eBay Rant

So, in May eBay decided it was best not to allow SELLERS to leave negative feedback on BUYERS and now, ever since, paying for auctions has become optional since there are no ramifications for never paying. I have five auctions, four won't pay or return emails - now I have to re-list the items (which you can only do one time for free, then you pay again). It's like CraigsList with a much better interface! Arghhh! I used to love eBay and CL because it meant I didn't have to throw stuff away (I give stuff away for free on CL all the time) - which is such a waste, now it's all just a massive waste of time, might as well fill up the landfills.

Rant over :).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ranger

So, in May eBay decided it was best not to allow SELLERS to leave negative feedback on BUYERS and now, ever since, paying for auctions has become optional since there are no ramifications for never paying. I have five auctions, four won't pay or return emails - now I have to re-list the items (which you can only do one time for free, then you pay again). It's like CraigsList with a much better interface! Arghhh! I used to love eBay and CL because it meant I didn't have to throw stuff away (I give stuff away for free on CL all the time) - which is such a waste, now it's all just a massive waste of time, might as well fill up the landfills.

Rant over :).

---

I have now been inspired with even more confidence to use eBay for the first time in about 5 years.... [/sarcasm]
CL is a great place to get some stuff you usually can't find otherwise, but scams abound and I am always prepared to have someone try and screw me over with some seemingly legit deal.

Paypal has done one better. They decided that they would hold my funds when buyers pay for my stuff until the deal clears. The reason is that my record wasn't perfect. My feedback is 100% positive but in the seller ratings a couple of people thought I charged too much. I'm a small seller so I can't get the deals. I also pack the heck out of stuff so it will arrive in great shape. I generally lose money on shipping and now I'm bad because of it.

I might sell more stuff there but I'm waiting awhile. I'm also mixed about the no negative feedback part. It resulted in people not leaving feedback to avoid retaliation but this has gone too far.

Steve

EBay and Paypal are evil.

I stopped using eBay years ago...still use Paypal, if only because it's a staple for online trade nowadays...

I have never liked Ebay but have had to use it lately. Some stuff just can't be found locally. What is the point of these changes? Sounds like a shot in the foot.

I'm the same way, I buy a lot of eBay because A) you can find good used stuff there and B) find stuff that you just cannot find elsewhere.

The % fees to use both of these services is asinine! I am truly thankful for the CO AR-15 website!

My wife gave up on eBay about the same time they changed their feedback policy. Until eBay figures out a way to get payment info prior to bidding there's no point in wasting time with them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glock Shooter

Until eBay figures out a way to get payment info prior to bidding there's no point in wasting time with them.

---

I hadn't though of that, but an escrow would be good. I know when I contract programming work out (usually small jobs via a couple web sites I go to) I have to put money in escrow before anyone does work to ensure they get paid. The escrow is not released until all parties are happy.

Perhaps this would be a good idea for a whole NEW auction site. Perhaps we could all go in and build our own, that includes selling firearm related items (maybe even firearms).

I like eBay, I've found a lot of good stuff there. But I won't use PayPal, see no reason to. IMO, the transaction is between the buyer and the seller, there's no damn reason to involve a third party to "handle the funds", that's just bullshit. To me that's like buying something from one of you guys in a WalMart parking lot, but giving my money to some stranger walking by to count it and hand it over to you, and then paying him a percentage to do so. That's fucked up.

I'll always contact the seller first to see if he'll take a USPS money order, and most will. If not, then he won't be selling it to me. Several times I've found sellers that have lots of stuff and a storefront business, I just contact them and deal with them directly, cutting eBay right out of the picture.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ranger

So, in May eBay decided it was best not to allow SELLERS to leave negative feedback on BUYERS and now, ever since, paying for auctions has become optional since there are no ramifications for never paying. I have five auctions, four won't pay or return emails - now I have to re-list the items (which you can only do one time for free, then you pay again). It's like CraigsList with a much better interface! Arghhh! I used to love eBay and CL because it meant I didn't have to throw stuff away (I give stuff away for free on CL all the time) - which is such a waste, now it's all just a massive waste of time, might as well fill up the landfills.

Rant over :).

---

IT is starting to piss me off too.
Too many non-paying bidders on eBay.

http://i52.tinypic.com/2zxwppk.jpg

I guess I have been very fortunate. I buy more than I sell and watch out who I buy from (lots of good feedback). Very little problems.

I haven't had a major issue yet- I have 500+ pos feedback. But I can see it coming and don't trust ebay as I once did. I use it very sparingly now.

It is total waste of time if buyer does not pay ("non-paying bidder" ).
4days to wait for fund. 4days for resolution to hit. Total of 8days that I am stuck with the item, AND trying to get my final-value-fee from eBay too.



I might start selling under "BUY IT NOW, Immediate payment required" setting.

I wondered what would happen down the road with no negative feedback on ebay for sellers. Now as a seller, cant you report a non-payer, and they suffer consequences as a result? Im glad on one hand that sellers are blocked from neg feedback. The reason is, and Im sure this was Ebays rationale, some sellers were bullying buyers, with the threat of negative feedback if a buyer complained to ebay about an auction that went bad, or if positive feedback wasnt left. I had a seller take almost 2 weeks to ship something to me. They sent me an email, telling me if I push the issue, they would leave negative feedback, and it would harm me more then one negative against them. I forwarded it to Ebay of course, and who knows what happened with them. It was a tool that was being abused by some bad apples, and now all sellers suffer. They should allow sellers to blackflag nonpayers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by streetglideok

I wondered what would happen down the road with no negative feedback on ebay for sellers. Now as a seller, cant you report a non-payer, and they suffer consequences as a result? Im glad on one hand that sellers are blocked from neg feedback. The reason is, and Im sure this was Ebays rationale, some sellers were bullying buyers, with the threat of negative feedback if a buyer complained to ebay about an auction that went bad, or if positive feedback wasnt left. I had a seller take almost 2 weeks to ship something to me. They sent me an email, telling me if I push the issue, they would leave negative feedback, and it would harm me more then one negative against them. I forwarded it to Ebay of course, and who knows what happened with them. It was a tool that was being abused by some bad apples, and now all sellers suffer. They should allow sellers to blackflag nonpayers.

---

I recieved my only negative feedback on ebay before that rule changed because I left a positive feedback for the seller but stated the item was not in the condition described. (should have asked for my money back but it wasnt worth it) The seller then proceeded to leave me a negative feedback stating "horrible whining bidder, do not deal with".

The only things I sell on ebay now are things that I know I can't sell locally because the ebay and paypal fees are ridiculous.

Even local sales, I list them on eBay.
Tired of cragslist welchers + scammers + spammers.

If it is "buy it now" on eBay, usually local buyers are nice enough not to click on it.
Arrange a meeting time, and buy it with cash.

I guess it's a trade off, I'll get more money on an auction than if I do buy now, but less likely to get paid :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hoser

EBay and Paypal are evil.

---

/thread

I mean duh.
ebay blows for sellers
and they keep raising their fees.

ridiculous.

F' Em. stop giving them your money.