fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 3, 2003 11:05:57 AM new
I'm sure eBay doesn't give a rodent's heinie, but I told them yesterday to remove me from the PowerSeller program.
I have had it. As long as this faux "recognition" is tied to feedback, it is meaningless. The straw that broke this dromedary's hump was a negative feedback from yet another (1) feedback AOLer who claims we didn't contact her. We did. She left this turd after two, count 'em, two days, and never bothered to contact US.
Shrug, says you, that's all too typical. It sure is, and that's why I'm not going to play the game any more.
If you participate in something, you validate it.
--
"It has been my great privilege to be your mother. To you, my dear and faithful son, from earth to heaven I salute you..." Julie McPhillips at the funeral of Marine 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips, killed in Iraq.
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neonmania
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posted on May 3, 2003 11:15:30 AM new
I got a notice inviting me to join the program last month - I just didn't see it being worth the effort.
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sanmar
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posted on May 3, 2003 11:24:39 AM new
Well, I lost my Powerseller because I had 2 slow months in a row. I really don't give a plugged nickel whether I have it or not. I don't see where it helped any, so I am no worse off than I was before I got it.
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jnash
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posted on May 3, 2003 12:20:45 PM new
So now you're a UnPoweredSeller. All you need is a logo. I suggest a image of a person on a bicycle with a big basket full of packages. A Smilie Face on the front of the basket and headed to the post office with a side trip to the bank.
What do you think?
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Roadsmith
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posted on May 3, 2003 12:56:10 PM new
Great idea, jnash!
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mypostingid
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posted on May 3, 2003 02:07:46 PM new
I'm taking 3 months off this summer, so unless someone is asleep at the switch, I'll be kicked out, too. Don't care.
MPI
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pointy
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posted on May 3, 2003 04:26:59 PM new
I don't think being a Powerseller has any value. Might even be a net negative, as I think many Ebayer's look to buy from amateurs instead of professionals. This way they think they may be getting a steal. So you made a good move fluffy. I think it's possible to block all bidders with an AOL e-mail. You might want to look into this fluff.
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sanmar
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posted on May 3, 2003 04:54:30 PM new
pointy, you have a good idea, except if the bidder looks at the feedback, he gets an idea of whether youare an amateur or not.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on May 3, 2003 05:03:53 PM new
pointy:
You just made a statement:
I think it's possible to block all bidders with an AOL e-mail.
Do you know how to do this? Or anyone else!
If you do please post it,It would save a lot of trouble!
[ edited by dadofstickboy on May 3, 2003 05:04 PM ]
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neonmania
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posted on May 3, 2003 05:29:08 PM new
Please tell me you people are joking... Or at least tell me what you sell. I'll buy some myself and you can tell all of your AOL based bidders that although your refuse to accept their bids, your ole pal Neon will gladly take them. I have some more upgrades to do on my ystem and I will gladly take the money you don't need.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on May 3, 2003 05:41:07 PM new
neonmania:
If you come up with a way to send them to you, you can have them!
Let me know and you'll get mine!
[ edited by dadofstickboy on May 3, 2003 05:42 PM ]
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tonimar1
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posted on May 3, 2003 05:41:19 PM new
Please ............if I missed something here please tell me what I missed...........WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BLOCK BIDDERS WITH AOL EMAIL ADDRESS????????????????????????????
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dadofstickboy
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posted on May 3, 2003 05:46:17 PM new
It's not the AOL bidders in general
It's their ISP!
It causes more trouble than it is worth at times!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 3, 2003 05:51:25 PM new
dadofstickboy is right. I wish it weren't so, but AOL is notorious for dropping incoming mail for its users.
I think it's the spam filtering, catching legitimate email in its net.
I don't know any way to block an AOL user.
--
"It has been my great privilege to be your mother. To you, my dear and faithful son, from earth to heaven I salute you..." Julie McPhillips at the funeral of Marine 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips, killed in Iraq.
