The Latest Round of eBay Changes for 2008 --What Do They Mean For Doll Collectors?
Wednesday September 3, 2008
If you buy or sell dolls on eBay, you will definitely be affected by the latest round of changes to the eBay marketplace. The rapid change of pace on eBay has the heads of many eBay buyers and sellers spinning, and many of the changes are to extremely fundamental aspects of the marketplace--such as the right of buyers to pay for purchases with checks and money orders. Learn more about these important changes in The Latest Round of eBay Changes for 2008 --What Do They Mean For Doll Collectors?.
Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
What’s the best way to “combat” the track eBay is going down? As an eBay seller, I want to play with them anymore!
I too would like to know how we can urge ebay to rethink their decisions. These latest eBay changes are going to be the toughest yet for sellers. Back end charges of 12% for store owners are already high, yet ebay’s statement, “We are shifting the majority of our costs for most categories to the back end (final value fees), which you only pay if you’re successful in selling an item” seems to imply they are CHANGING their final value fees schedule again. Along with limiting payment options to paypal as Denise highlights, leaves Paypal (owned by ebay) with virtually a monopoly on payments…which we all understand leaves things wide open for fee increases. So …higher fees all around.
I also agree that the new feedback changes and DSR rating changes are equally frustrating and don’t see any added supports for honest sellers (other than weak promises of increased support for non-paying bidders). Maybe ebay could consider a single star rating for buyers on “prompt payment” with an explanation box that would give sellers some feedback rights to discourage late payments and non-paying bidders. Just an idea…
I am swankykitty on ebay. I sell restored composition dolls and I’m a little outspoken. I took the liberty to write out my Terms Of Sale, which I truly have no power to enforce as ebay has made it so that sellers are totally powerless. BUT my terms of sale are quite frank, and even funny. That way I offend the would-be offenders and most of them run away and good riddance! Whereas the non-offenders are humored by it and often write me to tell me how much they enjoyed reading it. I even outline how less than 5 stars eventually means “no dolls for you!” I am very protective of my writing so anyone who goes from here to my listings to read my “Terms,” please do not copy it, but I encourage other sellers to write a similarly bold ‘Terms of Sale.’
I have emailed the higher ups at ebay, ranting and raving about how artificial intelligence is exactly THAT: ARTIFICIAL. It cannot REALLY think, it is not REALLY intuitive. It is just gathering information from it’s preset data and spitting out an answer based on what has been previously input/installed into it’s “memory.” If I do a search for K*R GERMANY COMPOSITION -BISQUE, I don’t want to end up with 50 Star Brite dolls. If I meant “star” I would have TYPED “star.”
It does no good, they are not listening. And what’s that bit about sellers are only charged the backend fee IF we sell something???? This is how I make my living and it’s not a question of “IF” but rather “When.” If I had a track record based on “if” I wouldn’t be listing regularly enough on ebay to even care about their rules.
I love this newsletter, Denise. I have been an ebay seller for several years (martydancer) and believe me it is very tough to make a dime anymore. I have a store that used to make a little profit but now that is not the case. I love my buyers and have become close to many of them. It is such a shame that this will all be lost because we just can not afford to be here. I have a couple of other sites that I am venturing into and hopefully everyone will find there nich. I love dolls and try to sell estate dolls when I can locate them. Thanks for keeping us all informed. Sincerely, Marty