Ebay Live 2008 Shows Stock Holders that Ebay's Seller Community Has Definite Impact

"Ebay Live 2008 has shown Ebay's total loss of touch," stated one seller on a message board for ebay sellers. "It was definitely weird. There weren't crowds at the booths. The giveaways were pathetic. Ebay is just a shell." So was the typical sentiment after Ebay Live 2008 in Chicago. Some sellers commented that even the staff seemed worried though seasoned Ebay execs shrugged off criticism and tried to turn the blame to sellers. The event, which typically boasts at least 10,000 Ebay fans, welcomed approximately 4000. The economy was blamed along with the price of gas, but attendees knew the truth in the matter. "It's a sad day for Ebay," noted buyer Kathy Baker. "We all knew the buzzards were circling. It's time to figure out what to do next." Others were enthusiastic stating that (name witheld) "Now Ebay can finally listen to the community. We've waited to see if we were really making an impact. Now we know the truth and Ebay can't deny it.

You Tube was abuzz with videos showing seller angst at Ebay Live 2008. One of the most popular shows a gentleman's complete outrage at the belligerence of the company he and many like him had built. "Ebay live's empty. The sellers are leaving . . . There's not even a line for registration. Look at the empty seats in this room. The sellers are leaving because you're putting them out of business overnight." The camera pans around showing the empty seats as the ebay rep scrambles to calm the anger and disgust. Another popular video shows a seller who has 4.5 stars for shipping costs when she offers free shipping. 4.5 stars by Ebay standards is an indication of poor performance though Ebay tells buyers 4 means good 5 means excellent. This mentality is only part of what sellers are struggling with.

With no viable alternative yet online, sellers are filled with trepedation and concern for the future of their businesses. Ebay community watchdog website Powersellers Unite has a forum post entitled "Ebay Barely Alive", which chronicles the events of Ebay Live 2008. Some members are concerned that Ebay's recent bedding with Buy.com means the end of small sellers. The problem with Ebay's twisted thinking of creating a buyer's paradise is that many of the buyers are also the sellers being encouraged by poor policy to find an alternative to Ebay. Problems with DSRs, 21 day Paypal holds, the outlawing of negative feedback left by sellers, changes in fee structures, as well as a change in buyer habits has prompted many sellers to battle Ebay, now at its most precious asset - it's stock customers.

Recently, sellers began informing their stock-owning counterparts that there was trouble brewing on the once favorite ecommerce site. Throw this Stock Away was Monday's Motley Fool's take on Ebay. Tuesday, Yahoo Tech Ticker warns eBay Falls from Grace. Still others speculate seller boycotts have been affecting Ebay, but Ebay has been doing a lot of damage control with Buy.com glitches, which hide the true numbers of protesting sellers from fickle stock holders. Buyers are concerned that Ebay doesn't understand that they are having problems finding the items they want to buy because Ebay is literally pushing the sellers of the items they want off the site.

Ebay argues that it is focusing on the buyer experience. Sellers feel the new focus is only attracting fraudulent or aggressive buyers. The result is a company losing trust and now stock holders. With any hope, sellers and Ebay will find a compromise. Sellers are understandably pessimistic.