posted on February 27, 2003 07:54:16 PM new
By mistake they created a website that became (but doesn't mean that it will stay that way), mainstreet retail USA on the internet. As time has passed, eBay has gone back and forth from hands on to hands off. I really believe that the freedom, lack of control and fraud problems have scared the dickens out of the eBay brass and down deep they really want to be a retailer which they only control. I fear that their cozy relationship with Sotheby's may have something to do with this MORONIC DECISION on raising the reserve fees. I calculated what my fees were last month ($4500) that I paid to eBay and under the new plan my fees would have been over $12500.00 for the same month. I can tell you flat out that this will put me right out of business and I am one of eBay's top and best liked art sellers.
I tried to email my opinions to them and other than safeharbor (sic), I could not find a real email address on the site that would accept a complaint.
Could it be that some of the eBay brass have a twisted opinion that by driving the high end art and antique sellers off of eBay by implementing horrific rate increases, they will suddenly make Sotheby's-eBay a more successful venue. I DON'T THINK SO -- Sotheby's lacks the "treasure hunt" aspect which takes a lot of the fun out of buying on eBay. New competition will spring up and if there are players to be had, eBay will start to shrivel.
[ edited by artpickers on Feb 27, 2003 07:57 PM ]
posted on February 27, 2003 09:22:26 PM new
I'm a very small seller but I agree with your opinion here. Have you considered calling ebay headquarters? I have the number(s).
I wonder if one of those consumer services some local tv stations have (troubleshooting between customers and businesses) would be willing to take ebay on? My fantasy is that 60 Minutes would do a segment on how the changes have adversely affected the usability of ebay.
posted on February 27, 2003 10:40:37 PM new
I can not understand what eBay's reasoning is other than to raise revenues.
They claim that buyers have been complaining that they do not like reserve auctions. But why would eBay care about that?
I have a feeling that ebay has gathered information that reserve sellers are gleaning email addresses from reserve not met auctions and cutting deals outside of eBay.
Now I doubt that it is high end sellers that are the problem, but I can see someone selling electronics where they have several dozen, run one auction with a reserve that can't be met and email all the bidders offering them the item. Then run the auction again and keep on until you get them all sold. You don't have to use your eBay email address to mail them either.
For less than $5 you can reach millions of potential customers, and have the email addresses of those that are interested in your product.
An ad on eBay is much cheaper than direct mail, a newspaper ad, or even a local TV ad.
posted on February 28, 2003 06:11:27 AM new
I just got a commission to sell of the contents of a recording studio. SOme of the equipment has to have a reserve of $4,000,00 and I can see that it doesn't sell very quickly- the rea value being $12,000.00
I don't think my client is going to want to spring four hundred bucks for an incomplete auction!
"And All Shall be Well, and All Shall be Well, and All Manner of Things Shall be Well"
posted on February 28, 2003 08:41:16 AM newThey claim that buyers have been complaining that they do not like reserve auctions. But why would eBay care about that?
Why would eBay care what buyers think? Think about it. Why do sellers use eBay?
posted on February 28, 2003 10:29:01 AM new
I just went and checked-
"Listings with a Reserve Price of $100 and up will have a Reserve Price fee of 1% of the Reserve Price. The maximum Reserve Price fee will be $100.00.
For example, a listing with a Reserve Price of $1,000 will have a reserve fee of $10.00. This change applies to all auction-style listings in all eBay.com categories including eBay Motors non-Vehicles categories (Parts and Accessories and Everything Else), and Real Estate auction-style format. The Reserve fee for eBay Motors Vehicles and Real Estate Ad Format remain unchanged.
The Reserve Price Fee will continue to be fully refunded if the item sells."
So my four grand reserve will have a fee of $40.00.
If I start my auction at four grand, i incur a fee of $3.30, like usual.
Beats me- I'm not a powerseller, and maybe I can handle big fat fees once in a while. BUt I think I might go look for an auction site that specialises in recording equipment.
"And All Shall be Well, and All Shall be Well, and All Manner of Things Shall be Well"
posted on February 28, 2003 12:23:41 PM new
The problem is ebay has no competition. They do whats best for ebay, and screw the sellers. Lets say one day every seller would list 1/2 their items on another venue, eBay would have to compete for our money which would be a very good thing. Until this happens ebay can do what they want.
posted on February 28, 2003 01:03:37 PM new
eBay makes no final value fee when reserve auctions are listed and are not met.
The above is the reasoning behind the new pricing on reserve auctions. Instead of listing with a reserve price, simply begin your auctions with an opening price that will net you a minimum profit you are willing to accept for the item for sale. You have options, so use them to your advantage. You are not being forced to continue using a reserve auction format. Make the change, as other high end sellers will, and go about your busines. This should be nothing new to you as an online merchant, as our business models are always changing. Those who are willing to adapt to the changes they face will succeed. Those who don't will die.
posted on February 28, 2003 01:08:30 PM new
I don't believe that I am able to afford the new reserve fees at all. I have had Ebayers email and ask what my reserve is, and I do not tell them during the course of the auction because 9 times out of 10 they won't bid, especially these days. I was told buy an Ebayer that $1595 was too much money for a solid Cherrywood French Louis XV Sideboard. The Ebay customer base is very frugal right now, and want wholesale prices. I have gotten offers way below what I have paid for items. My new line is that I am "selling the item, not renting it."
