eBay

jasmen@ebay · ‎03-09-2022

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!

Jasmen,
Community Team

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎03-09-2022

I hope to attend the Seller Check In tomorrow. If I can't make it, or if my Internet is screwy, can you confirm that all the videos will be available for Playback after the event?

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

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎03-09-2022

A couple questions about yesterday's Announcement from the Stores team:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Improving-your-Store-s-presence-on-the-View-Item-page-an...

The "9 top categories" which will be featured in the new module (replacing the old listing frame)---will the seller choose the top nine, or will an ebay algo determine that?

I see no mention of the long promised About page feature that will make it easy for buyers to sign up for our newsletter. Can we get an update on that?

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Edit: A reply to your questions can be found here

postcardcountry · ‎03-09-2022

Thank you everyone who has been helping me with item specific issues!

Looks like things are tidier now.

Thanks for the help.

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎03-09-2022

Questions for the Shipping Team about thiis USPS change coming April 3rd:

"NEW: Starting in April 2022, there will be a $1.50 fee for packages that are greater than one cubic foot or have a box length greater than 22 inches if the customer did not provide dimensions or provided inaccurate dimensions inside an online postage provider (e.g. Stamps.com). This will apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail and Parcel Select Ground."

Just trying to make sure I understand this:

(Assume I use ebay shipping labels)

This extra $1.50 is more of a penalty than a fee, is that correct?

And it is NOT something ebay will add to calculated shipping, because the PO won't assess this until the package is actually mailed?

If I'm reading this correctly:

This ONLY applies to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail and Parcel Select Ground.

It ONLY applies if I use an online postage provider (I would assume that would include ebay)

It ONLY applies to packages that are greater than :

one cubic foot
OR
with a box length greater than 22"

and most importantly---

It ONLY applies IF I failed to provide dimensions when printing the label, or IF I provided dimensions that the PO determines were inaccurate.

And if all that is correct, here's a scenario:

I mail a Priority Mail package that is larger than 1 cubic foot (let's say dimensions are actually14" x 14" x 14"), but when printing the label I erroneously provide dimensions of 12" x 12" x 12".

The USPS will charge me --through ebay---with the Postage Due (since the amount I paid for the label will be less than the dim weight due to the incorrect dimensions) AND will charge me the new $1.50 fee as well? Is that correct?

And, if everything I've said so far is correct, that means this $1.50 fee can be avoided simply by making sure I always provide correct dimensions when printing my ebay label?

-----

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

pburn · ‎03-09-2022

Interested in a clarification on seller replies to buyers' negative feedback comments.

From the feedback misuse policy:

What is the policy?

Any misuse of feedback is not allowed. Feedback comments should match the positive or negative rating that was given in both buyer and seller feedback. For example, a negative comment should not be left with a positive rating.

Follow-up or reply comments must also match the rating, and can't be used to change a rating.

Scenario:

Seller leaves positive feedback.
Buyer then leaves negative feedback.
Seller subsequently replies with an inappropriate negative response (abusive, accusatory, or anything else that would potentially be removable).

Question:

Would the seller's inappropriate negative comments in the reply be removable? Could a buyer have an inappropriate reply removed under the guidelines of the feedback misuse policy?

Thanks!

-----

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

divwido · ‎03-09-2022

Two things.

Yesterday afternoon a message flashed on my screen that I had an offer. Know when that offer actually came to me? Just now, about 20 hours later. after the item was sold. Are we having issues?

And I'm begging for someone to fix the item specifics. Not every piece of jewelry is a diamond, they don't have all those specifics.

And if I don't know who made it, why ask me four times when it was made? I"m resorted to lying, just to fill something in. Then we get, "you have too many item specifics".

The absolute lack of any understanding of what we sell on item specifics needs to be fixed. The questions are repeated over and over and many have nothing to do with anything we are selling. I am being driven crazy by the "improvements".

-----

Edit: A reply to your questions can be found here

Good Moms let you lick the Beaters.

Great Moms turn them off first.

jasmen@ebay · ‎03-09-2022

@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

I hope to attend the Seller Check In tomorrow. If I can't make it, or if my Internet is screwy, can you confirm that all the videos will be available for Playback after the event?

Hi @my-cottage-books-and-antiques

Only the main program will be shared, you have to attend the event live to see the breakout sessions.

Thanks!

