More unwanted enhancements coming

[pnc75]

 From an email just now:

An update to selling on eBay

Coming at the end of April, we're introducing updates to improve our online marketplace and make selling easier. Learn more about the changes and what they mean for you below.

What this means for you

We’re updating our subscriptions for sellers who want more flexibility and control or who sell higher volumes.

This includes a new Pro Starter plan subscription for sellers who use advanced selling features, like multi-quantity and multi-variation listings.

Based on your usage of these selling features, we believe you’ll have the best selling experience with a Pro Starter plan.

• The Pro Starter plan reflects your current selling experience and includes access to advanced selling features, as well as expanded shipping and payout options and additional customer support. 
• This plan has no monthly cost and you will continue to pay final value fees, as you do today.

Free selling

We’re introducing free selling in late April for Australia-based sellers with up to $25,000 in sales annually. Eligible sellers will no longer pay transaction fees when they sell on eBay.com.au, across all categories.

Learn more about selling fees and how your sales are evaluated.

Free selling is intended for sellers with simpler selling needs and does not include access to advanced selling features or scheduled payouts. These sellers will have to buy labels on eBay for eligible items. A Buyer Protection fee will also be added to their listings and paid by the buyer to eBay.

Based on your current selling activity, you'll qualify for free selling.

You don’t need to do anything right now; we’ll confirm your eligibility in late April and explain how you can cancel the Pro Starter plan if you would rather take advantage of free selling. If you choose to cancel, you will lose access to the selling features available in the Pro Starter plan. 

[domino-710]

But usually the INAD goes in favour of the buyer - how do you get the item back if they refuse to bring it back. ??

[*casey*]

It's treated the same way as a delivery. The seller has to pay for the return.

I'm guessing, for a larger item and a local pick up, some sellers may pick the item up themselves.

Other than that, the buyer will escalate, receive a refund and keep the item

[*casey*]

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@zardoz-au wrote:

"The fact that you must use eBay's label system that prevents the use of third party couriers eg Couriers Please, looks anticompetitive.  Having door-to-door service is great especially given my post office burned down a few years ago due to an arson attack and has yet to be rebuilt!"

Could be some work for the ACCC here.

They'll get away with it I'm sure as at the moment, it's  only for free selling.

But it's definitely a reminder of the Paypal fiasco in 2008  when they 'tried' to make Paypal the only payment method, apart from cash on pick up

[domino-710]

Sheesh - I sell a couch - gets picked up - three weeks down the track a case is opened - INAD - I drive an MX5 - good luck picking that lot up.

Thank goodness my goodies fit in little boxes.

[brickworksmarket]

It is legal as you need to opt in to that tier and there are options for other tiers that allow you to use your own postage service. 

I am at a loss why people are complaining about an option to sell for no fees but the downside is you need to use an integrated postage service that is easy to use and most times is cheaper than over the counter at the Post Office. 

[domino-710]

And your buyer gets to pay between 4-8% of purchase for buyer protection. LOL

And tell me eBay postage has no glitches.

[*casey*]

"I am at a loss why people are complaining about an option to sell for no fees but the downside is you need to use an integrated postage service that is easy to use and most times is cheaper than over the counter at the Post Office."

If you read the entire thread, you'll see that some  posts are from a buyer's point of view.

Buyers  on other sites are NOT happy having to pay a buyer protection fee which  offers them this rubbish.

With Buyer Protection, you benefit from:

• 24/7 customer service: Chat live with a real person whenever you need help
•  
• Risk monitoring and fraud detection: We actively monitor marketplace activity to identify risk and potential fraud and take action to keep you protected
•  
• Secure transactions: All payments are encrypted end-to-end and handled by our trusted payments partners

Buyers on other sites have complained loudly about it  and those sellers  have lost sales since it was introduced

[brickworksmarket]

So if the buyer pays the fees how can I complain as a seller. 

So if I sell an item using the new tier that has no selling fees. The fees that are payable are paid by the buyer. I can use the ebay label which for most items is cheaper than over the counter at the Post Office. I must be missing something as it looks to be a good deal for those that sell things from around the home and are not running a business. 

Ebay postage issues are due to certain sizes using your own packaging so for most who use satchels not a problem.

[domino-710]

Perhaps ask your buyers about the extra 4-8% on top - which is probably all if as much as you save on postage using labels.

How many collectables - a great deal of eBay - will go into a satchel. ??

[brickworksmarket]

How long ago did this happen on other sites as my sales have been down for the last few months. End of the day if the total price for an item remains the same buyers hopefully can work out they are no worse off. Also if  something goes wrong they will now be able to complain that they paid extra for protection.