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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 2, 2018 6:01:22 GMT
Yes, and that's opposite of the direction eBay needs to go - Amazon is all about mass marketing, instant fulfillment, easily replicated stuff - they've got the market and eBay is not going anywhere trying to become an Amazon mini-me, and flogging we sellers isn't going to help - ebay sells nothing, does no fulfillment, they simply aren't the same platform. Meanwhile, they're ignoring a vast market in which they have huge credibility, probably one of the fastest rising markets in the US at least, that is just on the brink of getting away from them, the huge 'gray' or reseller market. They have a chance to lasso it and dominate it, becoming the biggest player in this huge market, and they've just about missed their chance because it's dispersing.
They actually need that "anything" second hand concept, but cleaned up and repackaged. Better photo requirements from sellers (not professional, just not the real crap that's all over the site), stop with the .99 auctions, raise the bar on site appearance, feature unusual, rare items, get the big auction houses on board. Corner that huge market and dominate it - they've got all the tools to do it and they've aleady got the site branding.
But it won't happen - eBay will continue to try to be as bland as Wenig's mug (even the admin looks mostly alike).
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 2, 2018 6:12:36 GMT
I agree about the visitor bounce and repeat visitors - but I don't think it's because they can't get refilled items and fast shipping - the kind of thing people need for that (like supplies, for instance), you can get on Amazon or just about anywhere else. I get most supplies on Amazon, too. That's not eBay's forte. eBay is long tail and should stay long tail. Buyers are going elsewhere due to eBay's crap search, the fact that they've downgraded the only real reason to come and shop on the site (unusual items). The site is now flooded with unregulated replicate China sellers and big boxes using eBay as nothing more than a dumping site or portal for their own sites and we're now 19% of the stock. The market is disbursing to other sites. Clothing is already being hollowed out. eBay is so busy trying to be everything that they're neglecting core competencies.
For quite a while eBay's general search was automatically defaulted to 'new' and 'free shipping' - yep. They've been trying to relegate us for a long time. It's a big mistake.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2018 17:29:05 GMT
I don't see Ebay being able to grow much if they stick with just used- reseller - unique market. I think I understand what you're saying about capturing big auction houses, really pushing to bring the market back using different avenues, and being long tail . Ebay practically owned it at one time. It's currently too hacked up from when Ebay was the place to go.
For all the selling categories on Ebay, there's another place online to shop that category. And then they're competing with social media selling. Instagram, Facebook Marketplace...
Trying to shop on Ebay - especially clothing is a really bad experience. You mentioned cleaning up the auctions - absolutely. I wish they would. It stinks scrolling through clothing that has lost it's shape/color/original size.
And yes, their search is horrible. DH or the guys rarely purchase on Motors anymore. It's hard to find items.
Ebay has another problem with continuity among sellers. One of the reasons I choose Amazon over Ebay when I can is I don't have to research what the seller's policies are. I want to deal with a quasi blanket policy. Sellers want Ebay out of their busines, but many buyers want the sellers to adhere to one policy. There's always going to be that conflict.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2018 17:29:59 GMT
You brought up long tail - do you remember the conversation on this board about Ebay removing auctions that were stale and such? There was a seller who was selling postcards ( I think ) and ebay was threatening to kill the auctions for being stale. Or they did do it. Those are the items you're talking about. Sellers here were saying along the lines - the seller just needs to clean up the auction, it's stale, they hate looking at items over and over that don't sell... etc. Many basically agreed with Ebay. Then others said - new photos, new title, etc... OK. The reality is - he was selling items that until someone wants that specific item, it will sit. Just like my auto parts I had on Ebay. I can post new photos, new title, new auction etc... But until someone needs that manifold for that year of Chevy - it will sit.
Didn't Ebay say they heard that buyers were tired of looking at the same stuff? Something in a survey they took.
