Beyond The Awning

7 Tips for Successful Customer Service to Keep Them Coming Back

2014-08-28T01:56:00.002-05:00

“7 Tips for Successful Customer Service to Keep Them Coming Back”

by John “ColderIce” Lawson

Listen
Take Ownership of the Issue
Empathize
Stay Calm
Think Win WIn
Follow-Up
Be Professional

Photo courtesy of John Lawson via Google images

Ice Glacier Tsunami Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota on Mother's Day 2013

2013-05-14T00:41:00.000-05:00

My daughter video recorded this amazing ice creeping onto the shores of Izatys Resort coming off Mille Lacs Lake in Onamia, MN on Mother's Day Sunday morning while visiting her best friend who lives in the rented town home. The video went viral on YouTube within hours of posting and made national media attention on TV, Facebook, Twitter and the Web. She made the video using her Straight Talk Walmart cellphone and had to create a YouTube account to upload the video the day of recording. Nobody was injured during the natural disaster, but plenty of structural damage to several homes. Watch the video as weather history unfolds the havoc of mother nature. The ice moving along the ground sounds like a locomotive train!

Video courtesy of Darla Johnson

eBay Jim "Griff" Griffith Automated eMail Response - GREAT READ

2013-04-18T15:22:00.000-05:00

1. RECENT NEWS!

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THE SPRING SELLER UPDATES for 2013 can be viewed here:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/springupdate2013/springfeesimplification.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/springupdate2013/springfeesimplification.html>

Use the Fee Illustrator to determine which rate option works best for your business on eBay:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/FeeIllustrator.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/FeeIllustrator.html>

Please be sure to read ALL of the information contained on the Update pages.
As always, the updates are not subject to revision, roll back, or exemptions.

NOTE: I have received a few requests from sellers who want eBay to reconsider the new rate change. To be clear:

The new rates are not subject to negotiation or roll-back.
There are no exceptions made. The rates apply to all sellers.

Keep in mind that the rates do apply to all sellers, including your competitors.
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NEW SELLER PROTECTION PORTAL IS LIVE

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellerprotection/sellerprotection.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellerprotection/sellerprotection.html>

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ITEM CONDITION POLICY (for buyers who wish to return an item).

Many sellers are unaware of this recently added page. It outlines the return conditions you may specify that eBay WILL back up. Read it and bookmark it. Consider including the various terms in your listings:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/return-item-condition.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/return-item-condition.html>
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NEW eBAY PHOTO CENTER IS NOW LIVE

eBay is more and more, a visual buying experience. Your listing photos should be the best possible quality you can provide. Read up on the new tips for optimal photos and the new photo requirements (policies) here:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellingresources/photocenter.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellingresources/photocenter.html>
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EBAY ON LOCATION 2013

I have no official word regarding eBay On Location for 2013 but check the eOL website for any updates as they are announced:

http://www.ebayonlocation.com <http://www.ebayonlocation.com>

UPDATE April 16, 2013:

Jim "Griff" Griffith announced on eBay Radio--->

"Oh this is a shock to everyone. Obviously, there's no eBay on Location this Spring"

Listen to the live show archive at the link below.

http://www.voicemarketingradio.com/vmr/sites/default/files/audio-segments/eBayRadio-Show507-Segment1-130416.mp3

In the meantime, do consider attending the 5th Annual eBay Radio Party and Conference in Las Vegas in June of 2013 celebrating 10 years of eBay Radio. There will be seminars, workshops, panels with eBay employees and a special day added devoted entirely to product sourcing.

More information about this three-day even hosted by Voicemarketing.com can be found here:

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e73thad7a4d1d686&llr=cxrpfmcab <http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e73thad7a4d1d686&llr=cxrpfmcab>

Space is limited and sells out quickly.
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STAY IN THE KNOW!
Don't Miss The Important eBay News! Check the eBay Announcements Daily!

http://announcements.ebay.com/ <http://announcements.ebay.com/>
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LISTING LIMITS, ACCOUNT RESTRICTIONS AND SUSPENSIONS DUE TO LOW SELLER PERFORMANCE

If your account has been restricted or suspended, READ the Sections 22 & 23 below!

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3. DYI: FINDING QUICK ANSWERS TO BASIC QUESTIONS IN EBAY's CUSTOMER SUPPORT HELP PAGES

Answers and information for nearly every basic eBay question can be found on our Customer Support pages. Don't underestimate this resource! I use the Customer Support pages during our radio show to verify, confirm and to remind myself of eBay policy, features, etc.

    1.    Click the link for "Customer Support" (formerly, "Help") located in the upper right hand corner of any eBay web page.
    2.    On the next page, type keywords related to your question into the search box provided.
    3.    Scan the list of returned links to find the relevant pages.
    4.    If your keyword search of Help yields no helpful links, try other keywords. For example, "Feedback Dispute" or "Feedback Removal" or "Buy It Now" or "Mutual Cancellation."
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4. CONTACTING EBAY CUSTOMER SUPPORT FIRST!

As much as I enjoy assisting eBay sellers and buyers, my regular job obligations (I am not in Customer Support) prevent me from being your default first channel of contact. Therefore, for all Trust and Safety, Unpaid Item, Feedback, Ratings or Performance Standards questions or disputes or issues, etc, make sure you have tried ALL of the appropriate, official eBay channels first:

Customer Support
http://ocs.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CustomerSupport <http://ocs.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CustomerSupport>

The Resolution Center
http://resolutioncenter.ebay.com/ <http://resolutioncenter.ebay.com/>

You can either email eBay Customer Support or chat with an eBay Customer Support rep by clicking the Customer Support Contact eBay link on the top of any eBay page. You will see options for Contact Us, and either Automated Agent or Phone.

If you select Contact Us, you will be asked to select a general topic that best covers your issue or question. Click on the topics that most closely relate to your question. You will be provided with at one of the following options: Email, Phone.
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5. REPORTING TECHNICAL ISSUES

Report all technical issues from here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/errors.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/errors.html>
Provide as much detail as possible including, the URLs for the pages on which the issue occurs, your computer type, operating system, browser type and version and a step by step accounting of what you are attempting to do and what happens when you try to do it. Attach screen shots if applicable.

