Comments on: UPDATED: Q&A with Dinesh Lathi, eBay VP of Seller Experience

By: mariannemaui

mariannemaui — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:12:50 +0000

Yesterday, I posted my thoughts about the unlevel playing field on ebay that gave bidders all the rights and did not protect sellers from negative feedback, which slime very good sellers, with impugnity among other comments (also the shipping thingy where they tell us how much we can charge). Well the ‘moderator” did not appreciate my comments, because I said the only way to put up with ebays bologny was to ignore the announcements and let the chips fall where they may cause we really don’t have any input in the the cyber market in the sky. Who is this so-called moderator, anyhow???? Ebay really does not want the bad pr out there, but whether it’s here or not, posted or not, CENSORED or NOT, the word is on the streets, Ebay’s attitude that the sellers work for Ebay instead of themselves, is so prominent in their policies, I can only wish ebay would PAY us to list. You can censor me…. but just remember sellers talk, and you cannot hide the obvious. I only hope that although I was censored yesterday, obviously because I hit a nerve, my comments have a postive effect somewhere and ebay sees what its doing from another angle!—- Marianne

By: LiquidatorLarry

LiquidatorLarry — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:36:52 +0000

I just lost eBay Powerseller status because I didn’t meet the requirements on 100 items and $3000 in sales. We had 74 sales and $57,000+ in gross sales. How is that possible? All other qualifications were met.

I don’t understand how people who work hard to offer unique higher end items at a great value to the eBay buyer can get removed from the advantages of those who sell less expensive items on eBay.

Anyone have any ideas? I also tried to find Dinesh Lathi’s email to let him know about this and seek his thoughts direct but am unable to find his email.

All help/comments appreciated.
- Larry

By: Dan Wilson

Dan Wilson — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:38:52 +0000

Richard,

This is a great conversation.

Totally appreciate the corporate limitations (I did something close to your job way back when) but the statments re DSRs for diamonds are, frankly, equivocal.

I’d appreciate a much clearer statement: “Diamond Powersellers are subject to the same DSR and Feedback standards as all other sellers.”

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:42:49 +0000

I wonder why they (Smartbargains) have received so few feedbacks, they’d left 159 when I looked.

By: MsFish213

MsFish213 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:44:05 +0000

@DD
It is hard to sell on Ebay. But, do you really think any one of us “common” sellers would be given a chance if that were our feedback?? I think not…we would be out of business.

By: Doctor Deals

Doctor Deals — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:07:19 +0000

@MSFISH213

It looks like eBay has a “Diamond in the Rough” with that one.

Three feedbacks in total and two are negative, not a good start for anyone.

I would suggest that all new eBay sellers, not just Diamond PS’s, get their feet wet with a few smaller transactions before jumping in with a few THOUSAND listings so they can learn the ins and outs of this marketplace.

Just becuase you can sell on the internet does NOT mean you are prepared to sell on eBay. Ask anyone selling on eBay and any other marketplace how very different and demanding eBay buyers are compared to all other online marketplace buyers.

Hopefully they can turn things around with some professional eBay seller assistance.

By: MsFish213

MsFish213 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:34:55 +0000

Level playing field? Check out the new Diamond Seller (?) Smartbargains….feedback at -1 and still active.

By: PAR

PAR — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:27:45 +0000

This is all very discouraging. Everyone here seems to have very valid points yet I see none of them addressed and none of them answered. Sure makes Ebay look like it is deliberately trying to deceive its sellers. I’ll keep watching in the hope that some Ebay management may come here and actually answer some of these questions honestly! I originally came here because someone on Seller Central posted the URL and said “go there if you want a good laugh”. I certainly see now just what he meant by that post.

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:28:38 +0000

Does Mr. Lahti think he’s talking to idiots? We’ve been eBay sellers longer than he’s been with eBay. We know eBay inside and out. We can feel eBay’s pulse, and know its heartbeat. We’re all internet savvy, and can find information eBay doesn’t even know has leaked. We know what’s going on and why.

When is eBay management going to realize that they cannot keep any decision or their reasons for that decision in stealth mode. We’ve built up an immunity to their doubletalk, and see right through it. We can sense ecommerce trends, without the help of eBay’s data.

No consultants with their MBAs know more than we do when it comes to our businesses. And, we know more about eBay, and where it is, than any of them. Our question is, how far down is John Donahue going to take eBay before he realizes he’s going in the wrong direction?

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:55:40 +0000

Richard,

You must have choked when you read this one:

“When we think about Level Playing Field, we tend to focus on equal access to opportunity. In other words, anyone can come to eBay start a business, establish a track record and grow according to their capabilities. It doesn’t mean we will treat everyone the same, regardless of their track record and capabilities, but it does mean that we will make it possible for anyone to succeed.”

You see what kind of nonsense we have to put up with?

If our listings don’t show up in best match, how is that equal access to opportunity?

Here’s my question:

Powerseller status, regardless of the level, has always been earned. Diamond Powersellers are showing up on eBay with no feedback. Shoplet is a perfect example. How have they earned any Powerseller status, much less Diamond, when they have no eBay selling history?

What are the requirements and benefits for the new PowerSeller Diamond level?

To qualify for the Diamond level, a seller must meet one of two average minimum sales requirements:
– Three month minimum: $500,000 in sales or 50,000 items, per month, for three consecutive months
– Annual minimum: $6,000,000 or 600,000 items, for the prior twelve months
Also, the seller must have a minimum 4.8 in all four DSRs based on the last 12 months.

http://pages.ebay.com/sell/June2008Update/faq/index.html#2

Speaking of Shoplet, your new Diamond Powerseller’s feedback is 98.1%, eBay. Their stars have fallen below the requirement for powerseller status. Are you going to charge them for the 30575 items they have listed?

Buy has over 3000 negs and neutrals in the last 12 months. There’s no way I’m going to believe Buy’s DSRs are not being “fixed”.

Is this eBay’s idea of a vibrant marketplace?