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Post by RetroMonde on Feb 2, 2018 18:02:18 GMT
But it won't happen - eBay will continue to try to be as bland as Wenig's mug (even the admin looks mostly alike). I LOL each time I see Weinig's photo cause it looks like he's trying to do a Zoolander face. His most recent comments (I think about AI & shopping) were gushing about how eBay has so much commodity crap and was actually downplaying the unique items... it was an actual diss imho, made them sound irrelevant. I think that's a HUGE mistake on eBay's part. If they're not a relevant choice for commodities like Amazon and Walmart, they should look to dominate the market they're already known for- aftermarket bargains and treasures. But that's not scalable (I hate that buzz word) so they'll continue to follow the others saying "me too" and get left in the dust. Wow, that was negative. Sorry! But there's only room for ONE at the top of each heap. Unless something radical changes that probably won't be our beloved eBay and it will be sad cause it could be prevented. SaveSave |
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Post by RetroMonde on Feb 2, 2018 18:12:08 GMT
I get what you're saying about there being a zillion venues that compete with anything you can find on eBay and that won't change. The internet is evolving and maturing if you can call it that. Ebay needs to clean up it's act and that's gonna make some sellers angry. I've always thought they should spend more time working WITH sellers to help them be better, teaching instead of punishing us. I do think they've improved recently but there's a long way to go. As far as stale inventory goes, give us an unhindered search and see if that helps. Some stuff just has to wait for the right buyer; other things need better placement in search or even to be found at all. That's tough with so many listings these days but I don't think AI is gonna be my selling savior.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2018 18:40:06 GMT
Right - teach sellers a bit more. If they're willing to learn.
How do you teach someone that a faded out shapeless shirt probably isn't the best thing to sell on Ebay. Even at 2.00.
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Post by kritter on Feb 2, 2018 19:10:34 GMT
finance.yahoo.com/news/paypal-coo-ebays-decision-drop-us-good-thing-170833338.htmlPayPal COO Bill Ready contends eBay’s decision to ditch the company and use Adyen to process payments moving forward is actually good for PayPal (PYPL). On Wednesday, eBay (EBAY) announced it plans to use smaller European competitor Adyen to process payments on the back-end once its original partnership with PayPal runs out in 2020 — news that initially sent PayPal stock down as much as 8.8% in one day. Under the original terms of the agreement, eBay uses PayPal as its primary payments provider, meaning that the majority of transactions processed on eBay were processed through PayPal. In exchange, PayPal was restricted in how it works with other marketplaces that compete with eBay. While PayPal was free to work with marketplaces that rival eBay, PayPal couldn’t offer the same degree of services to other marketplaces. But come July 2020, that will change. Under the new terms PayPal and eBay agreed upon, which will last until 2023, PayPal will be free to work with other marketplaces and offer the same level of payments experience it once offered eBay, therefore potentially processing more transactions. PayPal will still be a payments provider option for eBay, but it won’t be processing certain transactions — transactions that involve entering your credit card information, for instance — as it had previously. “This was always the plan since PayPal and eBay separated,” Ready emphasized, referring to eBay’s spin-off of PayPal into its own publicly-traded company in 2015. PayPal reported adjusted fourth quarter 2017 earnings of 55 cents a share on revenue of $3.74 billion — up 26% year-over-year. For the full year of 2018, PayPal forecasts profit of $2.27 per share with revenue between $15 billion and $15.25 billion, compared with analysts’ estimates of $15.16 billion. It’s also worth noting that while eBay transactions currently account for 13% of PayPal’s overall payments volume, that number is steadily declining, according to PayPal. And while eBay’s revenue from marketplaces continue to grow by 4%, that number is downright anemic when compared to median growth of marketplace competitors, which are growing at a 50% year-over-year clip. Which is to say, this latest chapter in eBay and PayPal’s separation is a significant one, but not the harbinger of doom for PayPal that some media have made it out to be.
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Post by kritter on Feb 2, 2018 19:11:48 GMT
I thought this was interesting info about ebay's growth.
"It’s also worth noting that while eBay transactions currently account for 13% of PayPal’s overall payments volume, that number is steadily declining, according to PayPal. And while eBay’s revenue from marketplaces continue to grow by 4%, that number is downright anemic when compared to median growth of marketplace competitors, which are growing at a 50% year-over-year clip."
