eBay

northwestnsw · ‎11-11-2014

Target Australia is on eBay and selling. targetau has a feedback score of 3, and has 500+ items listed. Why wasn't I able to list that many as I have just started selling too. I am limited to 10 a month.

I also notice that one of their positives comes from miptestau60 which appears to be a test account of Targets. Is this giving themselves feedback allowed?

retailtherapist_8 · ‎11-11-2014

I completely agree digi.

As far as my own buying habits are concerned, I would no more buy target goods online than fly to the moon. I aint payin for postage for a target item lol. I much prefer going in store for stuff like that and they have plenty of them there are also 3 stores near me.

I do however understand how certain people with mobility issues may prefer to do it online and ebay may be the most convenient platform for a segment of buyers.

As a Seller thankfully it doesnt & wont effect me, I do however feel for all those loyal ebay Sellers for whom this will impact greatly.

digital*ghost · ‎11-11-2014

@am*3 wrote:
If ebay didn't want small sellers, then why do they give them 40 free listings a month?

Probably for the same reason they give me recommendations to reduce the prices of my items by up to 80%, then send me special offers for discounted FVF on items over $100.

They're fickle, indecisive, insecure and consistently try to hedge their bets - and they probably still wonder why they're losing investor and member confidence. They haven't given anyone a clear indication of just exactly what they're trying to do and / or become, but we do have John Donohoe speaking unintelligible nonsense about eBay's target customer being people who like to shop online, but don't want to do the stuff that shopping online typically necessitates, like pay for shipping or even get things posted at all. Makes total sense....the ebay shopper of today (according to Donohoe) wants to log in, shop at Target, pay for their purchase, then go pick it up at their local store... (Reference: http://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2014/10/1414010502.html )

@modestbods wrote:
Well, I guess we finally found out who it was that got sent those special by invitation only promotions.

http://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Invitation-only-First-3-sales-free-5-9-November/m-p/1605087#...

I suppose it's not too bad if they only got three freebies...

cherry*135 · ‎11-11-2014

Ebay give 40 free listings a month to keep sellers listing so they can keep on ripping sellers off. Anyway, if the 40 listings weren't free many sellers could not afford to keep going.

Exactly my point. If they were trying to get rid of sellers, especially smaller volume ones they wouldn't give 40 free listings a month.

I much prefer the 40 free listings to paying a listing fee as was the norm 10 or so years ago. I would not list 40 things at once at $1.50 each for listing fee.

eBay didn't have much, if any, competition 10 years ago from other online retailers it has a huge amount now in Aust and overseas.

digital*ghost · ‎11-11-2014

And my point is that a lot of their actions are contradictory - to know why a question like "if eBay wanted to get rid of smaller sellers, why do they give casual sellers 40 free listings a month?" is the million dollar question rather than a real point, you have to look at all of their actions / decisions in context, not just look at a singular action and take it as an indication that because that one action seems to be encouraging, it must mean that the rest of their actions aren't intended to be discouraging.

cherry*135 · ‎11-11-2014

There are quite a few major retailers who have free online shipping (and returns, or item can be returned to nearest store). I can see why some consumers now come to expect that.. even overseas online stores.. have free shipping and free or low cost, e.g. $5 return (to a NSW address).

Consumers who are getting used to that (no extra shipping costs) and are going to go if they see postage around $12-$15 for an item on ebay in Australia.

Another way the smaller seller can't compete with the big guys.

I have bought 3 items from an online store where the stock comes from the US..basically only paying for the item cost (same as on eBay) and no extra for shipping.

cherry*135 · ‎11-11-2014

@digital*ghost wrote:
And my point is that a lot of their actions are contradictory - to know why a question like "if eBay wanted to get rid of smaller sellers, why do they give casual sellers 40 free listings a month?" is the million dollar question rather than a real point, you have to look at all of their actions / decisions in context, not just look at a singular action and take it as an indication that because that one action seems to be encouraging, it must mean that the rest of their actions aren't intended to be discouraging.

I was replying to a specific comment, which is often made here.. eBay is trying to get rid of the small sellers. Taking away the 40 free listings would go far to achieve that. But they still encourage members to sell things from around their house using the 40 free listings.

The push for free shipping, change of mind returns etc.. I see that as eBay trying to conform to other online sellers terms & conditions (The competition).

I quite like the idea of click and collect. Better than going out of your way to a store and finding they don't have the item you want.

digital*ghost · ‎11-11-2014

@am*3 wrote:
I was replying to a specific comment, which is often made here.. eBay is trying to get rid of the small sellers. Taking away the 40 free listings would go far to achieve that. But they still encourage members to sell things from around their house using the 40 free listings.

The push for free shipping, change of mind returns etc.. I see that as eBay trying to conform to other online sellers terms & conditions (The competition).

All the while trying to move casual sellers into subbing to stores (see the new fees and what their intentions were for introducing them in the US, plus the removal of certain fees).

I knew what you were commenting on, I was just trying to point out that the 40 free listings, as a standalone action, is not a clear indication that the sellers who believe eBay is trying to get rid of smaller sellers are obviously wrong.

I personally don't think eBay are trying to get rid of small sellers, I just think they don't have very much respect for them, or appreciate exactly what it is they bring to the site, nor think it would be a great loss if they culled many of them. Actually, my personal opinion is that eBay wants (or at least doesn't care if their decisions result in) a high turnover of small sellers. Long term, low-level casual sellers are likely the ones eBay feels are a thorn in their side - I believe they recognise in some ways that the kind of variety the casual sellers bring is good for maintaining buyer interest, but I also believe that eBay thinks these kinds of sellers are disposable, so all they need to do is maintain attraction rather than loyalty.

cherry*135 · ‎11-11-2014

If there were no 'used' goods on eBay... I don't think there would be much point for it at all.. massive competition from other online outlets for new goods and better supply/return conditions.