2013 Spring Seller Update

[CmtyGuide@ebay.com]

Discuss the 2013 Spring Seller Updates here!

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/ca/201303191308082.html

-- Edited by raphael@ebay.com at Mar 19, 2013 3:01 PM EDT

[rose-dee]

As a store owner (albeit a small one), I'm disturbed by eBay's announcement on annual subscriptions.  It's presented as an innocuous, even inconsequential change, but I think it's a sinister foreboding of the future for "landed" sellers on eBay. 

The way I see it is carrot-and-stick (or more accurately, stick-and-carrot) -- eBay will be nudging store owners into the permanent contract corner, much like cell phones and other dubious service contracts, while scooping up the extra $4.00/month (or more for higher levels!) in store fees from those who would rather not commit to a long term contract.  They win at both ends, which allows them to give a little on listing fees. 

However, for many store owners, the free listing limit will not make up for higher monthly fees.  You can bet those monthly store fees will slowly increase over time to force more and more store people into permanent commitments, and once eBay has most of its buyers on a year-by-year tether, I'd wager those fees will rise too.

It makes me think of finding a rental apartment that is on a yearly lease-only basis, with a big penalty for breaking the lease -- what if you find you really don't like the neighbourhood in 8 months' time? 

So in principle I don't like the idea of a locked-in service (note those cancellation fees if you decide to leave - remind you of something?), but to keep my costs down, I'm going to have to go that route.  I wonder what those cancellation fees will be?  Rather hefty, I'd imagine, if they're to be a real deterrent.  EBay should perhaps learn from Telus, who were finally forced to drop draconian locked-in contracts with users because of huge volumes of complaints.

One thing I do see as a positive is the requirement for a buyer to contact the seller before being able to open a dispute.  This looks like a sensible step -- does it apply on eBay.ca as well as eBay.com though?

Two questions if the Pinks return:

1)  What are the fees for breaking a yearly store subscription?

2)  Does the buyer-must-contact-seller provision noted above apply to eBay.ca?

[westernstargifts]

Very entertaining Pierre.  I hope he didn't go on to pursue a career as a singer!

[tobyshitzu]

the cancellation fees are here

http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/feesupdate2013tandc.html

dont change your mind after a month!!

[lady.stark]

The change of policy is ill conceived and totally STUPID.

I couldn't agree more! Dumb, dumb, dumb and dumber. I often use auctions mixed with BIN prices. So if a buyer is interested in one BIN, he'll have to pay it immediately and wait to see if he wins the auction? What then? Will PayPal give me back the additional $0.30 I will pay for this stupid rule?

Moreover, I am not on my computer 24/7. What if a buyer from France send me an invoice request in the morning (here it will be the middle of the night). I won't probably be able to send him the combined invoice until noon, sometimes even when I get back home after work. In the meantime, buyer #2 see one of the items buyer #1 wants and buys it. Buyer #1 will be angry at me for not sending the combined invoice faster. He will probably ding my stars on communication. Or even back out of the sale entirely. Sales lost.

Again DUMB.

Or maybe buyer #1 won't wait for the combined invoice and pay for the items immediately. More fees for me, because FVF would have been less if combined shipping was involved.

Again DUMB.

You should give us sellers the option to opt in. Wait... that is already in place with Immediate Payment Required!!! X-( X-( X-(

[rose-dee]

the cancellation fees are here

http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/feesupdate2013tandc.html

dont change your mind after a month!!

Thank you, answers my first question above!  You're right - if you want out, it's better to hang on until near the end of the year.

You know, soon I expect to see lawyers specializing in eBay contracts and policies...(that is, lawyers outside eBay itself of course).

[pierrelebel]

"A calendar month begins at 12:00:00am Pacific Time on the first day of each month and ends at 11:59:59 pm Pacific Time on the last day of the month."

Do these times apply to Canadian stores - eBay.ca usually runs on Eastern time, not Pacific time.

