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Top Banana
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/11/2008 12:55:36 PM
Posts: 314,
Visits: 383
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http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2008/02/06/janis.uk.ebay.big.changes.cnn
This is going to be a big mistake for ebay. Many buyers will leave negative feedback for sellers for any little thing, even if undeserved, because they have nothing to lose.
Check out amazon.com sellers (same thing with them). Many are in the high 80% and low 90%.
But here's the difference; ebay is not changing its seller performance policy, so there are going to be a LOT of NARU sellers over this.
I hope they've screwed themselves.
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Witch Doctor
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/7/2008 8:11:56 PM
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The new policies, set to take full effect in May are going to present some challenges to everyone buying or selling from US eBay. Don't be surprised if a good many are shy about selling outside the US. Main reason will be seller shyness as they are blindfolded and set to walk the plank. Shipping fees and Custom waiting periods could cause their overall Star ratings to drop like a rock through no fault of their own. Buyers are likely to see the Star rating as simply an overall opinion rating rather than specific to the seller and their performance. It will take only a few Dinged opinions on those Stars to cause the seller to have to belly up some high escrows to PayPal to prevent pending holds on payments. Pending holds could mean the seller is stuck unable to replenish goods while they wait their fate which rest in the hands of the buyer. Should the buyer be unfair, a thief, or actually suffering a rational disappointment their feedback may have a dramatic effect on the seller.
Lots of sellers are wearing this shirt! 
http://www.cafepress.com/sanitymad2
Sanity
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Top Banana
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/11/2008 12:55:36 PM
Posts: 314,
Visits: 383
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I concur, but it's worthy to note that the very vast majority of scam artists on ebay commit their crimes from the buyer perspective. With chargebacks, SNADs, and the threatening of seller negative feedback, it's easy to get over on people being a buyer.
That ebay would remove seller initiated feedback on buyers will fan the flames of buyer based crimes, and by not changing the seller performance policy, sellers are going to drop like flies in the face of scam artist and retaliatory buyers. To say that one person can state their case, and that you'll only hear from them, is contradictory to our laws, culture, and constitution.
Terrible mistake for ebay this most certainly is.
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Wide-Eyed Apprentice
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:24:38 PM
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| Posting late on this.... I have worked for several companies that sell on Amazon, and feedback is a major issue. There is only one company that I know of that sells a decent volume that has "good" feedback and maintains around 99% rating. That company gets there by refunding 12% of all orders due to small complaints. Their answer to all complaints is to offer money back. I couldn't see refunding 12% of sales. As an example of the type of buyer you get: 1) Right after Christmas a buyer calls in to complain that the high end ipod stereo system they bought for their 6 year old seems breakable. They of course want a full refund including shipping costs, however it isn't worth their time to return it. They just want money back. 2) "I ordered a battery from you guys and it was defective!" ... "i'm sorry sir, we will go ahead and exchange the battery for you immediately... let me set up the exchange for you." ... "I can't send the original back because I threw it away!" 3) Bad Feedback - "My Elvis dishes were damaged during shipping" ... "Sir, we only sell electronics, the only order we have from you is for a gps unit. Are you happy with the GPS?" ... "Oh, yeah, it's great, and it was a good price." ... "Glad to hear that, do you think you can remove that feedback as it really hurts us and it isn't even for us?" ... "No, it's not worth the hassle...." 4) Then you have the lovely Amazon A-Z claims. A buyer in Saudi Arabia orders a bluetooth kit for his car. We ship the order the same day. There is a customs delay. We advide the customer to contact them directly and give them any information that the need to release the hold. He files an A-Z complaining that he didn't get his item, and that we weren't responding to him. This is after two emails back and fourth and 4 hours on hold trying to talk to customs agents that don't speak English. We respond to the claim giving tracking and the customs declaration. We explain what is happening very thoroughly. Amazon grants the claim we lose $200 dollars and the item. Customer receives it the very next day, magically he decided to finally provide the requested info to customs. We had to spend two months fighting to reverse the claim and receive payment. To this day the negative feedback he left stating that we stole his money is still on our profile. Amazon is a nightmare for sellers, and it looks like eBay is speeding toward there as fast as possible. Keep in mind that while dealing with Amazon customers 95% are good people, present no problems, and are a pleasure to deal with. But when they are bad, they are VERY BAD. Since a seller has no recourse, it can get ugly. Oh, and delivery confirmation doesn't cut it on Amazon for proof of delivery, the customer has to SIGN. If they don't you automatically lose all claims.
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