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 2, 2018 20:58:38 GMT
I don't see Ebay being able to grow much if they stick with just used- reseller - unique market. I think I understand what you're saying about capturing big auction houses, really pushing to bring the market back using different avenues, and being long tail . Ebay practically owned it at one time. It's currently too hacked up from when Ebay was the place to go.
That's exactly it - they squandered the opportunity under Doho, who was too incompetent to understand where the future really lay for that particular site - not in "Connected Glass" (remember that? Google had come out with Google Glass and Doho had a hard-on to have a "Glass" thing, too) which disappeared, nor in other dime-store gimcracks like that, it was developing the site's core competence, which was market reach in the antique/used/P2P/small business market. They needed a more solid direction and focus before moving into the tech they would use to implement and strengthen it. In his defence (not that there is much), in 2008 the landscape was a lot different, but he always seemed lost and overwhelmed, a walking, talking Peter Principle.
Wenig (now I'll think "Zoolander" every time I look at that face lol) seemed to grasp it at first, but has fallen short and has gone back to "Bigger" not "Better." Granted, shareholders are impatient and most probably have no more vision than Wenig and his gang.
Once development of a strong vision is achieved and steps taken, things like 'tired' listings or that fact that long-tail items may need to be refreshed can be addressed - that's something that is part and parcel of any more specialist site, even one with a really broad compass, but one needs to know where one is going first.
It may be too late for that now. I understand that hindsight is 20/20, but I hate seeing this site just going the same tired direction. And however optimistic I am about what they could do, it IS probably too late now.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 2, 2018 21:00:42 GMT
Right - teach sellers a bit more. If they're willing to learn. How do you teach someone that a faded out shapeless shirt probably isn't the best thing to sell on Ebay. Even at 2.00. Yeah - that, too - one wants to have a place where everyone can sell, but geez "everyone" can be pretty horrible. ETA: Getting rid of free listings would be the first step - leave them as part of the store, yes, but quit with the promos and "free" listing starts. Instead, give discounts on FVFs - 20% discount on the FVFs of your first 50 items sold or whatever. It'll come out the same, but it would encourage people to leave the crap off the site. But...the search would have to be improved so that can happen. Right now, with no skin in the game, who cares if one tosses up some pilly junk or a leaky battery or whatever with two cell phone photos and no description? But that's just spinning thoughts. |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 2, 2018 21:09:13 GMT
Which is to say, this latest chapter in eBay and PayPal’s separation is a significant one, but not the harbinger of doom for PayPal that some media have made it out to be.
Yes - I'm not sure how anyone would reach that conclusion - eBay is only a small portion of PayPal's transactions. I don't see it making a huge difference at all, particularly with a gradual transition. I think when someone sneezes in the next room the stock market freaks out.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 2:12:17 GMT
Wenig (now I'll think "Zoolander" every time I look at that face lol) seemed to grasp it at first, but has fallen short and has gone back to "Bigger" not "Better." Granted, shareholders are impatient and most probably have no more vision than Wenig and his gang.
That may be the issue - shareholders. Does better translate into more traffic and revenue?
Kritter posted this:
It’s also worth noting that while eBay transactions currently account for 13% of PayPal’s overall payments volume, that number is steadily declining, according to PayPal. And while eBay’s revenue from marketplaces continue to grow by 4%, that number is downright anemic when compared to median growth of marketplace competitors, which are growing at a 50% year-over-year clip."
These numbers should scare Wenig and at the same time motivate him. He's going to need more than some pretty colored boxes and tissue to get people shopping.
Two things about this stick in my mind. Both threads on the private board.
1. A board member's complaint about the customer service. There is no excuse on Ebay's part for lack of training. That boardie isn't the only one who experienced this.
