Is it legal for ebay to take commission from seller's postage?

Flyonthewall

RFW wrote: »

There's an obvious need for negative ratings for buyers, there isn't one for sellers. As I pointed out it was being badly abused, whether you think it is pointless or not is another matter.

Sellers abusing the feedback system was rampant, there were posts on the boards by sellers boasting about it. This upset customers who were leaving the site. Ebay surveyed lost customers and one of the reasons they gave for not coming back was for the fear of receiving retaliatory negative feedback. Non payers are easily blocked if everyone sticks to the system, scammers may be harder to filter out but negative feedback wouldn't stop them chancing it with someone or switching accounts or whatever.

You're in a minority. You would be happy to wait 3 weeks or more for a refund on an item from a private seller? That's without the problem of knowing if they were a genuine private seller or not.

I could go and buy hundreds of items off different sellers and leave them all negative, rate their stars really low and there'd be nothing they could do. I could keep doing that and no sellers would have any warning because all they see is 100% positive buyer. Just a few buyers could do that and them sellers would be in trouble and each buyer would be fine to keep doing the same.

What about those buyers that do pay and still leave negative?

Many buyers massively abuse the system all the time and I'm sure they boast about it to. There's two people in each transaction and both can do good and bad things so why should only one be rated on it?

Ebay has lost plenty of good sellers because of negative feedbacks and without the sellers there's no need for buyers.

Obviously I'd rather not wait, but what scammer wants to wait weeks for a refund and fill in a form? Very few I imagine. If waiting a few weeks could stop so many scams happening it's a small price to pay. I guess if the refund went into pending status or something it would be a better system so the seller can't do a runner with the money or whatever. Be stupid making it worse for dodgy buyers to scam, but easier for dodgy sellers lol.

RFW

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Ebay has lost plenty of good sellers because of negative feedbacks and without the sellers there's no need for buyers.

That's totally the wrong way round, sellers are easy to come by and need little protection, buyers are a lot more discerning about where they spend their money.
Yes, some buyers will abuse the system, whatever the system. I've had 30,000 plus feedback in over ten years and about 30 negatives, most of which were deserved. Feedback for sellers is rarely abused, certainly not on the scale that feedback for buyers was.

As for the first part, there are several threads on here of buyers who have been barred after leaving too many negs for sellers, so it is being policed.

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Obviously I'd rather not wait, but what scammer wants to wait weeks for a refund and fill in a form? Very few I imagine. If waiting a few weeks could stop so many scams happening it's a small price to pay. I guess if the refund went into pending status or something it would be a better system so the seller can't do a runner with the money or whatever. Be stupid making it worse for dodgy buyers to scam, but easier for dodgy sellers lol.

You argue your own argument well. In policing the site Ebay can fall on the part of the buyer or the seller. Legally the buyer has more rights anyway and they deserve the most protection, push it back towards the seller and the customers shop elsewhere.

Flyonthewall

RFW wrote: »

That's totally the wrong way round, sellers are easy to come by and need little protection, buyers are a lot more discerning about where they spend their money.
Yes, some buyers will abuse the system, whatever the system. I've had 30,000 plus feedback in over ten years and about 30 negatives, most of which were deserved. Feedback for sellers is rarely abused, certainly not on the scale that feedback for buyers was.

As for the first part, there are several threads on here of buyers who have been barred after leaving too many negs for sellers, so it is being policed.


You argue your own argument well. In policing the site Ebay can fall on the part of the buyer or the seller. Legally the buyer has more rights anyway and they deserve the most protection, push it back towards the seller and the customers shop elsewhere.

There are far more scammers online than ever before, both buyers and sellers. Both sides can abuse the system, but only one side is really protected and only one side can be rated.

Business sellers may be better off, but what about private sellers? As a private seller I want to know who I'm selling to, I can't afford to be out of pocket because of a bad buyer.

It's good that ebay are doing something about some of the really bad buyers, but there's still plenty more out there.

The system shouldn't be about protecting one side over the other, it should be equal and work with both so that the right person is protected. I know it's not that simple and every system has it flaws, but I don't think the system is better by just taking away negatives on buyer accounts. Non-payment strikes help, but many do pay and cause problems after.

