In every issue, readers soundoff about issues important to them. From shipping issues to payment processing, from fees to online marketplace policies, EcommerceBytes Soundoff gives you a chance to air your views.
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Dear Ina,
I’m sure this subject has been discussed previously, but I don’t recall reading about it.
My question is how can it even be legal that eBay can charge a final value fee on shipping? It just doesn’t even make any sense to me how it can be legal to charge a fee for something they did not have to put any effort into.
If they wanted to stop excessive shipping charges by some sellers all they had to do it set up reasonable allowable shipping charges based on USPS rates.
I believe that that used to do that on music CD’s and DVD’s. Maybe they still do?
Bob
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Hi Ina,
Has anybody reported the “page views counter” malfunction?
I have listed a few items last night, and noticed that when I clicked on the link in the listing confirmation email, it opened the item, which has by then been live for under a minute showing 22-page views which seemed odd as my items are an exclusive choice for certain collectors.
When I refreshed the page, views went up by 2, every subsequent refresh has automatically added an increment of 2 without a fail until I shut the page down, tried it again today, and same thing continues to add an increment of 2 views!
Any thoughts on that?
Many thanks
Manny
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Dear Ina,
Any idea what is going on with eBay sales? I am down 26% for the last 30 days. I have never had just slow sales for the last few years.
I don’t think it’s me, it’s like eBay has died (maybe it should).
Have any other sellers been having slow sales?
Thank you,
Paul
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BOB: The USPS isn’t necessarily the end rate of a postal charge. As a seller who more than occasionally posts Antiquarian books the eBay capped rate on postage in the books category does NOT reflect the actual charge. While media mail may be $10 insurance could easily be $30 and packing materials $10. These are legitimate costs and not inflated for monetary gain. eBay, as any auction house, provides a platform and thus takes a flat rate. While we agree this flat rate isn’t dependent on the final value fee (as the service provided is relatively standard given an honest listing). (Auction Houses charge a flat rate with decreased rates for increased sale prices). By capping the amount of postage it denies certain quality items from being listed. Now, mandatory insurance included by the cost of the sale rate, with actual postage, actual material costs, and actual handling variables (we drive Canada into the US so there is a $25 fee split between all packages, thus arbitrary to the amount of sales per week) would be nice. But it would require honesty on behalf of eBay and the seller.
PAUL: There is something going on with sales; there has to be. Has anyone not reported slow sales?