More new ebay seller terms, now under 4.3 stars and you can't sell on Ebay at all!

seateddime

Here is a follow-up email regarding recent changes on eBay. eBay is taking steps to create a great marketplace for sellers, reduce upfront selling fees, optimize search exposure and build buyer confidence, that will help drive more sales for sellers.

Here’s a quick recap of the key changes, followed by a listings checklist:

Auction-style listings are still the heart of eBay: There are no changes in basic fees; when you start pricing low; auction-style is still the best deal on eBay. Along with item relevance, seller DSRs, and total price, the time remaining is also key for Auction-style listings. That means your Auction-style listings will continue to get an automatic boost in exposure as ending time approaches. To learn more about fee changes, visit http://www.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/BasicFees

Insertion Fees for Fixed Price Listings: eBay has lowered upfront listing fees for Fixed Price listings to a new flat rate Insertion Fee of just 35¢, regardless of asking price or number of items available in your listing. For more information on new fees, visit http://www.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/BasicFees

Fixed Price—your listing’s recent sales now factored into Best Match search results: Now, the more items sold in your fixed price listing, the better position you get in search results. “Time ending soonest” is no longer a factor for Fixed Price. The best way to build up a “recent sales” advantage is to combine similar items in one multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with the new 30-day duration option included at no extra charge. In fact, this would be a great time for you to consider moving some of your best Store inventory to 30-day fixed price listings on eBay. Your listings will get more exposure at a very low price. To learn more about the recent sales factor, visit http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/ConfidentBuyers/#2 And as always, maintain good DSRs and price your items competitively.

Limits on shipping and handling charges for key categories: Starting in October, eBay is enforcing maximum shipping and handling charges in Books, DVDs and Movies, Music, and Video Games categories. You are encouraged to use the shipping calculator to charge actual costs at or below the maximums. If your situation is not standard (e.g., if you’re shipping several items to one buyer), you can also use the shipping calculator to charge actual costs. To learn more, visit http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/MaxShipping

Special incentives for free shipping: For items sold between October 1st and December 31st, 2008 that offer free shipping, eBay will include a free subtitle upgrade to highlight this benefit in your listing and PowerSellers will get double their Final Value Fee discounts. As always, listings with free shipping get an extra advantage in search results. To learn more, visit http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/OtherFAQ

Checks and money orders no longer allowed: Beginning in late October, sellers will no longer be allowed to offer checks or money orders as payment methods on eBay. Only approved electronic methods will be allowed. In January 2009, all accepted payment methods will be integrated into eBay Checkout. For buyers, change means a more consistent and secure payment experience. For sellers, it means faster payment and fewer unpaid items. (Note this policy will not apply to some categories in Motors, Real Estate, Mature Audiences, and Business & Industrial). To learn more, visit http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/OtherFAQ/#3

Minimum 4.3 detailed seller ratings (DSRs) required to keep selling on eBay: The vast majority of eBay sellers—some 96%—are well above this threshold. To protect the interests of all these sellers, starting November 1, eBay will no longer allow the few who don’t deliver on basic standards of customer satisfaction to sell on eBay. Sellers will be evaluated on the past 30 days of DSRs. Sellers who’ve received less than ten DSRs in the past 30 days will be evaluated on their DSRs over the last 12 months. Sellers with no DSRs will still be allowed to list. To learn more, visit http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/OtherFAQ/index.html#4

Russ

Last month called. They'd like their news back.

Russ, NCNE

jessewvu

<< <i>Last month called. They'd like their news back.

Russ, NCNE >>



That's funny Russ!

291fifth

They seem to be getting closer and closer to stepping out of the "we are only a venue" position.

7over8

where does ebay even publish your 3 mo DSR? The only one I see is a 12month rolling DSR.....on the feedback pages

seateddime

I have aleady been pulling coins down.

Why risk selling a cheap coin and getting a bad feedback?

I clearly put 5 days handling time in the auction because I know I need to goto the bank and get the coins and it always the guy who bought the $30 coin for $10 who screws up your feedback. Now you can have 100% positive feedback and have ebay tell you that you can't sell.

