Maybe I'm just paranoid but, I see a distinct pattern in a lot of the threads and I'm probably not the first to join the dots or mention it here but:
The FVF is applied to postage.
The Defective System is introduced.
Big Sundays appear.
As a paranoid conspiracy theorist I see a distinct connection between the three;
A) The FVF on postage reduces the return to and/or increases the costs of the small Sellers thus driving them to increase their asking prices, making the big and/or cheap overseas Sellers more attractive to Buyers whilst at the same time increasing revenue for eBay and the big Sellers.
B) The Defective System comes into being making it much easier for a small Seller to earn restrictions and a bad "reputation" whilst big Sellers seem more reliable and attractive (given volume of transactions & associated feedback scores).
C) Big Sundays begin with a very distinct set of criteria that angle the Buyer toward bigger ticket items generally offered by the big Sellers whilst there is generally little to no benefit to the small Sellers who actually start to experience declining sales, particularly on Big Sundays. The savings to be had from Big Sundays are (undoubtedly) financed in the main from the FVF introduced on postage, otherwise it would not be a remotely viable proposition that eBay would cover the discounts.
Hey, call me crazy but, I'm just saying.....................
