What is Digg?423 Comments
- medalian1, on 02/20/2008, -39/+170That's when I'm going to list all of my stuff on eBay! (cause everyone else will not be selling during that time, muahahaha)
- lerker, on 02/20/2008, -4/+83Much of the argument seems to relate to eBay removing the ability of sellers to leave negative feedback; the rationale being that some sellers withhold feedback to coerce the buyer into leaving positive feedback. As an alternative solution, couldn't eBay make feedback "blind"? Under this mechanism, at the end of the transaction, the buyer and seller leave feedback for each other but neither gets published until both are locked in. Wouldn't that encourage honest feedback?
- Zoshchenko, on 02/20/2008, -10/+71Once eBay started shifting away from being a wonderfully fun garage sale in which individuals sold to other individuals and became a business-to-consumer portal, it started its present downward spiral. It's a horrible place to buy and sell goods any more and you can pretty much expect to get scammed. With feedback going away, it's going to be stupid to actually buy something on eBay. It's done.
- joshuatree7, on 02/20/2008, -7/+63This is the best article I've seen so far, explains the key points of the policy changes which Ebayers are disgusted with, and provides some links for further reading. If you are hungry for more, just hit a search engine with 'Ebay Boycott' or 'Ebay Sellers Strike' and there are plenty of links. Also search the Ebay forums for, 'Sign The Pledge' - there have been over 14,000 messages posted to the thread, and on every forum page Sellers are stating they have cancelled their listings, closed their Ebay shops & won't be buying items either...the boycott lasts 18th - 25th Feb 2008. If you are a buyer and think higher selling fees don't matter to you, think again, Ebay sellers have to raise their own prices in response, we don't want to be forced to do this...
- deviouskoopa, on 02/20/2008, -6/+52I think this still applies today, but I stopped visiting/buying off eBay last year after reading about users getting randomly banned with no appeal, PayPal scam stories, and *****/no customer service. I don't speak for everyone, but I had to boycott a site that seems so unsafe and doesn't seem to give a ***** about their customers.
http://www.paypalsucks.com/ - davidrools, on 02/20/2008, -10/+52scab
- manova, on 02/20/2008, -3/+41I hope ebay drives away some of the professional sellers with their $15 set shipping price to cover $5 in postage. I miss the old garage sale days of ebay.
- TiMMY8765, on 02/20/2008, -7/+42*****, now it's going to cost more to buy used thongs!
- WordsnCollision, on 02/20/2008, -2/+35When it comes to choosing who to please, Wall Street always comes first. Ebay has shareholder expectations to meet, after all. I'm a forner eBay seller, btw, i got out when things started going downhill for sellers and i see it's just gotten worse. And will GET worse.
- keraneuology, on 02/20/2008, -2/+32I don't buy off of eBay very often, but one of the most recent purchases never arrived. I sent three messages to the seller without response. I opened a dispute which I won and the seller gave me a negative review saying that it was my fault I didn't receive my book and that I was out of luck. I, for one, am glad he (and others like him) can't do that anymore. Now, if eBay set it up so that a seller could leave a negative feedback if the buyer loses the dispute... or even allow people to see how many disputes one filed vs how many were won/lost that would be fair.
- SiliconRain, on 02/20/2008, -6/+31I think you're spot on, Charles. Lots of EBay sellers have been taking the piss in recent years with selling poorly described cheap, half-broken crap but knowing they're almost certainly immune from negative feedback because they have the power of retaliation. Just consider the fact that you rarely see a seller with below 99.7% positive feedback - and lower than that and you get suspicious. What the ***** is that about? When everyone is over 99% positive, you know your feedback system is broken.
Buyers always deserve more protection - finally EBay is recognizing this. - winmywii, on 02/20/2008, -1/+26You got it all wrong. It goes like this: "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
- rlbond86, on 02/20/2008, -8/+31as an ebay buyer, it's about time they got rid of the sellers' ability to blackmail me into leaving positive feedback
- esconsult1, on 02/20/2008, -0/+23The retaliatory feedback on ebay was really getting annoying. I sell and buy on ebay and twice sellers screwed me.
