eBay Interference and Editing of Item Listings

[backpackingbennyboy]

I would like to understand from the community a response to the below:

Over the last few weeks there have been multiple occasions when eBay have interfered with my seller listings via adjusted delivery settings without my consent or knowledge. This has caused chaos with myself and buyers, alike. The interference has included:

1. updating delivery options - without my consent nor knowledge - from collection-only to include postage options for the buyer (this on items which would never be applicable for any form of postage.)

2. updating delivery options - without my consent nor knowledge - to alternative, inapplicable options (for example having to drop-off items at a parcel shop which has been highly inconvenient)

3. updating postage rates - without my consent nor knowledge - to pricing which is under-valued for the item in question.

I have had to manually reset dozens and dozens of listed items owing to this on-going, unsolicited interference from eBay.

Despite changing delivery or postage rates to sensible and applicable options, eBay have continued to interfere, without consent, by once again amending settings without my knowledge upon these exact same listings.

This has caused huge problems with buyers who have 'won' an auction anticipating items to be posted (when clearly it isn't possible) and then having to deal with the aftermath. It has caused lengthy delays and necessitated huge amounts of time attempting to unpick the interference. Yet it still continues with eBay interfering with - at time - absolutely idiotic setting changes.

I logged an online complaint via the help/chat process 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, this has just been ignored and I have not received any feedback, let alone apology.

Please can someone clarify what has been happening and how this interference and setting of pricing costs without consent and my knowledge conforms with any 'standards of trade'?

I understand there are changes coming to postage/delivery options, yet these examples of interference simply do not work and cannot be allowed to continue.

Thanks,

[jckl1957]

The people who answer in this forum are other members, ordinary buyers and sellers like you.

There is not any way that another member, without any access to your account, can clarify what has happened.

Your only course of action is to pursue this with Ebay.

I can only say that I have never personally experienced any of the issues you mention.

You can speak to Ebay Customer Services using the link below.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid

[tobiasd4]

One way to avoid this is upgrade to business seller, you can then set your own postage. 

With 278 items, ebay may consider you a business anyway. 

[backpackingbennyboy]

One way to avoid this if for eBay to stop abusing my profile and amending listings without my knowledge or consent. Another episode happened yesterday with another 'collection-only' listing updated, without me knowing, with an option for the buyer to received a very heavy item by post. It's unbelievable that eBay can do this and interfere with profiles. Needless to say, the buyer is probably feeling frustrated that eBay have caused this confusion and they won't be able to receive an item they thought they were purchasing.  

How do I know if I'm a business seller? (I'm not. I just have a lot of individual items for sale on repeat / automatic renewal listings). And does upgrading to a business seller entail reduced fees? Or does it entail more fees to pay?

[papso22]

An explanation for some of what you have experienced is ebay changing your listings to Simple Delivery.   There have been other posts on the main discussion boards about the other issues.  Perhaps have a look at them?

[backpackingbennyboy]

Hello. I can see on the topic of 'Simple Delivery' a cascade of issues (caused directly by eBay) and the complaints (directed to eBay), which have been totally ignored.

Here is just a selection of issues I have and many others have encountered from eBay:

Forcing of sellers to use one particular courier company without choice, nor agreement.

Forcing sellers in having to post items via inconvenient locations.

Forcing sellers to accept a certain postage price which is not applicable to the item.

Causing sellers to lose money owing to the inappropriate postage rules.

Interfering with sellers' listings and changing delivery and postage rates without consent nor communication.

Causing problems for buyers who have to pay more for items.

Causing problems for buyers who are faced into delays owing to the inappropriate and inconvenient delivery adoptions.

Reducing the number of sales owing to all of the above.

The problems are endless. 

Please can someone advise when this arrogant behaviour from eBay will be reversed to end the chaos, confusion and mounting problems to both sellers and buyers?

[backpackingbennyboy]

And now there is another issue to report of eBay interference. 

This time eBay have changed formatting and style of existing listings: size of font, type of font, colour scheme, formatting.

So in addition to all of the existing 'Big Brother' like interference and control - done without permission & without notification - there is now another example of the arrogance of eBay. When will this end? Why is eBay allowed to edit and change listings without permission? I find this interference obscene. 

How can we put pressure on to STOP this? The online AI chatbot is useless and previous, written complaint was simply ignored - exemplifying the arrogance of eBay.

[backpackingbennyboy]

After a house move over the last month taking up most of my time, I checked an existing listing on my profile this morning: once again eBay have interfered and amended settings and the description layout.

Please can someone advise as to why eBay is allowed to do this? In relation to amending payment/postage settings, as previously described in the past, I'm surprised Trading Standards would allow this.

What is the community doing about this?

[jckl1957]

'The community' is other members like you and we can't act on your complaint.

I spend a lot of time (way too much) in the forum and have genuinely never seen a complaint that is similar to yours.

As previously explained, Simple Delivery became mandatory on 6th August so that may have affected the postage prices and services on your listings but I have never known Ebay to make any changes to my listings - and that is in over 20 years.

You can contact CS - I have previously provided a link to get a callback - or have a chat with the Ebay Community Team (Ebay employees) in this forum between 2 and 3pm today.

They will ask you for specific examples with item numbers and details of the changes that have been made.