eBay May Launch an Amazon-Style Fulfillment Service

by: KathyE

I rely on Amazon's fulfillment for all my Amazon sales in order to sell at scale.  My customers and I benefit from the low shipping costs Amazon negotiated with UPS.

eBay owns zero inventory so their cost structure would be higher and they lack the expertise and likely the massive volume with UPS to get comparable rates.  So no, I would not use FBE were it offered.

by: epuise

IF you are an eBay Seller who sells mass produced goods, w/ single UPC symbols... a model where you sell hundreds of pieces a month, on one listing... w/ items easily sliding in a bubble envelope, or, pre-packed in foam shipping boxes... who is competing w/ Made In China exporters & Amazon now, and, want to stay selling on eBay, then...FBE... MAY work for you.

IF you are an eBay Seller who has to MAKE or go out, day after day, PRODUCING or SOURCING your OOAK, old, vintage, antique items... who meticulously photos, describes, answers questions w/ item IN HAND... who PACKS the item IN HOUSE, often HAVING to create a CUSTOM box for that UNIQUE item... and inspects the packing... then, FBE is NOT for you.

Simple as that.

by: Barbbie

eBay Shill Buster
True, I think it is called amazon warehouse deals or something like that.

Big Boca
Walmart still has a long way to go, true the buyers are there, but the 3P seller process is just bad. The Walmart metrics are incomprehensible (there is no way to determine what sale it is based on). They don't list half the items due to "price not reasonable" (because they compare every price to the walk in walmart price) yet they let their original 3P sellers list at completely ridiculous prices (I call $17 plus shipping for cupcake liners ridiculous yet mine are not listed because 2.29 is too high , which is less than MSRP, and they actually use the words unreasonable price and that reasoning is applied thousands of times; it could have something to do with making their own price look better). If you think ebay is bad, magnify it by 1000 and that's walmart and jet is far worse.  If Walmart actually allowed its approved sellers to sell at the price they can sell at, they would beat everyone. As it is now, you can't go there and find anything, like you can on Amazon (or should be able to find on ebay) because the bots think the price is too high and won't list it or about 20 other reasons to not list, all equally silly. As for seller services, they must hire from the same pool as ebay, they are terrible.
As for 2 day shipping, I used it, it took about 5 days to get to me. And sadly it took them about as long to cancel the previous purchase I made for the same item which was supposed to be pick up in store but was apparently out of stock, I stupidly thought they were having it sent to the store from their warehouse for me to pick up as to why it was taking so long...nope, I had to re-order. Thankfully, it was not an emergency for me, just a birthday gift, still got in time though.  Walmart has a long way to go in this but hoping they will get there soon.
I think that 2 day delivery is BS just like Ebay's guarantee, it is beyond their control and unfair to tell people that,  when they may rely on it to receive the product in time, at least Amazon gives a range which is more accurate to actual delivery.

by: Frank Abagnale

@ Marzy

Can you please list some of the positive things about EBay?

I guess traffic would be one thing. What else?

I guess the fact that they hide your listings some of the time instead of most of the time, is a positive.

I guess the commission on postage is only about 10% instead of 15% or 20% .

I guess the higher store fees could be even higher with no ebay supplies coupon.

You can say not allowing sellers to leave negative feedback against bad buyers is positive because is saves the sellers time. It's really positive that ebay has these 100% perfect feedback buyers. What platform wouldn't want that?

It's also positive that sellers can manually fix their listings to become mobile friendly to increase sales. The best part is that there is no time limit to fix it. Your listing will be mobile friendly when YOU want them to be, not when ebay wants them to be.

It's always a positive experience to contact multiple CSR's to get multiple answers. That way you can pick best answer.

If your ebay images contain watermarks, they're giving you lots time to change them. If they wanted that done next month, then that would be a negative.

I guess the constant glitches is a positive because when they are fixed, then you can technical say that the technology is new and up to date.

