eBay Seller Suspensions: Neutrals are now Negatives

[mandy]

Toolhaus added a tool that calculates sellers' 90-day neutral + negative percentages.

http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/neg90

[mandy]

2 related articles from Randy Smythe:

This current non-performing seller policy will have a unintended consequence for eBay and the marketplace. Sellers who are worried about getting caught in the cross-hairs of T&S will withhold Feedback in an effort to prevent a neg or neutral. Negs for buyers will increase dramatically because a neutral is calculated the same as a negative in the new policy. Sellers will give buyers negatives if they receive a neutral because eBay considers a neutral as a negative buying experience. The problem is, 1 neg to a buyer may kill their feedback rating and send them off the site for good, in fact that is a metric that eBay acknowledges. Negs affect buyers more than sellers, so what will be the outcome? Sellers will continue to be hassled by eBay T&S living in fear that their business will be ruined, many will stop selling all together and some will move to other sites. All the while customers will still continue to have bad experiences on eBay and continue to leave. There is a real problem here but this crackdown is not the solution...

full article: http://rksmythe.blogspot.com/2007/08/sor...nting.html

Right now, I am hearing of sellers being restricted solely on the basis of comments left in a customers feedback, stating that the product was a fake. eBay apparently is not researching the validity of the complaint nor is it contacting sellers to hear their side of the story or seek proof that the product in question was legitimate. Instead these sellers are just being restricted...

full article: http://rksmythe.blogspot.com/2007/08/war...ng-in.html

[mandy]

More details on the new policy:

Q: Some people are getting a 14-day restriction, while others are able to sell at a reduced volume -- why the difference?

A:  First, let's remember these restrictions impact only 1% of our sellers – the same group that is causing 35% of our bad buying experiences on the site.  The goals of these SNP restrictions are to change seller behavior.  We want those sellers with a pattern of bad buyer experiences to improve or fix their business practices, so they can be successful on the site.

We feel it is fair to treat casual sellers and those who are running businesses slightly differently.  While it may sound like we’re unfairly penalizing small sellers, we’re really trying to address the different needs and issues between the two groups.

Low-volume sellers: Low-volume sellers are those with no more than 2 negative feedback, no neutral feedback, and less than $3000 sales volume over a 90-day period, would typically receive a 14-day full selling restriction.  After the 14-day period has passed, selling privileges will be automatically reinstated.  (As with all selling restrictions, the seller can continue to bid and communicate.)

Higher-volume sellers: For sellers who are not low-volume sellers, and who have a buyer dissatisfaction rate of greater than 5% (but less than 10%), the restriction is a reduction in sales volume. Sellers will be able to continue selling and listing items, up to 75% of their historical weekly volume based on their rolling 90 day history of completed sales...

full article: http://www.ebaychatter.com/the_chatter/2...o-of-.html

[sneakymagenta]

We want those sellers with a pattern of bad buyer experiences to improve or fix their business practices, so they can be successful on the site.

the restriction is a reduction in sales volume. Sellers will be able to continue selling and listing items, up to 75% of their historical weekly volume

Attention Moron T&S :asshat2:

1. large seller loses 25% of revenues
2 large seller forced to lay off customer service staff
3 large seller's customer service gets worse
4 large seller suspended
5 large  seller files for bankruptcy

[amy]

[quote author=sneakymagenta link=topic=15689.msg64424#msg64424 date=1188671304]

We want those sellers with a pattern of bad buyer experiences to improve or fix their business practices, so they can be successful on the site.

the restriction is a reduction in sales volume. Sellers will be able to continue selling and listing items, up to 75% of their historical weekly volume

Attention Moron T&S :asshat2:

1. large seller loses 25% of revenues
2 large seller forced to lay off customer service staff
3 large seller's customer service gets worse
4 large seller suspended
5 large  seller files for bankruptcy
[/quote]

You left out #6: large seller was an idiot for relying on eBay for the majority of their revenues. 

The rest of your list is accurate.  Very few businesses could survive a 25% decline in revenues.