OT: EBay policy change

[merckxman]

"The key update to the eBay User Agreement is that we’ve made it clearer how we address violations of our policy on offers to buy or sell outside eBay. Sellers who violate this policy may be charged a final value fee for the applicable item, even if it doesn’t sell.

The updated User Agreement will take effect on September 19, 2017 for new users and on November 1, 2017 for all other users. "

[velotrack]

I hate eBay.

[Clean39T]

So basically if you list your bike here or on CL, and also on eBay, and then if you sell it to someone, end your eBay listing, and use PayPal for the transaction (which I imagine is the tell), eBay will try to charge you a final value fee. On one hand it's fair for them to not want people to use eBay for free advertising. On the other, eBay massively overcharges for their service and it's only a matter of time before other frictionless transaction platforms take market share... Facebook for example.

[jtakeda]

I'm no lawyer, but that sounds like a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

[tbike4]

A few months ago I had a frame on ebay and Craig's. I get a message on ebay and the guy says he is local and wants to see the frame. I say fine let me know when. I ended up selling the frame to a Craig's buyer so pulled the ad from ebay, it was a BIN. Within minutes I get a nasty e mail from ebay that pretty much says, we are watching you since I suppose by their monitoring methods I may have cheated them a few dollars but how would they prove that my intention was just to get it in front of eyeballs and sell locally. It wasn't, just a matter of math to get the same $$ for a local sale opposed to ebay minus fees.

[loxx0050]

I usually list on eBay when my stuff doesn't sell through other more direct methods. My last item when I finally listed it on eBay I also listed it on Craigslist a little earlier. Ended up selling it on Craigslist but guy contacted me through Craigslist. eBay never came a calling when I cancelled my buy it now listing.

I did see an eBay ad that on some Bont shoes that was local to me. I figured out it was also listed on Slowtwitch and contacted him directly through there. I'm pretty sure eBay didn't hassle him either.

Only way they know is if the buyer or seller tried to ask you to take the transaction off of eBay but through their messaging system. That is how they know.

[jtakeda]

I usually list on eBay when my stuff doesn't sell through other more direct methods. My last item when I finally listed it on eBay I also listed it on Craigslist a little earlier. Ended up selling it on Craigslist but guy contacted me through Craigslist. eBay never came a calling when I cancelled my buy it now listing.

I did see an eBay ad that on some Bont shoes that was local to me. I figured out it was also listed on Slowtwitch and contacted him directly through there. I'm pretty sure eBay didn't hassle him either.

Only way they know is if the buyer or seller tried to ask you to take the transaction off of eBay but through their messaging system. That is how they know.

Exactly.

If they erroneously charge fees based on suspicion were all gonna be having a lot of head aches

[dustyrider]

Come on! eBay can't even stop frauds from trying to hock non-existent goods, ripped off from other people's ads, with any kind of consistency. What makes anyone think they're going to charge you for a sale they think happens? :)

[ultraman6970]

Is easy for a seller to go around this, if your intention is to sell it out side... put a mickey mouse number to your item so you know it wont sell... done. They cant fee you if doesnt sell and then is not listed again.

[djg21]

I'm no lawyer, but that sounds like a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

Not likely. If you don’t like the policy, take your business elsewhere. eBay doesn’t have a monopoly and cannot compel you to accept its terms.

The policy also makes sense. Why should eBay allow one to advertise a product for sale with the intention of conducting the final sale transaction without using eBay?

Interestingly, the policy is discretionary on the part of eBay: “Sellers who violate this policy may be charged . . . .” Would it apply when you list on eBay and cancel the auction to sell locally? Unless you were contacted by the prospective local buyer through eBay, how would eBay know about the local transaction? The same would go for items listed in the classifieds here.

On edit: I just received the eBay announcement via email and actually followed the link to read the policy. It explains:

We don't allow our members to use eBay to contact each other to make offers to buy or sell items outside of eBay. Also, members can't use information obtained from eBay or any eBay systems to contact each other about buying or selling outside of eBay

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/rfe-spam-non-ebay-sale.html?ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com %252Frover%252F4%252F0%252F8%253Feecl%253D1%2526ee si%253DUS%2526i%253D1ba6de5a1f6II8440a0II280becII1 ba7e1ada71II2%2526eepc%253D%2526bu%253D43196992063 %2526segname%253DB1A716B-00%2526crd%253D20170918153745%2526emParams%253Di%2 526sojTags%253Demid%25253Dbu%25252Csegname%25253Ds egname%25252Ccrd%25253Dcrd%2526ul_ref%253Dhttp%252 5253A%2525252F%2525252Frover.ebay.com%2525252Frove r%2525252F0%2525252F0%2525252F99%2525253Floc%25252 53Dhttp%252525253A%252525252F%252525252Frover.ebay .com%252525252Frover%252525252F4%252525252F0%25252 5252F8%252525253Feecl%252525253D1%2525252526eesi%2 52525253DUS%2525252526i%252525253D1ba6de5a1f6II844 0a0II280becII1ba7e1ada71II2%2525252526eepc%2525252 53D%2525252526bu%252525253D43196992063%2525252526s egname%252525253DB1A716B-00%2525252526crd%252525253D20170918153745%25252525 26emParams%252525253Di%2525252526sojTags%252525253 Demid%25252525253Dbu%25252525252Csegname%252525252 53Dsegname%25252525252Ccrd%25252525253Dcrd%2525252 6rvr_id%2525253D0%2526srcrot%253D0%2526rvr_id%253D 0

If eBay isn’t used to make contact, there is no issue.

[happycampyer]

^ I was going to say exactly this. If you list an item on ebay and in the classifieds here, on craigslist, etc., and the buyer comes to you away from ebay and you end the auction early, then ebay has no claim. If on the other hand, you arrange through ebay for a buyer to buy on the side to avoid ebay's fees, you have used ebay's services without paying them. If you listed your house for sale with a broker, and the broker introduced you to a seller, you couldn't just sell your house to that buyer away from the broker to avoid the fees. If you don't like the fees, don't use ebay (or a broker, etc.).

Fwiw, I rarely sell anything on ebay, but for other reasons.

[raygunner]

I recently received a nastygram from eBay after contacting a seller (who was local) to arrange a sale outside of eBay.

In other eBay news...I'm really disappointed that eBay took down Half.com, which was a great place to score cheap books & other media.

[mistermo]

If they erroneously charge fees based on suspicion were all gonna be having a lot of head aches

And a class action lawsuit!

[Spaghetti Legs]

Hmm that is interesting. The high volume sellers routinely use eBay as an advertising service. I recently saw a nice price on some Vittoria Open Corsas on eBay listed by Nashbar. Went to their website and got them a little cheaper. Volume sellers also have lower selling fees than us mere mortals. Wonder if they'll crack down on that?

[chiasticon]

If eBay isn’t used to make contact, there is no issue.this. and it's been in place forever, really. they're just instituting new policy to punish it.

I remember back when eBay first started, it was SUPER common to go around them, to avoid fees. they eventually started cracking down pretty hard. recently I had a hell of a time trying to get my email through their messaging system to a seller. and I wasn't trying to move the discussion/purchase off eBay. in fact, I had already purchased the item. it was tickets to a sporting event and that was how you transferred them with this particular ticketing service. I tried all sorts of trickery but it kept denying me. I think I ended up taking a screenshot of my email address on my phone and sending the photo.