eBay Justifies Major Billing Change Calling It Simpler

by: lessthanthreerecords

The best case scenario is that all this will do is cost me my credit card cash back (a total of somewhere between $14 to $30 yearly depending on promotions offered - and that's not counting the much more significant loss of FVFs taken directly off the top as of several months ago).  However, what really has me worried is how eBay will handle this new "feature."  I wasn't forced into managed payments until last September, but I was in discussions with eBay since April of 2020, and it has been nothing but a disaster as many/most sellers know.  So, my question is, will eBay grab JUST what sellers' owe?  Or will they take a little extra in hopes that sellers are too stupid to notice?  Then, when they do notice, deny they took extra and make their "reports" so difficult to figure out that it would be difficult to actually prove your case to anyone.  Even worse than taking extra (which would likely be a fairly small amount - not that it is ever justified), would be taking it TWICE, as I've had happen (at least temporarily) with claims.  Yes, a claim is opened, and of course, the funds are immediately put on hold.  Then, some time later (after a return, etc.) I issue a refund.  The money is deducted from my account, YET THE HOLD REMAINS!  To think that eBay would not be bold enough to try a stunt like that with monthly invoice payments is naive to put it lightly.  I hope I'm wrong and that I just lose out on credit card cash back (still a loss).  But in my experience, NOTHING in managed payments works out in a "best case scenario" manner.

by: pace306

Unless I missed something - and please feel free to correct me - besides this being an obvious money grab - what are the time frames for these new "billings".

Is it a daily rolling balance with payouts every 3 days? Is it 1x a week billing? Is there no billing at all and we just trust the Walmart clown to send us money when hes not out playing golf? Will we be sent boxes of Walkers West Famous Chicken Wings instead of cash?

Will thieves like Seeking Alpha keep defending these types of practices?

Who knows!

by: Bill

Another reason I will no longer be selling on eBay when they tell me I Have to join MP. After 22 years it has been a long ride but I will not put up with all of the BS from eBay anymore.

by: Vigilant Eye On eBay

@Bill

+1

by: AllfixElectrical

@Bill

+1

by: Shanna

The monthly bill is usually much more than the daily payouts, I prefer to pay this after an accumulation of funds. How and when will this one large lump sum payment be paid? They, as usual, have not made this clear.

by: papergoy

Does this mean that the eBay Standard International Delivery will be billed this way as well?  Currently it is added to the invoice when scanned.  Does it get taken out upon purchase or when it's scanned?  Nothing seems to answer that.

by: Rexford

Simpler for eBay.

eBay's motto should be "You spoke, we didn't listen".

by: rudestar

ebay hates 2% cash back credit cards. They refuse my cash back paypal card 90% of the time. So they lose 90% of my buying...good for Amazon.

by: pace306

@rude :)

SIR, infinite free BBQ wings made with eBays "Super Seller Sauce" isnt free you know! SOMEONE has to pay for it ..... aka sellers!

Who's going to pay for all those rounds of beer if not sellers? Who will pay for eBay giving free everything (childcare, gym, transportation, golden parachutes) if you cant steal the money from sellers ?

Griff NEEDS his big office and secretary - who are you (or me) to take it away from him? He may need to respond to a "Seller Protection" question by the media and he MUST be prepared! As well - eBay cant let sellers win cases !

by: Snapped

So, eBay’s Venus flytrap Managed Payment trap finally springs. Leaving it’s ‘sellers’ with nothing left to do now but source, list, and - assuming the eCom Gods beget a transaction, ship at their expense, and at eBay’s behest.

And if eBay periodically decides some of your ‘account’ shows a positive ‘balance’, they’ll be sure to release it to you in timely fashion. Assuming ‘their’ buyer doesn’t whine and demand a refund of course, which they’ll automatically grant for you (too!), whether or not you get your stock back.

And don’t worry, they’ll keep it all straight for you. With practically almost up to the minute accuracy. After all, they have to be good enough at accounting to report to Wall Street - your measly one in a couple hundred thousand reports should be a piece of cake to maintain. Better jot it all down quick though, it comes in the digital equivalent of disappearing ink.

What could be simpler than relinquishing all business and cash flow control and decision making? Be sure to leave them a key to your safe though, in case they have to make change or something, k?

And what, possibly, at this point in eBay’s decade long (not just month’s long) dance to wrestle all control from those who bloat their salaries while assuming no risk, could be coming as a ‘surprise’? eBay are the Borg of eCommerce. And this ‘simplification’, just their latest adaptation against seller resistance to assimilation.

by: Geetar

Hmm. Wonder how much business they will loose with their shipping labels.

I buy labels on shipstation. They take CC, I get Cash Back to pay for the service fee + . I end up with sales reports thru there. Helps with ebay's botched sales reports. Ebay's hide and seek numbers I call it.

by: Carl

@Geetar
You probably won't need to think about that much longer.
I am sure eBay have 'forcing to buy shipping through eBay' in the pipeline for sellers...too much of a cut to be lost on shipping otherwise. :)

by: cfrphoto

It is possible to track cash flow, revenue, and eBay fees by recording the Amount, Fees, and Net plus any deductions or additions in the Payouts Summary panel of the Payouts detail window. Unfortunately, eBay does not provide totals if multiple transactions are rolled up in the payout. The "Amount" in the Payouts summary window that links to the Payouts detail window is the same as "Net" in the Payouts detail window. Is no one in charge of coordinating the content of different windows and standardizing terminology?

I have no experience with the impacts of eBay labels on the Payouts window. How much confusion would eBay labels add to the mix? I believe that detailed shipping fees would badly complicate posting payouts to any accounting system. Discount postage is less expensive and more acceptable to stamp collectors.

by: Marie

How is this different than what Etsy or Amazon has been doing for years?  Maybe other sites too that I've never sold on.

by: Actual Seller

I warned this would come and next they will take our label buying.
I earn thousands of year in cashback and eBay is stealing it from me.

Managed Payments is very expensive to real businesses that know how to pay bills.

To noobers that use eBay funds, it seems pretty OK.

by: Chicago48

Another reason NOT to have a store on Ebay.

by: plcombs

It seems to me, it took a Pandemic to give eBay a boost in traffic/users/sales/ etc..and they are now coupled with Hedge Fund Partners squeezing the Lemon (users) as hard as they can with their expanding captive audience.  

Managed Payments was in the works long before the Virus hit, but it is making it much easier for eBay to implement unpopular changes to eke out a few more points from the cash flow of sellers in eBay's system. This of course is all part of the outside investor push that started a couple years ago.  

The expanded quest for higher Q to Q earnings with gimmicks like "Managed Payments" that benefit nobody but eBay will keep coming..

eBay knows, this is how you "boil a frog".  

by: glasspackaging

To @Bill

They told me on feb 1 ... after over 20 years ebay is now in my rear view mirror.....

by: eastwestphoto

Good idea,