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 October 2008 |
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***Consumer Product Safety Commission - Children's Items Recalled Week of October 27*** |
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31 October, 2008 | 14:00
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for the following items:
- Wooden Toys recalled by Earth Friendly LLC due to choking hazard
- Casper the Friendly Ghost figurines recalled by Coyne's & Company due to high levels of lead in paint
- Crate & Barrel recalls Ghost Tealight Holders due to fire and burn hazard
eBay takes recalled items very seriously, and we work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on these issues. We encourage buyers and sellers to visit http://www.cpsc.gov (see the Recent Recalls section) and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca for more details about the products and model numbers included in this recall. You may also wish to visit our Recalled Items policy at http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/recalled.html
For Sellers: Please check your product model numbers and refrain from listing any items that are part of this recall. Any currently listed items that are included in the recall should be ended.
For Buyers: If you believe an item you are interested in bidding on or purchasing may be part of this recall, we encourage you to use the Ask Seller a Question feature to verify.
As a service to our Community, eBay announces some product recalls, like this one, when we believe the marketplace will be impacted. To stay informed about all Health Canada and CPSC recalls, please bookmark http://www.cpsc.gov and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca and sign up to receive notices on new recalls.
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***A Message from John Canfield – Two Important Security Updates*** |
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30 October, 2008 | 10:46
| John Canfield |
Hi everyone…this is John Canfield, Senior Director for Fraud Prevention Policy. I have two important updates on security initiatives to share with you.
Trusted Selling with Identity Confirmation -- Progress Update
Trusted selling with identity confirmation, which we first announced in April, is designed to prevent fraudsters from gaining access to members’ accounts in order to commit fraud on eBay. It adds a new level of security by asking anyone listing an item from an “unknown” computer to confirm their identity.
Last spring, we began to implement this project by noting which computers members typically use when they buy and sell on eBay. Then two months ago, we started testing the identity confirmation process for a small population of users. I’m pleased to let you know that our testing has been successful – we’ve seen a significant reduction in account takeovers, and it’s been a smooth experience for users. We are now expanding this initiative to the entire Community, which should be completed within the next few weeks.
Going forward, if you list from a different computer than you usually use (e.g., a computer at a friend’s house, at the library, etc.), eBay will make an automated call to you to confirm it’s really you attempting to list an item. If you are not available to receive a call, you can instead confirm your identity via Live Chat with our customer support team.
Making Winning Bidder IDs Anonymous
Early last year, we began to anonymize bidder IDs on listings. This change was designed to protect bidders from fake Second Chance Offers and other malicious emails. As I’ve shared before, this initiative has been very successful, resulting in a 90% reduction in this type of fraud.
Today, however, the winning bidder’s ID is currently visible to everyone after the listing ends, and this continues to lead to fake checkout offers and other spam. Consequently, it also leads to unpaid items, as winning bidders who fall victim to these fake emails often send payment to someone other than the seller.
Based on the positive results we’ve seen by anonymizing bidder User IDs, as well as our commitment to protecting all bidders from becoming targets for fraudsters, we’ve decided to extend anonymized User IDs to winning bidders, as well. This change will be implemented in the coming weeks.
As always, the following information will still be accessible:
- Sellers will be able to view all bidder IDs on their listings.
- All members can click on the bidder ID and view the bidder’s Bid History page, which will detail the categories in which they’ve bid over the past 30 days.
- Feedback pages will show the same information as now – buyer and seller IDs, with comments visible to all.
Thanks for taking the time to read about these updates to improve safety on eBay, and we thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
John Canfield
Senior Director, eBay Trust & Safety
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***Consumer Product Safety Commission - Children's Items Recalled Week of October 20*** |
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24 October, 2008 | 15:28
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for the following items:
- Dollar General Merchandising recalls battery operated "Speed Boats" due to burn hazard
- My Way recalls baby walkers due to fall hazard
- Playkids USA recalls convertible cribs due to suffocation hazard
- Delta Enterprise recalls drop side cribs due to entrapment and suffocation hazard
- Performance Designed Products recalls Rage Wireless gaming guitar due to chemical burn risk
- YMCA Trading recalls "Gas Match" lighters due to burn hazard to children
- Leapfrog Enterprises recalls rechargeable batteries for Didj Custom Gaming System due to burn hazard
eBay takes recalled items very seriously, and we work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on these issues. We encourage buyers and sellers to visit http://www.cpsc.gov (see the Recent Recalls section) and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca for more details about the products and model numbers included in this recall. You may also wish to visit our Recalled Items policy at http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/recalled.html
For Sellers: Please check your product model numbers and refrain from listing any items that are part of this recall. Any currently listed items that are included in the recall should be ended.
For Buyers: If you believe an item you are interested in bidding on or purchasing may be part of this recall, we encourage you to use the Ask Seller a Question feature to verify.
