EBay sellers fume, threaten strike over fee increases

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=internet_business&articleId=9060478&taxonomyId=71&intsrc=kc_top

But company says sellers will ultimately come around

January 31, 2008 (Computerworld) Angry eBay sellers are threatening a weeklong strike by pulling their listings to protest changes in the online auction company's fee structure.

Earlier this week, eBay Inc.'s CEO-elect John Donahoe announced the company's plans to lower the listing fees sellers pay upfront while increasing the fees they pay when they sell their items. Donahoe, who takes over as CEO from the retiring Meg Whitman at the end of March, said the changes will take effect Feb. 20.

"Sellers prefer this structure, as it lowers their risk if an item doesn't sell," said Donahoe, in his keynote address at the company's third annual eCommerce Forum in Washington. "Put simply, we will make more of our money when sellers are successful."

But many sellers aren't happy with the changes and are making their views known on various message boards, including eBay's own community forum, where some sellers are calling for a strike from Feb. 18-25.

"I read about the strike on the other boards, so I think the message is spreading," said mrskillion on the eBay forum. "We have just been left powerless. We need to take back a little bit. If we all band together, eBay will notice. I believe that completely."

"I've never posted here before, but I'm here now because of this fiasco," said a poster named mole314. I have some stuff to dump before closing my account, but I won't be selling anything that week."

FULL 2 page story at link.

[Horse with no Name]

1. I don't know why Ebay doesn't let people do basic listings for free

and then charge a fee on what sells.
I know when I was selling on Ebay--the listing fees, final value fees and paypal fees took the majority of your profit if you were selling lower price items to the point that it wasn't worth it anymore unless you were selling high profit items.
I get done what I need done now with local consignment shops, craigslist, and our local online "buy/sell/trade.
If I had not liquidated my online bookstore, I would have listed them at Amazon because that is how their structure is set up.
Ebay will learn...the hard way...that they may have been the biggest and brightest and only auction on the block for a long time, but others have surpassed them in their efficiency and cost.

[napi21]

2. Maybe, but none get the exposure that Ebay does. At least none that

I found. From what I've seen, for the most part, all they did was move the charges from the listing fee column to the FVF column. Depending on what you sell, it COULD even save you a little.

[madrchsod]

3. although craigslist does`t have safe guards

it`s free and most of the stuff is cheaper. plus you don`t have to wait.

[DainBramaged]

4. I have been on EBay TEN years, and do not find their fees a problem

Try and get a storefront and pay rent and get the exposure EBay gets. For the fees they charge. And I agree about the format. If your product didn't sell the first time around, whose fault is it? Should you be able to advertise it for free?

The power sellers who complain charge exorbitant shipping fees anyway. I bought a 2.0 PCI USB card. Weighed an ounce. Cost $2.99. Shipping was $7.50 and the clown slapped stamps on a manila envelope and stuck it inside. THAT should be stopped. Maybe then they'll sell more product.