Are these new changes here to stay?

[baillin-0]

Hi fellow Lemmings, Not sure, but is it the Lemmings that follow one another and run over cliffs?

All the years being an eBay user, I don't remember ever looking at any messages posted on here, don't remember needing to?

Was it always like it is now full of doom & gloom about eBay and what's going on, or is it since these changes?

Nobody's happy about them and most like myself are threatening leaving if they don't reverse what they have done.

Do you think anybody is listening or are they busy putting up new signs showing us where the cliffs are?

Hope I don't change my mind and stay then see you all at the bottom! 

[vinylscot]

eBay will be viewing this through their experience of introducing major changes in the past.

Each time, posters on here are up in arms, and dozens, or even hundreds of them, claim the latest changes will force them to leave.

Very few actually do leave, and those few that do are soon replaced by new buyers and sellers. eBay's figures have been fairly flat over the last few years. Some on here are predicting doom and gloom on eBay because of this, but in the wider context, given current economic conditions, it's probably broadly acceptable.

There's no doubt that the Buyer Prevention Fee and especially Simple Delivery have encountered a huge amount of opposition, but in the real life, as opposed to on these boards, the vast majority of users will just suck it up and carry on as best they can.

The "best" users can hope for is probably some minor tweaks to SD, if big problems become apparent after rollout. However, it's certainly here to stay, as are most of the buyers and sellers.

[auctionmike1]

Speaking as a collector, I have been selling duplicate and unwanted bits on eBay for years. However, I am now gradually winding down - I haven't added any lots since the start of BPF and am now way below the free allowance of 300. The postage thing was the real killer, as I have loads of stamps to use up.

The other point of course is the bugs. Reading the community boards (something I never used to bother with) has been a real eye-opener - people are having so many problems in scenarios that the developers have obviously not thought about, and the recent changes seem to have opened up sellers to scammers on a large scale. 

Not for me. As soon as I can offload a reasonable number of lots I'm offski! 

[jckl1957]

When I am REALLY bored (so, not often) I have had a look through some of the 'I hate Ebay, I am leaving' threads and a large amount of the 'I'm about to delete all of my listings' brigade have not actually done so.   You listed some items for sale yesterday.  Nobody forced you to do that.

I am sure Ebay will weather the storm, they usually do.

The boards are for open discussion of current, relevant topics and that is what is happening at the moment.  People want to vent and, if they want to add another comment to an already over long thread, that is a choice they have.

I assume your reference to lemmings refers to the people who are apparently leaving in droves.  The idea that lemmings follow other lemmings off a cliff is a myth.

[department28]

Sellers may not be leaving in droves, but as a result of the combination of Managed Payments, Buyer Protection Fee, & Simple Delivery, I think it would be fair to say dissatisfaction with eBay is on the increase, rather than the other way around...

Some sellers have decided to leave, or are in the process of winding down. Others are pausing, waiting to see if they can continue selling, or if the restrictions & exclusions of Simple Delivery will make it either impossible, or just not worth the time & trouble.

It would be very interesting to know approx how many private sellers are in this state, as opposed to those who would say they are still happy with eBay, despite all the recent changes.

Buyers will certainly have noticed the odd-looking, higher prices, caused by the very unpopular Buyer Protection Fee - which has also caused the almost complete disappearance of the traditional 99p start, private seller auctions.

These things can only have made eBay less attractive to buyers. It has certainly been made more difficult for sellers to attract buyers!

In trying to squeeze every bit of profit out of every aspect of selling, it feels like eBay have squeezed all the fun & freedom out of the place... 🍋

[akemp1]

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@vinylscot wrote:

Very few actually do leave, and those few that do are soon replaced by new buyers and sellers. eBay's figures have been fairly flat over the last few years.

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Even if the dissatisfied don't leave the high total costs of ebay items will cause us to ramp down our activity. I used to be nearly 100% ebay for second hand items but now I'm 80% buying and around 50% selling elsewhere (by order volume) just because its a better proposition.

And I'm one of those highly engaged sort that buy something most days like they want to have. It's just not good value for money anymore and other places do a lot of stuff for lower fees.