I think that I will put my auctions on for what I want for the item, and if they bid, they bid. It all comes down to that anyway, so why spend the extra money. The total listing fee on a $1595 item is $3.65 according to Sellers Assistant.
I think Ebay is headed for a lot of problems. They may not keep the sellers that they presently have, and they may be discouraging large ticket items, from which they make the most money. It is foolish to put a reserve on an item under $100, but that may be all Ebay has to offer in the future. Artpickers, I certainly sympathize with you, we are in the same boat. We need to make our voice heard even if it does no good. How about a Virtual Protest?
[ edited by daleeric on Feb 28, 2003 01:10 PM ]
posted on February 28, 2003 01:21:26 PM new
If big ticket items are not selling, then ebay can only make money from them throught the insertion fees and reserve fees. I agree that the ebay clientele is not a good one for these type of items, but where else will you sell them online? Sothebys is stopping the online auction segment of their business. I think a lot of it has to do with the economy, and the inherent problems of selling large items where people cannot "kick the tires" in person.
A big part of ebay, as with live auctions, is the perception that you may get a bargain. And whether we like them or hate them, the high reserves kill that. One item I looked at was a scarce form; listed with no reserve, it hit the $900 range and sold. Another one came along last week; highest bid was 305, didn't meet reserve or sell. With the number of bidders on the first one, I think the second would have come pretty close but the reserve killed it. It may not be rational, but most people just won't be as agressive against the reserve as they would be against another bidder.
At this point I just don't list a lot of higher end merchandise on ebay. I don't think it is the right venue for it anymore. My non-ebay selling is through group shops; I am willing to pay for the privilege of not sitting there listening to the whining of the general public.
posted on February 28, 2003 02:01:43 PM new
You got a choice. List that Rolex for $4,000 minimum bid for $3.99 or list it for $500 with a reserve of $4,000 for $40.00, if it sells you get your reserve fee back. If you were using a high reserve to gather a contact list for off-site sales then you better find another auction service.
I think eBay's discouraging some transactions that were being done behind their back. Yeah, eBay's crazy, crazy like a fox.
posted on February 28, 2003 03:27:19 PM new
what about ebay motors??are there a lot of off ebay deals going on??
after all buying a car is more work than buying a piece of pottery or watch??
posted on February 28, 2003 08:33:02 PM new
I also think that people will begin to put their item on with a low reserve and if it doesn't hit the number they want, they will cancel bids and the auction. Or it will set the stage for friends and family to shill bid.
I agree with the above posts that Ebay is trying to discourage reserve auctions. I also feel that I do better at a reserve auction than just listing the item at the price I want with no reserve. It looks good to have a lot of bid activity on your items which inspires interest.
Perhaps Ebay is not the venue for high end items anymore. When there is trouble in the economy the lower middle class or middle class stops buying items that are not a necessity.
I will be listing my items with no reserve at the time of the deadline. I just don't believe this venue is worth the extra fees.
posted on March 1, 2003 06:26:54 AM new
buying a car or a house on ebay,many things can happen on your way to pick up that car or close that house,so ??
oldtimers may recall years ago ebay has no fee for reserve auction and those days most items sell for under 500,it found out by using its employees posing as bidders that a lot of seller will sell under reserve,so it started to impose a reserve fee and there was a huge uproar on ebay board.
so now it is doing the same thing,except it is targeting the high ticket items.
high ticket sellers may want to set a reasonable reserve price which can be met and so,getting the reserve fee refunded and pay final value fee or have a shop somewhere on ebay,amzn or yahoo or standalone and drive traffic to its site.
posted on March 1, 2003 04:12:44 PM new
To me it sounds like ebay is money hungary.
Ebay would go under if everyone quit selling for one week..Sellers have the upper hand.. No sellers no Ebay...
posted on March 1, 2003 04:18:22 PM new
unfortunately sellers do not have the upper hand.
if you sell electronic goods,new like those in stores,you love to see your competitors drop out for a week,for every seller who drops out,more will take his place.
sad,but true,how many places can you go to and get that kind of traffic?amzn yahoo may be cheap,but who is buying??
posted on March 1, 2003 06:32:13 PM newyahoo may be cheap,but who is buying??
My ebay bidders are those doing the buying. We list 1,000 items weekly on both ebay and yahoo. We include our yahoo auction booth link in our ebay EOA emails, and presto we have instant traffic and sales. If everyone would do the same we would be free of the ebay monopoly for good. I am paying $350.00 weekly to ebay in insertion fees, and pay yahoo $50.00 for the same amount and get free 10 day auctions, free BIN, and 3 free photos per listing. I can also choose what time the auction ends, and can eliminate negative feedback bidders with the minimum feedback option all for free.
posted on March 1, 2003 07:47:52 PM new
good for you.yahoo auction is a place where ebay sellers shop.
yahoos shop is place lottery winners should splurge.