2. A board member's concern about when her item was mailed and when she could purchase another one. There was no tracking, etc... Why in the heck is Ebay making her wait a week for communication? Ebay should give her an immediate solution and let her move on. Let Ebay take it up with the seller later. THAT is one reason I'd rather shop Amazon than Ebay. The wait periods are ridiculous.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 3, 2018 2:39:59 GMT
Both of those aspects need a lot of improvement for certain, and the week wait was ridiculous, but I deal a lot with 3rd party merchants on Amazon and it's not much different than eBay - I went round and round with one company over a pair of pants - there was no communication and Amazon didn't require any, apparently. Amazon brands and FBA definitely have a much simpler scheme, though, and I think eBay needs to really tighten up on this.
Shareholders and these rent-a-CEOs need to understand that "better" is always better than just "bigger". I think Doho wanted to make eBay bigger, thinking that would compete with Amazon. He didn't get that Amazon does a lot things BETTER, that's why they've gotten bigger. He just thought if he loaded eBay up with as much crap as possible and made it all new, that would raise revenue and be somehow 'better'. That's just another type of over-expansion, which has been the demise or near-demise of many companies. The big brag was "a billion items, 80% new", probably 50% of which were just replicate items which should be the equivalent of backroom or warehouse stock. Leave that to Amazon and Walmart who can shovel that stuff out by the truckload because they do self-fulfillment, have warehouses and good infrastructure, and who can catalog it on their site so you are NOT looking at tons of replicate items.
It would be a sad day if eBay just followed Amazon and decided to get rid of the few remaining professional resellers and closed the door on aspiring new resellers because we can't be forced into a catalog or don't sell 'new'.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 2:53:59 GMT
It would be a sad day if eBay just followed Amazon and decided to get rid of the few remaining professional resellers and closed the door on aspiring new resellers because we can't be forced into a catalog or don't sell 'new'.
As much as I love Amazon, and as much as I think Ebay should be more like Amazon, I'm going to concede your point. It will be sad.
Ebay is in a tough position. Sellers probably won't like it - but the only way they're going to get growth, in their field, is by regulating sellers a bit more. Remove the garbage out of some categories. Like you said - make people pay insertion fees. That gives them more incentive to sell than the free model.
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Post by deltas*delights on Feb 3, 2018 2:59:13 GMT
Sorry wrong post lol
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 3, 2018 8:04:38 GMT
It would be a sad day if eBay just followed Amazon and decided to get rid of the few remaining professional resellers and closed the door on aspiring new resellers because we can't be forced into a catalog or don't sell 'new'.As much as I love Amazon, and as much as I think Ebay should be more like Amazon, I'm going to concede your point. It will be sad. Ebay is in a tough position. Sellers probably won't like it - but the only way they're going to get growth, in their field, is by regulating sellers a bit more. Remove the garbage out of some categories. Like you said - make people pay insertion fees. That gives them more incentive to sell than the free model. I agree. I don't want eBay to become Amazonized - I want it to stay eBay, but it can learn from Amazon without slavishly imitating it. |
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Post by somany on Feb 3, 2018 8:15:22 GMT
There's something I've been wondering about, and maybe I should start a new thread but it kind of goes along with the vision thing so I'll stick it here just to get some thoughts on it. I know it will never happen, but I'm wondering should ebay ever decided to require free shipping and free returns (that's not the part I'm saying won't happen), what would be the pros and cons for ebay and for us of ebay taking the returns themselves?
Our fees would go up, but I have no idea how much it would take to cover the cost of doing it. ebay would be dealing with the scammers directly so it seems like they would/could take a stricter stance and cut down on scammers (and that would go both ways if it's a seller that's doing the scamming). It seems like it would eliminate a lot of the on-going antagonism going on between ebay and their customers (the sellers).
Does anyone know how it works at Amazon? If sellers are part of the FBA program, Amazon handles the returns to a certain extent but I don't know exactly how it works. Do sellers pay a higher fee for using FBA, and if so, is it substantially higher to cover any losses Amazon incurs due to returns (if they cover them, that is)?
Just wondering if anyone think it could ever be a better choice than each seller handling it ourselves the way we do now (if they went to requiring free shipping and free returns that is).
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Post by SA on Feb 3, 2018 14:45:42 GMT
From what I understand:
Selling on Amazon is a beast!
