Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

gogracego
Community Member

I have been a casual seller and buyer on eBay for many years now, since 2001.  It used to be fun...I had great interactions with my buyers and sellers, but since eBay brought in the feedback ratings, I am  a bit confused. I have NEVER heard a complaint about my description, shipping rates, timely shipping, or communication. I clarify shipping rates in all my listings, I ship within one business day ALWAYS, and respond to all emails immediately, shipping rates are out of my control. I should not be judged on things I can't control and the things I know I do well at.  To date, I am not pleased with with my feedback ratings.....I'm docked in each category after being impeccably honest, to the extent I have even refunded money to those whose shipping ended up being less than I quoted, shipping times are out of my control, description is a matter of opinion, and I know my communication is excellent. I would really like to see these rating dropped, as they are inaccurate and many times, the buyer confuses their purchase with the wrong seller if they have made multiple purchases.....so how accurate are these ratings....are they based on emotion at the moment of input? 

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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

I'm afraid the new defect system is here to stay.  It favours larger volume sellers (with a 3-month turnaround on performance ratings), so that lower volume sellers really have to run a tight ship to keep on top. 

 

No doubt this is eBay's way of (a) weeding out the non-professional sellers; and (b) giving an advantage to its biggest volume sellers. 

 

The best thing a seller can do is to give the best service possible, absolutely stay on top of your defect summary (in Dashboard), read through the new rules carefully so you can anticipate and avoid problems before they become defects, and be objective about correcting anything that might become a defect-generator.

 

It's unfortunate, but we're all having to adjust to this new reality.  Some will fall by the wayside, and not much can be done about defects that are caused by buyer misunderstandings or opinions, especially if they result in cases being opened or neutral/neg FB. 

 

One positive note is that eBay won't give you demerits until you have defects from 8 different buyers (5 for TRS sellers), so that's why I say that staying on top of errors is now essential. 

Message 2 of 14
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

eBay I still a lot of fun, For a while it was the crack cocaine of money. It has gone back to fun and profit.

Fun is entirely within the control of the seller.
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

You are right elm wood which is Why I hate selling on ebay LOL.. Just kidding I had alot of fun but I went to big for my britches and now I am closing due to well my love for my kids and wife but mainly my kids ... They deserve to have My full attention all the time and approaching a business worth of a 1/2 Million and being the shipper,receiver,listing everything ,Accounting was just way too much for me being the size I got to ...

 

Now I made a deal with the wifey that I close down and get to what I want with the money Which is why This wed I am having a 45 ft Gazebo built on the front my house .... Which is sooooo much better then new stock LOL ....

 

Ebay is what you make it .. I have gotten so many uncalled for Neg that I just gave up caring about it .. 99% of Neutral I deserved and maybe 20% of Negs so I just gave up worrying.. Plus with the new defect rating I am a going to be top rated again so Neg or no negs my ratings are still in decent shape..

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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

Nice to hear from you Brandee, I was missing yer presence. eBay can be a variety of things, one of which is simply a job. Most people do not like their job.

 

Maybe you can change it back from a business to something more enjoyable? I hope that you can find that balance.

 

Maybe the exact opposite happens and you just put it down and walk away. I did that with my real job, 11 AM, Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009. SNAP and out the door I went and never went back. Just like that. I applied for a similar job here in Helleville and they refused to hire me saying "Why would you want to do this again?".

 

They were right and I later thanked them for not hiring me, saying, "I would have quit".

 

Please, do not be a stranger.

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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

Anonymous
Not applicable

I honestly don't understand why eBay needs to focus on biggest volume sellers.  Have you notice that many biggest volume sellers have highest amount of neutral and negative feedback than those small sellers like us??  So why the heck eBay needs to focus on them? 

 

I would think eBay should focus on us and put us in higher search capabilities as we are doing very well than those biggest volume sellers with tooooooo many neutral and negative feedback!

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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

The fun in eBay is finding the inventory to sell.....  and you do meet all kinds of people.... in the process

 

Always on the look out for that something"special", and if you know where to look  ... it is out there.

 

Sometimes it is almost as if  one develops a sixth sense  and it is the inventory that calls out to you... "Please take me"...

 

Listing it is time consuming...  and then come the sales.  Sales do come... most of the time.....  and the money piles up... sort of..

 

 

 

Many say the small seller is eBay's target.. for eBay to get rid of.  It is the small seller that either learns what to do... or just walks away..... They self destruct.

