Howdy All,
Well, here I am staring at my computer, and thankful that at least I can now sign in! Caught one of those rogue security program viruses, and it crashed my computer. I am in the process of reinstalling just about everything and trying to get things back to some semblance of normal. I can't say I'm "up and running" just yet. More like "up and limping"! I lost quite a bit of data, but I think I can get much of it back. Thankfully, when I reinstalled TurboLister, it found my old files and templates, but I expect it will be awhile before I can get things back up and listed on eBay and Bonanzle. However, with eBay raising my store listing fees by almost 600% (and calling the new fees their "lowest ever"), I have decided to close my eBay store. I don't have enough sales through my eBay storefront to really justify keeping it, so effective March 30th, the Whiskey Jack's Trading Post eBay Store will be closed for good. I will still run my eBay auctions, and I will probably have a few fixed price / best offer items, but at .50 cents per item insertion fee, these will be limited to 1-3 items only.
On the Bonanzle front, I am still trying to get caught up. After moving last October, we are STILL unpacking things (can you believe that!), and trying to get somewhat organized. I fully intend to start my Bonanzle auctions as soon as I can. Although I am retired now (since January 2009), I have taken on a part time job due to the current economic situation in our country. I know, I know, the recession is over, and Washington wouldn't lie to us about that, would they? But somehow I think they forgot to let the rest of us in on how that worked, because I still see the recession going strong all around the country.
All that aside, however, I will still be selling on eBay and Bonanzle, and I will continue to try to get the very best deals for all my customers. And, I still hope that Bonanzle will continue to grow, and become a major online marketplace, and eBay's major competitor. One of these days eBay, watch out!
Unfortunately, however, this blog has taken a backseat to everything that has been going on. And I not only apologize for that, but I regret it as well. I will not, however, give up on it. I have been planning some new articles on various subjects that I have not covered before, as well as some new websites that I have come across that I think my readers will find very interesting. I am also toying with the idea of trying to do some interviews that will be hopefully be not only entertaining, but informative as well.
So stay tuned, and thanks so very much to all my readers for hanging in there and being patient with me. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of you.
Until next time, stay safe and my best wishes go out to all of you.
Whiskey Jack
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
A Crash Course In Ebaynomics
Ebay Does It Again
A Crash Course In Ebaynomics
I received an email today from eBay. A reminder that effective March 30th, the new eBay fee schedule will take effect, and that I am right on track for the lowest rates! This email went on to say that the "cost of selling on eBay is about to be dramatically reduced with our lowest insertion fees ever."
I went to the link provided in the email to check out the new fee structure. And what did I discover? Ebay lied. Imagine my surprise.
I currently have a basic store subscription which costs me $15.95 per month. Most of my items are between $1.00 - $24.99, so my per item insertion fee is .3 cents. Although my subscription rate will remain the same, the per item insertion fee will jump almost 600% to .20 cents per item. In order for me to retain my current .3 cent per item insertion fee, I must upgrade my store subscription to an anchor subscription of $299.95 per month.
Perhaps this is some sort of a new revised math or something, but in my mind a rate increase of almost 600% sure doesn't sound like "dramatically reduced...lowest insertion fees ever".
Apparently, eBay must think we are all a bunch of moronic dolts. How can anyone actually think that changing insertion fees from .3 cents to .20 cents is dramatically reducing fees to their lowest ever.
In fact, this little fee deal that eBay is pulling is nothing more than an attempt to scam new eBayers into purchasing a store subscription. It is also accomplishing something else, however. In reading the eBay seller forums, many of the sellers have seen right through eBay's lies, and have called it for what it is. An attempt to push out those sellers who do not sell enough high price items, and thus increase eBay's profits.
Increasingly, eBay has been romancing large retail outlets and stores, which will bring in substantial profits to the eBay coffers. And the truth of the matter is, that although eBay needed to smaller sellers during it formative years, we are no longer needed and no longer wanted. Many sellers have developed a loyalty with eBay, but that loyalty is not reciprocated by eBay. Nor will it ever be.
If eBay continues along its present course, as I suspect it will, it will become just another large online big box store, and the atmosphere of friends and family that made eBay an enjoyable experience will be completely lost. It is not far from that now.
Thank you for stopping by and reading my articles, and please remember that your thoughts, comments and suggestions are always welcome and encouraged.
A Crash Course In Ebaynomics
I received an email today from eBay. A reminder that effective March 30th, the new eBay fee schedule will take effect, and that I am right on track for the lowest rates! This email went on to say that the "cost of selling on eBay is about to be dramatically reduced with our lowest insertion fees ever."
I went to the link provided in the email to check out the new fee structure. And what did I discover? Ebay lied. Imagine my surprise.
I currently have a basic store subscription which costs me $15.95 per month. Most of my items are between $1.00 - $24.99, so my per item insertion fee is .3 cents. Although my subscription rate will remain the same, the per item insertion fee will jump almost 600% to .20 cents per item. In order for me to retain my current .3 cent per item insertion fee, I must upgrade my store subscription to an anchor subscription of $299.95 per month.
Perhaps this is some sort of a new revised math or something, but in my mind a rate increase of almost 600% sure doesn't sound like "dramatically reduced...lowest insertion fees ever".
Apparently, eBay must think we are all a bunch of moronic dolts. How can anyone actually think that changing insertion fees from .3 cents to .20 cents is dramatically reducing fees to their lowest ever.
In fact, this little fee deal that eBay is pulling is nothing more than an attempt to scam new eBayers into purchasing a store subscription. It is also accomplishing something else, however. In reading the eBay seller forums, many of the sellers have seen right through eBay's lies, and have called it for what it is. An attempt to push out those sellers who do not sell enough high price items, and thus increase eBay's profits.
Increasingly, eBay has been romancing large retail outlets and stores, which will bring in substantial profits to the eBay coffers. And the truth of the matter is, that although eBay needed to smaller sellers during it formative years, we are no longer needed and no longer wanted. Many sellers have developed a loyalty with eBay, but that loyalty is not reciprocated by eBay. Nor will it ever be.
If eBay continues along its present course, as I suspect it will, it will become just another large online big box store, and the atmosphere of friends and family that made eBay an enjoyable experience will be completely lost. It is not far from that now.
Thank you for stopping by and reading my articles, and please remember that your thoughts, comments and suggestions are always welcome and encouraged.
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