You may not hear back from eBay but all reports are investigated.
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6. REPORTING ISSUES WITH BUYERS

First, read about how eBay protects you from problems with buyers (possible abuse, unwelcome bidding, buyer fraud, non paying buyers, etc) on the NEW Seller Protection Hub:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellerprotection/sellerprotection.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellerprotection/sellerprotection.html>

Then, use the following page to report a buyer:

http://spd.ebay.com/RBASellerHub <http://spd.ebay.com/RBASellerHub>

Bookmark that page!
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7. REQUESTS FOR MY THOUGHTS, OPINIONS, ON EBAY POLICY, ETC…

Due to ever-tightening time constraints, I am no longer able to respond personally to email requests for my opinions, thoughts, etc on eBay features, policy, changes, etc. However, I do provide my take and advice twice a week on eBay Radio and I am available to take your questions and listen to your opinions (and even offer my own) during our shows. Feel free to call in with your question or concern during one of the shows.

Learn more here:

http://www.ebayradio.com <http://www.ebayradio.com>
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8. WHAT IS EBAY RADIO? HOW DO I LISTEN?

On eBay Radio, we talk about current eBay issues, new features, policies, etc and we take your calls.

eBay Radio is broadcast LIVE every week over the internet, on Tuesdays at 11am to 2pm Pacific Time, and on Thursdays from 11am to 1pm Pacific Time. To listen, all you need is a computer (or your smartphone!) Just follow the instructions found here:

http://www.ebayradio.com <http://www.ebayradio.com>

Click The Listen Live icon during our scheduled broadcast dates and times to listen to a live show. You can also call in during the live shows.

Click the Archives on Demand to listen to any past show.

eBay Radio is produced entirely by VoiceMarketing.com. To report technical issues, or to suggest changes, guests, topics, etc, send an email to lee@voicemarketing.com (not me).

To send a question to us for to read and answer on the show, email it to ebayradio@ebay.com with the words "eBay Radio Question" in the Subject line.

eBay Radio archives are available for download as MP3 files directly from the eBay Radio Archive page available from http://www.ebayradio.com <http://www.ebayradio.com>
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9. BRAND NEW TO EBAY SELLING?

Not sure how to start off? No worries! We've created a special start up guide just for you! Go to:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/howtosell/newsellerguide.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/howtosell/newsellerguide.html>

to download the New Seller Guide. And visit this link on eBay's site to learn more about Getting Started:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/howtosell/sellingbasics.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/howtosell/sellingbasics.html>

In addition, consider taking an eBay Basics of Selling class in your area:

http://www.ebay.com/esp <http://www.ebay.com/esp>

And tune into to eBay Radio!:

http://www.ebayradio.com <http://www.ebayradio.com>

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10. RESOLVING YOUR TRUST AND SAFETY CASE

If your account was suspended or restricted, your listing was removed, you are unhappy with a Trust and Safety or PayPal action taken against your account, etc, contact Trust and Safety directly by following the steps in section 2. above. Select the appropriate topic and choose one from the provided contact options. You can also report many T&S issues that relate to selling from this link:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>
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11. YOUR BUYER HAS FILED A DISPUTE WITH EBAY (eBay Buyer Protection)

Currently, an eBay buyer can open a dispute claim either through PayPal or eBay (not both) against a seller from whom they have made a purchase. The processes are completely separate. Let's look at each more closely:

If a buyer has opened a case against you, and you are not sure how to proceed, read carefully and follow the instructions for responding to the case. The instructions are contained in the email you received alerting you to the open case.

More information:

http://pages.ebay.com/resolutioncenter/seller_tutorial.html <http://pages.ebay.com/resolutioncenter/seller_tutorial.html>

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12. YOUR BUYER HAS FILED A DISPUTE WITH PAYPAL (PayPal Buyer Protection)

If a buyer has opened a dispute against you through PayPal, read the instructions in the email from PayPal carefully. To learn more, visit this page:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/paypal-buyer-protection.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/paypal-buyer-protection.html>

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13. YOUR ITEM WAS REMOVED FOR COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK OR IMPORT VIOLATIONS (VeRO PROGRAM)

If eBay has removed your item citing VERO, then it was removed by request (per US law) from a Verified Rights Owner (a copyright or trademark holder, the owner of intellectual property, etc) registered with eBay's VeRO . Per the law (the Digital Millennium Copyright Act), when a rights owner informs eBay that an item posted on eBay by one of our registered sellers infringes on their property rights (copyright, trademark, etc), eBay has no choice but to remove it (delete it entirely from eBay's servers).

eBay cannot negotiate with the rights owner on your behalf.
eBay is not allowed to demand proof of the rights owner's claim of infringement.
When informed, eBay MUST REMOVE AND DELETE THE REPORTED ITEM LISTING PAGE IMMEDIATELY!
As a merchant, it is your responsibility to know about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Wikipedia has a very good page on the topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act>

To learn more, including do's and don'ts on eBay, next steps, etc, visit these links:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/programs-vero-ov.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/programs-vero-ov.html>

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/questions/vero-ended-item.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/questions/vero-ended-item.html>

Note: I do not respond to emails regarding any VeRO issues. I cannot overrule or void a decision made by VeRO. I forward these to the VeRO team.

ATTENTION! EBAY WILL NOT ALLOW THE ITEM TO BE RE-LISTED WITHOUT NOTICE FROM THE TRADEMARK OR COPYRIGHT OWNER! NO EXCEPTIONS! DO NOT RELIST AN ITEM REMOVED BY VeRO UNLESS AND UNTIL A VERO REP CONTACTS YOU WITH APPROVAL. RE-LISTING WITHOUT VeRO APPROVAL COULD RESULT IN THE PERMANENT SUSPENSION OF YOUR ACCOUNT!

