Oh NO eBay BANS eBooks!
Posted by Stelios Eleftheriou on April 17th, 2008eBay has done it again… they are now banning ebooks and all kinds of digitally delivered products, like videos, audios, websites, domains and anything else that is delivered electronically. You can read their announcement here.
This is a huge change that is affecting a lot of people… and forums are already buzzing about this - mostly with people complaining about the change.
You can do 2 things:
1. Join the people who complain on forums and then give up on eBay
2. Adapt to the new situation and profit wildly
Every change is hiding golden opportunities for those who are looking…
First, what can we learn from this?
If you’ve been hit hard - meaning, if all your income was coming from ebay, then be thankful that this has happened now, rather than later.
Now is a good time to start building that list so you can OWN your business and not be vulnerable to changes that other businesses like eBay decide to make.
If you were just using eBay mainly for generating leads then you can now explore the eBay classifieds’ section. I became a powerseller selling 99 cent ebooks, purely for lead generation in various niches.
Now that this is gone, it’s a good time to test the eBay classifieds’ section which is ideal for generating leads and it’s only $9.95 per month. It’s an inexpensive way to set up lead generation tests with upsells.
I will test this and get back to you.
Also, the change means there’s no competition now. The field has been levelled.
What you can do is burn your ebooks and software on CD and continue selling the physical version. The physical version commands a higher price.
Plus you also can include upsells while sending your CDs. Just include a printed offer along with the CD, making your customer a special offer, as a “thank you” for being a customer, for a product related to what they bought.
To differentiate from other sellers you can offer instant digital delivery as well, while your customers are waiting for their CD - with a software such as MyDD.
The main things I’d like to highlight:
1. If you have been selling low cost ebooks without building a list in the process… this change could be the best thing that ever happened to you! Start building a list so you can OWN your business and be immune to changes such as this one.
2. Don’t complain about things you can’t change. Instead keep looking for the opportunities. While most of your competitors are bitching, you can be cleaning house by acting quick and adapting to the changes.
3. Take action now by testing eBay classifieds and/or selling your ebooks on CD.
Feel free to post your comments below…
ebay ban ebay bans ebooks ebay digital delivery banTechnorati Tags: ebay ban, ebay bans ebooks, ebay digital delivery ban
March 26th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Thanks for putting a positive spin on this and for your helpful suggestions.
Very interseted to see the results of
“it’s a good time to test the eBay classifieds’ section which is ideal for generating leads and it’s only $9.95 per month. It’s an inexpensive way to set up lead generation tests with upsells.
I will test this and get back to you.”
Thanks a lot
Lynne Lee
http://www.articlewritingandmarketing.com
March 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Hi,
I always new that you have to have an back up.
It is not very wise solely depend on ebay only.
That is why I have an e-book Library I actively promote and people can get $5 book from there.
You can easily Join me
Just visit www.Income-Page.co.uk and click
Join In Button.
Thank you for keeping us up to date Stelios
Kindest
Krisitne
March 26th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
if the news is true then thousands of net marketing people who sells on ebay will be affected
abid
http://infoplode.com
free ad Listing
March 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I used to sell digital products on ebay. It seems a bad move by ebay, only allowing to list info products on one category only, that will get crowded with all the listing and will be difficult to get hits on sales pages as too many listing in same category. I do not relist my item because of this change, my be i will try classified format later.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hi everyone…..Ebay used to be my life and I had nothing but positive things to say until last week….
I just read that Ebay banned digital items. I have been with Ebay for over 10 years. I have mainly sold baseball cards and DVDs. I started selling Ebooks mid February and was doing well with about 10 sales day. Before Ebooks I had 450+ feedbacks and high DSRs.
Once I got into ebooks with 10 sales a day my feedback of course was going up but that wasn’t my focus, the sales were. I tried raising prices some on the ebooks but didn’t work so I lowered it back to 1 dollar and refunded the couple customers who bought. Thats the kind of seller I am.
Then Ebay emailed me last week closing my account stating I violated their Feedback Manipulation policy - because I was getting all that feedback from Ebooks without really shipping anything. I was appauled since I have been with Ebay for 10+ years without an issue. I thought selling Ebooks was ok on Ebay except for those selling for a penny just to get feedback. Believe me I wasn’t in it for the feedback - just for that extra gas money each week which was working. I already had high feedback and DSRs so didnt make sense to me. I have customers emailing me still asking what happened and shocked when I tell them. Ebay didnt seem to care about my 10+ years with them - only the past month.
