A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how eBay’s small sellers are angry and frustrated by recent fee changes initiated by new CEO John Donahoe that favour the power sellers. I predicted that a revolution seemed imminent. eBay seems to agree with me, going by their recent decision to set up a blog written by blogger Richard Brewer-Hay, designed to repair the damaged relationship between eBay and its users, recently crystallized by the seller’s strike. Brewer-Hay was recruited due to his experience in social media and involvement in new media company Podshow.
Although Brewer-Hay denies that the blog was set up in response to the seller’s strike, I remain unconvinced. Faced with the prospect of a planned exodus of sellers, I believe eBay Ink represents an attempt at damage control. However, if it is indeed true that the blog is intended to enhance communications with users, does give one hope that eBay is not beyond redemption.
Some issues to consider:
- Will the content of eBay Ink truly be unfiltered? Given that Brewer-Hay was hired by eBay to blog about eBay, will he report the truth even when it reflects negatively on the company? Will Brewer-Hay ever do a Robert Scoble and say that “eBay sucks”? Will eBay allow it?
- Will users be able to relate to Brewer-Hay since he has admitted that he is not a seller on eBay? Will users consider him a “person like me”? Does this undermine his credibility as the official eBay blogger? See this excerpt from the interview with Fortune Small Business:
FSB: Based on your experience with the company these past two months or so, what do you think about our readers’ claims that eBay does not listen to small sellers?
RBH: I don’t get that sense. I just don’t think they’ve had a real place to talk directly with the company. Sure, there’s the Chatter blog, and the community can talk, but this is first time they will have the opportunity to talk directly to us. I’ve read things out there in the blogosphere. They are one-way dialogues right now, and I’m looking forward to making them two-way conversations.
More importantly, will people start to trust eBay/feebay again? Or will this be an exercise of futility? If the response at AuctionByte is anything to go by, it appears that Brewer-Hay has his work cut out for him.
