TAKING ON EBAY - Boycott Information for the INTERNET AUCTION ALLIANCE

EBay was founded in September 1995 as an online auction site, ebay later acquired Paypal, an online financial company that enables anyone with an email address to send and receive online payments.  Browsing and bidding on auctions is free of charge, but sellers are charged to list an ad for sale and also a percentage of the final price when the item sells.

For each transaction, buyers and sellers can rate each other by leaving Feedback. Each Feedback consists of a positive, negative, or neutral rating, and a short comment. In addition to leaving a Feedback for a seller, eBay recently instituted anonymous detailed seller ratings (dsr). Members see only detailed seller rating averages, sellers can't see which buyer gave them which rating.

Detailed Seller Ratings cover four areas on a one- to five-star scale.

• item as described
• communication
• shipping time
• shipping / handling charges

In February 2008 eBay announced policy changes that are upsetting thousands of its sellers, these changes effect how feedback & dsr's are rated and also gives eBay the right to hold Paypal funds for up to 21 days.

Many of these sellers are the very people who are so hard hit by our current economic woes. They are single moms trying to make ends meet. They are retired and disabled folks who have been managing to make a little money on eBay. They are also people who rely on eBay for their entire income and people who have started small businesses using eBay as a sales outlet. These small mom 'n' pop sellers, as well as a huge number of other eBay sellers of every size and from several countries have just completed a very successful 1-week boycott. Estimates vary widely as to the "effect" of the strike on eBay listings, but EBay's stock is already shaky, and this uproar has not helped.

They are now calling for another and this time open-ended, MAJOR boycott beginning May 1. This is already being supported by a huge number of sellers and buyers, who are simply continuing to boycott eBay.

These sellers feel that is their only hope of keeping eBay from putting them out of business. Sadly, it looks like eBay is destroying itself in the process. The very sellers who built eBay are moving to other venues where they feel welcome and valued as customers. They are taking what eBay refers to as IT with them.

Sellers are primarily protesting over the following issues:

·        Ebay intends to change  the feedback system prohibiting sellers from leaving negative comments about buyers

·        How detailed seller ratings (dsr) change your search results placement

·        The new PayPal policy that allows the transaction firm to hold payment up to 21 days for a purchased item in some cases until specific criteria has been met.

During the February 2008 boycott, different industry tracking companies reported that eBay listings dropped anywhere from three to 13 percent. Some took issue with eBay's listing discounts offered during the strike, saying it is one of the many reasons why it is extremely difficult to accurately gage the impact these boycotts have, if any.

John Donahoe, eBay's newly elected CEO and president, has yet to take his role, and yet has caused the largest rift between eBay and the eBay community ever. Donahoe said that he wants to rid eBay of its "fleamarket" image, by eliminating those very people who made eBay the strongest online market place in the world. The idea is that by ridding itself of the low-priced items, they can concentrate on larger retailers, and boost revenues with higher end items.

The boycotter’s stand is that these policy changes will crush those people who have helped create the eBay corporation, by virtually pushing out families who depend on their main source of income. These include single parents (many with handicapped children), retirees, disabled persons who would rather not abuse the system, but, can still be productive members of society by working on a schedule that suits them, students and so many others.

Boycotters say that eBay will be faced with a boycott far worse than the young company has ever seen saying that this past boycott has enabled eBay members to unite, and become a strong force, like never before. And while those involved with "spreading the word" none of the "leaders" of that boycott planned it. Yet, they have become the loudest and most vocal boycott chapters. DelphiForums is boasting message views of over 10,000 a day for the last week, and 10 of the last 13 days.

Together, these two sites are saying they are taking the time between now and May 1st to organize the largest strike, and they will not back down until either eBay agrees to their terms, or, Donahoe is replaced, and the changes are re-evaluated for the better of the entire community. Team leaders say they are willing to discuss negotiations with eBay executives; but, such requests have fallen on deaf ears.

Many buyers and sellers in our area are affected by these changes.  A search of all items listed on eBay with a 50 mile radius of displays over 500 items.  That number fluctuates constantly, and at times would be as much as 2500-3000 items for sale.

Mrs. xxx (xxx) of Valhermoso Springs, has been a buyer and seller on eBay since 1999.  Mrs. xxx averages about $800-$1000 per month in eBay sales - specializing in collectibles, vintage items, books, postcards and unique & hard-to-find items.  She ended all her eBay listings, and does not sell or shop on eBay any longer.  She says that eBay’s new policies make the risk too large and profit margin too small to deal with all the work involved in listing and selling on eBay.  She will concentrate her sales and purchases in the many wonderful local antique shops of Hartselle, Eva,  Cullman.  She says that her collectibles, vintage items, books, postcards and unique & hard-to-find items are no longer welcome by eBay management, that eBay is courting large warehouse style sellers, and the atmosphere will no longer be a pleasant and profitable experience.

On March 15, 2008 , eBay share price at $26.25 was the lowest since the price was 31.74.  The total volume of items listed for sale at on March 15, 2008 stands at16,199,539 while total items listed on the same day in 2007 was 21,166,200.

http://www.marketwatch.com/quotes/ebay

Boycotters are uniting at online sites such as:

www.myspace.com/boycotteBay

http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycotteBay

http://www.powersellersunite.com/portal.php

http://www.youtube.com/ 

http://www.accknowl.com/

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