So I am not surprised now they ban the digital items yet my account remains closed, my emails go unanswered and even contacting their office of the president goes unanswered.
Ebay is concerned about getting trust of the consumer but how can it do that if they rip the rug out from under you each time? They truly dont have good customer service and when you get email responses from them its so generic and preformatted with little concern for a customer. Thats why there is no trust in ebay.
I now have lots of free time since I am no longer selling my baseball cards and DVDs on Ebay. The kids are happy!
Hoping to find another Auction site who can give good service, reward loyalty and has good values.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Ebay is still a good way to capture leads, even if you cannot post ebooks for sale you can get interested people to your website.
http://internet-business-at-home.com
March 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
This is great new to me. Ebooks are being devalued by marketers trying to make a quick buck on auction sites.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
For $9.95 a month, you can join USFreeDas and psot as many ads as you like. For $25 per year, you can post as many ads as you like to bizz-wizz - both are high traffic.
$10 buck per month for ONE ad on ebay is outrageous. I hope everybody drops ebay like a hot potato just to teahc them a lesson. They claim it’s to protect their feedback system, but I suspect they’re just trying to hustle everybody.
No go for me.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hey Stelios, great post. I’ve been active in the forums right from the start of all this, and have been listening to everyone’s concerns and complaints. It’s nice to see more and more people coming around to the idea, that they can use this debacle as a catalyst to push them to evolve.
It’s funny you mention tapping into our lists. That’s part of the same message I’ve been trying to advance to folks both in the forums and at my site.
In fact, I’m putting together a complete action plan/roadmap to help people beat this eBay slap, by evolving their business model. I’ll be giving it away at http://thedigibay.com
I’m hoping it’ll help a lot of folks out.
Keep up the good work!
-Glen McNiel
March 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Stelios
Definitely an excellent spin on a supposed horrific change. I think there is money to be made. I have read lots of information today on these changes and I feel this is a positive change rather than a negative one.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Amen!!!! Brother!!!!
Seize Every Day
March 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hi Stelios readers n posters … I came across your blog through an Alex Mandossian post strange how you can follow an interest you have from a simple post or email lead and end up putting 2 & 2 together and ending up with 1/2 a dozen explanations of a subject close to your heart even project??? … and closer still to your very own bank balance building green light tool box lol hope this input is of interest …
all my best to you and yours
Phillip Skinner
======================================
Hi phillip,
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If ghostwriting isn’t a current need, this presentation is still a valuable look at outsourcing. The tactics employed to modularize this process are applicable to most any outsourcing effort.
http://www.outsourcemastermind.com/blog/
- Chris
P.S. About 10 minutes in I switch over to a visual walk through of how to utilize Mechanical Turk yourself for ghostwriting.
http://www.outsourcemastermind.com/blog/
March 26th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
There are only 2 Marketing “Gurus” I Respect and Listen to and you are one of them. Thanks so much for sharing this very important Advice!
March 26th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
This is a very good blog post. Although I have been on the Powerseller’s forum complaining with everyone else, I never intended to quit ebay for the same reasons you’ve mentioned…because I knew many of my competitors will be going out of business. I am still not happy about the changes, but I will use it to my advantage.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
It is not that simple to sell CDs. In some countries the cost of postage is so high that no buyer would want to pay.
http://www.auctionsinaction.com
March 26th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Hi
This may sounds silly! But what do you mean ebay classifieds? I went on ebay and all I found was Kijiji… is that what you mean? I talked ot live help and they are having a problem directing me to an actual ebay classified section where I can list my ebook.
I was trying to find the thing you were reffering to for $9.99 a month! Can you give me a link?
thanks
March 26th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
That’s The Way It Goes!
A negative spin on ebay’s rules actually just got rid of sellers pushing their ways to “devalue” a lot of info products!
To me, THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!
Now, selling info products via digital delivery will disallow a great number of people from just selling pennies over dollar products.I just disdain this practice of “undercutting the competition”, and this is a welcome relief!
I just liked what you did post on “looking at the bright side of things”, and posting the alternative actions.Way to go!!!
March 26th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Thank you for the great information!
I’ve never used ebay as a marketing resource but this new spin makes worth looking, especially since it has levelled the field as you say and I agree.
I also love the suggestions, I think that’s what sets marketers who survive changes apart from those who fall into oblivion.
If life throws you lemons…
Best regards,
Antonio Gutierrez
http://www.emarketingresourcesonline.com
March 26th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Hello,
Yes I agree, this definitely stinks. Remember all, there is yahoo stores still.
