eBay's trying harder to bring back sellers...

As I've said in other threads, I've been looking for some of the eBay deals that others have been reporting -- 4x (or more!) eBay bucks, and so forth. I discovered that I'd somehow turned off email notifications for deals. I turned it back on a few weeks ago, but I still haven't seen any of those offers.

However, a week or two ago, I started getting these tentative emails to the effect of "you've been buying on eBay for a while -- why not try selling?" If they'd been addressed to me personally (as opposed to a mass mailing), I would've been happy to explain to them in detail why I went from a Power Seller in the early 2000's to someone who hasn't sold in years, starting with "no negative feedback for abusive buyers" and continuing through "bulletproof scheme for defrauding sellers out of high-ticket items, with no recourse to Seller Protection".

This weekend, though, I got an offer I can't refuse: list an item between now and April 26, and if it sells for $50 or more (and you receive payment by May 5), you get a $50 coupon from eBay.

I've been holding off on selling because the balance of power is so heavily weighted toward buyers. For this, though, I'll certainly list at least one item. If I put up, say, $4 FV of junk silver at a BIN of $50, it'll sell within a minute or two, and the buyer is unlikely to try to return it. They get $56 or so worth of silver, and I get (after fees and shipping) $90 for $56 worth of silver.

I might try to come up with something more interesting to list, but I'm figuring the way to go here is "pick something that's sure to sell without problems, with value as close as possible to the $50 threshold, and don't try to be greedy."

Has anybody else seen this offer?

 

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I got a $10 coupon last month and had no idea what I did to deserve it. Must have been one of these offers that I qualified for, unintentionally. That said, I wish I could get a $50 coupon, that would be sweet.

 

Good thinking!

 

I ain't never going back not for any reason!! Or offer!! They can kiss my hind end!

 

i only wont sell cause' i dont like having to take care of the shipping....
one mistake and POOF! the package disappears.

 

I particularly enjoy that they aren't fixing any of the major issues sellers have. Just trying to get people who aren't selling to do so. Sound business practice...

 

If they gave sellers more protection that would be great. Instead they try to bribe us with these coupons.

 

Ebay will NEVER fix sellers' issues or give them more protection. Follow the money!

 

They already have, the new system starts later this year.

 

What is the new system?

 

2014 Spring Seller Update

The important part is this section:

New safeguards for your status and rewards
The new defect rate has many built-in safeguards to give all sellers who consistently provide great service more leeway and stability for their well-earned status and rewards:

• Stronger protection from the actions of just one or two buyers. The defect rate will not affect your status until you have transactions with defects from at least 8 different buyers (at least 5 different buyers to impact Top Rated status) over the most recent evaluation period.
• One measure instead of four. One measure, the defect rate, will replace the current four more stringent detailed seller rating thresholds that allow just 2% low ratings for all sellers and just a half percent for Top Rated Sellers. That means it will be easier for you to keep track of where you stand and you'll have a wider tolerance margin to reduce the chance that you'll be impacted by a single event.
• Shipping cost and communication detailed seller ratings will no longer count toward your performance rating. This will protect you from low ratings for shipping cost even though the shipping charges are shown to the buyer right up front when they purchase an item.
• Each transaction is counted only once toward your defect rate, regardless of the number of defects associated with it. For example, if a buyer leaves you a 3-star rating for item as described and a 1-star rating for shipping time for the same item, that transaction still only counts once toward your defect rate. That gives you more leeway and will allow you to focus on fine-tuning your overall service instead of individual buyer actions.
• Cases found in your favor don't count. Any case that escalates to eBay or PayPal for review and is found in your favor, or found to be no fault of the buyer or seller, won't count against your performance rating. It won't be counted as a defect and it won't count toward your percentage of cases closed without seller resolution.

They have not addressed SNAD abuse yet, but this is a good start.

 

Quite a coincidence, I had a nearly-identical discussion with my cat regarding his defects with the litter box. As of January 1, we have a new system, but the box still stinks.

 

Hmm, good post. I think it is a baby step in the right direction. It doesn't really affect me as I only put a handful of items on eBay.

 

I have sold coins on eBay and currently have active listings, but I've heard enough stories from others about how seller's have little protection. I have decided to heed the warnings so I never go through some of the nightmares I've read about. As a result, I never list a single item with an estimated value of over $50. Should one buyer purchase multiple items totaling more than $50, I shall ship items separately so that no more than $50 is ever in one package. I understand there is insurance, but I've also read horror stories about making a claim.

Until eBay decides to give sellers fair protection, I wouldn't sell higher priced items. You would just be exposing yourself to the wolves.

 

I follow the same $50 limit when I list stamps or postcards. I'm lucky, in more than 10 years, no problems. But eBay will NEVER get my high-priced material. That's one reason I paid the hefty fees at Stack's, they took care of absolutely everything. Based on comments here, will investigate Heritage the next time around, although I am perfectly satisfied with Stack's. Ebay's overseas shipping "program" is yet another cynical, cleverly-packaged insult to wring more money out of sellers, for something eBay should take care of, in the normal course of business.

 

I've received similar offers. The most recent was "$50 coupon when you sell your phone", and a week or two ago I got an offer for a $10 coupon if I list anything for sale that sells before a certain date.

 

You might want to double-check that most recent one. Mine had the tag "Now is a great time to sell your phone", with a big picture of an iPhone -- but the terms specify any item over $50 is eligible.

 

I'm on it!

Here's what mine says in the ultrafine print:

Meh, if I take advantage of this, I'll just throw some coins in the phone category and people will probably still find them through a general search.

 

Well, that's a stinker, but your plan sounds good. I guess you could technically get dinged for "search and browse manipulation: listing in an incorrect category" -- but I certainly wouldn't tell. I suppose you could list, say, an old telephone cable and $4 FV of silver...

My search strategies would probably miss your auction, but you could post a link to it in the Auctions section here.

I guess it wouldn't be kosher for me to "sell you a phone" for $50, you "sell me a phone" for $50, we call it even, and each of us pocket our $50 coupon...

 

Meh, I'm just going to let it pass and maybe a more relevant coupon will come along.