eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

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AuctionBytes Blog
News and insight focusing on
ecommerce and the online auction industry
by Ina Steiner, Editor of AuctionBytes.com

March 08, 2010

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

By: Ina Steiner

Mon Mar 8 2010 08:44:57

eBay is working with PowerSeller Eforcity to offer a coupon-based promotion, which runs from March 5 - 15. The coupon is for 20%-off select items offered on eBay; shoppers must use the "Buy It Now" option for a regularly-priced item using the code CEFORCITYMAR15, and must pay with PayPal.

eBay promoted the special coupon deal to its affiliates in the eBay Partner Network. eBay told affiliate members that one of the best deals available was a Wii Remote Charger plus 2 Battery Packs for $10.36. "The 20% off coupon takes this down to only $8.29 with Free Shipping," the announcement stated.

An eBay user who received the coupon was disappointed. He said that when he clicked on the promotional link, he discovered that the coupon was only good on 10 listings out of 122,151 listings.

"I logged into my account and there was an "eBay message" that took up the screen like usual but instead of being an eBay/PayPal advertiesment/announcement it was ENTIRELY a 20% off coupon for one of those mega sellers," the shopper wrote in an email to AuctionBytes.

Eforcity operates on eBay under four User IDs (everydaysource, itrimming , accstation and eforcity) and sells on multiple channels, including Amazon.com and on the company's own website. In a press release issued in November 2008, eBay CEO John Donahoe praised Eforcity Founder and CEO Jack Sheng when all four IDs surpassed the one million Feedback milestone. At the time, Eforcity reported gross annual revenue of more than $40 million and said it shipped almost 30,000 orders per day.

Comments (33) | Permalink

Readers Comments

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: MC

Mon Mar 8 12:01:58 2010

A funny thing happens if you go and look at feedback received as a buyer for accstation. LOL

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Patricia This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Mon Mar 8 12:18:59 2010

If I need anything eforcity sells I'll go buy it on Amazon. That's what I think of Ebay and its pampering big sellers and its coupons!

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Kathy

Mon Mar 8 13:33:13 2010

I've bought from itrimming before.

No more, now that I know who they are.

I'll buy from someone else, not someone who is in Doughnutholes pocket.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Patricia This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Mon Mar 8 14:23:06 2010

@MC

"A funny thing happens if you go and look at feedback received as a buyer for accstation. LOL"

I sure would like an explanation of that....or is ebay falling all over itself in trying to keep these large sellers looking trustworthy???

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: John Short

Mon Mar 8 15:15:19 2010

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidItems&userid=pmolis&compl
eted=1&all=1&rows=50&sort=12&_rdc=1

Current and recent auctions bid on by EBAY-BACKED SHILL-BID ID pmolis( 1071)
Member since: Jul-31-04 in France
All Feedback - 8,118 Feedback received
Feedback left for others - 8,338 Feedback left WITH A FEEDBACK SCORE OF JUST 1071 <---- HUGE FLAG!

OF SPECIAL NOTE IS THAT THIS SHILL-BID ID IS BIDDING ON EBAY ID jayandmarie ( 870565)
Member since: Jan-02-99 in United States
All Feedback - 1,888,154 Feedback received
1,964,721 Feedback left WITH A FEEDBACK SCORE OF JUST 870565 <--- FLAG!

AS AN EXAMPLE, SEE Item number:150410047069, LOOK AT Bid History OF THIS PARTICULAR AUCTION, CLICK ON THE o***m (WHICH IS pmolis ID) AND LOOK AT THE Bid History: Details FOR BIDDER o***m WHICH IS pmolis ID... THIS IS WHAT EBAY-BACKED SHILL-BIDDING LOOKS LIKE!
ID 9***t IS NOT SO INNOCENT HERE EITHER! HE IS OBVIOUSLY SHILL-BIDDING ON SELLER 1 (jayandmarie - Bid activity (%) with this seller: 76% ) AND SELLERS 2 AND 3, AS WELL!

