ebay is disgusting, just disgusting

[glchen]

Originally Posted by LukeLyon

What were the "minimal guidelines" they referred to?

Not sure which one hamstrung John, but ebay has made a number of new seller requirements that makes it more difficult such as: (some of these are only to retain Top Rated status, but others may go further.)

(1) 90% of sales need to have tracking uploaded within one day after payment, and tracking needs to show that package was delivered.

(2) You cannot have too many cases opened against you.

(3) You cannot cancel too many transactions even if it's buyer's remorse where the buyer just wants to return an item within the ebay recommended 14 day return policy.

(4) Previously, only 1's and 2's were strikes against a seller for DSR's. Now 3's are also strikes that count against you.


For example, due to #3, I've noticed that many seller's aren't even opening Cancel Transaction cases after an item is returned to that they can receive their final value fees back. They just refund the buyer and eat the FVF themselves to that they don't get dinged on that criteria.

[sportscardtheory]

My account was "below standard" because of a few opened cases, which were immediately resolved. The thing is, up until recently, ebay prompted buyers to open cases INSTEAD of simply sending a quick message. Also, I ship cheap cards without tracking and sometimes people take shots by opening cases and I just eat the loss and refund immediately. But, apparently that makes me the devil and ebay decided that they no longer want my business. I had nearly $75,000 worth of cards listed. Now $0 and nowhere to sell them. All less than a month before Christmas. I feel like it's a prank, but it's not, and it's not funny.

[Luke]

Wow, that's so brutal

[Econteachert205]

As a buyer, ebay is ok. When I sell, and I don't sell a ton, I constantly feel like something awful is bound to happen.

[SteveMitchell]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

As a buyer, ebay is ok. When I sell, and I don't sell a ton, I constantly feel like something awful is bound to happen.

My sentiments, exactly. We have sold occasionally on eBay since 1998 and full-time (in my retirement) since 2008. Most years we receive a 100% rating and handle any complaints and/or errors promptly. Still, the "rules" are becoming increasingly restrictive on sellers and the eBay representatives range from very helpful (a few) down to very un-helpful and quite ignorant.

Several years ago we listed a 1982 Mickey Mantle Story set which includes a card with Mickey's facsimile autograph. We specifically mentioned "facsimile" in the listing, yet some eBayer (who did not buy the set) complained to eBay that the autograph was not authentic!

In our back-and-forth email "conversation" with eBay, we pointed out that the card in question was no different from various years of Topps baseball cards which are listed by the thousands on eBay: that is, the autographs are printed on the cards by the printer. Final disposition: a red flag stayed on our account for one year.

It is such unthinking responses to solid eBay sellers that causes me to wonder what will be next.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

As a buyer, ebay is ok. When I sell, and I don't sell a ton, I constantly feel like something awful is bound to happen.

I also totally agree. As a seller, I leave positive feedback the moment I get paid (in my mind, the seller did all that is required) and ship the item immediately. I've lost count of the times I haven't gotten feedback in return.

[brob28]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

As a buyer, ebay is ok. When I sell, and I don't sell a ton, I constantly feel like something awful is bound to happen.

So true, Ebay has no balance necessary to protect all users.

[sports-rings]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

As a buyer, ebay is ok. When I sell, and I don't sell a ton, I constantly feel like something awful is bound to happen.

Very well said! I agree 100% as an occasional seller.

I really miss the old days when so much was offered on ebay in auction format. It was must-viewing, every day, back in the day!

[Edwolf1963]

A couple thoughts...

1. I had an eBay rating of "above standard" on my seller account for quite some time. One person went in last summer and bought 5-6 BIN's I had listed individually over the course of 24 hours. I wrote to him and asked if he was OK that I send all of them in one insured pkg. "Absolutely" - did that, all went fine, everyone happy. I loaded the tracking number for all the cards into one of the listings (not copy/repeat same into all of them) and then eBay dropped me to "below standard" as their "system" showed that I was not "90% within one day compliant". When I called and explained that I was, they were all in one pkg, I got nowhere. Just mindless babble (.. ever notice their Cust Svc people apply no common sense? Just read from a rule book). Seems like they try and do all possible to tell you stick it up your a$$ and go elsewhere - - to the point made by other members, can't see that sustaining long-term.

2. My own experience, I've had very good transactions on the BST, sold all my 1914 CJ's here to some great collectors this past spring/summer. Sometimes you get low offers, sometimes things don't sell at all or for what you would like or hope for. It happens. Not a problem, usually always have had great dialog one way or the other.

[Touch'EmAll]

Glchen has some great points about ebay selling. Sometimes I put higher starting bids on items, or list as BIN with reasonable prices. If someone wants a card, it will sell with reasonable prices. If I don't care so much and just want to sell, then auction with $9.99 starting point makes sense - at least you weed out the penny ante low bids.

If an auction with low start price does not bring my ideal selling price, I go back, look how much I paid, and usually I realize I got a pretty good deal on the card in the first place - so all ok.

My biggest "burn" has been with REA on a 1939 Ted Williams Rookie PSA 8 - don't ask, but I took a bath on that one, ouch. I have not consigned to a major auction house since.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by Edwolf1963

A couple thoughts...

