There is a discussion thread devoted to the rumor in the eBay stores section at eBay community discussions.
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=520003098&tstart=40&mod=1219 797600487 <http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=520003098&tstart=40&mod=121 9797600487> Quick summary: It looks to me like the worries/rumors started when the store/shop inventory format was eliminated at eBay UK and eBay Italy, in conjunction with the other changes at eBay US. Apparently, some ambiguous statements about the potential status of eBay stores subsequent to January '09 also fueled the fire. I don't know exactly what the shop inventory format thing means for Italy or UK eBay store operators - since it seems that there will still be Italy and UK stores, but perhaps forced to use the Fixed Price, Buy It Now, or some other format? In other words, are they eliminating UK and Italy stores, or are they just collapsing two kinds of formats together? I also wonder how many UK and Italy stores there ever were. I don't usually participate in the grousing and griping about eBay in these parts, mainly since I made my own personal/emotional disinvestment in eBay a couple of years ago when the sprung the since-rescinded listing fee price hikes on store sellers. It's what inspired me finally to get off my ass - or, to be more precise, down onto my ass - and create my own freestanding site. Otherwise, I think most of the changes at eBay are oriented around concerns that are secondary to buyers and sellers of fine movie posters. For instance, on shipping charges, I'm presuming it's part of the long twilight struggle between eBay and certain relatively high volume sellers of mass consumer items who would conceal their take in excessive (sometimes ludicrously excessive) shipping charges. The practice cost eBay money, and also contributed to poor buyer experiences and impressions. And the same sellers who use that method also clutter up the site with crap, and tend to be the kind of people who accumulate negatives and eventually disappear overnight, leaving a lot of expectant buyers hanging. I also think it's bad form to bite the hand that feeds you or has fed you. If you don't like it anymore, or just happen to have moved your main interest elsewhere, fine, but constantly carping about it is, to me, a bore. eBay still represents a substantial part of my turnover, some months more than others, and I'd be sad to see it go (not eBay, the turnover - forecasts of eBay's demise are exaggerated, IMO). I guess I'd finally find out how things work when you transfer everything you spend on subscriptions and fees to adwords and other advertising. No one knows nothing. Colin CK MacLeod Collectibles at ckmac.com <http://ckmac.com/> Kymar's on eBay <http://stores.ebay.com/Kymars-Stuff> -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 05:25 AM To: MOPO; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [MOPO] EBay stores A friend of mine said he thought he recalled seeing it in an e- mailing from eBay. I never received such a message, so I thought I would ask you all. --- On Wed, 8/27/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [MOPO] EBay stores To: "MOPO" <mopo-l@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 12:44 AM Where'd you hear the rumor, Diana? On the basis of past experience, I wouldn't be surprised if eBay denied that they intended to close down stores until the day they suddenly announced they were closed or about to close the next week. Is it possible that you heard that "ProStores" was going to be closed down? It was eBay's standalone "shopping cart," linked to eBay but not on eBay or easily promoted through eBay, once upon a time purchased for billions as I recall, that I don't believe has ever gotten very far off the ground. It seems odd that they'd bring the fees for eBay stores way down again, most of the way back to where they were a couple of years ago, and move the site generally towards fixed price offerings, but close down eBay stores at the same time. However, it's difficult to predict what they might do and why. Will do some research of my own. Colin CK MacLeod Collectibles at ckmac.com <http://ckmac.com/> Kymar's on eBay <http://stores.ebay.com/Kymars-Stuff> -----Original Message----- From: MoPo List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 09:24 PM To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: [MOPO] EBay stores Hi everyone, Is the rumor true that all eBay stores are slated to be closed by eBay? If so, when, and why? Thanks. Diana Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
