Comments on: Minding my own business http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html eBay & ecommerce made easy Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:22:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: eBay announce DSR console : TameBay http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23803 eBay announce DSR console : TameBay Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:43:12 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23803 [...] have already stated that in future DSRs for disadvantaging sellers will be based on a shorter period than a year (I’d guess at 90 days as that would be in line with [...] [...] have already stated that in future DSRs for disadvantaging sellers will be based on a shorter period than a year (I’d guess at 90 days as that would be in line with [...]

]]> By: Pete http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23177 Pete Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:59:56 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23177 Most buyers on Ebay are great, understanding and fair. However, a small percentage use the feedback and dsr system as a way of insulting the seller, thinking they have a right to personally insult you because some t^at of a postman has stolen your parcel (I used to be a postman, I know it happens...I have seen many sacked). Ebay is very biased towards the buyers and always has been, getting worse recently because Ebay want their site to go back to the way it was...people selling unwanted items. Ebay express is for business sellers now. Most buyers on Ebay are great, understanding and fair. However, a small percentage use the feedback and dsr system as a way of insulting the seller, thinking they have a right to personally insult you because some t^at of a postman has stolen your parcel (I used to be a postman, I know it happens…I have seen many sacked).

Ebay is very biased towards the buyers and always has been, getting worse recently because Ebay want their site to go back to the way it was…people selling unwanted items. Ebay express is for business sellers now.

]]> By: Josordoni http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23173 Josordoni Mon, 24 Dec 2007 09:21:23 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23173 Hi abs, try not to be devastated by your first neg. It will most likely come along at some time in the future and will probably not have anything to do with your good or bad service... Hi abs, try not to be devastated by your first neg. It will most likely come along at some time in the future and will probably not have anything to do with your good or bad service…

]]> By: abs http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23160 abs Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:10:15 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23160 hey,im new to eBay.but im guessing the whole dsr is a good thing. I know richard might not think so and i Dont fully understand his rationale behind discounting a seller who has a bad dsr. whole point of this is to clean up the site. for far too long now ebay has always been about the seller. just because eBay is a website and not a normal bricks and motar doesnt mean that some sellers can give applaing customer services and just say ''ah well, its only 3/10 customers that arent happy''. obviously the sellers that are affected by the dsr are not conducting themselves in the apporiparte manner. as i said im only new to selling but i would be devasted if i received a negative and I always communicate with my buyers. i feel the main downfall of so many sellers is communication...just because your behind a pc doesnt give you the right to treat customers any differently then it would if they walked into your shop!!! just my point and maybe im rambling!! anyways merry xmas to all you eBayers and lets hope 2008 is even better then this year :) hey,im new to eBay.but im guessing the whole dsr is a good thing. I know richard might not think so and i Dont fully understand his rationale behind discounting a seller who has a bad dsr. whole point of this is to clean up the site. for far too long now ebay has always been about the seller. just because eBay is a website and not a normal bricks and motar doesnt mean that some sellers can give applaing customer services and just say ”ah well, its only 3/10 customers that arent happy”. obviously the sellers that are affected by the dsr are not conducting themselves in the apporiparte manner. as i said im only new to selling but i would be devasted if i received a negative and I always communicate with my buyers. i feel the main downfall of so many sellers is communication…just because your behind a pc doesnt give you the right to treat customers any differently then it would if they walked into your shop!!! just my point and maybe im rambling!! anyways merry xmas to all you eBayers and lets hope 2008 is even better then this year :)

]]> By: Richard http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23132 Richard Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:53:22 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23132 Sue, I may be wrong, but my reasoning why eBay is letting an automated system do this instead of doing it the easier and more sensible way is from a legal point of view. It goes back to what I said some time back and to which I've not seen any reply from ebay. Ignoring all other factors for a moment, how can they justify charging two sellers the same listing fee while giving one better exposure than the other? A bit of a legal minefield. However, if they make it automated and tell people that's the automated criteria you list under then they side step the legalities. Just my thoughts, but OTOH I could be talking complete nonsense, make of it what you will. :-) Sue, I may be wrong, but my reasoning why eBay is letting an automated system do this instead of doing it the easier and more sensible way is from a legal point of view. It goes back to what I said some time back and to which I’ve not seen any reply from ebay. Ignoring all other factors for a moment, how can they justify charging two sellers the same listing fee while giving one better exposure than the other? A bit of a legal minefield. However, if they make it automated and tell people that’s the automated criteria you list under then they side step the legalities.

