In general, is an eBay Powerseller logo an automatic turnoff for you?

lordmarcovan

I don't necessarily mean a big turnoff that would prevent you from bidding. It's just a hypothetical question (it's quiet here at work and I'm bored). If there were two identical coins being sold for identical prices with identical terms, one by a Powerseller and one by an established non-Powerseller member, both of them with decent feedback, I'd go for the little guy every time. Seems to me one would get better, more personalized service that way?

Now, I realize there are lots of variables, and good sellers and bad sellers come in all shapes and sizes. I also realize a number of our respected members are eBay Powersellers. I'm just making wide generalizations, and idly speculating, here.

One might argue that a Powerseller is a professional who treats it as a business; someone who is more likely to handle the transaction efficiently, as opposed to the average amateur, "hobbyist" eBay seller.

Powerseller status carries no weight at all with me, personally. Does it with anyone else, besides eBay themselves?

Russ

<< <i>In general, is an eBay Powerseller logo an automatic turnoff for you? >>



Yes.

Russ, NCNE

Loki

Gee Russ, what an insightful and well thought out response!
At first I thought that a Powerseller logo next to the seller's name meant something; the seller had integrity and was someone that could undeniably be trusted with providing you with a generally efficient and satisfied transaction. Also, I was under the impression that the seller especially had to keep in strict accordance to eBay rules and regs in order to preserve this "special recognition".

Now I see it as nothing more than fluff. Ebay has no teeth; they very loosely enforce their rules with these people (nooo that would hurt their bottom line, just warn them, nothing more). Moreover, powersellers do not have any incentive to be "better than the average seller" in order to keep their logo. The recent Pepperdoodles fiasco proves my point on this.

Loki

A powerseller logo is not a turn off, nor is it an incentive for me to bid. It is merely eye-candy; nothing more, nothing less. I cannot accurately provide an input to this poll within the current framework of the question, so I will leave it at that.

Dog97

No. really doesn't mean anything to me.

fcloud

No. If I need or want an item and the price in still in reason, and their rating is high, I don't care if they have a logo or not.

beorn

my understanding of the powerseller tag,is that it means you meet a $ figure for items sold in a month.it wouldnt affect my decision either way

banknote1

I avoid power sellers like the plague!!!

FatMan

Is it a "turnoff" - No. I pay it no attention whatsoever. It is meaningless and is given out to anyone who sells $2000 a month, good or crappy. I sold clothes, coins, my wifes hallmark ornaments, etc. and became a Powerseller after 3 months. I don't think I had to do anything to get it. I think they sent me an email and said I qualified and linked me to the sign up button on the Powerseller web page. After not selling anything for 10 months they took my icon away. boo hoo.

Every seller needs to be evaluated before you place a bid. Check title, description, payment methods, shipping methods, shipping charges, return policies, images, feedback (Look at all negs & neuts for the past year at least. Don't ignore the positives. Good sellers often receive sincere appreciation. Poor sellers get dull positives). If any information is conflicting or missing it should be a red flag. If you are a good seller you will provide all this clearly. If I do have a question I send it through the ebay system and if I do not receive a response within 24 hours I don't bid.

Don't be dazzled by Powerseller icons, other icons, fancy layouts, mouse trailers, music, etc. Look for CLEAR INFORMATION. If you have any questions about the item ask yourself "why didn't the seller put that in the description?" Nine out of ten times it is because the seller doesn't want you to know the answer.

DHeath

LM,

Ebay made me one, and I don't sell but 8 or 10 items a month. I noticed they made Braddick one too, as well as several other members. Best I can tell, the only advantage to the seller is the ability to use the logo, which is supposed to make the purchaser feel better about the transaction. This is me. You can see by the number of recent transactions, that I certainly am not a volume seller.

telecoin

I avoid power sellers like the plague!!!
That's odd...since 3 of the last 4 items you bought were from Powersellers (?) I guess you like the plague.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>I cannot accurately provide an input to this poll within the current framework of the question, so I will leave it at that. >>



Loki, I would have put an "It depends" option on the poll, but then nearly everyone would have voted for it, thus negating my chances at creating a drivelous, meaningless thread replete with blanket generalizations and empty speculation...

Loki

I guess that just depends LM

fantasiize

It is just another one of these items on a listing that I ingore (means nothing).

danglen

As an eBay Powerseller, I can honestly say it really doesn't mean a thing to me, one way or the other. You achieve Powerseller status by the dollar volume you do in any given month. If you sell one coin, and it's over a certain dollar amount, you become a Powerseller. I think a sellers feedback rating is a lot more meaningful in making an informed bidding decision, and I don't just mean a high number. If a seller has an inordinate amount of negatives, or if recent activity is peppered with negatives, that should be a warning sign to anyone. I always check the content of a seller's feedback file BEFORE bidding on an item.

airplanenut

Who cares- Powerseller's can be great sellers... some just sell loads of crap... if the seller seems to know what he's doing, what should it matter that he has sold a lot of stuff? Is there/should there be a punishment for making eBay someone's fulltime business?

