Three problems with forced use of the Ebay catalog

I'm sure it's a good thing for most listings to reference the Ebay catalog. In particular, it allows competitive shopping, and alerts sellers to nonsensically high asking prices.

There are two degrees of forced.
a. can't create the listing
b. continuous dunning to add catalog linkage

Three things that go wrong:

1. The item isn't in the catalog, although it belongs in a category which requires the catalog.

2. The item doesn't meet the catalog description, even though it has the same UPC # and may have met the description at some time in the past.

3. The catalog description is huge, and completely obscures seller's textual description.

For sellers who sell used stuff, the first one is very common.  The thing is from the '50s. It ain't in any catalog. Of particular note:  collectibles/advertising.

Sellers of used stuff frequently sell something which varies from how it was originally sold. Missing manual, for example.  When the description shows the manual, the listing is inherently confusing.  When buyer complains that the manual was missing, it is of little help to point out that the manual wasn't shown in the picture.

Even when seller might like to enlighten buyer by providing a more accurate description, anything written by seller is in great danger of being shoved way to the bottom by the volume of catalog description.   Potential buyers frequently reach the glaze point well before hacking all the way down to seller's description.  They hit "buy it now", and end up disappointed (with seller paying the price).

There needs to be an override, or at least a way to put the discrepancy list ahead of the catalog data.

Observe that "item specifics" works fine in this regard. The dun can be turned off, when it is inappropriate.

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Ebay vs Flash? Snipe countdown broken.

Ebay software seems to have a continuous batttle with the browsers.

Recently, the timer countdown to snipe time has broken.

Automated Return Procedure, #2

Yesterday I proposed that the Automated Return Procedure was deficient in not providing a way to block buyers who return too much stuff.

Today, a more in depth analysis.

As described. seller can offer to automate returns, and even offer to pay return shipping.  However, seller cannot make such 2nd way refunds contingent on the details of the case. Instead, Ebay offers to bill seller for the cost of 2nd way shipping.

I just can't see very many sellers signing up for that exposure.   Some issues:

1. Buyer determines the size and weight of the return package. Buyer cannot select worthless insurance, or unnecessary signature DC, but buyer can decide to return a small package in a big box.
2. Buyer determines whether the package gets mailed or not.  If buyer doesn't actually mail the package, the label still gets charged to seller.
3. Buyer has no throttle on returns. Punch the button, print the label. Seller pays.  Buyer can to that time and time and time again, no throttle.

That leaves those of us who want SNAD returns to be very easy with no solution.

Proper design:


The automated return process needs a way for seller to specify, and buyer to process, the difference between a SNAD return and a no-fault return.   Seller offers to pay 2nd way shipping on SNADs only.

Buyer can return an item at will, but pays the 2nd way shipping label.  If buyer wants 2nd way shipping paid by seller, buyer has to click "this item was not as described", and fill in a text box explaining what the problem was.   Once buyer clicks that box and purchases the label, the value of the transaction comes to include 2nd way shipping.

The return label payment always comes from buyer's account.  That's the throttle.

If seller agrees/acquiesces to the SNAD, then seller refunds all money paid + 2nd way shipping in one transaction.   If seller disagrees, seller can go to war. Not what I suggest, but there might be the time, and buyer knows that.   If seller loses the war (the SNAD dispute), seller loses all of money paid + 2nd way shipping which had been paid by buyer.

Automated Return procedure missing one crucial feature

Ebay, please.

The new automated return process is fine.  The automatic FVF refund is cool.

But, give us a way to block bids from buyers who abuse returns.

Any bid which might end up this buyer's 4th return in 6 months, I'd like to block.

I'd like buyer to understand that there is a cost for a return. Even when I pay the return postage.

Thank you.