Ebay Scandal

Premier_2

Marty_J wrote: »

Can buyers on eBay be properly termed "customers" of eBay?

Surely it is the sellers who pay to list the item, pay the final value fees, and who pay to receive payment through PayPal?

If so, wouldn't that make the sellers eBay's buyers (if you get what I mean)?

I understand what you mean and it is true that ebay buyers do not pay for the ebay service directly. But they are users of the ebay service and in that respect I term them a customer.

Let me draw a comparison. Are readers of newspapers considered customers? If they pay for the newspaper, I guess there is no doubt they are. But what about free newspapers? Are their readers considered customers. I suggest they are. Why? Because without the newspapers providing readers with the content they want, the newspaper will soon go out of business.

Just as newspapers rely on getting its service right for its readers (customers) in order to attract its revenue stream from advertisers, just as itv rely on providing a good service for its customers (the viewers) to attract its revenue stream (advertisers), then ebay relys on its customers (ebay users) to attract its revenue stream (ebay sellers)

G-G_4

The thing with eBay is that Buyers are Sellers, and Sellers are Buyers..

So, it's just like shooting yourself in the foot really..

patchwork_cat

Exactly G-G the credit crunch is hitting, but also as a lot of people sell second hand to buy new- they aren't bothering selling and so aren't buying and I feel that that is also hitting my sales.

spikescot2005

I am one of those sellers that have now had my account suspended for 30 days. All was going fine until the new feedback rules came into force. I sell custom made t-shirts and gifts. Delivery is usually up to 14 working days and this is clearly stated on the auction. Because of the new rules i have been left 2 negs and 1 neutral this month due to buyers not reading the auction delivery times and expecting their item to be with them in 2 days. Ebay have now suspended because of this and pulled all my listings and are just about to sent me an invoice for £162 which i am going to refuse to pay.

I think eBay need reminding them who make them there money!

scorpio13

G-G wrote: »

So, it's a bit of a stupid rule anyhow, because you can just open another account..

Really.........registered at the same address?!!

How did you manage that?

soolin

scorpio13 wrote: »

Really.........registered at the same address?!!

How did you manage that?

You can have as many accounts as you want registered at the same address.

However, and it is a big however, if you are suspended on one account then you MUST NOT Trade using another until the first account is clear again. Trading while suspended is subject to a total ban for good and all accounts will be closed together with any associated with them.

Whatever we think of ebay rules it is best not to break them so blatantly especially with their new ISP tracking that they are rolling out. It is probably best to sit out a short ban rather than risk all your accounts for good.

Marty_J

Premier wrote: »

I understand what you mean and it is true that ebay buyers do not pay for the ebay service directly. But they are users of the ebay service and in that respect I term them a customer.

Let me draw a comparison. Are readers of newspapers considered customers? If they pay for the newspaper, I guess there is no doubt they are. But what about free newspapers? Are their readers considered customers. I suggest they are. Why? Because without the newspapers providing readers with the content they want, the newspaper will soon go out of business.

Just as newspapers rely on getting its service right for its readers (customers) in order to attract its revenue stream from advertisers, just as itv rely on providing a good service for its customers (the viewers) to attract its revenue stream (advertisers), then ebay relys on its customers (ebay users) to attract its revenue stream (ebay sellers)

I understand your point, and it is a good one.

But, does eBay have greater obligations (legal, moral or otherwise) towards its users who use its service for free, than it does towards its users who pay to use it?

alooof

this new feedback system is stupid. it does little to improve the safety, but exposes sellers unfairly. more importantly, ebay fees are so high; and with the nature of their marketplace, the margins are so small that only one party is making money on a lot of transactions.

ebay have an absolutely awful attitude towards their core sellers. they seem to be favouring small time buyers over established sellers in their strategies and this will only come back to haunt them. it is all about finding the balance between looking after both parties and ebay have consistently got this wrong

the once unchallengeable monopoly will crumble if they don't address these issues. comforted by the fact that no start-up will ever be able to reach their heights, ebay have been shooting their own customers in the foot for the past few years. all it takes is one established online retailer (amazon etc) to develop an alternative marketplace that is both easy to use and affordable and ebay's customers (ie the sellers - the ones who pay them money!) will desert them in droves
a big challenge for the new CEO!

G-G_4

soolin wrote: »

You can have as many accounts as you want registered at the same address.

However, and it is a big however, if you are suspended on one account then you MUST NOT Trade using another until the first account is clear again. Trading while suspended is subject to a total ban for good and all accounts will be closed together with any associated with them.

Whatever we think of ebay rules it is best not to break them so blatantly especially with their new ISP tracking that they are rolling out. It is probably best to sit out a short ban rather than risk all your accounts for good.

I think eBay is making people paranoid!

Yes, you can stick to the rules and bow to their requests, or you can just get on with it and open another account..

If eBay want to ban me for life then so be it..

I will just get my mum to open an account for me or something.. :rotfl:

There is always a way around it..

ollysmum

I agree that this new system is so unfair to sellers now. I have just received my first seller dashboard with notice that I've been lowered in the search standings because I scored 4.2/5.0 for dispatch time from my buyers - even though all my items are posted out normally within 48hours of auction end, hardly what I would call a slow dispatch time. Ebay are putting so much into the hands of the buyers now that it doesn't seem to matter what you do to be a good seller, if you happen to unfortunately have 1 or 2 buyers who just don't bother thinking about what they put for feedback or scoring then you can find yourself being at a disadvantage.
I think ebay really do need to reconsider their attitudes towards sellers, the ones that actually pay the fees after all! There is plenty of protection out there for the buyers as it is!