Ebay listings dropped 30% this morning

[tabbyc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tabbyc]

The postings on Ebay went from 1600 to 1100 this morning.
Anybody know why?

[klynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close klynn]

The postings on Ebay went from 1600 to 1100 this morning.
Anybody know why?

The boycott just started. It goes from now through Feb. 25. Those that are participating are not selling or buying.

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

I tried to post a listing this weekend of a large lot of my daughters gently used clothing and I wanted to accept Paypal only....but I kept getting this error message telling me I could not complete the listing because I was not linked to Paypal (not true - I have a working Paypal account through my Mastercard that has been in excellent standing). So I clicked on PayPal and went through the motions- they want me to link my Debit card or a PayPay card only now..........what the heck is wrong with the credit card I've been using forever?? I tried to call but was put on hold forever and frankly I am a busy mother of 2 and don't have time for this!
I can sell this stuff at a local resale store - get cash for it and not deal with the hassle- better yet I can just donate the items and be a good citizen!
I don't like the fact that PayPal is trying to control which card I use! I don't know if this is the reason the listings are down....but it's my reason!
Kathleen

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I heard something in passing (was doing the dishes in the kitchen with water on and only got part of the story) that the feedback option was being discontinued.
I will boycott, too.
Feedback in so important for buyers and sellers.
B.

[BWolf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BWolf]

I read an article on CNN Money the other day. Here's an excerpt:

The boycott, planned to run Feb. 18 - 25, is scheduled to overlap eBay's Feb. 20 rollout of significant changes announced last month.

Sellers say eBay's new policies are likely to cost them more money, but what's really inspired an outpouring of wrath is an adjustment to eBay's feedback system: sellers will no longer be able to leave negative commentary about their buyers. Critics say that will leave sellers vulnerable to negligent bidders and scammers.

"You get bad buyers as often as you get bad sellers," said M.

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[tabbyc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tabbyc]

Ebay can raise the fees as much as they like.

That is a cost of doing business.

Changing the feed back changes the business model.
Bad Decision!

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

On the other hand, it reduces the tit-for-tat feedback model currently in play. I can see both sides of the argument.

[tabbyc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tabbyc]

Please explain the other side.
Unless you are a square trade member you have no recourse.
What stops the inheritably evil from disparaging the seller for the fun of it?

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

Well, of course nothing. But in the current system, unscrupulous sellers can withhold feedback from a buyer who pays and supplies any needed shipping information promptly until said buyer gives feedback. "I'll give you positive feedback as soon as you do the same for me." IMO, a buyer who pays promptly deserves good buyer feedback, provided there were no other unreasonable demands.

The other advantage of removing buyer feedback is: one cannot inflate ones numbers by buying a lot of low-cost junk. True, a careful shopper can distinguish buyer and seller feedback, but many do not.

No reputation system is perfect. This one simply has different pros and cons. Here are some interesting papers on the reputation system as it stood prior to this change. Makes for good reading. They were written by colleagues of mine.

http://www.si.umich.edu/~presnick/pa...inalPrePub.pdf
http://www.si.umich.edu/~presnick/pa...intVersion.pdf
There are some other papers from this group, also related:

[tabbyc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tabbyc]

A seller waiting for a response from a buyer should be considered reasonable and logical behavior.

Withholding positive feedback from a buyer is a worthless bargaining chip.

Sellers will no longer be able to leave negative commentary about their buyers. Critics say that will leave sellers vulnerable to negligent bidders and scammers.

Pro and cons according to the Buyer only.

[somerville Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somerville]

A seller waiting for a response from a buyer should be considered reasonable and logical behavior.

I disagree. As a buyer, once I have paid for the item, I have completed my part of the sale. The seller is responsible for shipping conforming goods.

[tabbyc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tabbyc]

The seller has shipped items and buyers has received items.
Transaction is complete.
Feedback is a option.

[SDSunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close SDSunshine]

I am new to eBay and I have purchased 2 things recently. I paid within an hour of auction close. Both sellers refuse to leave feedback. I pestered them so much that they both eventually said they woudl leave feedback AFTER I received the items and left THEM positive feedback. This seems like blackmail to me.

Mind you, with my 0 feedback rating, I can't ask sellers questions (not more than 5 a day I am told) and my account is limited in other ways too. I could not bid on the $11,000 timeshare for example as it "exceeded" my limit as a new person on eBay.

So how am I supposed to get the darn feedback to have these limits lifted when sellers are unwilling to leave me the positive feedback I deserve?

Seems like the current system is definitely broken. Katherine

[jfitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close jfitz]

A seller waiting for a response from a buyer should be considered reasonable and logical behavior.

It is neither reasonable nor logical but simply blackmail. The sole responsibility of the buyer is to pay for the items won in a timely fashion. When the buyer has completed this responsibility, the seller has no ethical reason to delay leaving feedback. To hold the threat of a negative feedback over the head of a buyer negates the value of the feedback system. If sellers want the ability to leave feedback, fine, limit them to a 48 hour window after they have received payment. This way the seller can report the slow or no pay bidder and a buyer can give an honest rating without fear of reprisal.

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

It is neither reasonable nor logical but simply blackmail. The sole responsibility of the buyer is to pay for the items won in a timely fashion. When the buyer has completed this responsibility, the seller has no ethical reason to delay leaving feedback. To hold the threat of a negative feedback over the head of a buyer negates the value of the feedback system. If sellers want the ability to leave feedback, fine, limit them to a 48 hour window after they have received payment. This way the seller can report the slow or no pay bidder and a buyer can give an honest rating without fear of reprisal.

I agree 100%! I have purchased many items and payed within hours and had to wait for feedback (sometimes they waited for my feedback first). As a buyer, I should not have to give feedback until I receive the item and it is the condition described in the listing. Sellers sometimes want feedback right away which does not make any sense.
K