If you follow eBay's Announcement board or popular eBay blogs, you know yesterday was a big news day. BIG.

eBay sellers have been waiting anxiously for this year's annual fee changes since January started. When the news "hit the wire" (PR talk), however, it contained substantive changes in several major areas -- the pricing model, new seller standards and rewards, and Feedback. As North America President Bill Cobb put it in his record-length AB post,

"I know that all of the changes we're making in pricing, seller standards and incentives, and feedback are big ones ... and that not everyone will like them. But the overall package is what you should focus on ... and the overall package is strong."

The "overall package" as explained in Bill Cobb's is about a number of major changes that are united by the single goal they share: improving the experience our buyers have on eBay. 

Comments that members are posting by the 1000's in the forums, especially about the change to prevent sellers from leaving negative comments for buyers, illustrate just how big these changes are in a very tangible way. Many feel the changes tip the scale too far in the buyer's favor. Some members have posted that they think eBay actually favors buyers over sellers.

I've worked here almost 10 years, and I know how big these changes are, too. It took me a while to adjust to them, because changes like preventing negatives for buyers and decreasing listings exposure in Best Match for sellers with high buyer dissatisfaction rates are dramatic -- they trample on core marketplace traditions. 

The bottom line is, though, we all want eBay to win.  But we have to do it in today's new competitive world.

I hope you watched the webcasts from the 2008 eCommerce Forum in Washington D.C.  yesterday -- Bill and the other executives made it clear to over 200 top sellers (many of whom were also concerned by the news) that, in fact, eBay wants to build a stronger partnership with sellers.  That's why eBay is -- for the first time -- offering real rewards to great sellers, or sellers who consistently give great service and meet their buyers' expectations.  The business needs great sellers.  Sellers, for that matter, need great sellers too.  Every good business person wants to be part of a marketplace that has a great reputation that buyers trust. 

eBay's soon-to-be CEO John Donahoe summarized how critical it is we work with our sellers, in partnership, to improve the buying experience together:

"eBay by itself cannot create a great customer experience.  We can smooth the process through enhancements to our platform, policies and pricing, but once a buyer is ready to buy, the experience is entirely in your hands."

Let me also say that some members have expressed concerns that warrant more discussion.  I know eBay staff are reading, listening, and discussing the details that sellers have brought up.  Issues like the difficulty that a seller who accepts international buyers has in scoring well in the DSRs the way the system works today -- this concern and others have been taken seriously by eBay leaders who know there will continue to be a need to evolve and tweak.

But overall -- the changes are not about eBay caring about buyers over sellers, as I've read often on the forums.  They are about making real change that will make a healthier marketplace that can continue to grow for the next 10 years (and beyond).  To do that, we all need to change the things that are ...right now, today...driving buyers away.

I'll paraphrase the comments leaders made yesterday in their keynote speeches and answers to sellers during the exec Q&A and sessions:  If we don't make bold changes, buyer confidence will continue to wane...i.e.  buyers will spend more of their money not here, not where our good sellers are, but with other retailers on the web. 

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