eBay Sellers Challenge Winners Announced

The eBay Sellers Challenge Winners have just been announced. The four winners, one in each of the four categories, voted on by the eBay community are:

� First-time Sellers on eBay: Tori Nichel, a first-time eBay seller who will use the site as a way to establish an e-commerce presence for her growing Brooklyn-based fashion apparel business

� Part-time Sellers on eBay: Ryan Pugh, a longtime eBay member who recently decided to make her Las Vegas-based eBay business a full-time job, selling products she believes help people to �live clean�

� Full-time Sellers on eBay: Janell Anderson-Ehrke, a full-time eBay seller who helps low-income artisans and micro-entrepreneurs in Nebraska to connect with a community of buyers on eBay

� U.S. Veterans and Service Members: Thomas Costello, a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and Chicago-based eBay seller who uses eBay to take advantage of a growing market for used computer equipment

You can see who the runners up are, and also review their business plans and videos at http://sellerschallenge.ebay.com/.

eBay "Ask Seller a Question" Scam; Url Leads to Evil File

eBay sellers: Don't fall for this "Ask Seller a Question" scam. I have gotten two of these in just the last few days. It goes something like this..you get a question from a supposed interested buyer saying they want to buy it as a present but want to confirm the style is what the friend wants, and can you check this url that will show you a photo of it?

The url is a tinyurl, or shortened url, so you can't see the domain name you are going to. Then it leads to a downloadable file that is malicious. If you download and execute this file you are going to mess up your computer. The one I got let to a file with a .cpl extension. (In some cases the browser automatically downloads it for you, but fortunately the browser I use caught the file as suspicious and asked if I wanted to discard it, which I did).

Here's the email I got with the name and part of the url blacked out:

---
From: m*********
To: juliawww
Subject: m*********** has sent a question about item #2*********, ending on Oct-11-09
A*********************************
Sent Date: Oct-05-09 13:24:13 PDT

Dear juliawww,

Hello,

I want to purchase this item as a birthday present for a family
member. I think it's the style they are looking for but I'm not
100% sure. Can you open up the pic in the link and confirm?
Please get back to me asap so I can know If I'll go through with
the purchase or not. Here's the link
http://tinyurl.com/*******

Thanks,

- m***********

----

The user id is fake..in the case I checked, the user ID showed up as "private" so I couldn't get any info. I'm not going to delve into that one for now.

But, the main point is, if you get one of these questions, ignore it and report it!

eBay Item Wrapped in Depends Diaper; from the What Not to Do Dept.

A friend of mine just told me this and I just had to share.

She bought an antique on eBay and it came wrapped in a Depends diaper: "It gave me the  willies, just thinking about it�.not good marketing! I mean really, they couldn�t spring for some bubble wrap!"

Yikes! Another thing she bought once came with cobwebs on it. Well, chalk those up to the "what not to do" department in packing and shipping.

I must say, though, the things I buy on eBay 99% of the time are wrapped very well, sometimes with multiple layers of bubble wrap.

eBay's Top-Rated Sellers Badge Starts to Show in Search Listings: The Impact?

eBay's new "Top-rated seller" designation, a little gold badge and ribbon, is starting to show up under the listings in search results on the site, like so many little cherries waiting to be picked.

But will the designation really have that big an impact, such that sellers who do not have it will feel a significant detrimental effect on their business?

Of course it remains to be seen. But I am not convinced it will be that huge a deal. See the below results for a search for a red Chanel bag:

In the pic (click on it to see whole thing), the 3rd and 5th bags have the Top-rated seller icon. But notice the first two do not, nor does the fourth one. Also, these bags are all sufficiently different, such that a person who is looking for a specific type of Chanel bag in red most likely would not choose a different style just based on the icon.

Of course, this is going to depend on the types of items being searched for. If there are hundreds of black nano ipods available, and only ten have the Top-rated seller designation, I think those ten sellers are more likely to have a boost over the competition.

But for more rare and unique types of items, I am not convinced the impact will be that big. Not that the badge is not a positive thing for sellers; it is no doubt something just about all sellers would like to have.

What are your thoughts on it?

What to Do When Your eBay Buyer Says He Did Not Receive the Item

It's one of the emails we eBay sellers most dread. "I didn't receive my item yet..when did you send it?"

Thus ensues the frantic search for postal and, in some cases, customs receipts, the inputting of a tracking number, and the mystery of what the heck happened to your item in transit.