Every month it seems to get worse, I guess this is why the stock is at $17 a share!

Dog97

1 or 2 arseholes can’t knock your stars out. It takes a lot of consistant bad ratings to eat away your stars.

ArizonaJack

<< <i>1 or 2 arseholes can’t knock your stars out. It takes a lot of consistant bad ratings to eat away your stars. >>



Exactly.

seateddime

I find I get lots of feedbacks but not detailed feedbacks. Maybe 1 out 3 at best but it also the people who don't read the 5 day handling time that whine too. Sometimes you have to get a coin and sometimes you are out of town. If this is not your business it does not mean you should not be able to sell.

If you show 5 day handling and 3-5 days to ship it could be a close to 2 weeks for a coin to arrive. If I ship registered mail it could be longer.

I have already started pulling down coins off ebay and will rebuild my website. There is a reason this stock is at a multi-year low and it not the economy or the stock market, it is stupid rules. I think they are trying to get rid of the everyday sellers.

Just wait until they don't let you take checks anymore.

WinPitcher

I think they are trying to get rid of the everyday sellers.


That is exactly what they are trying to do. They want Walmarts and large stores selling on ebay not the lil guy.


Steve

Dog97

<<<I find I get lots of feedbacks but not detailed feedbacks. Maybe 1 out 3 at best>>>
That's because it's a pain + it's damn awkward to do. I do it though. I don't run to the puter and leave feedback immediately after the mailman or big brown truck comes, I do it every week or 2 or 3 and knock out about 10-30 feedbacks in 1 session.
Item description should be easy to rate...I bought a Harley last week and the "Item Specifics" had the wrong year, wrong size engine and a VIN # that's nothing near what a VIN # should be and the description said <<<MOTOR IS FREE. THIS IS SOLD AS IS WHERE IS. WITH BILL OF SALE. UNSURE OF YEAR OR SIZE-MAYBE YOU KNOW?-PLEASE INSPECT BEFORE BIDDING.>>> Who would buy a vehicle with only that kind of description? Me, cause I knew exactly what it was. After I drove 400 miles to pick it up the owner told me it hadn't been cranked in 25 years. I cranked it first kick. That was a 5* description to me!
How do you rate "Communication?" Is an automatic invoice a 5* communication even though the seller didn't actually communicate or should that be a 3* for neither good nor bad and a personal email thanking me for my biz be an exclusive 5*?
I can't remember what I did yesterday, nevermind when I bought smoething and when it actually arrived, I have to go research the auction page, dig the box out of the garbage and see when the seller mailed it and when it actually arrived. A seller mails me something the next day bulk media mail and it takes 3 weeks for me to get it...is that a 1* for talking so long or a 3* for neither reasonable nor unreasonable or a 5* because he mailed it the next day?
To me, only free shipping is a 5*, actual cost is a 4* cause it's reasonable. A handling charge but my item comes wrapped in a paper towel is a low * because that unreasonable because a paper towel costs what, 2¢?
I’m not complaining though, I do like the DSR though, because I can leave good feedback but still remark about bad shipping or description without leaving a neg and having the weasel neg me back even though I paid instantly with Paypal and was a good buyer.
I do a lot of biz on eBay Motors and I see used parts relisted time after time that never sell because you can go to the Stealership & get it cheaper brand new. What are sellers smoking??
But yeah, eBay generally all around sucks now with their retail type venue

rec78

Fixed Price—your listing’s recent sales now factored into Best Match search results: Now, the more items sold in your fixed price listing, the better position you get in search results. “Time ending soonest” is no longer a factor for Fixed Price. The best way to build up a “recent sales” advantage is to combine similar items in one multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with the new 30-day duration option included at no extra charge. In fact, this would be a great time for you to consider moving some of your best Store inventory to 30-day fixed price listings on eBay. Your listings will get more exposure at a very low price. To learn more about the recent sales factor, visit http://pages.ebay.com/sell/August2008Update/ConfidentBuyers/#2 And as always, maintain good DSRs and price your items competitively.

This is what bothers me the most--Best Match sucks to begin with and now low volume sellers will be at the bottom of the list. Very poor business model--ebay may be the next thing that the government needs to bail out.