FROM pmolis' BUYING HISTORY, IT IS CLEAR TO SEE THAT EBAY-BACKED SHILL-BID ID pmolis IS ALSO A SHILL-BID ID FOR:
amoeba-outlet ( 150392), amoebablowout ( 96030), recordrow-blowout ( 65044), nours77 ( 1699), fclna ( 602), AND diskodisko( 1255) <--- WHO JUST CHANGED HIS ID ON Feb-10-10 TO TRY TO AVOID DETECTION FOR SHILL-BIDDING!

I BELIEVE EBAY TO BE USING ID pmolis (FRANCE) TO SHILL-BID/CONDUCT FEEDBACK MANIPULATION/LISTINGS PADDING FOR PURPOSES OF STOCK MANIPULATION AND HAS BEEN DOING SO SINCE 1994!

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Ecommerce journalist

Mon Mar 8 15:57:40 2010

Here is a brief summary of how Jack Sheng did business on ebay, en masse from 2004 to early 2008-right up until ebay made all of its sweeping changes…

Just one example of many: He was the first big DVD seller on ebay to gouge for shipping ($6.95 by media mail per DVD, with NO combined shipping discount)-and put the item price WAY below anybody’s best cost, even his own. Heck, even moviemars/redtagmarket, at the time, was only charging $4.99 for shipping.

Jack also pioneered the “VERY high volume, saturation-listing, which outweighs all negative feedback received, so to hell with any customer service for buyers at all ebay business model”.

His feedback was awful but he did such high volume that he got away with it (no restrictions or penalties from Trust & Saftey, no DSRs, no Best Match, etc)…

His business practices are what led to the current state of ebay and the need for DSRs, finding 2.0, etc/all, and the terrible public image ebay has as a marketplace for ripoffs, snakeoil salesmen, and shady sellers…

Very ironic that ebay version 2010 now touts Jack as the model ebay citizen to aspire to. He could never have achieved the economies of scale he now has without ripping of countless ebay buyers and shamefully gaming the system.

I’m sure he is a very nice man but thousands of his customers pre 2008/2009 may feel differently…

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Philip Cohen This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Web Site

Mon Mar 8 17:56:14 2010

If anyone wants an expose of shill bidding on eBay, they can start with my intoduction to many examples at
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=6502877

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Ebay No More This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Mon Mar 8 19:18:50 2010

LOL I just bought three items from Eforcity on Amazon last night. I detest these sweetheart deals that Ebay does for large sellers. Sorry Eforcity I will not buy from you again. You got my last order last night. When I think Ebay can't get any sleazier they prove me wrong.

Obviously Ebay no longer enforces policies against large sellers. Recently I purchased from one large Ebay seller and they have been spamming me ever since with daily sale emails to my private ISP account. Odd thing is I don't remember signing up for any email newsletter. I decided not to bother complaining to Ebay because I knew it wouldn't do any good. So last night I purchased from them again but this time I did it on Amazon. When my item arrives I plan to complain to Amazon about the spamming. There is something to be said for Amazon- they don't play favorites when it comes to buyer complaints.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Fruity This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Mon Mar 8 22:58:52 2010

Since when can you list an auction at less than .99, that one has 2 bids ending with 6 pennies. WTF 270523719471

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Philip Cohen This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Web Site

Mon Mar 8 23:44:29 2010

@ Fruity,

Well you can start an auction at $0.01 if you like and you can bet that if “o***m” is a shill then his maximum proxy bid will represent the minimum that the seller is prepared to sell for. Who knows, both bidders could be shills; buyers are that scarce on eBay these days, and I can quote you a number of sellers where there are more obvious shills bidding than genuine bidders ...