In once instance, I bought a $1000 item. It arrived totally damaged (not in shipping) and I tried to get recourse from the seller. After having tried for a couple weeks with no satisfaction, I had no choice but to leave negative feedback. Seller left me negative feedback too and called me a "horrible buyer". This after paying him $1000 for the item on the same day the auction ended. Up to now (3 years later) no refund, and damaged item I could not use.
In the other case, my wife bought an item, and the seller did not ship. Nothing, nada, zilch, not even an email reply after numerous attempts to contact in over 2 weeks. We asked Paypal to refund money and they did. No one could reach the seller, not even Paypal. We left negative feedback. Seller called us a "rude customer" in retaliatory feedback.
So in the two times I have negative feedback, it was just sellers cheating me -- then kicked me in the balls when I complained. Even though I sell, this move by ebay could not have come at a better time. - mishadmiller, on 02/20/2008, -15/+37*****, now it's going to cost more to sell my used thongs!
- fatlip, on 02/20/2008, -3/+25they dont have dayjobs
- gypsi, on 02/20/2008, -3/+23these professional ebay sellers turned ebay into just another retailer/wholesaler consortium and absolutely killed the fun and usability of ebay.
- sleepwalkers, on 02/20/2008, -0/+19Anyone wonder why it's only a week-long boycott?
- inactive, on 02/20/2008, -1/+18I think this is a good move only because some ***** left me neutral feedback after I paid immediately and he took a month to ship the item. It's ***** like that that need to get booted from ebay in general. Retaliatory feedback is annoying.
- an0nym0uz, on 02/20/2008, -0/+15you won't make any money anyways cause ebays fees are so ***** high now
- AriaStar, on 02/20/2008, -2/+17I've had to sue PayPal. They froze my account in it with the money I needed to move. PayPal wanted to verify my identity, and I sent them every piece of ID I had, down to a copy of my social security card and even my business license. But they still said my identity couldn't be verified. I needed that money desperately. I'd given my notice to my landlord and he'd already found new tenants. So I had to sue.
Long story short, I was forced to move into my freezing office for a couple months during winter, without a shower (bathing is hard without a shower or bath) until I made the money for another place while i had a lawsuit pending. PayPal didn't show in court, judge ordered the money released to me, and PayPal banned me from a future account.
But, as I sell online and buyers demand online paying, I am stuck with my tenth or so PayPal account at this point (see the first-tier comment below this to see why I just had to make yet another account). - gypsi, on 02/20/2008, -2/+17when professional sellers took over ebay, feedback became an absolute bullcrap cat-and-mouse game.
- allisonaxe, on 02/20/2008, -1/+16I stopped buying on ebay a few years ago because i got burned on a purchase of a dreamcast game: it took a month for the seller to send the item, and when they did, they sent the wrong product (a yearly-increment football game from two years prior) not only that, but said item was scratched to hell. it looked as if someone had taken it out to the parking lot and rubbed the disc across the asphalt.) when I complained, they refused to refund, and no longer had the item in question (they offered an exchange for something else if I'd pay to ship the disc back, and pay them to ship the next item back to me...) i refused, and left a very negative review, only to be met with a (false) negative review back at me. ebay never corrected the issue themselves, instead insisted that I 'work it out on my own.'
the fact that they're getting rid of the ability for sellers to give feedback may actually lead me to give it a second look, though. when it goes for the really old games and other things that I like to collect, there's not many other places to look that don't jack the prices up. - CharlesSaint, on 02/20/2008, -2/+16Free market rules state that as ebay's demand goes down, its substitutes demand goes up and/or a new business fills the void. Hopefully this will only increase competition for ebay.
