@Anonymous wrote:
A couple of points to consider:
1. If you have a problem selling into the USA or UK today, those transactions negatively impact both your global standards and your UK or US standards. Under these new rules, that's no longer the case. No more double-jeopardy for Canadian sellers.
I am probably going to say some things here that seem harsh, but understand they are not directed at you personally. Rather they are directed at the management of eBay that puts out the spin we are all so accustomed to.
First, I have to say that the text above (in bold) is exactly the sort of comment out of eBay that is infuriating and insulting Canadian eBay sellers, many of whom are eBay's most longstanding and loyal sellers and have provides the very best in customer service for years (as an aside, I doubt many "big-box" sellers can provide the kind of stellar buying experience that people like 'mjwl' and I strive for constantly).
For eBay to clothe this policy change in the guise of a benefit to Canadian sellers is frankly (and sorry to say) laughable.
Most of us have little trouble selling to the U.S., and it was the combination of U.S. + U.K./international sales that helped us get the one TRS status we could rely on (Global). EBay knows this, surely.
I can't speak for other Canadian sellers, but I for one would be grateful and appreciative if eBay would -- for once -- step away from the paternalistic lectern and treat us as intelligent adults by giving us the truthful background and rationale for what they must know will remove many Canadian sellers from the TRS programme. EBay might actually be surprised at how many sellers would accept and understand the need for cost-cutting if it were presented to them as the business people most are.
This announcement is particularly transparent after eBay recently reduced the TRS discount to 10%. It seems obvious that eBay is attempting to cut corners and save money by reducing the number of sellers getting the TRS discounts. Fair enough. Just tell us that for heaven's sake.
Here is my suggestion for a refreshing way eBay could (and should) announce such changes that might actually help to keep the support and confidence of its sellers/subscribers:
"In order to continue to be competitive in a highly challenging market, we have had to look for ways to tighten up expenditures and lower costs wherever possible. Costs have been a challenge for us in the past few months. While we know that the Global TRS programme has been of great benefit to Canadian sellers, this programme must unfortunately be reduced in order to effect necessary cost savings. However, Canadians will still be able to qualify for U.S. TRS if they meet the standards.
Since we know this will mean a significant adjustment for Canadian sellers, we are providing a 6 month grace period which we hope will lessen the impact.
We regret having to restrict what we know has been a very helpful and popular programme for Canadian sellers. We appreciate the support of our sellers in understanding that this step would not be taken were it not seen as necessary, and without serious consideration on the part of eBay management."
... or words to that effect. How refreshing it would be to be treated as the stakeholders we are in this enterprise, rather than as infantile dependents!
2. We're protecting sellers from impact from the next 6 months, so there's time to try to build up more sales to domestic or other international countries.
Again, this is eBay putting lipstick on an ugly pig. Surely eBay must understand that for small or mid-sized Canadian sellers, ramping up international sales is next to impossible, given the reality of outrageous Canada Post shipping costs. And Canadian sellers (like me) who have tried hard over the years through every method imaginable but failed to increase domestic buyer percentages by any significant amount will be unlikely to do so in the next 6 months, particularly given the overall slump in sales many have seen since last summer.
3. If after 6 months, you ultimately aren't able to reach minimum sales global top rated, but are able to maintain US Top Rated, then as a Canadian you still get the FVF discount on listings created on either ebay.ca ebay.com.
This may sound as if it's some comfort, however it puts Canadian sellers in a dilemma, given your comment #2 above. We have only 6 months. Which do we do if we want to retain our TRS discount -- focus on international, or on U.S.? Most of us can't do both. The question now for those of us who want to retain TRS will be: which market to gamble on during the next 6 months?
My own situation is a good example. For over 8 years my sales have been more than 90% to the U.S., but in some periods I didn't have quite enough U.S. sales to keep the U.S. TRS alone. Global TRS acted as a valuable "back-up", because my combined sales always kept me above the mark. Believe it or not, for a smaller, "boutique" seller like me, that 20% TRS discount was very meaningful. Even 10% is significant.
So I suppose my questions are:
1) Why does eBay believe it needs to continue to use insulting "spin" to justify changes that are patently a disadvantage for sellers? Is honesty and directness so impossible?
2) Does eBay even care anymore if it loses another swath of its small, boutique sellers, either from disgust with eBay's constant prevarication over policy changes, or because this TRS change will be the final straw? Remember, last time it was a 10% reduction in TRS discounts, previously a 25% hike in store fees. There does come a point where, without an honest explanation, such increases are unacceptable.
3) I recall a pronouncement by an eBay CEO some months ago about "supporting its core of traditional small sellers". Whatever happened to that fine sentiment?
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