eBay “Touchy-Feely” Days Are Over
“The elimination of true mutual feedback completely changes the culture of eBay for the worse.”
This is a quote taken from an experienced eBay seller’s newsletter in response to eBay feedback changes announced recently.
This eBay seller, author and entrepreneur is far more experienced with eBay and it’s history than I am and his opinion is one that I value. Is he right? My opinion would take far to long to fully explain so I’ll just say, “Yes and No.” What I do know is that gone are the days an eBay seller can leverage “whether or not” to issue positive eBay feedback based upon how their eBay customer, who has already paid, “treats” them.
And as far as I’m concerned “good riddins”.
Those who have consistently read “My eBay Adventure” will know this policy change in eBay feedback, will have absolutely no effect on the way I run my eBay business. When I became serious about selling on eBay I didn’t need some Head Honcho over at eBay creating a rule forcing me to issue positive feedback to my eBay customers upon their successful payment of one of my products. I did it on my own.
I don’t care if you go back to eBay’s inception when eBay was nothing more than a digital garage sale where buyers and sellers “dickered” to complete a sale.
If you want to hang a shingle outside your front door or on your computer calling yourself a “seller”, OF ANYTHING, I don’t care if it’s a pair of your old smelly socks shot through with holes………….if you decide those smelly socks are worth selling and some buyer comes along, falls in love with your smelly socks, decides to trade his cash for them, and you agree to take that cash, that’s the end of your “leverage”. And it shouldn’t matter whether those smelly socks were purchased at a garage sale in Hicksville USA or at Macey’s Department Store in downtown Manhattan.
You’ve just entered into and concluded a positive business transaction. That’s the cold-hard reality many so-called eBay sellers can’t or won’t “live-up” to.
Another interesting quote from the same newsletter states,
“The touchy-feely eBay is gone forever.”
Yeppur-roonies, “touchy-feely eBay” is gonesville alright! If you’re looking for a “touchy-feely” environment, don’t trade your wares on a 4.7 billion dollar revenue per year Internet conglomerate responsible for a lot more than sustaining a “touchy-feely” atmosphere that doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. They’re also responsible to do everything in their power to return as much profit on the capital shareholders have in good faith traded for stock based upon an eBay financial prospectus. Man….sellers have a hard time letting go of the past, even when that past vanished five years ago.
“completely changes the culture of eBay for the worse.”
I’m not so sure about this. Real change is messy and often the change that most benefits the majority, or should I say the majority carrying 80% of the load, is also the scariest when viewed at first glance because the change is “real change”, not beatin-around-the-bush puffery trying to imitate real change.
I also see that “thoughtful” complaining on eBay forums, in order to retreat to the old comfort zone of the past, is the advice being doled out by some seasoned eBayers. Man, sometimes I try, but I just don’t have the time or the inclination for eBay complaining. I’ll leave that to “expert” eBay complainers.
As for me, I’m a simple person, it’s way to hard for me to hold opposing attitudes in my mind at the same time so I’m ditching the complaining advice and holding the vision of a positive outcome with all my strength. I believe holding that vision, more than investing my valuable time attempting to enlighten a bevy of eBay six-figure suits who spent countless hours weighing and refining these feedback changes, will yield me greater short and long term results. What say you?
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Comments
Well said Steve, I’m hoping that a seller “weeding out” process happens over on eBay. There’s plenty of room for sellers over at onlineauction.com.
Sometimes shaking the tree “hard” can be a good thing for those who hang tight.
I leave positive feedback after receiving payment as well. I think the feedback changes are GREAT! Poor sellers will see their ratings go down, while the professional sellers will rise to the top (and receive more exposure). Buyers will no longer need to fear retaliation for leaving honest feedback, which may just lead to more buyers. It’s time for a change in the “eBay Culture”, in favor of a positive buyer experience.
-eBayMinx
I must admit that at first I was a little sceptical about these changes however after looking at my business model I quickly realised that it would offer no change to what I was actually doing already.
Bring it on I say, if it forces other players out of the market, for various reasons, then fair dues it gives us all more of the pie to share…
Regards,
Mike
PS. Just found the blog and I like it 
Right on target, Mark!
The new feedback change means nothing to me. I’ve been leaving positive feedback for buyers as soon as I receive payment for 10 years. I think you and I may have kicked this around on here before.
The people who are throwing hissy fits about this change seem to be the ones who don’t take the time to list flaws in their descriptions, ship “whenever they get around to it”, and just have a general attitude that they’re doing the buyer a favor allowing them to buy their stuff.
If a buyer has the gall to complain about a bad description or way late shipping time they jump up in the air and start threating negative feedback.
Most of these folks shouldn’t be selling on ebay (or any place else) anyway. I believe we’ll all be better off without them.