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#1 10/22/2009 3:45 pm

MeganCasey
Editor in Chief, Squidoo.com
From: Back to the future
Registered: 10/17/2005
Posts: 528

Ebay Clarification

Gil already addressed this in this thread about eBay reporting, and I posted about it on the SquidBlog too.  But I want to be extra clear since we've been hearing from lensmasters with some incorrect assumptions.

Here's everything we know: 

Beginning October 1, 2009 eBay has switched from paying out a commission based on sales to a commission based on "quality clicks" (their own system, not ours). We requested in advance of this change that eBay provide detailed reports to us, so that we can direct those quality click commissions directly to the lensmasters who generated them. We still have not gotten those reports. If eBay cannot provide this level of detail, Squidoo will distribute eBay earnings based on a pool system in much the same way we do with Adsense and Infolinks earnings.

So to put it another way:

* Yes, you will still make money from the eBay module.
* No, it's not true that "you won't get paid for your eBay sales."
* But yes, it IS true that we're not getting _any_ reporting from eBay right now, so the eBay stats on your royalty pages aren't updating properly.
* No, we're not sure if eBay will allow us to continue paying "directly attributable" royalties, sale by sale, directly to the lens and the person who generated them. It might be that we have to pool all eBay earnings and figure out a system to disburse royalties to participating lensmasters.
* No, this eBay reporting problem has nothing to do with the quality of Squidoo lenses or our community, and Squidoo is not being singled out by eBay. This has everything to do with eBay trying to roll out a new payment system in an unfortunately unclear fashion.

I understand that a lot of lensmasters are worried about eBay's new payout structure, and concerned that we don't have answers yet. We are too. But we're pushing on this every day with them, and as soon as we know specific answers, we will share them with you.

Thanks for your forbearance.

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#2 11/06/2009 5:03 am

The_Party_Animal
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
Registered: 08/10/2007
Posts: 739

Re: Ebay Clarification

Do we have any updates on this yet?

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#3 11/13/2009 5:30 am

N376
Citizen Squid Alumni

From: Si'mybio
Registered: 06/23/2006
Posts: 6231

Re: Ebay Clarification

Management wonders why Lensmasters have "incorrect assumptions".

Its been three weeks since this thread has been posted. And another week has passed since The_Party_Animal asked if there's been any updates.

A severe lack of communication... and respect... are two reasons why my activity here has been scarce.


Find me on Facebook and friend me up!

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#4 11/13/2009 12:19 pm

The_Party_Animal
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
Registered: 08/10/2007
Posts: 739

Re: Ebay Clarification

Thanks N376 I am also wondering why there has been no replies to my post. I have a lot of EBay modules and I would love to know, as well as others if we are getting any closer to a solution to this.

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#5 11/13/2009 5:20 pm

MeganCasey
Editor in Chief, Squidoo.com
From: Back to the future
Registered: 10/17/2005
Posts: 528

Re: Ebay Clarification

We promised that as soon as we got specific answers, we'd share them with you.  Today, after an insane amount of back and forth and red tape with eBay, we've finally gotten an inch away from a solution.  We need to review internally and make sure our ducks are in a row about exactly how it will work, then we'll post to lensmasters for feedback.

The main things right now that I can definitely reassure you on are:  the ebay module will continue to be revenue generating; you will continue to get paid for sales from it; Squidoo will continue to give lensmasters 50% of what we (the company) earn from any eBay sales; we will still be able to show you reporting on what items you've sold. 

We're hoping to be able to post real world examples of how the eBay royalties will shake out under their new QCP plan.  I can't promise to have that ASAP, but we will definitely have another update for everyone sometime next week.

Thanks.

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#6 11/14/2009 3:35 pm

The_Party_Animal
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
Registered: 08/10/2007
Posts: 739

Re: Ebay Clarification

Thanks for the update and I hope it will all be resolved soon - I assume we will all get paid for our sales going back? How nice would that be in time for Christmas - it is worth a wish right?

