So, it’s been almost 14 years since the dominant eBay has graced us with her services. Some could argue that eBay spurred the eCommerce market with it’s groundbreaking ideas like it’s feedback system and innovative technology like the acquisition of Paypal. Well, today, that is merely a shell of it’s former self. eBay has announced some major changes that founder Pierre Omidyar has set as the foundation of eBay, it’s feedback system.
eBay has announced that they will be altering the feedback system so that it is merely a one-way street for buyers. This means that only buyers can leave feedback for sellers, but sellers cannot leave feedback for any buyers. Whoa, wait a second. What happened here? eBay, in one small change, has shown that the role of the buyer is far more important than that of the seller because eBay feels that without demand for any particular item there is no need for it’s supply. Oh, how wrong eBay is.
It is true that the number of buyers who actively use and stay on eBay can attract more sellers to promote their products. And that every extra buyer means another transaction that can be successfully facilitated by eBay between the buyer and the seller. However, this system only works if the buyer actually submits payment to the seller. eBay has never required it’s buyers to submit any type of payment information to use it’s services, thus resulting from many Non-Paying Bidder (NPB) Alerts and much remorse from the seller.
Why treat the seller so differently when they have been such loyal, and also paying, customers of eBay? Our company has seen upwards of $25,000 dollars in listing and final value fees a month, and we have paid on time and in full. eBay, what have those NPB done for you lately?
Now many sellers are looking to other viable sales channels rather than sticking around on eBay, and we are too. There is just no reason to stay on eBay anymore as a prominent sale channel. Sure, for moms and dads who wants to sell their old record collection and golf clubs, eBay is a great way to make a little cash, but for people who make a living off of internet sales there is no benefit from selling on eBay (hence Amazon has been widely more successful)
Pierre Omidyar said it best on his founders letter, “Now, we have an open forum. Use it. Make your complaints in the open. Better yet, give your praise in the open. Let everyone know what a joy it was to deal with someone.”.
eBay, we give you a Negative feedback on this one: The description lead me to believe it was a fair community, SELLERS beware. (see seller’s reactions)
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