eBay=feeBay

[Jordan]

Tidbit, Ebay, owns PayPal they absorbed it a couple of years ago very quietly. Used it once to sell a motorcycle, did not sell and never used it again, fees up the kazoo, The bike sold on craigslist to an out of stater, so while cl is usually local in coverage, it is available to a wide area. Any electronic transactions need added diligence, just seems too easy to get a raw deal. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I have never trusted electronic commerce in any form.

[MADMAX22]

For me right now ebay is ok, Im selling a couple of things but its only temperary until I get my business license and a website setup. I know what you mean by the fees. If you keep it down to small items that dont go for too much then your ok but big items thats another story.

Unfortinatly like everything else paypal started out as a good deal believe it or not, it was one of the first online secure forms of working with money and you didnt have to worry about getting your credit card info ripped off and such. Started out as a good idea.

Oh and yes our socialist republic is kind of screwed up to say the least but you all know what, we let it get that way. I feel really bad but in all reality we the people got comfy and didnt feel like taking the measures to ensure that our government made sure we were first on the order of priorities. Instead we sat back, complained, and let them take out money. We let them pass all these damn baby sitter laws to keep every idiot safe. All well its still a nice place to live.

[jbird]

I have used eBay and the fees there asking are way to much it's a rip off they are using you because you to make some money I have a few choice words for the system they use.

Josh

[MADMAX22]

Oh yeah wanted to add, dont forget ebay bought craigslist as well if I remember correctly.

[Art]

Hi Tex,

I think you have it all wrong about eBay. They don't look at the subject line and send you back a form standard answer. No No No No No No...they don't look at the subject line.

Art

when you email their customer support with a genuine issue, they reply with a form answer that just repeats their policy! It's a slap in the face with a wet towel. They don't even read the email you send to them. They obviously look at the subject line and send you back a form standard kiss-off answer.

Come on, gimme your best shot.

[freak]

All true but where else can i sell a couch cushion that was farted on by my dog and left a stain that looks like Elvis for $78K ?? Cause my dog has more gas and my couch has 2 more cushions.

[gtwister09]

Oh yeah wanted to add, dont forget ebay bought craigslist as well if I remember correctly.

Not exactly... In 2004 they purchased 25% from another employee/shareholder. eBay and Craigslist are in a battle now since eBay used their shareholder knowledge to create their classified site, Kijiji. I worked with several people from San Francisco that worked with and knew Craig intimately. They relayed many aspects of the story in April and May of 2008.

I looked for some confirmation online and here you go... See links below.

eBay Stake in Craigslist

Craigslist Fights Back Against eBay

Regards,

Ben

[HarryB]

Trooperchuck, it must be the law enforcement gene in us but I write Ebay sellers also. I try to be very nnice to sellers who state that they are not sure what they are selling. The other ones that are adament about "vintage, antique leather tools" and they are trying to sell something a couple of years old and completely unrelated to leather, I am usually not as nice to. I, too, get some interesting remarks from the sellers. And yes, it is very entertaining.

[Go2Tex]

So you're advocating that the Feds break up a company because it's successful? MySpace had the same kind of "monopoly" until Facebook took away much of their business. Ebay's business is nothing like Ma Bell's, and they are already losing revenue.

No, not really. It was just tongue in cheek. Venting my frustration at a situation that is causing me pain and I have no control over it. Forget the Ma Bell reference. Obviously they are different. One is, or was, a utility and the other is just an anomoly, a dot com that hit the jack pot, made a few guys very wealthy and is now just another haven for marketing jerks sitting around trying to dream up better ways to rip people off to improve the "bottom line".

Well, it was good while it lasted. And it still has its uses. I think it can still be a way to advertise, if not sell your products. It's just going to cost a heck of a lot more now to do it. If nothing else, this little Ebay awakening has gotten me thinking about alternative ways of getting some exposure and at least thinking about some other avenues for my little business.

[DarkDreamsLeather]

Ebay is great to start out with, it wasnt always the greed monster in the closet, I have had an ebay store for the last 4 years selling my leatherstuff, I never made a lot of money but I did make my costs though. Of course that has changed since the economy has been tanking. Now ebay is just a point for people to go to. I do have my web site but I am in the process of coding the revamp of the site with an online store and store front.

I have been getting tired of Ebay raising the fees twice a year I have had to raise my prices on some of my lower priced items to cover the extra fees on items under $25.

My total costs a month if I dont sell anythign is about $17.

I never do live auction unless I know its something that will sell. I will be opening an etsy store and most likely closing my ebay store. I am doing more and more faires and will be starting advertising in magazines in the fall so ebay will be going away.

As for paypal I prefer then its just too easy and makes the fees worth it for that ease.

Still ebay is killing itself which is normal for companies to do when they get real big because the people's brains at the top start to lose all concept of common sense and holes start to form like in the mad cow disease.