[baillin-0]

The Lemmings reference was meant as a bit of fun, was trying to "lighten up" all the bad news I see on here. 

Thanks for educating me about them not committing suicide by jumping off cliffs, did already know though it was fake news. 

Stopped listing stuff myself when I saw these changes, even cancelled lots I had on already with not knowing what it was all about, am still not sure so yesterday thought it a good idea to relist a few items just to see what I now have to do if I do sell any of them.

not an eBay hater just these changes don't like the way buyers will have extra fees to pay (B/P) also the new way sellers have to post lots (eBays way). 

Reading your comments you seem happy with the changes. Cannot see why though.

[judydoodles]

I've just relisted a few items whilst there's still a customise postage option available to me. 

Foolishly I closed all my listings down believing the ebay announcements for the rollout.  I should have held my nerve.   Now there's a new time frame for the "on-boarding" 🌊 of private sellers.  They can't say what that schedule looks like, but individual sellers won't be notified when their account crosses over. ⚰️

I'm cross at myself for having missed a few week's sales (ok probably about 3 sales given how few views I get these days).  Now I'm kind of interested to see how this plays out; not in a good way, more in a Nero fiddling way.😏

[vinylscot]

You're letting your existing prejudice get in the way of common sense thinking.

Put yourself in a potential buyer's shoes (which you claim to be).

OK, there's a BPF you didn't have to deal with before, so that's a pain, BUT this new Simple Delivery thing does actually make things simpler for buyers, AND saves a little on postage, often enough to totally offset the BPF.

Many of the stories about the grass being greener elsewhere simply are not true, and have been concocted to strengthen arguments against eBay.  Yes, you might find individual items, or even small niches, work better elsewhere, but there is no one place which can provide anything near the exposure for sellers, and the variety for buyers. That is why few sellers will actually leave, and why most buyer will remain.

I genuinely think that, if eBay can iron out the issues with SD, that it may actually turn out to be very popular with buyers, and thus help sellers sell more in the long run. (They do need to vastly improve the quality of their implementation and communication, though.) 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

it certainly has always had a fair amount of doom and gloom (who bothers posting if they are living in heaven!) but certainly in the last few years i have been on here i have never seen it so busy or so 'desperate' since the latest changes.   As for your 'is anybody listening', they will only hear what they want to, that everything in e bay land is sunshine and roses!!

[kath3735_wxmjn]

you say that with confidence but i am not so sure!  A lot will depend on what problems occur in the future with the new SD system.  At the moment i am messing around with a few items still on, mainly because i have managed to use custom postage even though i was informed last week that items were now SD and i am also experimenting with two items using SD, which may end up costing me a few quid but whatever!    I am also in the process of starting up my new account on another site and will see how that goes.  If i like it then i will just ditch even coming on here to see if things have improved.   You are just like the rest of us and have not got a clue how many have actually left or are in the process of leaving. 

[vinylscot]

again, Kath, you're only looking at it as a potential seller.

If (and I know it's still "if") buyers do like SD, and I can't really see why they wouldn't, buying activity will increase, and sellers will sell more. That will benefit those sellers who stayed, attract new sellers, tempt some old ones back, or all three.

Of course, my last paragraph stands. eBay has got to improve the implementation of this. We are well past the last deadline for all private sellers to be on SD, but in a browsing session last night, I would say it's around 50/50, if anything with more still on custom postage. This rollout needs to be completed, and then we need a period of calm.

[kebos2000]

I've been quite happily using ebay for many years but now they are really trying my patience. Firstly re-introducing fees masquerading as 'Buyer Protection' fees, then messing up the ability to choose your postage individually for items as you want it and now they've changed the selling page too which was fine before.

You think you've set up the selling details as you want them and then when you preview it AI has changed something, usually the postage!

I think their aim is to have the whole selling procedure controlled by AI. All we'll then have left to do is upload photos and they'll decide on everything else!

[baillin-0]

Hi Mike, I am a philatelist like yourself, I only sell stamps from my own collections and duplicates I have accumulated over the years.

