How ebay could improve itself

Road_Hog

They can have their tier 1 sellers, who jump through all the hoops or are big retailers that can't be touched.


How about having a tier 2 seller. Aimed at the private seller, that also has a job. This seller, as a private seller, doesn't offer free refunds, just because the buyer wants it. They don't post the same day, but when they get time to get to the Post Office - all displayed quite clearly in their auction.


Now, this isn't a lazy person's charter, or one to defraud people, just one where people can buy items and understand that the contract is clearly explained.


No one would need to buy from a tier 2 seller, it is totally voluntary. It would allow private sellers to sell things, that are unique, i.e. not run of the mill shop goods and have them delivered on a cost basis that suits their pocket (i.e. not time constraint).


It would be like, back to basics for ebay, how it was in the early days. There is so much stuff to be sold out there, but people won't list it, because ebay has become so harsh and against sellers.

shaun_from_Africa

Road_Hog wrote: »

This seller, as a private seller, doesn't offer free refunds, just because the buyer wants it.

So all that would happen is that even more buyers would claim that an item is not as described and get their refund that way.

whitesatin

I have to admit that I am inclined just to take stuff to the local charity shop now rather than sell it. Too much frustration recently, one way or another.

That's it for me, no more selling, just give to a good cause, makes me feel better anyway.

Flyonthewall

Road_Hog wrote: »

They can have their tier 1 sellers, who jump through all the hoops or are big retailers that can't be touched.


How about having a tier 2 seller. Aimed at the private seller, that also has a job. This seller, as a private seller, doesn't offer free refunds, just because the buyer wants it. They don't post the same day, but when they get time to get to the Post Office - all displayed quite clearly in their auction.


Now, this isn't a lazy person's charter, or one to defraud people, just one where people can buy items and understand that the contract is clearly explained.


No one would need to buy from a tier 2 seller, it is totally voluntary. It would allow private sellers to sell things, that are unique, i.e. not run of the mill shop goods and have them delivered on a cost basis that suits their pocket (i.e. not time constraint).


It would be like, back to basics for ebay, how it was in the early days. There is so much stuff to be sold out there, but people won't list it, because ebay has become so harsh and against sellers.

The problem for me as a private seller is the fees. They're rather high considering I'm just trying to get back a bit of money on my items rather than make a profit. I can post minutes after payment assuming the PO is open. Most of what I want to sell isn't unique either. Agree that the refunds part needs to be looked at though.

I think if more focus was on private sellers not getting items out faster it might put buyers off buying from private sellers, except for rare/unique things and for me that would be bad. I can post items right away, probably faster than most businesses, but I'd be ignored by many due to being a private seller.

However clearly explained there will be many out there who don't understand, don't read properly, just don't care and who will quite happily send a string of rude/angry messages to the seller, especially where the private sellers are concerned.

Road_Hog

I guess what I'm kind of saying, is going back to the way it was 10 years ago.


Now, don't get me wrong, if buyers want tier 1 boiler plated, next day delivery with your money back for free, no neg feedback, then they can have that.


But how about a category for your everyday seller that doesn't want to be bound by, only pos feedback for the buyer from hell.


No buyer needs to purchase from tier 2, but it would bring some private sellers back to the market. Where free returns weren't the norm, postage was charged at decent rates and if the buyer was bad, then neg feedback could be left.


As I said, nobody would make anyone buy from tier 2 sellers, it would be a personal choice. I'm sure a lot more interesting stuff would come on to the market if it was that way. Because if you want to buy new shiny stuff, then go to Amazon, if you want interesting different stuff, then ebay was the place to go.

Road_Hog

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

So all that would happen is that even more buyers would claim that an item is not as described and get their refund that way.

Er, nope, the idea is that they don't get refunds, unless the seller offers it.


The idea being, that a buyer checks the seller's feedback to see if they're decent and can be trusted. Silly me, I forgot what the feedback was meant for.


Most sellers would be happy to give refunds if the product was faulty. Not refunding buyers who have changed their minds, helps to keep prices down. It would also stop sellers having to send everything recorded to avoid chargebacks, gain keeping prices down.

Flyonthewall

Road_Hog wrote: »

I guess what I'm kind of saying, is going back to the way it was 10 years ago.

Now, don't get me wrong, if buyers want tier 1 boiler plated, next day delivery with your money back for free, no neg feedback, then they can have that.

But how about a category for your everyday seller that doesn't want to be bound by, only pos feedback for the buyer from hell.

No buyer needs to purchase from tier 2, but it would bring some private sellers back to the market. Where free returns weren't the norm, postage was charged at decent rates and if the buyer was bad, then neg feedback could be left.

