Changes coming soon to eBay.com.au (14/03/2011)

[CmtyGuide-Mary@ebay.com]

Changes coming soon to eBay.com.au

This thread is to discuss the ***Changes coming soon to eBay.com.au*** announcement made on 14/03/2012.

These changes include:

FREE pictures and listing upgrade changes

Simplified Fees

Updates to eBay’s Feedback and seller standards

Zero day handling time option for same day dispatch

Custom settings for payment, postage & returns information

Electronics: List using eBay catalogues in more categories

Changes to the Classifieds listing format

April 2012 category changes

Please be advised, off-topic and/or disruptive posts may be deleted.

[noseinabook2011]

Mmm.  So, I have a basic subscription/store for which I'll now be paying an extra $5.  Other fees will remain ie I'll still be paying 9.9% on sales.  Correct me if I'm wrong (I've had a trying day at my 9-5 job so I'm a bit fuzzy round the edges), my only current advantage of including up to 12 free photos is now being made available to everyone... at no extra cost.  I've just glanced down at the list of changes and it includes Zero day handling time option for same day dispatch... what does that mean?  From the 1st day of opening my store, I've trotted off to post asap...  I'm really trying to see where or if I'll actually benefit in any way, shape or form...

[kayedonproducts]

More changes to improve functionality!!!!

I've read through the changes and from what I understand I'll be paying $5,00 extra per month for my store, as others have already commented on.  Along with other posters (why oh why, did they change the boards, so you can't look back at all threads - hasn't improved "functionality" in any way), I would like to know what happens when Basic Stores are no longer.

Good to see a change to help sellers who have received unfair feedback, but I would like to have seen the return of sellers being able to leave negative feedback for buyers.  I've been very blessed to have great buyers, but I know from reading the boards, many sellers have been affected by not being able to leave negative feedback for buyers, which in turn helps other sellers to be aware of "bad buyers".

As for Communication - I would like eBay to completely butt out of sending emails to my buyers.  I feel quite confident I have the ability to be able to communicate to my buyers myself.  As I've said before in other posts, one email eBay send out, which I would like to see disappear completely is the reminder to leave feedback - which in eBay's own words is voluntary. I cringe when I think any of my buyers have probably received this email, as I never ask for feedback myself.

[tonalidesigns]

OK - as I see it booksellers/DVD sellers with a basic store will be $5 a month worse off. If they have a featured store they will be about $70 a month better off.

And if you sell items in the $200-$1000 range you'll pay more (in some cases substantially more) in FVF's

For me, its a completely different story: I have a basic store. I currently list between 200-300 items a month (and planning on growing), nothing over $40.

My store fees will go up by $5. In return I'll get some extra pages and better reporting. I see that as a plus (was eyeing off upgrading to Featured store for that reason).

My listing fees will go down by 50% - around $50 a month - and more if I expand.

My FVF rate will fall from 7.9% to 7% - so FVF's reduced by around 10% so between $20 and $50 less each month depending on sales.

I'll also save (if I read it right) the Gallery fees of .59 on each of the auctions I run - so another $20-30 per month.

The only gripe I have is that we STILL don't seem to be getting the mutivariant listing capacity extended (so we are still competing with international sellers with one hand tied behind our backs). Still, there is an April revamp of categories to bring us closer in line internationally so maybe that is not too far away????

[viewmont1071]

IS THIS WHERE SOMEBODY EXPLAINS THE OBTUSE STATEMENTS??

Removal of Feedback on unpaid items

When a seller opens an unpaid item dispute, Feedback and detailed seller ratings relating to that case will be blocked or automatically removed.

This applies whether or not you are using Unpaid Item Assistant as long as you are using PayPal and no local pick up is offered.

given that we are talking about an unpaid item dispute who or what needs to use paypal to qualify.

 It apears if you only offer paymate or your own card processing facility you will not qualify......WHY???  given that ebay and paypal are separate entities

 I wondered given that you MUST offer paypal for local pick up items why you could not have NPB feedback removed considering that the BUYER WOULD BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE EXCHANGE ( OR THEIR AGENT) AND WOULD   HAVE CHECKED THE ITEM BEFORE MAKING A CASH PAYMENT

...... and would still have the option of raising a non performing seller dispute if the seller refused to sell, wanted more cash money or the item was not as described so the buyer decided not to pay cash ??????

[viewmont1071]

I see... the copied and pasted statement above was just a bit of sublimimal PP advertising 😐 

 .... copy and paste from the frequently asked questions..... crikey somebody asked those FAQ's quick and it must be a record for ebay answers????

oh hold on:-p maybe somebody just made them up????

9. Don't you already protect sellers from Feedback received by buyers with an unpaid item recorded for the related transaction?

This protection is currently available through Unpaid Item Assistant.

 We’re now extending this protection to all unpaid item transactions, whether or not you are using Unpaid Item Assistant, an eBay approved safer payment method, and did not offer local item pick-up.

