eBay Begins A Change

ctwxman writes "If I hadn't double checked the routing, I wouldn't have believed the email I just received from ebay was real. After all, who is 'spoofed' more than ebay? But it looks like they're making some major structural changes in the way they deal with their customers. This includes, "giving our CS reps the flexibility and tools they need to really take care of you. So, to start, within the next 90 days, we'll shut down most of our automated email responses. Our users will get a "real" e-mail response to their questions - you'll hear from a human being who will try to help you with your problem or question right off the bat. We will only use auto responses to acknowledge receipt of spam or policy violation reports." Wow. However, don't read everything at its simplistic face value. When they say, "We also think the time has come to expand phone support," it's only for sellers. Still, this seems to be movement in the right direction. Now all they have to do is take a little more responsibility with fraud protection." The message is online; granted, this isn't the most exciting news ever, but it will end affecting a lot of people.

Comments

Walmart

[RicJohnson]

The ONLY reason eBay is alive is because they the Walmart of auctions - they have the biggestest marketplace, so everyone else has go to them to sell.
It is not because they have any clue about what customer service is.
I have had quite a few friends loose money on ebay. When they filed a report - what did they get? A FORM LETTER saying "we can not help you...". Any yet ebay/paypal still collected THEIR fees.
There are a few good aution helpers, where they list, sell, and package your goods for you but they charge 40%!!!
EBay will be around for a while, but this move is an attempt to keeping growing in a market that is starting to die. Auctions used to be fun, but until somebody can offer a guarantee to protect the little guy, more people will just as soon buy at Walmart. And that is not a good thing.

Re:Walmart

[Wiseleo]

I am supporting an ebay store stores.ebay.com/daretowear

I also have prior experience at handling collections. When a customer initiates a fraudulent transaction or refuses to pay, I go after them. I've found that using the SquareTrade service is not too difficult. While it does have its faults, is a reasonable way to get fraudulent negative feedback removed, provided that you are a reputable party to the transaction.

I personally can't wait until SquareTrade implements binding arbitration. Binding arbitration takes ST from being a virtual counseling session to a virtual courtroom with legally binding decisions.

Never rescind fraud accusations, and pursue the sellers. Small claims court is probably your best bet. I haven't had to resort to that measure yet, since we are pretty effective at getting paid, but that's always an option in the event of such abuse. Mentioning to the seller that they could be suspected as guilty of interstate mail and/or wire fraud, which is a very serious federal offense, may also enable you to get the matters resolved. After all, eBay will retract unjust feedback if told to do so by law enforcement.

Good luck!

Re:Paypal

[Jeff DeMaagd]

I wonder how much of a problem Paypal really is. Problems affecting only 0.1% of customers can be a real big deal on the Internet.

I have to Agree - PayPal need serious help

[cybrthng]

I find it amazing that you can sell something according to the Terms of Service on EBay and a buyer can renig on such contracts through PayPal and get there money back.

I will NEVER sell tickets on Ebay again due to being burned in such a fashion where the person purchased tickets for a specific date, got the tickets but didn't open them and sent them back and did a refund request on PayPal. PayPal asked for the shipping tracking and saw it was returned to sender so they reversed the charges and gave the money back to the buyer.

For someone who did 15k in paypal billing that year to get ignored and to have no one able to answer my calls and emails was pretty upsetting to say the least. To have an "All sales are final" sale get reversed because of a cheating buyer was upsetting but to freeze my account and hold my money until I authorized an illigitimate refund was icing on the cake.

Paypal purposely won't accept visa or mastercard payments on reversed charges because they know they couldn't win a disputed or cancelled charge with Visa/Mastercard - Remember that when you let them suck money out unprotected via an EFT/Bank draft.

oh, and the insurance up to 500 only protects the buyer..

Seller beware.. ebay and paypal aren't out to help you.