First off, they have strict requirements for items that sellers send them.
You have to pay to ship your items to them.
You pay a storage fee based on cubic inches (I believe it's cubic inches - but it's based on the size of the space)
Amazon sets your price based on availability of the item.
You will be charged for your returns (they deduct it from your payment). You have no choice but to accept a return for any reason.
The selling fees are higher.
eBay forcing free returns and free shipping I think would be too much of a stretch. However, I could see it happening in certain categories. Just not used clothing.
I said it once and I'll say it again - I wish eBay would just show the total price of the item not to include the sellers shipping price (show one price - the total price - of the item). Eliminate all this "free shipping" drill downs.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 16:15:10 GMT
chapeaunoir - They do have a lot to learn from Amazon. I wish someone ( regular seller ) would pop in over here. @martha11234 ? Maybe she can answer the questions about FBA. It sounds like Amazon is stricter concerning sellers and product. They've succeeded with that business model and tight controls. Ebay is still trying to shake off their scammy site reputation. Just a few weeks ago someone said something about Ebay sellers and getting ripped off, etc... I didn't even bother to try and correct him. Liz - as a buyer it would be nice to see the total price. That may hurt some of the sellers have to adhere to MAP pricing. The concept/discount of "free shipping" next to their price may be all the room they have to play. How does that work with sellers of large items offering UPS, Fedex, USPS, .... and they're all different. Which price gets calculated in there? And do people trust Ebay to get this one correct. I thought I read that their surveys are showing buyers want free shipping. We know it's not free.... 
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Post by RetroMonde on Feb 3, 2018 17:31:08 GMT
Shipping cost is a huge issue. I've been doing a lot of browsing lately and have been SHOCKED at the high shipping costs on small items that I see sellers charging. Like an 8" doll with $20-30 shipping US. Or $60+ for shipping a small vintage faucet. (Neither of those examples were newbie, ignorant-about-shipping sellers either). I can't blame eBay for pushing free shipping; I want my USPS packages to have free delivery and be carried by unicorns & fairies! Unfortunately that ain't gonna happen... can you imagine what USPS would charge for that? LOL.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2018 6:00:22 GMT
chapeaunoir - They do have a lot to learn from Amazon. I wish someone ( regular seller ) would pop in over here. @martha11234 ? Maybe she can answer the questions about FBA. It sounds like Amazon is stricter concerning sellers and product. They've succeeded with that business model and tight controls. I don’t get involved in FBA. It is best for someone who has their own brand and does not wholesale to others. There are too many problems with it. Here are some: 1. You do pay to ship your items to them and each item has to be barcoded for inventory not just the UPC so they can ship it for you. 2. If you sell merchandise that others sell and don’t specify/pay extra could be co-mingled with other sellers stock. This Can present quality and damage issues. 3. Amazon handles your returns, and on Amazon returns are very frequent. Though FBA Will not cause you to get more returns, Amazon is not going to advocate for you and automatically deduct a percentage in accordance with their regulations. For example if a customer rents a clothing item, returning it used, Per Amazon policy you still have to refund them for the return, but you are allowed to deduct up to 50%. The item and then is not re-sellable and you have a loss. When Amazon handles the return for you, they do not automatically deduct that 50% you have to open a claim (SAF-T) and appeal to try and recoup that from Amazon plus you would either pay to have the item shipped back to you or pay to have it disposed of. Basically pay for everything and have no control. There is no guarantee you would win the claim either. Even worse, used items occasionally wind up back in inventory causing you a headache on its next sale since it is being sent out to the customer without ever being seen by you since it’s last return. And you are responsible for it. That can damage your metrics. 4. Amazon does not like to have items sit forever so after some time you will have additional storage fees or pay to have your items shipped back to you or disposed of. One way or another you will pay. 5. You also pay Amazon for their work, their work includes the storage, the shipping and handling and processing of orders and the processing of returns. If you work with tight profit margin, and Amazon prices are quite competitive, this could eat up your profit quickly. So, my take on FBA is if you have your own brand, let’s say an organic toothpaste and you send 10,000 units to Amazon it would probably work out OK since you don’t have to have a warehouse or hire staff. Amazon fees would likely be much cheaper than that. The item itself is not high priced, so rental and loss are less damaging to your overall profit plus if you’re not wholesaling you don’t have to worry about co-mingling, you are the exclusive seller of your own brand. In that situation the benefits outweigh the negatives. There are other benefits such as late shipping feedback remarks being removed since it’s Amazon’s responsibility, etc. that might be enticing to a company shipping so much volume that they cannot keep up, but for small sellers quick shipping should not be a problem in the first place. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2018 6:29:03 GMT
My take on eBay and its growth problem is that eBay needs to change a lot of what it does. They used to be a go to site for used merchandise and collectibles and they have a lot of new competition is the used clothing market. That really took a big chunk of the business. Sites like thread up and all those other places each took a small bite. Plus they have a horrible search now. They are also flooded with listings from China on the US site. Instead of having to click a button to expand your search to other countries, the buyer has the burden of clicking a button to eliminate some of this flood of garbage. Basically the site is just one jumbled mess.