[artbylucie]

I have a question and I don't find the answer.

I use a lot of "good until cancelled listings" and I would like to know if they will be counted in the monthly free listings when they are automatically renewed??

In the current promotion of free listing, I have tried to list one and it charges me five cents. If I list it as "fixed price 30 days", it's free.  I presume the "good until cancelled" are not included??

[triber]

Moderators: With regard to the Premium store subscription, I will get 500 free listing a month. What about the relists every month? I have 500 pluslistings in my store, if they are all relisted at the end of the 31 days, will they be free? Will that be included in my 500 free listings a month?

[pierrelebel]

artbylucie - if you read the terms of the current four day promotion, it clearly states that GTC are NOT included. You can list fixed price listings at 3, 5, 7, 10 or 30 days for free (until midnight tononight - depending on your time zone)

" up to 500 listings during the Promotion period as defined below. 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 30-day listing durations are included in this Promotion"

"This Promotion does not apply to the following: Good ‘Til Cancelled durations"

http://pages.ebay.ca/promo/2013/03_19.html 

[artbylucie]

OK for the current promotion, I see.

But is it the same thing for the new fee structure from May 1st?

They don't say anything about the "good until cancelled" listings.

[cumos55]

I almost missed the following .....as a footnote to the Stores Subscription page.....

http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/springupdate2013/springfeesimplification.html?sspagename...

‡ If you list in Books, DVDs & Movies, Music & Video Games additional listing fee is only 5¢ for fixed price.

Does that mean that insertion fees for listings above the basic free listings each month

are 5 cents each  for all store levels.... whether Basic, Premium or Anchor....

[bb_cool_stuff]

I use a lot of "good until cancelled listings' and i would like to know if they will be counted in the monthly free listings when they are automatically renewed.

...if they are all relisted at the end of 31 days will they be free ?  Will that be included in my 500 free listing a month ?

Great questions. Would rather use the 500 free listings in the auction format.

500 x .10 in the Premium Store save 50.00.  500 x .25 Auction save 125.00

Hope this will be answered soon.

[pierrelebel]

GTC are treated like another listings being relisted.

New fee applies every 30 days.

[bb_cool_stuff]

So you think the GTC listings that roll over would count against the 500 free listings ?

Would save more if we put the 500 free listings on auction.

[westernstargifts]

If GTC listings are included in the free listings then we would have to list all of our auctions at the beginning of the month to take advantage of the greater savings for auction format.

[pierrelebel]

"Would save more"

Is saving the name of the game?

Or is selling?

Which one gives better results?

One seven day auction listing or one sixty day fixed price listing?

It is worth thinking about it! (let's all keep in mind that - on average - two auction listings in three do not even attract a single bid) 

[bb_cool_stuff]

Good point Pierre.

Definitely something to think about although i wouldn't mind trying out the auction format for a couple of months to see the sell through rate.

Of course a lot of sellers could be thinking the same thing, another point for me to consider. Another glut of listings in the auction format.

I think we all are going to have to tighten up our stores.

[dutchman48]

If the store free listings go by calendar month and GTC are charged every 30 days, it is possible to have to pay for the second round of listings if you are close to 500 in total for the month. Why do they not use monthly for good till cancelled to coincide with store rental charges.

[artbylucie]

I found this page helpful:

http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/FeeIllustrator.html

We can see that GTC listings (good 'til cancelled) are INCLUDED in the free listings.

Where it says "fixed price", there is a * at the bottom that specify "includes GTC listings".

[retro-photo]

"Free fixed price listings and lower fees for you!" is the subject of the email I received today. Only 50% of that title is accurate.

Sold a lens for $545 a couple days ago. It was a fixed-price listing, so the FVF was $28.75. If I had sold the lens for the same $545 in an auction-style listing, the FVF would've been $49.05.

With the new, "lower fees for you!", the FVF will be $54.50. 

Am I missing anything here?