eBay to Offer Reduced Fees for Social Sharing

by: MichaelP

What about rewarding those sellers who create the listings and take the photos that other sellers then steal, enabled by eBay, to use on their own listings?

Creating quality listings from scratch takes a lot of time and effort, and when someone copies from my listing then eBay should reward me.

I'm a valuable eBay user because I create listings and pictures that other sellers like to steal. I'm busy lining other seller's pockets as well as eBay's and I receive nothing in return.

In fact, I'm being penalized by my own hard work because I then sell less as a result.

by: Marie

@MichaelP

When Ebay started their catalog we agreed to allow them to put our pics in that catalog.  And all seller have the right to use the pics that are in the Ebay catalog.

by: MichaelP

@ Marie, I'm talking about my pictures that are NOT in their catalogue, which would probably be all of them.

For any pictures that are not officially part of the eBay catalogue, eBay policy states very clearly that it not allowed for another person to use those images without consent.

by: MichaelP

@ Marie, Nearly 100% of the items that I sell aren't in the eBay catalogue.

In fact, the vast majority of products on the market aren't in the eBay catalogue.

by: Marie

@MichaelP

If the pics appear on Ebay, Ebay has the right to put them in their Catalog.  

"When you create listings you give eBay and its members permission, through our user agreement, to use your images, videos and product details. Your content may be added to the eBay product catalog, and may be used by other sellers in their eBay listings.

You may contact the member and ask them to remove your image or text from their listing if it is not part of the eBay product catalog."

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/i
mages-text-policy?id=4240

by: MichaelP

@ Marie, I just said eBay is NOT adding my pictures to their catalogue.

Other sellers are stealing my images directly from my listings, which is not allowed.

by: Marie

@MichaelP

Ebay doesn't go after those that breach this rule, they leave that to you to do.  That is why they say "You may contact the member and ask them to remove your image or text from their listing if it is not part of the eBay product catalog."

by: DevilishlySarky

In a history of bonkers ideas ,raised by people who  have no clear Idea of how e-commerce works ; comes another daft plan .
The first flaw in the plan is - ebay think that sellers are replaceable . Like bringing on a sub for your star striker ,when hes injured in a match . because you can only field 11 player at a time - right ?
Just like ebay holds 125,000 sellers and then its full ?? and when one leaves theres a spot for another available - impeccable logic !!
What I sell , may not be jaw droppingly unique , but , its unique enough that if I pull my 700 listings off ebay and peddle them elsewhere ; a percentage of my customers will go with me ,
I understand ebay think buyers are a more valuable commodity  than sellers are - and to a degree it may be true ; but selling on ebay HAS to be profitable ,for me , or tool , or jimmy down the road  otherwise its not worth the hassle
Ive already seen my fees/costs/overheads more than double in the last 18 months and theres a limit to how much you can squeeze an orange to get the juice out , if there ain't no more juice , its time to stop squeezing , and not just change the methodology

by: Eagle

I'd be insulted if I sold on Ebay! They must think their sellers are a bunch of morons. It's like, "Hey! We know you've worked hard to build your personal website and attract customers! Now send your social media traffic to Ebay. We won't charge you as much in FVF fees." I wonder if they realize how stupid it sounds to even promote the offer? I also wonder how many stupid people will go ahead and do it?

by: Nothingnewecrater

Well they can try anything they want. But only an idiot would do all their own promoting and hand eBay any money for doing nothing. The reason we paid eBay fees was they promoted and advertising. If they are not doing anything for me? I sure as hell won't be doing anything for them. Oh wait! I'm not anymore. 9 items listed on eBay. 763 items listed on ecrater.

by: pace306

Marie

What you are saying is very true - HOWEVER

If I sell a Sony PS5 on eBay. Its NOT Sony selling anything and its NOT eBay selling anything - its me - the seller.

%100 that you need both parties involved - but eBay doesnt see or feel it to be that way.

EVERYTHING on eBay is 1 sided. In its original form, eBay made both sides equal - thats exactly why it worked so well.

Bad sellers got rated but so did bad buyers. Thats why it never made sense that eBay would remove the ability to rate bad buyers - if they were bad - why would you want them on site? Is hurting your sellers (and making money) more important then the safety and well being of your sellers?

Tool isnt wrong here - hes just not right. On Amazon - as long as theres a single seller in a ASIN, Amazon is happy - and in fact - in most cases they make more on THEIR FVF then they would if they themselves sold it!

eBay acts as if sellers are only good for doing work for free, and when an issue arises - its just to bad. Customer Service is ABYSMAL and thats being kind (yeh its all covids fault - just ignore the millions of open high paying jobs - where people get signing bonus's to work) .

