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Indybay Feature

EBay buyers & sellers - Join the EBay strike - 2/18 - 2/25

by Mara
EBay buyers and sellers - Join the EBay strike - February 18 to 25 - don't cross the virtual picket line!
SPREAD THE WORD!
EBay has raised fees to its sellers and changed the terms.
They are upset and are calling a strike - no buying, selling, or other activity from February 18 to 25!
Help sellers and buyers - join the strike!
ebayboycott_1.jpg
EBay is a huge business which helps people to buy and sell on the internet. It enables many individuals to earn a living or supplement their income with a small business they can run from home, whether homebound, a student, single parent, disabled, etc, etc, Medium sized businesses also use this venue.

It benefits buyers and the environment by effectively recycling used goods, frequently at lower prices than are found elsewhere.

It is a resource which should not be run for huge personal profits, yet it charges these small business people fees which are too large, as does its affiliate, PayPal, also a huge business.

Buyers are concerned that the strike message may not get out to enough people to make a difference - so do what you can to spread the word.
Help this local economy to thrive and support all its members and clients.

A SELLER'S MESSAGE:
I wanted to make you aware that I, and 1,000s of other eBay buyers and sellers are participating in a boycott of eBay from Feb. 18-25th. Many are leaving eBay for good.

We are upset because eBay is raising Final Value Fees again (from 5.25% to 8.75% for auctions, from 10% to 12% for stores) and because they are requiring sellers to leave ONLY positive feedback for all transactions, even if they were scammed by a buyer. Buyers will still be able to leave positive or negative feedback.

I hope you will be able to join the boycott. To find out more about it:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=1000636290&start=0

You can also Google eBay boycott for more info.

A BUYER'S MESSAGE:
Feb-14-08 09:39 PST 9075 of 9081

I am a buyer - my seller directed me here and to u-tube for information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4MtVPuU9-Q (and others there) about the strike.

I will absolutely support it, and tell anyone I know who uses eBay to tell their friends and maybe their sellers.

I will sign the Petitions on Line:
http://www.petitiononline.com/FUF/petition.html
also http://www.petitiononline.com/ebayfee/petition.html

EBay is an important public service and should not be used for profiteering. The sellers and buyers need to have a say in how it is run.
Good luck in getting the word out.
I will try to get my local community radio station to carry a news item about this and will send a news item to my local Indy Media (online news source, anyone may post). Why not post to your local Indy Media?
Go to http://www.IndyBay.org for a list of them.
§correction to petition address
by Mara
Sorry, the first (sellers') petition address should be:
http://www.petitiononline.com/FVF/petition.html
The number of folks supporting the idea that eBay has simply gone too far is growing hourly, day by day.

The noise from the flea market that Johnny doesn't like is increasing in volume. More and more people are talking about the eBay Boycott or the eBay Strike. This thread and the message it represents is spreading.

We need to keep it up relentlessly. The more widespread the message is about eBay's users revolting, the more likely it is that even greater numbers of eyeballs will learn about this uprising.

The more often the news of this rebellion is seen and talked about, the wider yet it will spread.

Anything that places the news of what eBay has done to cause this remarkable outcry from eBay members of all types will cause more and more and more publicity.

eBay doesn't want this type of publicity. This publicity, if loud enough, and widespread enough, is probably the actual straw that will break the camel's back.

The unity here is phenomenal, the momentum is building, and the din from the troops is beginning to become deafening.

Don't let the roar subside one iota... build it up to a thundering crescendo folks.

--------------------------

NO, Selling, NO Buying, NO Watching, NO Nothing

BOYCOTT VICTORIOUSLY
§Strike Info Image
by Rick Kalada
640_strike.jpg
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by debipier
Due to the new feedback changes that Ebay has implemented and will come into effect soon, and the fee increases I will be banding together with other hundreds of other merchants and buyers on Ebay to put my store on vacation and not make any purchases or sales on Ebay from:

the 18th of February to the 25th of February...

This is a nation wide boycott of Ebay!!

Here is a board on Ebay if you would like to read more about it and to form your own opinion:

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=1000636290&start=0

I am all for change, when it is beneficial to all, but the feedback system as they propose it, will destroy many honest sellers ratings and will cause them to lose a valuable source of income... The ones who continue to sell here, will need to raise their prices so high that it will no longer be a bargain shoppers paradise... The new powers that be do not like the looks of the "flea market" and would like to see the larger businesses take over... pushing us smaller guys to the side...

The new system says that the buyer is the only person allowed to leave negative feedback...

The seller is now only allowed to leave positive feedback for the buyer...

Even in the event that the buyer doesn't pay for the item...

I do agree that some sellers are dishonest and use the feedback system as a weapon and retaliatory tool against buyers, but that is a minimal ammount and it would be easier to have Ebay eliminate the offender from the system then to punish the other hardworking and honest sellers...

