Is EBay dodgy?

1. 65

   Hope Alexanderposted 16 years ago

   Ebay people, do you have any feedback?
   
   I started using EBay ads, and for the first couple of months, got a good response from them, even received two payments, then all of a sudden, sales dropped off to nothing. It seems unlikely that the sales really did drop to 0 after two solid months. A slow decline, maybe, but a sudden drop, no.
   
   I suspect there may be a technical problem with implementation (either that or their 'new ways' of calculating earnings mean that I get to send them free traffic and they send me nothing), but contacting EBay is something of an ordeal (their site seems designed to ensure that you don't actually get to contact them), though I think I may possibly have done it now.
   
   My question is, does anyone else have similar issues? Is this a typical experience?

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2. 74

   SweetiePieposted 16 years ago

   I only made two dollars with ebay, so I have no experiences with them.  I believe you could email someone at the website and they might be able to provide feedback on resolving this issue.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      SweetiePie, you've obviously never tried doing that with eBay!   Their helpdesk must be the most unhelpful in the world.  If you get an answer at all, it's a stock answer, often bearing little relevance to your original question.
      
      I hardly make any sales on my eBay capsules on my Hubs.  I do make sales on my website, so I don't think there's anything wrong with eBay itself.   It may have more to do with changing patterns of use by readers?

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         SweetiePieposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         It was just a suggestion because most customer service numbers are good at getting back to people in my experience.  I never made enough to even contact ebay regarding my earnings .  Thanks for the heads up for those dealing this this site.

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3. 65

   Hope Alexanderposted 16 years ago

   I can, and I have, I was just wondering what other people's experiences were... different revenue streams behave differently...

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   1. 74

      SweetiePieposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Very true.  I know several hubbers do well with ebay.

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4. 65

   Hope Alexanderposted 16 years ago

   Thanks for the feedback Sweetie and Marisa...
   
   Just trying to email EBay was a little like that Asterix book "12 Tasks of Asterix" where they have to go into a building to get form 42B notorized and they get sent around the entire complex several times running into crazy people swinging from the ceilings, being told that they can't get 42 B notorized without a signed duplicate copy of 42a, only available on the first day of Lent, etc...
   
   I had to set up a new logon just to use the partner forums, which aren't linked to your publisher account. Two logons, and an entire thread later and it was explained how to find the 'Email Us' link, which requires you to go to the help center, find your topic, and then send an email from the help center topic page (link for emailing appears a few seconds after the page actually loads, like some kind of phantom email apparition). Quite logical. So much easier than those old fashioned "contact us" buttons at the top or bottom of the screen.
   
   It was seriously quite nutty, though I admit, until I suddenly started earning nothing at all, things were pretty easy, so I guess everyone's mileage will vary.

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   1. 87

      Marisa Wrightposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, my experience exactly.   They make it hard to even find the email address - and they don't have a phone number.  Not one!   
      
      My ex forgot his login and password once.  There was nothing he could do about it, even though he had items for sale - because you can't email the helpdesk unless you're logged in.  And he couldn't remember his login!

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      1. 74

         SweetiePieposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         It sounds as if they are purposely making it difficult for people to contact them, which is not a good sign for an business.

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5. 72

   WHoArtNowposted 16 years ago

   Ebay and Paypal make it as hard as possible to contact them to save money. If there was an obvious phone or email address to contact them, then they would need a larger amount of staff to answer calls and emails all day long. Its bad business in one sense and good in another.
   
   From a business side of things, it sucks, and from a personal side it sucks even more! I've had the issue of forgetting my login, never sure if my old PC monitor did sell or not!
   
   Oh, and Hope, I'm not sure how, but I remember that Asterix! I'm going to have to dig out my old Asterix books now, so glad I never sold them on Ebay!

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   1. 65

      Hope Alexanderposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Asterix is pure undiluted Belgian awesome.
      
      As for hidden contact details, Google Adsense does much the same thing, from memory. Obviously once a company reaches critical mass they can do whatever they feel like doing. Doesn't EBay own Paypal, or vice versa?

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6. 60

   Jennifer Bowmanposted 16 years ago

   Hope, did you change over to the new eBay affiliate system when they switched providers earlier this year?

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   1. 65

      Hope Alexanderposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Sure did. Actually I only joined after they switched over from commission junction.

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