For example, have a look at the completed auctions of seller “fresh_from_thestudio” at

http://completed.shop.ebay.com.au/fresh_from_thestudio/m.htm
l?LH_Complete=1&_dmd=1&_fln=1&_ipg=50&_sop=1&_trksid=p3911.c0.m283&_rdc=1

The group of common bidders that appear on every auction is so obvious, it’s almost comical; but eBay can’t see any connection …

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: eBuyer Feedback This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Web Site

Tue Mar 9 02:47:00 2010

Don't buy the Wii remote charger. I bought it from them last July and the batteries only last a few hours (and dead a few days without use) even though they should last longer than what a rechargable battery lasts based on their maH rating.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Luxferro This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Tue Mar 9 11:33:34 2010

Philip, word of advice: you should refrain from accusing specific sellers like you are doing. Amanda is a very successful sellers and what you consider "proof" certainly isn't. You should not be doing this in the open; if you have issues with someone, you should take it up with them and eBay directly.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Et tu, Brute! This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Tue Mar 9 15:55:06 2010

I Google first, and back up a search with Amazon. Depends on the product for which I am searching. Also Etsy for vintage, always first, handmade and such supplies. Then for other Bonanzle, eBid, eCrater, etc. Never, ever eBay.

And for electronics, Amazon ONLY, or it's local all the way.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Et tu, Brute! This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Tue Mar 9 15:58:41 2010

BTW, a friend ordered a popular name brand high end computer for her graphics business, from a reputable site, and it arrived smashed.

Everything has been resolved suitably but the delay and hassle and aggravation is just not WORTH it to me when it comes to expensive electronic items.

But that is my personal preference and many don't feel the same.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: fresh_from_thestudio

Tue Mar 9 20:47:14 2010

Since I have been so publicly defamed in the comments above, I feel the need to publicly defend myself. I am an honest ebay seller. You may not believe that they exist, but they do. I sell my artwork successfully on ebay. My work is followed by people all over the world. The reason why you see the same group people bidding on my artwork, is because the same group of people are often bidding on my artwork! The reason why ebay hasn't picked up on it is because the bidders live all over the world and each have their own extensive buying and selling history! They are actually legitimate buyers!
Phillip Cohen - that is just bad form.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Barts
Web Site

Wed Mar 10 00:22:41 2010

A quick search on Google with Philips email address formset@exemail.com.au should let you in a little on his mission.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=formset%40exemail.com
.au&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=3d121c88310e67e3

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: fresh_from_thestudio

Wed Mar 10 00:33:24 2010

Thanks barts.. I can appreciate what Philip Cohen is trying to do and I hope he succeeds. He has, however, incorrectly used me as his example in his above comments. In this case, he is quite simply wrong. He has no proof, will never have proof, and his comments are defaming.

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Smitty This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Wed Mar 10 01:22:39 2010

@ John Short

This blog by Ina was about Eforcity Founder and CEO Jack Sheng. Were you trying to derail the discussion of Mr Sheng?

If you want to discuss shill bidding on ebay (which does exist), may I suggest you send a letter to the editor.

Smitty

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Smitty This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Wed Mar 10 01:47:49 2010

@ Philip Cohen

Many of us, myself included, support your campaign against shill bidding, but you are starting to sound like a broken record.

I truly hope you did not create the John Short ID to be a shill poster so as to allow you to interject the shill bidder subject into this discussion of Eforcity's Mr Sheng.

As I've advised you before, your obsession with the shill bidding subject keeps you out of step from us serious ebay sellers. Of course we are aware of it, but it's rather low on the totem pole of our ebay concerns.

Now I feel compelled to call you out on the subject. You have accused “fresh_from_thestudio” of employing shills. Can you prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt?

If you cannot do that, may I suggest you do these two things.

1. Apologize to that seller.

2. Go quietly into the night.

Smitty

eBay Promotes Coupon from PowerSeller Eforcity

by: Smitty This user has chosen to validate their user name. This is an optional feature.

Wed Mar 10 02:08:23 2010

@ MC

''A funny thing happens if you go and look at feedback received as a buyer for accstation.''

Of course he was leaving feedback for himself. At that time, he hadn't gotten big enough to have ebay doctor his feedback. Now, he has reached the stage that ebay doctors his DSRs & feedback.

My beef with sellers like him is nothing personal. It's because he has never sold a ''Made in the USA'' item.

Smitty

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