EBay should break itself off into two sites in my opinion. One site should be used items and collectibles including vintage clothing and regular used clothing, and he used items. And the other segment should be new items and it should be formatted by UPC the ame way Amazon works. You don’t need 5000 listings for the same item in the same condition, it only makes the site work slower and the buyer get frustrated and leave.
EBay.com would be the entranceway with a clickable block for what you’re looking for, click on collectibles you’ll be on a subsite that contains only that with links to go back to the other connected sites. They need that separation to make the search work properly. Now the buyers are looking at stuff they don’t want to see.
That’s just my opinion on it, the site is horrible there really isn’t much I like about it right now. Amazon has its problems and they are very controlling of the sellers, there are lots of gated categories and brands that are off-limits, but the site looks better and is better for the buyer. If I had to compare the two for shopping, eBay is like walking into a pile of garbage on the floor and having to wade through it to see if there something good on bottom you might like. While Amazon has less of a mess, I won’t say no mess because there are problems over there too. There are fakes from China and there are newly launched seller scams, but they do seem to shut them down quick. But, from a buyer‘s perspective which is the most important perspective, it’s just more fun to shop there because you can find what you’re looking for relatively quickly. Half the time I can’t find my items on eBay quickly, a few times at all and they would reappear after several searches. I have never had that happen on Amazon.
Imagine how many buyers look for items of ours on eBay, we will never know because they left and went somewhere else where they could find what they were looking for. By the time our items reappear in search, that buyer has moved on. The buyer doesn’t know that your items have disappeared for a while and will be back later.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 4, 2018 7:01:30 GMT
@cleannyc EBay should break itself off into two sites in my opinion. One site should be used items and collectibles including vintage clothing and regular used clothing, and he used items. And the other segment should be new items and it should be formatted by UPC the ame way Amazon works. You don’t need 5000 listings for the same item in the same condition, it only makes the site work slower and the buyer get frustrated and leave.
I agree with this completely, and there is no reason at all why this wouldn't work. I also agree that one of the worst problems is the China flooding, and before anyone says but China is part of the market, yes, it is, but the problem is that it's completely uncontrolled by eBay, including drowning other long-time China sellers who are trusted sellers of good clothing and wares. I've traded with Chinese merchants since the late 90s and I've seen this happening, particularly since Meg Whitman, but particularly in the last 5-7 years. As Clean says, the difficulty is the huge amounts of replicated stuff that should be controlled by cataloging, in this case (as new commodities) with say a buy-box and UPC control. Since the stuff is basically all the same, just hawked by hundreds of IDs, probably from the same factories, the consumer can look at the selection and click into it to see options, rather than everyone having to look at page after page of the same stuff. It can use some gating, too, and having to abide by the same rules we do. This is commonly done not just on Amazon, but quite a few other commodity sellers. I understand it's not part of eBay's tradition, but it needs doing.
It's all a case of organizing rather than kicking anyone off the site. It also helps in search.