A recent email from a reader of my Yard Salers newsletter was about just this topic. This has also happened to me a few times...in one of the most nerve-racking cases, the item finally showed up in eastern Germany after some three months. I found there is some good news, however:

- If you have the proof of delivery/tracking number, you should be eligible for PayPal seller protection.  Here's what they say about it on the PayPal site:

"PayPal provides coverage to U.S. account holders for eligible transactions in the event of an unauthorized payment or item-not-received claims, chargebacks, and reversals.

To be eligible for PayPal Seller Protection:

- The transaction must be marked eligible or partially eligible for Seller Protection on the Transaction Details page.

- The item must be shipped within 7 calendar days of receiving payment to the shipping address on the Transaction Details page, and in accordance with our shipping requirements.

- In the event a buyer files a claim, you need to respond to our request for documents and other information in a timely manner.

- The item must be a physical, tangible good that can be shipped.

- Your primary residence, as listed in your PayPal account, must be in the United States.

What's not covered:

- Items picked up locally or delivered in person
- Services, intangible items, and digital goods
- Claims and chargebacks where the buyer says that the shipped item is significantly not as described."

Shipping requirements � "what documentation do I need?"

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/Marketing/securitycenter/sell/SellerProtection-outside

It's a good idea to insure any item worth more than you feel you can comfortably reimburse.  eBay no longer allows sellers to charge extra for insurance, however, so make sure you state in the auction that any insurance is included in the selling price, if you do insure it.

Also, and I really think eBay did the right thing with this, if a buyer leaves unfavorable DSR's (detailed seller ratings..the 5-star system) and they are international, those DSR's won't count against your overal DSR rating. This is a good thing because so many things can go wrong with international shipments which are outside a seller's control.

What have your experiences been with items that are reported not delivered? Or with the PayPal or eBay protection process? I'd like to know...I invite you to leave a comment here.

Stamps.com program lets sellers print labels free

Stamps.com's new program lets eBay sellers print postage free. And another Stamps.com service gives online sellers on multiple platforms them the ability to import data from eBay, Yahoo! Stores, Amazon,
PayPal and Google Checkout, for $15.99 a month.

I look forward to checking this out, in particular for the amazon support. I'm looking for a faster way to print postage for my amazon orders. I already use Stamps.com now for a lot of business postage, but I print labels from PayPal as well for eBay orders.

More at http://www.stamps.com/welcome/custom/ebay/, and below is also more info, from Stamps.com's Eric Nash:

"This free eBay
program is based on our new Stamps.com Version 8.5 software that is loaded with
new shipping features.  The main feature being the ability to import data from
eBay, Yahoo! Stores, Amazon, PayPal and Google Checkout.   The software also
supports batch label processing and data imports from XML or ODBC connections
(for a seller's ecommerce engine).  For a seller using multiple platforms to
sell their products (such as eBay and their own ecommerce cart), they will be
able to use one shipping management tool to print and manage all of their
shipping labels."

You can also check out their blog at http://blog.stamps.com.

eBay Sellers Can No Longer Charge for Insurance; What You Need to Do Now

Among the  many changes coming for eBay sellers this fall is that optional insurance is going bye-bye. This means eBay sellers can no longer ask buyers outright to pay for insurance if they want it; they must either offer it themselves by rolling it into the cost of the listing, or not offering it at all.

(See bullet point #5 below, from the July 2009 eBay seller update:)

"Rewards for sellers delivering great buyer experiences

    * New way to look at DSRs: Avoid 1s and 2s; only domestic DSRs count
    * PowerSeller requirements and benefits�rewarding quality over quantity
    * New eBay Top-rated seller status earns the highest PowerSeller rewards
    * New minimum standard and new Selling Practices policy for all sellers
    * Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance no longer allowed
    * New Seller Dashboard with more insight to help you improve"

Below I will get into this in more detail, but first I wanted to address two questions some of my Yard Salers newsletter subscribers have had. When exactly is this all going down, and do we have to go into all our existing listings now and revise them? The short answers are Sept. 22 and no...but see below for more:

"When does this change take effect?
eBay is scheduled to remove shipping insurance from new listings starting the week of September 22, 2009."

"Do I have to update my listings?
No, you do not have to update your existing listings. However, you will no longer have the ability to include shipping insurance in new, revised or renewed listings. You may want to update your item or shipping and handling charges to include the cost of insurance."

