nwsports
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posted on November 12, 2001 11:52:09 AM new
Thank God, eBay finally listened! Here is its announcement at 11:25 a.m. (Pacific) today:
***Checkout Changes***
Over the past few weeks, we have been listening to our community's concerns and suggestions regarding Checkout. We understand how important it is to meet the needs of both the eBay sellers who are managing the selling process and the buyers who would like a clearer, faster and easier eBay buying experience. We also understand that there is a segment of the selling community that needs a way to continue to use their existing processes. Therefore, we are making some changes to Checkout to help address these various needs.
We are currently working on the following changes to Checkout:
For auction listings, sellers will have the ability to choose whether or not the Checkout button appears on their closed View Item page. If a seller opts out of having the Checkout button displayed, there will also be no links to Checkout in the End of Auction email and My eBay, and the buyer will not be able to use Checkout for that transaction.
Sellers who choose not to display the Checkout button on their listings will do so by changing their Checkout preferences in their My eBay selling tab. If the Checkout preference is changed, it will apply to any item the seller lists after that point. However, sellers may change their Checkout preference at any time.
Sellers will also be able to continue specifying shipping costs, insurance, applicable tax, and specific payment instructions when listing an item, even if the seller chooses not to use Checkout. This information will continue to be displayed in the Payment Details and Payment Instructions sections on the View Item page. If a seller chooses not to add this information, a message indicating that the seller has provided this information in the item description or will provide it after the listing ends will appear in these sections.
Please note that Checkout remains an integral part of the eBay Stores design and will continue to be required for all Store Buy It Now listings.
Also, to help eliminate some buyer confusion that has been reported, we are bringing back the "Pay Now" button for eBay Payments (formerly known as Billpoint). This "Pay Now" button will appear only if the seller has chosen to accept eBay Payments and will appear regardless of whether the seller has opted out of displaying the Checkout button.
Finally, we will now be decrementing an item from a seller's eBay Store whenever a buyer uses Buy It Now to purchase the item from the Store. Currently, the item is decremented when the buyer has completed Checkout.
We are working very hard to make these changes within two to three weeks.
We understand that Checkout and the upcoming changes to the Checkout process occur during an important time of year for our sellers and will make the changes as rapidly as we can with the least amount of disruption.
We apologize to those members of our selling community who may have been inconvenienced and will continue to do all we can to provide a better process for eBay sellers and buyers.
To learn more, please read our FAQ.
Regards,
eBay
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ahc3
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posted on November 12, 2001 11:53:41 AM new
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They backed down, amazing...
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bh010296
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posted on November 12, 2001 01:24:07 PM new
I am in shock... I never thought that it would happen.
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blairwitch
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posted on November 12, 2001 01:24:13 PM new
Too little too late. The only reason they backed down was all the sellers planning on jumping ship on the 20th. I talked to my seller friends and this still isnt stopping them from going to yahoo. eBay should not have deleted messages, and suspended members for speaking up. Only a matter of time before they try this again.
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dman3
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posted on November 12, 2001 01:31:09 PM new
In the mean time were still sending email to buyers useing checkout that dont calculate shipping most of the time got another sale today paid with no shipping ....
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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ahc3
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posted on November 12, 2001 01:38:50 PM new
I really can not believe that many people who do this for a living will leave ebay on November 20 for yahoo - I will tell you my plans - I might cut back a little on Ebay and give yahoo a try, but I think anyone who gets a large portion of their income from auctions are going to abandon ebay into the unknown of Yahoo. Sure it will be cheap in a week, and sure I will be there, but most realize that the buyers are not just going to show up on November 20 just because it costs us less to run auctions! I think in the long term, this might hurt ebay, and maybe in the very short term (a few days) ebay might show some slowing of listings, but in the near future, Ebay is pretty safe!
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blairwitch
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posted on November 12, 2001 01:49:12 PM new
I agree ahc3 with what you are saying. I think many sellers will put their eggs in more that one basket. Bidville and the other smaller auctions will hurt most short term, but long term yahoo will take a chunk of ebays revenue. I will never believe eBay made these changes for us. Infact if sellers stuck together when whitman took over we could have stopped alot of foolishness in the past like the only a dollar statement.
