It looks to me that there are 2 things I gain. #1 A monthly newsletter (that will probably never get read). #2 I get to display the powerseller emblem on my auctions. (Is this a good thing?)
Do bidders even notice the powerseller thing?
Do bidders even care about the powerseller thing?
Are you a power seller? Why?
If you were invited, would you join?
Does anyone think it makes a difference?
Can I join and not use the emblem?
Please help me, I do not know what to do.
I am personally thrilled about the invitation. But no one I know would every understand what it takes to get this invitation when most of your items start at $9.99.
posted on April 19, 2001 09:51:12 PM new
RichieRich:
Congratulations for meeting the level of sales to qualify for Power Seller status. Lots of hard work and determination went into it I'm sure.
I am a Power Seller, but you would never see it in my auctions, or on any of my web sites. As a bidder, when I see the logo, it is a turn-off. I'm sure others will agree that there is a negative stigma regarding that logo. Although, lately I've seen it frequently.
In my opinion, the Power Seller program needs a major overhaul. "Power Sellers" want some tangible benefits, not just fluff. That's all I'm saying now, others will surely respond.
Last night we saw an auction with two big Powerseller buttons side by side before the description and pictures. We commented that the seller must be double proud to be a PS.
posted on April 19, 2001 09:52:14 PM new
I just got my (5th? 6th?) invitation. Other than the BIG GAUDY LOOKING emblem, which I certainly don't want in my auctions, I don't see much to gain until you get to silver level and get a PHONE NUMBER. Oh the times I would have loved to CALL ebay....
posted on April 19, 2001 10:13:57 PM new
I don't use the logo, and have only used the PS email twice. I must admit that both times I had a non canned response to my email within a couple hours.
posted on April 19, 2001 10:28:37 PM new
The logos are annoying because I have seen people that have copied the logo and hosted it to their server but weren't really power sellers as they had less than 100 feedback, and were selling items under $10. The logo itself means nothing because anybody can copy it and use it. Power seller status means nothing to me.
If anything there should be a power buyer club too (I'm joking)....
But I really prefer to buy from people that are not all into lots of unnecessary graphics that are ostentatious. When you have a modem connection, as a buyer you are going to make up your decision to bid based on if the page loads in 10 or 15 seconds. Adding the logo just alienates buyers.
posted on April 19, 2001 10:45:09 PM new
I've been a powerseller for a long time.
As far as the logo goes I use the smallest one on my Me page and the picture URL
box to show that my auctions have a picture. I use SAPro and have the logo tagged
to go in automatically on all auction listings. As far as I can tell it has done me no
harm. Most bidders don't seem to read the complete page so they never see it.
Within the last year I have used the email to PowerSeller several times. I've found
that I no longer need to send email to all the different eBay email addresses as
PowerSeller directs it to the right office.
I always get a timely response and I don't get canned answers. I've even had them
phone me a couple of times to discuss the different problems at hand.
Is it worth it? Yes, I think so for I can remember the days when you could expect to
wait 1 - 4 days for a canned response from safeharbor.
These are the benifits I see by being a powerseller. I wouldn't go back to not being
one.
posted on April 20, 2001 04:32:27 AM newI just got my (5th? 6th?) invitation. Other than the BIG GAUDY LOOKING emblem, which I certainly don't want in my auctions, I don't see much to gain until you get to silver level and get a PHONE NUMBER. Oh the times I would have loved to CALL ebay....
posted on April 20, 2001 05:31:50 AM new
Congratulations RichieRich! We too are Power Sellers and were actually quite proud of our accomplishment. We started selling over three years ago just for fun. To rise to the level required to be a PS was a big deal for us.
Yes, we do include the logo in our auctions but it is the last thing at the very bottom of our listings. Don't really know if its helped or hurt us but it does say something about ones level of service and commitment to selling on Ebay.
Join and use or don't use the logo. You have earned it!!!
posted on April 20, 2001 06:13:32 AM new
I have been a "Power Seller" since December.. It has not made a difference in my sales (that I know of.
I use the logo only on my "Me" page. Outside of the great Email responses, I see no real benefits or drawbacks.
posted on April 20, 2001 06:39:28 AM new
You do get better e-mail response - but honestly I don't think the quality of the respnses are any better.
If you got to the phone and personal rep. level that might be nice. I don't think I ever will.
posted on April 20, 2001 08:13:38 AM new
The worst sellers I've ever encountered were Power Sellers -- horrible customer service, rip off artists, etc. And I would avoid all other PSs like the plague.
I do now understand that not ALL Power Sellers are bad guys (and gals), but it took me coming here as well as slowing down long enough to study a few other PS's auctions to learn that some of them are actually very.
Soooooooo, if you decide to use the logo, I would encourage you to make absolutely sure your TOS was VERY customer-oriented. The PS's TOS who finally encouraged me to "trust" some Power Sellers enough to even look beyond the PS logo were those who had very pro-buyer TOS fully spelled out -- no questions asked return policy, stuff like that.
