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Post by G on May 19, 2008 20:27:37 GMT -5
I dont have a lot of volume on ebay over the years but Ive been fairly steady at buying and selling. Im a numbers guy and I pay attention to my feedback. Even though I still have a low number, Im proud that I have at this point no neutrals or negatives. I try very hard to keep it that way as I figure in the long run, the bigger your number gets without blemishes, the easier it is to sell things. Although I dont think a couple of low percentage negs hurt that bad either because just like everything, there is always one in every crowd. Anyway, I logged onto ebay tonight and noticed my feedback rating had jumped almost 10%! Im a bit confused by. Ive been noticing other people's numbers jumping too. Joey, did you jump like 2,000!!!  What gives? I can understand if now multiples count where they didnt before. But if that is the case, my number would be even higher. Not a lot higher, but higher than what it is now. Did I miss an email from ebay or something? Why this sudden interest on making your feedback jump? Im personally glad to see it...but what's the scoop here? |
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Post by G on May 19, 2008 20:34:23 GMT -5
Just as soon as I post that, I found this in my email. Oh well...
Hello everyone...as we announced back in January, we're making some bold changes to how Feedback on eBay works. As we get closer to our launch, I wanted to review the changes we've discussed and provide some additional detail and updates.
As a recap, here's what we announced in January that is scheduled to launch the week of May 19th in North America (which includes eBay.com in the US, as well as eBay.ca and eBay.cafr in Canada):
* Sellers may only leave positive feedback for buyers
* We will remove negative and neutral Feedback if a member becomes suspended
* Members can leave Feedback up to 60 days after a transaction (down from 90)
* We will remove Feedback when a buyer fails to respond to the unpaid item process.
* Members will receive credit for weekly repeat Feedback (going back to 1996)
* We will base the Positive Feedback Percentage on the past 12 months of activity (and include neutral Feedback in the calculation)
* The PowerSeller Program will use the same calculation method described above to determine eligibility for the PS Program for the Positive Feedback percentage requirement of 98% positive.
Next I'd like to share some additional detail beyond what we discussed in the original post:
* In January we mentioned that we'd block buyers from leaving negative or neutral Feedback for 3 days for sellers "with a track record." Since January, we've made the decision to increase the wait period to 7 days and define "track record" as active PowerSellers who have been on eBay for at least 12 months.
We studied the factors that increased risk to buyers the most and found there are three: a) a seller's Positive Feedback percentage and DSRs, b) the volume of a seller's Feedback – both in total and on an ongoing basis and c) length of time a seller has been on site.
We selected PowerSellers who have been on eBay at least 12 months in order to minimize risk to buyers, because:
a. PowerSellers have to meet quality thresholds for both conventional Feedback and, starting in July, for Detailed Seller Ratings
b. PowerSellers have to meet volume requirements – both in total and on an ongoing basis
c. One year on-site proved to be an important predictor of lower risk
All three factors prove important to predicting the risk to buyers – removing any one of them would increase risk to a level we are not currently comfortable with at this time.
We will watch all aspects of the new Feedback system very carefully, studying how the marketplace responds and we will make changes as we see appropriate.
* We mentioned that we'd be aligning the Mutual Feedback Withdrawal process with the new system. After much consideration, we've made the decision to remove the Mutual Feedback Withdrawal process. The reason is that – under the new rules - it opens sellers up to extortion. As part of this decision, Mutual Agreement from third-party Feedback mediation services, such as SquareTrade, will also no longer be accepted.
Over the last several months, we've had many conversations with our customers – both buyers and sellers – and we've had the opportunity to consider ways we can address some of the top concerns we've heard. Based on the input we've received from you, I want to share some additional modifications we're making:
* We are adding language in the leave Feedback flow for buyers who are in a cross-border transaction that reminds them that international transactions usually take longer to complete.
* We've improved the interstitial page that all buyers see before leaving negative or neutral Feedback; the updated page offers a stronger message to buyers about the need to communicate with the seller, to allow enough time for the transaction to complete, and to keep Feedback factual.
* And later this month...
o In addition to expanding the 3-day block to 7 days, we are introducing a new Buyer Requirement that will allow sellers to block buyers who have been reported by other sellers for eBay buying policy violations (such as Feedback abuse, or email threats).
o We're expanding the scope of the existing Buyer Requirement for unpaid items, so that it supports more comprehensive blocking of buyers who have a history of non-payment.
o We've improved the process that sellers use to report buyers for policy violations.
o Detailed Seller Ratings will be coming to Half in the next couple months. Watch for more information on this via email and on the Half discussion forum in the next couple of weeks.
As you can see, these changes represent a huge investment in transforming the way Feedback works, so that it better serves today's marketplace. Ultimately, the goal is to restore trust and transparency and improve the buying experience, while offering needed checks and balances that ensure our sellers who provide excellent service benefit.
Sincerely,
Brian Burke
Director, Global Feedback Policy
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Post by comickings on May 19, 2008 21:21:29 GMT -5
I don't know how I feel about the new system yet. It just looks liek it's all good for the buyer and not so good for the seller. My rating did go up 1000+ points,but it has made my percentage go down from 100%,because the neutrals pretty much knock you down just like a negative does. But we'll see as it goes along. I just don't understand what the people at Ebay are trying to accomplish sometimes.