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MAH645
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posted on November 12, 2001 02:51:56 PM new
I started working a public job, E-Bay is now a hobby.
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lizzy
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posted on November 12, 2001 02:58:17 PM new
I cannot figure out how to change my Checkout preferences. I went to My Ebay, Seller. Where do I find the Opt Out Option?
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dman3
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posted on November 12, 2001 03:06:05 PM new
There is no opt out option thats why you cant find it 
They said they are looking into adding such a thing not that they have done it.
I dont see everyone leaveing ebay for yahoo either I do see there listing dropping off as people take a chance to build up yahoo inventory I can't see everyone dumping there auction in one place again.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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nwsports
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posted on November 12, 2001 03:27:39 PM new
The "opt out" option isn't going to be available for two to three weeks, unfortunately.
eBay didn't have the interest of its sellers in mind when it implemented this faulty Checkout program in the first place. It had to listen when: the sellers threatened to leave and many placed "No Checkout" protests in their auctions; the sellers and buyers were confused and/or angry (especially when buyers could Checkout even when not offered by the seller); sellers began dropping Billpoint; sellers and buyers began reporting both Billpoint and eBay to the Better Business Bureau; users started a media campaign; and a main competitor (Yahoo) saw eBay as ripe for picking and announced it was lowering fees. I'm sure there are other reasons as well, but as a whole, I think eBay was forced to listen.
I have already started to spend more "quality time" at Yahoo, and while it has a long ways to go to be the big dog that eBay has become, I hope it will eventually become a viable alternative.
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dman3
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posted on November 12, 2001 03:45:00 PM new
It had nothing to do with sellers threatening to leave at all, It had to do with 1000's canceling there billpoint accounts over the last week.
They really don't care if ebay sellers are upset as long as the fees keep pileing up however many canceled ebay payment services and they lost fees and sales there big time..
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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fathertime
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posted on November 12, 2001 04:43:26 PM new
I am happy that it looks like ebay has been forced to look at complaints from sellers and Buyers and make the modifications needed to there check out. But Ebay has played there true hand as a corporate giant in the internet sales area. There concern is for Ebay and there stock holders as would be normal. There concern ends there without buyers or sellers. I am concerned about my business, my lively hood. That personnel concern is [we now can tell], an opposite to ebays corporate goals. Ebay has spent there acummulated good will and trust like a drunken sailor. I for one will now consider ebay my secondary selling option. My first will be Ruby Lane. The attitude there for buyers and sellers is night and day compared to Ebay.
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sbushaw
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posted on November 12, 2001 05:27:57 PM new
There is a hidden message in that checkout announcement. Although you will be able to set your preferences in "my eBay" to opt out of check out and that would only eliminate the checkout button most of the feature will still be on your listing and will go to the top of the page when the auction as closed. It will still show the area where seller indicates shipping details. See the checkout board at eBay, several threads on the issue.
Well at least we will be able to have some sort of a choice. One out of two isn't too bad I suppose.
Sandy
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dman3
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posted on November 12, 2001 05:35:09 PM new
one out of two is awfull when you concider how much every seller is paying ebay to run there auction and use there name for there sales..
the sellers are the people that make ebay what it is with out them it would be waist webspace..
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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tomwiii
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posted on November 12, 2001 05:45:30 PM new
I'm pretty sure that Jenny Craig uses that waist webspace 
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sbushaw
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posted on November 12, 2001 05:48:37 PM new
To the last poster:
I totaly agree with you, I guess what I was trying to say was that yes, eBay has listened to us to the point of truly making it optional and I wished they would now take the whole feature off the auctions but it doesn't sound like they will.
Sandy
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dman3
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posted on November 12, 2001 05:49:48 PM new
Hmm
I thought Jenny was trying to Do away with chuncks of waist space
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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ok4leather
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posted on November 12, 2001 08:07:13 PM new
I agree that the damage is done : Many sellers already have test listings on other services - Yahoo is prime stakeout territory for many. -They want a piece of ebays cake- It will take time and effort to build volume on other sites but im up for it.
Ill never forget what ebay did to us - Dont take your eyes off them - they will try to achieve their goals in a less visible way. Sneaky .....