Just my thoughts, but OTOH I could be talking complete nonsense, make of it what you will. :-)

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23111 northumbrian Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:49:51 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23111 got to admit I often click the offsite links, if I am looking for something, it sort of makes it quick and simple to buy, packaging for instance there are a trillion offerings with all sorts of permutations of quantity and postage costs, the offsite link saves you the bother of trawling thru the listings got to admit I often click the offsite links, if I am looking for something,
it sort of makes it quick and simple to buy, packaging for instance there are a trillion offerings with all sorts of permutations of quantity and postage costs,
the offsite link saves you the bother of trawling thru the listings

]]> By: Kate http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23106 Kate Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:42:11 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23106 The main thing I object to is the off-site links. I was just searching for a coat for my little dog and typed "dog coat medium" into the search box. At the tope it said 90 items found and at the bottom of the page were links to online pet shops, and I thought, surely there aren't 90 items on this page? Only then did I notice that UNDERNEATH the off site links did it have a link to page 2. Silly me I was looking for it under the first lot of results! Never mind shop items, you get the links before you get all the auction and BIN items. It really IS encouraging people to go off-site. The main thing I object to is the off-site links. I was just searching for a coat for my little dog and typed “dog coat medium” into the search box. At the tope it said 90 items found and at the bottom of the page were links to online pet shops, and I thought, surely there aren’t 90 items on this page?
Only then did I notice that UNDERNEATH the off site links did it have a link to page 2. Silly me I was looking for it under the first lot of results!
Never mind shop items, you get the links before you get all the auction and BIN items.
It really IS encouraging people to go off-site.

]]> By: Sue Bailey http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23101 Sue Bailey Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:51:47 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23101 Hi Scot, Thanks for the comment. Yes, we know Richard is definitely from eBay, and "Demotions" is how eBay are referring to the disadvantaging in search results. So it's good news that they're going to be acting on DSRs more sensitively. Hi Scot,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, we know Richard is definitely from eBay, and “Demotions” is how eBay are referring to the disadvantaging in search results. So it’s good news that they’re going to be acting on DSRs more sensitively.

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23099 northumbrian Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:39:36 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23099 yopu can also be paranoid and allow it to cloud the real point of the matter, namely selling and making profit, when it happens or if it ever happens then I will deal with it, until then I will continue as I have done for the last ten years, if that aint good enough for ebay thats their loss not mine yopu can also be paranoid and allow it to cloud the real point of the matter,
namely selling and making profit, when it happens or if it ever happens then I will deal with it, until then I will continue as I have done for the last ten years, if that aint good enough for ebay thats their loss not mine

]]> By: Pete http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23094 Pete Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:55:52 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23094 you can be paranoid and right at the same time. you can be paranoid and right at the same time.

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23090 northumbrian Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:22:15 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23090 paranoia paranoia

]]> By: Scot Wingo http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23084 Scot Wingo Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:05:41 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23084 Hey Sue, Thanks for this discussion! In the US we're eagerly watching what happens to our friends in the UK because as you guys know you have become the eBay guinea pigs ;-) To Richard@eBay's point (BTW ,can you confirm he really is from eBay?) it's not clear what he means by 'demotions' - is that the math that brings a DSR score down or 'disadvantaging' kind of actions/ SNP actions? When I read the statement, it was a little scary because it seemed like if a seller had a short bad period (maybe an employee leaves, you are short handed and your shipping times go up some), then you could quickly get hit with a SNP suspension? On the Saul piece, he chose to pick out the fees part, but I tried to paint a picture of how it feels to be an eBay seller with constantly shrinking margins, knowing that 'more will change in 08 than in last 10yrs', having policies changed on you and then living in fear of account shut downs. Scot Hey Sue,

Thanks for this discussion! In the US we’re eagerly watching what happens to our friends in the UK because as you guys know you have become the eBay guinea pigs ;-)

To Richard@eBay’s point (BTW ,can you confirm he really is from eBay?) it’s not clear what he means by ‘demotions’ – is that the math that brings a DSR score down or ‘disadvantaging’ kind of actions/ SNP actions?

