Well, if there’s one thing signaling me to move on and finally close the doors of EfexTek, it’s eBay’s recent news of “reduced fees.”
Wait, did you say reduced fees? Yep, I sure did…at least that’s what eBay initially stated in a message sitting in my eBay inbox. According to the new fee table, insertion fees will be reduced by $0.05 and gallery fees are free (normally $0.35). That’s all fine and dandy and it put a smile on my face. Then I read further. The final closing percentage has increased from 5.25% for the first $25 to a HUGE value of 8.75%. Eight point fucking seven five percent! Seriously, what the fuck?
This shit pisses me off so fuckin’ bad. People on eBay are up in arms about this bullshit. Check the forums. This new percentage cuts so deeply into people’s pockets that making a neglible profit on small stuff isn’t even worth it anymore. Anything selling for $25 and under is raped up and down with fees. I’m an avid eBay’er, both as a seller and a buyer, and this shit strikes a sour note on my piano.
“So Socrates Points, why don’t you just sell the stuff on your website and shut the fuck up?”
Let’s get one thing straight. My website doesn’t sell products, eBay does…and barely. They provide a good service, I will admit, but 8.75%? Jesus fucking Christ! This new increase basically forces out the small time operators, which basically started eGay. Only PowerSellers and massive online retailers will benefit because they receive special discounts. In addition to these increases, their search function will change, giving more recognition and ratings for PowerSellers. Stupid as fuck. With that in mind, it’s only a matter of time before PayPal ups their fees for receiving payments as well. I’m sure some stupid fuck working for eBay making all the bad decisions is thinking, “if people leave eBay and open up their own storefronts and websites, we’ll just super-inflate the PayPal fees so the people using the FREE shopping cart function will get fist-fucked.”
Not to mention, if you’re looking on eBay for deals, that’s probably going to end soon as well. Naturally, sellers that remain on eBay will up their prices and/or add increased shipping to make up for the difference. So get your shit while the shittin’s good, before it’s too late.
In a close, I would just like to say again…FUCK EBAY.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:34 am
That’s just some sad social commentary man…yet another company forgets the little people who put it on top. Hopefully they’ll fall prey to some Enron-level scandal, or someone burns down their corporate offices.
Then they can use that extra 3.5% to rent a van to sell off the last of their toasted servers from the back of.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:21 am
That bites nuts, man. I’m sure it’s so e new executive’s idea and he’s trying to make it seem like he’s doing something, and he’ll be off to another company with a huge severance before the shit hits the fan.
Of course the tech sites were focusing so much on the reduced listing fees that you’d have thought that these changes were a good thing. I guess they, like myself should read the fine print next time.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Why not start your own auction site? I’m sure you could lure a lot of disgruntled ebayers to your place!