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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *Brum6y* on March 20, 2018, 04:37:51 PM »
The sad thing is that this goes on at a much smaller level, but over a broader scale and it is often the case that hard working honest sellers are at the mercy of such fraudsters.
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *CountessA* on March 20, 2018, 01:23:27 AM »
An extraordinary tale of theft and deception on eBay, using the Money Back Guarantee to defraud, as well as identity theft, etc.

Scammers making millions and living high-life in online fraud
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *CountessA* on March 07, 2018, 12:21:52 AM »
It's outrageous, but transparently obvious what is going on here.

Do eBay executives think that we - the buyers - are morons?

This isn't to safeguard buyers. It's to discourage sellers from fighting unjust claims by unscrupulous buyers looking to cheat their sellers.

The way it plays out is like this:
  • Buyer casts their eye on a coveted item.
  • Buyer doesn't want to actually BUY the item; why pay if you can get it for nothing?
  • Buyer purchases item on eBay.
  • Buyer receives item and chooses the most convenient "get money back" routine. E.g., if untracked, "INR" (it didn't arrive). If an itemneeded for one occasion or for a short time, "SNAD" (not as described at all!). If buyer directed to return, well, contact eBay by phone and go into a rant about how horrible it is and come up with a reason why it doesn't need to be returned - OR send an empty envelope with tracking number - OR any of a number of tricks. Buyer may choose to damage the item him/herself if no longer needed, or send back similar but not identical item if buyer already owned similar (damaged) item. Possibilities are endless.
  • Seller chooses to fight unjust claim.
  • Buyer escalates claim and is rewarded with money back and possibly with no direction to return the item.
  • Seller is rewarded with a defect. I'm not sure how many - is it 2? - before the seller is hit with a "below standard" punch by eBay.
  • Seller loses item and money, and is also charged an extra 2% by eBay.

Why? Because eBay has for years been attempting to turn eBay into a new shopping mall with retail shops - Myer, Peter's of Kensington, Harvey Norman, Betta, Big W, Woolworths, etc. You can bet those big sellers do NOT find themselves subjected to this ridiculous treatment by eBay. This behaviour does however make it ever more likely that smaller sellers will be forced out, unless they are the sort of sellers who humbly accept eBay's seller terms - unequivocal terms of acceptance for change of mind, free shipping, no fighting scamming buyers. It means eBay will make up some of the money it expends currently on giving 20% discounts on particular sellers - e.g., the recent 20% for Myer items on eBay.

Sickening for the genuine smaller sellers whose business model cannot sustain eBay's ridiculous terms of roll over and play dead for the customer.

I have some stock left over from the shop, but I am far too terrified by eBay's prohibitively punitive and destructive behaviour towards sellers to risk selling any of it on eBay.
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *smee* on March 05, 2018, 01:46:43 PM »

New Fees for Sellers That Fall Below Standards
To protect our buyers and the customer experience, starting 4 April, sellers who fall Below Standards will incur an additional fee of 2% on Final Value Fees. Sellers who remain Above Standard or are Top Rated will not be affected
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *Brum6y* on February 04, 2018, 02:36:57 PM »
Quote from: *CountessA* on February 04, 2018, 12:11:25 AM
You'll notice that the letter states "You can expect a simplified pricing structure, more predictable access to funds". There's no mention of "faster access to funds"; more predictable means it's regulated by eBay at intervals they decide, and it also means it's not accessible when YOU want the funds.

I did notice that - particularly the choice of the word "predictable" ... and I agree with your conclusion.
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *CountessA* on February 04, 2018, 12:11:25 AM »
This is nothing to do with making things better for sellers (or buyers).

It's about maximising profit for eBay.

This new payment system where eBay will "manage the payments flow" means that eBay will be control of the money.

You'll notice that the letter states "You can expect a simplified pricing structure, more predictable access to funds". There's no mention of "faster access to funds"; more predictable means it's regulated by eBay at intervals they decide, and it also means it's not accessible when YOU want the funds.