Many sellers have received mail with treats to damage their ratings already...

When these threats were taken to Ebay security,

Ebay offered "no solution"... They did nothing to the person who sent the threatening letter and this person is still allowed to trade on Ebay!!

Here is the Link to her Store where she has posted the comment from the buyer who threatened her:

http://stores.ebay.com/rbcatscollection

Below is the trade agreement taken from Ebays own page, this is their promise to us both as buyers and sellers:

To promote a safe trading environment for all members, eBay has rules and policies that are enforced. eBay's policies are intended to:



Support government laws and regulations (not protecting sellers such as the one being threatened is not helping support anti-harrassment laws)
Minimize risks to both buyers and sellers (clearly this is not being done)
Provide equal opportunity to all buyers and sellers (the new policy is not equal)
Protect intellectual property rights (a seller's property is not protected)
Provide an enjoyable buying experience (it''s becoming less and less enjoyable for everyone)
Support the values of the eBay Community (the new system is not morally correct)
With the new system this is what will happen:

As the score goes down for the seller, their Ebay fees increase... With the cost of listing here having gone up substancially last year, this would eliminate many sellers that you know today... I personally know many who have already packed up and gone to other sites to sell their items...

Ebay claims to have lowered fees for sellers, which they did in the initial listing stage, but in the end, after the sale is done, the seller is actually paying sometimes up to 68% more for their sellers fees... And then if the item is not paid for by the buyer, the seller must wait to be re-imbursed for the listing fees already paid and the closing fees which Ebay has charged them for... Without the ability to leave some kind of warning for other sellers, this opens a pandora's box for those criminally inclined buyers to make a profit off of the weakness of sellers...

I, personally, have never left a bad feedback for a buyer or for a seller...

I have been blessed in the fact that the people I have dealt with are honest and if there is a problem, they will bring it to me to resolve it... But, with this new system, I realize that I will be a sitting duck for those who are not so honest. If Ebay doesn't take notice of this during the "boycott" period, I will most likely end all selling here and take my business to another more people friendly site...

I'm hoping and praying that they will see that this is not a fair situation and make changes before the policy takes effect...

And if you'd like to support us in this boycott,

we will not be selling or buying on Ebay from February 18th to February 25th

Ode To Ebay

You tried to hide your "hidden fees"
Making claims meant to appease.
Thinking we weren't bright enough
To figure out mathematical stuff.
But we weren't fooled by your disguise,
As a group, we're pretty wise.
We held your hand when you were small,
Gave you support to stand up tall.
Thanks to us, you grew up strong,
We thought you'd back us, but we were wrong.
Greed took over, integrity was lost,
Loyalty vanished, but at what cost?
Where once respect was awarded you,
Aversion and indignation now are true.
We held you high, that esteem has left,
In its place, you'll find a cleft.
A hollow space where once we grew
Now is a place which we eschew.
Your faltering deeds, your plunderous ways
Your ragtag decisions, your reckless plays,
Your voiceless, truthless, years of lies,
Are leading you on, to your demise.

Written by Me KEMH ~ auntgea at aol dot com


THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE BANDING TOGETHER AND IT'S WORKING!!

Thankyou again for making my experience with Ebay the very best...

And Blessings in the Name of Yeshua!!

BOYCOTT... STAND FIRM... UNITY... STRENGTH...

NO BUYING, NO SELLING, FEB 18-15!!

UNITED WE STAND!!



by zbon
why does it seem only in these blogs, does anyone know whats going on!, I wish the media would get involved, I figure since britney is on sabadical, they might want to pick up this story. I sell and buy on e-bay, and it is like an addiction, now that I am uncomfortable with the direction e-bay is going, what is a poor recovering e-bay addict supposed to do! I have 21 years of customer service experience in the face to face retail world, which I love, and online my customer service is no different. I truly have never objected to leaving my feedback when I buy something as soon as I recieve it and am happy, and when I sell, I sure as heck am not going to leave any sort of feedback for my customer untill I know they are 100% satisfied, or I have been allowed to correct the problem. e-bay is just the place where we set up shop, they made it convenient and fun, and anyone could do it. I guess all good things do come to an end. i will boycott untill they fire the stupid person who came up with one sided feedback, it’s voluntary anyway, or it was, I so hope that this one time, us the worker bee’s will finally see the satisfaction of making this so called ” noise” sing to a tune e-bay has never heard. They are ruining a good thing,how can they do this!!! I have read some horrible stories. I feel for anyone who is so involved, but if we want to win then we all need to stop buying and selling when we can,don’t take advantage of that stupid one day .20 listing, and start sharing success stories about other sites. instead of focusing all this anger on e-bay, lets all start exploring and share our experiences (good ones) about other sites, heck why not discuss it right on e-bays message boards. that might be fun!
I also can’t believe those execs are allowed to sell all that stock before the announcement. hello lawers, want a good case of insider trading, it could land you a partnership!
e-bay thanks for bursting many american dreams. zbon

My posts are being removed by eBay. Ten posts were removed today. Two different reasons were given:

1 - Using JavaScript or active code, making repetitive posts, or otherwise taking actions that interfere with site operations. For clarification of this policy, please visit this page: http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=410492035

2 - Refusing to follow eBay staff instructions. For clarification of this policy, please visit this page: http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=410492030

So, my ability to post anything will probably be squashed very soon. The good thing about this is that someone is watching, and someone is concerned about what's happening here.