Ebay--5 years ago->

3 years ago->

1 year ago-->

Today--

lordmarcovan

I don't even use those detailed ratings when I leave feedback. I mean, by the time you get the item you bought, who remembers all the details, anyway? Not me. Unless something really bad or really good sticks out in my memory, the details are all blurry. I sent you some money, you sent me a coin. Deal done, and I'll leave you a simple positive and see you next time, maybe.

droopyd

I sell maybe 20-30 items a year on eBay -- so I'm not sure how all of this will affect me.

I'm guessing probably not much.

TavernTreasures

Haven't listed an item since spring of 08. I guess they do not want small sellers like me who deal in checks and MO's.

seateddime

<< <i>I sell maybe 20-30 items a year on eBay -- so I'm not sure how all of this will affect me.

I'm guessing probably not much. >>



if you get 10 detailed feedbacks that year but 1 guy slams you , no matter the size of the sale or the reason, you won't be selling on ebay anymore.

TwoSides2aCoin

eBay

Are these stars like NGC stars ?

Coll3ctor

<< <i>Last month called. They'd like their news back.

Russ, NCNE >>





LMAO !!!

Casman

<< <i>where does ebay even publish your 3 mo DSR? The only one I see is a 12month rolling DSR.....on the feedback pages >>




I think this is just for power sellers, there is this goofy thing, a seller dashboard, which takes you to a new page which describes pseller status etc, and you can click an option to see the 3 month dsr's.

ziggy29

<< <i>if you get 10 detailed feedbacks that year but 1 guy slams you , no matter the size of the sale or the reason, you won't be selling on ebay anymore. >>


Nine '5' ratings and one '1' rating combines to a 4.6.

Russ

<< <i>I think they are trying to get rid of the everyday sellers. >>



They are trying to get rid of the craphead sellers who provide lousy customer service. It isn't easy to get below 4.3. A seller really has to work at it.



<< <i>where does ebay even publish your 3 mo DSR? The only one I see is a 12month rolling DSR.....on the feedback pages >>



There is no three month DSR. There is 30 day and 12 month.

Russ, NCNE

Frankcoins

One guy who had a 100% feedback for years hadn't put anything on in a few months, sold 2 recent coins. Got a positive and then a negative from a non paying bidder. His feedback shows 50%

timber100

At least when you received a check or money order for a larger sum and it cleared, the money was safely in your hands. Now with paypal only you are more at the mercy of a crooked buyer. If paypal holds your money for X amount of time, bad things can happen before you get the money into your accounts

19Lyds

<< <i>One guy who had a 100% feedback for years hadn't put anything on in a few months, sold 2 recent coins. Got a positive and then a negative from a non paying bidder. His feedback shows 50% >>



eBay really gave "this one" some thought now didn;t they??

seateddime

<< <i>One guy who had a 100% feedback for years hadn't put anything on in a few months, sold 2 recent coins. Got a positive and then a negative from a non paying bidder. His feedback shows 50% >>



that is a joke!

RYK

Just so long as Russ keeps his seller ratings up, I will be okay.

Casman

<< <i>

<< <i>One guy who had a 100% feedback for years hadn't put anything on in a few months, sold 2 recent coins. Got a positive and then a negative from a non paying bidder. His feedback shows 50% >>



eBay really gave "this one" some thought now didn;t they?? >>




Yes they did, I have a buyer, that's also a seller, I checked his feedback, shows 3 negs.....Toolhaus shows the other 82 Neg's...He's still selling...

seateddime

Ebay's sale continue to slump.

Because they are giving seller so much trouble they are just getting more crap listed for sale.

I am as guilty as the next guy. It is where is sell my crap too. The few nicer coins I list don't sell because the buyers of nice coins are not going to ebay anymore. I have sold much more off my dinky website than ebay.

I used to buy 50 coins a month on ebay. Even with the 10% coupon I have I managed to find just 1 coin worth buying. An 1839 O early stage shattered reverse in a PCGS MS61 holder. I hope it is nice when in hand.

There are just so many marginal coins that ebay will always have something but not like a few years ago when nice stuff was being sold.