[vcf-midatlantic] Switching to Tindie, eBay Disallows Links to Documentation Now

[Support]

I too have had similar issues with eBay these past months.  All my RM Wiki
links are now the issue.  Any text about "contact me for bulk discounts" is
an issue.  All my links and email addresses in messages for SUPPORT are
filtered.  Breathing is now an issue.  I literally can't do business there
anymore in any reasonable fashion or even tell people to email me for links
and support without reverting back to leet speak most times to which I then
need to explain why I am doing so.

I have my website name all over the listing with the hopes people will
visit the Store and see the lower prices, but seems only a few are able to
read or think.  I fear in the coming months this "work around" too will
cause issues and so will my name in the image watermarks.

eBay also seems to be the land of impulse late night purchases most times.
Noobs go there on a whim, where as more experienced users know about
vendors.  So I plan to adapt.  I'll charge a LOT more for things on eBay
with the hope people go to my URL and buy there.  Some text in the listing
about "This item is currently being made, and this is just a used
refurbished item which bursts in to flames".  If something sells then I
will include a flier in the shipment starting where they should be buying
and other vendors and where better to find things.  But let's face it, 99%
of vendors can be found with a quick google search anyway.

So places like Tindie and WordPress stores like Woocommerce are just the
way to go.  eBay is just now a place to dump higher priced items or for
hobbyists to sell parts from their collections, and hopefully it means
their downfall.  www.ebluejay.com for example is one such eBay like place
with zero fees from what I read.  There is quite a bit of Apple II hardware
there now.  So if we all make an concerted effort to move there and spread
the word that they are "retro endorsed" perhaps all retro vendors could
move away from eBay.  In my case, and those with existing Stores, it's a
bit painful to setup and maintain another store, although not impossible.

$.02




Henry S. Courbis

Office Toll Free: (800) REACTIVE (732-2848)
Office/Mobile Direct: (856) 779-1900
www.ReActiveMicro.com <http://www.ReactiveMicro.com> - Sales, Support, and
News, Our Headquarters on the Internet
ReActiveMicro.com/wiki  - Support, Software, Manuals, and History. Create
your own page today!
Facebook.com/reactivemicrousa - Our Social Media Outlet and Support

On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 3:59 PM, systems_glitch via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

> Sure, there are ways to skirt the regulations -- for instance, my URL is on
> every board I sell, and is clearly visible in the listing images. I suspect
> that eventually this will draw attention, and end up with my listings
> removed or my account suspended. The root of the problem is that eBay
> blatantly does not care about supporting small DIY hardware projects. I
> guess they're focusing on trying to compete with Amazon or something.
> Hopefully it gets more people to alternate venues.
>
> Tindie also has other things going for it -- for instance, the
> international shipping rate calculator actually *works*. I've never once
> had eBay correctly calculate combined international shipping, even though
> I've set up rules and rates for it. I always end up having to give a
> non-trivial refund to the buyer. For example, eBay recently charged a buyer
> around $60 to send five of my 48T02 repair modules to France! I suspect
> that part of the "international shipping is hard" bit on eBay is to try and
> push sellers toward using the GSP, where they make a little more money.
>
> Thanks,
> Jonathan
>
> On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 3:46 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic <
> vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
>
> > yes, I was thinking something like that, list both places and figure out
> a
> > creative way, maybe put into the photos a hint where to get more info.
> > b
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 3:16 PM, William Dudley via vcf-midatlantic <
> > vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Here's an idea.
> > >
> > > put up an auction for each item.
> > >
> > > In the description, put "search for glitchwrks on tindie for
> > > documentation".
> > >
> > > Bill Dudley
> > >
> > >
> > > This email is free of malware because I run Linux.
> > >
> > > On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 2:59 PM, systems_glitch via vcf-midatlantic <
> > > vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > All,
> > > >
> > > > I'm moving all of my open source hobby kits/projects to Tindie. I
> > > received
> > > > a nastygram from eBay last night that I needed to remove all external
> > > links
> > > > to my project descriptions and GitHub repos or my listings would be
> > > > deleted. What good is selling a bare PC board without a link to the
> > > > documentation and design files?! Anyway, my Tindie store can be found
> > at
> > > > the following address:
> > > >
> > > > https://www.tindie.com/stores/glitchwrks/
> > > >
> > > > So far, Tindie seems to be better in all ways than eBay, except for
> of
> > > > course viewership. Hopefully people will use it rather than shying
> away
> > > > from an unknown. The focus at Tindie is DIY/hobby/maker projects,
> often
> > > > open source, and often one hacker's hobby efforts. At least the
> > > "suggested
> > > > items" will likely be relevant :)
> > > >
> > > > I did call eBay's customer service, and after wasting an hour wading
> > > > through tech support hierarchy, I did get a non-call-center manager
> who
> > > > understood the problem, but basically said, "your business is
> important
> > > to
> > > > us, but not *that* important" -- he admitted that not having links to
> > > > documentation basically made my eBay listings useless, but also
> > admitted
> > > > that there are no exceptions because eBay is scared someone will
> sell a
> > > $10
> > > > item outside of eBay once in a while.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Jonathan
> > > >
> > >
> >
>