Out of the box ideas

[andha-21]

I've been reading about all their planned rollouts since it started. The Buyer Protection, delayed payments and Simple Delivery.

For "simplicity" I have started to call it all Simon.

It's fairly obvious that alot of sellers and buyers aren't that happy with it. 

Considering you already have a account tiering system in place wouldn't it just be simpler to offer a new tier.

The Simple Delivery part of Simon is an absolute deal killer for me. Even though the other parts are far from ideal I can work around/with them.

So maybe the other tier could be for Private Sellers that don't want Simon but aren't ready/prepared to move to a business account.

Give us a choice of the lesser of all evils.

[tressygirl]

Shame that eBay do not come to these boards,  and read any comments and ideas put forward by members.😐

@andha-21 

[andha-21]

I'm not so sure about that. There's a regular poster here that has a habit of either speaking with false authority, or is someone that has authority and forgets that they are trying to fit in.

Their slips are regular and accumulating.

[jasonsdad]

There are several to keep the 'balance' and push the company rhetoric.  Always have everything to hand to format the annoying private sellers.

[goodibags]

I've spotted them too. You only have to follow the forum for a week or so to notice the blatant misdirection and BS... 😁

[andha-21]

Just in case it wasn't obvious. I didn't create this thread for my out of the box ideas, I created it for anyone.

So if you have something and want to share, feel free.

The way things look like they are going right now, eBay may be close to being in trouble. Tipping points in these types of businesses aren't just based off amount of customers. The who the customer is is incredibly important too.

If Music Magpie or WorldofBooks decided to ever leave as examples, eBay lose a huge amount of market engagement, instantly. & it probably wouldn't help the sellers that are left either as we are kind of similar to remora. We mainly get seen when people come to look at the whale.

[goodibags]

My completely 'out of the box' idea is that Ebay start doing the opposite of what they are doing now:-

For example, NOT charging buyer fees to discourage users from buying on the site. Re-introducing fees for sellers makes far more sense.

NOT bringing in a compulsory postage 'solution' that means some sellers are unable to post their sold items (e.g. inappropriate courier chosen or no access to a printer)

NOT having low value items requiring costly and completely unnecessary tracked postage.

NOT bringing in excessive payment retention as some kid of 'buyer protection' gimmick when none is required.

And NOT scaremongering users from 'buying to sell' or selling things that they themselves have made but instead pointing out that there is very generous £1K UK tax allowance for anyone to do just that (bearing in mind compulsory reporting will catch those abusing the system).

And obviously NOT deliberately mis-selling upgrades to business accounts for those sellers who really don't need them.

Plus making the Ebay app accessible again, for the millions of people who use that. 😀

[tressygirl]

@goodibags   wrote:    and NOT having low value requiring tracked postage.

Well at least they've listened and granted that,  see here:

We’ve also heard your feedback and understand that shipping costs are particularly top of mind for low price items. When you’re selling a single item for £10 or less, and it’s sent untracked, funds will now be available 24 hours after you receive positive buyer feedback. This will be live by the end of February.

@goodibags 

[goodibags]

Live by the end of February. Dead again by the end of March, or once simple delivery is made compulsory?

[tressygirl]

Yep, Simple Delivery is the one I believe is gonna hit the most.  I'm not happy at having to forgo buying postage at my lovely village family run Post Office.  I understand they make very little when presented with items with pre paid labels.

If there's gonna be a choice for buyers to select the postal service they wish to use,  and  currently this is between Royal Mail and Evri,  whilst we have a superb Evri lady ,  reading the Evri horrors on these boards,  she sounds as rare as hen's teeth!  I wouldn't be happy to post with that Company.

However,  NO firm date has been announced for compulsory SD, so it's a wait and see. 🤔

@goodibags 

[goodibags]

Luckily, there are no firm dates for ANY of these proposed changes, most of which are evidently pretty ludicrous.

Which is why so many users are stuck in a perpetual  'wait and see' limbo.

[moldosgifts]

So maybe the other tier could be for Private Sellers that don't want Simon but aren't ready/prepared to move to a business account.

That wont work you either are or your not a business.

My simple idea one account for everyone paying the exact same per listing one simple rule only a business can have a shop. You prove with one with your sole trader UTR, your company incorporation number, ETC

As mum used to say KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID

[papso22]

Would every listing have to show contact details and accept returns?

There would still need to be a way to allow businesses to adhere to consumer law.

[goodibags]

" either are or your not a business"

But thinking out of the box, why not get rid of 'business' accounts...?

[moldosgifts]

No that is part of the shop, but everyone pays the same so no reason if your are a business to remain as one,

Shop fees should be free, the only reason you will need a shop is to organise yourself. But the name (shop) already indicates a business,

[andha-21]

No disrespect intended, but none of the "Simon" proposals are aimed at Business sellers, so having another tier that allows Private Sellers to opt out of it doesn't change anything in those regards.

In all probability it would simply be a completely new revenue stream, akin to YouTube without adverts.

I'm not answering for anyone else but if they came to me with an offer of pay "x" to avoid Simon Delivery, as long as the amount wasn't ridiculous I would consider it.

But looking at all the other problems that the update has caused I think we maybe witnessing the M.E.G.A. (Mega eBay Great Again) renaissance. Certainly seems to have alot of Trumpian similarities.

[papso22]

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@moldosgifts wrote:

No that is part of the shop, but everyone pays the same so no reason if your are a business to remain as one,

Shop fees should be free, the only reason you will need a shop is to organise yourself. But the name (shop) already indicates a business,

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Interesting, so take away the financial advantages (fees) of having a private account  and level the playing field while still allowing businesses to trade legally.

That would go a long way towards sorting out the competition problem, you would still end up with tax dodgers trying to keep their heads below the parapet by not having a shop but the reporting to HMRC should sort them out.

[jasonsdad]

we were discussing you earlier,  wondering if you didn't work weekends.

[moldosgifts]

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@andha-21 wrote:

No disrespect intended, but none of the "Simon" proposals are aimed at Business sellers, so having another tier that allows Private Sellers to opt out of it doesn't change anything in those regards.

In all probability it would simply be a completely new revenue stream, akin to YouTube without adverts.

I'm not answering for anyone else but if they came to me with an offer of pay "x" to avoid Simon Delivery, as long as the amount wasn't ridiculous I would consider it.

But looking at all the other problems that the update has caused I think we maybe witnessing the M.E.G.A. (Mega eBay Great Again) renaissance. Certainly seems to have alot of Trumpian similarities.

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None taken but you must understand the biggest argument on this board are businesses trading on the wrong account. My suggestion is to remove that see response 17 for an understanding of what i propose.

[andha-21]

In itself that isn't a bad idea but it's only 1 issue and whilst it may well be the "biggest argument" it isn't the only one. 

BPF, holding funds and Simple Delivery all raise legitimate concerns and problems for legitimate sellers, regardless to their account status/title and thereby doesn't resolve any of the new issues.