To sphinx64_com -
Let me answer both of your next questions here, if that's OK.
Regarding fees, I know this is a sore subject right now, especially perhaps today, as the revised fees are effective today.
So, first, I just want to be sure that folks are clear that the fee increases recently announced for Final Value Fees are only for Store Listings. There has been some confusion about this. The increase is not on "core" listings.
Second, to echo what Bill mentioned yesterday, I don't think we communicated this well. Last year, we decreased the Stores listings fee from 5 cents to 2 cents. We were hoping to have sellers stock more listings on the Stores "shelves" and they did. Stores have been very successful. The reason to raise the Final Value Fee for Stores is to make the FVF equal to the rates for "core" listings. Again, much cheaper to put an item "on the shelf" in a Store but allow equality on items when they sell. We probably should have done these two things together in hindsight (lower Stores insertion fees and raise Stores FVF). We didn't and I think it feels to Sellers that we're be unfair. That is not our goal nor sentiment. We want a vibrant marketplace for all -- whether selling in core listings or Stores.
Now to the question of Stores subscription costs, we are raising that fee as we have substantially and will substantially invest in Stores functionality. If you go back 2 years, Stores did not have Search, customizable templates, etc. Now they do. We think the new fee is a fair charge for much stronger functionality.
In addition, as Bill announced (and to your other question) we are adding phone support for all eBay Store owners and have increased the FVF credit to 75% if you drive a buyer to your own store.
Finally, and I hope I got your next question right, you can use the search box on the main Stores page to find a Store by name. I do it all the time when I buy shoes!
cmg
