The Main Reason I am Supporting the eBay Boycott, February 18-25
pacray
asking people not to buy, sell or list on eBay for that week long
period. Here are some of the reasons people are doing this:
*Final value fees are going up by 66%
*Listing fees up 20%-50%
*Sellers cannot leave negative feedback for dishonest buyers
*Reserve price is increasing by 100%, up from $1.00 to $2.00
*PayPal reserving the right to hold onto seller's money for up to 21
days w/o interest
*eBay customer service has always been poor, and now stands to get
worst
But the main reason I will be supporting the boycott is their
attitude. They are trying to pass all this off as a decrease in
fees. They are trying to make people believe that they are making
eBay a better place for buyers. But the truth is that they are
implementing these changes to make tons more money. They obviously
think we are stupid. The new CEO of eBay said he was not worried
about the boycott, and that all the people complaining about it were
just "noise".
This is truly a grassroots effort, organized to show big business
monopolies that we are not just sheep who will stand idly by and
accept whatever is fed to us. I for one am tired of companies like
Comcast, Microsoft, PayPal and eBay doing what ever they want because
they feel they are the only game in town. Hopefully, this boycott
will be successful so the next time any large monopoly decides to try
such tactics, they will be reminded of the eBay boycott of 2008.
MARK
to say the least.I've been posting for a while now that i stopped using ebay
altogether because they are no longer a service but now they are about a 40%
partner of yours when you figure out everything including what paypal takes
when someone pays you for an item they won from you on Ebay.Same thing goes
for Starbucks Coffee.They can keep it for almost 5 bucks a cup.Dunkin
Doughnuts Coffee is better and cheaper too.I wish more people would Boycott
these huge companies when they get out of hand with their silly high
prices.That will send a message to them that people are tired of this crap.
"pacray" <pac...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:31a24377-0b30-48e9...@d70g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
pacray
buyers.
As far as the fees go, it depends on what kind of seller you are.
Feel free to go to eBay and look at the new fee schedule. But be
forewarned, they paid a PR firm to couch these changes in such a way
as to pass them off as fee decreases. They have gone to great efforts
to hide their true intentions.
The new CEO was brought in to dramatically increase their profits, and
that is what he means to do. The only way you are going to do that is
to take more of what the sellers make. He isn't worried about all
this "noise" either, and is more concerned about making money.
RRcade
fewer buyers....I doubt it....just as many or more looking for deals
without competition. This crap never works, next you're gonna tell us
not to buy Gas on Friday right?
MARK
together to hit the big companies in the pocketbooks.Too many people just
accept whatever high price they put on things.If more people would just say
i can live without this item then they would have to lower the prices.They
have people believing they have no choice when it's up to people to just say
no i won't pay that much and you can keep your products.That's the only way
to get them to listen.I feel bad for the next generation because there are
just too many people that accept anything these huge companies tell us.I
mean 5 dollars for a cup of coffee??.If people would stop buying it then i
bet you the price would come down.Just using them as an example.I was at the
Movies a few weeks ago and the person in front of me asked for a box of
raisinetts and the girl said that will be 5.75 and the person didn't even
blink an eye.Almost 6.00 for a box of cheap candy??.I refuse to pay it.Im
not cheap at all but things are just ridiculous because nobody even
questions anything these days and they just reach in their pocket and pay
any price that's asked of them.Soon that candy will be 20 bucks if they know
people will pay.
"RRcade" <jasch...@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:02984cf9-9b00-4866...@m34g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
rizz...@yahoo.com
somebody tried to pull crap like this, hundreds of thousands of people
would work off the job and demonstrate in the streets. In this
country, the politicians keep us divided, keeping us busy calling each
other names, (liberal, conservative), because while we are fighting
each other, we don't notice and often don't care what they do to us.
They have convinced us we are powerless and there is nothing we can do
but sit back and take it up the ass. And they won't fund public
education, as they prefer a stupid electorate.
Just keep telling yourself "this crap never works", and while you keep
getting poorer, they will be getting richer.
Ebay used to be like a flea Market, not they want to turn it into a
mall. In the end, the buyers will suffer. The things people sell
will either be more expensive, or there will be fewer to choose from
as people will go out of business. And that CEO won't care one little
bit as he is going to be paid millions a year whether he drives the
company into the ground or not.