 

There are many successful... some very successful small sellers.....  who know what must be done... and what it takes to do very well on eBay..  I know many!

 

 

Ten years ago it was relatively easy... compared to today....  Long term sellers  have learn how to adjust with each eBay update....  That is when some sellers  just give up... while other continue... there are those that leave,  and then the new ones arrive....

 

Ten years ago I could relax.... Today  I have to be more focused on what eBay is doing... and what my response will be.... Even with this new eBay...  one can adjust... Perhaps be ready even before eBay introduces something new....

 

 

The fun is what each seller makes of eBay... Some just cannot develop a routine  that will allow them to continue.....

 

Always ready for something new... New inventory... Learn something new every day...  a New eBay  

 

 

What many sellers fails to recognize is that we are the ones that make eBay what eBay is today....Every seller has something to contribute

 

 

 

 

 

Message 7 of 14
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

What Cumos says.

 

eBay does not determine how I feel, I do. If someone feels at odds with eBay, they need to look within themselves.

 

Many people hate their jobs. They rail against their employer, the customers, hours of work, benefits, etc. Many people love their jobs. They cannot believe they get paid to do the things they do.

 

There is an auction site that deals with mis-directed freight. Every now and then they get something that they simply do not know what it is. Several times I have been able to figure out what it is and what it is worth. Invest $50 and clear $1000.

 

eBay caused me to travel even more. Meet some of the most interesting people. Broadened my horizons.

 

The money became crack cocaine, to me. That was not pretty, anything for a buck. I have since ratcheted back and a lot of the fun has come back. I have been "encouraged" by situations to re-evaluate where I am going and how I will get there.

 

I have people around me who made promises that turned out to be lies. That cost me. eBay has not lied to me. It does not have that capability. It clearly says what will work and what will not. It has also provided me with safe anchorage during a raging storm.

 

Just like 10% of the sellers do 90% of the profit, I believe 10% of the denizens do 90% of the complaining.

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Message 8 of 14
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

Have you notice that many biggest volume sellers have highest amount of neutral and negative feedback than those small sellers like us??

 

Well, yeah. They would also get the highest number of entitled, insane and grouchy customers. Goose/gander.

 

It's not so much the number of complaints as the percentage.

A seller with one negative feedback on (f'rinstance) 19 sales, would be toast.

A seller with one hundred negative feedback on 19,000 sales, is doing darn well and should be admired.

 

And 19,000 sales is still not a mega-seller, unless that's her monthly total.

 

 

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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?


@femmefan1946 wrote:

Have you notice that many biggest volume sellers have highest amount of neutral and negative feedback than those small sellers like us??

 

Well, yeah. They would also get the highest number of entitled, insane and grouchy customers. Goose/gander.

 

It's not so much the number of complaints as the percentage.

A seller with one negative feedback on (f'rinstance) 19 sales, would be toast.

A seller with one hundred negative feedback on 19,000 sales, is doing darn well and should be admired.

 

And 19,000 sales is still not a mega-seller, unless that's her monthly total.

 

 


Have you also noticed that they have the highest number of positive feedback as well.

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Message 10 of 14
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?


@mr.elmwood wrote:


Have you also noticed that they have the highest number of positive feedback as well.


Woman Very Happy Smiley Very Happy Robot Very HappyMan Very HappyCat Very Happy

(we're all LOL)

 

Hey -- it took me 2 minutes to get all those happy faces lined up, gimme a break...

Message 11 of 14
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

I also dislike the ratings system, it bothers me to no end that someone must have given me 1 star in most categories but didn't message to let me know of a problem with their item and obviously left positive FB because I have no other kind.  😞 

 

But, I still enjoy eBay selling a great deal.  I like the personal nature of the transactions, I love making listings, taking pictures and packaging.  So, I guess I do end up making my own fun no matter.  🙂  Offering free shipping (at least domestically) at least protects you from an undeserved low star rating there.

 

 

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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

Rose, giggle-giggle. I thought you would like that.

Reminds me of the Monty Python sketch with the penguin and the size of its' brain. Make the penguin bigger, and, the brain is "bigger than it was".
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Message 13 of 14
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Ebay used to be a lot of fun....where has the fun gone?

Have you also noticed that they have the highest number of positive feedback as well.

 

 

LOL Good response.

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