Is there a Seller's Union?

[kitten_slave]

It seems obvious that Ebay does not listen to or care about many of the problems that sellers experience. 

Is there an Ebay sellers' Union? 

If we collectively challenge them - with threats to pull listings - they might listen. 

[infohelps]

Thanks Lucy.  Just as I thought!!  

[jonatjonatjonat]

I think that the only protection that buyers are interested in is wanting their money back if the item is defective or not received

That maybe as true. However, its not what the Buyer Protection Fee is stated to cover. Which is stated here. I'd also ignore anything the front line phone support tell you. They are known to be wrong and just because they told you that the buyer protection was a charge for something that was free, doesn't mean its true.

So the Buyer Protection Fee includes

• 24/7 customer service: Get support around the clock if you need help.
• Private sellers paid after delivery: When you purchase from a private seller, payment is sent after the order has been successfully delivered.
• Secure transactions: All payments are encrypted end-to-end and handled by our trusted payments partners.

As you can see - none of those are the MBG. Which is separate. All of the things in the buyer protection fee can semantically be stated to be related to buyer protection.

The main thing though - secure transactions. Yes, buyers used to get this for free. But it wasn't free. sellers had to pay for it through the FVF. A secure transaction service has to be paid for, and continue to be paid for. You need to pay for increased protection from attacks from bots and bad actors, you need to pay staff to do this work.

So simply put, buyers don't get any extra benefits from the buyer protection fee vs what was there when there wasn't a buyer protection fee - its just ebay feel that buyers should now pay it, not sellers.

[lucy_farmer]

'.......its just ebay feel that buyers should now pay it, not sellers.'

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Ebay feel buyers should pay it?  

Bahahaha..... ebay don't feel anything.

Ebay know *somebody* has to pay it. And now they've dumped sellers fees (so they can say 'free to sell'!!-just like Vi nted!) they're dumping the fees on the buyer.

(yeah yeah, I know... the buyer always *has* paid for everything in the end. But it's a lot like 'free' [inclusive] postage ; it works psychologically. Telling  buyers they're paying something extra -instead of concealing it- has the opposite effect)

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

"If we collectively challenge them - with threats to pull listings - they might listen.".

No chance at all,they have a much bigger plan which will unfold in time....

[susapric-68]

Well here is your chance to get control over your postage, all you have to do is make your account a business account and you will get the listing and FVF you don't mind paying plus you don't have to wait for payment and also avoid SD. You don't have to be a business to have a business account, you can have one just to avoid the wait and SD. Glad to have helped

[papso22]

There are significant ramifications to selling on a business account when you are not actually a business.

[britanniabug_stamp_store]

You assume incorrectly, I did NOT write "business sellers are second class citizens" I wrote eBay views "private sellers as second class citizens". And by the way, private sellers have also funded eBay and are now being asked to fund eBay even more with rip off SD and BPF charges. Why do business sellers feel superior to private sellers?

[britanniabug_stamp_store]

Thanks for that. I have today sent a report to the CMA (Competition and Marketing Authority).

Would be great if others will do the same. Let's see where this takes us as eBay are not or will not listen to our concerns.

[britanniabug_stamp_store]

Thank you for contacting the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Your enquiry number is CMAE2500125.

[susapric-68]

I didn't write that either, I wrote "unless you think business sellers are "second class citizens"" At least make sure you quote correctly. As for funding the site lets look at that, Zero listing fees = £0.00, Zero FVF = £0.00. Hmm that's £0.00 oh and you don't pay BPF, the buyer pays that. Lets hope eBay makes no one  "second class citizens"  and gets rid of the free listings and FVF for everyone, I mean that would be the only solution to your complaints to the CMA. How is it fair competition if we are not on a level playing field

[susapric-68]

I would like to thank you and all others putting in a compliant and encourage more. this is from their website, "We help people, businesses and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour" As a business the free listing and FVF private sellers get is "unfair behaviour". The more complaints the better chance free listing and FVF will be removed. I get the feeling this is another expert social media attack without really know anything about the CMA and what they do