What a WASTE of TIME... *sigh*

[vesivus]

Anybody else unhappy with that thread with Gary? I didn't get any real answers, and he seemed to just ignore addressing other sellers.

What really got solved? Anything?

I think I may have put a small dent into the Small Packets shipping with Canada Post. Maybe.

John

[imagi.nation]

Hi, John:

These things seldom make anybody entirely happy. You have to get your points in and just hope it gets noted down and carried out, even in part. If they don't, you bring up the same issue again at the next discussion, and the next, and the next. It's taken at least 3 of these discussions to get someone to come and hold a discussion here. That's pretty impressive timing, actually.

You're working against a huge corporation with its own agenda and interests and things rarely get done with the first request, even with dealing with an upper level manager like Gary Briggs. Time, persistence and getting others to make the same requests at the same time all go to helping getting things done.

Cheers,
Ernie.

[marcopoloca]

"Same unanswered question as before" it's just the Paul Martin appearance last night. Lot of talks but not much substance.
Terrible turn out, slow response and not much hard question. We are all too polite - Blame it on Canada.
Wish you were here, Malcolm.
i think the slow response time is due to the fact that his assistants are there with him to research and answer the question.

[vesivus]

Well... me being a perfectionist doesn't help me *some* of the time. 🙂

Heh heh. I really hope we can get discounts on shipping. Canada Post's poor level of service combined with the higher shipping costs make it very difficult to compete internationally (or even locally!!!)

John

[systemagic]

I've never been impressed with "Baffle with B.S." types - Lauding advertising while both advertising expense and traffic are markedly down. Plus the "...we don't look at raising prices with our revenue in mind first. We really don't." There's no way in the world that the numbers for this massive revenue infusion weren't in front of them or, at least, on the back of their minds even as they discussed the delusional influence on market expansion and the acceptable attrition or "churn" of the sellers. The truth is that the "churn" and market expansion elsewhere will be in place as long as the fee gouge is.

[systemagic]

I'm so pissed off I have to go for a jog - and I just came back from a long run prior to the meeting with Gary. The late start due to gluttony seems oddly metaphorical as sellers hopefully wait in vain for something positive to happen.

[sunset_sports_cards]

"Same unanswered question as before" it's just the Paul Martin appearance last night. Lot of talks but not much substance.
As I was sitting at my keyboard when the discussion was on, I started to type...I thought Paul Martin was answering/not answering our questions, then I erased it. Must be a Canadian thing eh?

[audioshack]

How terribly unfortunate that the manager of eBay Canada felt it necessary to don his rose coloured glasses before "chatting" with Cdn. Powersellers.

Despite our suggestions to the contrary, he maintained that all was right and good within the empire. Stock prices have plummeted, traffic is down dramatically, sell-thru rates are horrible, sellers are angry like never before, PESA is pushing buttons, the media and market watchers feast on their carcass every day - still eBay management is sticking to the same lame old song and dance about what a vibrant community eBay is.

Mind you, it is easy for management to be convinced that things are good when the company reports record profits for the quarter.

The sad truth is that these profits came (and will come) from fewer and fewer sellers making fewer and fewer sales. Traffic continues to fall as sellers try to make a tiny profit after passing on eBay increases to buyers who find that eBay is not the place it once was for a great deal.

Count me as one of the eBay vendors working feverishly to find another home. I've just completed a Dreamweaver course and plan to use these skills to build my own site. I have been on eBay for close to five years and I had always managed to make a modest living here. Sales have been in the toilet for the last year so I can no longer wait for eBay for bring me buyers.

In case you are wondering, I have several other ID's. My principle income came from another ID but it is almost totally tanked now.

And systemagic, I share your anger, but I fear that I would jog in front of a fast moving bus if I were to go out right now.

And since Gary will likely visit the board to gage reaction to his performance, let me just add directly that eBay staff and management have developed a real penchant for switching on "ignore" whenever they get asked a question that makes them the least bit uncomfortable. It did not go unnoticed that he preferred to respond to a pat on the back rather than answer a question that he didn't like.

It seems that nothing really ever changes.

[shoplineca]

I feel really guilty for not being there to toss in my 2 cents but it was a business day for me and I have someone opening up a new store in Mississauga selling exclusively my line of musical instruments.

Just to get them started they picked up 7 acoustic guitars, a set of drums, a violin, music stands, guitar stands, keyboard stands (and a keyboard), amplifier, gig bags and accessories. Enough to fill their van so today I was definately in the right spot thsi afternoon.

I read the thread and I would like to make a comment about it and the content:
The questions raised and the manner they were addressed made us Canadians stand out amongst the best. They were delivered professionally, to the point and were well thought out and I applaud everyone who took an active part this afternoon and showed eBay. ca and eBay.com what we Canadians are made of and what we expect out of eBay.

There was no question that we expressed a clear 3rd world treatment of us and there was no denying it from eBay even when it came to advertising.

To suggest that this company with its massive fee increases, yet no cost increases to them, would dare suggest that tv advertising is expensive when they run ads in the US but some obscure printed media advertising is good enough for us, is nothing more than BS. Yes too bad I wasny here to lay it on that thick. But that is the bottom line.

Even to suggest that we, in Canada are one of the few or perhaps only eByas outside of the US where Pinks may visit the board was a downright insult.

DROP OUR DAMN FEES! If you dont give the same service, then charge us appropriately.

I know today about eBay what I knew before, and that is that eBay is for the Americans and everything else is just extra income for them with less expense.

Well, they at least recoghnized there is a Cdn Power Seller Board this time.

All I hav to add, in the event I am booted out of this club next week, is keep the pressure on eBay to deliver exactly what they give your US counterparts or even more. Accept no less, always demand more. Dont fall victim to sitting on your laurels and waiting for them to make a positive change. Those changes will only be made firstly for the US Power Sellers because of their demanding them and we might get some of the overlflow.

Its up to everyone to keep the pressure on eBay and demand at least what others have, if not better and more.

I am proud of everyone that participated today! It looked good on you!!!!

Malcolm

[marcopoloca]

Gary would of been a great hockey player (but he's probably making as much). Just observe how he slowly kills off the time by skifully passing the puck and fence off all the shots. Even though he has no feedback to speak of, we should at least award him as a bronze level "powerplayer".
Our national anthem please - Oh Canada...

[sunward-hobbies]

I was also busy so I couldn't be here.

Same ebayspeak BS!

Nothing changes. Things only get worse.

Angelo

[sunset_sports_cards]

Kind of reminds me when I use to burp my little one...he(PSer's) would scream...I (E-Bay brass)would burp him, then everything would be good for awhile.:-)