I think ebay won`t stop!

[ines248]

Yeah ebay it`s a wonderfull place to sell stuff, but why do they have to continue raising their fees? Enough its Enough! Please give the people a break! I have joined the people to protest because ebay seems to never think about stopping to raise the fees , and raise it again. So I won`t be selling on February 18th 2005. I already joined the millions of people that have signed the petition to Protest to the Ebay Fee Structure Increase.Maybe the people here wants to be informed of what is happening. If you are interested, maybe you should start looing for the petition form. I dont know if I am allowed to put the petiton form link here, but I can paste the text for the petition if someone wants to read it.
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To: ebay
Ebay sellers are very concerned about the recent fee increase. Of course as ebay grows, it is understandable that the fee structure will increase. But sellers are questioning the amount of increase, mainly the gallery fee (from 0.25 to 0.35) and the final value fee (from 5.25% to 8%).

Many sellers are making little profit as is. Ebay is clearly discouraging the smaller sellers, however don't all sellers have to start out somehow? Sellers are saying that they will have to close their ebay store due to the subscription increase, or increase their prices to offset the fees. Many people want to leave ebay entirely.

The long term of the increase of the fee structure are:
a) Smaller sellers will stop selling on ebay and try to sell somewhere else online. They will never have the chance to expand themselves on ebay.

b) Larger sellers may consider starting their own online store or sell elsewhere

c) Prices of auctions will increase. Buyers will turn back to retail stores. The idea of ebay is that you can find things cheaper there, even when adding shipping and handling together.

d) Discourage new sellers, decreasing competition (which is what the ebay market thrives on for pricing).

Several ebayers have stated that they want to boycott. However I have started this petition to show ebay the concern we have for the new increase in the fee structure.

We protest that ebay should reconsider the fee increase entirely, but if not possible, please do think about not increasing the fees as much (some fees have double...or even tripled!).

I understand that even an increase in listing fees is understandable, but the substantial increase at the same time in the final value is absolutely absurd. Please listen to the ebay sellers, we are the backbone of ebay.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

 

[DianeV]

FYI: The final fee increase is only for Ebay Stores not the regular auctions although I do still think their increases stink..they also doubled the fee to run a 10 day auction

 

[Topper]

Personally, I think Ebay is still a great deal as they give you an international audience to sell your products to. If you don't like the fees, you can always have a garage sale.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Personally, I think Ebay is still a great deal as they give you an international audience to sell your products to. If you don't like the fees, you can always have a garage sale.

So by your reasoning they could raise commissions to 25% and it would still be a good deal.

I've given eBay almost $1,000 in seller fees in the past three months, so every little bit hurts. The vast majority of my auctions have gallery photos and are a length of 10 days. This will either cost me a whole lot more, or I will have to stop using their features.

I'm definetly going to stop doing 10 Day Auctions from now on and very rarely use their gallery feature. It's just not worth it at these prices.

 

[totalia]

Everyone is increasing their rates to disgusting amounts. That includes grocery stores, anything from the mall and even Walmart. Why should e-bay be any different?

So long as people keep being willing to use the site, they will do pretty much whatever they want.

 

[DianeV]

That may be so however the only way to let them know how you feel is to let them know how you feel!

I remember when I joined ebay they only had a small insertion fee..then it went to a final fee too then it went to higher insertion fee, then it went to nickel and diming for every little thing..then they got Paypal and that was free at first..then they started charging after you received a certain amount of credit card payments a month, now they charge on ALL payments received if you want to take credit cards (even payments from Paypal account to Paypal account)

I think you have to really be a seller (and one who has seen the changes especially) to understand how this is not treating the sellers like they should be treating them..

 

[DMRick]

I've given eBay almost $1,000 in seller fees in the past three months, so every little bit hurts.
**
I've given them even more, but I cleared a whole lot more bucks, in that same time frame. Thanks to eBay's advertising, and venue.

I was not happy with the new raise, but then I thought of how much my heat bill went up this month, what it cost to fill my car, how my co pay to specialists went up to $25 from $10, and how much my dentist raised his prices the first, and how crazy college tuition is now. What can we do..everyone is raising their prices. I now raised mine. My shipping/handling fees now reflect the new price, and if I can no longer sell my items because of that, I guess I need to look for a new job.

