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biggfredd
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts
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from email:
Quote:
Over the past few years, eBay has taken steps to turn away sellers of collectibles, and focus solely on big brand retailers. With each new seller update, it's come to be expected that sellers of collectibles will see increased fees and new hurdles to overcome. Whether it be fee increases, being forced to accept PayPal, being charged final value fees on shipping costs, or new rules which make absolutely no sense when applied to collectibles, eBay continues to make it clear they don't want collectible on their site anymore.
However, with their latest announcement, once the sugar coating was cut through, even we were shocked by how far they've gone this time! If you're currently a seller on eBay of stamps, postcards and other collectibles, it's likely that you're a Top Rated Seller, as long as you maintain a relatively high feedback rating. Two of the main benefits that Top Rate Sellers on eBay enjoy is a boost in search results, and on average a 20% discount on final value fees. However, for collectible sellers that's all about to change!
By May, almost every Top Rated Seller on eBay in the collectible categories will lose their Top Rated Seller Status, and many will instantly see a fee increase of 20%! This is mainly due to the fact that all sellers on eBay will be required to upload tracking information for at least 90% of their shipments to remain a Top Rate Seller! This means that if you sell a stamp or postcard, and send it in a plain envelope without tracking information you'll lose your Top Rated Status! Obviously this new requirement doesn't make any sense for collectibles, but that's the point - to force out collectibles, and collectible buyers and sellers like you. Even if you do spend enormous amounts of time and money to add tracking information to your shipments, you'll likely still lose your discount, because you'll also need to ensure that all orders are shipped out within one business day! Even if you're only a buyer of collectibles, these large cost increases will need to be passed along to you by the seller, so it's truly a grim situation for collectibles on eBay.
While these new changes are truly shocking, but the good news is that you have until May to abandon eBay, and move to bidStart if you've not already done so. Easily import (or sync) your entire inventory from eBay to bidStart using our Import/Sync from eBay feature. It takes only a minute of your time to set up, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Additionally, if you still have friends selling collectibles on eBay, make sure they know about these upcoming changes, and send them over to bidStart - the Collectibles Marketplace!
For more information on eBay's latest changes, see their 2012 Spring Seller Update page
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Moderator
United States
3858 Posts |
I don't use eBay, so just from reading that it sounds like people at bidStart are trying to get some of eBay's clientele  |
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Valued Member
United States
162 Posts |
Common sense would say they are not trying to get rid of collectibles (as they generate money), though possibly they aren't prioritizing them. More specifically this doesn't hurt "collectibles" as a whole, just sales of light, flat, inexpensive items (aka stamps and postcards). They may make an exception for these items, or they may decide that consistency is better for the site as a whole, but either way they're just trying to eliminate problems and make transactions smoother.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
4798 Posts |
One error in the message posted above is that "seller's have to ship within one business day". That is not true. Seller's must upload tracking info within one business day to comply with Top Rated Seller requirements - a big difference.
I recently switched to a 14 Day Return policy and One Day handling to comply. Not a big deal to me. They have no way of knowing when you actually ship. You upload a tracking number, which is automated when buying postage through eBay shipping, and delivery confirmation is added for 19 cents (or free on Priority Mail). When the item is actually mailed is another issue altogether.
I understand those who sell $1 or $2 "collectibles" will be pinched. Forcing out all collectibles? Hardly.
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Forum Dad
United States
5172 Posts |
We already ship in a bubble mailer with DC. No biggie here.
I think the conspiracy theorists should stick to extra-terrestrials. This doesn't target light items, it targets low dollar items globally. You gonna ship a $500 stamp with no tracking? Here's another FYI, you shouldn't be selling that low a dollar stuff on eBay anyway, do the math (all of it), you're likely losing money on it anyway. If eBay's chasing you off because of this, they're likely doing you a favor.