Unhappy with the DMCA? Contact your congressman or congresswoman and let them know.
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14. ALL THINGS FEEDBACK: FEEDBACK REMOVAL REQUESTS, FEEDBACK DISPUTES, OR ABUSE, FEEDBACK EXTORTION, ETC.

READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!

Feedback is only removed by eBay's Trust and Safety team under very specific criteria which you can view here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-removal.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-removal.html>

and

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-abuse-withdrawal.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-abuse-withdrawal.html>

All feedback removal requests are facilitated by Trust & Safety. Their decision is final.

I DO NOT RULE ON FEEDBACK. ONLY THE TRUST AND SAFETY TEAM CAN REMOVE FEEDBACK!

Some basic Feedback Q and A:

QUESTION: THE FEEDBACK A BUYER LEFT FOR ME IS NOT ACCURATE! (THE BUYER LIED, ETC) WHY WON'T EBAY REMOVE IT?

ANSWER: Feedback is not removed by eBay on the basis of its accuracy or veracity. However, feedback may be removed if it is left by non responsive, non-paying buyers, or if the feedback qualifies for removal as "feedback abuse." To ask Trust and Safety to investigate or to consider feedback removal, you must first report the feedback to eBay (not me) by following the instructions here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

Feedback can be revised in certain specific situations.

* If a buyer leaves a negative in error, and informs the seller,
or
* If a buyer and seller work out an issue and the buyer indicates they would like to revise the feedback they left,

the seller can send the buyer a feedback revision request:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/feedback/revision-request.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/feedback/revision-request.html> >

When a buyer revises a negative comment they have left, they can also revise ratings. Revisions can only be made upwards, not downwards (a buyer cannot lower previously left ratings or change a positive to neutral or negative or a neutral to negative). A buyer may also chose to ignore a Feedback Revision. (A buyer is not required to revise a feedback).

Positive feedback left for a seller cannot, under any circumstance, be revised.

QUESTION: WHY CAN'T I LEAVE A BUYER NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?

ANSWER: As of May, 2008, sellers cannot leave buyers negative or neutral feedback. This policy revision is not subject to negotiation or change. eBay will never return to a system that allows sellers to rate buyers with a negative.

Sellers may respond to a left feedback. Keep in mind that how a seller responds to a negative or neutral feedback says more to potential buyers about that seller than the initial negative or neutral feedback. Always respond professionally and courteously.

If you believe that you are the victim of deliberate feedback abuse or extortion, file a report here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

Wait for a resolution (up to two weeks). IMPORTANT: I cannot assist if a report has not been first filed, or if a report has been filed within the last two weeks.

I cannot overrule the final ruling of Trust and Safety in a feedback abuse case. Their ruling is final.

QUESTION: I BELIEVE I MAY BE THE VICTIM OF FEEDBACK EXTORTION! WHAT DO I DO?

ANSWER: Feedback Extortion is not always black and white. Too often, I am presented with a case from a seller who is certain she is the victim of feedback extortion when in reality, it is a case of an honestly dissatisfied buyer trying to get the seller to make it right. As a rule, Feedback Extortion is defined by eBay as a buyer using the threat of negative feedback/low ratings in an attempt to obtain something not offered in the seller's description or terms of service. For example, "Give me a partial refund or else I will leave negative feedback..." If your listing did not mention partial refunds, then the buyer who makes this demand faces sanctions. Report said incidents here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

If your buyer is dissatisfied, remain calm and offer the buyer a reasonable resolution. Do NOT jump to conclusions. Do NOT become defensive. Do NOT accuse, explicitly or by inference, your buyer of ulterior motives. Stay calm and review the transaction. A good exercise is to practice empathy. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Why is the buyer unhappy? Though one isn't required, is it possible the buyer actually has a good reason for being unhappy? Is there something you can do to remedy his or her unhappiness?

If, after exercising good judgement and asking yourself the above questions, you still believe there is a chance you are the victim of Feedback Extortion, file a report using the Reporting Page link:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

NOTE: I do not respond directly to emails regarding feedback issues but, if it appears that you have a case for consideration and previous requests have not resulted in a response or what you believe is appropriate action, I will forward your email to the Feedback Team for reconsideration but only after you have first sent a report using the link for

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

and only if your case has merit.
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15. DETAILED SELLER RATINGS (DSRS): REMOVAL OR EDITING, DUPLICATE LOW RATINGS FROM THE SAME BUYER

DSRs are left by buyer for sellers at the buyer's discretion. DSRs reflect a buyer's experience with a seller. If you are a seller, your customer, and only your customer decides which ratings, if any, to leave. A buyer may leave a positive feedback if they are generally satisfied with the transaction, but can still rate you low on one or more of the four aspects of your service. This alone is not an indication of abuse or a violation of policy. Buyers are not required to leave a rating that the seller believes they deserve.

NOTE: DSRs are not subject to edit or removal except for two narrowly defined, specific sets of circumstances. A and B:

A. If eBay can determine that the person who left the ratings and feedback did so with the SOLE intent of damaging the seller's reputation, eBay may remove the feedback and ratings. If you believe a member has left ratings or feedback with the SOLE intent of damaging your eBay reputation, file a report of feedback abuse here;

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

Trust and Safety will review the information and make a decision. Trust and Safety's decision in any feedback and DSR matter is the final word.

B. If a buyer informs a seller, unsolicited by the seller, that they have left a rating in error for a transaction where they have also left a positive feedback, the ratings may be subject to removal. However, the buyer must initiate all contact with eBay regarding the left ratings.

IMPORTANT! If a seller initiates a conversation via email or My Messages with the buyer to ask if or why the buyer has left a specific rating, this exemption is null and void. (Contacting a buyer to ask them about a rating they have left you is a violation of eBay policy).

NOTE: I do not respond directly to emails regarding DSR issues but, if it appears that you have a case for consideration and previous requests have not resulted in a response or what you believe is appropriate action, I will forward your email to the DSR Team for reconsideration but ONLY after you have first contacted them and ONLY if I believe your case may have merit.

