Anyone else sick & tired of Ebay/Half.com?

[Blackbeard]

I've been selling stuff for 7+ years on both sites, but I really can't stand their new feedback policies and always siding with the buyers. Also I can't stand the arrogant newbie buyers and others who abuse the system, as well as ebays awful customer service.

Ex#1: I sold a brand new factory sealed X-box 360 game. A week after I ship it, buyer contacts me that game is freezing and her son was very upset(like I care). I had her send it back to me and it has heavy circular scratches, which were obviously cause by her system, they dont come like that from the factory as anyone knows. after several back and forths with buyer and half.com I was stuck having to give a partial refund(which put me in the hole since I bought it on amazon, and had no recourse, and I'm stuck with this scratched mess). I strung out the process long enough so she was unable to leave feedback.

In this situation my problem is with ebays refusal to help despite all the facts. To me it seems they did a bait & switch on me and sent back a damaged copy they got somewhere else and kept my new disc...they found a nice loophole to steal from sellers, and theres was not a damn thing I could do.

Ex#2: I sold a blu-ray a week or 2 ago to a newbie with 2 feedback. Half.com gives u a shipping deadline, and I always am on time. Bonehead buyer starts emailing me right after sale bugging me about when it would be shipped, another pestering email about tracking #'s which there were none. I shipped it on the 18th on the deadline, not realizing the jerk had already left me a neutral the day before complaining the item had not shipped.

I got no response requesting him remove the false feedback as well as bullsh*t form letter responses from ebay stating my case didnt qualify for feedback removal even though the feedback was left prematurally and was a lie, and I threatened to stop selling alltogether..

So basically I'm about 75% done with ebay, and I'm just waiting for that final straw to end my relationship with them.

Don't get me wrong, I know my 1600+ feedback rating with 2-3 bs negative/neutrals is still excellent, I'm just tired of the bull, lying and poor treatment......anyone else?

[eodtech]

I just closed my SELLER eBay account several minutes ago, ending ALL my current auctions.  After 12 years it's becoming a crap shoot for people selling on eBay.

There are a number of  " Buyers " that are scammers from all over the world, including USA.  If you are a seller I would bet in a dispute with a buyer for what ever reason you are going to lose, just as it happened to me awhile back.

Proof  of the above - Google: eBay scams, class action ebay, eBay lawyers, fraud eBay, etc

Buyers seem to be well protected, but as a seller you are the underdog 100% of the time.

[Pacu]

i've had good experiences selling on craigslist.. always meet in a public place..cash only..bring a friend for backup just in case.

ebay was once a great place to buy or sell....not so much anymore

[eodtech]

i've had good experiences selling on craigslist.. always meet in a public place..cash only..bring a friend for backup just in case.

+1, ALWAYS take someone with you.

I  take a cop buddy when I sell something,  and I go with him when he sells + our 45ACP's !

[Grant Lamontagne]

At the risk of sounding like I'm spamming, this is the reason we started EDCSource.  If any of you guys want to give it a shot, the fees are very favorable and I've been working hard to promote it.  While it may not help too much for BluRay players and xBoxes, it is well worth exploring.

Def

[Black Rose]

I've only sold something on eBay once (about 8 or 9 years ago), and the guy that bought my items never left any feedback for me as a seller.

That experience plus the ever changing rules on eBay kept me from selling anything else there.

I still use eBay from time to time, but only as a buyer.

If ever there is anything I have that I want to sell (and it obviously "fits in") I'm going to try EDCSource.

[ecfiffer]

you know thankfully we (wife and i) have not had a rash of bad luck like that.  there have been a few people that we have had issues with.  but all in all its still good.  my wife usually sells the kids clothes that they have out grown, so people aren't being too nit-picky...

[VicX]

my wife usually sells the kids

clothes

Back on topic: a friend of mine has lately stopped selling on eBay just because of these issues and I don't blame him, if I were him I would do the same.