- RevJonathan, on 02/20/2008, -1/+15eBay is in serious need of competition. I used to run a small business on eBay and it was great. Now, I would never consider buying or selling on ebay unless I had to.
Google needs to do something. If they made an auction site... I'd get right back in it. - MrFancy, on 02/20/2008, -2/+16Was ebay meant to support businesses? It seems that those who buy/sell for a living are hit the hardest.
- aladrin, on 02/20/2008, -1/+14"With feedback going away, it's going to be stupid to actually buy something on eBay."
I think you have that backwards. It may be stupid to sell something, but this will allow buyers to have more confidence in the sellers. Buying will be safer than ever... It's selling that won't be as safe. - rlbond86, on 02/20/2008, -0/+12Did you put a tracking number on your $300 shipment? Did you submit that to paypal as evidence?
If you didn't, you're just asking for trouble. - AriaStar, on 02/20/2008, -15/+27eBay has nailed the final nail into its coffin. This works in the favor of buyers, but that means nothing, NOTHING, if people won't sell there anymore. I'll still buy, but I'm reconsidering listing anything anymore.
I've been on eBay since 1998 when I was 17, and have watched eBay change and evolve over the years. I've been ripped off, both as a buyer AND as a SELLER, most recently in December when a buyer acknowledged via eBay getting his item, but filing a PayPal dispute anyway, and they found in his favor. If I leave a negative for him now, he'll do the same in retaliation. Starting after midnight, I couldn't leave it, even if I wanted to, and yet know full well that he'll probably leave negative for me knowing I can't leave it for him (as he deserves) in return. The most I've been ripped off as a seller is for almost $900.
eBay has just made it easier and taken away all protection sellers have. With no sellers, there will be no point to eBay.
R.I.P, eBay, and good riddance. - digudown, on 02/20/2008, -6/+17Its a great move by ebay. I stopped buying on ebay after getting retaliatory negative feedback from sellers twice. Now I am willing to give it another try.
- NichowA, on 02/20/2008, -0/+11Ship certified. Sellers already charge outrageous prices for shipping anyway, actually use some of it to cover your ass by getting a signature on delivery. As to refunds, put a clear policy in your auction and stick to it. Require the buyer to ship the item back to get any refund, but don't be a douche about accepting returns (repeat business is entirely possible, but being a dick about a return will eliminate any chance of it).
- ifknot, on 02/20/2008, -0/+11pro sellers have wrecked ebay and its main business model is now broken, ebay are trying to patch the problem but it is too late. sure, ebay is big and its momentum will carry it on for a while but alternative sites can start to see the light now. ebay's monopoly will start to crumble and so will its share price and if that happens in a bear market (imminent) dotcom anxiety could crash the price & share holders could pull the rug from under ebay regardless of how many people use it.
- vuke69, on 02/20/2008, -8/+19How do you think I feel? The used tampon market isn't exactly what it used to be.
- insomniac8400, on 02/20/2008, -0/+11I am sorry but letting sellers threaten you with negative feedback hoping you will do a mutual retraction has to go. It's not right that someone selling a 1gb mp3 player as an 8gb one can hide that fact by refunding the money to those that find out and request a mutual withdraw of feedback.
- Kokichi, on 02/20/2008, -1/+11Personally, I'm more willing to side with the buyers than the sellers. It's much more important for a seller's rating to be more accurate than it is a buyer's, and it's much more important to accurately be able to rate a seller than it is a buyer. If you're an honest seller, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If you're dishonest, you do. Just make sure you don't buy from the ones that are boycotting - those are the ones that would rather have the "don't give me negative feedback else I'll neg feedback you" policy still in effect.
- counterplex, on 02/20/2008, -1/+11I don't use ebay often but by removing sellers ability to leave negative feedback they're bringing ebay sellers on the same footing as e.g. any B&M seller. Any customer has the ability to report a B&M seller to BBB or the equivalent without fear of the reverse. A seller leaving negative feedback about a buyer seems much like a criminal saying that his target wasn't much of a mark anyway.