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#8 11/16/2009 11:03 am

paperfacets
First mate
Registered: 05/26/2007
Posts: 445

Re: Ebay Clarification

Hello Megan,
Thanks for the update on the 14th.  An inch away sounds very encouraging.
Sherry

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#9 11/16/2009 12:07 pm

dagsmith
Positively aquatic
Registered: 12/25/2007
Posts: 228

Re: Ebay Clarification

N376 wrote:

Management wonders why Lensmasters have "incorrect assumptions".

Its been three weeks since this thread has been posted. And another week has passed since The_Party_Animal asked if there's been any updates.

A severe lack of communication... and respect... are two reasons why my activity here has been scarce.

Reminds me of the two projects I am working on (when not having a late lunch).  One projects is managed internally and I have accurate time estimates and can provide updates regularly.  On project is 90% contingent on a partner.  A slow partner.  I have little control.  My company has little control.  I could post updates each day saying - nothing new - or I can limit posts/news to when I have actual news. 

Either way disappoints some users

- If I only posts news - some wonder.
- If I post everyday, those that subscribe to changes get the email right away and get disappointed each day

When you don't have answers - you can't please 100% of the people!

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#10 11/19/2009 11:34 am

MeganCasey
Editor in Chief, Squidoo.com
From: Back to the future
Registered: 10/17/2005
Posts: 528

Re: Ebay Clarification

We're hoping to have total clarity on this eBay program soon.  The communication we get from them is about as clear as mud, but we're getting there.

As before, when we know, you'll know.

Thanks for trying to be patient.

The_Party_Animal wrote:

I assume we will all get paid for our sales going back? How nice would that be in time for Christmas

You assume correctly. Anything earned, you get paid for.

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#11 11/19/2009 4:15 pm

charlino
First mate
Registered: 12/31/1969
Posts: 394

Re: Ebay Clarification

MeganCasey wrote:

We're hoping to have total clarity on this eBay program soon.  The communication we get from them is about as clear as mud, but we're getting there. . . . . . .

Working with a company the size of eBay, one can only imagine the plethora of people, telephone calls, emails, and red tape one must go through just to get someone to respond saying, "I'll get back with you."   (I imagine Megan with a cauliflower ear from phone engagement, a sore finger from texting, and an emailbox  filled with hundreds of questions yet to be answered (due to waiting for answers) pertaining to this topic alone.)

Megan, your situation brings back memories of my  fifteen years working with government contracts.  During that time working with a large entity required  both patience and flexibility on the part of everyone due to its being in a constant state of growth  or change.  Anytime a decision was made, it had an effect on everyone associated with it.  Time and patience were always paramount for a successful means to an end.

Based on this topic's posts, It is my guess is that once eBay figures out what they are doing, you and Gil will be jumping through hoops to make everything right., and  jumping for joy to be able to put out the next fire, or go onto the next thing.   

No worries.   Things always have a way of working out one way or another.  smile

Thank you for your update, Megan.  Your communication is sincerely appreciated.

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#12 11/20/2009 12:49 pm

MeganCasey
Editor in Chief, Squidoo.com
From: Back to the future
Registered: 10/17/2005
Posts: 528

Re: Ebay Clarification

Thanks for the kind support Charlino.

At this point all we're arguing over with eBay is the reporting -- how they pass us the data on sales.

Sounds minor, but it's actually a big deal that determines what granularity we're able to present to you guys in your stats, how often, etc.

A direct quote from Corey today (who is the guy with the cauliflower ear from all the phone calls!):  "Hoping to get something concrete by the end of the day. But I feel very confident that we are going to have the right kind of reporting."

So there's that.

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#13 11/20/2009 12:56 pm

Kharadriisa
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
Registered: 12/31/1969
Posts: 660

Re: Ebay Clarification

Did anyone get the PDF or the link I sent?  It was something from ebay and it said that you can contact them about staying with the old program.

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#14 11/20/2009 1:03 pm

Spook
Mesonychoteuthis
Registered: 12/31/1969
Posts: 750

Re: Ebay Clarification

MeganCasey wrote:

Thanks for the kind support Charlino.

At this point all we're arguing over with eBay is the reporting -- how they pass us the data on sales.

Sounds minor, but it's actually a big deal that determines what granularity we're able to present to you guys in your stats, how often, etc.

A direct quote from Corey today (who is the guy with the cauliflower ear from all the phone calls!):  "Hoping to get something concrete by the end of the day. But I feel very confident that we are going to have the right kind of reporting."

