eBay Sellers Prep for $25K Challenge and Policy Changes

EBay has launched a new promotion called the eBay Sellers Challenge, an initiative designed to inspire entrepreneurs to grow existing businesses—or start new ones—on eBay.  Four winners will each receive a $25,000 business grant, along with marketing advice and assistance from eBay.

In the company's official announcement, Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay Marketplaces said, "The eBay marketplace is a community rich in innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. The Sellers Challenge helps underscore this simple truth, and along with the powerful selling tools available on eBay, signifies our fundamental commitment to ensuring the success of our sellers."

The challenge asks entrepreneurs to develop a compelling plan for growing or establishing an eBay-based business.  Entrants are encouraged to submit a business plan and an accompanying video in one of four categories:

Current or former members of the United States armed forces; Individuals or small businesses who have not sold on eBay; Part-time sellers who want to go full-time on eBay Full-time eBay sellers who want to grow their business further

Eight finalists—two in each category—will be selected based on perceived business challenges and obstacles, clarity of business plan, passion for using eBay and appropriateness to contest theme. EBay Buyers and sellers will then be invited to review and vote on each finalist’s entry, and the most popular entry in each category will win.

Each of the four challenge winners will receive a $25,000 business grant from eBay, as well as marketing services and support from eBay. The runner-ups will each receive a $5,000 grant.

Submissions will be evaluated by eBay and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the world’s largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship.

June is a Time of Change on eBay

Having learned its lesson after rolling out frequent seller changes last year, eBay now limits site-wide changes to only two or three releases per year, with a 60-day notice to site members.  Back in April of this year eBay announced planned changes to the marketplace which will go into effect next week (the week of June 15).

Several of the site and policy changes we expect to see put in to action over the next week include new item pages, new ways to list in fixed price, buyer incentives, eBay’s Smart FAQ, return policy and handling time requirements, as well as new dispute regulations.

One of the biggest changes that will affect sellers is eBay’s plan to move dispute resolution from PayPal to eBay.  While eBay still strongly focuses on encouraging buyers to work with sellers before opening a claim, when a buyer doesn't receive an item or the item doesn't match what was described — and the seller doesn't provide adequate resolution to the buyer — eBay will reimburse the buyer subject to the conditions of its new eBay purchase protection policy. 

Sellers conducting business on eBay need to be aware of the policy changes and to know that your eBay user agreement requires you to accept the terms and condition as outlined in the new eBay purchase protection policy.

 To find out more about the changes that have been previously announced, with most being rolled out on eBay next week, you can read our past coverage of the policy changes here:

EBay Clarifies Buyer and Seller Protection ObligationsEBay —Not PayPal—To Handle Dispute ResolutionWill eBay News Skew toward Big Sellers?eBay Promotes Eco-friendly Businesses

EBay’s most recent Father’s Day promotion has buyers supporting eBay’s own artisans and eco-friendly businesses for dad.  The newly announced promotion offers buyers a free hand-crafted Fair Trade picture frame (a $25 value) when shopping for father's day on WorldofGood.com by eBay, an online marketplace where thousands of eco-positive sellers and products can be found in one place.

Vangie Beal is a veteran online seller and frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com. She is also managing editor of Webopedia.com. You can tweet with her online @AuroraGG.