[sawman]

I sold a few items recently and Ebay/Paypal decided on one of the most pricey items to freeze my funds in paypal.  It was frozen for a few weeks until the buyer left positive feedback.  They were an international buyer and it took a while for the item to reach them.   IMO, freezing my funds is steeling and I'm hesitant to sell anything else on there for fear of it happening again.  I still buy from Ebay, and with the exception of a few snags, I've been happy with the products and pricing. 

Back to the dispute and funds freezing policies: it's just another example of punishing the many for the crimes of the few - it's the easy way out and it's wrong but too many forms of 'authority' are quick to take this route...

[eodtech]

I still buy from Ebay, and with the exception of a few snags, I've been happy with the products and pricing. 

+1

[Blackbeard]

Got an email/newsletter 2day where they may be trying to address some of the selling/feedback issues, but doubt it will make any difference, probably just a response to a large # of complaints

[stressmaster5000]

Sounds like they are trying to address the problem. Here is the announcement;
http://announcements.ebay.com/2010/09/enhancements-to-feedback-and-buyer-protection-to-help-sellers/

Updates to Feedback
When we know you delivered fast and free shipping on a transaction, we’ll make sure your rating reflects that.  We’ll also make it easy to report your experience with the buyer to eBay, and let you know what we did with that information.

Automatic 5-star DSRs for free and fast shipping:

    * As of August 24, when you offer and your buyer chooses free shipping, eBay will automatically rate the transaction with 5 stars for shipping cost.

    * Starting in November, when you specify 1-day handling time, upload tracking information by the end of the next business day after the buyer’s payment clears, and we know  your package arrived within 4 business days from when the buyer pays (or arrived by your estimated delivery if that was earlier), eBay will automatically rate the transaction with 5 stars for shipping time.

Reporting your experience with the buyer

    * Starting in late October, you’ll have easy access to a streamlined reporting hub to share with eBay your full experience with a buyer.

    * Links to the new reporting hub will be at your fingertips—in the Feedback flow, in your Seller Dashboard, on the Contact Us page on eBay, the seller information page in the eBay Buyer Protection hub, and in Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro.

    * Though it won’t be public or visible to buyers, the information you provide will be used by eBay to help identify and take action against these buyers and sellers. They may be suspended or placed on restriction and their feedback and Buyer Protection cases removed from your account.

    * Starting in November, you’ll also see on your Seller Dashboard the number of times negative Feedback, low DSRs, and Buyer Protection cases were removed from your account due to seller reporting and eBay’s detection methods.

Item condition and delivery dates in the Feedback flow

    * Also starting in November, when buyers go to leave feedback, along with your estimated delivery time and –if you uploaded tracking—the actual delivery date, buyers will now also see your specified item condition.

Updates to Buyer Protection
Earlier this year we announced that Buyer Protection cases would be a factor in seller standards.  When the new requirements take effect in October, sellers will have the following protections:

Buyers prevented from opening cases too soon
Additional checks will be in place to ensure a reasonable window of time for delivery before a buyer can open an eBay Buyer Protection case for an item not received or item not as described. When you upload tracking information and delivery is confirmed, buyers will not be able to open a case for item not received.

Some cases removed from your performance record

When a buyer opens a case, it’s important to reach out to resolve the issue promptly. Any escalated case found in your favor will not count toward your seller performance requirements. For Item Not Received (INR) cases, your seller performance requirements will be protected if you upload tracking information to eBay before a case is filed, ideally within 24 hours of the buyer making payment.

2 steps to make sure you’re protected
To make sure you’re covered by these new protections:

1.       Provide top customer service and respond promptly to buyer issues.

2.       Upload shipping tracking or delivery confirmation information for every transaction.

Get more information on these important seller protections and how you can ensure your transactions are covered.

Talk with members of my staff today until 5 pm Pacific time on a special discussion board we’ve set up for this purpose.

Thank you for selling on eBay and your ongoing commitment to great service.

Sincerely,