eBay Ireland brings ads to the navigation bar

April 11, 2009

Just when you thought eBay’s advertising couldn’t get any tackier:

ebayie

This kind of advertising – disguising it as site functionality in the hope of “accidental” clicks – shows a disregard for site users that beggars belief even coming from eBay. I don’t know how long eBay.ie has had this advertising, but I sincerely hope it doesn’t spread to any other eBay sites.

Written by Sue Bailey · Filed Under Site Changes, eBay.ie | 7 Comments 

My eBay classic and old Search to be scrapped

February 27, 2009

eBay have today announced the retirement dates for My eBay Classic and the old search options.

The My eBay Classic will cease to exist on eBay UK on the 9th March, and the New My eBay will become default on eBay Ireland on the 2nd March. The old search options will disappear at some point in April this year.

According to eBay 98% of users are now using the new search experience so the removal of the opt out to the old search should make little difference to sales. Although many sellers have stated they prefer the old search experience in reality those that matter – your buyers – are probably already using new search and are unaware there’s even an option to opt out.

When the new My eBay was introduced as a Beta in August last year it was ok for buyers but quite frankly useless for sellers. Since then it has undergone numerous improvements and I’ve been using it regularly since before Christmas.

It’ll take a few days to become accustomed to where the new options are hidden (Hint: Most options are now menu driven and hovering over the “Account” tab reveals most navigation options). Once you start using the new My eBay it’s easy enough, although I increasingly use SMP for more and more functions, in particular invoicing, shipping, and leaving feedback.

I’d recommend if you’ve not already opted in to the new My eBay you do so immediately and start becoming accustomed to it and customising it to your preferences rather than starting work on Monday the 9th in an alien environment.

Written by Chris Dawson · Filed Under Site Changes, eBay.co.uk, eBay.ie | 12 Comments 

eBay Ireland aren’t assisting with VAT changes either

November 28, 2008

This post was written in November 2008; specific information contained within it may be out of date.

Lest UK sellers think they were alone in being given no help from eBay with changes to the VAT rate, eBay Ireland have put out an announcement regarding their own VAT changes which is almost a cut and paste copy of the UK one. Irish VAT increases from 21% to 21.5% on Monday 1st December, and as is the case for UK sellers, Irish eBayers will have to individually amend listings without sales, or end and relist items with sales/bids, in order to be able to edit the VAT rate quoted.

The announcement about changes in the VAT rate was made in October, so eBay Ireland have had even longer to come up with a more useful solution than the week that Alastair Darling gave eBay UK. Irish sellers will no doubt draw their own conclusions from the timing of this announcement, one working day before the VAT change goes live: could it have only been prompted by the change in the UK rate?

One small improvement on the Irish announcement: the patronising tag line

With strong competition and early discounting coming from the high street this Christmas season we know buyers are now, more than ever, being attracted to great value bargains.

which concluded the British one has been omitted.

Written by Sue Bailey · Filed Under Site Changes, eBay.ie | Comments Off 

Feedback revision rolls out for eBay UK, Ireland, .com

October 13, 2008

This post was written in October 2008; specific information contained within it may be out of date.

eBay UK have announced that feedback revision will be rolled out on 20th October. eBay Ireland and eBay.com will also launch feedback revision on the same day.

As already announced for eBay Australia, the new system will allow sellers to request that buyers edit feedback within 30 days of it being left. Buyers will only be able to revise feedback “upwards” – i.e. a positive cannot be changed to a negative or neutral – and sellers cannot request that buyers edit positive feedback. Buyers will be able to edit the rating, the DSR scores and the comment they left.

Sellers will be able to request 5 edits per 1,000 feedbacks received, though eBay have said that this limit may be reconsidered: when it was announced for the Australian site, many sellers wondered what would be the position for buyers who’d left multiple non-positive feedbacks for combined transactions, so it would be good to see this addressed in the near future.

There’s more detail on exactly how the system will work in the FAQs.

eBay UK will also launch the new Resolution Centre at the end of October: this replaces the current Dispute Console, and just the change of name alone should make trading on eBay a more pleasant experience. There’s not much detail in the announcement of exactly what will be changing, but one welcome addition should be “a separate flow for buyers and sellers to mutually agree to cancel a transaction”: seeing this process made simpler and less antagonistic should be good news for buyers *and* sellers.

Written by Sue Bailey · Filed Under Site Changes, eBay.co.uk, eBay.com, eBay.ie | 4 Comments 

eBay UK, IE update user agreement

July 13, 2008

This post was written in July 2008; specific information contained within it may be out of date.

eBay UK and eBay Ireland have announced changes to the user agreement and privacy policy. These are effective 13th August for existing members.

User Agreement

The two main changes are that

  • if your eBay seller fees are more than 180 days overdue, eBay may take them from your PayPal account, and
  • sellers are explicitly made responsible for checking the accuracy of pre-filled item information, stock photography and other catalogue services supplied by eBay.

Privacy Policy

  • eBay can share your information within the eBay group, e.g. with PayPal or Skype, and
  • with law enforcement agencies in the case of suspected fraudulent and malicious activity.
  • A new “No Spam, Spyware or Spoofing” section explicitly forbids the adding of “other eBay users, even a user who has purchased an item from you, to your mailing list (email or physical mail) without their express consent”.
  • A new “Marketing” section gives users the ability to opt out of targetted marketing on the site. As eBay were running user tests last month which included looking at reactions to adverts and paid-for services, the more cynical among us might wonder if this heralds yet more third-party ads on the site.

If you’re happy with the new agreements, you need do nothing; if you’re not, you’re invited to close your account.

Written by Sue Bailey · Filed Under Site Changes, eBay.co.uk, eBay.ie | 4 Comments 

Ireland Motors’ classified fees increased

June 4, 2008

This post was written in June 2008; specific information contained within it may be out of date.

eBay Ireland have just announced that the fee for Motors’ classified ads is to increase from €9 to €20. Classified ads last for 28 days. The new fees will be in effect from next Tuesday, 10th June, so we predict a busy weekend on the Irish Motors’ site.

Written by Sue Bailey · Filed Under Site Changes, eBay.ie | Comments Off