All sellers on eBay received this email from eBay regarding new policies and procedures. Of interest, a seller will no longer be able to leave negative feedback for a buyer. This is the only new policy we are having some difficulty with as eBay sellers. There ARE buyers that, while they make their timely payments, still are looking to receive a free item or looking to do some casual shopping. There are only a handful, but they are out there. eBay deals are final, and not for the casual shopper who likes to return their purchases or has buyers remorse. They will be able to leave negative feedback for a seller, but a seller will have no forum to leave their thoughts on the transaction. We will still be able to reply to the feedback, but will not be able to have any impact on the buyers ability to be unfair. Internet selling, particularly on eBay, is an anonymous interaction between the buyer and the seller. This can bring out the best and worse in people since there is no face to face and their real names are anonymous. While the seller wants to, needs to, please their customers, there are always incidents where the buyer will simply demand a refund despite your explicit return policies or how great your product really is. Now a seller will have to decide between giving away their merchandise on these occassions, or taking negative feedback. There will be no leveridge for a mutual agreement to be reached. We feel eBay should rethink this policy. The following is a copy of the new policies and procedures:
Seller Update: Fees, Rewards & Standards eBay buyers want value and selection from sellers they can trust--and good sellers deserve rewards for delivering great customer service. That's why we're making a number of important changes that may affect you:
Reduced Listing FeesYou asked, we listened. We're reducing Insertion Fees and adjusting Final Value Fees to lower your up-front cost to sell on eBay. You wanted free Gallery, now you've got it--plus more feature discounts.
Lower Insertion Fees
Making Gallery free
Lower fees for Gallery Plus, Picture Pack, and Feature Plus
Rewards for great sellersThere will be discounts and incentives for those who satisfy customers best. Who decides who gets rewarded? Customers do, by giving sellers high Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs).
More search exposure through Best Match
Fee discounts for PowerSellers
Increased protection for PowerSellers
Feedback ChangesSignificant changes coming soon will increase buyer confidence and showcase good sellers.
Buyers will only be able to receive positive Feedback.
Positive repeat customer Feedback will count and Feedback more than 12 months old won't.
Negative and neutral Feedback left by the buyer will be removed for transactions in which a buyer doesn't respond to the Unpaid Item (UPI) or if the member is suspended.