Jasmen,
Community Team

saturdaystoys · ‎03-09-2022

In attempting to ship a coin using the eBay Standard Envelope option… I am finding the following:

- Category: Coins & Paper Money: Works fine; no issues as long as the envelope requirements are met.

- Collectibles>Disneyana>Contemporary>Coins: shipping not allowed for eBay Standard Envelope.

If I offer to provide shipping when listing in the Disneyana / Coins category… the system allows the buyer to select the eBay Standard Envelope option during check-out, as stated in the listing… but then when I try to print the postage… it blocks my use of that shipping option via eBay Standard Envelope. I'm then forced to select First-Class Mail or another more expensive option.

Not sure I get it… What makes one coin category (with many coin sub-categories) acceptable for using the eBay Standard Envelope… but not acceptable for another coin category. I don’t see anything in the online guidelines for eBay Standard Envelope that speaks to a different policy for select coin categories.

Can you shed any light on this situation? Thanks much...

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

jasmen@ebay · ‎03-09-2022

@pburn wrote:

Interested in a clarification on seller replies to buyers' negative feedback comments.

From the feedback misuse policy:

What is the policy?

Any misuse of feedback is not allowed. Feedback comments should match the positive or negative rating that was given in both buyer and seller feedback. For example, a negative comment should not be left with a positive rating.

Follow-up or reply comments must also match the rating, and can't be used to change a rating.

Scenario:

Seller leaves positive feedback.

Buyer then leaves negative feedback.

Seller subsequently replies with an inappropriate negative response (abusive, accusatory, or anything else that would potentially be removable).

Question:

Would the seller's inappropriate negative comments in the reply be removable? Could a buyer have an inappropriate reply removed under the guidelines of the feedback misuse policy?

Thanks!

Hi @pburn

A reply is also removable if it's inappropriate or qualifies for removal. Thanks!

Jasmen,
Community Team

pburn · ‎03-09-2022

Interested in the current clarification of eBay's feedback misuse policy.

From the policy (in part):

Feedback should only be related to the transaction. We don't allow:

Any references to investigations

I have a bookmarked post from Trinton from 2019 stating:

Comment Removable:

"I filed a claim with eBay and won"
"I had to open a request with eBay and got my money back from the seller"
"PayPal found in my favor, and refunded the money I sent."

Comment Not Removable:

"I wish PayPal would take a closer look"
"I filed an eBay Money Back Guarantee claim"
"I had to open a request with eBay"
"I filed a report with law enforcement"
"This person is under investigation!"
"I opened a case with my CC company and they gave me my money back!"

Question:

Are Trinton's examples of acceptable and not acceptable comments regarding investigations still considered to be valid? If not, is there a more recent interpretation of the policy in that regard?

Thanks!

-----

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

valueaddedresource · ‎03-09-2022

I see that Tyler has been actively cleaning up and updating the Voices: Collectibles section and Steve came back with a promise and a plan for moving forward.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Voices-for-Collectibles/Coming-back-to-the-board-My-promise-to-you/idi...

Considering it has been over 8 months, what is the current status of the Voices initiative for the community and are there still plans to expand it to other categories? If so, what kind of timelines are we looking at and which categories might be on the horizon?

-----

Edit: a reply to your question can be found here

velvet@ebay · ‎03-09-2022

@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

Questions for the Shipping Team about thiis USPS change coming April 3rd:

"NEW: Starting in April 2022, there will be a $1.50 fee for packages that are greater than one cubic foot or have a box length greater than 22 inches if the customer did not provide dimensions or provided inaccurate dimensions inside an online postage provider (e.g. Stamps.com). This will apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail and Parcel Select Ground."

Just trying to make sure I understand this:

(Assume I use ebay shipping labels)

This extra $1.50 is more of a penalty than a fee, is that correct?

And it is NOT something ebay will add to calculated shipping, because the PO won't assess this until the package is actually mailed?

If I'm reading this correctly:

This ONLY applies to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail and Parcel Select Ground.

It ONLY applies if I use an online postage provider (I would assume that would include ebay)

It ONLY applies to packages that are greater than :

one cubic foot
OR
with a box length greater than 22"

and most importantly---

It ONLY applies IF I failed to provide dimensions when printing the label, or IF I provided dimensions that the PO determines were inaccurate.

