Now whenever eBay want to improve buyer trust, it normally means that sellers get knifed in the back and dragged through a bush like the evil lying tow rags they are (feedback changes of old..), so you can see why I have the *FEAR*.

I am assuming that you have read or plan to read the white paper….

Returns:

It is now easier to return items. In all fairness with my main cleints things are easy to return, you can change your mind up to 7 days and the item is guaranteed for 30 days.
This will increase returns, but for specific returns due to just plain fickle buying or the wrong size is subject to a 10% re-stocking fee. Buyers seem OK with this and understand your position as a seller. Faulty item returns are just dealt with, refunded or replaced as well as the buyers postage fee.

Resolutions:

The account managers at eBay can be hit and miss but most will help you sort out the issues that arise. If you are a genuine seller you really do not have to worry.
Although eBay will sooooo not want to fork out some of its own money so they might be spiteful like Paypal and put pins on your chair, but this remains to be seen and I will re-comment when I have worked with these new changes for a few months.

I probably won’t comment on the item detail changes but I am looking into the multi variant listings as this is SO the mysterious configurator that never was! Feel like I have been waiting for it for years….

The CSS on the Hairfreax shop from the blog series seems not too affected by the design, maybe those who have used it as a base for their own store design care to fill me in with how they are coping? (and any compliance issues?) I hope to have time to experiment with the new stores soon, but I am locked down developing a new joomla site.

I have 3 clients all with Frooition design, and I am not making judgements till I have had the pudding but this is what they have said on this issue “Phillip Molloy, President said, “We have a solution that is ready to go, easy to preview and easy to install. You will be able to install and uninstall at any time”

Deb from ASWAS has also been keeping us all informed of this issue and my main client was thankful for the info in his inbox this morning! She asks ‘Are you one of thousands of eBay sellers who paid an “eBay Store design specialist” for an eBay Store that now has to be replaced?‘

A good question, one that all ebayers with store design will need to ask themselves.

But I detract from the positive sides of the changes? The gallery display sure seems sweeter, and it has a Web 2.0 feel to the experience….not that the rest of us are looking towards Web 3.0 and eBay took its time to catch up!

Totally un-related but tomorrow is paper payments removal deadline for ebay listings. Its an ebay.com thing, but if you have visibilty on dotcom and you are a UK seller? I imagine it will still apply. Paper sucks anyway.

I will have lots of things to blog on this year, setting up a Channeladvisor premium store, designing it, then tendering for a better design, growing a retail arm of a sports retailer (Kooga anyone?) and doing some multi market magic….

I will be in eBay up to my ears, but its great!

Watch this space as the battle unfolds….

Edited to add: Update from the CA forums on Frooition design….

Thanks for your questions concerning the charge for the new upgrade.
As outlined in the FAQ area

Quote:

Yes, this is an upgrade not a solution to a problem. We are providing many new features as well as reworking some graphics to fit in with the new storefront layout. The pricing will depend on your current layout and levels of custom work. Contact customer services at info@frooition.com

Without repeating the above, we DO have a process in place for calculating whether there will be a charge, and what this quote would be. If you would like to find out more, please email info@frooition.com with your client reference number (if applicable), or your company name.

Opening this post up for comments if anyone needs any assistance or has any views!

Edit 2:

Ahhh…lots of emails…please see here for information on the Froo Store Upgrade FAQ’s

Truly I will get back onto this but on speaking to Frooition it is a case by case basis thing and I will report in full the cost to upgrade the stores I deal with but can not vouch for any others!