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dejapooh
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posted on November 12, 2001 09:34:40 PM new
actually, my plan is to take everything I list on Ebay every week, and list it in both places. If I sell twice as much, so much the better. The rare stuff, the things I have only 1 copy will be on Ebay... You have to sell where the customers are.
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yeager
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posted on November 13, 2001 12:43:48 AM new
I was SO GLAD to see this thread! In fact, I just logged on to the Ebay Outlook to start a thread titled "Will ebay ever end Checkout?" It seems that I won't have to ask this question.
With all the people that wrote ebay and complained, and then canceled ebay payment accounts, I think we can see how there is power in numbers. Another point, Ebay made a big mistake trying to make such drastic changes in a troubled economy. Sales are down in general and it really doesn't make any sense to create major changes that could be considered confusing to so many. What a mistake. Usually businesses want thier companys to be customer friendly. In case they haven't realized it, we the sellers, are the customers here. We buy their services.
I certainly hope that we sellers will have the option to completely opt out of the Checkout Blunder. I will be doing so ASAP.
I think that the people that list an Yahoo should report on how there are doing. Maybe the ebay blunderheads will read this and THINK before they implement their next brainstorm.
This is the next best thing to having bin Laden's head on a platter!
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sbushaw
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posted on November 13, 2001 05:19:33 AM new
I have listed six auctions on Yahoo and only had bids on one. I am kind of dissappointed. They really need more categories. Yahoo doesn't have the proper category for what I sell. I hope eBay will be able to be trusted that the checkout feature will be optional and they won't fool around with it after three weeks.
Sandy
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ok4leather
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posted on November 13, 2001 01:41:25 PM new
Ebay said they would make it optional in 3 weeks- they are saying the item total and shipping amount will be at the top of the page just like with check out - Its still going to be a mess - Wait till the bugs start happening again durring Christmas sales season in about 3 weeks. Im going to jump in the mess and try to salvage a few sales anyway.
Good Luck
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sisterscloset
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posted on November 13, 2001 04:50:25 PM new
I think this is just awful! I never asked for any 'checkout' feature! Just ebays way of getting more of the pie! I dont even like billpoint, they hold your money for 5-7 business days before depositing to your account, which could take an additional 1-2 business days. Paypal is #1 with me, I get my money immediately with my paypal debit card **love it**....Because of this stupid 'checkout' feature, I have had several auctions paid for without shipping charges....makes me look like an idiot when I have to email my customers asking for shipping charges. I am also closing my billpoint account. I dont need this kind of hassle! Auctionwatch Post Sale Management is #1!
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sisterscloset
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posted on November 13, 2001 04:51:39 PM new
ok....auctionwatch is #1...but I could do without the annoying casino pop-ups
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ptimko
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posted on November 13, 2001 07:07:23 PM new
Given the choice between pop-up advertisements (as annoying as they are) and higher fees, I'd rather be annoyed...
Not that it's really related to the present topic however...
I still haven't listed any auctions since the implementation of the checkout thingy. I only sell as part of a hobby anyway so I've been waiting for the dust to settle...
I'm very glad I don't rely on eBay for an income, from what I've read on these discussion boards, it sounds like the checkout thingy was a poorly conceived idea. Hopefully they get it right the second time round. I guess only time will tell, but it sure seems to be a poor time of year to be trying to implement major changes to a system which has been working reasonably well. I'm surprised that they didn't wait until January to start the entire trial period. Normally I would expect sales and volume to be down in January so that it wouldn't create such havoc...
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MrBusinessMan
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posted on November 14, 2001 04:46:39 PM new
ebaY listens to sellers only when not doing so severely affects their bottom line. I dropped ebaY altogether about a month ago and started spending my usual "ebaY time" promoting my online business in other ways. Gross sales are down but net profits are up roughly 30% in the month since I left ebaY. $1800 (average) per month in ebaY fees goes a long way toward promoting a web based business.
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outoftheblue
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posted on November 15, 2001 12:00:59 AM new
Yahoo is a joke right now. At one point we were making about 80 - 100 sales per month on Yahoo. Now we are making about 6-8 sales per month. It's not worth the 5 cent listing fees at this point. I might as well list on bidville.
I think I'll stick to Ebay until the bidders on Yahoo wake up and start bidding.
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