As a service to our Community, eBay announces some product recalls, like this one, when we believe the marketplace will be impacted. To stay informed about all Health Canada and CPSC recalls, please bookmark http://www.cpsc.gov and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca and sign up to receive notices on new recalls.
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***Coming Soon – Introducing Minimum DSR Seller Standards on eBay.ca*** |
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23 October, 2008 | 15:49
| Andrew Sloss |
In August, eBay.com announced that it was instituting a new minimum Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) requirement for sellers. This new minimum DSR threshold of 4.1 across all four DSRs applies to any seller who lists on eBay.com, and comes into effect on November 3, 2008. Sellers with a DSR between 4.1 and 4.3 will be allowed to list on eBay.com, but their listings may be subject to demotion in search results.
eBay.ca is instituting its own minimum DSR requirements as a way to further improve customer experience for everyone on eBay. Beginning November 17, 2008, sellers listing on eBay.ca will need at least a 4.1 on each of their DSRs over the prior 30-day or 12-month period, depending on volume, in order to list on the site.
Today, only a small fraction of sellers fall below eBay.ca’s minimum seller standards, yet they are responsible for a high percentage of customer complaints, which hurts you and our marketplace overall.
Please note: In November, items listed on eBay.ca from Canadian sellers whose DSRs meet the 4.1 threshold will appear on eBay.com (provided they meet all other criteria to list on the US site, such as offering at least one approved payment method). However, we strongly urge sellers whose DSRs are between 4.1 and 4.3 to strive to achieve an average of 4.3 in order to avoid being demoted in search results. Please use this time to adjust your business models and/or work on improving your DSR scores.
Sincerely,
Andrew Sloss
Country Manager
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***A Message From Dinesh Lathi - Current Seller Promotions at a Glance*** |
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17 October, 2008 | 10:31
| Dinesh Lathi |
Hello again...A number of sellers have reached out in the last few days with questions about some of our current listing promotions. Here's a quick summary to help clear things up:
Free shipping:
- PowerSellers get double Final Value fee discounts on all Fixed Price and Auction-style items with free shipping sold from October 1 – December 31, 2008.
- All sellers get a free Subtitle upgrade on Auction-style and Fixed Price items with free shipping listed from October 1 – December 31, 2008.
Books, Music, Movies & DVDs and Video Games:
- All sellers get 5 cent Insertion Fees for Fixed Price listings in these categories when they list with pre-filled item information between September 16 – December 31, 2008. (This does not include Video Game Systems).
- All sellers get a free Subtitle upgrade for Fixed Price listings when they list with pre-filled item information between October 13 – December 31, 2008, whether or not they offer free shipping.
I hope this helps clarify the great promotions we're offering our sellers, and thanks again for your support!
Sincerely,
Dinesh Lathi
Vice President, Seller Experience
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***A Message from Dinesh Lathi: New Look for Product Pages, Plus Other Important Updates*** |
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17 October, 2008 | 10:17
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| Dinesh Lathi |
Hello everyone...This is Dinesh Lathi, VP of Selling Experience. As we head into the busy holiday shopping season, I’d like to let you know about a few important changes we’ve made to help sellers be successful this season:
New Look for eBay’s Product Pages
In the next few days, we’re making some important design updates to eBay’s product pages (i.e., the pages you see when you click on “Matching Products” in search results.) You’ll see two different versions of this page—one style is for Books, Music, Movies & DVDs, and Video Games and one is for products in other categories. Sellers’ items will appear on these pages when they list with pre-filled item information).
Both new pages make it faster and easier for buyers to find just what they’re looking for from sellers they trust. Get a closer look at the new pages, along with tips for getting the best position for your listings.
Special Offer Now On for Media Listings
From now through the end of the year you’ll get a FREE Subtitle upgrade when you list books, music, movies, DVDs and video games with pre-filled item information. Subtitles show up on the new product pages, so take advantage of this offer to help your listings stand out.
Introducing Featured First, a New Listing Upgrade
We’re also introducing a new listing upgrade called Featured First. Add Featured First to your listings for an opportunity to appear in the featured area at the top of the first page of search results. A limited number of Featured First listings are randomly selected to be rotated into the featured area, so there’s no guarantee yours will appear. But this upgrade is still a great way to significantly boost your chances of being displayed on the first page for increased visibility and increased likelihood of a sale. It’s also a great way to jump start “recent sales” for a new Fixed Price listing.
Featured First takes the place of Gallery Featured and is offered for the same price: $24.95 for up to 10 days, and $74.95 for up to 30 days. This upgrade is available only to sellers who have not been demoted in Best Match search results (see your seller dashboard for your status). Also note Featured First is not available for any Motors categories. Gallery Featured is still available for Motors sellers.
