Former #1 eBay Seller Glacier Bay DVD (Randy Smythe) Speaks

[xppman]

I think the pre-filled is using the stock photos and such and Item Specific
is conditions i.e. New Used etc.

Either way if I recall correctly, they guttered entire categories with these "improvements"
whether that was the intention or not is still unclear.
I do remember when the music category was up in arms.
It got to the point that LieWorld was hiding threads (and deleting some too)
with hundreds of post on them
from some pretty big time (lots of FB) posters.
These people were begging to return the categories the way they were because
these sellers were suffering.
I got so bad that if you even posted to the thread... it would NOT bump up to page one.

THIS was how eBay deals with the outcries from its customers and was the beginning of the turning point for all of us IMO.

[amy]

[quote author=landofsmiles link=topic=219.msg25404#msg25404 date=1159545514]
Is pre-fill the same as Items Specific?

[/quote]

No--with pre-fill information when I'm listing the only information I need to enter is the UPC code (or ISBN number) and a price.  The item description, photo, etc. is automatically filled in.  I list newer CDs and so pre-fill is a lifesaver for me (sorry Cranky  :-[ ).  I can list 500 new items a day with pre-fill on Amazon and it takes a fraction of the time that normal listings take.

Either way if I recall correctly, they guttered entire categories with these "improvements"
whether that was the intention or not is still unclear.
I do remember when the music category was up in arms.

Item specifics and category rollups killed many sellers' businesses in the music category (and many other categories)--except for a certain large seller who keyword spammed like crazy to compensate for the category rollups in CDs and got away with it--and then had the nerve to come on the Stores board (hi Marie  ) and say "we just had to do it to keep our margins up"--never mind that smaller sellers in the music categories were not allowed to do it and many went out of business.  I can't imagine why that seller didn't get any sympathy when they gave their sob story reason for KWS (edit--they didn't get any sympathy from other sellers, but eBay invited them to lunch to discuss the KWS and they were allowed by eBay to KWS for several months after that).  :

[landofsmiles]

[quote author=amy link=topic=219.msg25408#msg25408 date=1159549180]
[quote author=landofsmiles link=topic=219.msg25404#msg25404 date=1159545514]
Is pre-fill the same as Items Specific?
[/quote]
No--with pre-fill information when I'm listing the only information I need to enter is the UPC code (or ISBN number) and a price. [/quote]

Thanks for the clarification.

Item specifics and category rollups killed many sellers' businesses in the music category (and many other categories)--

That was the beginning of the end for me. I was starting to build a pretty good bronze business at the time. Category Rollups and Items Specifics slashed my gross sales by over 75% almost overnight. Not to mention that I had just ordered and shipped a whole bunch of bronze from Thailand with great anticipation and high expectations. Oh, well..

[Anita]

Just for the record, I can CERTAINLY understand why sellers prefer the pre-filled info on any site!
It is weird... I don't mind the pre-filled stuff on Amazon.  Never have.  I always have (had) more trust in sellers on Amazon then on eBay. 
Maybe because all of Amazon (Marketplace) is pre-filled and the seller just adds their comments.  ??  Whereas, on eBay there are pre filled listings and listings made from scratch.
???  I'm trying to figure out what my reasoning is. 

[landofsmiles]

I just made a purchase on Amazon a few minutes ago. I love that site. It's so easy and you don't have to worry about hidden charges, excessive shipping, etc.

[Anita]

I have shopped at Amazon since they first went online.  AND being an Amazon cheerleader...
Sign up for their VISA.  The interest rate is TERRIBLE, but if you don't ever carry a balance, it can be a verrrry good thing.
You get points for using it.  Points go towards Amazon shopping certificates.
I run just about everything through that card! 

[xppman]

Your sharp as a tack Amy. Category rollups.. yea that's what they called it
and boy did it sure "roll up" all lot of people.

Bob that was about the beginning of the end for me too as far as bids and sell through
and when I started decreasing my listing from around 10-12  a week to 3 or 4.
This was what 3 almost 4 years ago they started screwing with the categories?

I sure am glad I NEVER relied on ebay and from day one was working
to drive traffic to my website, but I do recall a significant decrease in traffic that started back then that just kept getting worst and worst and worst. Today eBay is lucky to get a 10.00 spot off me every month and I sure am glad I never took the 
to my mouth.

The handwriting was on the wall a long time ago and I was
fortunate enough to realize this very early on, as many of you did.

This was also the time ebay started tinkering with everything under the sun.
At least back then it was every few months. Look at it today.
Almost weekly or even daily these morons are screwing with the site.
And they wonder where all the buyers went?

Look in the mirror ebay... YOU ran them off.

[cranky_hippie]

sorry Cranky

So it's all YOUR fault, Amy! 

Actually, I have no idea how it made things in the music category when prefilled came along. But in the books category it made it too easy for the big sellers to be sloppy. They listed books as new when they weren't just because they could. The stock photos looked nothing like the book they had. Many of them began listing books that they didn't even have because it was so easy to do. The prefilled info was often wrong but these sellers never checked it. (Information on "Anne of Green Gables" once turned up on a very adult book.  :o) It didn't take long for the buyers to catch on and we all got a bad rep because of it.

And, Anita, I can understand why Amazon would be more attractive than Ebay. The only books that I bought on Ebay were from dealers that I knew. 

[xppman]

Whether it's books, blankets, computer components or CDs.

The magic is gone for ever. IMO
The site is riddled with scams and knock offs,
excessive shipping and glitches galore.
Daily visual site changes and ridiculous add ons and "spin off" sites.

Now eBay is selling advertising to LINKS that take you off site.
The payment service of ebays choosing is becoming widely known
as a gangster type operation as well....

Lets face it.. the trend of buying in the worlds largest flea market has worn off.

More importantly the buying public in general is totally aware
of all the above and are OVER IT, obviously steering clear of eBay.

Thanks Meg and team. We really don't say that enough. 

[Anita]

In a nutshell... eBay sucks!