it comes to enforcing policies to protect legit sellers.

Edit: Reply to this post can be read here

mam98031 · ‎09-02-2020

tyler@ebay wrote:

@bimmerpc1 wrote:

Adding on to @glgenterprise :

Last Friday eBay sent an announcement to Managed Payments sellers about automation changes being made to the returns process.

Three questions:

1) Will sellers still be able to provide RMA numbers prior to eBay automatically issuing a shipping label to the buyer?

2) Will sellers still be able to provide their own return shipping labels? We sell heavy and large items. eBay frequently offers their USPS labels for these types of returns but they are not a good solution: eBay's labels are not insured, they are typically much more expensive than the transaction's original shipping cost and the rates we get through other carriers.

3) If eBay automates all seller inputs for most returns, what happens with the partial refund process or when sellers wish to refund the buyer and not require the item to be shipped back?

Thanks

Hi @bimmerpc1 - answers below:

1. Yes, this process has not changed. If you use the RMA process, the return will be auto-accepted when opened. For SNAD returns, you'll have 3 business days to provide the RMA and, if you wish, an alternate label. For remorse returns, you’ll be given 1 business day.

2. Yes, as long as you utilize the RMA process.

3. A partial refund as part of the return flow is not available with auto-accepted returns. It would still be an option available to you before a buyer opens a return that meets the criteria for auto-acceptance. If you do not want the item back you should be able to set up automation rules that will help with that (My eBay>Account>Site Preferences>Return Preferences).

3. What if a seller has the need to take that on a case by case basis? Setting up a rule for me would not work well.

When we do use the RMA process, if we decide at the time of notification to just fully refund the buyer instead of taking the return, is that an option? Just for clarification.

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

southern*sweet*tea · ‎09-02-2020

I have a listing question.

I have a large lot of choral sheet music. Some are Negro spirituals, most written by Jester Hairston, with some signed by him. (I'm keeping the autographed ones. I have Don Neuen, too for those knowledgeable about gospel music) I met Mr. Hairston at a choral competition back in the early 1980s and he signed them for me. Wonderful, kind and humble man he was.

There is no other way to describe these other than Negro spirituals. They were written by a black man. If I mention "Negro spirituals" in the title, will I be violating the offensive material policy? I know sellers have had legitimate Martin Luther King items removed for violating this offensive policy, and I don't want to bother listing my music if I'm just going to get slapped down.

Thanks!

Edit: Reply to this post can be read here

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

cerealjedi · ‎09-02-2020

I have a high bidder on my action at $55, he asked if I could end that and take $75 I said sure.

How do I do this and get the $75 when high bid shows only $55 at the moment?

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Edit: A reply to your question can be found here.

tyler@ebay · ‎09-02-2020

@glgenterprise wrote:

And to add onto @carlsqsportscards -

What was the criteria for this magical $25 coupon. I have 3 different accounts of differing ages and activities - none of which have gotten this coupon?

Hi @glgenterprise - this was a targeted coupon, so the specific criteria used to determine eligibility isn't something I have access to. However, from what I can tell account age did have something to do with it, but it's unclear if there was a particular threshold or not. Thanks!

Tyler,

glgenterprise · ‎09-02-2020

@pburn wrote:
@glgenterprise wrote:
What was the criteria for this magical $25 coupon. I have 3 different accounts of differing ages and activities - none of which have gotten this coupon?
That's how I feel every time there's a promo for the mobile app only, or only for certain brands, or only for certain categories, or only for sellers, or, or, or . . .

All promos have limitations or restrictions or minimum purchase limits or whatnot. Most are by invitation only. Some members get them, some don't. If they missed you last time, they'll catch you next time. Whatever.

I registered with eBay in 1998. I am a buyer only. I received a coupon. It clearly states, "A $25 coupon for being with us since the start . . . just for our first members."

Except that I've seen multiple postings on the selling thread of people with accounts opened anywhere from 1999 to 2014 that got this coupon. This account - my oldest - is from 2001. That's pretty darn close to the beginning.

I bring eBay a ton of money as a seller on all of my accounts. I took my lumps when I was not included in the expanded zero insertion fee allowance last month. I'm going to express my dissatisfaction when things like this - which are a small token at best - are not evenly distributed. It should not just be "oh, well".