Changes to eBay Stores Are on the Way

by: Ming the Merciless

As usual we're being dictated to as the methods we'll be using for the race to the bottom.

Why not let us design our own so that they'll work for what each of us sells?

I already offer "free shipping" and the items I sell aren't amenable to the limited number of choices ebay so graciously provides without business killing results.

Ebay, STOP DICTATING MY BUSINESS PRACTICES!

My prices are as low as they're going to go. If sellers would ignore ebay's attempts to force us into downward spirals, we'd all be better off.

Gawd, I hate these people!

by: Ric

New features from eBay ...hmmmm.... I smell fee increase for store owners within 6 months of launch.

by: Ogri

The mobile 'thing' still confuses me as it combines tablets (Ipads etc) with mobile phones.  When I look at website stats (from Google Analytics) for past month - approx 25% of visitors used a mobile device, and breaking that down further 6% used a mobile phone.
In my simple world that means 19% of visitors used a tablet which is about the same size as a small laptop so probably dont need any 'special' treatment.  Maybe thats unusual and specific, but the stats are consistent month after month.

Making the shopfront look different with 'powerful merchandising features' would work if the features were fully customisable and I could make my shop look like I want it to look to suit my products (as Mr Ming says). Or, in other words doesn't work for me.
More standardisation when the rest of the world has been heading in the opposite direction for the past 100 years or so - have ebay been reading Henry Fords marketing advice again?
Overall impression; glossy store front with a Dickensian interior, i.e. making the features and impression fit the software available (tail wagging the dog).  

by: Rexford

Ric says "New features from eBay ...hmmmm.... I smell fee increase for store owners within 6 months of launch."

Bingo!

I still wish that they would fix what is broken before they dive into new designs and fixtures.

by: NetWatch

I guess this new store design means no more Selling Limits and no more being suspended for a couple of low DSRs, huh? Didn't think so.

by: PowerSeller2007

I advise against making ebay SALES promotion on email.  It would invite bad ebay buyers.  After you sold a lot including to bad buyers, ebay will attach your TRS and cut your 20% discount.  

Ebay should offer TRUE seller protection... not the fake protection.  If sellers are happy and marketplace become safe, sellers would naturally give discount to make more growth.
Ebay strategy is only self serving.  

It is also wrong for Paypal to attract ebay sellers to get loan and risk their home to engage in ebay business.   JD is reviving S&L scandal in Greedbay and Preypal world.  

Offering ebay sellers loans knowing they are no safer selling on ebay's Cassini than gamble them in Casino is WRONG!

by: PowerSeller2007

Now that the Dept of Commerce is involved and looking after medium and small ebay sellers, should not there be a suggestion box or email to the Commerce Secretary to complain about ebay's UNFAIR practices!

by: FREDDY

ebay board and jd are just pathetic......

by: Puck

"Great News For Sellers!"
Words that make my back teeth ache.

by: alfabarn

When I read this I thought, sounds just like the features I have with my own website. And many other hosting plans offered to small vendors.
I do not want to sound like an Ebay cheerleader but is it possible that Ebay realizes that the ''purges'' may have gone to far?

I came close enough to being purged that I went out on my own. I wrote a letter to Ebay suggesting that whatever standards they where using where far to rigid and overlooked the importance of small vendors. All this at a time when Ebay themselves where starting to promote the ''niche'' market and perhaps so obsessed with big box stores that they overlooked the small sellers are often ''the draw'' in a niche market.

They removed two sets of DSR's. Now they have, without a change in my DSR numbers, moved me from red, to green. And offers of free listings. And now, the same options small sellers have with hosting sites. Have other ''purged'' or marginalized small sellers experienced the same?    

by: JohnGermaine

Nowhere does it tell me how much time I have to spend reworking my listings. This is getting old!! Hire some new geeks and we get to do a whole bunch of more work. I am still catching up with stupid Cassini!!

by: thehosst

We got buyers asking to match the prices for purchases already made, which is against eBay policy, but if we do not match the price then we get negative comments for whatever reason, of course the smart eBay staff needs to see a complete written confession from the buyer before wanting to remove these type of feedback.

