I think it sucks that eBay has raised their prices, especially for the legitimate sellers who solely operate on the site. But stabbed in the back? That’s a bit dramatic. When you build a business that is so largely dependant on the services of another party, you should be prepared for changes of any nature. I’m sure furniture manufacturers are unhappy when prices are raised on raw materials, but what do they do? They deal with it and pass the percentage increase on to the consumer, generally even more. Or, they look for an alternate supplier. Wasting ones breath complaining about the inevitable, and price hikes are always inevitable, is not an option.
Like I said before, either the market will bear the price increases, or it won’t, and eBay will “get the message” by the reduced amount of business, and no amount of price increases will fix that.
The little guy, assuming you mean me and you, people who don’t gross $8,000 a month, and more (as one retailer announced by expressing his disdain at his monthly $800, or 10%, soon to be 12%, or $960, fees to eBay), who casually sells on auction sites, can just choose to deal with another site, or sell direct to enthusiasts by way of sites like this.
If you’re unhappy with rising prices, complain to elected politicians who continue to help increase the trade deficit for personal financial gains through kickbacks and are contributing to the devaluation of the US dollar. Or, complain to the politicians who keep raising the minimum wage when these actions only lead to employers having to relieve the larger financial burdens by raising their prices, completing negating the reason for the raising wages in the first place.
No one said it was easy being self employed and keeping a business going, and I say that as a self employed business person. I haven’t made profit since March, and the only reason I am able to continue is because my wife helps to contribute to the income.
I'm not trying to lessen impact this makes, or your personal feelings, but it's just business.
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