eBay focus group for selelrs in Toronto?

[mr.elmwood]

I was just made aware of this. anyone?

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y15/m05/i25/s03

[pierrelebel]

You are late!  Must be the time difference!

Posted two hours ago:

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/eBay-Canada-to-Hold-Focus-Group-on-Shipping-June-4-in-Tor...

[mr.elmwood]

Oddly, I have not been invited either.

[tobyshitzu]

WIth the free return offer some got and what they announced for Germany " guarantees free, fast shipping and returns" http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ebay-getting-ready-amazon-prime-205008112.html it would seem they are heading to try have sellers match what amzn offers itself. Can't imagine anything good comes out of this for small time sellers

[rose-dee]

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@toby**bleep**zu wrote:

Can't imagine anything good comes out of this for small time sellers

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My first thought too.  How is a smaller seller going to compete on this playing field?  I see this as another boost for the already big retailers on eBay, who will grab the "guaranteed" better placement.

(From the article you linked):  "According to a spokeswoman at eBay, the company is guaranteeing enhanced product placement for sellers’ goods along with discounts on selling fees and a subsidy to help offset the cost of shipping and returns. Sellers in return will have to consent to ship merchandise on the same day they are purchased and offer free returns within one month."

[pierrelebel]

"another boost for the already big retailers..."

The last time I participated in one of these "focus groups" ay eBay.ca in Toronto, sellers represented a wide spectrum from large retailers to those with less than one hundred transactions a year, and they came from the Maritimes to BC.

[rose-dee]

I'm sure sellers of many shapes and sizes will attend, but my point was that if such a programme is introduced as described (i.e. in competition with Amazon's), who will it benefit most?  

I can't see this sort of scheme being easy for a smaller seller, and I hope the "little guys" at the table actually have some input on that score.  Wish I could attend, but I haven't made enough money on eBay this year to justify the expense.