Focus on guaranteeing your buyer's satisfaction and your feedback and ratings will take care of themselves.
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16. YOUR BUYER HAS NOT PAID FOR A SOLD ITEM (UNPAID ITEMS or UPI)

If you are a seller and a buyer has not paid for their purchase (non paying buyer), please follow the instructions found here under Unpaid Item:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/report_problem.html>

ATTENTION! If you are not using the new Unpaid Item Assistant, you should! Learn how to opt in and use this extremely helpful new tool here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/unpaid-item-assistant.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/unpaid-item-assistant.html>

It is crucial that all sellers report non paying buyers. Without your reports, we cannot accurately record the activity of individual buyers in order to take action against those buyers who continually do not pay for their items. If you are using Fixed Price as a listing format, start using the Immediate Payment Required option. This will eliminate the possibility of an unpaid item (UPI).

If you have buyers who like to shop for items and pay for them all at once, the recently introduced eBay Shopping Cart allows buyers to add items to their cart and pay for them with one payment. Your Combined Shipping Discount Rules will apply to those items from your Store within the buyer's eBay Shopping Cart. You can learn more about the eBay Shopping Cart here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/cart.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/cart.html>

NOTE: I do not respond directly to emails regarding UPI issues.
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17. DISCUSSION BOARDS: ISSUES, HOT TOPICS, DISPUTES OR POSTING SANCTION APPEALS

eBay Discussion Boards are hosted and moderated/managed by the company, LiveWorld. LiveWorld moderators issue suspensions and sanctions. They also remove threads or posts that violate eBay's posting guidelines.

The rulings of LiveWorld moderators are final.

I cannot, and will not, under any circumstances, intervene in Discussion Board disputes or appeals nor will I overrule a LiveWorld ruling or sanction. ALL questions, appeals, etc regarding activity on our discussion boards must go directly to moderation@liveworld.com

I will delete, without a response, any issue forwarded to me regarding eBay Discussion Forums.

Don't use the Discussion Boards to report possible site violations by other members. This is a violation of eBay Policy. Report possible violations of eBay (not Discussion Board) policy through the Customer Support link on the upper right hand corner of any eBay page.

IMPORTANT: I do not respond to emails regarding discussion board issues. In fact, I will delete, without response or without forwarding, any posts sent to me regarding a Discussion Board Issue, dispute, violation or other matter. ALL questions, appeals, etc regarding activity on our discussion boards must go directly to moderation@liveworld.com

You are an adult. You alone are responsible for your posting activity. If you don't like what someone else is posting, ignore them. If you are incapable of ignoring another poster, and you are compelled to respond and you are not happy with the resulting responses, then perhaps you should take a break from posting.

Finally, I repeat, I will not, under any circumstances, respond or react to a report of a discussion forum issue or dispute.
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18. ASSESSING YOUR LISTINGS (SELLER OUTREACH)

Do you need help kick starting your eBay selling? Do you want to take your eBay Selling to a higher level?

eBay's Seller Outreach program can help! The eBay Seller Outreach team is committed to the growth and development of eBay sellers—we want you to succeed. Your free, in-depth business consultation will provide you with personalized, practical advice and specific tips.

Schedule a call for

http://www.scheduleonline.com/ebay_strategies.php <http://www.scheduleonline.com/ebay_strategies.php>

Don't forget to evaluate your listing strategy using the Fee Illustrator tool:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/FeeIllustrator.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/FeeIllustrator.html>
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19. HELP FOR BUYERS

If you are a buyer reporting an issue with a transaction or seller, please read everything on this page first:

http://pages.ebay.com/coverage/index.html <http://pages.ebay.com/coverage/index.html>

and then click the link for Contact Us on the page above (it will take you through the process of filing a complaint with eBay's Resolution team).

DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS ABOUT YOUR SELLER!

Note that during the winter months and year round for some areas prone to hurricane or tornado activity, delivery of shipped eBay purchased may be delayed by adverse weather. Weather can also disrupt communications. Also keep in mind that many sellers are one-person operations and like all of us, can be subject to unforeseen events like illness, accidents, etc. Please make every attempt to contact your seller prior to filing a complaint. The vast majority of sellers on eBay are decent hardworking people whose goal is to provide you with excellent service. Never assume a seller is anything less than honest. Running a business is hard work. Remember that a seller is a person like you. Sometimes a little patience is the best strategy.
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20. REPORTING SITE VIOLATIONS

If you are reporting a possible violation of eBay policy, click the Report Item link on the item page for the listing or the seller that you believe is in violation of policy, and follow the steps to select the violation type you are reporting. NOTE: try to use the violation type that most closely matches the violation you are reporting. Selecting a violation type that does not match the actual violation will result in no action taken on your report!

Although all reports are read and investigated, this does not mean that every report results in viewable actions or sanctions. Depending on the nature of the report and the actual possible violation, we may warn a member or take sanctioning actions that are not viewable by the public.

If you are unsure if a listing violates a policy, you can check it against the list of eBay Policies here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/questions/what-rules-selling-items.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/questions/what-rules-selling-items.html>

NOTE: I do not facilitate nor do I respond to reports of possible site violations. Please use the Report This Item link on any eBay listing page to report a possible listing violation.
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21. SUGGESTIONS FOR ALL NEW EBAY FEATURES OR CHANGES TO EBAY

Please send all suggestions for new products, features, policy changes directly to eBay from here:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/suggestions.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/suggestions.html>

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22. YOUR EBAY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN LIMITED, OR RESTRICTED: EXISTING SELLER ACCOUNT

LIMITS: If your eBay account is limited either because of the Seller Standards program (your account has fallen below Standard), you have not listed anything on eBay in the last 90 days or you are unable to list more items of certain luxury brand types or categories, or if your PayPal account was limited by a transaction hold or a 21 day hold, please note that I cannot, under any circumstances, lift those limits.

Please follow the instructions in the email you received or the on site alert message. Although I cannot facilitate, remove, raise limits, you can request a review and reconsideration by clicking the link in the email you received from eBay.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/sellinglimits.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/sellinglimits.html>

Follow the instructions on that page for Increasing Your Limits.

NOTE: I cannot remove or raise account limits. ALL requests for limit raising or removal must be made directly to CS through the appropriate channel mentioned above.
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23. YOUR EBAY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN LIMITED: NEW SELLER ACCOUNT

All new sellers are limited to the number of listing per month and the amount of GMS (Gross Merchandise Sales in Dollars) per month. These limits are automatically raised once the new seller has established a track record of selling with no major buyer complaints or filed cases. For brand new sellers with no pre-existing business, on or off line, the limits are not subject to review.

If you have an existing business, on or off line, you may be able to have the limits raised by providing information about your business to eBay. Click the link for http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/sellinglimits.html <http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/sellinglimits.html>    and read the last section: "Increasing Your Limits."
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24. YOUR TOP RATED SELLER STATUS HAS BEEN REVOKED.

As announced in February, 2012, the requirements for eBay Top Rated Seller Status have been changed. The bar has been set higher:

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/eTRSupdate.html <http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/eTRSupdate.html>

These requirements, including the requirements for 1 day handling and tracking upload, are final. They will not be rolled back. There are no exemptions to the new requirements for specific categories or type of seller. I cannot grant exceptions. I cannot plead exceptions on your behalf. Again, the new requirements are final and will not be rolled back. You can learn tips and read suggestions for adapting your business to meet the new requirements by listening to eBay Radio. I may also be able to offer suggestions if you send me your User ID and your particular challenge but I cannot, I repeat, I cannot grant exceptions or exemptions to the new requirements. These new requirements are applied to ALL sellers.
__________________________________________________
25. YOUR EBAY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO LOW SELLER PERFORMANCE   OR SECURITY RISK

I cannot remove, edit, lift, or lower account restrictions, nor can I reverse suspensions due to below standard seller performance or assessed security risks. I cannot petition Trust and Safety to remove, lift or even reconsider account restrictions, limits or suspensions due to low seller performance.

If your account has been limited or restricted due to low seller performance issues, work to address the issues and raise your performance standard. Once raised, Trust and Safety will review and possibly lift or raise your limits or restrictions.

IMPORTANT: If your account has been suspended due to continued low seller performance standards, I am very sorry but alas, I cannot have your suspension reversed and I cannot plead your case. The ruling by Trust and Safety regarding suspensions is final.
________________________________

26. POLICY & FEATURE FAQ

As questions about policies and features are received and answered, I will add them to this section. - Griff

Q. When a buyer requests that I cancel a transaction, prior to payment, and the reason is not due to a fault of mine of my listing (buyer changes mind, claims child bid on listing, etc), why is it that buyer can still leave me feedback or ratings?

A. Currently, there is no automatic mechanism that blocks a buyer from leaving feedback in this instance. Although most buyer who request a cancellation do not leave feedback or ratings, eBay will review any report of the above scenario and will remove any left negative feedback or low ratings.

Q. If a buyer purchases items from two or more of my listings and subsequently leaves negative/neutral feedback and low ratings for two or more of those purchases, will all of the feedbacks and ratings count against me?

A. No. Sometime before or at the evaluation period, all but the first negative/neutral and ratings will be de-scored. This may not show up in your Seller Dashboard right away but it will eventually and the cumulative feedbacks and ratings will not count against your status for more than one feedback and one set of ratings.

Q. A buyer purchased or won several items of mine over a period of a few days. The buyer paid for each one separately but wants me to ship them together. How do I combine the transactions post payment into one shipping transaction for a single parcel with a single shipping label?

A. Use the Bulk Shipping Label feature! Go to My eBay > Selling Manager (Pro) > Sold. Check the boxes for the listings from the same buyer that you want to combine into one shipment. Click the button for Shipping Action and select Print Shipping Labels and Invoices. Select Print Shipping Labels. Follow the instructions from there for combining those transactions into one shipment.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

regards,

Griff

Re-posted permission from Jim "Griff" Griffith 4/18/2013 - THANK YOU GRIFF!!!

eBAY FEEDBACK STAR AWARD CERTIFICATES

2012-09-08T03:49:00.000-05:00

Printable downloads in a PDF format directly from eBay!

Didn’t print out your eBay Star Award? Not a problem, view them online today and print out your copy!
I have mine displayed in document frames on the wall of my home office =)

Here are the clickable links for Feedback Certificates:

10 (Yellow) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardYellow.pdf

50 (Blue) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardBlue.pdf

100 (Turquoise) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTurquoise.pdf

500 (Purple) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardPurple.pdf

1,000 (Red) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardRed.pdf

5,000 (Green) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardGreen.pdf

10,000 (Yellow Shooting Star) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTailYlw.pdf

25,000 (Turquoise Shooting Star) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTailTur.pdf

50,000 (Purple Shooting Star) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTailPur.pdf

100,000 (Red Shooting Star) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTailRed.pdf

500,000 (Green Shooting Star) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTailgreen.pdf

1,000,000 (Silver Shooting Star) http://pics.ebay.com/aw/pics/pdf/us/awards/StarAwardTailsilver.pdf

WHERE TO BUY OFFICIALLY LICENSED EBAY PAYPAL & EBAY RADIO PRODUCTS ONLINE

2012-09-04T05:18:00.000-05:00

The eBay Shop

Shop online at The eBay Shop to purchase officially licensed products. The eBay Shop is located in San Jose, California, but you can buy their products from the comfort of your home.

It's safe, secure and fast reliable delivery!

You can choose between eBay, Paypal or eBay Radio branded merchandise.

They have products from apparel, bags & sports, office, drinkware and kids merchandise.

I bought this tangle 4 port hub; it's great!!