I'm extremely glad that I am not a seller on eBay.
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *Brum6y* on February 03, 2018, 12:04:04 AM »
Yeah...  My seller friend got this.  They did a bit of digging and there are a few things they weren't happy about.

I didn't get the full detail - but one of them was the equivalent of a full escrow service.  Sellers won't get their payment until delivery is confirmed.  One of the problems with this is, if you have something small that can get sent as a letter for a dollar or two, there is no tracking - unless you want to add Registered Post ... at $4 a pop.  So a $3 item with $2 postage won't be $5, it will have to be $9 ... or the seller won't ever get paid.  Genius.

There's also something about when payments are made to Sellers.  At the moment, a seller can pull money from PayPal at any time.  With this new setup, it seems that will happen whenever eBay feels like it.  "How to get interest on other people's money" 101.  PayPal have been playing that game for a while now.  (Ever notice how payments take longer to get through when there's been big exchange rate fluctuations.)

There's no doubt it's going to be painful.  Sellers are going to have to learn how it all works (the hard way, of course) so they can help guide their customers through the minefield.

I can't, for the life of me, see how it's going to be a "better experience" overall - but it will be spun that way.

I would love to be proved wrong - but I suspect I will be disappointed on that front.
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The Round Table / Re: ebay and the latest ...............................................MEDIA REPORTS
« Last post by *smee* on February 01, 2018, 08:43:43 PM »
eBay will begin intermediating payments on its Marketplace platform?

What the ....? Were they not always doing this with paypal?

I see they say they will still offer paypal payment at checkout ? Is this new thing similar to oaypal but now just ebays preferred bedmate to paypal ? It seems like they are trying to complicate matters again ...

Heres a copy of the email for thise that didnt get it


Dear Smee

eBay is happy to announce plans to further improve the customer experience by intermediating payments on our Marketplace platform. In doing so, eBay will manage the payments flow, simplifying the end-to-end experience for both buyers and sellers. We have signed an agreement with Adyen, a leading global payments processor, to become our primary payments processing partner. PayPal, a long-time eBay partner, will be a payments option at checkout for eBay buyers.

You do not need to take any action at this time. The transition to full payments intermediation will be a multi-year journey.

Over the past three years, eBay has transformed its business to drive the best choice, most relevance and most powerful selling platform. Building out our payments capabilities is the next step in that strategy.

Payments intermediation will bring significant benefits for eBay sellers. You can expect a simplified pricing structure, more predictable access to funds, and most sellers can expect their costs of payments processing to be reduced. We’re also working on ways to provide sellers a central place to track and manage their business, which can soon include payments information.

By offering buyers more choice in how they pay and expanding payment options into more geographies, eBay believes sellers will be able to reach more buyers and improve conversion.

The transition to full payments intermediation will be a multi-year journey. eBay will begin intermediation on a small scale in North America starting in the second half of 2018, expanding in 2019 under the terms of the Operating Agreement with PayPal. In 2021, we expect to have transitioned a majority of Marketplace customers to the new payments experience.

Again, you do not need to take any action at this time. As eBay gets closer to the initial phase of its intermediation efforts, we will share more details about this process and next steps for sellers. In the meantime, please read the eBay Inc announcement for further information. For any immediate questions or to share feedback, please email paymentsinfoau@ebay.com.au

We’re looking forward to what’s next, and to getting there with you.

As always, thank you for selling on eBay.

Tim Mackinnon
VP & Country Manager, Australia & NZ
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The Round Table / Re: Fuel Prices
« Last post by *Brum6y* on January 06, 2018, 03:28:10 PM »
Hasn't been under $1 a litre for years up in Sydney .... unless someone is doing a protest special - like 99 cents per litre or fill your tank for $1.

The traffic problems these stunts cause are not pleasant.
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The Round Table / Happy New Year - welcome to 2018!
« Last post by *CountessA* on January 01, 2018, 11:46:13 PM »


Best wishes for all, and may this be the year of your dreams.

Let there be peace on earth rather than war (although I know that seems like a tall order).
Let the economy not slump.
Let your health be good.
Let happiness be yours.
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