Never Underestimate the Wrath of eBay Sellers
Brad Schepp
February 26, 2008
Perhaps I did just that. Midway through the first week of the eBay Sellers Strike I wrote a piece called eBay Strike Flames Out! The article was based on interviews I did with many top PowerSellers. At that time, only a handful supported the strike.
Turns out, there´s a real dichotomy between just who supported the strike and who didn´t. Here goes: Top PowerSellers, certainly those at the Platinum and Titanium levels (making $25k to $150k per month in gross sales) were unanimously against the strike.
The vast majority of eBay sellers are NOT in this elite category, however. They may not even qualify for PowerSeller status at any level, meaning they don´t crack the $1,000 per month level in sales. It´s these smaller sellers, and even some of the smaller PowerSellers, who ARE supporting the strike en masse. They are the ones largely responsible for the drop in eBay listings, also widely reported at 13%.
For example, the Dallas eBaybes & eMales, run by our good friend Stephanie Inge, is most definitely supporting the strike. The group is the largest of its kind, now with 335 members. They and like-minded groups and individuals are making their voices heard. Their media is reporting their furor and they´re correct to do so. Even without traditional media, they are taking to YouTube and MySpace to show just how angry they are at recent changes in fees, and even more significantly eBay feedback policy (prohibiting sellers from even leaving feedback for buyers).
As a result, the strike seems to be gaining steam, with some reports suggesting it´s being extended a full two weeks! I stand behind my original article, but perhaps now realize that I misjudged just how pervasive the support for the strike was among rank and file eBay sellers. That´s a strike against me!
Turns out, there´s a real dichotomy between just who supported the strike and who didn´t. Here goes: Top PowerSellers, certainly those at the Platinum and Titanium levels (making $25k to $150k per month in gross sales) were unanimously against the strike.
The vast majority of eBay sellers are NOT in this elite category, however. They may not even qualify for PowerSeller status at any level, meaning they don´t crack the $1,000 per month level in sales. It´s these smaller sellers, and even some of the smaller PowerSellers, who ARE supporting the strike en masse. They are the ones largely responsible for the drop in eBay listings, also widely reported at 13%.
For example, the Dallas eBaybes & eMales, run by our good friend Stephanie Inge, is most definitely supporting the strike. The group is the largest of its kind, now with 335 members. They and like-minded groups and individuals are making their voices heard. Their media is reporting their furor and they´re correct to do so. Even without traditional media, they are taking to YouTube and MySpace to show just how angry they are at recent changes in fees, and even more significantly eBay feedback policy (prohibiting sellers from even leaving feedback for buyers).
As a result, the strike seems to be gaining steam, with some reports suggesting it´s being extended a full two weeks! I stand behind my original article, but perhaps now realize that I misjudged just how pervasive the support for the strike was among rank and file eBay sellers. That´s a strike against me!
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