The full paper can be read here.

It’s a pretty sweeping document that quite frankly doesn’t speak highly of the current state of the eBay Marketplace. Something I hear quite a bit of here on Ink. However, I’ve also started to receive emails from individuals that stand on the other side of the discussion, that are enthused and excited by the changes being made. When one has a community as large as this, inevitably these contrasting viewpoints are going to occur.

This paper is no different. Just a few hours after receiving the email from Joe Cortese, I was forwarded a response to the position paper from PeSA and VOICES member, Elizabeth Bennett. With her approval, I have included her response to the paper below:

Hello. I disagree with PESA’s position paper. The new eBay pricing is wonderful for my business; my ebay business is up more than 30%, and my ebay fees are lower. I project an INCREASING share of my buisiness will be on eBay over the next 12 months.

I believe that the “winds of change” at eBay also included a profound commitment to communication, and that eBay is doing everything within their power to communicate with sellers and to woo buyers.

I have been to a number of PESA events. I was among the first PESA members to pay my dues when you went from a free to a fee organization. I have been disappointed that PESA has positioned itself as an organization which promotes every venue OTHER THAN eBay, and where the “group culture” has been one of non-stop “eBay bashing.”

I was heartened by PESA’s having Lorrie Norrington as keynote at the last event, although I was unable to attend. I hoped that that decision, and several phone meetings for members with eBay executives, signalled a change in PESA’s approach to eBay.

PESA would be doing more of a service to their members if they were working to promote the EBAY venue. The only reason I am a member is that I am interesting in networking with other high volume sellers, to increase my eBay sales.

I am disappointed in the decision of PESA to release this “white paper.” It certainly does not represent my views, or promote my interests.

Best,
Elizabeth Bennett
President

As stated before, my goal on Ink is to report news and all things eBay… good and bad. I have been accused at times of being too corporate; just a mouthpiece (last week I was referred to as “a mole”; this week it’s “publicist with an inauthentic voice”). Other times I get emails of encouragement and sheer surprise that I actually allow certain comments to come through the spam filter or that I tackle certain subjects.

Bottom line, as long as I can show both sides of an argument or discussion, I feel its worth writing about. This one is a lightning rod, I realize that. Most things I write about these days are. But I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t post the PeSA positioning statement up here and invite comments and feedback. Just as Scott Pooler said in his post, “When the longest standing eBay trade organization comes out with a statement like this… Someone should take note.”

Cheers,
RBH