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Post by G on May 19, 2008 21:31:55 GMT -5
Im not sure I understand it yet. A seller can only leave a Positive or no Feedback whereas a buyer can leave feedback just as before. I guess this is in fear of retaliation feedbacks? What about when buyers dont pay? You arent allowed to leave a negative then either? But they could still leave you one if they didnt say....like you for some reason?
Im not sure I get this either. Changing the rules now seems to dilute everything they ever did before. Its not a perfect system, but I think this is a bit extreme with the changes they are making now.
Can someone point out the positives here?
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Post by cfs on May 20, 2008 3:41:50 GMT -5
We selected PowerSellers who have been on eBay at least 12 months in order to minimize risk to buyers, because:
a. PowerSellers have to meet quality thresholds for both conventional Feedback and, starting in July, for Detailed Seller Ratings
b. PowerSellers have to meet volume requirements – both in total and on an ongoing basis
c. One year on-site proved to be an important predictor of lower risk Sounds like you are an employee of eBay, What bullcrap! cfs
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Post by starbrand on May 20, 2008 10:41:03 GMT -5
The theory is to bring out more buyers by not offending them by putting them at risk for undeserved negative feedbacks. Internet buyers, of course, are not put at such risk at most other sites they shop at.
If it brings out more buyers, therefore more spending, I may be for the changes. However, sellers are sure to be offended, as now they're more at risk for undeserved negatives. Perhaps some sellers will become upset and stop selling, which would help those sellers who stick it out.
I'm not overly excited about the changes, but as Joey said, we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out.
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Post by starbrand on May 20, 2008 10:43:11 GMT -5
We selected PowerSellers who have been on eBay at least 12 months in order to minimize risk to buyers, because:
a. PowerSellers have to meet quality thresholds for both conventional Feedback and, starting in July, for Detailed Seller Ratings
b. PowerSellers have to meet volume requirements – both in total and on an ongoing basis
c. One year on-site proved to be an important predictor of lower risk Sounds like you are an employee of eBay, What bullcrap! cfs For years I've been telling myself to develop another market to sell comics in besides eBay, because there's no telling what changes eBay may bring forth. Still, I never did develop another market to sell in, and I may have to take some risk and do so soon. |
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Post by comickings on May 20, 2008 10:58:55 GMT -5
We selected PowerSellers who have been on eBay at least 12 months in order to minimize risk to buyers, because:
a. PowerSellers have to meet quality thresholds for both conventional Feedback and, starting in July, for Detailed Seller Ratings
b. PowerSellers have to meet volume requirements – both in total and on an ongoing basis
c. One year on-site proved to be an important predictor of lower risk Sounds like you are an employee of eBay, What bullcrap! cfs For years I've been telling myself to develop another market to sell comics in besides eBay, because there's no telling what changes eBay may bring forth. Still, I never did develop another market to sell in, and I may have to take some risk and do so soon. I can't see anything else coming along and knocking Ebay off the block. I don't like the new system,but it's their game,so we play by there rules. There really is no alternative. They've got it locked up and they know it.There is no other place,on earth that I could've gotten $600 for 2 copies of the CGC 10.0 Deathmate Preview I just sold on Ebay last week. For the most part I love Ebay. It's the changes they do that take a bit of getting used to,than can be frustrating. |
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Post by starbrand on May 20, 2008 11:28:42 GMT -5
For years I've been telling myself to develop another market to sell comics in besides eBay, because there's no telling what changes eBay may bring forth. Still, I never did develop another market to sell in, and I may have to take some risk and do so soon. I can't see anything else coming along and knocking Ebay off the block. I don't like the new system,but it's their game,so we play by there rules. There really is no alternative. They've got it locked up and they know it.There is no other place,on earth that I could've gotten $600 for 2 copies of the CGC 10.0 Deathmate Preview I just sold on Ebay last week. For the most part I love Ebay. It's the changes they do that take a bit of getting used to,than can be frustrating. You're right. You make some good points. Just frustrated, I guess. I wonder, though, if I could do okay with ads in CBG. It's counterintuitive, but I may try that a few times. |
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Post by G on May 20, 2008 12:01:19 GMT -5
I sometimes wonder what it would take to have your own online store. Sure in the beginning it would seem more work than payoff as you have to take the time to list everything and so on as well as you have no name on the internet to begin with. But it seems some of the bigger comic dealers have switched from the old catalog days to online websites where pretty much they put nearly their entire inventory online. Certainly as you create this online site you continue doing business as usual in both your store and ebay and occasionally you get that sale on your website and hopefully another visitor or 2. The growing pains must be tough. But, there has to come a point where putting books on there calms down as you have put up nearly all that you want on the site and only have new additions and deletions to be concerned with. As well as the more your site is linked to, seen, visited and bought from, the more it becomes a viable part of your business. Given time, you are less likely to need ebay but it is still there for you any and every time you want.
I honestly have no idea the cost and time associated with this as I am sure it is brutal and may be cost prohibitive. But I also wonder if developed as a "nice to have" option and not a business need, if there are avenues to build your site low cost, keeping the overhead low as it builds. Certainly if your site ever creates a name for itself and does tons of business, if it can pay for its own overhead, you cut out all those ebay fees. Certainly this isnt for everybody, but there are a few sites out there that tout their online business is very profitable and not just from ebay.
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What gives? I can understand if now multiples count where they didnt before. But if that is the case, my number would be even higher. Not a lot higher, but higher than what it is now. 
