eBay Updates Feedback Policy, Adds New Payment Services

In an attempt at winning back some of it's sellers eBay has decided to implement some much needed changes. These new changes were outlined earlier this week in a general announcement posted by Dinesh Lathi, eBay's vice president of seller experience.

New eBay Approved Payment Methods

One of the biggest complaints eBay has faced is the favoritism showed to eBay-owned PayPal. eBay has all but disallowed any other online payment form, even requiring sellers to carry a PayPal Premiere account. n February, eBay will be adding two new electronic payment methods to the permitted payments list in the Accepted Payments Policy: Moneybookers and Paymate.

To learn more about these new payment methods, visit www.moneybookers.com/partners/us/ebay and www.paymate.com/eBay. A third service Propay also plans to open up its payment service to all levels of Powersellers starting January 22. For more information about Propay, go to www.Propay.com/eBay

Unfortunately there is still no word on accepting the use of Revolution Money Exchange or any other online services.

Update to Feedback Removal Policy – Customs Fees

eBay is changing feedback rules to remove negative comments left by customers towards the sellers because they wouldn’t mark an item as “gift” in order to sidestep customs fees. eBay will now remove Feedback if a) the listing meets the Customs Requirements below and b) the seller receives a negative or neutral Feedback comment which references customs delays or customs fees. To learn more, please read eBay’s Feedback Removal Policy

The following text, or very similar wording, must be included in the listing and be:

• In a font size no smaller than the majority of the other text in the item description
• Prominently displayed (in the upper half of the description, free-standing, etc.)

“International Buyers – Please Note:

• Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility.
• Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.”

eBay isn't doing enough to win sellers back

While these changes might appease some of the masses I don't feel they go far enough to win many of the alienated sellers back. Most of the complaints have stemmed from fee increases, a new feedback policy implemented last year (which is very flawed) and the tight reign on payment services. Of the three payment services listed ProPay is the only option for sellers in the US. Moneybookers is a UK site and Paymate us an Aus. site.

The feedback policy changes are understandable and go a long way to helping the few sellers that have faced this issue, however it does little to help any other buyers/sellers. One major complaint of last years changes was the removal of sellers' ability to leave buyers negative or neutral feedback. The fact that retaliatory feedback is being left for international orders just shows that there has been little done to improve the new system since it took affect.

If eBay really wants to win back some of the users that have jumped ship they need to step up and make the hard decisions.