When I read the statement, it was a little scary because it seemed like if a seller had a short bad period (maybe an employee leaves, you are short handed and your shipping times go up some), then you could quickly get hit with a SNP suspension?

On the Saul piece, he chose to pick out the fees part, but I tried to paint a picture of how it feels to be an eBay seller with constantly shrinking margins, knowing that ‘more will change in 08 than in last 10yrs’, having policies changed on you and then living in fear of account shut downs.

Scot

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23066 northumbrian Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:29:53 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23066 the one time I needed an ebay short cut, my account manager was not available , I got an auto email to contact another account manager who was standing in for mine, when I contacted him, I got another email saying he was not available .and to contact the account manager I contacted first, 2 weeks later I received a response, the one time I needed an ebay short cut, my account manager was not available , I got an auto email to contact another account manager who was standing in for mine, when I contacted him, I got another email saying he was not available .and to contact the account manager I contacted first, 2 weeks later I received a response,

]]> By: Sue Bailey http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23062 Sue Bailey Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:57:32 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23062 It kinda depends what the issue is. If it's something very straightforward ("my competitor is linking to their website from their listings") then email support is easier: there's an art to emailing them too, keep it very short and very simple, and preferably give them a link to the relevent eBay policy. If it's more complex, then phone support is - in my experience - pretty good. With both eBay and PayPal, on the few occasions I've had to call, I *have* felt like I was dealing with a human being, and generally my issues have been dealt with pretty quickly. However, I think it's very useful to have someone at eBay whose job it is is to be on my side somewhat. e.g. when I was prevented by cross-border trading limits from listing on eBay.fr (yeah, go figure) Maria got that sorted in a matter of hours for me. With someone who didn't know my accounts, that would have taken longer and been more difficult, I think. And especially now that eBay are more actively policing sellers, I think having a listening ear might become a lot more crucial. It kinda depends what the issue is. If it’s something very straightforward (“my competitor is linking to their website from their listings”) then email support is easier: there’s an art to emailing them too, keep it very short and very simple, and preferably give them a link to the relevent eBay policy.

If it’s more complex, then phone support is – in my experience – pretty good. With both eBay and PayPal, on the few occasions I’ve had to call, I *have* felt like I was dealing with a human being, and generally my issues have been dealt with pretty quickly.

However, I think it’s very useful to have someone at eBay whose job it is is to be on my side somewhat. e.g. when I was prevented by cross-border trading limits from listing on eBay.fr (yeah, go figure) Maria got that sorted in a matter of hours for me. With someone who didn’t know my accounts, that would have taken longer and been more difficult, I think.

And especially now that eBay are more actively policing sellers, I think having a listening ear might become a lot more crucial.

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23059 northumbrian Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:38:50 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23059 got to be honest I have phoned ebay only once ever, and only then it was just to be awkward , I did not really expext anything other than waffle, the response I received was wonderful, the support was first class, if not better got to be honest I have phoned ebay only once ever, and only then it was just to be awkward , I did not really expext anything other than waffle,

the response I received was wonderful, the support was first class, if not better

]]> By: Uncle Sam http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23055 Uncle Sam Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:05:46 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23055 It's not so much that account managers are useful, more that 'email support' should be renamed 'email hindrance' (eg 'I have a listing issue which I have summed up in this single sentence' - RESPONSE 'thank you for bringing this feedback issue to our attention', 'it's not a feedback issue, read my emails before you answer', RESPONSE - 'thank you for bringing this feedback issue to our attention'). Phone Supports' going that way too (eg bloke I needed to talk to in PS Support refused to take my calls, even though it was his job & they way he went about it was illegal under UK law). It’s not so much that account managers are useful, more that ‘email support’ should be renamed ‘email hindrance’ (eg ‘I have a listing issue which I have summed up in this single sentence’ – RESPONSE ‘thank you for bringing this feedback issue to our attention’, ‘it’s not a feedback issue, read my emails before you answer’, RESPONSE – ‘thank you for bringing this feedback issue to our attention’).