Buying? Let's keep it in the family!Member CCF Auction / Pocket it Now Sales | Member eBay SalesTry our new eBay Coin Search, more powerful than eBay's!
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1845 Posts |
What they really are trying to do is force people to use their own tracking and postage purchase service
Oldest Found-------
Cent: 1842 (from machine)
Three Cent: 1866 [Nickel] (from machine)
Nickel: 1883 (from roll)
Dime: 1911 (from roll)
Quarter: 1932 (from machine)
Half: 1917 (from roll)
Dollar: 1880 (from machine)
Foriegn: 1863 (from machine)
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Moderator
United States
12501 Posts |
Who could possibly *not* want to ship with tracking? That's insane. Quote:
What they really are trying to do is force people to use their own tracking and postage purchase service True. Fine with me, since it's cheaper than going to the Post Office. I've never done it otherwise. I just don't see what the  is all about. The best thing about a bicycle is that it uses no gasoline, therefore the chance of fiery death is greatly reduced.
First Catman, then Gary Burke and now Bigg Fredd - there's one heck of a coin club in Heaven.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1588 Posts |
 When you pay/print your labels online, not only is it a little cheaper than paying for it at the counter, you get the added benefit of not having to stand in line. To me, the email posted by the OP sounds like an advertisement for bidStart. While I can certainly understand how the new policy changes will affect the sellers of low dollar items, I just don't see how it will wipe out the collectibles market on eBay as a whole.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1845 Posts |
I often times sell alot of cheap items on eBay for around $2 - $3 shipped, its profitable since I pay practically nothing for the items I am selling and the total cost of fees and shipping is around $1.25. Now the the most economical way to ship them is in an envelope, so buying tracking is not allowed by the post office for a surcharged first class letter is 65 cents as opposed to $1.95 for the same as a parcel (which is required for tracking).
Oldest Found-------
Cent: 1842 (from machine)
Three Cent: 1866 [Nickel] (from machine)
Nickel: 1883 (from roll)
Dime: 1911 (from roll)
Quarter: 1932 (from machine)
Half: 1917 (from roll)
Dollar: 1880 (from machine)
Foriegn: 1863 (from machine)
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Moderator
United States
17291 Posts |
There are people who just do not like change, no matter how trivial or insignificant it may actually be.
Some of those people try to make a small change out to be something bigger than it actually is, often failing to realize it may be for the greater good.
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Forum Dad
United States
5172 Posts |
Quote:
its profitable since I pay practically nothing for the items I am selling and the total cost of fees and shipping is around $1.25. I don't work for minimum wage or less. Quote:
There are people who just do not like change, no matter how trivial or insignificant it may actually be. No it's Bidstart management twisting the facts to scare eBay sellers.
Buying? Let's keep it in the family!Member CCF Auction / Pocket it Now Sales | Member eBay SalesTry our new eBay Coin Search, more powerful than eBay's!
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Moderator
United States
17291 Posts |
Quote:
No it's Bidstart management twisting the facts to scare eBay sellers. Ah. Never mind. 
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
872 Posts |
I ship my nickels with delivery confirmation no problem. The new rules mean I should start offering 14-day returns, and they mean I should make the new, lower threshold to be a top-rated seller ($1000 annually instead of $3000 annually).
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
Here's another FYI, you shouldn't be selling that low a dollar stuff on eBay anyway, Been preaching that for years. Unless you have a ton of duplicate items, try to get your average sale above $20. Another one retailers don't "get" is discounts. Comics, for example, cost around 60% of cover. A dealer figures he'll capture sales by selling for 20% off, and it's true, sales will increase. How much does he need to sell to get ahead? Would you believe more than double? He's giving away half his profit, so he needs to sell twice as much, plus his shipping and general costs will also be higher. Worse, his competition will prolly match his price, so they both sell what they used to, at half the profit.
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Moderator
United States
11753 Posts |
Won't be a problem for me either :)
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Posted 03/08/2012 11:49 pm