After eBay stifles me here, I'll continue to help spread the word about ebay and our efforts here by taking the message elsewhere.

Everywhere you go today is an opportunity to spread the word. Talk to your co-workers. Tell your mail carrier, the FedEx driver, The UPS delivery person. Email your friends and acquaintances.

Tack a note up at your local grocery store. Mention it to folks while you're standing in line at Walmart.

Tell your friends, acquaintances and family about what eBay has done, what eBay plans to do, and how you feel that it adversely affects the eBay marketplace itself, for both sellers and buyers.

Let them know that corporate greed has displaced common sense. Ask them to help all of us save eBay from itself.

Make the noise. Let everyone hear it. Say it, email it, stick a poster up, make a statement everywhere you go.

There's real power in numbers. This noise and the unified message it represents can grow exponentially.

The number of folks supporting the idea that eBay has simply gone too far is growing hourly, day by day.

The noise from the flea market that Johnny doesn't like is increasing in volume. More and more people are talking about the eBay Boycott or the eBay Strike. This thread and the message it represents is spreading.

We need to keep it up relentlessly. The more widespread the message is about eBay's users revolting, the more likely it is that even greater numbers of eyeballs will learn about this uprising.

The more often the news of this rebellion is seen and talked about, the wider yet it will spread.

Anything that places the news of what eBay has done to cause this remarkable outcry from eBay members of all types will cause more and more and more publicity.

eBay doesn't want this type of publicity. This publicity, if loud enough, and widespread enough, is probably the actual straw that will break the camel's back.

The unity here is phenomenal, the momentum is building, and the din from the troops is beginning to become deafening.

Don't let the roar subside one iota... build it up to a thundering crescendo folks.



--------------------------

NO, Selling, NO Buying, NO Watching, NO Nothing

BOYCOTT VICTORIOUSLY
--------------------------


Thunder On

by Cramer
I am taking my business elsewhere because of this. As a matter of fact, I thanks eBay to give me an opportunity to replan my business strategy. This action by eBay upset me as well as opening up my eyes to seek for free listing site to cut my costs that would normally charge by eBay. Adios!!! Free posting sites: http://loudheart.com/ -- boring but with 10 pics and video upload. http://craigslist.org/ -- popular but with 4 small pic uploads. no video. From one unhappy seller.
by teresaok
Did it occur to anyone that the people who leave negatives and get negatives aren't complaining. You know why? Because they don't care. They live with negative feedback, low feedback percentages and poor star ratings and none of these ideas eBay has come up with to remedy this problem is going to matter to them. They will go right on giving poor service and not caring.
Don't get me wrong, I am certainly not talking about the sellers who do the best they can and still get an occasional negative. But there are sellers on eBay with terrible feedback and literally 1000s of negatives who just keep on selling and don't try to improve their poor business habits at all.

You know who does care? The same ones of us who have always cared. And we are the ones who will get hurt, while the worst sellers with poorest feedback and lowest star ratings will just go right on doing exactly what they did before and not caring one bit more than they did before.

For more information about the eBay 2008 changes:

1) New entitlement Feedback plan- An odd solution
http://reviews.ebay.com/No-Negative-Feedback-for-Buyers-What-an-odd-solution_W0QQugidZ10000000005275539
2) The 2008 PowerSeller benefit package-A truly sad new chapter
http://reviews.ebay.com/PowerSeller-Benefits-Program-A-truly-sad-new-chapter_W0QQugidZ10000000005524944
3) PayPal - 2008 Changes - The 21-day hold on your money
http://reviews.ebay.com/PayPal-2008-Changes-The-21-day-hold-on-your-money_W0QQugidZ10000000005528443
Thank you for reading my guide.
View a FEW of the many auction listings at eBay that publicly denounce eBay. SEE what is happening. http://zwirenet.net/boycott/
by Janine
I have taken my sales elsewhere too. This is crazy by the time Ebay and PP have a cut, and tape, ship supplies, time and ink Im left wtih nothing. I took my business over to whambids.com
Kinda like ebay, but .10 listings and you get FREE credit...who does that? Plus their FVF are only 2% and go lower too.
I fond other sites but they wanted monthly or yearly membership subscription or FVF of 5%..plus more..
Thats just me and they just opened and have things already listed.

the_fairy_princess_garden
http://whambids.com
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