Phone Supports’ going that way too (eg bloke I needed to talk to in PS Support refused to take my calls, even though it was his job & they way he went about it was illegal under UK law).

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23049 northumbrian Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:27:37 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23049 and on the subject of account managers, I really cant see what use they are, they cant discount or offer anything they ring you up and bother you wasteing your time, prattling on about something you heard about months ago and on the subject of account managers, I really cant see what use they are, they cant discount or offer anything they ring you up and bother you wasteing your time, prattling on about something you heard about months ago

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23047 northumbrian Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:20:04 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23047 if it affects sellers like me I consider myself simply "MR AVERAGE" it affects ebay, so it dont worry me one jot, cos if they hurt me, it hurts them! if it affects sellers like me I consider myself simply “MR AVERAGE”
it affects ebay, so it dont worry me one jot, cos if they hurt me, it hurts them!

]]> By: Sue Bailey http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23043 Sue Bailey Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:59:07 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23043 I don't personally have any issue with eBay using this as a tool against fee avoidance, Richard - assuming that's what you mean with your cryptic comment. I pay my eBay fees - those who use that type of fee avoidance mean I have to pay more. "Level playing field" and all that. I don’t personally have any issue with eBay using this as a tool against fee avoidance, Richard – assuming that’s what you mean with your cryptic comment. I pay my eBay fees – those who use that type of fee avoidance mean I have to pay more. “Level playing field” and all that.

]]> By: Richard http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23042 Richard Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:52:11 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23042 Using automated DSR results to "Clean up the site" is the daftest idea I've ever heard. I wont post their ID here, but last night came across an obvious P&P rip off merchant £5 item £40.00 P&P for an item that can't of weighed more than 200 grams packed, yet their P&P charges DSR was 4.7, a quick look at past listings for the last three months show they've been doing this for some while to, go figure? I know full well why eBay are doing what they are the way they are, it shouldn't be too hard to work that out for anyone with a few brain cells. :-) Using automated DSR results to “Clean up the site” is the daftest idea I’ve ever heard. I wont post their ID here, but last night came across an obvious P&P rip off merchant £5 item £40.00 P&P for an item that can’t of weighed more than 200 grams packed, yet their P&P charges DSR was 4.7, a quick look at past listings for the last three months show they’ve been doing this for some while to, go figure?

I know full well why eBay are doing what they are the way they are, it shouldn’t be too hard to work that out for anyone with a few brain cells. :-)

]]> By: Mark Classic http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23035 Mark Classic Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:31:19 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23035 Is it possible that Ebay have had their eye on the court cases everywhere. So they want to "clean the sellers up", to escape this image. Problem is, it seems to me, they have taken their eye off of the seller who is a good seller and treat all sellers as bad sellers. It seems they are also taking a sledge hammer to a nut again. For Sue to have two neutrals in the space of a month and be worrying about being restricted to sell is a completely ludicrous situation. Why not using the system thay have but soften the end where the good sellers are, but really hit heavy on the other end. No one wants bad sellers on the site. But we could all be forgiven the last year in thinking that Ebay want NO sellers on the site. So the disparity between good and bad sellers needs to be much higher, then yes, get the sledgehammer out... Mark Is it possible that Ebay have had their eye on the court cases everywhere.

So they want to “clean the sellers up”, to escape this image.

Problem is, it seems to me, they have taken their eye off of the seller who is a good seller and treat all sellers as bad sellers.

It seems they are also taking a sledge hammer to a nut again.

For Sue to have two neutrals in the space of a month and be worrying about being restricted to sell is a completely ludicrous situation.

Why not using the system thay have but soften the end where the good sellers are, but really hit heavy on the other end.