Its nice that eBay feels that it should rebate sellers if they drive traffic to eBay - but isnt (in reality) what sellers pay EBAY for?

Do sellers pay eBay %12+ or so just for a cranky old website?

We ALL want more business - and its nice that eBay realizes that the source of most of the goodness on eBay is its dedicated sellers and not fly by night jerks who hurt those trying to do the most on the site.

by: epuise

FEE on item price... FEE on postage... FEE on Sales Tax...
Any reason, FREE to Buyer Returns...
No thanks !
I will take CASH & CARRY.

by: toolguy

@pace306

"The have shifted so much of the work onto sellers - theres not much left that they actually do."

Selling today on eBay is way easier then it was in the beginning!

Are you sure you sell on the same eBay as the rest of us?

by: toolguy

Off Topic Question:

Does eBay offer any means of adding to someone's order?

If I have a customer that buys a set of bushings and I have a drill bar that I only want $5 for, is their any means of adding that item to the order.

Or if the customer only wants to buy an additional 2 bushings is there a way to charge them with MP? With Paypal you just sent an invoice.

Where's the upsell for sellers to offer their customers?

by: Marie

@toolguy

I too don't have as many issues as Pace does selling on Ebay which is why I've never understood why they stick around.  But certainly their right to make that choice.

Actually the ability to send an invoice to a buyer through MP for some charge they need to pay whether for additional shipping due to a delivery error on the buyer's part or for another item they want to purchase is on the table.  The MP team is aware of it and hopefully next year we will see this enhancement.

by: iheartjacksparrow

Toolguy writes: "Selling today on eBay is way easier then it was in the beginning!"

While I no longer sell on eBay (and haven't since the beginning of 2008), there is no way it is easier to sell there now. It used to be you typed a description, added a photo, set a price, and that was it. Now you have to add a myriad of other information such as item specifics. And pray you don't get scammed.

by: pace306

@Tool

"Are you sure you sell on the same eBay as the rest of us? "

In what way is it easier?

Easier to get (good) Customer Service?
Is it easier to list items (LONG LONG LONG) lists of FORCED item details?
FORCED 500x 500 pics that you cant personalize that eBay says it has the rights to keep for free forever?

What part(s) are easier?

PLEASE elaborate...

by: pace306

"I too don't have as many issues as Pace does selling on Ebay which is why I've never understood why they stick around."

Because as bad as eBay is - its the #2 ecommerce platform.

(Just) walking away - is "cutting off your nose to spite your face" is it not? The "juice has to be worth the squeeze" plain and simple.

I have no idea what (you) Marie sell - maybe its super bland and vanilla (no IP issues) or maybe its super complicated (high end test equipment) that eBay is too dumb to understand .. no idea - unless you want to tell us.

As for Tool - he sells/sold - old used airplane parts - Boeing isnt coming onto eBay to ask or care where he got some old meter or set of seat screws from.

*I* sell main stream consumer electronics. I dont have MAP issues, I dont sell "highly sensitive" aka the newest items (80" Sony Bravia 8K tv sets), just more common items AND STILL, I have to deal with people - that WOULDNT bother me - unless eBay made a deal with them (verowatch)(as well as others), to bust sellers chops.

None of this is rocket science, but it seems that when dealing with eBay - it is.

Instead of removing fakes and the like - its just bother people for no reason - WHEN USA TRADE LAW is SQUARELY on the side of the seller.

Since 1998 - regardless of ALL my interactions with any of these people OR with eBay - Ive NEVER been sued (since I never did anything wrong), I never got a pigs head in the mail (like Ina did), I never got banned, kicked off or suspended - since I dont DO anything wrong. BUt I dont back down either when the Mafia tries to railroad me.

I never seem to have ANY of these issue with Amazon, Mercari, Top Hatter or any other place ... SO WHY ALWAYS EBAY? WHY ?

Do you understand abit better now?

by: toolguy

@pace306

"As for Tool - he sells/sold - old used airplane parts - Boeing isnt coming onto eBay to ask or care where he got some old meter or set of seat screws from."

Over 5 years and you still can't comprehend I sell TOOLS not PARTS!

I sell American made Air Tools, Rivet Sets and Cutting Tools. I sell Drill Bushings, Torque Wrenches and Sockets. Of the 500 listings I have 99% are made in the USA. . . .Talking about "Rocket Science" I've sold plenty of tools to mechanics at Space X, Lockheed, Northrup & yes even Boeing. . . . . .lol

by: JoannaRyan69

I use MY social media to drive sales to MY website.