Is this ethical?

[westernstargifts]

Here is a unique twist for you. Check out this seller's description and read the red lettering above the feedback ratings shown within their description. Then take a look at their actual feedback. Big difference. Very deceptive in my opinion. This is one of the id's (I know of 3) of probably the biggest seller of jewellery on eBay.

They also list the same or similar products all at the same time so you think you are buying from one seller. But if you don't watch closely you are buying it from 2 of their id's (I fell for this one myself last year) and have to pay the shipping separately for which they grossly overcharge.
Item # 320213523658

Any thoughts?

Judy

[whoscloset]

Totally unethical...but allowed and brilliant.

[recped]

It's unethical and completely deceptive of course. On the other hand it works because too many buyers can't or don't think.

The new Powerseller requirements will knock these people down, unfortunately it won't get them removed from eBay, hopefully the new feedback rules will mean their feedback profile more accurately reflects reality.
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[momoftwingles2]

I'm shocked. First...for these Power Sellers to say that eBay ONLY lets them respond to TEN *ask seller a question* links per day. Seems like they are trying to answer out of eBay's sight to hide what they are doing. Secondly..874 negatives, 1655 neutrals in one year! They are most definitely a long ways from their DREAM feedback and DSR ratings! I realize that they have an enormous amount of feedback...but doesn't that say something to eBay to focus on a seller such as this? This is what makes it difficult on all sellers. I for one would never purchase from a seller that had this kind of feedback rating. It would be like playing the lottery...and most often one doesn't win. Interesting. Thanks for pointing this out. Susan

[katiusciav]

personally, i don't see what's wrong with it (except for the part about not being able to answer more than ten questions/day-total lie), but if you're referring to the feedback display judy in their listing, what it says is "this is what our IDEAL feedback would look like"...meaning that's what they would strive to ideally have, not that its actually that perfect...

...a little deceptive? maybe to some who aren't too swift, but they can totally argue their way around that one (ie wording and technicality issues), unless ebay doesn't care and removes it anyways....

...maybe someone should report it and then watch it for awhile and see if it goes away???:|

[westernstargifts]

this is what our IDEAL feedback would look like".

Most buyers will never read the red print. It doesn't jump out at you. They will only see the "ideal" feedback. Therein lies the deception.

And the "ten" ask the seller a question responses per day is an out and out lie.

When I purchased some items from 2 of their user id's they were TERRIBLE with communication, their shipping charges were absolutely out of sight of reality and it was the worst experience I ever had buying on eBay. I am sure they have deserved the hundreds of negatives left for them.

I was not looking for this particular seller. I just looked to see who was selling "100% Silver Copper". What the heck is that? The real thing or another deception?

[numero_1]

many sellers are like that they split business onto 2 or more id's easier to handle ? tax purposes ? that's why you have to read before you bid

[whoscloset]

many sellers are like that they split business onto 2 or more id's easier to handle ? tax purposes ?


protection in case they get hammered with negative feedback on one id due to their crappy product and customer service ?

[momosworld]

Monique,

Actually more sales to be honest.

Look at the top seller on eBay, they have 7-10 different IDs accross the board and take up most of the catagory they are in

In this case for the feedback, not sure how that is unethical, I mean it shows 25,000 but they have sold well over that from the same buyers, thats eBays problem, not theirs...am i missing something here?

Moez.

[recped]

Personally I would consider intentionally being deceptive to be unethical (but that doesn't necessarily make it illegal or against policy).
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[weedsellit4u]

You may find this interesting. I just ran the seller in question through Feedback analyzer for the past 30 Days.
1380 positive feedbacks 0 neutral and 0 Negs. So no matter how you feel about the ethics of his listings it must be working. Compared to his yearly feedback ratings the last 30 days is a terrific improvement. We might all be needing to take this approach with the new system.

[coxengines]

FB analyzer? Where me find...?

Xena

[weedsellit4u]

Opps I lied, I ran the wrong Id and will post the correct figures soon.

[weedsellit4u]

OK, It does not look as good using the correct Id but his numbers are big all around.
Pos. 29231
Neu. 237
Neg. 127
Sorry for the errors
But I do have to admit that it is a brilliant idea to help educate the buyers and leave out the lies.


You can get the Feedback analyzer at: http://www.feedbackanalyzer.com/index.php

[recped]

Their Toolhaus Neg90 rating isn't extremely terrible...

10813 feedback counted
230 "bad" (2.13%)
Based on transactions as a seller in the past 90 days.
"Bad" items are Negative and Neutral only, not withdrawn FB.

It must take a lot of effort to process these:

Ratings mutually withdrawn: 530 (all in the past year)
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[westernstargifts]

When they cracked down on PS's last year and pulled all of their listings, one of this users' stores was included. All 3 of the id's that I know about (most likely they have more) have hundreds of negatives just like this one. So yes, it would be very time consuming to get all of the neg's mutually withdrawn.

[margeo29]

There are many sites like this one that are unethical and eBay’s not going to do anything to these people. Look at the money eBay is making not to mention Paypal. I reported a seller selling counterfeit coins and eBay said they are not experts and would have to refer the case to another party. Seller is still selling.

[westernstargifts]

I just checked out eBay pulse. The seller that I mentioned in my first post IS the 2nd, 3rd & 4th top jewellery seller listed. The top seller is doing the same thing with their "desired" feedback table showing but they do it in a much nicer way. #140204075720

I used to buy a lot of stuff from this top seller. They used to have good shipping rates with free shipping for orders over $100. Then they started charging MORE for packages over that amount, over and above their greatly increased shipping prices.

It is wonderful that I had so much influence on them. When I started on eBay I was pretty much by myself selling copper rings. Now all of these top sellers have them. eBay certainly will not want to lose them. I am sure they bring in gazoodles of money for eBay (I have never used that word before...gazoodles)....lol.

[mondocanuck]

Does anyone know if The Traders Assistant Program is available to Canadians? Thanks! Mondocanuck 🙂