No one wants bad sellers on the site.

But we could all be forgiven the last year in thinking that Ebay want NO sellers on the site.

So the disparity between good and bad sellers needs to be much higher, then yes, get the sledgehammer out…

Mark

]]> By: Louise http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23033 Louise Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:16:53 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23033 Surely there must be some kind of trading law to prohibit this as it is discrimination based on a flawed and easily manipulated system. As it has been pointed out before on the PS board, there is absolutely nothing stopping sellers competitors from making purchases and giving extremely low marks accross the board to knock their rival from the "top spot". Also pointed out on the ps board, sellers who have free p&p don't have 5 stars. Why? Because the buyer either doesn't fully understand the system or because they are not happy with another aspect of the service, not covered by the star rating system. This makes the data incorrect and not viable for measuring anything against. What about those who never give a perfect score for anything? I know a few people like that who will never, ever give full marks as to them nothing is ever perfect. But hey, I am not like that so where I would give full marks for a transaction, my friend would not. The seller is being penalised becuase of a buyer's principles and not the level of service, which is what this whole thing is supposed to be about in the first place! It's a crock and has proved to me that ebay is no longer viable as the tools to manipulate have been improved to farcical degree. Surely there must be some kind of trading law to prohibit this as it is discrimination based on a flawed and easily manipulated system.
As it has been pointed out before on the PS board, there is absolutely nothing stopping sellers competitors from making purchases and giving extremely low marks accross the board to knock their rival from the “top spot”.

Also pointed out on the ps board, sellers who have free p&p don’t have 5 stars. Why? Because the buyer either doesn’t fully understand the system or because they are not happy with another aspect of the service, not covered by the star rating system. This makes the data incorrect and not viable for measuring anything against.

What about those who never give a perfect score for anything? I know a few people like that who will never, ever give full marks as to them nothing is ever perfect. But hey, I am not like that so where I would give full marks for a transaction, my friend would not. The seller is being penalised becuase of a buyer’s principles and not the level of service, which is what this whole thing is supposed to be about in the first place!

It’s a crock and has proved to me that ebay is no longer viable as the tools to manipulate have been improved to farcical degree.

]]> By: Uncle Sam http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23031 Uncle Sam Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:47:08 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23031 In regards to DSR's & feedback, MHO is that they should be there to provide potential buyers with information - nothing more & nothing less. eBay should stick to their 'merely a venue with a level playing-field' line & not use them to affect search results. At all. Ever. Irregardless of whether or not their "arbitrary rules that we won’t ever properly explain" will affect me personally. In regards to DSR’s & feedback, MHO is that they should be there to provide potential buyers with information – nothing more & nothing less. eBay should stick to their ‘merely a venue with a level playing-field’ line & not use them to affect search results. At all. Ever. Irregardless of whether or not their “arbitrary rules that we won’t ever properly explain” will affect me personally.

]]> By: Uncle Sam http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23027 Uncle Sam Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:20:50 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23027 Well said. I agree with every word of the original article. Well said. I agree with every word of the original article.

]]> By: Mark http://tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23026 Mark Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:20:49 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2007/12/minding-my-own-business.html#comment-23026 <b>“we can take it all away from you in a second if we want to, by arbitrary rules that we won’t ever properly explain, and you’ll have no right of appeal”</b> They can and they do, I've learned the hard way this year that ebay don't give a crap about any one of us. Having your own website is a steep learning curve, but at least I now feel in control of my own destiny, and not as though I'm working for an employer again. I don't think I'm alone in believing that ebay thinks of it's sellers as employees, and naughty ones at that. “we can take it all away from you in a second if we want to, by arbitrary rules that we won’t ever properly explain, and you’ll have no right of appeal”

They can and they do, I’ve learned the hard way this year that ebay don’t give a crap about any one of us.

Having your own website is a steep learning curve, but at least I now feel in control of my own destiny, and not as though I’m working for an employer again.

I don’t think I’m alone in believing that ebay thinks of it’s sellers as employees, and naughty ones at that.

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