As mention and reminders on eBay’s discussion boards, globally, become more frequent, regarding the planned indefinite seller strike from May 1st, eBay UK has launched a pre-emptive counter-strike.

Not yet publicly announced, but available to “those in the know”, is that the UK site are running a 5p Auctions-only Cheap Listing Day (CLD) on May 1st.

May 1st, variously known as Labour Day, Worker’s Day, and other pseudonyms in various socialist and communist states, is the targeted launch date of an indefinate on-eBay activity strike by a large group of eBay buyers and sellers.  They are protesting at the policy and practices changes announced in late January, and being implemented in stages worldwide by the online auctions giant.  The association of the date with populist movements and worker’s rights organisations appears to have not been lost on either the striking sellers, or on eBay UK’s management and their “gift for the masses” of a CLD.

To some of the UK’s longer serving PowerSellers, the announcement is no surprise.  Several have said they believe eBay UK always hold a CLD promotion in the first week of May.  Archived announcements don’t support this logic though -

• In 2007, the UK promotions for May were 3rd May (50% off Auction-only insertion fees), 19th & 20th (Motors free insertion), and 31st (5p Auctions-only insertion fees).
• In 2006, there were only the 13th & 14th (Motors free insertion), and 5p Auction/BIN insertion on the 16th.  Plus, there was a free gallery & sub-title day on 1st June (UK) and a 1-cent insertion on the Irish site on the same date.
• In 2005, there was no “open-house” CLD, but there was a 5p insertion day on the 19th if you used item specifics in your listing.
• In 2004, there was no general free or cheap listing day, because UK were too busy introducing fees for listing designer templates and introducing the “no surcharges” policy for accepting PayPal.  However, from the 17th-21st, first-time sellers could list up to 10 items free of charge.

OK, this year and last year having a CLD on the first Thursday of the month is a trend if you’re willing to accept a 2-data-point-graph as confirming a trend  but I’m not. 

To me it definately looks as if eBay UK are trying to pre-emptively mask any effects from a seller strike, which like real life strikes, will always have the strongest support on the first day of action. 

….. wonders if the USA, Canada, and Australia will be running similar offers?  The UK sellers are the least militant of the bunch, and the most likely to roll over for a tummy tickle while being beaten around the head with punishing policies.

The next question has to be, who is, or is not, joining in (read that either way)?  Add your comments, opinions, or intentions using the comments link below.  I look forward to reading them.

Ed.