Comments on: Strike That–eBay Sellers Protest Unfair New Policies

By: Tessa

Tessa — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:02:44 +0000

You write wonderfully, mouse! Always eloquent, informative and interesting. Thank you.

By: mousewords

mousewords — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:25:26 +0000

I’d just like to say how much I appreciate hearing all the different perspectives on the subject! And I’m grateful for the buyer’s take on the issue.

The thing is, honest sellers feel exactly the same way as honest buyers. They live in dread of being cheated and burned with bad feedback.

The system is flawed–there needs to be a better way to ensure equality and fairness. People are people–good and bad, on both sides.

By: chip

chip — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:27:08 +0000

I think the addition of outsider ads is horrible but …

It’s way past time for somebody – ebay – to do something about sellers who do a poor job then give negative feedback if the buyer complains.
There have been several times lately I left NO feedback because I knew if I’d left the feedback the seller deserved then I’d get negative feedback. Lousy seller.

I think the solution is to give the seller 24-72 hours after receipt of payment to leave feedback. Or to require sellers to leave feedback before the buyer does. In other words, the seller can not leave feedback once the buyer does.
Or, the seller cannot leave feedback if the buyer leaves negative feedback.

I’ve been a seller and a buyer and have received three negatives (out of 280), all as a seller and all three from crappy buyers. But – as a seller I left positive feedback as soon as I knew the seller had received the item. I asked buyers to email me on receipt to let me know they were happy with the item. If so, I left positive feedback.
If I’d waited til I got the buyer’s feedback I could have left them negatives, but I didn’t. That’s just the way it is.
Sellers should not be able to leave negative feedback just because a buyer does.

There’s my $0.02

chip

By: Ann R

Ann R — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:19:35 +0000

Well said, Christine, well said!!! You rock m’dear

I put my eBay store on vacation in support of the strike/boycott and have been migrating some of my art over to Etsy. annran.etsy.com

Thanks for a great blog post li’l mouse!

By: melicia e

melicia e — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:01:48 +0000

Excellent job writing! I also buy and sell on ebay, and I too am looking for new avenues. I was not aware of the strike, but I will definately join. Thanks. Melicia E

By: skyM

skyM — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:16:03 +0000

Now write an article about the cramp in my side that Paypal is causing by witholding my money for 21 days!! (or until they get tracking confirmation) No money in my PP account means No money for postage means No tracking number. Now I have to find a way to make money WITHOUT using Paypal so I can send the darn thing!

By: leapingcat

leapingcat — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:32:51 +0000

As a small-scale seller with 100% positive feedback and DSR ratings of 4.8 – 4.9 I don’t think I have anything to fear from the feedback changes. In fact I should be getting something from this, But I have had 90 sales in the last YEAR , not over 100 in one month, so I get nothing; in fact I will be worse off. Ebay will drive away people like me, and buyers will not have the variety and choice that they do now. It is not only sellers who will lose out, and this should be more widely known.

By: Susan Alison

Susan Alison — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:45:46 +0000

Brilliant article, mousewords! I’m so glad I clicked through to it to read it – I’ve been out of the picture for a few weeks with RL stuff and completely confused by all the kerfuffle when I reappeared – you’ve made it all plain. Great writing!

I dunno what I’m going to do about it, though, just as I was getting totally geared up with cards, coasters, keyrings etc etc etc Cripes. I’m already at etsy – http://www.susanalisonart.etsy.com and cafepress – http://www.cafepress.com/susanalisonart – but it was definitely ebay that made me see that I could make a living at it – which I need to do.

Aroo. Aroo. As Monty and Rosie would say. Aroo!

By: Cal

Cal — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:09:22 +0000

Excellent summary of the situation with eBay. Being an occasional seller myself, the changes bother me. I hope eBay takes note of the sellers’ response and tries to make the system fair to all parties involved in the auctioning system.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:07:44 +0000

Thanks for not minding that I referenced your blog post:)
It’s a great one!
Take care and good luck with your art.