posted on January 22, 2004 07:23:47 AM new
Ebay informed me this week that I am officially no longer a powerseller....
My best selling items seem to be mostly seasonal so I had to quit listing them when it gets cold. Anyone know where I can buy bulk quantities of diet pills or something that's not affected by the weather?
posted on January 22, 2004 08:59:11 AM new
I got a threatening letter as I took off from Thanksgiving to New Year's, but I will have enough business to "keep" my "treasured" status - It's strange now that they let half sellers be power sellers, so both of my accounts are now. Guess that says something (like ebay is getting a LOT of my money)
As far as bulk buys, there is just way too much stuff that can be purchased. I don't know, if you are selling shoes, maybe there is nothing good to buy in bulk, but selling dishes, there is a lot. I've rarely purchased on ebay in bulk to resell, the few times I've done so I've been disappointed. I do much better finding stuff off the computer to sell...
posted on January 22, 2004 01:11:55 PM new
Is it that big of a loss? No one really cares about a " flasher in front of a yellow star " icon any way do they?
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on January 22, 2004 03:20:45 PM new
I had Power Seller for 3 months, then I took some time off & lost it. They have offered it back to me, but I am not going to take it. I can't see any advantage in it, at least for me.
posted on January 22, 2004 04:55:51 PM new
There was another thread here where some people said they did well purchasing in bulk and reselling. they said you just had to be smart about what you buy.
IMHO, if you are clever enough and spend enough time looking you can find a source for good inventory. I am hopeful. My guess is that the best sources are not on the radar screen. That is, they are not the ones that advertise on Vendio, etc., but instead are small suppliers for which this is not their main business.
posted on January 22, 2004 05:36:32 PM new
Toben88:
Is being a 'Power Seller' all that important to the bottom line in your checkbook? All one has to do to become a basic 'power seller' is average 1000.00 per month in sales, have great feedback and bend over backwards to please any buyer--read some other threads about sellers who have dealt with 'power-whack-o's'. The PS designation gets you virtually nothing at bronze to silver levels, other than live telephone response to...(drum roll please...) problems. (Oh, and your own special chat room, too.) You are NOT rewarded with special listing days, lowered fees, or discounts. On anything. Nada. Unless you need that logo after your seller name to push you (and that's an incentive I suppose), buyers are not looking to purchase solely from 'power-sellers'. Buyers purchase from reputable buyers with quality feedback. A desirable product at the right price is all you need...if you list it, they will buy.
posted on January 22, 2004 06:02:44 PM new
sanmar,,,,,if they,,,,,,gave you that status,,,,,YOU have it........just go to powersellers enter your password and you will see you ARE in e bays mind. Taking it has NOTHING to do with it. You are whether you want to accept it or NOT. they care less if you SHOW the logo. You have created generated enough revenue to satify them.
posted on January 24, 2004 08:44:35 AM new
Question: Don't "PowerSellers" get discounts on their fees in exchange for selling in volume? Though it's noticeable that eBay's boilerplate promoting the PS program talks about fee discounts, but doesn't publicly disclose what those are. My sense - as a small-time, occasional seller of my late father's collectibles - is that the PS concept is controversial. I've gotten that sense over time by reading different eBay-related chat boards. Is it because A.) PS'rs have the ability to call a real live customer service rep and other eBayers don't - no matter how serious the problem is? or B.) the endorsement in that PS boilerplate of PS'rs as "pillars of our community"? I've seen a fair number of PS'rs who had a lot of serious neg's and neutrals, but because of volume, they were still above that 98% positive watermark. I've also seen a lot of comments from PS'rs, about how they feel they don't get much from eBay for being PS'rs. How long has the PS thing been around, and am I right - that it's controversial and problematic? Roz
posted on January 24, 2004 09:07:54 AM new
"Though it's noticeable that eBay's boilerplate promoting the PS program talks about fee discounts, but doesn't publicly disclose what those are."
The PS discount theory is BS ask Jayandmarie
posted on January 24, 2004 09:48:08 AM new
Hi, Horsey - Who are JayandMarie? If PS'rs don't get fee discounts, then what is the value of being a PowerSeller - to the Powerseller? Is it that there's a value to eBay - like, keep your volume up, or we'll take away your PS'r symbol/status? Do PS'rs get a lot of pressure to keep up their volume on a monthly basis - no averaging over time?
posted on January 24, 2004 10:24:58 AM new
The main benefit of being a Powerseller is Ebay knows they can rely on you for adding a hunk of change to thier bottom line monthly. If you aren't satisfied with your monthly contribution you can always enroll in their Health Insurance Plan.
posted on January 24, 2004 10:47:08 AM new
Hi, Horsey - I just looked at JayandMarie's site. I can't imagine doing that much volume on eBay - a lot for me is 12 to 20 auctions at a time. And then I rest <p>
posted on January 24, 2004 10:59:34 AM new
Hello All, I must have been missing something. I have been a power seller for years and never noticed a fee discount. I do think Ebay sent me a power seller pass word some time ago but I have never used it and wouldn't know where to find it now. When I have a question or problem I come to this board and 99.9% of the time I find out what I need to do.
posted on January 24, 2004 11:08:41 AM new
I'm a PS and I keep it because it does push me (and I need to push) to be sure and sell $1,000 a month. Otherwise, I get into the "oh, I'll list tomorrow" mood and I find I don't list for weeks.