The Fall and Spring Updates are also a positive because the 5 to 7 changes per update means that in that past 10 years there have been 100 to 140 changes and that means in the next 10 years that there will be another 100 to 140 more changes. Of course, these numbers do not include the changes in between the two updates. And all this, just to help us sell more. Change is a positive.

Their leadership is positive too. Which company wouldn't want a constant change of leadership with fresh ideas? I'm sure Hal (I Was With EBay For Two Years And Four Months) Lawton's replacement will have some great ideas before giving way to the next guy.

One of the biggest positives for me is how the EBay marketplace is growing at a whopping 3% because while other marketplaces are much higher (and from what I heard, this online shopping thing is really popular),  3% is higher than 2%, 1%, 0% or less!!! I'm sure I missed a few more but feel free to list more positives.

by: songe-d-automne

Been selling on ebay for nearly 20 years now. They have proven to me, especially over the last 10 years that they are incapable of handling anything smoothly for a seller. I would never opt in to a fulfillment service. I already hate the GSP.  

If the item is under 4 pounds, I am sure your international customers DON'T love your using GSP. Instead of paying $22.50 to ship a 12 ounce item, they are paying $38.00 due to the use of Priority Mail.

I would rather have a happy repeat buyer than to cover my own ass. Yeah, I have had some real loonies I have had to deal with, but it's like 1 out of every 100 or so transactions, so it is a risk I am willing to take.

I have noticed in the past several years that everyone wants to be Amazon. Including ebay.

Amazon already exists, try being something different. No one is going to chose you over them for certain things, so quit trying.

What in crap sets you apart and makes it worthwhile for a buyer to choose you over them?

Ebay has sellers that manage to find and list rare and unique things.
I can't see myself looking for a 1950's hamper with flamingos on it on Amazon - there would not even be a crappy stock photo that they always have...lol. What ebay does have, though they cannot see it, or appreciate it, is the lion's share of the vintage market and it is a large market. If I want to buy some 1960's Barbie clothing, or a statue for the top of a clock, Amazon is never the first place to come to mind...it's ebay.

I wish they would realize this and run with it.

This, paired with either no feedback or two way feedback and no shipping estimate times giving buyers impossible expectations of arrival time stamped all over the front of an auction would make life easier for a lot of sellers.

I also think that phasing out an auction format is a mistake. You just cannot guess what an item might go for at times, and at times there's no info anywhere about it.

Sometimes it is best to let your market decide the price so you are not leaving money on the table. Not every buyer wants to approach a seller with a bloated buy-it-now price and offer them half the price, even though that is what the thing might be worth for fear of offending them. That may chase away those kinds of buyers.

Auction format removes that fear. I detest the 3 day auctions costing $1.00 now. I used to list everything in an auction format with a 3 day length. Now I am forced into 5 days. 3 days was long enough to get the bids you needed, but short enough to appease the impatient buyers and you get the stuff in and out of the house in less than a week. Out of all the things ebay has done to sellers, that is the one I have the most beef with.

Since this is my primary form of income, I could go on all day with my opinions, but I'll stop here.

by: toolguy

@Frank Abagnale

I have something positive to say about eBay.

eBay has paid my bills for 17 years!

eBay accounts for 95% of my income over the past 17 years. . .

I'm not rich but I'm also not homeless. . . .

by: Whatever

Marzy - the negative responses can be attributed to massive frustration with ebay from sellers who continually take a flogging so the big cheese can continue to to keep his outrageous salary and golden parachute. Don't take it too hard because ebay really does deserve it. There is nothing that keep the machine moving but greed.

Aside from the chatter I would never give ebay my items. With 500,000 unique many one of a kinds I'm all to fluent with how hard it is to keep track of a single item never mind how hard I try to track them in my little warehouse. Do I think ebay could do it with millions of others on hand? No I do not. Somebody jump in here - didn't they try to do this once already? Here's the newest scary part - are they going to only show items that the lemmings sent them? Just keep working on your other venue inventories so that when the total collapse comes your not out in the cold.

by: cillianred

@Marzy

You unfortunately found out the hard way what happens here if you are brave enough to even slightly speak out against some of the regular posters.  Toddler style temper tantrums immediately ensue.

