SteveSGP

So I went on E-bay this morning to list an old Brooks Pro and I get to the very end and I hit this message saying I can't start the auction until I set up an "automatic reimbursement payment method".

Not only does Paypal hold my funds now until they feel like letting me have them now E-bay is demanding that I give them direct access to a credit card or bank account so they can take my money if they pay the buyer out of their own pocket, I thought that's why they put a hold on the Pay-pal funds in the first place.

This is the message I get when I click on the "set up reimbursement payment" link.

"Set up an automatic payment method
Help
You’re placing an automatic payment method on file to pay for the following:
Reimbursements for claims under eBay's Buyer Protection Policy
The policy generally covers buyers if an item they purchase is not as described or doesn't arrive. If eBay pays the buyer up to the full purchase price plus original shipping costs for claims covered under eBay's Buyer Protection Policy, we'll charge this amount using the payment method you select below. Learn more about what eBay Buyer Protection means for sellers.
eBay may charge the payment method you select on a one-time, sporadic, or recurring basis. You can always change your selected payment method in My eBay or cancel your automatic payment method by contacting us"

So WTF, Does that mean I can set it up, start the auction and then cancel the auto pay method? There's no way on earth I'm giving them access to anything beyond the control they already have with Pay-pal.

I don't sell a lot on there and I have one negative feedback from an auction my son started without me knowing about it.

This is really irritating.

-Steve

RobbieTunes 

You are correct.
What they want to do is be able to refund the money by taking it from you.
Some sellers transfer the money out of PayPal as soon as they get it, trying to prevent losing it back on disputes.
The reimbursement process takes that ability away from the seller.
If you want access to eBay's vast market, as a seller, you play by their rules.

I just sold two bikes that I listed on eBay, via email, off of eBay, to buyers who contacted me.
No eBay fees, no feedback worries, and no held funds.

southpawboston

I got the same message the last time I tried to list something on ePay after a several month hiatus. What eBay's policy does now is essentially guarantees the buyer 100% money back if unhappy, even if the purchased item was exactly as described. And eBay never incurs a loss. They just collect their fee regardless.

I've been selling on ePay since 1998... yes, that's 14 years!!! And with 100% positive feedback as both seller and buyer. You'd think that'd earn me some cred. But no. THIS new policy was the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't need eBay being judge, jury and executioner when it comes to customer disputes. Transaction disputes should be between seller and buyer, and with the fees that eBay collects, they can afford to eat a few losses when disputes occur. No more eBay selling for me. I do just fine on CL and internet forums.

bibliobob

Shhhhh! Don't say anything bad about Ebay here. Das ist Verboten! The Pro-Ebay folks will arrive shortly!

southpawboston

Let's charge them non-refundable insertion fees to post comments.

zukahn1

Also has anyone read there recent changes in policy on large ticket items like bicycles. It reads that basically if anything is wrong with it at all even if disclosed. The buyer can take it to a authorized third party ie expensive bike shop and get the cost of repairs servicing charged back to the seller and still keep the item.

Mos6502

Where is Yahoo Auctions when you need it?

Oh yeah they shut it down and then ebay immediately copied the site layout.

Has anybody sold using ecrater? I bought something off of that site last year, but have never tried to sell on it.

gomango

Guys, I sell most of my bicycles locally when I get around to it.

I know I don't have the same market reach and I almost always leave money on the table.

But I can deal with cash and checks when I know the buyers. That is so much easier.

I do have a bit of a back log though and I really want to try the marketplace on Velobase.

Seems like a great place for us to try out.

iab

Says the guy making a mint off of ebay.


No. Its not perfect. ebay does what is in he best interests of ebay instead of you. hoodathunkit.

Mos6502

I don't think scaring off potential sellers is in the best interests of ebay.

They were lucky to arrive early on the scene and corner the market... but if they keep touching everything with the midas finger of feces, somebody else is going to come along with real competition soon enough.

iab

Maybe so. I've heard a lot of talk of ebay sucks. And I'll be happy to use a competitor.

Fill me in when that happens. k? thanx.

rootboy 

I wish,

they'd hurry up.

Chris Chicago

I'm guessing they figure the gain to buyers is worth the loss of sellers. I read somewhere most of their biz is buy it now stuff and they view amazon as a main competitor. seems like they might be vulnerable to somebody stealing their amatuer auction biz if that is the case.

