Ebay Spokesman Richard Ambrose on Feedback Strike Boycott

Ebay Spokesman Richard Ambrose on Feedback Strike Boycott
03:08
BBC Radio ebay spokesman Richard Ambrose
eBay revamps feedback system

w**.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2008-02-24-ebay-strike_N.htm

Online auction listings down 13% in boycott of eBay

By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO — The biggest boycott by eBay (EBAY) sellers concludes Monday, capping a week of acrimony after the online-auction site raised fees and changed its feedback policy.

Auction listings on eBay.com dropped some 13% since the strike started Feb. 18 to about 13 million items, according to third-party tracking sites such as dealscart.com and medved.net.

The boycott, amid slowing growth and intensifying competition from Amazon and Google, could presage a challenging year for John Donahoe, eBay's incoming CEO, say analysts.

Like dozens of other boycotts against eBay the past few years, this protest is largely over pricing changes. Though many previous boycotts have fizzled after a few days, the most recent gained more attention through protest-related actions on YouTube and MySpace.

"If (eBay's listings total) falls below 12 million, we've made a pretty good impact," said Nancy Baughman, an eBay PowerSeller who deals antiques and collectibles. She is also co-author of a book on online auctions.

Jim Griffith, dean of eBay Education, declined to comment on third-party statistics, and said that the site's internal statistics show the boycott "has had no impact on our listings." EBay does not publicly release its listings totals.

Fluctuations in eBay's listings can be hard to interpret due to seasonal swings. Complicating matters, eBay ran a one-day promotion Feb. 13 offering steep discounts of fees, which pushed listings up more than 20%.

Still, the impact of the boycott is evident, says David Steiner, president of AuctionBytes.com, a publication for online merchants. "The protestors made a loud statement."

Donahoe, who becomes eBay's CEO in March, recently announced changes to the fees eBay charges. The cost to list items will be cut 25% to 50%, but the commission that eBay charges for completed sales increased, starting last Wednesday. As of May, sellers will no longer be able to leave negative feedback comments for buyers.

"When I heard the changes, I thought it was April Fool's Day," Valerie Lennert, one of the boycott organizers, says, referring to the changes in fees and feedback. She sells doll clothes on eBay.

Lennert has spread her message with an anti-eBay video on YouTube. The video has been viewed 140,000 times. The protestors also created a MySpace page.

Despite the protest, eBay is not considering altering or postponing its policies, Griffith says. "A lot of deliberation went into these decisions," he says.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• ebay
• feedback
• boycott
• strike
• BBC

[dasboatbabe]

WOAH! If there are only a "few" sellers who leave retalitory feedback for buyers, then why is ebay punsihing ALL sellers with the new feedback policy? Where did this person get his information? He said most sellers are behind this new feedback change? NOPE!He only mentions the non paying buyer, he doesn't mention the buyer that leaves a negative comment for ANY reason. Like their cat didn't like the earrings! This interview is NOT how sellers feel AT ALL!!! Boycott extended till March 3rd!!!!

[DancingQueen41]

"Most sellers are behind this" What planet is this asshole on???

[nairnite]

@DancingQueen41

a buyer claims that i sold him item not as described,he had the option of returning my item returned with me paying postage fees .nope,he kept my item at the same time he neg me.first one in 8 years- i hate ebay and this unfair buyer.

[nairnite]

@dasboatbabe i hate ebay now

[mrxchucky]

bull shit ebay need to stop that insecure shit to much rule ebay customer service is the worse ebay must remember that seller was once buyer i call ebay to raise my seller limit cause i'm a new seller i of 13 good feed back ebay tell me to wait 90 day's to raise my seller limit ebay is crazy cause i'of to much item to sell on ebay' ebay wan't me to wait 90 day's to make money i'm on employ ebay i don't of a job in the making raise my seller limit ebay only give new seller only 5 seller limit

[theonethatgoofs]

what i quit selling jan 2011 after 4 sales. due to money holds . why cant i use there shipping money to ship there items. the shipping has nothing to do the auction . we have option to ship outside of ebay .but no release of funds in your paypal account couse of no prof of ship or arival . i am cashing out and leaving. and gong back to craigs list .

[Hotrodsforever]

eBay - the largest fence of stolen property in the world still rides untaxed. Wait till they start taxing the sellers and see how long they keep up and running.

What power sellers who pay income tax ????????????

[br1843]

Ebay should prevent fraud & abuse for buyers AND sellers. Most sellers are also buyers. These changes unfairly hurt sellers & leave them open to scams. If Ebay made a real effort to stop the abusers, they wouldn't HAVE to make bonehead changes like this. Why should I give them my business & money just to have them harass me with DSR's and unfair feedback, silence my voice & then call me a bad seller for complaining? Who treats their customers like this?? I am DONE with Ebay.

[kraftdinner35]

As a seller I feel like I have just been shafted by ebay. So fuck ebay I'm off to ebid.

[spykatt]

So, Ambrose is stating that the Sellers -- the ones who built up his crummy company, is more likely to be crooks?

[ssaltspring]

Is Paypal safe? I taking all my money out with Bank Failures "We hope you'll agree that these changes make the eBay sites and services work better for you. If you accept the new User Agreement and Privacy Policy, you don't need to take any action. If you do not wish to accept the new User Agreement or Privacy Policy, please refer to our Help pages for instructions on how to close your account.

Thank you for using eBay!

Sincerely &(F' YOU!)};}

Shipman

Senior Counsel -- Global Privacy Practices

[myfeedbacks]

Many Powersellers on Ebay now put "you will be black listed on GeeeWhiz if you....." in their listings. Ebay is not going to do anything for you, don't waste your time with them.