BTW, many of these factories also sell on Amazon and Walmart.com, but it's a lot more organized.
I'm probably just repeating what Clean said, but honestly I really so much agree that it would be an elegant solution.
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Post by SA on Feb 4, 2018 13:36:22 GMT
Liz - as a buyer it would be nice to see the total price. That may hurt some of the sellers have to adhere to MAP pricing. The concept/discount of "free shipping" next to their price may be all the room they have to play. How does that work with sellers of large items offering UPS, Fedex, USPS, .... and they're all different. Which price gets calculated in there? And do people trust Ebay to get this one correct. I thought I read that their surveys are showing buyers want free shipping. We know it's not free.... It would be just like Tradesy. The seller will have the choice of what shipping to charge. Like: I could price my item at $10 and charge $4 shipping and the buyer would only see $14 for the item. OR I could price my item at $14 and have no shipping charge and the buyer would still only see $14 for an item. OR I could price my item at $10 and charge calculated shipping which could be $3.27 and the buyer would only see $13.27 For sellers that offer different shipping methods, it would be like it is now - they would see the price of the first shipping method entered. Buyer would see: This item shipped first class is $14 This item shipped priority mail is $17 This item shipped Fedex is $28 (yes, those are made up prices.....) For MAP pricing, they could still charge shipping. It would just be on the back side. eBay could tout it as "shipping included" or "total price" and not "free shipping" price. Maybe I'm wrong and that won't work for MPA priced things. But MAP is for "Minimum Advertised Price" so they would be able to charge more if needed. Currently for sellers with heavier items doing FedEx, UPS, etc.........it's already different. Sellers are already charging various shipping for their items - it's just the buyers won't see the shipping prices. Let's say I want to buy a larger, heavier item. Sellers are already either building their shipping price into the item, showing buyers "free shipping" and pricing their item at $200 Others are pricing their item at $150 and charging $50 shipping. Some are even subsidizing shipping and pricing their item at $175 and charging $25 shipping. As far as trusting eBay to do it - we already do. On every single item we sell that includes shipping/calculated shipping. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2018 15:22:03 GMT
For MAP pricing, they could still charge shipping. It would just be on the back side. eBay could tout it as "shipping included" or "total price" and not "free shipping" price. Maybe I'm wrong and that won't work for MPA priced things. But MAP is for "Minimum Advertised Price" so they would be able to charge more if needed.
Liz - my point about MAP pricing is that sellers who have to adhere to the pricing are not allowed to sell below a certain price. They can sell for more, but buyers aren't shopping Ebay to pay more for an item unless it can't be found anywhere else. One of the big things they have to offer is - free shipping or something along the lines of spend 200 and get a 25 off. Some of the sporting goods stores do that with big brands such as North Face.
What you're proposing works fine for clothing sellers and soft good ( easy ship items ) who don't have major suppliers.
There would also need to be an exclusion for large items (large antiques) and Motors. I never put added a shipping price for large items. If someone sends a wire, then I'll ship however they want.
