Fall seller Update

[dutchman48]

Rumor on the US boards is the the Fall Seller Updates will be released tomorrow, Tuesday. August 12

[cumos55]

Many things might be forthcoming.  We may get clarification ---

(1) The New Defect System for evaluating sellers.

(2) The Cyber-attack, sometimes known as  "The Hack".  

Sellers have a lot of questions....  maybe some answers are coming.

and ... More

[Anonymous]

Groan!! I really so hate those Seller updates as too many insane policies, too many insane changes, too many hassle, etc, etc, etc.,etc. We need "good news" for sellers for a big change positive things for sellers. eBay, are you listening??

[dutchman48]

You honestly think you will get those things from Ebay?

[pierrelebel]

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y14/m08/i12/s01

[dutchman48]

You beat me to it Pierre.

Looks like I will greatly reduce selling if they enforce managed returns for everyone. More on principle.

With all the game player Ebay does not get rid off, there will be no need for buyers to request cancellations, they can just buy, pay, and return on the seller's dime.

If we have to eat shipping both ways for any reason, it will leave no profits for anyone but Ebay, but then that is what they want. Store will also be closed next year.

Is anyone else finding the discussion boards very slow last couple of days?

[pierrelebel]

"Is anyone else finding the discussion boards very slow last couple of days?"

Yes.  It takes forever to connect or refresh. 

The problem is NOT with my computer or internet service as all other sites, including eBay, work normally.

It would not surprise me if eBay also announces a "free listing" promotion today or tomorrow to make sellers forget about the "Fall Update"!

[dutchman48]

f you no longer offer returns when managed returns become mandatory, will the buyer then get to keep the product and get their money back?

[pierrelebel]

I suspect that is a strong possibility.  That would more or less force sellers to go with the program, whether they like it or not.

[pierrelebel]

"will the buyer then get to keep the product and get their money back?"

That would make an excellent question for the Weekly Board Hour tomorrow, assuming eBay does not cancel it (as they have done several times before) or even answer the question clearly.

[dutchman48]

Here is another link with some comments from readers

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2014/8/1407841399.html

[dutchman48]

They are enraged on the US boards over the managed returns being mandatory

[dutchman48]

Maybe Ebay made the boards slow so not as many people can reply to the fall update idiocy.

[lukey9]

They can have all the Free listings they want but if they are not selling it is not worth the time any more. I used to use E-bay to pay for the other sites I list on but now it is the reverse. If it becomes mandatory returns with Canada Post rates out side of North America that will be the end for allot of sellers. I looked on E-Bay. com and they are not to happy about judging by the comments.

[dutchman48]

A lot of sellers ship without tracking to reduce shipping costs, especially from Canada. Returns are supposed to be sent with tracking so we in Canada will get shafted big time for the cost of the return, even on small light items with a small profit margin.

Not a hope in you know what I will be around for this! Sales are awful and this on top of it means bye bye Ebay

[dutchman48]

Ebay hasn't figured out that a lot of sellers are also buyers, so they will lose those as well.

Also, a lot of buyers don't want all the Chinese junk on the site either.

They are getting further and further away from the Amazon model even though they try to be like Anazon

Why would I buy overpriced stuff on Ebay when I can buy it from any website for less

Maybe they should have everyone's products sent to their head office so they can control everything except listing it and charge more for their services. They don't make any good decisions anymore, so using up space won't hurt performance. They could outsource everything and save even more money for the share holders.

[rose-dee]

Every update now feels like another nail in the coffin marked "RIP small eBay business".  This one is no exception, from my viewpoint very discouraging, and obviously intended to further streamline things for the big sellers.  

Three things got my attention: 

1)  "Sellers should note that for hassle-free returns the return shipping label is provided automatically when the buyer initiates a return."    I assume this means the seller's Paypal account will be automatically charged for the return (tracked) shipping? 

2)  "...buyers will be able to return an item for any reason."  So much for not accepting returns due to buyer's remorse.  

3)  "Buyers will be able to request a cancellation if they change their mind within an hour after the sale as long as sellers haven't already shipped the item."   Well, this should cause chaos for small sellers.  

This is becoming less and less the right place for a small, "boutique" business.  But then I believe that is exactly what eBay doesn't want anymore.  They are married to the idea of the big box store.  Sadly, as eBay makes it more and more difficult for smaller sellers of unique, interesting items, the really good sellers of quality items will leave, and so will their buyers.   

[treasure.hunter.d]

"Today, it will announce that all sellers who offer returns must offer eBay's managed returns, also known as hassle-free returns, by the 2015 holiday season. That means buyers will be able to return an item for any reason. Sellers will still have the option of not accepting returns at all. "

Unless I am reading that wrong it appears that you will still have the option of NOT accepting returns therefor excluding you from this new policy.

[pierrelebel]

The official announcement from eBay.com:

http://announcements.ebay.com/2014/08/2014-fall-seller-update-increase-sales-and-streamline-your-bus...

[pierrelebel]

"Early next year, hassle-free returns will be extended to more US sellers until all eligible domestic returns are handled this way by the 2015 holiday season"

domestic: American buyer - American seller