Red Ink Diary

At lunchtime on March 24th 2008 the world lurched for Sellers of digital goods on eBay. Brian Burke, eBay’s Director of Global Feedback Policy announced that effective March 31st all goods that can be digitally downloaded or transferred electronically must be listed using the Classified Ads format.

We are not talking solely about purveyors of 1c eBooks on how to make your first million on eBay; although there are many of them. I was surprised to find this policy affects an enormous range of Sellers including designers of craft patterns, logos and templates, business consultants, accountants, photographers and artists, musicians etc. Anyone who sells a product on eBay.com (USA) which is delivered as a download or by email is effectively out of business with 7 days notice. Sellers on other international sites are required by law to be given 30 days notice and they will be gone by the end of April.

The stated reason for the policy is feedback manipulation by those dishonest and untrustworthy Sellers. Quotes are from Brian Burke on eBay Chatter

Most items that require digital delivery, once created, can be very easily replicated. This ease of replication creates the opportunity for sellers to list thousands of the same item in an attempt to manipulate the Feedback system. It also creates a perception that even legitimate sellers of Digital Goods are manipulating the Feedback system.

A little thought reveals the holes in the theory and why is it always the Sellers who are crooks?

Once upon a time to become a PowerSeller you needed to sell $1000 Gross Sales Value per month for three successive months. In November 2007 eBay changed that

to include both high volume “seasonal” sellers and sellers who move a high volume, but with a low average sales price.

That opened the door to hordes of new PowerSellers who qualified by selling as little as $100 GSV monthly. PowerSeller Status confers benefits and benefits cost money.

Sure enough here it is:

Today less scrupulous sellers have more to gain from manipulating their Feedback and Detailed Seller Ratings, which are also an important factor in a seller’s performance in Best Match and their eligibility for benefits (like PowerSeller eligibility and discounts). This makes feedback manipulation an even greater concern for the marketplace. Not only is safety and integrity of the Feedback system an issue, so is the fair administration of seller standards and rewards.

Ease of replication Oh gimme a break! Anybody can buy or create a small object, shippable in a regular first class envelope for pennies per dozen and sell them singly at 1000% markup, providing a feedback enhancement service and making a profit. Not as much profit as through digital downloads, & with greater risk but the market opportunity exists.

Follow the money trail

Question: Couldn’t eBay have established a minimum dollar amount for these listings that would eliminate potential feedback manipulation?

Answer: We considered that option, as well as a number of other alternatives — for instance, we considered allowing only approved sellers to list these items. After investigating these and other alternatives, however, we determined that the Classified Ads format provides a more flexible and scalable solution for our sellers.

Classifieds

The cost of a Classified Ad is $9.95 per month. Sellers can take advantage of the special benefits of using this format. For instance, you can combine multiple similar items in the same Classified Ad. If you sell standard listing templates, for example, you can include all your listing templates in the same ad. If you also sell eBooks on how to list, you must use a separate ad

Finally, from the destroyers of the feedback system:

The integrity of the Feedback system has always been a critical part of trust on eBay. As the company focuses on improving the buying experience, we’re working on a number of initiatives to improve the integrity of Feedback and ensure buyer Trust.

Ina Steiner of Auctionbytes did an interview with Brian Burke last year.

Next post . . . the Workshop featuring Uncle Griff’s priceless pearls of Wisdom Y’all come back and be sure to click VICTORIOUSLY on any interesting links in the sidebar!

Do you know that Mother’s Day is coming up pretty soon? Of course you do! Mother’s Day is Sunday May 11th.

Do you really want to get into the car and drive to your local card shop to buy some generic card or gift for your very special Mom?
I didn’t think so. Help support me in the style to which I would like to be come accustomed by buying one of these now. Just click on the picture.

Above Die cut and deeply embossed, this is an exact working reproduction of an antique, circa 1900’s fan. Each of the six blades is a different floral arrangement against a stunning dark background. Comes with envelope and measures approximately 8” by 14-1/4″ open, folded or closed 3-1/8″ by 8″. Made in the USA.

Left My picture does not do this die cut Photo Mat justice, the aperture is edged with approx. 1/8″ of gold foil. The detail is incredible, a little stream side village of thatched cottages, an arched bridge, can you see the Swan Inn? All surrounded by lovely pastel pansies. Brand new; approximately 5″ x 7″, photo opening is a tad over 3″ x 4″. Buy a standard 5 x 7 frame, add a picture of yourself and watch Mom’s eyes pop!

Right The ideal Mother’s Day gift is something that doesn’t take up a lot of room, is not likely to break, or have to be cleaned or dusted, something she will treasure long after a card is gone. Here is a pretty refrigerator magnet, the motto “What is Home without a Mother” is set in a star surrounded by roses. Approximately 2″ wide by 3″ tall.

Everything I sell is covered by MY GUARANTEE:

I want you to be happy with your purchase! If you don’t like it, it’s not sold. This means, if, for any reason, you do not like your purchase when you receive it, let me know & send it back right away. It must be in saleable condition and packed as it was when you received it. I will refund your purchase price, less postage charges.