As far as a discount. I think they offer a 1% rebate of sellers fees if you let them take the payment straight from your bank account each month. My fees average $200 to $300 a month so for $2 or $3 I think i will continue to pay as I go with PP
No other discounts! In fact, I'm still checking to see what they have "added" as charges from November after receiving the email they didn't charge me for November 21-29? I know FLD for FP was in there so I'm not sure how I will reconcile the additions
I kinda think they should have to eat any mistakes that are made like that but I guess my opinion doesn't amount to much, and neither does my PS status.
posted on January 24, 2004 12:02:27 PM new
I went back and looked at the "Why become a PowerSeller" info. Here's the part on discounts: "eBay Direct Pay - discount on your monthly fees."<p>
So that's *it*? - a PS'r gets a discount on monthly fees for using "Direct Pay" - i.e., if you let them automatically debit your bank account? - and that's the only discount?<p>
And, you need to be a "silver" level PS'r - with at least $3,000 a month - to get the telephone support?<p>
Sheesh. I don't see any real benefits here.<p>
If anything, my sense is that in trying to maintain volume levels, people would be driven to list a lot of items and run up a lot of additional listing fees.<p>
I think eBay should offer discounts for volume - that would enable people to take more shots that might fail.<p>
I always thought that PS'rs got more benefits. Guess not. Thanks, all, for your comments.<P>
posted on January 24, 2004 12:52:55 PM new
Now that you mention it, there IS the Direct pay discount; here I was thinking I got diddly squat for PS'er!! The phone support amounts to a voice mail tree that resembles the eBay site map (only it's less clear) - and then you have to wait ad infinitum!! The email support is even WORSE! You email them and then they email back with something cut and dry that doesn't apply AT ALL to your situation and is already known by all but the most inexperienced of (and ergo probably not a PowerSeller) sellers. The coup de grace is that the minute you push "send" on your email, they ask you for feedback about their response, BEFORE you get an answer. They probably got too much negative feedback when they asked AFTER response was given.
For my two cents, PS and $3.57 will get you a triple wet cappucino at Starbucks!
It is a goal for those of us who need milestones to get motivated and maybe that's about all that it's good for.
posted on January 24, 2004 01:00:47 PM new. The coup de grace is that the minute you push "send" on your email, they ask you for feedback about their response, BEFORE you get an answer. They probably got too much negative feedback when they asked AFTER response was given.
You get that on any contact with ebay. I always answer the two survey questions with the "strongly dissatisfied" option.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
[ edited by auctionACE on Jan 24, 2004 03:52 PM ]
posted on January 24, 2004 02:40:47 PM new
"I'm a PS and I keep it because it does push me (and I need to push) to be sure and sell $1,000 a month."
Yep...Same reason the greyhounds keep chasing that mechanical rabbit around the track only to be blocked by a barrier everytime they pass the finish line. They never quit believing that they'll eventually catch and be rewarded with that "prize"
posted on January 24, 2004 03:27:44 PM new
Initially, this thread started with someone being sad that she/he had lost her/his PS status. But, in the end, it seems to me that you didn't lose much - just an icon next to your userID. I guess it feels like being demoted - and that's what eBay wants you to feel so you make the effort to keep your selling volume up. I say - don't push it. When your seasonal items come back into season, do auctions because you enjoy doing them - not to meet a sales quota system established by a corporation. Just my two cents as a definitely non-powered, slow as molasses, occasional, when I feel like it seller
posted on January 24, 2004 03:46:43 PM new
I just lost my Power Seller also. I was a little disappointed at first (took December off)- so, of course, it was my own doing. I didn't ask or apply to be a Power Seller, but felt a little special when they offered it to me. it. However, After that, I had a feeling of RELIEF! I am a senior, parting (or trying to part) with a life time of collecting, and nearly everything I sell is fragile, and I have to pack it all by myself (I have taken as long as an hour just packing one box), then stand in line at the PO, and it gets to be work! So, I will relinquish my PS to some young couple full of energy - or possibly greed, which ever is most important to them! It was fun while it lasted!!
posted on January 24, 2004 03:54:43 PM new
The whole gist of the PowerSeller structure is what horsey posted -- just a way to keep the big sellers from slacking up on their auctions.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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