eBay’s New Feedback Policy Unfair To Car Sellers!
If you have not heard about it yet – eBay is attempting to clean up their site by making changes to the feedback system. In a nutshell it boils down that sellers will not be allowed to leave Neutral or Negative Feedback to buyers!
Scamming and Extorting Buyers have been a serious problem for vehicle sellers for years. If a buyer had good feedback or was a seller – any threats of extortion was somewhat negotiable “you neg me – I will neg you back.” But with this new feedback policy the sellers will be at the mercy of a shady buyer looking to get money back after the deal. I feel it is a major train wreck for vehicle sellers!
I think back to when i had my own eBay selling id’s “docsqualitycars” and “docsplaceonline” and remember paying out around 3K in 2003 in extortion money. I traded a check for positive feedback! eBay was absolutely no help – they sure took my money but wouldn’t do anything to protect me!
This guy was the postal worker from hell! Trying everything possible to get $1000 back from me on this gorgeous 1973 Lincoln Mark VII. I did manage to turn him around by filing a complaint with the post office. Click here to read the posting from 2003 when this one happened.
eBay may have suspended my account’s but they have not silenced my opinion of how their site sucks!
I recently managed a friends eBay account and made him a Titanium Power Seller in a few months time. While the greatest majority of the sales went well – we had 3 extortionists in a row!
One was this Lexus buyer. He flew in and i picked him up at the airport. Really a nice guy in person – he had a typed out checklist and spent better than an hour looking the car over, checking all the equipment, looking for damage etc. After that he wanted to take it for a long interstate drive and was gone for close to an hour.
Long story short – he then whipped out a 2 party cashiers check which we wouldn’t accept. I had him go to a local bank and get it reissued in the dealerships name. We did the paperwork, took a couple of photos (I’m on the left) and he left for home.
Two days later i get an email from him that the CD player didn’t work, and a replacement unit from the dealer was $850 and he expected us to pay for it.
I ignored the email and a couple days later got another email saying refusing to answer his email was an indication we were not going to correct the CD problem, and it would be reflected in the feedback he left. I traced the email headers to a university where he worked and replied that what he was doing was Extortion and it was against the law – and that i don’t think the university would appreciate him using their network to extort money from us! He emailed back and said he would take care of the CD player himself. And we never heard anything from him again.
So the whole idea of this posting is – eBay is wanting to brown nose the buyers – while tossing the sellers to the wolves! I think this new feedback policy really sucks!
We are not talking about Beanie Babies or Gently Used Undergarments! The eBay vehicle seller is in a whole different world than eBay core. I fear that this new feedback policy will have dire consequences on eBay’s vehicle sellers! Sleazy buyers will flock to eBay Motors looking for a great deal – and then will hold the seller hostage for $$$ in lieu of negative feedback!
eBay Motors needs Car People experienced in the trade who can mediate situations that arise and help both parties come to an agreement. Automating this process with a bot will not solve the problem.
Also take a few minutes to watch this video from “crazeenydriver” eBay is actually suspending members for posting video’s on YouTube! He talks of an eBay Strike on Feb 18-25th. Don’t list or buy anything – stand up and tell eBay you don’t appreciate how they treat their members!
Oh well.. That’s my two cents worth on the subject. If you have comments please add them to this blog – I would love to hear from you..
Tagged with: eBay Feedback Extortion • eBay Motors Feedback Changes • eBay Motors Scamming Buyers
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Doc,
I remember that story with the postal worker when it happened. It is the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve been saying this for years that I’m going to get my own website and stop relying on eBay. This time I’m going to do it. With all of the fees they are charging and the unfair tactics we really have to move on to something else. What have you been up to lately? Are you still in the auto business? I hope you are doing well.
Oh, That is real intelligent! Why don’t you just give everyone 100% feedback because if you can’t leave neutral or negative feedback then what the heck is the point!!!! Typically if someone gets negative feedback, they probably deserve it!!!!! Just leave the feedback alone and concentrate on more important areas that are being ignored such as the disgustingly high volume of scams going on. I have heard people say that eBay is now sCambay.
I must say I can see both sides of this. Having had my 100% rating smashed by a retaliatory negative feedback. The problem for buyers is that they are less inclined to be honest about the transaction if the fear of a neg feedback is presented. In my case, the seller had nearly 30 complaints in 2 years all of the same thing, selling items other than those pictured, and had nearly 60 neutrals not including the mutually withdrawn.
Ebay needs to be more pro-active in dispute resolutions.
By the way… GEORGOUS car!
I only wish I could put these sick feelings into words as well as you can.
As far as this statement goes, I can only say I blew my ice water all over my keyboard when I read it. Like, we all haven’t been asking for this for years?
I’m referring to: “Ebay needs to be more pro-active in dispute resolutions.” Like that’s ever going to happen. NOT.
Whoever you are, please keep posting and keep the video’s rolling. You’re driving home many points…not just for “eBay Motors”, but for ALL sellers.
In short, we need you. And we need you in as many places on the net and in the “real” world as possible.
Keep up the great work. (At least I know I’m not alone…everyone is whining but no one is DOING anything about any of this!) Are we ALL afraid? Of what? Why?
eBay has to be stopped..and stopped NOW!
Again, thanks for the video’s:)
when i click on belair 150/210 all i get is newer cars if i was looking for a new car i would not be in collecter cars.where i live i could buy a new car cheaper than on ebay and wouldn’t have to drive three hundred miles. i just can’t see putting new cars in this catagorie.
Sounds very similar to my experince with ebay motors. But the real issue is that they try to automate everything so they won’t have to ever deal with you and step in to resolve issues. Had I known what a hassle it would turn into I would have just put an ad in the Autotrader. I can’t even express my complete frustration with ebay’s inability to resolve my issue. I sincerely hope they go bankrupt.
Today (May 1) marks the second round of seller defiance (strike/boycott) to eBay policies. While I am all for the rights of the people… I can’t help but wonder if in this global environment of the Internet these types of actions can truly be effective or for that matter even measureable. I certainly fight for people’s right to voice an opinion but in the back of my mind I can’t help but wonder to what end result?
More on the numbers pumping over here.
http://www.suspendedfromebay.com/?p=105
Well, eBay’s done it again! I’m so mad at eBay right now I could spit.
First, they started sending me notes, saying things like my shipping was too high when compared to others. What?
What’s eBay going to do next, dictate the selling price for my items?
Now, with all of the new changes concerning feedback, eBay sucks big time.
I just received my first “neutral” feedback from a buyer who didn’t read the “sold as-is” caveat on my item listing. eBay regulations state that a neutral won’t affect your feedback rating. Well, I’m here to tell you—it does now! eBay just sent me a note saying that with all of the new changes, a neutral is now considered a “non-positive”, because there is usually “an issue” connected to a neutral. Not on MY end, there isn’t!
EBAY BLOWS!!!
All I can say is Thank you for this website. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who thinks ebay is an unresponsive, repugnant, seller-hating institution. I wish we could do more to organize a mass boycott.