Relist Credits Ending for Fixed Price Listings October 22
As you know, we recently reduced Insertion Fees for Fixed Price listings to just 35 cents for a full 30 days, and just 15 cents in Books, Music, Movies & DVDs, and Video Games. As a result, starting October 22 we will no longer be offering Insertion Fees credits when Fixed Price items are relisted. Credits will still be issued for unpaid items and are now being extended to single quantity Store Inventory Format listings if there is an unpaid item. Note relist credits for Auction-style listings will continue.
Thanks for taking the time to read about these updates, and we thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Dinesh Lathi
Vice President, Seller Experience
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***Title Search, Browse and Registration Issues*** |
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16 October, 2008 | 16:23
Members were seeing intermittent errors when trying to browse and search on the eBay site or register a new account. Search and registration are now functioning normally.
Thank you for your patience while we worked to resolve this issue.
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***Title Search, Browse and Registration Issues*** |
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16 October, 2008 | 15:39
Members are seeing intermittent errors when trying to browse and search on the eBay site or register a new account.
We are aware of the issue and are working to fix it as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this issue. We apologize for the frustration this is causing you.
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***Title and Description Search Issues*** |
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16 October, 2008 | 13:49
The problems with Title and Description search have now been corrected.
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***Title and Description Search Issues*** |
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15 October, 2008 | 11:02
Title and Description Search is not displaying all items correctly. Please be assured that we are working aggressively to resolve the issue, and expect it to be fixed by the end of next week. We know how frustrating this is, and sincerely apologize that the fix will take so long, but the reindexing necessary to complete the fix literally takes several days to run.
If you are a seller and your item is not displaying in a Title and Description Search, please don't hesitate to contact Customer Support, and they will be happy to refund your fees upon validation that your item is impacted by this bug.
If you are a buyer, these items are always available by using Title-only Search (simply uncheck the Include title and description box when running a search). Additionally, if you have Favourite Searches set up, you may want to temporarily modify them to search by Title only.
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***5 cent listing day for Fixed Price or Auction format *** |
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13 October, 2008 | 14:00
When is it? Starting Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 00:00:01 ET (12:00 AM plus one second) and ending Wednesday, October 15, 2008 02:59:59 ET (02:59 AM plus 59 seconds).
Who is included? All Canadian resident users who list their items in Auction Format or Fixed Price on eBay.ca and specify shipping (Shipping costs have to be specified on the Sell Your Item form within the "Give buyers shipping details" section or the equivalent Turbo Lister, Selling Manager, Selling Manager Pro or any third party auction listing tool) will be eligible for the promotion. Items listed in two categories will receive the 5¢ promotional fee for each category.
What is excluded? Buy It Now upgrade, Motor Vehicles, Business and Industrial Capital Equipment, Store Inventory Format, Real Estate Auction Format listings and Real Estate Ad Format listings will not be included in this promotion. The promotional rate does not apply to listings revised during the promotional period. The promotional rate also does not apply to listings created during the promotion October 14, 2008, but scheduled to start after the promotion ends.
Click here to learn more
http://www.ebay.ca/promo/09145centAFFP/
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***A Message from Brian Burke: Feedback Revision Launches Soon*** |
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10 October, 2008 | 13:58
| Brian Burke |
Hi… I'm Brian Burke, Director for Global Feedback Policy. I’m pleased to announce we will introduce Feedback Revision the week of October 20.
Feedback Revision will enable buyers to change a Feedback rating, comment and Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs). While the Feedback revision process is initiated by a seller, buyers have the option to accept or decline a request. Buyers will have 10 days to respond, and non-response will result in the Feedback remaining. Only one request can be made per transaction.
Sellers should only send a Feedback Revision request to the buyer once they have addressed, to the buyer’s satisfaction, the cause for the negative or neutral Feedback. They may also send a request if the buyer accidently left incorrect Feedback in the first place.
Sellers will have a limit of five requests per 1,000 Feedback earned within a 12-month period. On average, sellers receive eight negative Feedbacks per 1,000 Feedback earned, so the five per 1,000 limit will enable sellers to address the occasional mistake, while at the same time not enable sellers with greater than average negative Feedback to "cleanse their record."
We will monitor system use and make adjustments as required.
Onsite Buyer Messaging about “Free Shipping” During the Feedback flow
Free shipping is a great way for sellers to improve their DSRs and attract more buyers. To enhance the accuracy of Feedback left on these transactions, beginning next week buyers will be reminded that the seller offered free shipping on the transaction as they are leaving Feedback for the seller.
I’d also like to let you know that in July, we introduced messaging to remind buyers when their transaction was an international transaction.
Since Feedback is often left days or even weeks after payment is made, providing these reminders should increase the accuracy of buyer Feedback and help ensure sellers who do cross-border business or who offer free shipping receive appropriate DSRs for Shipping time and Shipping & Handling cost.