RFW

Flyonthewall wrote: »

The system shouldn't be about protecting one side over the other, it should be equal and work with both so that the right person is protected. I know it's not that simple and every system has it flaws, but I don't think the system is better by just taking away negatives on buyer accounts. Non-payment strikes help, but many do pay and cause problems after.

It's been nearly five years since negs for buyers were done away with, customers are generally happier and are retained on the site. As a seller, Ebay don't need to protect me any more than that.

Flyonthewall

RFW wrote: »

It's been nearly five years since negs for buyers were done away with, customers are generally happier and are retained on the site. As a seller, Ebay don't need to protect me any more than that.

Yeah, but you only have to look on here or the ebay boards to see that there are still many unhappy people who have been scammed or had ebay side with the other person when they shouldn't have. More and more sellers are giving up on selling too.

I know you can't please everyone and negative feedback for buyers might not be the answer, but that doesn't mean that something doesn't need to change.

RFW

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Yeah, but you only have to look on here or the ebay boards to see that there are still many unhappy people who have been scammed or had ebay side with the other person when they shouldn't have. More and more sellers are giving up on selling too.

I know you can't please everyone and negative feedback for buyers might not be the answer, but that doesn't mean that something doesn't need to change.

I'd say the level hasn't changed and negative feedback is definitely not the answer. Pointless discussing it really as it won't ever be re-introduced anyway.

Flyonthewall

RFW wrote: »

I'd say the level hasn't changed and negative feedback is definitely not the answer. Pointless discussing it really as it won't ever be re-introduced anyway.

Hard to say really whether or not it's changed. I guess only time will tell what happens with ebay.

Chrysalis

Road_Hog wrote: »

I don't mind being nice to people, I draw the line at licking their bottom, there is a difference you know.

I also wish ebay/paypal would adhere to the same standards that they demand. My first (customer service) encounter was with them back in 2005 with regards to a chargeback. They had me jumping through hoops about the sale and delivery confirmation, they wouldn't tell me what the problem was (if they had have, I'd have been able to get the police involved) and in the end I found out they had no intention of ever sorting it out and had merely put me through their 'process'.

Still, I've had a good larf at their expense. That time back in 2005 when they did the chargeback, I left them with a paypal account £400 in the negative and in 2008 when I ceased selling on my main account, I left ebay owing £1,000 (approx.) fees and about £500 paypal fees.

Now before anyone gets self righteous, I've never reneged on debts with any other company, but ebay/paypal are a law unto themselves and I have no qualm in giving them the two fingers. They are free to operate their business as they want and I'm free to do the same. I did invite them to take me to court if they felt that they had a valid claim, but for some reason they declined on both occasions.

It's funny how they like to hide behind the law, saying that they're just a buying platform bringing buyer and seller together, but feel that they can take money from someone's bank account without their consent, but when challenged with the law, they then run away.

Yeah funny that.

I quote the reply I got of them when I queried about the uk site been different to their international variants on p&p costs as well as breachng uk law on classifieds,

"Dear Mr xxxxx

I thank you for bringing this to our attention, on the 1 Sept we will be updating our UK site policies in line with much of what you have raised with us, it is perfectly acceptable for cost of packaging eg, to be included in the p&p price of the seller, we have taken your concerns on board in regards to the seller dashboard feedback system and understand your concerns regarding the consequences of low ratings towards sellers, these ratings however are in place to protect buyers from bad performing sellers. Your complaint is that we should not be policing sellers in this manner, we will take this up with our legal team in regards to a change of policy and get back to you"

Since then I have not heard anything and I eagerly await the start of september to see what happens.

RFW

Chrysalis wrote: »

I quote the reply I got of them when I queried about the uk site been different to their international variants on p&p costs as well as breachng uk law on classifieds,

As that was the title of the thread, which law is it you believe they are breaching? First I've heard of that.

ilcompetitionsuk

Yeah I agree. Please like facebook page called Ebay fees on postage unfair :mad: