eBay’s almost instant change in their digital delivery products policy from its site in restricting sellers to instead list their digital media items in the Classified Ad format for $9.95 for a 30-day listing is a shock and frustrating surprise to the Digital Products Industry.
Currently, eBay may be advising the community members that their reason for immediately enforcing and banning Digital Product from Sales and Auctions is due to ‘Feedback Manipulation.
However, there are other alternatives to such drastic policy changes rather than to prevent the sales of digital products entirely.
No, I believe there are other reasons for this immediate switch in policy.
The very sad issue from eBay’s immediacy to eliminate (ban) downloadable digital delivery products; such as ebooks, templates, and certain types of software and many other digital media items is that it takes the food right out of the mouths of babes, so to speak!
Now, in all reality, any single source approach to earning income is never a good idea. Nevertheless, there are those that do just that.
There are sellers who depend upon the income to put food on the table. There are senior citizens who pay their utilities with the extra dollars they can earn from writing ebooks, laying out craft patterns, designing templates and creating various digital products.
eBay, of course, has every right to institute any type policy, regulations and rules they choose to implement.
The question is not in so much what they choose to put into practice, it is how, why, and in what timely manner they chose to implement this particular course of action
It really is a no-brainer to realize that posting an announcement on March 25, 2008, to take effect on March 31, 2008, is blatantly in recognition to what hardships they would cause too many sellers.
There obvious concern cannot be with any consideration to the community member sellers who list and sell Digital Delivery products.
In fact, their most unimpressive reasoning falls on the lame excuse of ‘Feedback Manipulation’.
In eBay’s announcement, http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200803241300132.html, Brian Burke, goes so far as to state, “Digital goods are often reproduced at little to no cost to the seller”. He goes on to say “Sellers who wish to continue to offer digital goods can do so by selecting the Everything Else> Information Products category in the Sell Your Item form and choosing the Classified Ads format (not auction-style or fixed price). For more information about the Classified Ads format, please read Advertising with Classified Ads.”
At the time of his announcement, the instructions were not working, and you could not follow those steps. The “Classified Ads format” he mentions did not exist under “Information Products”.
This can only go to display that such an immediacy and untimely procedural and policy change was not long- thought out as one might expect from a company believed to be reputable and responsible. This would be especially true for the enactment of such major changes.
Some sellers only became aware of the policy change when re-listing items; not realizing there was a policy change, those attempting to relist their digital products, contacted technical support. eBay’s Help Desk was not aware of any policy change.
An assumption that eBay no longer wants to allow Digital Delivery listings in their marketplace could have a bearing on Adobe’s latest legal suit. On the other hand, I see no relation or comparison for a similar legal suit filed by Tiffany’s. We can be sure buyers are not downloading diamond bracelets.
After all, if you technically approach the arena of digital media, it includes, just about, any type of informational, musical, educational, tutorial, movie, video and other type product. For that matter websites, blogs and more of this type item fall directly into digital media.
I have been reading blogs and articles about this policy change by eBay in many different venues. Some of which, I am stymied to see those that are taking advantage with their adverts to sell products to the frustrated eBay sellers who have encountered instant income disruption. The same as when a hurricane hits.
I, thank goodness, moved my digital products to the Internet well over one year ago. I am grateful I did!
I learned a great deal from doing so.
Firstly, I sell four and five times more on Internet websites than I have ever sold on eBay with far less stress and greater profits. The stress is not from buyers, but from eBay!
Secondly, I currently offer CD-ROM or digital delivery and 99.9% of my visitors and buyers prefer digital delivery.
Thirdly, the digital revolution is in pioneering stages and eBay moves in the other direction, why?
Fourthly, what was their purpose in creating their own digital delivery system that encouraged sellers to become involved with digital products?
Fifthly, I believe, eBay’s feedback system will be inadequate when implemented with changes preventing sellers from leaving negative feedback for buyers in May of this year.
Sixthly, eBay is so focused on feedback they do not see anything else about the minds and concerns of sellers.
There are more uncompromising and relentless actions such as eBay has now changing their Affiliate program and dropping Commission Junction instantly.
I wonder if eBay will soon find themselves in many different class action suits for their unyielding exploits.
I believe eBay is scrambling for life because they are in turmoil and do not know or realize any path or direction to take.
It seems that eBay could be planning to become a Marketplace of their own and will not require most of the type sellers they now have listing items.
eBay is not the marketplace to be selling digital products, that is for sure; now that you can only place adverts in classifieds.
The question is, will they decide a Monday to prevent or cancel other types of products? If they can display this type of action in the instance of Digital Delivery Products, they can do the same with any other type item as well. Barbie dolls, watches, shoes, pottery, coupons, tickets, and a slew of others.
Prepare yourself and move away from any single source income venue.
Back to Digital Products –
I have realized with supporting income that the Internet is where buyers go to obtain their information
Therefore, I can see eBay decision in Digital Media Products to be an opportunity in a few different style approaches.
Definitely, moving into the Internet and learning the avenues for advertise your products.
Utilizing eBay, you can get creative with a few items to list that are not digital delivery items and sold on CD-ROM or DVD. You can then offer your digital products within your CD-ROM/DVD product.
CD-ROM and or DVD is a physical product (software). If the product is on the Disc such as tutorials, ebooks, pdf documents and more, you are selling a physical and tangible software product; and not a digital delivered downloadable item.
It is a wonder why, while the rest of the (world) companies are expanding in selling downloaded digital products such as audio books, movies, tutorials, videos and others, eBay prevents and discontinues a reality product. Nonetheless, this is eBay decision.
For example, Amazon.com is in great strides of expansion in the Digital Media and Device arena.
The kindle developed by Amazon is an avenue you should consider. It is selling in high volumes and Amazon is scrambling to deliver the product.
Amazon is advertising for writers to upload their book and or content, blog articles, and more for the reason that the Kindle’s sales are so robust.
Just this week I completed my blogs offering the information on moving toward Amazon and other markets on the Internet.
Believe me, even though you think you will be losing money on eBay, if you obtain a website, you will experience greater sales on the web.
The search engines will now be able to index your products on your website and those searching for those items.
You can be pleased to think of the savings away from the listing and Final Value fees on eBay. You will see greater profits by only paying PayPal fees
PayPal actually, provides fill-in forms that enable you to digitally deliver your item on the Internet.
You can purchase a domain name for approx. $10 dollars at godaddy.com and a website for less than $ 5 per month; or Yahoo.com has a domain and website package for approximately (starting) $12 per month.
Actually, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of hosting companies on the Internet where you can begin your digital delivery product business.
I would like to assist you more, however, if you simply ‘Google’ your questions, you will find answers to this dilemma. If you wish simply comment on this blog and I will reply with any information I can provide to you that may assist you in this change over from eBay to the Internet.
Best of success and wishes, B. Robert
http://www.home-based-business-reps.com
Filed under: Digital Products, Write and Publish Digital Ebooks, eBay, writer | Tagged: Digital Media Training, Digital Revolution, ebay digital policy change, Hi-Tech consequences, Information Tech Convergence, Technology Education, Technology Revolution
For template designers, why not have shipping free and in the listing suggest that the buyer put up a test auction listing for minimal amount (and cost), then with information from them you can go to the auction and paste their template code in that listing for them.
Would that work?
The transferring of code seems simple enough, however in what category would the template designer originally list their templates for sale?
For example, would the template designer be listing their templates for sale under software, etc?
Would the advert listing provide method of the data transfer of template code be included in the sales description?
Additionally, what plan of auto delivery of the code do you plan on implementing to get that template source code to the buyer?
I have read a few different methods for work-a-rounds and manipulating listing digital products; however, I do not recommend any eBay seller subject themselves to violations.
In my humble opinion, IMHO, I always recommend eBayer’s follow rules and regs to their best ability.
Kindest Regards, B. Robert
B. Robert,
What software are you using on your website for downloadable info. and for the delivery system?
I also sell info on ebay and am hurt from the changes.
Can you give me a few ideas how you market?
Thanks,
Kevin
Hello Kevin,
I am sorry to hear that you have experienced hardship from the Digital Delivery Changes eBay has implemented.
I use a few different methods depending upon the type product that is to be downloaded.
In the example of the PDF format eBook, I simply set up auto forward and reply using PayPal payment processing; either with a ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Shopping Cart’ button.
This approach simply forwards the buyer directly to the download URL link once payment is made.
Pending payments and some buyers confusion requires follow up due to the forwarding link being either rejected or simply missed at times.
Additionally, I use Linux cPanel Autoresponding email capabilities directly from the cPanel management.
Other methods for customer downloads are set up to send the buyer to a ‘Thank You Page’ where they must register. Once they register and the payment is verified, I then forward a link and password to access the downloads.
This can be done either manually, or via autoresponding emails.
Some methods require my follow-up, however, I have found it makes no different than the many who require assistance even when it is set for auto download.
There are reasons that auto digital delivery download is never 100% fulfillment capable.
As noted above, it all depends on the type of product I am offering. Many times the product has to be accessible on the Internet with connection. In these cases, I use password access only.
It is very easy for anyone to get access to downloadable products. I have found user names and passwords to resolve a great deal of theft.
I have worked with a few digital delivery systems on the market. I have not been 100% pleased with their performance. Therefore, I use the above methods noted.
If I can be of assistance, please email me.
Kindest Regards, B. Robert.
p.s. what have you done to overcome eBay’s Digital Delivery discontinuance?