shop4shoes
|
posted on April 2, 2003 11:26:26 PM new
I am about to stop listing on ebay for good.
Yesterday, I get an information alert from ebay about "payment surcharges". They say that all of my listings are in violation and have 24 hours to correct them.
I have NEVER had any payment surcharges. I have had pretty much the same auction terms and forms of payment for years and no matter how you pay, you pay the same amount.
Today I get an email saying that they have ended my auctions because of "brand name misuse". They included a listing of all the auctions that they claim are in violation. All of the listings ended 2 days ago on their own. They all had bidders. They were the brands listed in the auction.
What really has me steamed is that ebay deleted the ended auctions. I have had two irate winners email and ask what the heck is going on. A third emailed to say she, no longer feels the need to pay, since ebay does not show the auction ever existed.
They don't even take the time to look at the auctions to see if there is a violation. The auctions totaled about $2000.
I am glad that I don't depend on ebay to pay my bills.
|
Libra63
|
posted on April 3, 2003 12:21:50 AM new
First of all what is a payment surcharge? Do you think someone turned you in? Enough questions. What a blow. I hope you can resolve this as it seems like eBay is trying to control things but they don't seem to have a handle on the fraudulent buyers only honest ones...Good Luck
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 3, 2003 12:53:13 AM new
First of all what is a payment surcharge?
It is when a seller charges a fee to take a certain form of payment. Example: "if you pay with paypal it will be 3% more than the auction price".
Do you think someone turned you in?
That is the only thing I can think of. I get alerts and ended auctions almost everytime, I list now. I never really had a problem until a few months ago. The auctions are not in violation of anything. They just don't take the time to look.
Below is part of the email they sent to my high bidders.
subject: Subject: eBay Listing xxxxxxxxx Cancelled - Results Null and Void
auction xxxxxxx has been removed from eBay for violating eBay policy. Since this listing was removed, you are not required to complete the transaction.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/item_allowed.html
I got an email from a bidder a few minutes ago. She now thinks that I am "either selling stolen shoes or fake shoes".
|
toasted36
|
posted on April 3, 2003 04:06:24 AM new
Hey shop4shoes ...heres just a thought.Maybe it's the same psychopath buyer you had send that nasty e-mail in this link http://www.vendio.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=502918 There are some sick people out there
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 3, 2003 05:22:37 AM new
toasted36: It actually started before her. Now it is getting worse with every email from ebay.
A few weeks ago they ended my auctions claiming that I had an illegal link and 3rd party credit. The link was to my site, which is just a gallery of my ebay listings. There are no credits to anyone in my auctions.
When ebay did finally respond. The guy said that I was in violation. I pointed out that I am allowed to link to my ebay auctions. No response to that excepr to end more of my auctions that linked to my other auctions. Now I do not have a link to my other auctions.
These people refuse to take a close look at the auctions. They just end them.
|
CBlev65252
|
posted on April 3, 2003 07:14:36 AM new
shop4shoes
You really are having a time of it. Boy, that really sucks. I think there is an Ebayer out there who may have it in for you. IMO you should be able to face your accuser and if that's the case, Ebay should cough up a name! Good luck!
Cheryl
|
aintrichyet
|
posted on April 3, 2003 07:48:11 AM new
Shop4 ... I know of a guy in western Ohio that is suing ebay for closing his auctions for unsubstantiated reasoning ... prosecuting for defamation of character [something to that effect] and loss of income ... ... ... and i do NOT agree that ebay should 'cough up' a name to you... i DO feel they have GOT to READ your whole auction page before they go pulling the listing!... i can't imagine how you, of all people, are sitting still for all this! ... you, the best MUHAAAAAAHHAAA'er on the list! ... get in there and smack 'em up 'long side the head.
AintRichYet in NE Ohio
|
Libra63
|
posted on April 3, 2003 08:02:28 AM new
[i]This is just plain ol' annoying and stupid[i]
It seems to be a little more annoying that the title you used for your topic. I don't know if I would have been that quiet. I think it is really hard to sue eBay and as they say they are just a venue. But to me they are more and when they do things like this something needs to be done. There are sellers out there that have links to everything and they also have telephone numbers to their businesses in their checkout. Isn't that wrong. I would consider that a link. Thanks for answering my questions. I hope you are keeping all your emails along with the headers in case there is a class action suit against eBay. Who knows maybe someday somewhere there will be an attorney that wants to stand up for the rights of people and tackle the eBay question.
|
gasolineguys
|
posted on April 3, 2003 08:11:56 AM new
I think a big part of your problem is it is not legal to charge a fee to a buyer to use a credt card or credit card transaction.
|
msincognito
|
posted on April 3, 2003 08:29:41 AM new
It is a violation to charge for using credit cards, but shop4shoes doesn't.
It sounds as if she's being stalked. And if that's the case, it won't stop on its own ... action from a higher-up will probably be needed, and quickly.
I know some members on this board have "back channels" to get the attention of the behemoth eBay, and if you'd be amenable to setting up a temporary email address where people can contact you, shop4shoes, I think they'd be glad to pass that info on.
[ edited by msincognito on Apr 3, 2003 08:38 AM ]
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 3, 2003 08:35:12 AM new
I think a big part of your problem is it is not legal to charge a fee to a buyer to use a credt card or credit card transaction
That isn't my problem since, I don't do that.
By the way, only in some states is it illeagal to do that. It is against Mastercard & Visa policy...and ebay's.
I don't know why I am only "annoyed". Usually I would be hopping with hate and indignation by now.
Maybe I am under the weather....
|
aintrichyet
|
posted on April 3, 2003 08:42:59 AM new
Get Well Soon.
|
lindajean
|
posted on April 3, 2003 09:01:14 AM new
Do you have a lot of repeat customers?
If not, I would just set up a new seller ID before the person responsible for this gets you suspended permanently.
Edited to add: I don't mean changing your id, but actually starting over. Also, I notice many people do not put the city in the space for it. You could put your state so it would be harder for the person responsible to track down your new id.
I started selling under a new ID for my record albums because I didn't want them buried in with my postcards. I was surprised to see my little 0 feedback didn't stop the bidders or slow down sales at all.
[ edited by lindajean on Apr 3, 2003 09:03 AM ]
|
Twelvepole
|
posted on April 3, 2003 09:09:52 AM new
See if you can get some legal action going against eBay... they need to actually investigate before shutting down.... it is amazing though.... some I have turned in for very obvious violations don't get shut down and now others that have no violations do get shut down...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 3, 2003 09:49:47 AM new
Do you have a lot of repeat customers?
I have lots of repeat customers and they are good ones. They spend a lot.
I have other id's that I can sell under, but this one is known for great shoes. That is the problem, I think. My designer items often go for full price and anything I have that resembles a designer's recent designs get a good bit also.
A few months ago, I listed some heels that looked like a Manolo Blahnik slingback. They were an unusual color and really beautiful.
My title was "Sexy & elegant high heel slingbacks".
In my ad I said something like, "These beautiful heels are similar to the styles by Manolo, that are seen all over the runways these days. They are not the same quality, but they are pretty and they cost much less than designer heels."
I had a starting bid of $24.99 or a buy it now of $39.00. A few pairs sold the same day for the BIN price. The others all ended with prices of $65.00-$90.00.
When I listed the last pairs the auctions were all ended. I got a notice from ebay saying that, I am allowed to mention the designer name for "comparison" purposes, but I could not claim they were the real deal.
I never did that and I never will. My customers trust me to be honest and I am.
That time I did get a quick reply from ebay and the rep said my ads were fine. That didn't stop someone from ending them again.
I have top notch sources for my shoes....the manufacturers. I have been buying from them for years and they treat me good.
I think many of the shoe sellers get thier products from "gray area" sources and they pay more than I do, so their prices need to be higher.
I think you guys are right on the money and that it is a jealous competitor.
|
msincognito
|
posted on April 3, 2003 11:10:08 AM new
It could be a jealous competitor ... or it could be a PO'd customer who didn't follow your terms of service ... or it could be a person who doesn't like the fact that you're an woman who posts in an outspoken manner on a message board.
Long ago, I posted on this board using my eBay ID and I had people starting to hassle me off the board. One threatened to start interfering with my auctions, which is when I essentially stopped posting at AW altogether. After a cooling-off period and the cooperation of a moderator, I re-registered with my current AW ID that is in no way linked to my two active eBay IDs. Since then I've been purposely vague about my eBay activity and never speak directly about the main category where I do the bulk of my selling - though I will talk about categories that I occasionally list stuff in. Those auctions are usually listed under my mostly-buying ID anyway, and I'm not so cautious about protecting that. I'm sure someone who really wanted to know could find me, but they'd have to work at it.
It's sad that people have to be so guarded. I am sorta grateful that AW (now Vendio) disabled the search function, because that makes it a lot harder to compile a dossier on an individual poster. It also amazes me that people get so freaked out about a message board, but I guess that's the whole anonymity of the Internet factor coming through.
|
tomwiii
|
posted on April 3, 2003 11:57:31 AM new
They DO consider that key-word spamming & came after me for it!
I used to sell Joseph LaRose NOS shoes -- a very famous shoe designer-to-the-stars from here in JAX.
His customers included Joan Crawford, MM, etc.
In my auctions, I gave some history of his shoes, including his famous customers, & got the ding-dong letter from feeBay about it!
They told me to go back to selling MONKEY-PORN! 
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 3, 2003 12:18:19 PM new
It isn't keyword spamming and none of the auctions have been shut down for that. You are allowed to compare your items to those of others makers and manufacturers.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-brand.html
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on April 3, 2003 01:28:38 PM new
Hokay, I'm confused.
s4s, surely you sell enough that you have access to PowerSeller phone support.
What do they say when you call them?
--
"I'm thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said `I drank WHAT?'"
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 3, 2003 01:45:51 PM new
Fluffy: Remember in a previous thread, I said that I often took long periods off from selling?
http://www.vendio.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&id=493212&thread=493141
I will lose my powereseller status and regain it later.
Well during this last stint of selling (the past few months), I have sold enough to be a powerseller again. However, I keep being told I don't qualify. I don't know why. I have sold plenty.
Sometimes, I think they have me confused with someone else. It is really strange. I called support once and the name and information they had listed for my account wasn't me.
edited to add:
The only thing I can see that stops me from being a powerseller again is this rule:
Be in good standing by complying with eBay Listing Policies
I am in compliance, but I can't get anyone to take the time to look.
[ edited by shop4shoes on Apr 3, 2003 01:57 PM ]
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on April 3, 2003 09:27:10 PM new
Remember in a previous thread, I said that I often took long periods off from selling?
I probably missed that. I have to concentrate on real life for prolonged periods.
I just laid in 12 days' worth of groceries so I don't have to leave the house until after April 15.
It's a puzzlement to me why you keep having problems with eBay's SH folks. I do know that once they get a notion into their pointy little heads, no matter how wrong, you can't dislodge it.
--
"I'm thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said `I drank WHAT?'"
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on April 4, 2003 03:23:59 AM new
I just laid in 12 days' worth of groceries so I don't have to leave the house until after April 15.
MUHHHAAAAHHHAAAA!!!!
I am going to buy 2 weeks worth of towels tomorrow, so I can lurk and brood around my house uninterupted.
|