And if all that is correct, here's a scenario:

I mail a Priority Mail package that is larger than 1 cubic foot (let's say dimensions are actually14" x 14" x 14"), but when printing the label I erroneously provide dimensions of 12" x 12" x 12".

The USPS will charge me --through ebay---with the Postage Due (since the amount I paid for the label will be less than the dim weight due to the incorrect dimensions) AND will charge me the new $1.50 fee as well? Is that correct?

And, if everything I've said so far is correct, that means this $1.50 fee can be avoided simply by making sure I always provide correct dimensions when printing my ebay label?

Hi @my-cottage-books-and-antiques! I'll be sure to pass this on to the shipping team and will follow-up with anything they provide me.

-----

Edit: Follow-up post can be found here.

Velvet,

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎03-09-2022

Questions for the Shipping Team regarding this change coming from the USPS on April 3rd (Please try to provide answers as quickly as possible, as this is now only a few weeks away😞

"NEW: Starting in April 2022, there will be a new “nonstandard fee” for packages that must be sorted manually by the USPS when the dimensions of the package exceed sortation requirements. Rates will be adjusted based on box dimensions. Packages with length over 22 inches will have a $4.00 surcharge, packages with length over 30 inches will have $15.00 surcharge and packages over 2 cubic feet will have a $15.00 surcharge. This will apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail and Parcel Select Ground."

Assume I use ebay shipping labels, and I only use USPS.

This ONLY applies to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and Parcel Select Ground.

Which means it does NOT apply to USPS Retail Ground. I generally use USPS Parcel Select via ebay labels. To use Retail Ground, I must either buy my label at the USPS Counter or online directly through the USPS "Click n' Ship. Normally, there can be a substantial savings for using Parcel Select.

However, if my package meets the size criteria for these surcharges, would it be LESS expensive to use Retail Ground in those situations, since I could avoid the new Nonstandard fee?

This ONLY applies to packages with a length over 22", and over 30", and over 2 cubic feet. Do those measurements AUTOMATICALLY mean the package "must be sorted manually", and do they AUTOMATICALLY "exceed sortation requirements"? No exceptions? In other words, does this new nonstandard fee apply to any and all PME, PM, and USPS Parcel Select Ground packages where length exceeds 22" or which exceeds 2 cubic feet?

Assuming the answer is "yes" to that question--- when using ebay calculated shipping, will ebay automatically include this in its calculation for my packages that exceed the 22" length or 2 cubic foot criteria? (Just as it does now for dim weight)

If I use ebay and Flat Rate shipping, I will need to consider adding these fees to my existing flat rate items, correct?

And if I am using Free Shipping, I will need to consider increasing my item price, or perhaps adding the nonstandard fee as a shipping charge, and eliminate my free shipping entirely?

If my Priority Mail package exceeds 30" in length AND exceeds 2 cubic feet, will I be assessed TWO nonstandard fees of $15.00 each (total of $30.00)? Or will I be assessed just one $15.00 fee?

Has ebay negotiated any discount for ebay sellers for these new nonstandard fees? If not, Is ebay working on that?

These new nonstandard fees will hit some sellers pretty hard, and in some cases will likely mean that some sellers will stop offering certain merchandise. (Keep in mind that not only does this increase the shipping cost, but also increases how much we pay ebay in FVF, because the FVF is calculated on the total payment price, including shipping.)

What is ebay doing to help?

If ebay cannot negotiate a substantial discount of some sort for the new nonstandard fee, would the Shipping Team consider putting together a Resource Page with information on how best to ship items that trigger these criteria?

-----

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

jasmen@ebay · ‎03-09-2022

@pburn wrote:

Interested in the current clarification of eBay's feedback misuse policy.

From the policy (in part):

Feedback should only be related to the transaction. We don't allow:

Any references to investigations

I have a bookmarked post from Trinton from 2019 stating:

Comment Removable:

"I filed a claim with eBay and won"

"I had to open a request with eBay and got my money back from the seller"

"PayPal found in my favor, and refunded the money I sent."

Comment Not Removable:

"I wish PayPal would take a closer look"

"I filed an eBay Money Back Guarantee claim"

"I had to open a request with eBay"

"I filed a report with law enforcement"

"This person is under investigation!"

"I opened a case with my CC company and they gave me my money back!"

Question:

Are Trinton's examples of acceptable and not acceptable comments regarding investigations still considered to be valid? If not, is there a more recent interpretation of the policy in that regard?

Thanks!