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neonmania
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posted on May 3, 2003 06:01:28 PM new
It's funny but I have AOL and I have no problems - never had a seller not be able to contact me, never had a buyer not be able to contact me. I get copies of everything that I send out thru third party sites and believe me - my former business account that racks up a mighty 100 pieces of junk mail a day tells me the spam filters suck. I think that the problem is that most people accidentally delete their notices themselves when deleting those masses of spam. I did that with emails from my mother for a month when she changed email accounts without warning me. My ebay registered account is a dedicated address used for nothing but ebay and I have been lucky enough to keep this one free from spam.
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tonimar1
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posted on May 3, 2003 06:18:54 PM new
WELL, All I can say is I have AOL for over 6 years and being with Ebay since the beginning I have never not received an email from any of my cutomers nor have any of my emails gone astray that I sent.
I would think that if a user says they didnt receive an email its most of the times they deleted it and didnt know it was an important email, but thought it was Junk Mail, which sometimes as Im deleting my junk mail I delete an email of importance and lucky I catch it so I am able to get it back.
I don't think the problem is because of an AOL ISP, I think its the users fault not AOL.
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REAMOND
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posted on May 3, 2003 06:19:33 PM new
You're onto something regarding Powersellers and high feedback user names.
For collectable/non-mass merchandise items I use a low FB (less than 100) seller ID. When I get near 100 FB, I just get another user name.
Things that I couldn't get a bid on using a 2000+ pos feedback bring more the previous BIN price on the lower FB ID.
The buyers do think that the high FB "professionals" aren't offering any bargains, and thus must think that the low FB sellers are low volumn sellers with little knowledge of what they are selling.
I also use a very brief description with my low FB user items. I do not go into technical nomenclature about the item either. I do comment on condition, but in the manner of a novice.
The buyer mindset is the difference between finding a hidden gem at a garage sale and trying to find a "bargain" at an auction at Christy's.
Obviously, if you're selling a retail item, these rules wouldn't apply.
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kiara
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posted on May 3, 2003 06:34:34 PM new
I signed up again for the PS program a few months ago and the e-mail support worked great while I had technical problems with my seller list and the problems seem to be taken care of now.
Other than the e-mail support I have never seen too much advantage to the program. Business in my retail store will pick up from now until October so I won't be selling much on ebay after next month and will get the boot again.
REAMOND makes a good point. I like to search out auctions by newbie sellers in case I find a sleeper. But some you can tell aren't that "new" because they have everything looking too slick including a long TOS. Most new sellers don't learn all of that stuff right away.
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REAMOND
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posted on May 3, 2003 10:04:13 PM new
My TOS on the low FB ID is 2 short sentences, 10 words total. I also do not accept Paypal on my secondary ID sales.
It was hard to believe at first- I would get no bids on an item through 2 listing cycles, then change to the low FB ID, and boom, the item sells.
It is also interesting the difference in feed back that the the buyers leave.
The low FB always mentioned something to the effect of a "great deal". The higher FB ID gets positive FB too, but they are very short comments and don't usually mention the "great deal".
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toolhound
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posted on May 4, 2003 02:03:43 AM new
I have had many problems with AOL not getting my emails also. Now I send the email from my regular email and copy it and send it again with my Yahoo email. I have not had any problems since I started this.
PowerSeller or not a PowerSeller I don't think bidders pay any attention.
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neglus
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posted on May 4, 2003 02:52:04 AM new
I also hope you aren't serious about blocking AOL bidders!
I too have used my aol address as my primary selling and buying contact and have had no emails dropped in thousands of sales.
While I have a broadband connection I subscribe to AOL on top of the broadband - mostly for my family but I prefer the email application over Outlook as well.
As for Powerseller status, I'll keep mine - I do like the PS customer support (the general eBay CS system stinks!) and don't think it drives buyers away IMHO.
Neon - what effort? As far as I know the only thing you have to do when you get the PS invitation is click on a link to sign in.
I think the PS designation says more about sales volume than FB..of course it takes a whole lot more low ticket sales to reach the PS level than computers!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:03:43 AM new
One of the items on our nice-to-have programming list is software that sends the EOA every 24 hours until an email acknowledgement is received.
I'm also considering a routine that would contact bidders before the auction ends to let them know what to expect if they are the high bidder.
--
"It has been my great privilege to be your mother. To you, my dear and faithful son, from earth to heaven I salute you..." Julie McPhillips at the funeral of Marine 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips, killed in Iraq.
