FAIR SHAKE

Hello Boycotters. I was asked to write a sample Press Release. I realize that many of you are more than competent enough to write your own, but some members do not feel they have the capability, or may simply feel uncomfortable in composing a letter for media release. This template is for those who need it. Simply copy and paste the letter into your own word editting program and fill in your name, numbers, etc., in the appropriate areas. Then send it by mail or email to your local media. Or one better, send it to as many media venues as you are able, regardless of their locality. Let's jam their emails so they too can hear the N.O.I.S.E. Karen

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[align=center]EBAY BOYCOTT[/align]

[align=right] For Immediate Release[/align]
Contact: Your Name Here
Telephone: Your Number
Cell Phone: Optional
Email: Your email address
[align=center]EBAY: WHAT YOU DON’T SEE IN THE MEDIA
But You Should Know[/align]

You’ve heard the name, you’ve seen the commercials. In all probability you know someone who has sold on eBay, or you may have sold there yourself. EBay has nearly become a household word. For many, it was a way to add extra income and allowed them little extras they might not be able to afford otherwise. For others, it was their only income. IT paid their bills, IT bought their food, and IT paid for medical expenses. You’re thinking “great”, right? Wrong! EBay boasted of running your own business from home, many bought into that. Then they pulled the rug out from under those sellers.

EBay recently sent its members emails, proclaiming a fee decrease. That wasn’t even half true. If you actually SOLD your item, what you saw was a fee increase. But, that was only the tip of the iceberg. To add to the insult toward their sellers, they implemented a 5 Star rating system, allowing only buyers to rate sellers. Sellers are not given this same opportunity. And worse, beginning in May, sellers will no longer be allowed to leave negative feedback for bad buyers. Positive will be the only option available to sellers.

But there is more. The new default search is now called “Best Match” and if your ratings are below 4.5 (which most people would consider quite good); your items are buried lower in the search. You still pay the same fees, but you just don’t meet the criteria eBay considers to be “good enough”.

To top it all off, new sellers, anyone with less than 100 feedback and those who eBay decides are selling something “high risk” must accept PayPal and your funds will be held for up to 21 days, while you must ship at your own expense. In fact, eBay is now encouraging sellers to include the cost of shipping into their selling prices. Why? It boils down to greed. The higher the selling price, the higher the Final Value Fee, the more money in the pockets of corporate eBay.

Does this sound anything like good business to you? It doesn’t to sellers either. And, many, many buyers are realizing that it will hurt them as well. Sellers would have to raise fees, shipping may be slower. Not everyone has the funds to ship something for which they have yet to receive payment.

You may have heard of an eBay boycott. What you haven’t heard is how widespread this boycott actually is. There are forums abounding in an attempt to spread the word. It began with a single eBay thread, posted on the Seller Discussion Boards, by a lady who calls herself Mrs. K. It asked members to join her in a February boycott. It grew into something much larger than any one person could have hoped for or imagined. It grew into a boycott continuation for many sellers, with emphasis on May 1st, which is the date all the new policies will go into place.

Because eBay is censoring postings on their forums, and has even “locked” and moved to the last page, the May 1st boycott thread, members are spreading out and starting new forums off eBay. Delphiforums.com and Fairshake.freeforums.org are just two of the many. Some members have even begun forums on their own websites. One devoted member, who is also a musician, has written and recorded a song “The Rain Has Come” which has just recently been released to members and is soon to be publicly released. It draws on and was inspired by the stories of many members. It is the humanity side of what happens when good turns bad.

There is a Grievance Statement being written which will be submitted to eBay. It outlines not only our grievances, but our missions and our terms. It is the compilation of many members with the final draft being organized and edited by another dedicated member.

Sellers have already begun leaving eBay and have joined other selling venues. Online Auction, Etsy, Neoloch, ioffer, Bidville, and Amazon are just a few sites where “eBay refugees” are now selling.

Factual numbers are difficult to determine, but sellers who regularly monitor categories they sell in, have reported listings are down, as are sales. EBay is known for padding those numbers with their “test” auctions, so the so-called “facts” as reported by eBay, can be misleading.

There is a story here. It is a good story. It is a sad story. It is a story of humanity. Unfortunately, without your help, it may not have a happy ending.

Are you up to the challenge of reporting it?========================================================================
If you’d like more information regarding this topic, or wish to schedule an interview, please contact me at the above numbers or email address.

Karen,

That is a great press release!! Super job! I would like to put it on the website as an alternative to the "letter to the editor" that I wrote and Dion made better.

Thanks for all your work.

Jim

Feel free to use anyway you deem important. Thanks Jim and Dee.

Karen

Thanks for this, Karen! I have never had any experience with anything like that, so whether I use yours or write my own, it gives me an idea of how you go about it! Much appreciated. (learn something every day---and lately it's LOTS OF THINGS EVERY DAY!!!) :o)

Well Done blueridge...