Bear

If I could have my way, I would just buy from bears!!!!

BigD5

I have the Powerseller logo in my auctions, by default. I didn't ask for it, it just shows up for selling certain levels ($$) of items. The only thing that is good about it, for me, is the customer service is upgraded for me.
When I'm buying, it doesn't really matter to me if someone is a Powerseller or not......do I like the coin? That's the important issue.

mr1931S

i'd be more impressed with designated "flower power" sellers...if there were such a thing...

Bulldog

It is all Fluff and bothers me not. If anything, I just chuckle and do what I do.

Bulldog

Coin Finder

Abso friggin lutly!!!!

Tbig

Conder101

If it has any weight with me it would be a slight negative. I probably wouldn't even notice if the auctions I'm bidding on are run by powersellers or not. Much more important to me are simple layout auctions and quality scans. The fancier the seller makes his auction presentation (bold colors, animated graphics, multi layers, objects that chase the curser, unneeded graphics) the more turned off I am. I'm on dial-up and when I pop in to look at an auction and it tels me it's loading 25 items/pictures I often woun't wait and pop right back out again.

MacCoin

its nothing to me how much someone has sold on ebay. I do think its more fun just to buy off anther collector. Its a good way to meet other collectors.

TheNumish

I'm a power seller and the only reason why I keep it is that if I ever had a problem I have access to customer service. Knock on wood I've never had to use it.

If someone doesn't buy from me because I'm a power seller I have to say that it's a pretty stupid reason. I accuratly describe my coins, offer a full refund if not happy, and have zero negative feedbacks with 2,222 positive feedbacks. By the way that doesn't happen by accident. I work hard to make sure my customers are happy. If that's not enough to satisfy you than I give up!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeez, just shoot me now.

tompkins

Powerseller icon is irrelevant to me. Feedback and, where possible, reputation from people on this or other message boards, is far more important. I couldn't even tell you which sellers I have dealt with are "power sellers".

Pete

ms71

Not at all - it depends on the item & the details of the seller's feedback. It sure isn't an attraction, I think it means 98%+ positive. If a guy had 2000 feedbacks and 39 negatives he'd qualify, and those 39 negatives would almost certainly run me off.

coincollector1989

YES

gmarguli

If there were two identical coins being sold for identical prices with identical terms, one by a Powerseller and one by an established non-Powerseller member, both of them with decent feedback, I'd go for the little guy every time. Seems to me one would get better, more personalized service that way?

I'd also go with the "little guy", but not for this reason. At least if I get screwed by the little guy I have a TINY chance of eBay helping me. If I get screwed by a Power Screwer then I know I have no shot in hell.

Power Screwers get away with murder.

JR

Ditto what Greg said.

Power Screwers do get away with murder.

TheNumish

Yea, as soon as I became a power seller I totally changed. I started stealing candy from babies and ringing neighbors doorbells and running away. I even ordered pizza for the house accross the street and watched as the guy tried to deliver it. Then when he went back to the car I shot him in the knee with my BB gun. So go ahead and stay away from power sellers. It's an evil clup run by the devil. Once you sign on you sign off on any integrity you have.

To be serious for a second there are good power sellers and bad power sellers just like there are good regular sellers and bad regular sellers. You just need to look at an auction, check the persons feedback and use your common sense.

Greg-if you sold enough stuff to qualify to be a power seller would you join?

coinrookie

No it doesn`t bother me.But I have noticed when I look at "sealed" proof sets that the power sellers must really keep track of people who die because they must spend alot of time at estate sales

DCAMFranklin

Powerseller status doesn't influence my decision either way. If it is a coin I'd like at an attractive price, then I bid. I do pay attention to feedback. However, with some care. Retaliatory feedback is ignored. Negative feedback from some fellow complaining about S&H charges is ignored. No negative feedback in the prior 6 months will cause me to ignore previous negative feedback.

Feedback complaining about refusing to accept refunds is given consideration. Feedback complaining about rude treatment from a seller is given consideration. Negative feedback complaining about threatening behavior is given consideration. Guess that is why Pepperdoodles gets none of my bids!

JLW

<< <i>If I could have my way, I would just buy from bears!!!! >>


Like this one?

mr1931S

This is not really the topic of this thread but i would mention another turn-off,which will keep me from making even a single bid,is sellers who WILL NOT ANSWER when i use "ask the seller a question"....

i see more and more of this seller behavior these days and just have to wonder...is it laziness?...
can't be bothered with question(s)?...what is the problem?...if i'm standing at your table as a potential customer at a coin show would you stand there like a deaf mute if i show interest in an item in your case?...

funny thing is i suspect these same sellers are the first to whine about the unhappy buyer (who has left negative feedback) "not communicating" with them...

Steve27

I find service tends to be better from non- Powersellers, and when's the last time a Powerseller left you feedback?

flaminio

I lost all respect for PowerSellers when eBay made me one .