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neglus
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:16:31 AM new
you WANT an email acknowlegement of the EOA? Who has time? Just send the money thank you very much! I don't want to know how you are paying and your address - JUST SEND THE $$!
I follow up on non-paying bidders but don't have time to worry about whether or not they acknowledge the EOA!
edited to include:I state in my listing that the winning bidder will be contacted by PayPal right after the close of the auction but do not require that payment be made through PP. I also state that my address can be obtained by completing eBay checkout (also not required). I think this eliminates lots of the post auction emails and hopefully covers my tuckus against negs like you received Fluffy!
[ edited by neglus on May 4, 2003 08:20 AM ]
[ edited by neglus on May 4, 2003 08:22 AM ]
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pointy
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:24:09 AM new
I was serious with my comments about the benefits of Powerseller, and amateur vs. pro. I was not serious about the AOL block. Just thought fluufy might want another 10M to add to her list of unwanted bidders. I personally use AOL in my seller account, and in 5 years have never had a problem with e-mail coming or going. I have had problem buyers from all ISP's.
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Twelvepole
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:26:51 AM new
One of the items on our nice-to-have programming list is software that sends the EOA every 24 hours until an email acknowledgement is received =SPAM
I would report any seller to my ISP after the second one...
I also don't want email from you unless I win, not "if" I win...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
[ edited by Twelvepole on May 4, 2003 08:31 AM ]
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Libra63
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:37:11 AM new
AOL seems to be the only ISP I have problems with. I have one out now. They bid at the very last moment. It is a mothers day pin and I doubt seriously if they are going to answer this late and expect me to get it there by Mothers day. This is one reason I am now going to send the reminder from eBay as this will be sent from a different ISP than mine and maybe they will get through.
I could never understand why sellers want to be Powersellers. My opinion, and please don't jump on my back about it, is that is only helps eBay project their profit. Sanmar did his best to keep up but take two months off and eBay dumps you. If everyone would drop their powerseller how would eBay fair? They would still make their money but they wouldn't beable to tell how much they would make. To be a powerseller you must have to be working 14/7 to keep up and life is not worth it. Everyone need and R & R. I am sure the people in eBay get theirs and thats because they can project what they will make.
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tomwiii
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:37:28 AM new
The ONLY email addresses I've EVER had any problems with have ALL been AOsmell ones!
I'm delighted that some folks here on AOsmell have not encountered any problems! However, the problem DOES exist!
Everytime I see a bidder with an AOsmell addy, I CRINGE!
It took me three years to convince my son to dump AOsmell for a REAL BIG-BOY GROWN-UP ADULT INTELLIGENT ISP -- now he wonders why he waited so long!
I also do the double email trick to me AOsmell winners! One from my ISP & one from my web-based addy! Then keep me fingers crossed that ONE will get through to the winner 
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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neglus
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posted on May 4, 2003 08:57:42 AM new
I think eBay is pretty reasonable in their requirements for maintaining a PS status. In order to maintain your PS status you need only maintain an average of 4 listings/month for the past three months...seems to me that shouldnt be that hard to do even if you want to take the summer off...list 12 mid-June and dont worry about it until Sept 1...could even schedule some relists through Vendio in absentia...
As for using PS to project their profit..I HOPE EBAY HAS BETTER MORE PROFESSIONAL WAYS TO DO THIS OR WE ALL ARE IN TROUBLE!
RE: AOL problems...if you all are succesful in reaching your AOL customers through web based mail but not through your own ISPs perhaps it is YOUR ISP and not AOL that is the problem??
I am not an AOL cheerleader by any means but I don't see why you say a "REAL GROWN UP ISP" Tom...what do other ISPS offer that AOL doesn't? (I am serious)
Perhaps the fact that some sellers feel they have more problems with AOL users than other ISP is because AOL has the lion's share of the market!
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Libra63
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posted on May 4, 2003 09:35:24 AM new
To be a power seller I thought you had to make so much a month to achieve different levels of powerseller. If you only have to do 4 listins a month everyone would be a power seller I would think.
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Twelvepole
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posted on May 4, 2003 09:37:02 AM new
Only thing I see about AOL is they can have a multitude of email addys
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
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