Title: eBay Is an Absolute Embarrassment — Run by Greedy, Out-of-Touch Dinosaurs

[jlamboclo-57]

eBay is hands down the worst selling platform on the internet today. It’s a bloated, broken system run by corporate parasites who haven’t evolved in over a decade. They don’t give a single damn about sellers — especially resellers — the very people who built this platform from the ground up.

Let’s be real: their metrics system is a joke. Outdated, irrelevant, and punishes sellers for things they have zero control over. A buyer doesn’t pay? Your fault. Delivery delay caused by the courier? Your fault. You could be running a perfect store, but one wrong move and they’ll tank your performance. It’s pathetic.

The new delivery posting interface is straight trash. Confusing, inefficient, and clearly made by people who have never sold a single thing in their lives. It’s like they went out of their way to make it worse.

And then there’s the Promoted Listings scam. You’re basically forced to pay eBay to get seen — but joke’s on us, because even when you do, it barely works. You hand over more of your profit for less visibility. No keyword control, no targeting, no insight. Just a black hole that eats your money and gives you nothing back. It’s daylight robbery.

eBay isn’t a marketplace anymore — it’s a greedy, bloodsucking machine. They want maximum profit with minimum effort. Seller support is non-existent. Feedback systems are broken. Their customer service is scripted nonsense. And the people running it? Useless. If I were a shareholder, I’d fire every single exec, bulldoze the boardroom, and start over.

They’ve forgotten one basic truth: without sellers, eBay is nothing. But like every other soulless corporation, they’ve traded community for cash grabs. And now they’re bleeding users and still too arrogant to care.

If you're thinking of selling on eBay — don't waste your time. There are better platforms out there that don’t treat you like trash while rinsing your pockets.

eBay is finished. And they did it to themselves.

[papso22]

And yet you still have items listed for sale.

Do you have a question?  This is a board where experienced members provide help to others with ebay problems.

[jlamboclo-57]

Did I hit a nerve? Seems like I touched a soft spot — both for you and for eBay.

Yes, I still have items listed, and I’ll keep using the platform while it still has traffic, just like millions of other sellers stuck in the same broken system. Doesn’t mean I’ll stay silent about how trash it’s become. That’s called being realistic, not hypocritical. It’s no different than complaining about high fuel prices while still needing to drive to work.

You asked for facts? Let’s talk numbers:

12%–15% fees minimum, not including PayPal’s cut (when used), plus promoted listing fees on top. That's over 20% of the sale gone before even thinking about postage or profit.

Forced returns and buyer scams cost small sellers thousands annually — and eBay always sides with the buyer.

Promoted listings “advanced” is pay-per-click, with zero keyword control. You pay every time someone clicks, not when it sells. That’s money down the drain if they bounce.

Seller protections? Practically non-existent. A buyer can damage an item and still get a full refund, and you're lucky to even speak to a human being when it happens.

The new listing interface is getting universally slammed — just read the forums. Clunky, slow, counterintuitive.

I'm not here asking for help — I'm giving a wake-up call. The truth is, sellers are sick and tired of being treated like trash while eBay chases corporate profits and ignores the very people who keep the platform alive.

This wasn't a cry for advice. It was an open invitation to admit the platform is dying, and people like you defending it are part of the reason it's rotting from the inside out.

So if my post rubbed you the wrong way? Good. Maybe that means it finally said what others were too polite to voice.

[papso22]

I think it's you that has got rubbed up the wrong way.

Where did I ask for facts?  

[jlamboclo-57]

Hey Papso22,

Where's my answers to the questions I asked in my 1st post...??!!! 

Or are you just hoping I'll go away not a chance... This is embarrassing for people who are meant to be experienced mentors for eBay or pass this conversation to someone who can provide actual information or even better show this to the directors.... Or the share holders... 

[simplybygone]

I agree eBay has lost its way currently. 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

well technically it is a discussion forum!

[papso22]

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@kath3735_wxmjn wrote:

well technically it is a discussion forum!

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I know, I had a funny moment thinking it was the M2M,  but the OP still thinks there are questions in the opening post that others can answer, I don't think there are.

