Improvements Coming from Etsy

Just got this note from Etsy about improvements to the marketplace, including more social media integration.

Hi there, Greetings from your friends at Etsy. As you know, Etsy is a marketplace, but we're also a community. We are artisans and artists, creators, collectors, thinkers and doers - and we're over 10 million strong! As the community grows, we are constantly working to provide new and easier ways to shop, sell and communicate. We'd like to take a moment of your time and share some of the ways we are doing just that. Some of these changes relate to the information we collect from you, and how we use it. We've detailed the changes that will be made in the next 14 days in a blog post and in our updated Privacy Policy. More Relevant Communication Many of you have asked to hear more about improvements we're making to Etsy. So from now on, we're planning to let you know when we introduce features that you might like, and if you are an Etsy shop owner, tips on improving your shop. If you'd like to change these email preferences, or sign up for other newsletters that interest you, go to your Etsy Account. Deeper Integration With Your Social Network From what we hear, these social networks are pretty popular these days. That's why we are rolling out improvements in the coming months that will help you connect your world on Facebook and Twitter with your world on Etsy. In order to support services powered by third parties like Facebook and Twitter we are expanding the information we share with them. A New Way to Promote Your Shop As you may have heard, we recently launched Etsy Search Ads, a new way for you to promote your shop within the Etsy marketplace. When you sign up for Search Ads, you'll see your items highlighted on Etsy's search results pages. You control your budget, and you will see your results - you can track your performance with a module at the bottom of the Shop Stats page. Learn more about Search Adshere. Your Brand On Etsy You've been asking for it, and it's finally here. Starting next week, you can change your shop name if you wish. We'll also increase your visibility as a shop owner by displaying your full name (or username if you prefer) across the site along with your shop name and link.Find out more about this change. We're pretty excited about all this, and we hope you are too. By being part of Etsy, you are changing the world for the better every day. And for that, we are incredibly grateful. Much love, Your friends at Etsy

eBay Has Yet to Decide Whether to Rejoin Cash-Back Programs such as KickItBack

Just got this email from KickItBack, an online cash-back program, that eBay has still not decided whether to rejoin their program. They say they have new retailers added, featured retailers on their site when I looked at their home page include Footlocker.com, The Body Shop, Banana Repiblic and Godaddy.com.

The text of the email is below:

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A couple of months ago, we informed you
that eBay had temporarily suspended all cash-back programs.

Unfortunately, we have yet to hear if they will be reinstating the program or not.

While their decision remains to be seen, KickItBack continues to grow and we now offer more deals and cash back than ever! We have added scores of new retailers, as well as great new features to make online shopping easier.

On our eBay Update page, you'll find two tools to help you find alternative retailers that sell any item you were searching for on eBay.

We look forward to eBay's decision and will continue to keep you updated on any changes to their cash-back program.

Happy Shopping!

The KickItBack Team

eBay-Hosted Photos Disappear from Listings Once Items End

I just heard from an incensed seller (and sometimes buyer) who told me the boards were aflame with people upset about how eBay-hosted photos now go bye-bye from an auction's listing once it ends.

(There is still one thumbnail pic, the main pic, but if there were multiple photos, as there are for many items, buyers can no longer see them).

I am trying to find out more about this, but I verified it on one of my recently sold listings: The main photo I used still showed up, but only in the small "My eBay" size; it could not be enlarged, and you could not see the other, more detailed photos I had posted. (Note: this is only for eBay-hosted photos, not other third-part photo hosts).

If this is true, it is going to drive me to a third party host. But this could also impact sales if buyers can no longer see detailed images of an item after they won it. Sometimes they want to see the photos after they win the auction but before they pay, and if the photos disappear, it makes them suspicious. eBay suggested to one buyer that he ask the seller to email him the other photos, but what seller has time to do that for all the buyers who might ask?

Another buyer complains, "eBay, bring back the completed item photos. If I purchase an item, I need to compare the item I receive to the photos. If you remove the photos from the listing, I cannot do this. It appears as if you are trying to make it difficult for the buyer to determine if his item is as described. If you continue to remove the photos in completed listings, buyers like me will no longer purchase certain items on eBay. Please reconsider this unwise decision."

Here is a sampling of comments from the eBay Discussion boards, (with eBay id's removed):

BUYER CANCELS TRANSACTION AFTER PICS DISAPEAR (4 Replies /38 Views)

BUYER CANCELS TRANSACTION AFTER PICS DISAPEAR
Oct 11, 2011 06:43 PM

ALL OF MY PICS DISAPEAR FROM MY AUCTIONS AS SOON AS THE AUCTIONS END EVEN BEFORE THEY ARE PAID. A BUYER CONTACTED ME AND IN A NON-DIRECT WAY ACCUSED ME OF TAMPERING WITH THE AUCTION AND WANTED ME TO EMAIL THEM ALL THE PICS AND THAT THEY WANTED TO CANCEL THE TRANSACTION FOR THIS 300 DOLLAR AUCTION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT EBAY TRUST AND SAFTEY...YADA YADA.. WTF THANKS EBAY!!!!

Re: BUYER CANCELS TRANSACTION AFTER PICS DISAPEAR
Oct 11, 2011 06:51 PM
so the auction is now canceled. Paranoid buyer.

Re: BUYER CANCELS TRANSACTION AFTER PICS DISAPEAR
Oct 11, 2011 09:37 PM
I'm not sending payment for a recently won auction until I see the photos. eBay told me to get the seller to send the photos in off-site e-mail. I told eBay to do it. This is beyond outrageous.

Re: BUYER CANCELS TRANSACTION AFTER PICS DISAPEAR
Oct 11, 2011 09:47 PM
I'm going to cancel the auction I just won if eBay doesn't send me the photos. What were they thinking?

Re: BUYER CANCELS TRANSACTION AFTER PICS DISAPEAR
Oct 12, 2011 05:16 AM
I just found a temporary solution, for myself (as a Buyer) -
as far as saving completed listing photos ...

See this thread:

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Technical-Issues/Please-Change-The/5200032662

"FULL-Versions of COMPLETED-LISTINGS,
(w/ full-sized eBay Gallery Pics, not "thumbnails"),
ARE still visible IF viewed from ANOTHER COUNTRY's
eBay site… e.g. eBay U.K."

That just worked for me.

And:

Bring Back the Completed Item Photos
Oct 11, 2011 07:00 PM
eBay, bring back the completed item photos. If I purchase an item, I need to compare the item I receive to the photos. If you remove the photos from the listing, I cannot do this. It appears as if you are trying to make it difficult for the buyer to determine if his item is as described. If you continue to remove the photos in completed listings, buyers like me will no longer purchase certain items on eBay. Please reconsider this unwise decision.

Re: Bring Back the Completed Item Photos
I just had a paranoid buyer that made me cancel a 300 dollar auction because of this. They accused me of auction tampering and said they would talk to trust and safety tomorrow. I guess they have reason to be paranoid based upon my feedback and stars lmao