topic Re: Ebay Premium Service in Selling

Ebay Premium Service

splashesonline — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 20:26:08 GMT

Anyone get the following message from Ebay for sellers to change listings to comply with Ebay new Premium Service.

Top-rated sellers qualify for the greatest average boost in Best Match and are eligible to receive benefits on listings that offer same-day or one-day handling time, a minimum 30-day return policy with money back option, a free domestic postage option and an express postage option.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

the4masters2013 — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 21:12:11 GMT

I received that message about a week ago.
Needless to say, I am ignoring it.
I am not going to offer same day or 1 day handling times... mine is a 3 day handling time to give myself a bit of wriggle room.
Quite a few of my items are already free domestic postage.
I will only do express posting if the buyer requests and pays for it.
Tell them they are dreaming!!!

Re: Ebay Premium Service

brerrabbit585 — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 22:58:02 GMT

In the last announcement they made it pretty obvious they're trying to force sellers into offering free postage, express postage, same day postage, returns, etc etc, and if we don't we won't get the exposure we were getting before.

They're too stupid to see that if buyers can't find what they want they'll go elsewhere. If sellers can't sell, a lot of them will go elsewhere too. In some categories (including mine), items may have similar titles but look completely different, so burying half the listings won't help buyers find what they want.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

shoppingbag* — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 23:19:04 GMT

I've had these offers in the past. My thoughts are....if I had an unexpected delay in posting e.g. car wouldn't start, or I had to go to hospital, then I would be in strife with eBay for not getting my parcels out in time. Free postage? Are they kidding? I would have to add the cost of postage to my items which can make it look more expensive than showing the amount and postage as two separate amounts. Everyone has to make up their own minds on this, but personally, I wouldn't touch it with a forty foot barge pole! If buyers want my item, they will find it regardless, without some dubious offer of more exposure, with possibly disastrous consequences for me if I cannot comply each and every time. There are NO excuses for not compying according to eBay. A good way to start on the road of having your account terminated by eBay.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

wide-world-of-stamps — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 23:20:29 GMT

A bit silly us offering express post when we're not in an express post area, like quite a few sellers.

Also, as we sell smaller items, many of our buyers like to get a postage discount when they buy multiple items, so we're definitely not offering "free" post.

And we're not going into town every day, just to post a couple of cheap items - we'd use more in fuel than we'd receive from our buyers!

So, we just glanced at the email, then ignored it.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

collect247 — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 23:49:06 GMT

But what do we think if we're forced into it, to comply?

What if we don't have a choice in the matter?

Are ebay going to force it and if you don't comply then your listings will be down a rabbit hole.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

springyzone — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 00:06:35 GMT

@collect247 wrote:
But what do we think if we're forced into it, to comply?
What if we don't have a choice in the matter?
Are ebay going to force it and if you don't comply then your listings will be down a rabbit hole.

I heard a rumour (or maybe it was just a nebulous idea being churned around by ebay) that maybe at some time in the near future -within about 5 years, they were musing- that it might come to something like that.

Same day free postage for most items but with ebay in charge of the storing, postage component. This would presumably almost entirely eliminate item not received/item not as described claims, except for the odd occasions where something was damaged in the post.

I think it could also cut out vast numbers of sellers who only had one off items or only a few of this and a few of that. It might also help to cut out items advertised as in Australia but coming from China.

Or maybe they would allow the 2 different types of sellers to operate in tandem, I have no idea.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

brerrabbit585 — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 03:05:13 GMT

I doubt they could ever enforce it. They'd risk losing way too many sellers. If they push too much another site will eventually start up. I think enough buyers are frustrated with the search system that they'd happily try a site where it actually works.

Ebay gets discussed quite a bit in some fb craft groups and a lot of buyers have just given up on it because they can't find things, so I think in some categories a new Australian site would do really well. A lot of people have got money to spend but can't find what they want.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

eol-products — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 03:22:44 GMT

A product I sell is normally first in best match but noticed today it has been pushed out by one with ebayplus and is also sponsered. They sold 4 in january I sold 14 so using the premium service must help.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

shoppingbag* — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 07:42:09 GMT

@collect247 wrote:
But what do we think if we're forced into it, to comply?
What if we don't have a choice in the matter?
Are ebay going to force it and if you don't comply then your listings will be down a rabbit hole.

Well, I suspect Sellers would leave in droves, and as for many others eBay would cancel their accounts for not complying.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

davewil1964 — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 10:28:27 GMT

@shoppingbag* wrote:
@collect247 wrote:
But what do we think if we're forced into it, to comply?
What if we don't have a choice in the matter?
Are ebay going to force it and if you don't comply then your listings will be down a rabbit hole.

Well, I suspect Sellers would leave in droves, and as for many others eBay would cancel their accounts for not complying.

I didn't get a threatening email, but I will never be a premium seller.

I sell used books. The key is sell. I am not a library, which 30 days no questions asked returns would leave me open to. Especially for the more pricey ones.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 12:49:08 GMT

@brerrabbit585 wrote:
I doubt they could ever enforce it. They'd risk losing way too many sellers. If they push too much another site will eventually start up. I think enough buyers are frustrated with the search system that they'd happily try a site where it actually works.

Ebay gets discussed quite a bit in some fb craft groups and a lot of buyers have just given up on it because they can't find things, so I think in some categories a new Australian site would do really well. A lot of people have got money to spend but can't find what they want.

A few years ago, there was a new Australian site, that was supposed to be competition for eBay in Australia. They were going to run a massive advertising campaign. They promised the world, but sadly, it didn't happen for them. I sold one thing. Lots of others sold absolutely nothing depsite having hundreds of listings, despite having items that would be successful on eBay. I pulled my listings a few months ago.

It's a shame, because fees were lower and way less rules and regulations than eBay. The creators seemed to be very active with the site, and would answer any queries quickly. I believe they had the best of intentions. They had the brainpower in a modern tech world to create a great site. Yet, I never saw any advertising, so buyers didn't know about it. If you can't get the buyers, then it's not going to happen.

The site is still running. Maybe one day the buyers will find it and it will take off. I hope it does. There's some good stuff pop up on their from time to time. Categories similar to eBay, so something there for everyone.

Re: Ebay Premium Service

bluebudgies — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 13:17:30 GMT

If it's the same one I'm thinking of, I tried that one. Complete waste of time. I did okay on quicksales until they deliberately sabotaged the site. It was really starting to take off. I think most of my buyers went to facebook or just stopped buying altogether when it died.