***Original: New Policy Update: Digital Downloadable Goods in Classified Ads Format Only*** March 24, 2008 | 01:00PM PST/PT Brian Burke Hello...This is Brian Burke, Director Global Feedback Policy. Digital goods are often reproduced at little to no cost to the seller. On eBay, this creates the potential for Feedback Manipulation (both real and perceived). To preserve the integrity of the Feedback system, effective March 31 all goods that can be digitally downloaded or transferred electronically must be listed using the Classified Ads format. Using the Classified Ads format, sellers receive a 30-day ad at a fixed price. This solution enables sellers to continue to market their digital goods on eBay; however, because Classified Ad listings are a lead generation tool and do not result in transactions that go through eBay, Feedback cannot be exchanged between buyer and seller. 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. Sincerely, Brian Burke Director, Global Feedback Policy Comment or concerns?
Good to know...I wonder if they consider domains and websites to be digital goods? That may have some massive repurcussions, I've bought a few domains on eBay in the past. I kind of agree with their decision though, so many searches I've done while trying to find real products are spammed up by annoying ebooks. I would guess that it would help their "database quality" in keeping everything easier to use, and promoting more high value products which gain them more commissions.
blimey - I hate them all; ebay, yahoo and google. They always start with good intentions and end up screwing everyone. I have not recieved an email? hope its an april 1st joke as that is a killer for a lot of people.
There is already a thread on here boys and girls for this: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=770399 Will.
It's good for some people and horrible for other, doesn't affect me but I know my fair share of people that make their living selling digital products solely via ebay (I was never good enough at it to turn a profit myself ).
The policy change will affect domains and websites too, because they are transferred digitally. They can still be advertised via the classified ads though. Actually, with websites attached to domains where the whole package is being sold, that would have to be sold via classified ads. But for a website that's being sold stand-alone with no domain attached and the buyer is going to set it up on their domain & host then the website could be burnt onto a CD and physically shipped to the buyer, so in that case it could be sold via an auction.