Some of eBay's NEW changes -

Ok - there's a lot to digest in eBay's new changes. The one that hit ME in the face first is that they have once again extended the deadline for inplementing a RETURN policy on your listings. They are still saying you can say NO RETURNS - NO HOW - NO WAY but..they don't recommend it. So I have been contemplating MY return policy (I take returns if I screw up the description or misidentify something. I don't like taking returns for "buyers remorse" or "I got it Cheaper at Gary's ( local store's slogan)

And then I read, on http://www.churchofcustomer.com/ this factoid -

Zappos does over $1 billion in annual sales, one-third of which is returned.

Now figure this - $1,000,000,000 in sales - 1/3 or which is returned. and that would be ?

10% is $1,000,000 x .33 = $333,333,333 (according to my accounting dept. AND he's younger than my son. (Note to God - DEAR GOD? What did I do wrong?? Can I please be that smart that young next time? LOL)

But seriously if they can make that much money taking that many returns.....WE, the puny small ebay sellers, can find some way to work a return policy out that gives us good karma, don't cha think?

Think on it. (and if you figure one out, please comment. I'd like to hear some alternative ideas).

I just read this interview with John Donahoe of eBay - (link is further down) and it made me realize that he's a "leader" like my first boss taught us to be leaders. Boss man's favorite quote at the time was "if you want to lead the tribe, you have to be a chief not an indian. The Chief thinks and plans. The indian just runs around shooting arrows and fighting. BE A CHIEF, think".

I think Donahoe does that but I still think he's wrong for eBay. He moves too slow. He knows there's a "decision" gap where the middle management wants to do something but can't get it approved and yet he's not moving quickly to change that. BUT MY STUFF ON EBAY?? My listings, my picture manager etc? THAT he moves on...mostly to make it slower, harder and more expensive. FREE pictures in all my categories, nice. BETTER exposure for my store items? PRICELESS.

John Donahoe Interview in The Herald Tribune

I'd be interested to hear YOUR thoughts.

Bumps - Auction Bumps Knockout Auctions

I have, over the last several month learned about a new "marketing" method - it's basically a block of "boxes" placed on a website and you allow people to put their auctions or store listings in one at a time. No Charge!

Well I've used the one on Danna Crawford's bump page on www.powersellingmom.com and I found a free sky bump from the bump originator (it's on the sidebar to the right)

Now I found this one on Metzymom's emporium at http://metzymoms.com/


MetzyMom's Emporium>

And this one at www.therivertheranchandthebay.com from Kat's Knockout Block Page