Anyway, what type of promotions can a seller afford? Only about to expire, defective or sellers going out of business can afford those promotions. They should work more on educating buyers and in protecting sellers such as not allowing feedback if the buyer has less than 20 transactions.  

by: Puck

" but is it possible that Ebay realizes that the ''purges'' may have gone to far?"

Not a chance.

The only way these birds will ever realize anything is when the tumbrels roll up to the home office's front door.

by: Puck

"Anyway, what type of promotions can a seller afford?"

I'm waiting for a promotion on my normally 10% FVFs.

Perhaps eBay will "Simplify" them up to 12% in the Spring '14 Seller Updates...

by: Ming the Merciless

Seriously, once again we have another stark example of how out of touch and disconnected the idiots who came up with these discounts are from realities of the ebay.com marketplace.

Who in their right mind, for example, can afford "free shipping" and offer $15.00 off of a $50.00 total purchase unless their markup is 1000%?

As Ric pointed out, this is just another in a long list of ebay's transparent greed schemes of unnecessary garbage to justify a fee hike and the jobs of incompetents.

by: Puck

Perhaps Wayfair Jake can use the eBay Promotion Manager to minimize buyer red doughnuts like this:

"This company is a nightmare. Like dealing with a robot!"

Perfect fit for the robotic New eBay.

by: sickandtired

I'm a small time one person operation - run a few auctions every week and have about 500 items in my basic store.

Don't do anything fancy - my store is the basic way it came - all I did was add store categories for my stuff.

The one thing that I have been asking ebay to do ever since I signed up, seems simple to me, but they just don't get it.

I occasionally run sales using markdown manager. Pick the items I want to include and then a % off. I have suggested to ebay until I'm blue in the face that they put in an option that when your sale is created the "or best offer" is suspended on the sale items and then can be back on when the sale is over.

I find it very insulting when I have items at 40 or 50% off and get offers of less than half of that.  If it is on sale at 50% off, that is my best price.  I have made exceptions for repeat customers or someone who wants to buy several items but that is on a case by case basis.

Those of you who don't like that potential feature would not have to use it, but it would make my life much easier.  I sometimes get nasties from buyers when I won't accept their offers. The immediately go on my bbl, but would love to avoid the hassle in the first place.

I also can see fee increases in our future....new and improved is ebay speak for we gonna charge you mooooooore!

by: PowerSeller2007

I have buyers complaining and won't agree to provide evidence and pictures and refused to return items and ask for refunds, all recorded on ebay open cases, ebay sided with buyers.  And the thieves are all buying again.

Promotions?  Another ebay trick.

If ebay wanted small US sellers to sell more, NUKE CASSINI NOW!

JD, stop using FISH and HOOK!
No one is biting.  You have to hook us from behind.

by: Puck

"You have to hook us from behind."

The "Rear Assault" model taught at Stanford Graduate B-School.

by: pace306

JD & Co must be getting smaller sellers confused (well just look at him - his facial expression says"Im confused"!) with his GSI Commerce clients like JC Pennys or Macys.

They run %40 off sales all the time. True they mark it all up %200 BEFORE the sale - but thats not the point here.

Most smaller sellers price things fairly. We have to - or we wouldnt be in business - unless we have something so rare and so unique that we can charge as we please.

We arent those American Pickers who buy stuff cheap and then sell it for %100 of what they paid.

Sellers (at least the ones that I know) have relationships - with manufactorers, distributors and other contacts which work to get them deals, or enable them to compete against "the big boys".

Trust me that none of us are getting rich off eBay (never mind its selling limits, illegal activities etc).

I would never useany of those promotions or rules - I have no need to.

If a buyer needs/wants a better number then what Ive got it for sale for - thats what email is for. Ive done better deals, and given larger discounts - its the exception and NOT the rule.

Ok true I then stear them to buy it OFF eBay - but thats how I get my revenge on eBay :) (COME SUE ME EBAY IF YOU CAN)

The real issue here is that none of these "fixes, improvements etc" are designed to help seller, they exist to enrich JD.

Count me out please.