Digital*ghost: "Do buyers have different (higher) expectations when purchasing from a store?" As a buyer, the majority of things I buy probably aren't from stores. I look at the item and the seller but not whether they have a store or not. Aslong as the item looks good and the seller looks trustworthy, it's a good buy. Maybe subconsciousy, someone who has a store and say over 1000 positive feedback does have an impact but it's the terms, the price, the item, the description (how detailed it is or how detailed the photos are) that come first. Having a store seems more for the seller than the buyer, as ironic as that sounds... 🙂

Thanks 🙂 It bothers me that eBay are not only encouraging business practices based on so-called buyer expectations (unsubstantiated claims), but they'll be penalising sellers who don't follow suit - in all my experience here, a very low percentage of buyers I've dealt with have had any of the expectations eBay claim as standard. In fact, buyers don't even purchase my items when I have free postage (even if the overall total price is lower), and maybe 5 people in over 1000 have asked (note that's asked, not expected), whether I could post something using Express. eBay's explanation of these changes reads like "err, we got a bunch of "undesirables" opening stores left, right and centre, and we don't think someone who can't afford $50p/m in a store fee can meet the expectations we tell buyers to have...."

Nevermind, I'll have my rant(s), then hopfully get on with business. :8}

By the way, does everyone remember how the fee structure (ultimately resulting in lower fees overall for many sellers) was unexpectedly delayed last time? Who's willing to be there'll be no delay in implementing the increase? :^O