More ebay changes coming "Mandatory return policy for all sellers"

[Zemo]

Of course they won't. If they let go their auction format, it would allow a competitor to fill the void (obviously there is a viable market for online auction sales!) and then begin to build and grow to one day compete with them on a grand scale......It's obvious that auction style sales are becoming less and less a priority for eBay (they really are encouraging buy it now and fixed price listings) but they will NEVER do away with them.....

That's the thing, the direction they are heading is to be more like Amazon and Overstock. They are getting out of the auction business more and more every day. They want big volume sellers and free shipping. The door is wide open for a new site to get in the game, They just have to have the money to do it i.e Google could crush ebay, but they make to much money off ebay on the pay per click.

[megoat]

That's the thing, the direction they are heading is to be more like Amazon and Overstock.

This is very true.

They are getting out of the auction business more and more every day. They want big volume sellers and free shipping. The door is wide open for a new site to get in the game, They just have to have the money to do it i.e Google could crush ebay, but they make to much money off ebay on the pay per click.

But this is where I disagree. Like I said earlier, they won't let go their auction style listings because it would allow a competitor to slip in. Even if the collectible/auction style side of their business were to only account for a small amount of their profits what matters more to them is that EVERYONE uses their site. They KNOW that is the reason they are successful, if they let ANY part of the market go it could lead to a strong competitor down the line...

[Nostalgiabuff]

As someone who buys and occasionally sells on ebay, I have to admit all the recent changes have really put me off. I will not be selling anymore starting with the new year. Their fees are getting out of hand and all of the auction rules are making it too much of a hassle. the only reason they want people to offer free shipping is so that the selling price will be bumped up to cover the shipping and ebay can then get a percentage off of that too. They have an arrangement with paypal so they try and force everyone to use paypal, who then gets a fee on every payment. Oh, and just coincidentally, Paypal just removed their annual limits on spending as well.

Let's not forget that ebay was as successful as it was because the people who sell on ebay do all of the work. All ebay ever needed was site administrators to keep things running.

I predict that if they keep imposing all these rules and restrictions ebay will be gone in a few short years.

[Zemo]

but google is where ebay was 10 years ago. Everyone has the warm fuzzies about google and they are " wonderful and the best thing since sliced bread" Best search engine, yada yada...blahahahaha , but wait a few years and google will let it get to there heads and the same thing will be happening.
It's what you make it. You just have to be smarter than the system.

Oh I agree with you, It is what you make it. I just thing the recent changes are going to take there toll on the Bay. I still sell on there and may even snag me 20% discount this month, but small sellers are only 1 jerk away from not being able to sell for a month or more.

[The Bat]

Looks like the opportunity to create a viable competitor to Ebay exists.

Agreed! I'm done with eBay!