So there's that.

I can understand as a former owner. Getting things to happen nearly always takes forever and a day. " Regrets but the person you are trying to contact is away on two weeks leave." After two weeks it's, " regrets but aforesaid is sick." On and on it goes but one day comes deliverance. Thanks for all you do at Squidoo. big_smile


Would you believe I have nine purples?  And a sunshine winner.
Catch it

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#15 11/20/2009 1:15 pm

Pukeko
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
From: New Zealand
Registered: 12/31/1969
Posts: 703

Re: Ebay Clarification

Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

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#16 11/21/2009 10:27 am

Susan52
Wow. Over 1000 posts.
From: Arkansas
Registered: 04/15/2007
Posts: 1125

Re: Ebay Clarification

Really looking forward to this fix more than just about anything right now.  Thanks for all the updates, Megan, and the phone call work, Corey.


~Susan

How to be Somebody on Squidoo ~ Ignore steps 1 & 2 if you NEVER want to have a Lens of the Day!
Have you joined Team Cancer Warrior?
My 10 Newest Lenses

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#17 11/21/2009 12:34 pm

pkmcr
Wow. Over 1000 posts.
From: UK
Registered: 09/17/2006
Posts: 1385

Re: Ebay Clarification

From my own experience offline I know how incredibly difficult dealing with large organisations can be.  We know that the team at HQ are acting in our best interests and have already told us that we will get our earnings - so a few more days/weeks of waiting is worth it smile

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#18 11/23/2009 9:05 am

MeganCasey
Editor in Chief, Squidoo.com
From: Back to the future
Registered: 10/17/2005
Posts: 528

Re: Ebay Clarification

BTW in case anyone was worried, this reported problem about eBay RSS feeds breaking over the weekend was entirely unrelated to the issue at hand about their Quality Click Pricing and how it reports to us. The RSS problem was a separate bug on their end, but it appears to be fixed now. 

More to come on the QCP reporting -- if we can pin down eBay before they give in to this week's inevitable tryptophan-induced comas.

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#19 11/23/2009 10:16 am

The_Party_Animal
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
Registered: 08/10/2007
Posts: 739

Re: Ebay Clarification

Cannot wait to hear..............Thanks for the update!!!

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#20 11/23/2009 11:33 am

xtnshun
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
From: Reston, VA
Registered: 05/23/2007
Posts: 603

Re: Ebay Clarification

MeganCasey wrote:

..... if we can pin down eBay before they give in to this week's inevitable tryptophan-induced comas.

Could you tell?

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#21 11/29/2009 2:39 am

1SquidAddict
Swimming pretty (100+ posts!)
From: Devon UK
Registered: 12/02/2006
Posts: 175

Re: Ebay Clarification

"Hoping to get something concrete by the end of the day."

This was over a week ago now - have there been any developments?

As I understand it saying we will get paid for our sales is incorrect as eBay no longer pay for sales but for clicks.

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#22 11/29/2009 6:59 am

giltotherescue
Squid Staff / Forum Mod
From: Boulder
Registered: 10/17/2005
Posts: 2134

Re: Ebay Clarification

We're still working on it, but eBay earnings should be included in the next payout. We'll post details as soon as we have them, I promise.

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#23 11/29/2009 7:40 am

pkmcr
Wow. Over 1000 posts.
From: UK
Registered: 09/17/2006
Posts: 1385

Re: Ebay Clarification

giltotherescue wrote:

We're still working on it, but eBay earnings should be included in the next payout. We'll post details as soon as we have them, I promise.

That's very good news - well assuming we have made some ebay sales smile I am assuming that we wouldn't know if we had because of the problems?  So they could come as a very nice surprise?

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#24 12/04/2009 4:51 am

The_Party_Animal
Full fledged kraken (500+ posts)
Registered: 08/10/2007
Posts: 739

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#25 12/04/2009 7:03 am

charlino
First mate
Registered: 12/31/1969
Posts: 394

Re: Ebay Clarification

giltotherescue wrote:

We're still working on it, but eBay earnings should be included in the next payout. We'll post details as soon as we have them, I promise.

Thank you,  Gil.

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