Johnonaschwinn

I have a love hate relationship with E Bay. Love to find deals and hard to find stuff, but hate to pay the fees and final value fees. I am slowing getting off there
Jesus only asks for 10 percent yet E Bay, paypal and fees take 13 percent WTF. I always tell that to E Bay when I have to contact them

BlueDevil63 

Can you provide a pointer to this policy? Finding info on Ebay is a real pain.

cudak888 

eBay can take a Zefal HP-X pump stuck up where the sun don't shine, jump off a bridge into an empty lake, and serve as a test pigeon for a Pratt & Whitney turbine fan.

-Kurt

Sixty Fiver

Amen brother.

wahoonc

I haven't kept up with the selling policies regularly. I quit selling on there after I had my account hacked and they told me I had to shut it down, had a nearly 100% approval rating an over 750 transactions. I still buy under my wife's account because they are the only source I can find for a lot of things in this part of the country... try to find parts for a 1984 Honda Elite CH-125 I just scored to parts for mine that I have been looking for, for over 3 years and they just popped up. Both came from small salvage yards that I never would have found if not for ebay.

Aaron

SteveSGP

I understand they're doing what's "in their best interest" but they already hold the funds in limbo through Paypal for some undetermined time frame even AFTER the buyer leaves positive feedback.

When the buyer leaves positive feedback that means they are 100% satisfied with their purchase so I fail to see ANY reason for E-bay to have any extra access to my money.

Go ahead and hold the funds but once that feedback is left then that money should be mine.

I like the auction style system but I guess I'll just stick to Craigslist and E-bay can piss off.

-Steve

wrk101

Its ebay's sandbox, they make the rules, and guess what, they enjoying soaking sellers. Nothing new there.

Until they get a viable competitor, they will continue with this behavior. Myself, I continue to use them to sell extremely limited market itsms.

julesray

I've been buying ans selling on ebay for years........They are out of control now!....I sold an item 3 months ago.........described item clearly...........answered 5 questions......buyer did not like it and filed complaint..He won case.I refunded money...sold item a week later for less than I originally sold it for........If I do sell on ebay again, I hope not, I will list as either not working, mint in package, broken, even thought it isn't just to satify ebay. They really got to big. I haven't bought anything in 3 months and I hope I don't for a while.....

Drillium Dude

If the keep this up as their business model, they won't be in business much longer. I mean, really - sellers are the real Ebay customers; their sandbox and all, okay, but when you operate a customer-oriented business the bottom line has to be happy customers, not the bottom line.

Last item I sold was back in December 2011, and that was my old Cinelli SC. I'm done. I still buy, but you know what? I don't need the Ebay police when it comes to the stuff I buy anymore. I ask questions, ask for additional photos if necessary and don't impulse buy. I haven't been disappointed in a purchase in a long, long time.

Ebay for buying: cool. Ebay for selling: I gave up.

Now, it's word of mouth or Bike Forums

DD

David Newton

I had an amusing chat with an Ebay employee who called me to explain what I could do to shorten the time Paypal freezes my funds.
She said it would help to print shipping labels using the Ebay function, which is a fee service for Ebay. This is supposed to prove that I've shipped quickly.
I told her that the fund freeze is Ebay's policy & I can't do anything to change Ebay's policy, only Ebay can.

I agree that it is their sandbox, I play in it as a privilege, not a right.

wrk101

While the ebay policies are now extremely tilted in favor of buyers, I am amazed how many sales go through without a hitch. Now I still get the occasional BS return, I treat it as the cost of doing business when using ebay.

I had a similar conversation with ebay customer service on a mistake their system was making. He agreed, but said something like: "its the system's fault, there is nothing we can do about it", I kept telling him: "its not THE system, its EBAYs system, you built it, you own it, and you are in charge of it, so fix it!", of course, I got no where.....

+1 If you are going to actively sell on ebay, you are best off using all of their services, particularly shipping, as it does give you a direct link to "prove" you shipped an item promptly. Oh yeah, and they make money on that too! At least as a top rated seller, I get about 25% off postal rates, so I could not ship for less anywhere else.

So I hold my nose and continue to sell there. Pretty crappy business when many of your active customers only use your service because of the lack of a viable alternative. If/when someone else wades into the business, ebay is going to need to scramble. Can you imagine "facebook auctions", or "google auctions", or whatever??

oberthecat

There are already auctions on Facebook. A lot of reptiles are bought and sold via Facebook sites. I don't know exactly how they work but a friend is actively involved.