Brian Garvin
March 26th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Hi there,
I have only just got to your email. I already new about this massive change in policy before reading your email though however. I have been busy looking at other avenues and selling platforms for selling my digital products.
One of your readers above said will it really make any difference? Well do me it will, as most of my traffic is genereated through eBay at the moment as I am still relatively new to IM and still trying to find other ways of generating traffic. Also I beleive it will be a big difference to eBays profits, as hundreds of thousands of digital products gets listed every month creating listing fees, not to mention people’s fees for shops and selling manager pro which people will obviously now be cancelling their subscriptions to. I already have. So eBay are loosing a minimum of £100 ($200) a month from me alone.
There is more behind this decision than they are letting on and I doubt we will ever know what it is.
Marc.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Being positive is the best option.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Hi Stelios,
great post with some good suggestions. It should help quite a few people.
For Angela,
No question is silly.
in the first paragraph of Stelios’ post, find the following sentence: “You can read their announcement here.”
The second half of it is a link to ebay’s site and there’s a bit more info there about their classifieds.
It’s not a separate section, but one of the listing options when you select from when you are doing the form to list an item.
Cheers,
Michael
March 27th, 2008 at 2:19 am
I am interested in seeing how this unfolds as well..Nice post keep us updated
March 27th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Phil says:
“For $9.95 a month, you can join USFreeDas and psot as many ads as you like. For $25 per year, you can post as many ads as you like to bizz-wizz - both are high traffic.
$10 buck per month for ONE ad on ebay is outrageous. I hope everybody drops ebay like a hot potato just to teahc them a lesson. They claim it’s to protect their feedback system, but I suspect they’re just trying to hustle everybody.
No go for me.”
======================================================
Hi Phil,
I like the two sites you mentioned and I am actually using Usfreeads already.
But why does it have to be either them or eBay?
Why not both?
If each $9.95 for a classified ad brings in more than $9.95 then you are building your leads up for free and extra cash.
Note: I don’t like the change eBay either - but we are just brainstorming ways that we can maximize our profits with this new situation.
Regards,
Stelios
March 27th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Larry Lee Bliss says:
March 26th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
There are only 2 Marketing “Gurus” I Respect and Listen to and you are one of them. Thanks so much for sharing this very important Advice!
=======================================
Hi Larry,
Thanks for the compliment, although I’m not a guru.
I have to ask… who is the other one?
Regards,
Stelios
March 27th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Michelle L Green says:
March 26th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
This is a very good blog post. Although I have been on the Powerseller’s forum complaining with everyone else, I never intended to quit ebay for the same reasons you’ve mentioned…because I knew many of my competitors will be going out of business. I am still not happy about the changes, but I will use it to my advantage.
=============================
That’s exactly the spirit.
Regards,
Stelios
March 27th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Angela says:
March 26th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Hi
This may sounds silly! But what do you mean ebay classifieds? I went on ebay and all I found was Kijiji… is that what you mean? I talked ot live help and they are having a problem directing me to an actual ebay classified section where I can list my ebook.
I was trying to find the thing you were reffering to for $9.99 a month! Can you give me a link?
thanks
=====================================
Hi Angela,
Kijiji is something different. eBay classifieds show up with regular auctions.
Here’s the link for more info:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/f-ad.html
Regards,
Stelios
March 27th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Thanks everyone else for your kind words!
This is a huge change that has affected a lot of people but know that the way we adapt to the change can bring even higher success than we had before the change.
I will post new blog posts soon about stuff we can do to combat this change so stay tuned.
Subscribe to this blog’s announcement list on the left and if you are using rss, also via rss.
Talk soon,
Stelios
March 27th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I’m sorry for those that were using ebay to sell ebooks and software dirt cheap, but on the other hand I have always resented the fact that people were selling ebooks for $1 when many of them state that there is a minimum price that the product should be sold for.
ebay doesn’t care, and the guru selling the rights to the products don’t really care either, everyone just seems to want to build a list and it will continue as is on other sites and most likely through some ebay loophole.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:44 am
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March 30th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Stelios:
Your post is very opportune. Regards a very important subject: Ebay, monster internet Website. I have read some comments from your readers, specially the one of Wayne and it’s a pitty what those giantic Websites, in this case, Ebay, are able to commit against any people. And Phil is right about the USFreeAds comment. We know that this classifieds site is one of the ones that Google loves. Let’s see what happens next.
Regards,
Jesus Moreno
April 27th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I would say….. Adapt to it. I do notice though that not many people are selling ebooks on ebay anymore