Just read this article in the latest EcommerceBytes Newsletter and I'm having trouble believing it's true.
eBay Removes Obligation to Follow through with Purchases
Dear Ina,
In my opinion the upcoming ability of buyers to cancel a sale if the seller hasn't uploaded the tracking number within one hour should be approached with skepticism and caution.
eBay claims this unasked for "improvement" will result in an "enhanced" selling experience or at least that's what the script says that Customer Service representatives are reading from.
As a 14 year eBay seller I see little upside to this change, but we've come expect this from eBay.
eBay used to tell buyers that when they bought an item they were entering into a legal binding contract to pay for it. This new recission policy could result in creating even still more irresponsible buyers who know they can cancel anytime from within one hour of purchase to 6 months in the United States and a year in the United Kingdom by simply filing a meritless case either eBay or PayPal.
Now unless sellers sit in front of their computers 24/7 uploading tracking numbers within seconds of purchase, buyers will be able to reserve an item for one hour while they scour eBay and other sites for a lower price.
Instead of continually giving buyers ways to wiggle out of their "legally binding contracts," eBay continues down the path of self destruction by failing to develop ways to encourage orders to stick or even require buyers to honor their end of the contract.
Why would eBay introduce such a facially counterproductive policy? Each item returned or cancelled item is relisted. Each time it sells eBay can count what actually amounts to one sale as multiple sales in terms of dollar volume it in their patently deceptive gross merchandise volume (GMV) column.
eBay desperately needs this inflated GMV for Q4 and their annual earnings reports even though returns and cancellation amount to non existent dollars (except to sellers).
If history is any indicator this new buyer initiated cancellation policy likely will cost sellers sales and money which means absolutely nothing to eBay.
The only positive thing I can think of is that sellers won't be out shipping label costs and return postage in shipping included listings when the buyer cancels within the hour.
I suspect, however, it's simply another new avenue for buyers to abuse sellers with eBay's blessing.
Just Sign Me,
League to Eradicate Stupidity, Mendacity, and Avarice
Do you realise that the only possible way anybody can upload a tracking number within an hour of the sale is to purchase their postage on-line through ebay? If I was to take my item to the PO to send off, I wouldn't even be home again within an hour, let alone able to upload a tracking number! IMO this represents third-line forcing of the very worst and most insidious sort, and I have trouble believing that the ACCC would even give it a second look. This would surely be illegal in Australia, wouldn't it?
