Really fed up with "private" sellers

TurkishDelight

I've noticed since the free listing thing came in that there has been a massive increase in people who are registered as private but obviously trading listing silly stuff.

We're in the trading card buisness, and the categories we list in are just so clogged with listings that aren't even selling that our sales are suffering.

There are people listing common cards at 5p each (which might be pushing it for what they are worth anyway) with postage.
No-one's stupid enough to buy them so they just keep getting reposted.

Then you look at their feedback and they've been buying bulk lots.

I'm not having a go at real private sellers, but this is just ridiculous and very unfair.
Anyone know where the report category is for mis-representation?

vodkandredbull

Its fustrating as a buyer too. Loolking for what you actually want.

Buying cheap stuff like that is a goo way to increase your feedback score. £1 and you've gained 20 points...

SimbaSimon

TurkishDelight wrote: »

I've noticed since the free listing thing came in that there has been a massive increase in people who are registered as private but obviously trading listing silly stuff.

We're in the trading card buisness, and the categories we list in are just so clogged with listings that aren't even selling that our sales are suffering.

There are people listing common cards at 5p each (which might be pushing it for what they are worth anyway) with postage.
No-one's stupid enough to buy them so they just keep getting reposted.

Then you look at their feedback and they've been buying bulk lots.

I'm not having a go at real private sellers, but this is just ridiculous and very unfair.
Anyone know where the report category is for mis-representation?

If they're trading cards (albeit cheap ones) and they are in the right catagory surely theres not much ebay can do? What you've got to look at is how you can make yours stand out from the generic ones that are getting posted loads.

I know when I search for something if I get 20 of one item come up I'll just skip right past it.

StaffsSW

Think how many people were jumping for joy when ebay announced free listings...
Not all it has cracked up to be is it?! But many people predicted this a long time ago.

Still - "cheap is best" seems to be a mantra these days.

soolin

I'll admit to having every bit of stuff not nailed down in my house selling through my private account now, however I am on record as saying I think free listings are a very bad idea, and I stick with that.

My business account is up against sellers listed as private listing almost as much identical stuff as me, I have all mine as BIN and they start at 99p. The problem is that these selllers are now sometimes refusing to sell as they don't get the end price they want for this item (as it costs a lot more than 99p even from my wholesaler) and are picking up negs. How long before all those buyers thinking they had got a bargain only to get a refund start to think all we sellers in that market are bad? Buyers don't always see that I am a business, yes it is all declared with contact details and a returns policy etc, but they just see that this particular market attracts bad sellers.

DaveAshton

SimbaK2K wrote: »

If they're trading cards (albeit cheap ones) and they are in the right catagory surely theres not much ebay can do? What you've got to look at is how you can make yours stand out from the generic ones that are getting posted loads.

I know when I search for something if I get 20 of one item come up I'll just skip right past it.

It's dificult though, there's not really such a thing as a generic listing. Take Pokemon for example. There have been over 400 different characters released (with different artwork / attributes etc for different sets), in addtion to all the other card types for that game.
You're looking at probably 2,000 different cards released in just the last 5 years. If a "private" seller decides to clear out their "collection", they could list several hundred cards, all for 99p start, where every card's different to the others they have listed.

It's good for us (I'm the OP's fiance) as a buyer, we know how to search for what we need so we keep getting good prices for stock. But if you're just a casual browser, which most of our buyers are... you'll be swamped in worthless tat.

Any

With everything good you get come some bad things in life...
Some people actually see 99p free listing as a good thing - I am having a clear out. I have loads of cloths that I would just otherwise have to give to charity, which I do quite often but I have loads of nice stuff that I really worn once and if I can get couple of quid for it the better.
I also bought a jacket for 99p, which the seller obviously no longer wanted, but it is great what I want it for. Absolutelly up to the job.
However, I agree with Soolin - where the sellers list for 99p and then refuse to sell, then we should be able to report them and they should be removed after certain number of reports..

So basically I think this is a good thing, but would it be thought through a bit more it would work better.

vangirl_2

I was quite pleased when the free listing was introduced. I put loads of stuff on my private account and as I do quite well as a business seller I cockily assumed I would get a fair price.

Most of my stuff ending up going for 0.99p :eek: or not selling, due to the shear volume of listings. Ive even had people contacing me saying 'I didnt have time to bid on your item can you put it on a BIN for me for 0.99p' (err no!)

I have managed to get some right bargains though so its balanced out for me.

Just to add I would never refuse to sell and item and think people who do should be banned. It goes against the whole point of ebay

chja

I think the fee <99p stuff is brilliant. I've listed loads of stuff with automatic re-list as things are selling on the 3rd or 4th round.

Almost all of it is going for 99p, which is fine, it all adds up as a bit of pin money.

I'm afraid as a private seller, I've as much right to sell my stuff as a business. I try and be as professional as possible both with my listings and postage costs, time, etc. I firmly believe that cream rises to the top, so good sellers should still stand out (whether business or private). It may be that prices are driven down, which I guess is bad if you are the seller, but great for buyers, and is what the freemarket is all about.

Presumably business sellers get better fvf's , paypal costs, etc so are there really that many businesses that would benefit from the free listing ?

As said above, those that list at 99p and then refuse to sell should be taken out and shot.

soolin

chja wrote: »

I

Presumably business sellers get better fvf's , paypal costs, etc so are there really that many businesses that would benefit from the free listing ?

.

My fees as a business are no cheaper than the private sellers, and if my business account was used to sell a 99p item then I would pay and a private seller would not. i also pay the exact same paypal fees, although smaller personal sellers with a small turnover might be benefitting from the macro paypal account.

chja

soolin wrote: »

My fees as a business are no cheaper than the private sellers, and if my business account was used to sell a 99p item then I would pay and a private seller would not. i also pay the exact same paypal fees, although smaller personal sellers with a small turnover might be benefitting from the macro paypal account.

Ok, sorry, I thought I had read that business sellers got volume discounts on their FVF's and Paypal rates.

So whats the point of a business account then or is it just for tax, etc ?