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Sonia asked: When I send a potential buyer an offer in response to a message they sent me, they only have two options: accept the offer or ignore it. Unlike offers sent via the “best offer” option, they have no way to reject or counter. Please add these two options.
I talked with the eBay team and they wrote this down as an improvement. They saw the benefit of it and are going to talk with the techies to see if they can add this.
BrianB: First, great meeting you at the Open! Your question was:
I would like eBay to provide a page or some mechanism that will tell me when my listings violate the “No duplicate listings” rule. To clarify, some time ago eBay implemented a rule that, when violated slows down your sales because you have duplicate listings. This was implemented to prevent sellers from listing the same item many times in an effort to have better search results. That is a good desire. However, for instance I had multiple HP laptop bags that look different, but have the same dimensions, color etc. Since they all have roughly the same attributes my listings could be violating the “no duplicate listings” policy and I would not know it. If they had a page where I could go and see whether any of my listings violate this policy I would be good. I just don’t want to be in the dark and I don’t want to violate the rule.
The Search team did confirm that they will look for items that seem to be duplicate listings. Listings from the same seller that appear to be basically identical and they will lower them in search. They are trying to keep the abusers (we know who) from creating walls of offers that are just duplicates of their own listings and similar price points. His suggestion was to make sure to use multi-variation listing when possible to avoid being lowered in search by these types of listings. He also stated that they are looking at putting a screen that would show you these types of listings. So similar to the “pricing” guidance screen, they would show you listings that they see as potential issues that you can look to revise to avoid being punished in search.
INADS: So first, yes, later this year there will be some penalties if your INAD percentage is significantly higher than other sellers in that same category. Starting in early August (I believe after August 6), there will be a new section on the Growth Tab that will show your INAD percentage and show you how you are doing against other sellers in those categories.
We talked with some folks about INAD and what I started calling FINAD (False INAD), where the buyer is trying to use INAD just to get Free Return Shipping. They were open to looking at a backend process where sellers can dispute the INAD process direct with eBay so that FINADs can be removed and not hurt towards your metrics (similar to where incorrect Late Shipments could be disputed and not affect your shipping metrics.
This whole topic is also related to Returns. We discussed with the Returns team that if we are doing Free Returns, then we want a buyer that starts the return process to see a different screen and path. Something that says “Your Seller offered Free Returns on this transactions, here is your label, thanks!” This will deemphasize the ability to use INAD, since the Seller was doing Free Returns anyway. They liked this idea and are taking this back with them. Fingers crossed.
The Returns team (and even Bob Kupbens) stated that they want to start putting barriers on buyers that are abusing INAD. By monitoring their accounts and if buyers are incorrectly using INAD, then they will require the buyer to provide photo proof of the issue before they can claim INAD, or they have to contact eBay directly before they buyer can claim INAD. This will help monitor buyers and as Bob said, start removing the bad buyers from the eBay platform (or at least make them play fair).
So, first off I want to say that one of the best parts of eBay Open was getting to meet some other fellow Trash Elves at the Open! And we are hoping to start a regular meeting with those that live close, and maybe a business relationship with those that live in Vegas!
Ok, I’m going to download some of the information that we learned that will help everyone, and that will answer some questions. I’ll do this in blocks so that I don’t create the Great Wall of Text…
First for Jay and Ryanne: eBay is looking to have multi-user access to eBay, with restrictions in place so that employees don’t have full access. This is in the works, and Mohan (great guy at eBay) is taking this on in the first part of 2019.
I think a lot of the breakout sessions are still more for new sellers. We only went to a few of them, and spent most of our time in the Expo Hall with eBay people getting specific one-on-on questions answered (including ones from you guys!), with Vendors, and getting new contacts to open new sourcing options.
Nice!
Wow! That is crazy!
We haven’t seen that big of an increase in returns. We were just under 2% and are now at 2.7%. Interesting part is only returns have been clothes. No shoes. That was my fear.
Hard to prove right now if sales are up because if this. We are up Year Over Year, but more inventory too. I can say our July is looking way better than I planned. But hard to prove if Free Returns is a part of that.
It is really a sauce as to what creates a sale. So many items are in there, Free Shipping, Free Returns, Trusted Seller, Good Photos, Good Description, Good Price, On Sale, Promoted Listings… Very difficult to nail down how much each item helps or hurts.
I love that!
I talked with some folks at eBay Open specific to search, and no, you are not pushed down in search if you don’t have these items, but you have a better chance to convert to a sale. And when you are selling, you get moved up in search.
We had a great guy that confirmed that if you make a sale in a certain category / Item Condition / Brand, then your other items that are similar will move up in search. So if I sell a pre-owned Brooks Brothers Dress Shirt, my other pre-owned Brooks Brothers Shirts will move up in search. He confirmed that if you are showing that buyers are liking your items, then other similar items you have will move up in search.
CT – Glad to have you as another Full Timer! Do you think you are making it full time by keeping your living costs low or by your income being high?
I walked in with them yesterday. Very great couple. Super nice.
Wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence!
PS – lots of folks at EBay Open know of you guys at ScavengerLife. Even had drinks with Tim Chapman (Mr Customer Service) tonight. Cyndi from Amazing Taste says hi. And Ryan and Alli from Ralli Roots are as nice in person as they are on YouTube.
Mark: 😂😂😂
Fixing bad processes is my specialty…
Totally understand. Though I can tell you from our perspective we have never had any trouble with smart post. Yes, the delivery times are longer in some cases, And we have been known to go ahead and pay a little bit more for FedEx ground so that the item can get there faster and less risk of damage. But overall, it has worked out really well for us.
Marie: I have a schedule below that shows when it makes the best financial sense to move up a level. There are other factors with free auction listings, shipping supply discounts, and promoted listing credits that would lower these levels, but everyone’s tastes are different, so I left that out of the equation for now.
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