And then there's local pick up for large items.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Feb 4, 2018 19:14:23 GMT
You brought up long tail - do you remember the conversation on this board about Ebay removing auctions that were stale and such? There was a seller who was selling postcards ( I think ) and ebay was threatening to kill the auctions for being stale. Or they did do it. Those are the items you're talking about. Sellers here were saying along the lines - the seller just needs to clean up the auction, it's stale, they hate looking at items over and over that don't sell... etc. Many basically agreed with Ebay. Then others said - new photos, new title, etc... OK. The reality is - he was selling items that until someone wants that specific item, it will sit. Just like my auto parts I had on Ebay. I can post new photos, new title, new auction etc... But until someone needs that manifold for that year of Chevy - it will sit. Didn't Ebay say they heard that buyers were tired of looking at the same stuff? Something in a survey they took. There are true long-tail items (collectibles, antiques) and then there are sellers who have no problem listing the same basic consumer item over and over and over and over and over again for years. Listing the same clothing, shoes, household good etc item forever because one does not want to re-donate or toss it out does not make it a long-tail item. And yeah, buyers get tired of looking at that stuff. It sucks in contemporary clothing. It's one reason I don't shop here much. I search by newly listed to weed out some of the old crap. |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 4, 2018 22:05:16 GMT
You brought up long tail - do you remember the conversation on this board about Ebay removing auctions that were stale and such? There was a seller who was selling postcards ( I think ) and ebay was threatening to kill the auctions for being stale. Or they did do it. Those are the items you're talking about. Sellers here were saying along the lines - the seller just needs to clean up the auction, it's stale, they hate looking at items over and over that don't sell... etc. Many basically agreed with Ebay. Then others said - new photos, new title, etc... OK. The reality is - he was selling items that until someone wants that specific item, it will sit. Just like my auto parts I had on Ebay. I can post new photos, new title, new auction etc... But until someone needs that manifold for that year of Chevy - it will sit. Didn't Ebay say they heard that buyers were tired of looking at the same stuff? Something in a survey they took. And yeah, buyers get tired of looking at that stuff. It sucks in contemporary clothing. It's one reason I don't shop here much. I search by newly listed to weed out some of the old crap. Yes - that. Getting rid of free listings and instead putting the discount on the back end (FVFs) would help with that, and probably go some way to cleaning out a lot of that stuff, so that if one DOES have to pay to list something, there's a far better chance of it actually selling, and they'd get the bit back in an FVF discount. A lot of eBay sellers treat those free listings like crack - they'll sit on hundreds of listings waiting...waiting...because they won't pay that nickle or dime to relist. This is fine with me, less stuff, but it's not really productive. Yet, they do have a point: sell-through rate here is now so poor that they understandably feel like they're just throwing money away. Or they'll only list for 30 days even though 10 day listings sell more and they make more...but then, they'd have to pay that dime or whatever to list it. With me, I'll pay the bit extra, but TBH, I know I have a lot of crap that's just not selling anymore. I'm not going to keep relisting it - I'll move it out as cheap as possible just to get it out of my store, or let it lapse until the next season rolls around. And, I'll just change up my products. But we here all think like professionals, even if some of us sell as a hobby, we're still professional. How about free listings and someone puts up the same jaded stuff every.single.month because "Hey it's free, if someone buys it, I make like $2!!!!" There's an awful lot of stuff like that. So one has to change thinking, and the only way to do that is take away the 'free' to make people think. I'm sorry for those who rely on free listings to list truly nice items, but I also think that getting rid of the 'free' and switching it instead to a FVF savings would actually make it easier for those folks to sell their items. That's my theory anyway. |
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val2525
Chaos Manager
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Post by val2525 on Feb 5, 2018 4:41:35 GMT
But we here all think like professionals, even if some of us sell as a hobby, we're still professional. How about free listings and someone puts up the same jaded stuff every.single.month because "Hey it's free, if someone buys it, I make like $2!!!!" There's an awful lot of stuff like that. Um, not all of us. We have sellers here who have no problem with listings 2, 3, 4 years old and brag when something old sells. They see it as proof that everything sells eventually. And if this pisses some of you off, so be it. Old stale listings are part of the problem on eBay. |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Feb 5, 2018 5:27:07 GMT
I know there is always going to be some of that, heck, I can be accused of exactly that - I've had 3 year old things finally sell (though usually I'll get rid of them somehow before then, but again, before it got shot down, I was very niche), but those items are inside a store structure so the seller has some skin in the game. I guess I'd have to see some numbers to see if my theory has any weight. How many listings on eBay are non-store, unstructured free listings and how many are supported by stores? It should not be necessary to have a store - I'm giving up one of my stores - but it should be necessary to have some kind of fee structure to make listing more thoughtful, and a promo reward at the end by saving on FVFs - something to sweeten the deal because I undertand that a perk is a nice thing.
At least we don't have those huge promos anymore. A lot of sellers would just use those for relists and dump all of the old stuff back onto the site. As a buyer I noticed, absolutely. But again, with the sell-through rate so dismal for most sellers, I kinda couldn't blame them, but it's dismal for a reason - too much unorganized stuff.
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