Sincerely,
Brian Burke
Director, Global Feedback Policy
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***Consumer Product Safety Commission - Children's Items Recalled Week of October 6*** |
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10 October, 2008 | 11:40
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for the following items:
- Tween Brands Inc. recalls necklaces, as well as CD and MP3 players due to excessive levels of lead in paint
- Backyard Play Systems recalls outdoor swing/glider due to fall hazard
- Rack Room Shoes Inc. recalls girls sandals due to choking hazard
- Hasbro recalls Nerf Blasters toy gun due to pinch hazard
eBay takes recalled items very seriously, and we work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on these issues. We encourage buyers and sellers to visit http://www.cpsc.gov (see the Recent Recalls section) and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca for more details about the products and model numbers included in this recall. You may also wish to visit our Recalled Items policy at http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/recalled.html
For Sellers: Please check your product model numbers and refrain from listing any items that are part of this recall. Any currently listed items that are included in the recall should be ended.
For Buyers: If you believe an item you are interested in bidding on or purchasing may be part of this recall, we encourage you to use the Ask Seller a Question feature to verify.
As a service to our Community, eBay announces some product recalls, like this one, when we believe the marketplace will be impacted. To stay informed about all Health Canada and CPSC recalls, please bookmark http://www.cpsc.gov and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca and sign up to receive notices on new recalls.
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***A Message from Nate Etter: Update on Mandatory Return Policy and Handling Time*** |
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09 October, 2008 | 10:47
| Nathan Etter |
Hi everyone...Good news for sellers who are in the process of updating their listings to prepare for the holiday season. We had previously announced that specifying both your Return Policy and Handling Time would be made mandatory in late October. However, given the breadth of changes we’re asking sellers to make to their listings this year, we’re giving sellers a reprieve on these two items until after the holiday season.
The new enforcement date for mandatory Return Policy and Handling Time will be in early 2009. To give sellers adequate time to get their listings ready, we’ll be giving sellers at least 30 days notice before we start enforcement.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to clear up a couple of questions around Return Policy.
Do I have to accept returns?
We encourage you to accept returns, as this increases buyer satisfaction. However, you do not have to accept returns. You may specify “No Returns Accepted” as your return policy.
If I specified Returns Accepted before the new fields were added, do I need to revise my listings again?
No, if you specified Returns Accepted before the new fields were added, you do not need to revise your listings again. The new field, which specifies who pays return shipping, will be defaulted to Buyer.
Even though we’re pushing out the enforcement date, it’s never too early to add Return Policy and Handling Time to your listings. We encourage you to start listing your items with Return Policy and Handling Time now.
Sincerely,
Nate Etter
Seller Experience
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***A Message from Jeff King: Update on the New Search Experience*** |
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07 October, 2008 | 13:40
| Jeff King |
Hello...This is Jeff King, Senior Director of Finding. 2008 is flying by, and we're making great progress with our new search experience. About five percent of Canadian members have been using it for some time now, and we've also made much of the functionality available to anyone who wants to try it out on the eBay Playground.
Since the experience was first released, members have given us some great feedback, much of which we've acted on. For example, user preferences now are "sticky" – basically, the system remembers them – and we've added more features to the advanced search page. We'll continue to incorporate members’ suggestions and feedback whenever possible into the experience.
Defaulting users to the new search experience
We've started directing everyone to the new search experience by default. If you're using the new search experience, I'd like to thank you in advance for taking the time to let us know your thoughts.
And as I mentioned before, if you're not already using them, you can still try the latest Finding features on the eBay Playground – new additions are made all the time. You can also stop by and leave your feedback on the Search discussion board on eBay.com, which my team regularly monitors.
Sincerely,
Jeff King
Senior Director, Finding
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***Consumer Product Safety Commission - Children's Items Recalled Week of September 29*** |
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03 October, 2008 | 10:49
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for the following items:
- Buzz's Boatyard toy boats recalled due to excessive levels of lead in paint
- John Jaques & Son recalls Lawn Dart Games due to risk of puncture
- BRP U.S. Inc. recalls youth All Terrain Vehicles due to collision hazard
eBay takes recalled items very seriously, and we work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on these issues. We encourage buyers and sellers to visit http://www.cpsc.gov (see the Recent Recalls section) and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca for more details about the products and model numbers included in this recall. You may also wish to visit our Recalled Items policy at http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/recalled.html
For Sellers: Please check your product model numbers and refrain from listing any items that are part of this recall. Any currently listed items that are included in the recall should be ended.
For Buyers: If you believe an item you are interested in bidding on or purchasing may be part of this recall, we encourage you to use the Ask Seller a Question feature to verify.
As a service to our Community, eBay announces some product recalls, like this one, when we believe the marketplace will be impacted. To stay informed about all Health Canada and CPSC recalls, please bookmark http://www.cpsc.gov and http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca and sign up to receive notices on new recalls.
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