Ebay seller/buyer strike

pulliptears · 8 February 2008 at 11:47AM

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?start=0&threadID=1000636290&anticache=1202419452823

Its gaining interest worldwide now, but will it actually work or will everyone say "Oh yes I wont list/buy" but then do anyway.

Are you joining the strike?

MERFE · 8 February 2008 at 12:42PM

need more information before I would commit to not listing anything, not really read all the news of ebays annoucement, if it just about the negative feedback thing I don't really care what ebay do, the system they have doesnt work so maybe change is a good thing and I'll keep listing - or is there more to it than that?

Change doesn't scare me I've read the book about the mouse and his cheese

edit: now know the feedback changes and do not have a problem with these so will continue to list. I have 1 neg from a seller that did not describe an item correctly and left neg after I left it for him, and he should not have been able to do that. Have never needed to leave neg for a buyer but maybe I'm just lucky, I can only judge this from my personal experience.

StaffsSW · 8 February 2008 at 1:07PM

Only a fool would go on strike if they are self employed, unless they can shift revenue from ebay to another venue for the week.

I won't be listing, but only as I am on holiday, which is a shame as if the sellers strike is a successful as the protesters are claiming it will be, it would less competition and give me a lot more exposure to buyers, many of who are unaware of any changes. Even on the PS Board on ebay, there are still people with 10,000+ feedback coming on with the "OMG - feedback is changing" - 10 days after the news was announced. MSE may be a popular site, just as the Q&A boards are, but do we really know what % of eBay members ever use forums or discussion sites? I would pushed to even believe 1% of all members have ever looked at or contributed to an eBay forum.

If these sellers can not cope with the change, then maybe ebay is not the best venue for them. It's ebay's site and ebays rules. We've all signed, and agreed to the T&C's that say that they can change the rules as and when they want, and whilst we are playing with their ball, in their court, then we have to stick with it. If people want to leave, then that is their prerogative, but ebay has the biggest court to play on, and at the moment I am still happy to pay the price.

I'm even getting used to the feedback idea - afterall, how many other purchases online, or in B&M shops, do you make where feedback is left?

Personally, the only people that will notice the sellers strike is those that are not listing. I very much doubt it will affect ebay, or their opinion, I doubt buyers will notice, but maybe some sellers may notice an upturn if their competition is reduced for a week. The whole thing has been a badly thought out and reactionary event.

Rather than not listing, and spending a week with the bottom lip out, grumping with other sellers, the whole idea would have been better organized as an exodus to Tazbar, 121bid, ebid etc, and sellers bringing their customers with them. These sites do offer better pricing and service than ebay, no doubt, but they do not have the traffic of buyers that ebay currently has.

steviebabes · 8 February 2008 at 1:34PM

Would like to bet there is a cheap listing day during the 'strike'

StaffsSW · 8 February 2008 at 2:03PM

A cheap listing day is almost a cert - in reality they cost ebay very very little in lost revenue, and may also give people a taster of the fee structure.

What I am thinking though, is what will the striking sellers do after the strike? Come back to eBay, tail betwixt legs and saying very little? Surely any action should be a continual process until change or conformity is achieved.

Will there be ongoing strikes? Wildcat strikes? Work to Rule, overtime bans?!!!

It's all very reactionary, and poorly thought out IMO.

peter_the_piper · 8 February 2008 at 2:04PM

I don't expect to be able to go on strike. I have only a limited window of time to sell my plants, after that they're not saleable. If it was only non perishable items I would.

frivolous_fay · 8 February 2008 at 2:04PM

stevew8975 wrote: »

It's all very reactionary, and poorly thought out IMO.

Just like ebay's feedback changes then

I don't suppose the strike will achieve much, if anything, but I do support it.

martinsgiftstogo · 8 February 2008 at 2:16PM

MERFE wrote: »

Change doesn't scare me I've read the book about the mouse and his cheese

Ebay didnt move my cheese - it ate it - or gave it to someone else.

I have left the 'safety' of ebay and have found lots of cheesy nibbles elsewhere.

Great book btw - everyone should read it - thanks for the reminder:j

jacksons_mum · 8 February 2008 at 2:22PM

are you talking about the book 'who moved my cheese'? as i have that but have never read it.

StaffsSW · 8 February 2008 at 2:23PM

"Industrial action" needs to have a defined goal, and contingency plans. All I see so far is a few people saying "I'm not gonna list for a week" - but what then?

What are they going to do during that week?
What are they going to do afterwards?
Have they thought about alternative long term solutions?
If eBay don't budge, then what happens?

Rather than a militant "I'm on strike, so there!" attitude, if a constructive plan of action had been put together, then it may hold a lot more credence.

Here's a proposal.

ebay Sellers spend the next week moving their inventory to one pre-agreed alternative - ebid, tazbar, 121bid, whoever.
That chosen site goes on a major offensive for new buyers, and all the sellers also contact their previous customers to let them know the arrangement.
All possible media is used to broadcast the fact that sellers are on the exodus, and where they are headed - BBC, Sky news, the daily national papers etc. A major PR exercise is needed by the sellers to attract buyers to the alternative venue.
Sellers strike goes ahead on the 18th, but continues until ebay decide to change policy.
Striking sellers in the meantime are helping to build a credible alternative to eBay, which may make them reconsider their market position.

ebay can easily survive a week without a handful of sellers, and since they have all said that they will be back on the 25th, ebay have not got long to weather the storm, or drizzle as it may turn out to be.

I'm not denying that ebay are without fault, far from it, but I just do not see the purpose in the strike in the way it has been organised.

Teddies are out of the pram, but on the 25th, they'll all be quietly put back in again.

martinsgiftstogo · 8 February 2008 at 3:07PM

jacksons_mum wrote: »

are talking about the book 'who moved my cheese'? as i have that but have never read it.

That's the one. It took me an hour or so to read the first time.

It's my bedtime reading now - I read it through again to keep me focussed - brilliant stuff

Ebay seller/buyer strike

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