eBay's Donahoe Has Crow For Thanksgiving

#1

eBay's Donahoe Has Crow For Thanksgiving

by: Dinah Balk

Most eBay sellers enjoyed a nice turkey dinner yesterday with all the trimmings but I suspect John Donahoe, eBay (EBAY) CEO found a generous portion of crow sitting in the middle of his plate because Nielson's numbers are in and confirm buyers, sellers, and shareholders worst fears – John's disruptive innovations backfired!

The numbers tell the story. 1) Nielson reported a steady decline in eBay traffic all year but in October traffic dropped by slightly more than one third over last year; 2) Medved charts indicate sell thru rates at the lowest point I've seen in years; and 3) eBay stock is making new 52 week lows – none of which occurred prior to John's disruptive innovations that began earlier this year.

Dinah's top 10 list of what's wrong at eBay.

1. Management. Sellers set up an online petition to remove John as CEO which is unprecedented but not unexpected given the results of John's disruptive innovations.
2. Home page. It appears to have been designed by a tech student due to content and unnecessary bells & whistles that cause the page to load as slow as molasses.
3. Search. Best Match is designed to think for buyers but it seems to have an IQ of less than 50 judging by its performance. Most sellers have reported a 50%+ drop in sales.
4. Paypal. This has created a buyer vs. seller situation. Sellers refuse to ship before they are paid (can you blame them?) and Paypal is now judge & jury of all SNAD claims.
5. Advertising. eBay has increased advertising that sends buyers off the site. No wonder traffic & page views are down – even Amazon is advertising on eBay.
6. Shipping. eBay capped shipping rates below actual costs for media sellers.
7. Glitches. These occur on nearly a daily...

Read The Rest From: Seeking Alpha

#2

This really no surprise for ebay sellers. We are just surprised at how slow everyone else was to catch on.

I am wondering how far down ebay has to go before they pull the plug on jd. With major repair ebay is salvageable but time is not on their side as more sellers find another home.

I still hope but looking dimmer every day.

#3

I would put:

*) banning people (especially based on a badly implemented feedback system (or at least a system with questionable motives))

really high on the list. What's next, google banning anyone from the entire internet? Maybe someone will start charging for air and then ban people from breathing it. If implemented correctly feedback should naturally drive more traffic to those who deserve it and vice versa, with no need to ban anyone.

#4

My exit as a seller and buyer took this path:
(1) Ever increasing complicated listing, higher fees, and constant changes in policies that lacked common sense.
(2) Subjective star rating system.
(3) Final straw- Not being able to give honest feedback for buyers and the threat that Ebay and buyers can use unfair ratings to affect my business (blackmail by buyers, searching, ending listings, etc.).

#5

I have to laugh at the DSR rating offered to the buyers. I don't know how many e-mails from these expert buyers on "what is included" as an example and it's totally explained in my listing. DUH!!

Then comes these Expert Buyers "OPINION" on Item as Described, Communication, Shipping Time and Shipping and Handling Charges via DSR.
DUH!! Buyers are now asked for their EXPERT OPINION on the 4 DSRS?

And in the offset, they have nothing more on their mind but PRICE!!

What a JOKE!!

#6

Carol wrote (View Post): › My exit as a seller and buyer took this path:
(1) Ever increasing complicated listing, higher fees, and constant changes in policies that lacked common sense.
(2) Subjective star rating system.
(3) Final straw- Not being able to give honest feedback for buyers and the threat that Ebay and buyers can use unfair ratings to affect my business (blackmail by buyers, searching, ending listings, etc.).

Although I haven't exited yet because I can still make a profit with some items, sometimes, I agree that the subjective nature of DSRs are a real big issue.

Another major issue is eBay's rapid assimilation of the "big box" sellers that are swamping the site. One of the most recent ones, "Shoplet", is an example of where eBay is headed, and an example of why eBay is doomed unless Donahoe is removed, and this type of madness is reversed. I use Shoplet as an example, because the first item I saw this outfit selling was a roll of Bounty brand paper towels for 2+ dollars with $7.50 shipping... $10 dollars total for a single roll of paper towels.

Many folks are leaving eBay, no doubt about it. Sellers and buyers.

I predict that John Donahoe will be removed, and will no longer employed by eBay after April 2009.

#7

i think its never gonna get any better period.. not this day in age.. the working people that make the world turn will never make out.. not with big companys like ebay out there that dont need the little guy anymore.. lets face it people it's all of us that made them who they are today and now were forgotten cause they made there pot of gold off us..

#8

HA HA HA - i guess that's just what they deserve.

Lets be honest, ebay did a great job of waking us up to the reality of ecommerce and then they went terribly off course and decided that sellers are bad...

Hope they enjoy the downward slide as more auction sites open shop and start convincing sellers (hopefully) to try out new services.

#9

It is really amazing just how stupid JD is.

Dumb. Absoultely Dumb!!

Where do they find these Dumb People?

Another CEO that is going to get Millions when this Dumb Person Bails OUT with his Golden Parachute.