- brufleth, on 02/20/2008, -0/+10Ebay has been all but ruined by scams of one sort or another. Maybe it is still good for collectibles or the like but the vast majority of stuff seems to be retail stores that post things at super low prices and then beat the difference out of you with fees, shipping, and selling you stuff that should be included. See: All photo equipment on ebay.
At first sites like Craigslist freaked me out a little because you often actually meet the buyer or seller. After several sales though I think that for most crap it is far better. You meet in person. Exchange cold hard cash. Never hear from each other again. End of story. No third or fourth parties getting involved or freezing transactions. No sketchy shipping charges or delayed shipping. It certainly isn't a replacement since I doubt anyone in your immediate area is going to have some random ass collectible but for stuff like bikes, tables, desks, couches, and other basic stuff it is pretty handy. - VeganG, on 02/20/2008, -3/+13It's strange how Yahoo Auctions never caught on here. In other countries, ebay has no presence, and it's all about Yahoo Auctions. People act like there's no alternative to ebay, but there is.
(Not that I've ever even been to Yahoo Auctions. Go figure) - wbeavis, on 02/20/2008, -0/+9Excuse me, that's "Certified Pre-Owned" tampons.
- GhostyBoy, on 02/20/2008, -5/+14They are partnered with paypal, which is one of the least trustworthy money changers on the net. I've worked in the financial sector and this isn't slander, it's friendly advice. Ditch paypal, unless your a fraudster looking for easy money.
Paypalsucks.com - zomgz, on 02/20/2008, -3/+12start listin good alternatives folks.. you think most will stop selling if they dont have good alternatives? ;/
- VeganG, on 02/20/2008, -1/+10Agreed. You can barely even call it an auction house anymore. Everything is Buy It Now; to me, that's retail.
- Zain123, on 02/20/2008, -0/+9Yahoo Auctions closed down for U.S. customers in 2007.
- banmaster, on 02/20/2008, -0/+9No! Its the scamming sellers that hold the buyer's feedback rating hostage unless they receive good feedback (even for failed transactions) that have ruined ebay!
- gypsi, on 02/20/2008, -1/+9in the old days - i got feedback after payment was received. eventually getting feedback from sellers was like pulling teeth
- banmaster, on 02/20/2008, -2/+10Well then please tell me how on earth my feedback should be held hostage when my entire responsibility in any transaction (paying for the item) has been fulfilled!
Why the ***** shouldn't sellers be made to leave feedback as soon as payment is received!? My part of the deal is FINISHED, and yet they hold my positive feedback hostage till I leave good feedback for them, even if the item doesn't turn up, is damaged or not as listed! How the ***** is that fair? - meghalc, on 02/20/2008, -6/+14I got out when i had to pay $2.00 for BUYIT NOW auction with reserve plus Getting money deducted from Paypal transfers...
Being greedy will kill ebay. - gypsi, on 02/20/2008, -9/+17how the hell do you get scammed by buyers? the worst that can happen is that they don't pay. there are cleary numerous ways that sellers screw buyers.
- JasonZX12R, on 02/20/2008, -2/+10I'm happy for this change. I cant tell you how many times Ive paid immedialy for a product and Ive gotten a wrong product or something that doesnt work and gave good feedback to avoid receiving bad feedback. Its just not worth 10-100$ to get a point of bad feedback, and then the next person who buys from them goes through the same mess, and the seller has 99-100% feedback. I say put the power in the hands of the buyers so you can actually see who the bad sellers are, and its not like they cant give bad feedback they just need a reason too now. I also like the new anonymous detailed feedback. I am always extremely fair and usually give a 4 or a 5 but when something is bad I can atleast reflect it there.
- halleyscomet, on 02/20/2008, -0/+8You must be really bad at identifying dodgy auctions. I've bout a lot of items on Ebay and never had ANY problems. What have you been trying to buy anyway???
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