 Sure like myself you post your sold lots only in envelopes and not boxes, how have you found it now having to use this new Special delivery and not 1st class postage stamps like before? Not tried it myself yet I came off eBay as soon as they introduced the changes. Looks like a real unnecessary pain to me!      

[jckl1957]

I am not happy with the changes, but I am able to accept them.

Managed payments have been around so long that new sellers don't know any different and long-term sellers were glad to see the back of a monthly Paypal bill (remember those?).  As a seller, I no longer have to pay fees and payment delays are manageable if not desirable,

Even with BPF - no cost to me - I am selling 2 or 3 things a week and so far, including sales made this weekend, I have not had to use SD to post.

[akemp1]

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@vinylscot wrote:

You're letting your existing prejudice get in the way of common sense thinking.

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No I'm not.

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Jut yourself in a potential buyer's shoes (which you claim to be).

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I am a buyer look at my feedback - 2.1k items sold yet 2823 feedback and as we all know feedback is around 50% of total transaction volumes so that would be around 5646 total transactions making me a net buyer - someone who buys nearly twice as often than sells. And by value I'm certainly a net buyer as I can assure you my credit card and bank statements show I spend more than I receive each month. As someone with a foot in both camps I feel reasonably well placed to comment.

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@vinylscot wrote:

OK, there's a BPF you didn't have to deal with before, so that's a pain, BUT this new Simple Delivery thing does actually make things simpler for buyers, AND saves a little on postage, often enough to totally offset the BPF.

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Few sellers reduced their prices when the buyer tax was introduced (I did) so there has been general price inflation. Even now when listing new things I wonder how many sellers still reduce their asking price because of the buyer tax. Most probably just list at what they think its worth like before causing items to be more expensive.

Delivery not simpler as I have no idea if I am getting RM or not anymore. I have a strong preference for RM as Evri are shocking (around here at least). I've lost count of the number of times I've had to drive home from work in my lunch break just to move an item that Evri have dumped on my doorstep with no attempt to find a safe place.

It doesn't save money on the things I buy as a lot of what I buy is Large Letter or Tracked 48 and I like to buy multiple items from the same seller if possible. When I browse ebay it now looks expensive to me as a buyer so I tend to buy elsewhere now I understand the value the other place offers.

It's not hypothetical or based on prejudice that's exactly how it happens so it can't be wrong.

Lots of sellers with Large Letter items are already using Simple Delivery (forced or by default) and I am seeing a lot of very high postage charges that cause me to keep looking for a better deal.

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@vinylscot wrote:

Many of the stories about the grass being greener elsewhere simply are not true, and have been concocted to strengthen arguments against eBay.  Yes, you might find individual items, or even small niches, work better elsewhere, but there is no one place which can provide anything near the exposure for sellers, and the variety for buyers. That is why few sellers will actually leave, and why most buyer will remain.

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I agree that there's nowhere else that has everything like ebay which was my point above that it's best to go multi-platform now and buy and sell at the places that make the most sense for the item. I pick the best place before listing. Some of my old ebay listings might do better elsewhere but I am in no hurry to move them as it's effort and I'm not looking to sell any faster just casually getting rid of things I don't want anymore. I move a few every so often to replenish the other place.

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@vinylscot wrote:

I genuinely think that, if eBay can iron out the issues with SD, that it may actually turn out to be very popular with buyers, and thus help sellers sell more in the long run. (They do need to vastly improve the quality of their implementation and communication, though.) 

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It depends how far they go with the changes. They could start by implementing a combined buyer tax and postage. Then they could stop withholding the carrier name. Then they could make all large letters exempt. Then they could drop the penalty rate on RM-only sellers.

Try buying a few things at the other place that leads on clothes to see how managed delivery can be done properly. Once you have experienced it then you might see how bad it is here more clearly. 

[vinylscot]

You make a few good points, which suit your particular case, but do not negate mine, which will suit other cases.

I can't accept your point about the V site's delivery. Although the price is nice, the delivery is painfully S-L-O-W. I have bought three items there in the last three weeks or so, as much for research purposes as anything. One took eight days after purchase to arrive. The other two are still outstanding after eight and six days respectively. 