As someone else pointed out, it would be nice to have actual conversations/discussions here. You know, the type of conversation that might actually result in constructive thought. But how is that ever going to happen when any sort of dissenting opinion is immediately and bitterly attacked?  Most people don't need that kind of added stress in their lives, so they simply don't make themselves a target and don't post.

It's a shame that the bullies are allowed to rule so thoroughly here.

by: eBay Shill Buster

Looks like eBay management has sent some of their forum plants this way in a vain attempt to control the content posted on this blog, I'm sure they are all posting about it on the private crybaby forums eBay set up for them to conspire on real sellers on the official forums.

They should spend their time sanitizing the Seller Hub forums to be honest, what they are posting over there in real time is reality, I guess management has stuck their heads in the sand once again and swept it all under the rug.

Now they want to blame Ming for all the negative publicity of their own blunders of Seller Hub and Promoted listings and all the other abominations Devin has created for sellers.

by: toolguy

This probably WONT get posted and I have never voiced this before

ALL of my posts are screened before being posted and about 25% of my posts NEVER get posted. (probably for my own good ~ LOL)

I have more good things to say about eBay then bad. . .

by: eXtinctBay

@Marzy
@Calling You Out

C'mon. We aren't fooled. Are you Tristan and Alan from the eBay boards?
Or two other paid cheerleaders??

While there are a few eCommerce Bytes posters who do nothing but spew hate about eBay, some of us prefer to just ''tell it like it is''. And if our posts do sound negative, well, it is because of the many problems eBay seems to refuse to address.

So you are confusing vitriol with honest, fact-based opinions of more than one ECB blogger. Many of which have been banned from the eBay Community boards (not me- I rarely, if ever, post on them).

The rumor of FBE has been floating around for years. Frankly, eBay does not have the chops to compete on this level with Amazon. Opening warehouses and hiring help to fulfill orders is not an easy task, and a huge investment would be neccessary.

And since eBay has a history of doing things ''on the cheap'', it will likely fail. Also, to even consider taking this step, they WILL have to finally purchase and sell their own items (to presumably start a program such as Amazon Prime). Maybe eBay thinks that big manufacturers will just ship their goods to FBE warehouses and allow them to take over from there. I doubt it. These companies want to be paid first.

In my opinion, they will have a very hard time finding those who will pay for an eBay ''Prime'' type membership. And also enlisting folks to ship their items to them. There is a very low level of trust of this company, and I, for one, would never use anyone else (not just eBay) to handle my merchandise. Whether there is a fee or not.

They need to concentrate on their core business and achieve double digit increases in revenue first, than worry about getting into shipping and fulfillment.

by: JQ

Unbelievable. Over the last four years eBay has demonstrated time and time again it is completely in over it's head with the programs it is attempting to run at present. At least they got their homepage to stop crashing, as it did 14+ times in 2014.

What would make ANYONE with any experience selling on eBay think that that batch of clowns would be able to successfully manage a major program like this? If eBay even tries to do this there is a 90%+ probability that seller's trusting enough to send inventory to eBay will find much of it mislabeled, damaged, mailed in inappropriate packaging, mailed to the wrong customers, or simply lost. And there is a 100% change eBay will refuse all responsibility for their failures while claiming the whole thing is a huge success because of all the new fees they rack in.

The level of incompetence and delusion in eBay management correlate very well.  

by: eBay Shill Buster

cillianred, you should try stand up comedy, ":constructive thought" is what we should try as we watch Donahoe and Devin completely destroy eBay, as it is our job to straighten out the destruction they have wrought on eBay.

The morons don't even listen to the sellers on their own forums, now they object and send you shills over here to tell us what to post and how to properly address eBay's terrible management.

 http://www.businessinsider.com/carl-icahn-letter-2014-3

H
ere, go tell Carl Icahn what a great guy Donahoe really was and let me know when you wake up from your fantasy.

by: eXtinctBay

@cillianred

There is a difference between dissenting opinions and fact-based posts.