For the few transactions that do not meet these criteria, sellers can request removal of Feedback. Feedback will be removed if it is clear that the buyer did not have intent to pay.

they still seem a little sheepish to use the credit card or paymate word???

[viewmont1071]

copy and paste

Once you upload tracking, your buyers will receive automated emails from eBay with tracking information and status on their orders, and they can access it from My eBay. No need to contact your buyers with tracking and order status; eBay takes care of this for you

If I upload a COURIERS tracking number will ebay still give  AUSTRALIA POST'S ESTIMATED AVERAGE DELIVERY TIME in the automated  email.

... if so can you also include a PRETTY  red and green christmas date ticker??? as  it has as much relevance 😐 😛 

[digital*ghost]

Why is ebay rewarding those that don't communicate with customers and penalising those that do?

Ebay confirmation messages are notoriously amiss when it comes to the buyers receiving them.

What happens to the 5 stars when a seller gets a message from the buyer asking if the purchase has been sent, or as quite often happens, Item not received?

Selling is a two way street and Ebay have been harping on at us for ages to improve our communications with buyers.

We do that and now you penalize us for it.

Funnily enough, I actually think the parameters for auto-5 star communication make sense. At least moreso than the auto-5 star for postage time.

If the seller or buyer at no point have any cause to exchange messages etc, then - as the info page states - it can be assumed with relative confidence that the transaction went smoothly, and eBay award 5 stars on behalf of themselves....as they were communicating for you. 😉  But, if you did communicate directly with the buyer, the nature of that communication can only be rated by the buyer. eBay 'know' they weren't rude, but they don't know if a seller was.

Personally, I would think if you didn't need to exchange messages directly with the buyer, the Communication DSR is blocked from a rating altogether rather than granted 5 stars.

[isheds_iracks]

Thanks fuggsy - I thought that was the case.

So eBays answer to make life simpler and to give the seller and buyer a better experience through buying on eBay is.......

wait for it.......

wait for it (it will be worth it).......

PAY MORE FOR YOUR PURCHASE

I will have to increase my prices to cover the extra costs

Only two winners here - and its not the buyer and its not the seller - its eBay and PayPal

Maybe in the long run it won't be them as winners as my prices off eBay will now be less than on my eBay store - a smart buyer will pick this up and purchase off eBay

[marian_100]

Hi Mary

In general the changes to the current tiered fee structure seem ok to me. I am particularly happy with the changes to handling time and the idea of rewarding sellers with quick turn around times.

I am concerned (and have been for a while) about what happens to small Powersellers who do not own a store.

When the 30 free listings for non powersellers was introduced last year I considered taking on a new identity to sell the same type of items. As I rarely, if ever, list more than 30 items a month it seemed feasible on the surface.

When I thought about it further I realised pretty quickly that my listings would simply get lost. I do have a small and reliable following of buyers. I value them and I would say from their continued purchases and their feedback, that they value me too. If I changed my id simply to appear to be a casual seller I would immaediately lose the reputation I have garnered over several years.

Ebay is not my sole income, in fact Ebay is a little blip in my income for the year. I am not a hobby or a casual seller either, I don't really collect what I sell, I just know a lot about it and like it as well. I list a particular type of style and I list reasonably continuously throughout the year.

There are a lot of Powersellers like me out there. I do not want a store. They BIN format does not suit the items I sell. If I wanted to sell them for a fixed price Ebay absolutely would not be the best selling platform.

While I still advocate that Ebay provides the cheapest selling platform as well as the best buyer exposure I am becoming concerned that Ebay is at risk of discriminating against small powersellers who do not want to lose their hard earned reputations.

Mary I do hope this argument makes sense. I would appreciate it if there was some attempt to sort through the different tiers of powersellers and work out who is being rewarded by the new fee structure and who may be penalised. I worry that book sellers may also fall into this latter category too.

My regards, marian_100

[auctionwarez]

April 2012 category changes

During the week commencing 30 April 2012, eBay will be making some improvements to the category structure on eBay.com.au. The category changes are being made so that eBay.com.au’s category structure aligns with other international eBay sites, thus making it easier for buyers and sellers to trade on eBay regardless of where they are located.

More details will follow soon.

Magically, I do not see what changes they are making to the categories and it is blank.

I wonder if ebay might consider changing back our category structure in character toys that they took away in June 2010 supposedly to align Australia with USA and UK. 

For those that don't know, we were aligned in these categories prior to June 2010, and ebay UNALIGNED AUSTRALIA in these categories in June 2010 and took away every character toy category we had to sell in and lumped them all together in Toys/Hobbies.

Currently USA has 80 categories - Australia has 0 and ebay Australia has been a total shambles for local and international sales since June 2010.

Please reinstate our character toy categories and then it would in fact make it easier and FAIRER to buyers and sellers alike nationally and internationally to trade.