Ebay Feedback Strike Boycott News Report KUSA9 KOMO4

KUSA - Sellers say eBay's greed is pushing them off the Web and out of business.

Some users are now boycotting the online auction site to protest a new fee policy for sellers, as well as other changes going into effect on the site.

Debbie Neely makes handmade jewelry. She's been selling it on eBay for about four years, but the sparkle has worn off.

Neely says eBay's seller fee increase is forcing her to close down her online jewelry shop. The new hike means she will owe eBay roughly 35 percent for every piece of jewelry she sells on the Web site.

"I've worked for four years to build up my reputation and get my customer database and now I have to start all over again. It's hard." Neely said.

Neely is not alone. From Feb. 18 to Feb. 25, users are vowing not to bid or sell on the online auction site. This boycott overlaps with eBay's planned launch date for their new fee hikes.

The new rules also prevent sellers from leaving negative feedback for their buyers.

"I cannot leave a negative feedback on the buyer. Whether they pay or not, but they can say whatever they want about me and there's no fighting it," Neely said.

Debbie says eBay has become "greed-bay."

"I'm in it to stay home to make a little bit of money and look after my grandkids. I just can't do it now. Not with the hours I put in. It's not worth it to me anymore," she said.

EBay says it is not worried about this strike. The company says the boycott is just noise that will die down.

Reps for the company say these changes are designed to make the buying experience better.

Experts say not being allowed to give negative feedback could allow for more scams.

Ebay sellers begin week-long boycott
Ebay sellers begin week-long boycott
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Story Published: Feb 18, 2008 at 11:29 PM PST

Story Updated: Feb 18, 2008 at 11:35 PM PST
By KOMO Staff

EBay could see a big drop in sales this week if angry sellers get their way. Frustrated sellers began a week-long boycott of the site on Monday over the fee and policy changes the auction site recently announced.

The rally to boycott eBay is spreading. Angry sellers are posting their rants on the Web, livid over newfees and a controversial change to their feedback system.

Their biggest gripe: sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral feedback about buyers for others to see. Buyers, however, will continue to have their right to judge the sellers' performance.

Kenny Byrne, CEO of the company I Sold It says though he supports the sellers' boycott of eBay, the rising fees are a mere reflection of the market.

"Independent business people, they're operating on a thin margin, (so it's) just a really really huge hit to them. They can't stay in business with the way it's structured," he said.

Byrne's company sold merchandise for thousands of sellers on eBay. Byrne thinks the company's move to protect buyers is a positive change.

EBay argues the move will encourage buyers to bid more and leave more honest feedback. But angry sellers say that makes it difficult to weed out negligent bidders and scammers.

For now, buyers and sellers will share the same rights to rate each other until the changes take effect in May.

"It's very important for your more savvy buyers, if you've got a bunch of red marks...you're at least more aware and you can go into the purchasing battle more prepared," Byrne said.

The boycott will last until Feb. 25. Many say this is the biggest backlash they've seen against EBay in years.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ebay
• feedback
• strike
• boycott
• news
• Kusa
• Komo

[crazeenydriver]

my feedback went from 99.2% to 96.9% over night. yes I had 19 negs last year but guess what? every one was from a NPB!! these jerks bid on my stuff and never pay. now they are free to neg me without consequence

[feralfaerie]

Not everyone on ebay is a businessperson - just people trying hard to pay the bills. Lot of single mothers and disabled people earn income there.

[sabarirhino]

Hey! Have you tried the intellitus cash system (do a google search)? Ive heard some incredible things about it and my buddy made a lot of money with it.

[ethicomm]

@makebidz Ebay should automatically give feedback after 45 days if a member won't. As sellers we pay listing, final value and Paypal fees and can't leave negative feedback. We get dinged badly.

[ethicomm]

My feedback is a little over 5000 but that number realistically should be about 8500. I believe approximately 3500 people have failed to leave feedback over the years. Reminders or notes go unanswered. Members have up to 45 days to leave feedback. If they fail to do so then Ebay should automatically issue one including a positive rating. At the moment my seller performance is below standard but if I had those feedbacks I might not be in this position.

[friscoway415]

one funny thing is that ebay refunds the final value fees but not listing, insertion and options fees and TIME see? at least we should have the right to revenge with a neg feedback no matter if it cost $0.50 cents.

[friscoway415]

so easy for buyers to play with sellers, if they get three strikes they get suspended but we know we can open and open accounts as many as we want and keep playing with sellers, without the ability to leave a negative for bad buyers other sellers can't be aware of a problematic buyer and cancel his bid. anyway many sellers doesn't keep track of it, but come on we as sellers should have equal rights at least to warn other users of problematic suckers.

somehow eBay sucks.

[animal2580]

Funny thing is this problem still very much exists I sell near 1800 items a period now and still just about keep top rated status. Feedback is simply used as a common weapon by buyers these days. Ebay has refunded me over £30 in partial refunds that I have had to give to buyers that have recieved perfectly good items, still refuse return and threaten me with neg's. SOLUTION: BUYER STARTS A CASE IN THE RESOLUTION CENTRE, IF THEY WIN THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO NEG. IF NOT....JOG ON!

[HunterMann]

So, how did this boycott work out? It must not have phased eBay because they are still around and still adding new listing fees, more rules, still not allowing sellers to post Neg feedback on non-paying bidders. As an eBay buyer I think it's terrible that sellers can't leave true feedback, no matter how good or bad a buyer is. Dear eBay, I was about to start selling on your site but am now afraid to, as well, the profit that was possible 5 years ago is now gone.

[HunterMann]

@Dreambro1 Feedback means nothing to you? Okay, go to eBay and look at some of the huge sellers of DVDs. Some of them sell 2,000 movies a month, but they get 275 negative feedbacks each month. So, their feedback means nothing to you? No? Then go ahead and buy all of your DVDs from them...good luck!

[angelogcs77]

ebid.net seems to be the next best option after ebay.

never put all your eggs in one basket! I heard it so many times and now I've been kicked off ebay with 99.8% feedback after 10 years.

[uktuning]

Mostly Now are next question: HOW TO DESTROY EBAY WORLDWIDE AUCTION TRAFFIC, People want live eBay, but where is Alternative for automotive products ?