The amount of people signing that petition is miniscule compared to the amount of people selling on ebay. As far as people not posting on the 18th..most of us will be posting by the 17th, anyway to avoid the raise for another week. The only way it would hurt eBay would be for the sellers to stop ebaying for several months. That would hurt their pocketbook. Of course it would hurt mine, and prob put me out of business. My competitors will be thrilled, as they can keep posting and making money.

So yup, it's shame. But it's the cost of doing business, unfortuneately.

Editted to add...I do think the amount of store closings may have eBay taking another look at that new fee. I'm already selling at my own website, and I do think many others will now.

 

[nuke]

If their costs are increasing they have to increase the fees. It's just he way it is. They must have HUGE servers for the site to run as smoothly as it does. Those things are not cheap. Yes they make a huge profit but they wouldn't be in business if they didn't.

If you are complaining about your $1000 in fees to ebay think about how much money you would have spent in rent, advertising, etc if you had a brick and mortar store to sell your things. $1000 in 3 months is miniscule compared to that.

 

[DianeV]

Yes well that would make sense IF the site DID run smoothly all the time. I have never seen so many problems as lately on ebay and their website. I dont believe they need more money to run it more smoothly. I think they just need better programmers (and they dont cost that much!)

 

[disneysteve]

I'm definetly going to stop doing 10 Day Auctions from now on and very rarely use their gallery feature. It's just not worth it at these prices.

I always ran 10 day auctions until they started charging extra for them. I switched to 7 days and saw no change in the success of my auctions. I don't know why anyone would continue to pay extra for 10 days when the vast majority of bidding occurs on the final day anyway.

I have never used gallery so that increase doesn't bother me. As long as you've got a nice clear photo in your auction, I think you do just fine.

So, unless you have an ebay store, the current price increase really doesn't bother you much. It won't impact my use of ebay at all.

 

[ines248]

You say that I will not affect me? I already closed my ebay store. The fee for the Basic eBay Store subscription will be raised from $9.95 to $15.95 per month.
You say that I wont affect me? (see the future buy it now fee below)
Buy It Now fees will no longer be charged at a flat rate, and will instead be determined based on the Buy It Now price. Fees will be charged as follows:

Buy It Now Price Fee
$0.01 - 9.99 $0.05
$10 - 24.99 $0.10
$25 - 49.99 $0.20
$50+ $0.25

Are you people reading the new buy it now fees? Those new fees will apply to all people.
You say that I wont affect me? I can no longer list my items for 10 days. 10-Day Duration
The fee for 10-day duration listings will be raised from $0.20 to $0.40 per listing.

Are you people here reading the same e-mail about increases that I received from ebay? It is not for store owners only. I just quitted selling at my store 2 weeks ago, and I am still worring about the other increases mentioned in the official ebay e-mail letter. Any way, yes things do need to increase every year,but not all the time. This time is different; this time I will follow my heart and the people that says that this time is NOT the time for ebay to increase the prices. Maybe later will be okay. Ebay had raised the fees before and noone complained, but now it`s different.

 

[nuke]

If the fees are devistating to you, don't do ebay anymore. Find another way to make money.

Disneysteve clearing said UNLESS YOU HAVE A STORE. You have a store so yes it affects you more directly.

I don't have a store, I rarely use buy it now, I NEVER did a 10 day auction so the increases don't have an impact on my ebay selling.

There are always changes in business. Business owners have to adapt and roll with the changes or you will be belly up. Adjust your prices, change your selling practices, do something. The small number of complaints ebay will get isn't going to change their ways.


PS- I rarely encounter problems with ebay.

 

[ines248]

Nuke.
Thanks for the reply post.You are correct! I should move to other auction places. I understand now. I wont be posting anything else about ebay because from now on or after February I will not sell at ebay. It`s time to move on. Thanks to everyone that help me find my way.
You people here at the boards are the best!


"Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and sails; that's what a ship needs. Not what a ship is. What the Black Pearl really is, is freedom."

 

[DianeV]

I think what some are failing to see is that ebay does this alot. I tried to explain the progression of how they have lured in sellers and then turned around and alienated them by charging more and more and more. This time they alienated the Stores people more then anyone..however they have in the past alienated the regular ebayer as well, especially the small time seller who cannot afford to put their low priced items on due to all the fees. Take Paypal and thats another whammy.

