Ebay have put a limit on what I can list because they are 'premium' brands??

MyOnlyPost

soolin wrote: »

I still think you misunderstand what a monopoly is. Yes ebay hold a large percentage of the UK aucition online market- but that doesn't mean they are a monopoly. It just means they are a preferred brand for the majority of users.

soolin, I am not arguing that eBay have done anything wrong or that they abuse any power that their position affords them, that was someone else. My only point was to correct what I believed to be (in my opinion) a mistake when you said someone didn't understand what a monopoly was. I'm not being rude to you, but where do you get your definition of a monopoly from? Mine is from Year 1 module 1 Macro Economics A Level circa 1990, it was the first thing I covered on that course.

Most people have an image of a monopoly being a nationalised industry from the 70's & 80's or of some huge evil corporation that suppresses any type of competition to protect it's monopoly status. That is what some monopolies have done in the past, but it isn't what defines them as a monopoly. A monopoly supplier is simply a supplier who has an overwhelming percentage share of a particular market, which eBay have when it comes to online auctions, their service being introducing buyers to sellers.

With that I'm bowing out of this conversation

supersaver09

me4bargains wrote: »

Bllimey, is this another way of pushing out private sellers, who are shopaholics, like me Soolin?

Yep.
They obviously want to force private sellers to be Business sellers, as that's the only way you can list more than 3 or 4 branded items per month.

Froggitt

I got caught with this last month. Despite arguing with them, they wouldnt increase my limit of 3 "premium brands" a month. The only thing I could do was put a note in the text of the auction saying "contact me for details of similar stuff not listed on ebay", and sell them outside of ebay. I dont see it as fee avoidance as they were never listed on ebay, AND ebay clearly stated that I couldnt list them. If they dont want my commission......fine.

soolin

Froggitt wrote: »

I got caught with this last month. Despite arguing with them, they wouldnt increase my limit of 3 "premium brands" a month. The only thing I could do was put a note in the text of the auction saying "contact me for details of similar stuff not listed on ebay", and sell them outside of ebay. I dont see it as fee avoidance as they were never listed on ebay, AND ebay clearly stated that I couldnt list them. If they dont want my commission......fine.

You have just proved exactly why ebay seem to mistrust private buyers. By blatantly breaking the rules and suggesting people contact you direct you are making private sellers look very dodgy. Some buyers don't relaise that new private sellers are capped- so will see your 'advert' as an attempt to off load dodgy or fake goods.

You ave probably done all the private sellers on this and other threads a huge disservice by merely confirming to ebay that private sellers are not professional enough to be trusted with more than a few listings.

Other sellers might want to take note that this is not the way to do it and will result in poor sales and ultimately probable suspension.

Froggitt

As an earlier poster said, ebay have a monopoly on the online auction business. There is nowhere else with the reach that they have. I offered them my business but they declined. Im not a new private seller.....Ive 100% positive feedback and an account for ten years.

They are not making ebay a safer environment by limiting the amount of Dotty P skirts or Boots brushes that private sellers can sell. Its a ridiculous new rule. I would even be OK with ebay holding income from those sales in escrow until the buyer confirms positive feedback. My feedback confirms that I am a trusted and professional seller.....the fact that I am only allowed a few listings is totally down to the ebay monopoly.

lovinituk

Froggitt wrote: »

As an earlier poster said, ebay have a monopoly on the online auction business.

Have you read this thread? There is no monopoly!! Go and list on ebid or any of the countless other small alternatives that are popping up - no-one is stopping you, least of all ebay!!

Froggitt

Do you understand what a monopoly is? For example, the competition commission look potential mergers when

the combined businesses supply (or acquire) at least 25 per cent of a particular product or service in the UK (or in a substantial part of the UK), and the merger results in an increase in the share of supply or consumption

Ebay I guess is 75% plus of the online auction market.

lovinituk

Thats talking about mergers and I doubt very much applies in this instance. The simple fact that ebay refused your business proves they are not a monopoly as they are giving their competitors a chance to take your business.

Just because a company is so successful at what they do, doesn't make them a monopoly. ebid was around before ebay but ebay invested the money and did the marketing and grew accordingly - ebid chose not to. What were ebay supposed to do? Stop taking on new business because no other company stepped up?

Most people spouting 'monopoly' are the ones disgruntled with ebay!

ThinkingOfLinking

The limit seems to apply only to items which are new....try listing all your used clothing instead? I've listed a lot of used "premium" clothing without any problems.

I wouldn't recommend listing anything new as being used as you'll probably get less money for it than you would if you listed it as new...and if you added a note on the listing to say it's actually new, you may get in trouble with eBay for deliberately trying to get around their rules.

soolin

Froggitt wrote: »

As an earlier poster said, ebay have a monopoly on the online auction business. There is nowhere else with the reach that they have. I offered them my business but they declined. Im not a new private seller.....Ive 100% positive feedback and an account for ten years.

They are not making ebay a safer environment by limiting the amount of Dotty P skirts or Boots brushes that private sellers can sell. Its a ridiculous new rule. I would even be OK with ebay holding income from those sales in escrow until the buyer confirms positive feedback. My feedback confirms that I am a trusted and professional seller.....the fact that I am only allowed a few listings is totally down to the ebay monopoly.

You've already shown exactly why ebay feel that private sellers need restrictions.