Ebay’s efforts to retain shoppers anger its sellers

Numerous changes being implemented at the online auction eBay are very annoying the businesses selling their goods on the site. Yet eBay is not going to stop. On the contrary within the next few weeks it is determined to introduce even more new rules.

The move of the online auction company is explained by the quest for attracting more online shoppers after eBay noticed a troubling trend: the growth of active users significantly slowed down. The most recent quarter showed the rise of 1.4% to 84.5 million.

Since January the company implemented a number of new rules directed to achieve the target put. EBay altered its fee structure to let sellers offer more items for sale. Then eBay cut the listing fees in its “media” category by as much as 50%.

Yet many sellers were unhappy with the new condition indulging a new top group of vendors that have more privileges while previously eBay consistently talked of a level playing field for brand-name companies and weekend attic-raiders alike.

The new “Diamond PowerSeller” plan that allows merchants to list their items at reduced fees didn’t rove to be welcome as well. Buy.com Inc., which is one of Diamond PowerSellers is offering so many goods that some sellers suspect eBay to have almost exempted Buy.com from paying the fee for listings.

Last week eBay announced that starting from September 16 US sellers will be allowed to pay 35 cents to list an unlimited number of identical items at a set price for a month at a time. Besides, eBay plans to ban all payment methods except credit cards, PayPal and credit card processing service ProPay. Cash, checks and money orders will be admissible only on condition the sellers and buyers meet in person.