A but further below I quote eBay's explanation on this in more depth. I think all sellers need to read it.

But first, I wanted to add my quick take on this. This isn't something many sellers seem to be happy about, however I don't think it's going to make a big difference in the grand scheme of things. I plan to continue to insure my bigger ticket items; say around $100 or more, to start. If needed I will fold this into the cost of the item.

However it has always seemed to me that if something went wrong with a shipment, the onus has been on us as sellers to take care of it. Sometimes it truly seems out of our hands, such as when something goes missing, or, in more frustrating recent cases I have had, the carrier says the item was delivered, and the buyer says he or she never got it. Any way you slice it those situations are a hassle, and cost you valuable time as a seller, especially if it comes down to filing an insurance claim.

Fortunately, those situations happen rarely for me. (Knock on wood). On the bright side, eBay does say they are offering bulk edit tools for us, so I am looking fwd. to those.

OK, more details below from eBay if you want them. Meantime, I would love to hear your take on the whole insurance situation. Feel free to post a comment on this blog.

"Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance removed: The insurance option creates the perception that buyers need to purchase shipping insurance as a protection on eBay, an experience they're not accustomed to on other ecommerce sites. In fact, sellers have always been responsible for their items until they arrive safely in their customers' hands. That's why shipping insurance will no longer be included in the purchase flow as either an option or requirement for buyers.

"Of course you can choose to purchase insurance on shipments, but not ask buyers to buy insurance separately. In some categories like Antiques, Collectibles, and Jewelry, shipping insurance for sellers is essential. When appropriate, you can include the cost of insurance in your item or shipping price."

And more:

"No optional buyer charges for insurance

"Why is eBay removing optional or required shipping insurance when I list or re-list my item?
By removing optional or required shipping insurance, we are adjusting to help meet buyer expectations for ecommerce and aligning with industry standard practices. In most circumstances, buyers do not expect to pay for the cost of shipping insurance. This change also reflects the industry�and eBay�standard practice that sellers are responsible for their items until they are safely in their customers' hands.

"As a seller, can I still insure the items I sell on eBay?
Yes, you are still able to insure your items. Check with your shipping carrier for insurance options, or contact a third-party shipping insurance provider for insurance coverage. You can also purchase shipping insurance from your shipping company on eBay when you print your shipping labels directly from eBay or PayPal. To help cover the additional expense, consider folding the cost of insurance into your handling fee or item price.

"I sell rare, antique, or one-of-a-kind items that I must insure. How can I insure these items?
There are several ways to insure items you sell. Check with your shipping carrier for insurance options, or contact a third-party shipping insurance provider for insurance coverage. You can also purchase shipping insurance from your shipping company on eBay when you print your shipping labels directly from eBay or PayPal. To help cover the additional expense, consider folding the cost of insurance into your handling fee or item price.

"Paying for shipping insurance raises my costs. What can I do?
If appropriate, you can move the cost of shipping insurance into your handling charges or item price.

"How do I add my insurance cost to my Auction-style listings?
If you list with Auction-style format, you can choose to add your insurance cost into your handling charges. You'll need to estimate the value of the item, and check with your shipping carrier or third-party insurance provider for approximate cost of coverage. You could also start your item at a slightly higher price to cover the cost of insurance.

"If I want to revise my listings, are bulk editing tools available?
Yes, bulk editing tools are available now.

"Will my listings be blocked in Relist, Sell Similar or Sell One Like This flows if they include shipping insurance?
No, eBay will not block these listings, but we will automatically remove the insurance option from the listing when a seller uses Relist, Sell Similar, or Sell one Like This. You'll see a message that eBay has removed these options from your listing.

"What about Good 'Til Cancelled listings?
The insurance option will be automatically removed from Good 'Til Cancelled listings when they renew. You'll see a message that the option has been removed.

"Does this change apply to all listing formats and categories?
Yes, this change will apply to all listing formats and categories.

"I use a third-party listing service. Am I affected?
Yes, this change impacts all third parties that provide listing and/or checkout services with optional or required shipping insurance as an option. eBay will require third parties to remove optional or required shipping insurance from their listing and checkout flows.

"I am a third-party developer. What changes do I need to make?
By September, you should remove the shipping insurance option from your product or service's listing and checkout flow."