HOW-TO LOCATE eBAY MULTI VARIATION CATEGORIES

2012-08-18T19:33:00.000-05:00

Have you tried listing on eBay using the multi variation format? It's quite simple once you get the hang of it. Today, I just want to show you how-to locate which categories are supported using the multi variation format. Once you open the webpage link, just click on any of the categories and the sub-categories will display.

'Click image to view larger size'

This link will take you to the eBay webpage to see all the catagories.

eBay Multi Variation Category List Link

Graphic courtesy of www.BeyondTheAwning.com

HELP FIND ERIC HAIDER www.FindEricHaider.com

2012-08-01T03:51:00.001-05:00

Eric Haider - age 30, was last seen at approx. 12:15 pm mst. on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at a worksite near Baker Hughes, north of Dickinson, North Dakota. He is approx. 6'1" tall, 165 lbs., has brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing dark work clothes with blue jeans and has multiple tattoos. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact: The Dickinson Police Department (701)456-7762 www.FindEricHaider.com

FURBY MAKES A COMEBACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 2012

2012-07-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

Remember when Furby’s made a big splash across the globe nearly 14 years ago? No child wanted to go without having one on their Christmas Santa wish list. It was all the rage for parents to wait in line for hours at the retail stores hoping to get that special Furby. Sometimes you were put onto a waiting list and anxiously awaited for the call to pick-up your Furby. The craze began appearing on online selling venues and selling for marginal profits too! Guess what? They’re coming back this holiday season in 2012, only better! They’re more high-tech advanced and compatible with Apple’s iPad. They feed from the tablet, dance to music, have emotions, talk vigorously and those digital eyes are full of whimsical displays of affection!! Coming to a store near you this Fall.

It’s time to get those older Furby siblings out of the closet and dust them off, for another round of sharing, caring and loving the little creatures. I will be listing 5 never opened first original editions in my eBay Store – coming soon!!! So be sure and bookmark my site Beyond The Awning eBay Store Look out world, Furby is on the loose!!!

Watch this Furby demo video!

Photo and video compliments of www.engadget.com

EBAY AND VACATION TIPS

2012-06-22T21:35:00.002-05:00

We all take short breaks from our eBay listings every now and then. Have you often wondered how you can prevent customers from purchasing your items while you are away for extended periods of time, but unsure how to prepare for this? Here’s some advice on a few things to ponder and prepare for your absence without taking your items/pc/printer/shipping supplies with you! Which believe it not, I have done often, many times myself. Also, reasons why you don’t need to end your auctions and lose listing fees or promising sales. You don’t need to change your handling times. You don’t need to lose your back-links from ending auctions that you have posted on other networking sites.

Don’t have an eBay store? You do have an eBay store? You have auctions running? You have fixed priced auctions running? Worried about losing your TRS (Top Rated Seller) status? Worried about not providing confirmation tracking on your shipments based on your handling time? Worried about customers putting items in their shopping cart and not checking out right away?

No problem, we can prevent sales from happening while we’re away very easily!!

eBay Store:

eBay stores provide vacation settings for you to customize or use their default settings. You can follow these steps to do this.

You’ll also want to send an auto-reply message to any incoming messages while you’re away letting people know you’re unavailable and when you’ll return.

This method will send auto-reply messages to all incoming messages on eBay and the away message will be prominently displayed across the header in your eBay store. It will also hide all your fixed auction listings from search pages and in your eBay store pages.

1. Login to eBay, go to ‘my eBay’, click on the ‘account’ tab, click on ‘manage my store’, click on ‘store vacation settings’.

2. Go to ‘out of office email response’, click on ‘turn on’, set your start date and your end date by clicking on the 'calendar icon', then either keep the default away message as-is or type in your own message.

3. Go to ‘store vacation settings’, click on ‘turn on’, check the box next to ‘hide and block purchases from my fixed price listings'. NOTE: this doesn’t affect your auction-style listings.

4. Optional: check the box next to ‘display a return date', set your return date by clicking on the 'calendar icon'.

5. Then either keep the default away message or type in your own message.

6. Click on ‘apply’.

Non eBay Store:

This useful eBay feature comes in handy for actually both non eBay stores and eBay stores. This is what will stop customers from purchasing your items in both an auction format and/or a fixed priced auction format. It will also stop a customer from processing any order saved in their checkout cart. However, it will not stop any pending uncompleted transactions that have closed with a buyer(s).

1. Login to eBay, go to ‘my eBay’, click on ‘account’, click on ‘site preferences’, click on ‘show’ next to payment from buyers, click on ‘edit’, eBay will ask you to login into your account again ‘login’, go to ‘checkout preference’ and uncheck the box next to ‘use checkout (recommended)’, click on 'submit'.

Hope this short tutorial has helped you solve the eBay vacation dilemma. Just remember to complete those pending sale orders before you leave on your destination and DON’T FORGET to turn off your vacation settings and update your email settings and MOST IMPORTANTLY turn your checkout preferences back on when you arrive back to your home office!!

Have a wonderful worry free vacation folks!!

Photo coutesy of http://www.seamarkcondo.com

KATE GOSSELIN IS A BLOGGER FOR COUPON CABIN

2012-05-22T16:36:00.003-05:00

Did you hear!! Kate Gosselin is a blogger for Coupon Cabin? Kate is infamous for the reality TV series, Jon & Kate Plus 8 & Kate Plus 8. The couple gave birth not only to a set of twin girls, but also sextuplets. The children are thriving well and growing up. According to Kate on her blog, the sextuplets will be going on 8 years old!

I’ve often wondered how such a big family budgeted meals and now Kate gives her insights on achieving this task. You can visit her blog on Coupon Cabin at http://www.couponcabin.com/blog/kate-gosselin to find some useful tips on saving $ money at most retail stores.

Shopping online has become a household commodity for many using their laptops, desktops, touch pads, smart phones & tablets. A person can easily find almost any coupon shopping code online and apply it to their checkout order to receive discounts, often times even free shipping!

I also offer free shipping on many of my items selling on eBay. Visit my eBay store today!

