Where is Ebay going?

I know it's not just me already grieving the loss of the ebay we used to know and love.  I miss the days where ebay was "just a venue" where we didn't have to worry about paypal chargebacks and when an unfair neg from a buyer could be avoided because they had to think twice about what they could receive in return, not necessarily a retaliation thing (and I know there are those out there) but a let's keep it real thing.

I looked back at every neg/neutral I received over the last 12 months and not one of them was deserved.  For instance, how about the buyer who made an offer on a beautiful oil transfer print from me for $25 (it was listed for $150), I declined and told her sorry there's no way I could sell it for under $100.  Well she went ahead and offered $100 and I wasn't quick enough to respond so she started sending email after email - my first red flag!  I accepted, she paid and I sent her art.  Didn't hear a word and then 7 weeks later she files a paypal dispute stating item was damaged!  huh?  Well at first paypal found in her favor until I sent more pictures showing this painting had no damage when it left here and 7 weeks later?  come on!  They ultimately found in my favor but of course I got the neg from her.

Then how about the one who bought a Crissy doll from me, then stated it was filthy and had burnt hair, hmmmm not the doll I had pictured and mailed, so I told her return it for a full refund and as long as my invisible mark was still on it no problem.  All of a sudden she had bathed the doll and was sure that mark was gone, oh and her camera wasn't working for her to send any pics to me either, I am one of 3 sellers she pulled this on and of course she negged me.

Then just recently a buyer bids and wins, I ship same day as payment received and a week later she says her item hadn't arrived, I checked the delivery confirmation and it said her address was undeliverable, well she filed an item not received claim with paypal and even admitted the bad address to which I won but she negged me!

So now this new policy of no negging buyers, they will be relentless I fear.  Now mind you 99% of my customers are as awesome as it gets!  I love the people who let me know when their item arrives, the ones who work with me on any problems and are understanding, I am so grateful they shop with me, it's that 1% of people who failt to read descriptions, don't pay or try to scam that scare the heck out of me.

Ebay has this wonderful new thing called detailed seller rating - seems all fine and good right?  Well it would be if they didn't make finding my items in searches dependent on it, if they didn't make being a powerseller dependent on it, and if they didn't make it a passive aggressive method for customers to smile and stab me in the back at the same time!

Ahhh but this is getting long now - to wrap it up, I see changes, major changes, bad changes and I'm worried.  This is how I make my living, I have two beautiful children to support, one of which is special needs and requires lots of extra medical and emotional care.  I don't understand why ebay is trying to undo the thing it's success was built on, the little guy.

Stay tuned for more....