A couple of days ago eBay announced some "bold changes" to its fee structure, seller standards and feedback mechanism.

Now I participate a bit in the eBay community as "nopressureman".  100% positive feedback have I.  Most recently I sold my Nikon D70s and a Nikkor 28-105mm lens when I upgraded to the D80.

For the most part I agree with eBay’s announced changes.  Lowering insertion fees and charging more when something sells is a better performance based pricing model in my mind.  Free gallery photos a good thing for both buyers and sellers.  The changing seller standards is a yawn to me, I am a good guy.

Then today I read an article by Amanda Fehd entitled "EBay’s Tweaks to Feedback Worry Sellers" that gave me a little heartache.  Seller’s will not be able to leave negative feedback for buyers.  eBay’s rationale; it drives buyers away from the site.  Note to eBay, the only reason why good seller’s give negative feedback to buyers is if they don’t pay.  And if they don’t pay they are not buyers to begin with, they are freeloaders that enable eBay to earn double commission when I have to list the product again.

Case in point, kolobob, who won the action for the above mentioned lens has yet to pay me for the auction he won last Saturday.  If I don’t get payment by Saturday I am going to have to relist.  Or perhaps I will just use Craigslist.

Who are you driving away now eBay?