Beyond The Awning eBay Store

Here is a special 10% OFF coupon code to enjoy =)

Photo courtesy of www.google.com created by www.beyondtheawning.com

CASH FOR GOLD

2012-05-15T20:44:00.001-05:00

Have you ever thought about turning in your gold jewelry pieces for cash? Well I have! I had some jewelry pieces such as necklace chains that were broken or missing clasp and rings that were bent out of shape.

I would see those newspaper ads asking people to attend conferences in various areas of the community or big signage outside of pawn shops displaying “Cash for Gold” and television infomercials. I must admit, I was a bit leery to attend these traveling conferences or dealing with a pawn shop, because of lack of knowledge in the gold market and didn’t want to be taken for a fool, just as there are fools gold to be had!

I’m happy that I listened to my inner voice or sixth sense as some may call it. While internet surf shopping one day, I found a legitimate company who pays for “Cash for Gold” all from the comfort of your home. Now before I tell you the company name and website url address, let me just say, I found the link hidden on the pages of QVC. That’s right! QVC the home shopping network channel. So I thought to myself, if QVC is advocating this service from an outside source, then it must be legit.

The company is located in New York City. The website url address is www.GoldRedemption.com

It was such a simple process! Weigh your gold (by the way, they were also accepting silver at the time too), so I threw in some pieces of Black Hills Gold jewelry. Then all you need to do is fill out the online form with your name, mailing address and email address. After submitting the request, a pop-up will appear to print out a postage paid USPS First Class Mail shipping label, I believe it was up to .08 ounces. However, if your gold weighs more, just split it up and print as many shipping labels as you need. They also insure your package for anything valued over $300. Put your jewelry into a ziplock bag and a padded envelope, attach the shipping label and mail your package. You can track your package(s) by typing in the confirmation tracking number at the www.usps.com website. When the company receives your package, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know that they received your items and will respond to you within 24 hours via email when they figure the value of your items. The process is fairly quick! The next day, I received another email from the company telling me the value of my contents and they gave me the option to accept or reject the offer. Note: If you reject the offer, they will return your items at no cost to you. I on the other hand, accepted my offer. They in turn mailed a check out to me within 24 hours. I got my check in the mail at the address I provided and deposited into my bank account. Easy peasy!!

Fantastic service & exceptional values!!

Picture courtesy of http://www.avclub.com

PIN2SELL

2012-05-10T08:02:00.003-05:00

PIN2SELL is a new way to sell your products on Pinterest!

Use Pinterest to Sell Anything to Anyone through PayPal by using this website http://www.pin2sell.com

Very easy and fast to create product listings!

Simply, write a good title, set your price, upload your picture, describe your item, type in your paypal payment email address, check the "read user agreement" box and then click submit.

So cut out the middle man and listing fees, sell it today on Pinterest and get paid via Paypal!

Visit my PIN2SELL Pinterest Board =)

http://pinterest.com/beyondtheawning/pin2sell/

Pictures courtesy of www.builtinchicago.org & www.callronan.wordpress.com

Do you have a favorite weather internet website?

2012-05-04T15:39:00.001-05:00

Tornado season is here in the USA, do you have a favorite weather internet website? If not, look no further... This is a favorite weather interactive map that Power Plants use across the United States. Just open the drop down menu and click on your region, then click on animation. Better yet, bookmark it to your web browser. Enjoy =)

http://www.intellicast.com/National/Radar/Current.aspx?region=default

Picture courtesy of www.intellicast.com

PINTEREST Sharing eBay Wares Networking Together Around The Globe

2012-04-19T16:10:00.005-05:00

Pin your eBay products on this board to share around the world! Let's start repinning & spread our products across the globe together!!

URL LINK:
http://pinterest.com/beyondtheawning/pin-your-ebay-wares-sharing-our-products-around-th/

eBay Sellers pinning, sharing, liking, networking, marketing, bumping, tweeting, facebooking products globally on PINTEREST everyday! Share your link anywhere & everywhere! FYI: If you would like to be added to this board, please contact any of the pinners on this board & an invite request can be sent to you =)

Note: Only eBay sellers can be invited to pin on this board, thank you =)

How To Promote Yardsellr Stores Using YouTube

2012-04-18T11:07:00.007-05:00

Here is neat way to promote Yardsellr products!! The video is self explanatory, take a peek ;)

Lorina Iverson's Yardsellr Store

If you need help creating a Yardsellr YouTube Video or any other online webstore, contact the author of this video-vanhornf or find her on facebook at: Gifts N Goodies U

USPS Email Scams

2012-04-15T22:26:00.005-05:00

I was listening to one of my favorite Internet radio stations the other day and the topic of USPS (United States Postal Service) email scams arose from a news feed. Found this to be a quite interesting story since I exclusively use the USPS for all my shipping needs.

Here's whats up...apparently scammers are sending out email claiming to be spokespersons for the USPS. Now most of you know, phishing emails have been out for many many years and try to be cautious and observant about figuring out which ones are real and which ones are phony.

There have been several reports to the attorney generals office recently this year, claiming these type of emails are fake. Not only are they phony and look like the real deal, but if you click on any of the links inside the email, it will cause serious harm to your computers hard-drive using malware viruses trying to steal your personal information.

The USPS claims that they do not send out emails, period. They advise you to forward any suspicious USPS emails to abuse@usps.gov or simply call 1-800-ASK-USPS to report the fictitious email.

So be careful folks, the scammers are still at it trying to mess things up for the next person.

What does foursquare, eBay stores and Google have in common?

2012-04-15T21:25:00.004-05:00

Let's talk about branding your online web presence for a few moments. The topic question is: What does foursquare, ebay stores and google have in common? Answer: They all three can be linked together to help brand your online web presence. Sounds simple, right? ...or no? Actually it takes a little time to process the full effect, but after everything is set into motion, it works real well.

This is one way that I am able to google my branding name and 9 times out of 10, it will show up on the first search page. I haven't tried other search engines, but it may be feasable.