[superchallenge]

You...you realise that people get the "Experienced Mentor" badge just for posting a certain amount of posts, right? As in, they don't actually work for eBay.

Also, you didn't ask any questions in your first post. You just ranted like an unhinged madman about how you don't like eBay and how nobody should sell here because the company is finished...whilst still selling here yourself.

[1956glyn]

Sorry but you do not appear to understand.    Mentors do NOT work for Ebay.  They are mainly just very experienced members who know a lot about Ebays ways in depth and use their own free time to try and help others.   Others do this but just do not have the title.  No one gets paid for answering on this board either.

IF you want to rant try doing it on the weekly community chat thread between 2 and 3 p.m. on a Wednesday.   There actual employees of Ebay do answer some questions.    Ebay employees have a big blue box around their replies.

[1956glyn]

I agree i though they were just giving their personal opinion .........paragraphs would be nice too 🙂

[crn303]

In response to “super challenge” reply to “jlamboclo-57” posting ….. this community board is surely not just for questions.

It is also suitable for discussion and opinion.

I don’t see if it is of anyone’s business whether a seller has delisted their items or left them on for the time being, hopeful of eBay amending some of their ridiculous and absurd changes.

Dont take your frustrations on each other.  eBay is the enemy.

[bosley2016]

Unfortunately for the OP, they lost all credibility with their passionate rant, with just two words mentioned in the opening paragraph. (Some eBay users are NOT affected by the changes)

[1956glyn]

Constructive discussion and debates yes.........but manic rants no as they get nowhere 😞  Those members that do that constantly often "go missing " from the boards due to disruption etc

[superchallenge]

eBay isn't my enemy. I'm not saying they're perfect by any means (they're downright awful at times - especially right now) but without eBay, I wouldn't have a business. Neither would a lot of people on these boards.

And sure, the board is for discussion. This isn't discussion. This is somebody rolling in to rant and rave, whilst not taking their own advice, and then getting snappy because somebody dares to respond.

[ett1954]

"They don’t give a single damn about sellers — especially resellers" - Resellers by definition are a business, so as a private seller this shouldn't impact you to the same degree as business sellers on here.  After all you are not seeking a "profit" but to recoup a few quid from your second hand items.

Rather than coming to the boards with an ill-thought-out diatribe your time could have been better spent researching and presenting your items better.  Your reliance on AI for the descriptions does you no favours with inaccurate and overblown descriptions and 20th century sales waffle rather than helpful measurements.

For example: your "Very Rare Elizabeth II 2000 50p Public Libraries", a coin with a £4,586.72 opening bid price.  Very rare? - 11,263,000 were struck for circulation.  The value of the chipped and marked specimen you have for sale is exactly ..... 50p.  Even an original uncirculated example in the it original presentation pack purchased for £4.95 is now worth £7 at best.  Many people realise the true value of such an item and it shows you in bad light as a 'chancer'; which will not help your image as a seller.

If you are using promotions on low value items, especially in the second-hand clothes category the money on promotions would be better spent on reducing your price to be more competitive.  Promotions are a tool best used by businesses who have multiple items in 'stock'.

Your lack of sales and visibility will be mainly due to the negative feedback you received.  It is not wise to have the same item for sale on two platforms at the same time; and is in fact against eBay's policies - you cannot blame eBay's metrics for this.  This resulted in an upset buyer who certainly let his feelings be known - the good news is that this should drop off your metrics soon, which should then restore some visibility.

Good luck in whatever you do and wherever you go.

[*vyolla*]

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@superchallenge wrote:

You...you realise that people get the "Experienced Mentor" badge just for posting a certain amount of posts, right?

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Nothing to do with the amount of posts, else all of the eBay conspiracy theorists would also be mentors 😀. eBay select mentors.

[superchallenge]

Well, fair enough. Either way, they don't work for eBay 😄

[eastern_standard_time]

"eBay is finished."

For private sellers, yes it is. Private sellers, however, are not important to eBay's business model.

If you think eBay is going to simply shrivel up and die because of the changes wrought over the last few months, then you are sadly deluded.