1. I had an eBay rating of "above standard" on my seller account for quite some time. One person went in last summer and bought 5-6 BIN's I had listed individually over the course of 24 hours. I wrote to him and asked if he was OK that I send all of them in one insured pkg. "Absolutely" - did that, all went fine, everyone happy. I loaded the tracking number for all the cards into one of the listings (not copy/repeat same into all of them) and then eBay dropped me to "below standard" as their "system" showed that I was not "90% within one day compliant". When I called and explained that I was, they were all in one pkg, I got nowhere. Just mindless babble (.. ever notice their Cust Svc people apply no common sense? Just read from a rule book). Seems like they try and do all possible to tell you stick it up your a$$ and go elsewhere - - to the point made by other members, can't see that sustaining long-term.

Ed, I had the same situation with 3 items...I called everyday for a week and finally had a supervisor remove the ding from my account. After I combined the items into one invoice, who would have thought that I needed to go back and enter the tracking number into each item individually. Just another example of a broken eBay.

Jeff

[bbsports]

I'm sorry what happened to you on e-bay. In the long run, perhaps this could be a blessing. I sold T206 cards on e-bay since 1997. On May 1st of last year, e-bay decided to get on board the greedy train & raise their store costs. Also they decided to charge a flat rate of 9% + the cost of using their store. Since I closed my store, I'm finding other ways of selling. Doing private sales, doing card shows in the area, sending cards to auction houses, & at times doing some selling on this site. Nobody should be at the mercy of any company, especially e-bay.

[JollyElm]

Hey John,
Hit the B/S/T section here and list some of your stuff. There seems to be a good amount of cards being moved daily and (for the most part) the people here are a good lot. I've personally bought a few things recently. Good luck.

[EvilKing00]

That sucks! Try the bts here and some auction houses

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Hey John,
Hit the B/S/T section here and list some of your stuff. There seems to be a good amount of cards being moved daily and (for the most part) the people here are a good lot. I've personally bought a few things recently. Good luck.

I have found the B/S/T board here VERY hard to sell on, unless you are willing to give the item away. I wish that wasn't the case. Sorry Ebay gave you the heave-ho.

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I have found the B/S/T board here VERY hard to sell on, unless you are willing to give the item away. I wish that wasn't the case. Sorry Ebay gave you the heave-ho.

With all due respect, we've never done a transaction, but the only reason I remember your posts is because you're always complaining about how your cards always sell for so low and you're having to give everything away. It's like crying wolf after a while - maybe your expectations are a bit high.

I (like many others) have had a lot of success here on the BST. I don't know what you're selling, but I bet if you try pricing items in line with VCP recent sales that you'd have a good track record here on the BST.

[jtradingcards]

Originally Posted by bbsports

I'm sorry what happened to you on e-bay. In the long run, perhaps this could be a blessing. I sold T206 cards on e-bay since 1997. On May 1st of last year, e-bay decided to get on board the greedy train & raise their store costs. Also they decided to charge a flat rate of 9% + the cost of using their store. Since I closed my store, I'm finding other ways of selling. Doing private sales, doing card shows in the area, sending cards to auction houses, & at times doing some selling on this site. Nobody should be at the mercy of any company, especially e-bay.

How much does an auction house charge?

[alanu]

The feedback ratings don't really make sense either

The 3 star rating are described such as "neither reasonable or unreasonable", a 3 star rating shouldn't count against the seller.

The shipping one really bothers me

5 stars "Very reasonable"

4 stars "Reasonable"

Why should the seller have to offer "Very Reasonable" shipping charges which implies free or below cost, especially since they include the charges in the final value fee calculation.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by jtradingcards

How much does an auction house charge?

Some don't charge anything. I know Bill Goodwin doesn't charge seller's commission. He charges the buyer's commission however.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by glchen

Not sure which one hamstrung John, but ebay has made a number of new seller requirements that makes it more difficult such as: (some of these are only to retain Top Rated status, but others may go further.)

(1) 90% of sales need to have tracking uploaded within one day after payment, and tracking needs to show that package was delivered.

(2) You cannot have too many cases opened against you.

(3) You cannot cancel too many transactions even if it's buyer's remorse where the buyer just wants to return an item within the ebay recommended 14 day return policy.

(4) Previously, only 1's and 2's were strikes against a seller for DSR's. Now 3's are also strikes that count against you.


For example, due to #3, I've noticed that many seller's aren't even opening Cancel Transaction cases after an item is returned to that they can receive their final value fees back. They just refund the buyer and eat the FVF themselves to that they don't get dinged on that criteria.

Yeah, it's silly sometimes.

I have a defect because a customer asked me where his package was? USPS was tardy on delivery and he actually received it two days later, but I got penalized simply because somebody asked a simple question that was easily resolved by the P.O. getting their heads out of their ass.

I didn't fault the guy for asking the question, he didn't know it was going to be a detriment to me. He didn't even know he was opening a case. Ebay automatically did it for him because he clicked the option that said "Where is my package?"

Did the defect disappear when the packaged showed "Delivered"? No it did not. It didn't matter to Ebay. If you ever called them up and asked them about it, they would calmly tell you it was your own fault for choosing the USPS as your shipping service. They would also say the same if it was UPS, FedEX, Pony Express, or Hand Delivered by Howard Hughes himself.

[calvindog]

I don't sell much on ebay but had a case opened against me for a package not received by an auction winner. I assumed the card was lost and then lo and behold it came back to me -- the buyer had given me a bad address. I questioned him on it and he sheepishly told me that he had made a mistake and given me an old address. After he repaid me, I sent the card again -- postage on me. I still have that one strike against me.

[sporteq]

Wow-that sucks! Could account be made under a friend or relative name and maybe share a small amount of profit with them?

Albert