This process works real well for people who work at their home office selling on eBay. I suppose other online auction store sites could do this as well, but I want to talk eBay today.

The first thing you want to do is to set up your business address in Google Maps. Then either have an eBay store already or open an eBay store. After that, download the foursquare mobile smartphone/tablet app from the place that you are connected to. In my case, I use android apps.

After you have done all these things. Simply check-in to foursquare while inside your home or place of residence that you used for Google Maps. Foursquare will show you being at your branding name at the address of your home office including a google map. When you do a branding search on Google, your branding name should show a foursquare link showing where you checked-in.

How cool is that!!!

Here is a test to show you what I'm talking about. Open up a new web browser using Google as a search engine, type in these three words in the url web browser bar "Beyond The Awning". After the web results appear, scroll down the page and it should show a link from foursquare (the link is shown in the reference below).

Reference: https://foursquare.com/v/beyond-the-awning-ebay-store/4f451498e4b0868b41c90431

Credit Card 3 Digit Scam

2012-04-13T07:19:00.003-05:00

QUOTE FROM ONLINE EBAY SELLER

"The new scam works like this:
Person calling says - 'This is (name), and I'm calling from
the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460, Your card
has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify.
This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank).

Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a
marketing company based in Arizona ?' When you say 'No', the caller continues
with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we
have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500
purchase pattern that flags most cards Before your next statement, the credit
will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?' You say 'yes'.
The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud Investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do
you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works -

The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'.
There are numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the last 3 are the
Security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the
numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the
card.

The caller will ask you to read the last 3 numbers to him. After
you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to
verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your
card Do you have any other questions?' After you say no, the caller then thanks
you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you
the card number.. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back. Within
20 minutes to ask a question. Are we were glad we did! The REAL VISA Security
Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of
$497.99 was charged to our card. We made a fraud report and closed the VISA
account. VISA is reissuing us a new number..

What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of
the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master
Card directly for verification of their conversation.
The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything
on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If
you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a
credit; however, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for
purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more
difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a
call from a 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a word-for-word repeat of the
VISA Scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police
report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these
reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is
happening. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the caller
telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane tickets to Spain
, and so on through the above routine.

It appears that this Is a very active scam, and evidently
quite successful."

Resource: http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Trust-Safety-Safe/Credit-Card-3/5100061304#msg5201140920

eBay showing "hidden prices" on listings?

2012-04-12T03:03:00.008-05:00

Since when did eBay allow this policy to occur?? ...and what does it all mean to a seller and the consumer? If I find out more, will update...

eBay ? explanation next to "See price at checkout"

"Why don't we show the price? Sellers have the right to set their own prices independently, but some manufacturers place restrictions on how those prices may be displayed or communicated to others. Because the seller's price on this item is below the manufacturer's "minimum advertised price" the manufacturer may not allow the seller to show you the seller's lower price until you take further action, such as clicking on a drop down menu, placing the item in your cart, or proceeding to checkout. The steps required depend on the terms of the manufacturer's minimum advertised price policy. Taking these steps allows eBay to show you the seller's great price consistent with eBay's goal of always bringing consumers like you the lowest possible prices on the widest selection of products. You should know that by taking these steps, you won't be required to purchase the product. You can always simply remove the item from your cart or not proceed with checkout if you decide not to buy the item."

Reference #1: http://www.theonlineseller.com/2012/04/10/ebay-lets-sellers-hide-item-price/

Reference #2: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hewlett-Packard-C9415a-38-Cyan-Inkjet-Print-Cartridge-/260900714525?pt=BI_Toner&hash=item3cbee4f81d

How To Disable eBay's Checkout Grocery Cart Feature

2012-04-12T00:33:00.004-05:00

I found this to be a valuable eBay tool while setting eBay Store's and/or Auctions on vacation settings to stop any potential sales from occuring while away.

Disabling Checkout

Checkout is enabled automatically when you set up your seller account. If you'd rather not use checkout when you list an item, you can disable it.

To disable eBay checkout:

Click My eBay at the top of most eBay pages. You may need to sign in.
Place your pointer over the Account tab, and then click Site Preferences.
Under Selling Preferences, in the Payment from buyers section, click the Show link.
Click the Edit link. You may need to sign in.
Under Checkout Preference, clear the Use Checkout check box.
Click the Submit button.

Reference: http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/checkout.html

Promote your eBay Store with eBay Templates using eBay's logo

2012-03-04T10:22:00.002-06:00

The link below will take you to the eBay page to help promote your eBay Store with such things as business cards, promo flyers, letterheads, envelopes & much more. The eBay Store logo is inserted in the premade templates & allowed to be used without infringing eBay's logo copyrights! Check it out!

http://pages.ebay.com/storefronts/promoting.html

Picture courtesy of www.ebay.com

Super Nice Email from eBay Customer!

2012-02-27T18:55:00.003-06:00

Trish:

I wanted to thank you so much for upgrading the shipment of my Wilton Cake & Food Decorating Book, I sincerely appreciate you doing that...

That was very kind of you to do. I will definitely keep you in my list for future purchases and will also let my friends and co-workers know about you as well.

Thanks again,

Cheryl

Practice HTML Codes Before Posting on your Websites

2012-02-27T08:57:00.003-06:00

This a great place on the web to practice any html codes you are working on before posting it to any website. It will show you exactly how your code will look on the web. It is extremely easy to use and you can edit, revise, re-edit until it is perfect, looking just the way you want it. Best of all, it is a free website and there is no registration sign-up!

http://www.practiceboard.com/

eBay Video Photo Tips

2012-02-24T00:49:00.002-06:00

Click on the link below to watch a short tutorial video on how to take professional looking photo's for eBay auctions using simple techniques.

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/video/photovideo.html

How to Embed a YouTube video in Ebay Listing

2012-02-23T02:06:00.000-06:00

Found this great tutorial on YouTube - Instructions on How-To embed a YouTube video into an eBay auction.

Video courtesy of digitalknowledgebox on YouTube