Do you really think Paypal should be charging a fee for a Paypal to Paypal account payment or a bank account payment? I can understand fees on credit card payments, that makes sense but come on!

I think that some have an attitude of well what can ya do? What ya can do is let ebay know that you are not happy about it. I think the if you dont like it leave attitude is pretty darn rude actually.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

The small number of complaints ebay will get isn't going to change their ways.

Is this the same idea as one vote doesn't count? It won't be a "small number" of complaints if more people speak up, which I think is the OP's reason for asking for people to petition. If you feel it doesn't affect you, don't petition. Without sellers ebay wouldn't exist so I think it would be in their best interest to pay attention to what the sellers that are upset by the changes have to say. We're just supposed to thank ebay for letting us sell on their site and let them charge increasingly higher fees because they can when they wouldn't have an auction site without sellers? They're taking advantage of people who use ebay as a source of income and don't want to lose that income.

 

[disneysteve]

Disneysteve clearing said UNLESS YOU HAVE A STORE. You have a store so yes it affects you more directly.

I don't have a store, I rarely use buy it now, I NEVER did a 10 day auction so the increases don't have an impact on my ebay selling.

I thought I was clear. Sorry if I wasn't.

I don't do 10-day auctions.
I don't use Buy It Now.
I don't use Gallery.
I don't have a store.

So none of the announced price increases will cost me anything. I realize it is a big hike in rates for those who have stores.

 

[mikess]

I signed it! Between eBay and paypal, it's not even worth the work to put some things up. I already give them $.70 every time I list something, plus another $.70- $2.00 after it sells, THEN, paypal takes out another $.60-$2.00. How much do they need!

I think everyone should stop using them for that whole week or maybe two.



BTY - the petition is getting 100+ signatures an hour......

 

[pjlla]

FWIW.... I have pretty much stopped selling on ebay... these fee increases were the last straw. I sold very "casually" and part time, compared to some of you. I got into it in late 2003 as a way to make some money for Disney. But I have made such a pitifully small amount of money, compared to the hours I have spent writing listings, taking pictures, etc. that I have found it is just not worth it. I suppose if I had a good, cheap "source" for items to sell, or sold lots of the same items so I didn't have to write so many listings, it would be too bad. But since I sell mostly just stuff from around the house, etc. it takes a long time.

I will continue to list things that won't sell well at yard sale, or where I am sure I can get more than at a yard sale. But for the most part, for the future, it is yard sale for me!..........................P

 

[DMRick]

Are you people reading the new buy it now fees? Those new fees will apply to all people.

*
Personally, whenI sell anitem for $50., the .25 increase won't bother me at all.

I really think you need to look at what you are selling. If the profit margin isn't good enough, look around for other, items to sell that will bring you more profit. We each have to decide if we are making enough profit (and by the way, I also pay vendio.com and self employment income tax on my sales, so eBay isn't the only place with a hand in my profits). I have decided I am, and it's wayyy cheaper for me to sell on eBay in my pj's, than to have the overhead of a Brick and motar store, or to go out and spend the gas and time on a "real" job. Each of us has to make that decision based on what we sell. I don't like the increase..and I know I don't like what I'm paying to other companies in increases..but I like the money that I wouldn't see without eBay. If I was selling used phonograph records, and only getting bids of $2.00, I would stop selling them. But I'm not, and so far this year, eBay paid for 5 trips to Disney and a 6th one with all our grands (and their parents) in February. After I paid my fees. They havent "trapped" me into becoming a seller..I did it all on my own.

 

[DianeV]

Its great that you feel that way but as you can see there are many who dont feel that way..I joined ebay back in 1998 and it was alot different then. They have gotten too big for their britches and much more greedy. That is what happens when you realize there isnt much competition and that your sellers pretty much have to use you or not sell online.

I DO feel they trapped alot of sellers who trusted them and started selling and working their way up to selling more only to be bombarded constantly with changes no one likes and rising fees..I saw ebay go from hardly any fees to more and more fees and I saw Paypal go from being totally free to being expensive.

We all expect some things to go up but with ebay its been more and more lately and not really with any justification.