I'm don't need next day delivery, but that's just not acceptable these days.

[tommystrezures]

Hello @baillin-0  My name is Cliff Jumper, I am a lemming, and whilst I am really annoyed at my parents for giving me this name, I can confirm we don't do it... The sea up here in the artic is too bloody cold!!!

[aphystykqa]

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@baillin-0 wrote:

Hi fellow Lemmings, Not sure, but is it the Lemmings that follow one another and run over cliffs?

All the years being an eBay user, I don't remember ever looking at any messages posted on here, don't remember needing to?

Was it always like it is now full of doom & gloom about eBay and what's going on, or is it since these changes?

Nobody's happy about them and most like myself are threatening leaving if they don't reverse what they have done.

Do you think anybody is listening or are they busy putting up new signs showing us where the cliffs are?

Hope I don't change my mind and stay then see you all at the bottom! 

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The answer to your First question - ' Are these new changes here to stay? ' 

I think the answer to that (in relation to the Buyer Protection Fee & Mandatory Simple Delivery) is sadly Yes !!

But, it won't stop people complaining about it (including myself) - and stating our many reasons why.

I do believe that Ebay 'Powers that be', and those who they employ shall read what is written on this Community Forum, and are likely to make a few Improvements, especially in relation to Mandatory Simple Delivery, as it's certainly not deemed Simple for everyone - as if it was so Simple and Attractive, then there wouldn't be such an Almighty Backlash about it. 

Not just on Here, but also on Reddit, Youtube, (and more)  & also Newspapers -
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/ebay-sellers-say-they-done-31334112

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/34280293/ebay-seller-fury-post-office-package-chaos/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/34167646/ebay-payment-change-fees-days-customers-boycott/

As for the Buyer Protection Fee idea of Ebay. Well, speaking for myself. It doesn't really bother me too much, as waiting longer for the money is not really such a problem. So, it's really from many buyers perspective where the concern lies, who are now stuck with having to pay 4% more for an item, which for 30 long years of Ebay's existence, they've never had to pay a single extra penny.

Of-course, that is not the case with customers who buy items from myself, as the moment in which Ebay gave all Private Sellers Zero Selling Fees, then I immediately deducted 12.9% on most of the items I was selling, so with buyers being Forced by Ebay to pay 4%, then really they still benefited to the tune of 8.9% discount on the prices I used to charge buyers. But of course, not every Private Ebay seller did this, and unless sellers like myself mentions this in every one of our listings, then they won't know - and simply assume that everything is 4% more expensive than it was before. But naturally, that issue Ebay has created shall off-put many buyers, as it's logical that 4% more expensive, has to be less attractive than 0% - as it always was previously. So, reduction in sales is naturally going to upset many Sellers also - which is why the complaints are not just onefold-complaints.

I been viewing this Community forum for a long period since I joined 22 years ago, but I don't post a lot, unless there is something I really feel I Need  to complain about, because it effects myself. But of-course, there are quite a few others, who post here excessively - whether any Ebay changes affect them or not, as forums can be quite addictive platforms for some lol, and then there is always that competition on who can achieve the most Likes to get up that 'Top of the Ebay Community Pops Chart'  😛 - https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/kudos/leaderboardpage/category-id/11900000091/timerange/all/tab/auth...

[akemp1]

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@vinylscot wrote:

I can't accept your point about the V site's delivery. Although the price is nice, the delivery is painfully S-L-O-W. I have bought three items there in the last three weeks or so, as much for research purposes as anything. One took eight days after purchase to arrive. The other two are still outstanding after eight and six days respectively. 

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The carriers are not going any slower just because it's that place. The sellers are more random in their dispatch time sometimes they dispatch same day and other times it might take them 3-4 days. It's similar to that other thread about how private sellers can be busy but overall against the items I have purchased there I would agree that ebay sellers tend to be more response on dispatch.

I think you have been 'V unlucky' to have had all 3 items take at least 6 days that's not been my experience.

The buyer tax is less of an issue there as it tends to be cheaper, combines and can be partially or fully offset with a bundle discount when buying multiple items depending on the seller's discount policy.