More on the New eBay Feedback Policy Saga

Here are a few articles about the new eBay Feedback policy changes:

Information Week article - "EBay Feedback Cutoff Kicking In, Sellers Angry"
CNN Money article - "Ebay Feedback Cutoff Kicks In Monday"
Seeking Alpha - "eBay Showing Sellers the Door?"
BBC News Business - "eBay to Ban Negative Seller Views"

To see more articles try this Google search.

Sign the petition to end the new eBay Feedback policy here

For links to other online auction sites, click here.

eBay's New Feedback Policy - BAD IDEA!!!

You have to wonder what moron thought this one up:

Feedback Changes Going Into Effect

Some highlights:

• "Sellers may only leave positive feedback for buyers"

This is probably the most troubling one for sellers - in other words, if a buyer bids on an item and never pays, the seller cannot leave negative or neutral feedback for the buyer. On the other hand, buyers are free to leave whatever feedback they want, be it positive, negative or neutral. Since only positive feedback can be left for buyers, all buyers will have feedback ratings of 100%, and there will be no way to tell the good buyers from the problem buyers. Sellers need protection from bad buyers as much as buyers need protection from bad sellers.

• "After much consideration, we've made the decision to remove the Mutual Feedback Withdrawal process. The reason is that – under the new rules - it opens sellers up to extortion. As part of this decision, Mutual Agreement from third-party Feedback mediation services, such as SquareTrade, will also no longer be accepted."

So again, the seller has no real recourse against unfair negative feedback. It also leaves the seller open to being victims of feedback extortion by buyers who threaten to leave negative feedback if the seller doesn't give them anything they want. Buyers can now make demands of sellers under threat of negative feedback.

• Neutral feedbacks are now being counted as negatives in the feedback rating percentage calculations, which only include the last 12 months. Sellers who once had a 100% rating, are now finding their ratings dropping because they received a neutral feedback in the last 12 months. It might be just me, but I thought a neutral was just that, neutral, and did not count as either a postive or a negative.

Part of the really stupid part of all this is that it is the sellers who pour money into eBay, through their eBay Stores fees, listing fees, final value fees, etc. Buyers do not pay these fees. Many Power Sellers are getting angry enough to leave, and head over to sites like iOffer.com, which only charges a fee if you actually sell an item, eCrater.com, and BidVille. Does eBay not realize that sellers leaving for other sites = less revenue from seller fees? Can you say "DUHHHH!!!"???

I have been a member of eBay since 1998, and have been both a buyer and a seller. I cannot see how the new policies help anyone - not the good, honest buyers, or the good, honest sellers. There is a petition that has been started to protest the feedback policy changes. You can sign it here.

Walk Now For Autism NYC 2008

I will be participating in Walk Now for Autism in New York City on Sunday, June 22nd to help find a cure for autism.
As some of you know, my nephew Jonathan is at the mild-to-moderate end of the autistic spectrum.

Walk Now for Autism is our chance to make a difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness. Please join me in my efforts to help fund essential research. I will be walking in NYC in June, and would like you to support those affected by autism.

You can donate to Walk Now for Autism through my webpage at http://www.walknowforautism.org/newyorkcity/personal/carol2008

Any amount will help. Even a dollar goes a long way. If you are unable to make a donation (a situation I truly understand), your moral support as I prepare for the walk would be greatly appreciated.

It would be really great if you would take just 5 minutes to educate yourself about what autism is, and what it isn't.

Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on my page.

Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 150 children born today. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon.

Please join me in supporting Walk Now for Autism. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the more than 1 million Americans living with autism today.

Get FREE Dunkin Donuts Coffee!

Get a free iced coffee from participating Dunkin' Donuts on Thursday, May 13th between 10am-10pm. Click here for more info.

You can also click on the graphic below to get a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts Original coffee.