As I said, nobody would make anyone buy from tier 2 sellers, it would be a personal choice. I'm sure a lot more interesting stuff would come on to the market if it was that way. Because if you want to buy new shiny stuff, then go to Amazon, if you want interesting different stuff, then ebay was the place to go.

It's a personal choice now whether to buy from business or private sellers.

From a buyers point of view, they don't want to wait therefore will generally avoid private sellers. After all, there are a number of business sellers selling unique things too, it all depends what you're after.

For me as a private seller that's bad. They won't even look at a private sellers listing and so will never see my listing that states I will post right away. I lose out on a sale.

Road_Hog wrote: »

Er, nope, the idea is that they don't get refunds, unless the seller offers it.

The idea being, that a buyer checks the seller's feedback to see if they're decent and can be trusted. Silly me, I forgot what the feedback was meant for.

Most sellers would be happy to give refunds if the product was faulty. Not refunding buyers who have changed their minds, helps to keep prices down. It would also stop sellers having to send everything recorded to avoid chargebacks, gain keeping prices down.

You said no free returns before. No returns at all wouldn't work. Most sellers may be happy to give a refund but what about those that aren't?

Road_Hog

[QUOTE=Flyonthewall;64088667
You said no free returns before. No returns at all wouldn't work. Most sellers may be happy to give a refund but what about those that aren't?[/QUOTE]


Then you go back to how ebay used to work, how it got where it is today.


You rely on seller feedback. Do you know, ebay used to work fine without paypal and then when it got paypal, you could charge 3.5% for it.


Why pay using paypal? It adds 3.5% to the cost, bank transfers are instant these days. I sell a load of stuff on a CB forum, people buy from me, because I've been on the forum for a long time and my feedback is good, and they know the stuff is going to arrive and in a good state. They send the money and I have it in less than an hour.


People have been brainwashed by ebay/paypal, and like to pay an extra 3.5% for nothing. Also, because of the ebay mentality everything has to be sent recorded, thereby bumping up the price more.


It's all, very, very wrong. A very unhappy selling place. I'm another charity shop person, it's not worth the hassle, which is a shame, because ebay could be so much better.

soolin

So basically you want a second class seller where buyers have no rights at all and cannot rely on the goods they believe they are buying arriving as described, or even at all.

HMM, I can see buyers going for that, I suspect private sellers would be unhappy as well if the potential buyers were being told that you can give this seller money purely based on feedback, but tough luck if your item is shoved in a bin bag and arrives smashed to smithereens.

As a business seller I would love this as I could put in my listings 'buy from me and have rights rather than gambling on a private seller'.

Even in my private account I wouldn't want buyers to feel unprotected, it isn't like I get many returns or SNAD claims and if they are common for other sellers I suggest it might be that they are not describing their items properly.

Flyonthewall

Road_Hog wrote: »

Then you go back to how ebay used to work, how it got where it is today.

You rely on seller feedback. Do you know, ebay used to work fine without paypal and then when it got paypal, you could charge 3.5% for it.

Why pay using paypal? It adds 3.5% to the cost, bank transfers are instant these days. I sell a load of stuff on a CB forum, people buy from me, because I've been on the forum for a long time and my feedback is good, and they know the stuff is going to arrive and in a good state. They send the money and I have it in less than an hour.

People have been brainwashed by ebay/paypal, and like to pay an extra 3.5% for nothing. Also, because of the ebay mentality everything has to be sent recorded, thereby bumping up the price more.

It's all, very, very wrong. A very unhappy selling place. I'm another charity shop person, it's not worth the hassle, which is a shame, because ebay could be so much better.

Yeah but if you spend a lot of money being able to leave negative feedback isn't going to get your money back. It just opens ebay up to many happy scammers.

Not saying extra fees or such high fees are right, but you pay for using their service. Choice or no choice they are still providing a service. It also currently offers protection that bank transfers don't. Nobody is forcing you to use ebay/paypal though, you could sell/buy elsewhere.

You're right that ebay is not a happy selling place but splitting up private and business sellers more isn't the answer in my opinion.

SlowCooker

Road_Hog wrote: »

Also, because of the ebay mentality everything has to be sent recorded, thereby bumping up the price more.

The majority of items on eBay are not sent recorded and everything works fine. What you are proposing will turn buying from private sellers into a gamble, and that is definitely not good for them or for eBay.

I don't mind sending items next working day as a private seller, but I agree with Flyonthewall about the fees. It's not that I make any profit, but I wish to offer buyers a lower price and this is not possible with the current fees.