And those who deserve to be called out are questioned, just as on any other blog.

Yes, there are some frequent posters on ECB that go ''over the line'' at times........

Wanna see TRUE bullies? Go to the Amazon Seller Forums.  

by: eBay Shill Buster

LOL, the eBay Plants have no counter argument, they are simply crybabies employed by the eBay community manager.

They tried in vain to tell eBay sellers how great Sellers Hub was until the forums were overrun with thousands of threads, then the eBay crybabies gave up and put their heads in the sand and came over here.

Their main gig is to either have content and comments deleted or to get members banned when they have no real counter argument.

by: pace306

A few thoughts ...

1) I too have a problem with MING. He doesnt post often enough and when he does - its too darn short - Id like to see him post MORE.

2) I doubt anyone would remember - but I mentioned FBE in my posts for the last 2 yrs or so. eBay has been talking about it for ages - but the sheer scope of such an endevour scared them off - especially considering the "success" of things like eBay NOW (LMAO)

Of course FBE is a few evil things rolled up into 1.

1) as of now its optional - whats optional on day 1 of an eBay idea becomes mandatory on day 2 and that means extra fees. If 2/3 of your items are already being shipped in 2-3 days AND you have "guaranteed delivery" - what would you need FBE for?

A) its a VERO issue (at the behest of big makers)
B) its a optional then forced item authentication game (at a cost)
C) its a learning tool to find out what sellers are selling and where they come from (by letting sellers have their distributors send in goods directly)(then #1 kicks in)
D) its a money grab with PB like Global Shipping
E) its a money grab with UPS or Fed Ex

eBay doesnt have the scale of economy to do FBE, and from the sloppiness of Cassini (which mostly works AGAINST sellers) - its doubtful that it would work smoothly.

F) MOST sellers dont trust eBay and wont do FBE


As for the people who post positive things about eBay - Im probably the biggest eBay basher here - a crown I lovingly stole from my other fellow posters - but it doesnt have to be this way.

Im open to a CONVERSATION - but when you sanction theft and fraud from sellers along with VERO abuse - what kind of starting point IS there ???

AS AN EXAMPLE (and Ive mentioned this before) - I was going to take a detour from electronics to personal items (deodorant etc) and I spoke to eBay about it.

I can get the best costs in the industry (amazing supplier) but the shipping (individual items) is prohibitive.

I asked eBay if I can work out bundles (2-3 of each) and ship FCM can you STILL make me Fast & Free and not demote me to page 3 ... and they told me NO. "even though its commodity items and I ship same day? " ..."SORRY NO".

Ok that went that idea .....

Id like to have positive conversations about eBay - even with eBay toadies - but when you stop voiding your own help pages on seller protections for returns and you stop having Blues pop into conversations telling people about secret hidden rules - THEN we can get down to doing business - till then its just a game.

by: eBay Shill Buster

Pace, this is getting really funny now.

Instead of blaming Devin and his crack team for the embarrassment and the folly of Sellers Hub and the disgrace it has brought upon eBay, we now want to push all the blame on Ming and the ECB team.

It is our fault that eBay is falling apart and we have created the seller rebellion, it has nothing to do with actual policies of forcing Sellers Hub and Promoted Listings on the sellers.

by: Beth

With their total lack of transparency?  Highly unlikely  

by: Toledo Maude

This would be perfect if I sold ''new-in-the-box'' (or package), made in China, and shipped by container to the US.  Easy to store, easy to ship to a buyer.

Saving money in shipping the container to eBay's warehouse rather than mine.  

But I do not.  I sell a few fragile collectibles a week that I would never trust to eBay's underpaid warehouse staff.

Speaking of eBay' sales, what sales?  Going on three weeks and nothing out of eBay.  Thank God for Etsy!

by: RL15

another stupid idea from the stupid ceo.....he is trying so hard to get his golden parachute.

I do find it quite amusing what the fleecebay goofs and cheerleaders are posting.