That would be my advice.
Another comment. If you think about it, what does Power Seller mean to the bidder? Only that these are big-volume sellers. Beyond that, bidders really know little to nothing else (if they know that). For all some bidders know, you can BUY the Power Seller program and logo.
Anyway, it's not necessarily an incentive to buy. Big doesn't necessarily mean better, or even good. There's no inherent promise of quality there.
I've heard Power Sellers say that ebay requires them to maintain high customer service levels, but I also know that ebay looks the other way for Power Sellers when there are customer complaints. And eventually bidders learn that too.
posted on April 20, 2001 08:26:21 AM new
CONGRATULATIONS!
We have been Power Sellers from "get go," but I see no real advantage except the fast, personal responses I get when I e-mail.
We do NOT use the logo, I find it a turn off on others' auctions, and wouldn't consider using it on ours. We don’t use it on our “ME” page, because frankly, I have a hidden counter running on that page and 99% of people never look at it.
We "remain" with Power Sellers, just in case eBay gets past the fluff and actually makes it advantageous to be a Power Seller.
Well I must admit, I think we may get our derrière covered more often by eBay than if we weren't Power Sellers, but that is about it. We have walked a fine line on “allowed” items a few times, and I feel eBay just looked the other way, so suppose there is some advantage.
Bottom line is I'd advise you to join, and take advantage of the few perks that being a Power Seller provide.
posted on April 20, 2001 08:45:49 AM new
I have dealt with excellent Powersellers and really bad ones. Not all Powersellers get that way by quantity. Some have fewer auctions but deal in higher priced items.
I have had slow shipping, slow e-mail response and bad packaging from high quantity Powersellers. Others are very good.
One of my worst buying experiences last year was from a seller who is now a Powerseller. She sent me two damaged items and retaliated with two negatives. She now has about 15 negatives. This is her response to one of her negatives shortly after she gained her PS status.
Response: Dont always see flaws and dont spend hours listing $5.00 item! Am a Power Seller
posted on April 20, 2001 08:53:44 AM new
Congrats ~ I know the invitation feels wonderful ~ I joined just a month ago.
I have used the email service once ~ that was great.
I added the logo to my auctions. I can not tell you that adding the logo is my problem...but my sales are way down this month.
I will tell you that I changed a lot of stuff at the same time.
1. I switched from Auction Watch to Auctiva to put up my auctions.......realized this week that my auctions take about 30 seconds to load instead of 15 seconds now ~ and I think that is the biggest problem.
2. Instead of giving a price list for shipping ~ i.e. ~ 3.95 for 2lbs ~ 5.15 for 3lbs etc ~ I stated the shipping exactly for every auction.........
3. I was sick for most of this month.....and ending up having emergency gallbladder surgery just last week......and I know that had to have been reflected in my work..........these auctions are by for not my best work.
4. I am using the Auctiva fast pic ~ and they are so tiny that people are forced to click on the picture to enlarge it just to see it..........and I know that is hurting me too.
5. I only got 1/3 of the auctions up that I usually get up ~ but even the ones I got up did not go well. This was for two reasons. ~ one I was sick ~ and two Auction Watch was much quicker for me because I had used it a long time and I did not have to hunt for each picture for each auction ~ all the pictures had thumbnails at the bottom so they were quick to pick out.
I will be making some changes. The first one will be to stop putting in the logo.
Just my two cents.........for what it is worth........
posted on April 20, 2001 09:01:30 AM new
From my experience (over two years selling and buying on eBay) when I see the PowerSeller logo the first phrase that comes to mind now is "Don't mess with me". I've found that an inflated ego goes along with that logo for the most part and I avoid auctions with it. I know this is a vast generalization, but the only time I've been burned by a seller has been the ones with PowerSeller logos that they seem to think are shields that protect them from being fair and honest. Too bad, because I'm certain most of them are not like that, but I won't take a chance again.
posted on April 20, 2001 10:30:42 AM new
Thank you for all your great opinions! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.
I am going to join (that is no longer in question). Mainly because I have nothing to lose by joining.
I do not think I am going to post the logo anywhere. I want my customers to think they are the only one I am concerned with. They do not need to know that there are 100's of customers in line with them. (Don't I wish)
My feedback is currently at a score of 792. I have 917 positives and 2 neutrals. Someday I know that negative will come and that will be ok as long as I earned it.
I do my best and my previous winners know I have great quality items. They can not ever beat the starting bid in a retail outlet. (For those who don't know - I specialize in big & tall men's & plus size women's clothing.) At most items starting at $9.99 for Ralph Lauren shirts in a size 5X. They can not get a better deal even including the shipping cost. Ultimiately, they determine the price and we are all very happy. Occasionally, I even do the happy dance.
I don't make ungoddly amounts of money. But after a year and a half I am making a living off this. I know my bidders do not feel ripped off. And that they got a fair deal, even with the shipping charges.