Ratsputin
Well, keep in mind that you also have the opportunity to profit from
eBay's success. eBay is listed on NASDAQ and currently is sitting at
$28.17 per share. Rather than complaining about fees or trying to
hurt the company, why not partner with them and profit from their
success. That's one of the great aspects of capitalism, you can share
in the greed. eBay's on a downward trend right now, and has been
since October. If the new CEO turns the company around and gets eBay
back up into the 40's, you could stand to turn a nice profit.
Brett
super_...@yahoo.com
> use Ebay. If you don't like it then use Craig's List or post your
> stuff in Newsgroups like this. Ebay is not the only way to sell things
> online!
>
> I don't mind paying the fees to Ebay. They provide a complete service
> and it's easy. And, you don't have to absorb the Ebay fees. Build it
> into your costs if you feel you can't absorb the increase or use
> Craig's List.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Ebay owns 25% of Craigslist, so my guess is it's only a matter of time
before that site starts charging users as well. esp if there's a mass
exodus of people from Ebay... which very well may happen with these
latest changes.
phoenixarcade.com
attention.
I need to buy gas so I dont boycott gas. There are no alternatives for
my gas uesage. However there are alternatives for using eBay.
Paypal makes a TON of money off me and has been since 1999. Im about
to ditch them and go back to using a merchant account.
Even if my actions dont effect eBay I know I did my part. No different
than voting.
Steve
and I won't use them at all in the future. Hopefully their
action will spur on some competition.
Steve
Josh McCormick
> Well, keep in mind that you also have the opportunity to profit from
> eBay's success. eBay is listed on NASDAQ and currently is sitting at
> $28.17 per share. Rather than complaining about fees or trying to
> hurt the company, why not partner with them and profit from their
> success.
So, while eBay is busy picking your pockets while providing no
additional value, you have the opportunity to assume additional risk and
potentially share in the wealth that is generated at your own detriment!
Isn't capitalism dandy? Free markets, ahoy!
pacray
I noticed you haven't ever posted to this group before today. You
wouldn't happen to be one of those guys who gets paid by companies
like eBay to browse the web and post counter-propaganda, would ya? I
hear the pay is great and you get to make your own hours. Is that
true?
Josh McCormick
> list all my items. Woot!
ZOMG - A SCAB! You know what to do, boys.
microlo...@yahoo.com
with the CEO, no need for him to worry. Can any of you cite an
example of a one-day or one-week boycott that actually caused long-
term change? Did it ever make "the man" knuckle-under to the demands
of the protesters?
Every day, I look for bargains on ebay in the categories that interest
me that I can turn around and sell for profit. that's how I've been
making ends meet lately. Showing ebay how much I dislike their
business practices is all good and fine, but being able to pay the
bills comes first!
Josh McCormick
> Have fun selling your items at Flea Markets and at Garage Sales.
"If you don't do eBay, you're looking around for boards in dumpsters."
Yeah, we've heard that argument before.
Tell me what your analysis of this market is and how it relates to the
topic. I'm curious about your perspective on this. Be specific.
> They aren't picking my pockets.
Well, then you've ruled yourself out as a seller, or you're referring
only to the present tense. Otherwise, that would make you a buyer,
because then they are only _indirectly_ picking your pockets!
> They are providing a service that I will
> gladly pay for. They allow me to connect with buyers all over the
> world.
The "OMG -- Internet" argument. A classic. Yeah. The Internet does that.
It isn't just eBay.
> The price is very low considering the audience you reach.
If I recall correctly, the Internet is actually supposed to result in
increased competition, and LOWER prices. It seems we're going in the
opposite direction here, aren't we? It looks like we've got something
that isn't capitalism at all.
I'm just not seeing other online auction companies. Perhaps you can help
me understand how the online auction market is healthy, and eBay
surrounded by viable online competitors, hungry for our business,
competing on service and price?
> If
> you were to auction a rare item with Christies New York what do you
> think you would pay? 30% of total auction value? More? I think the
> fees are pretty fair as compared to traditional auctions.
If you were more familiar with the topic of this newsgroup, you might
have suggested SuperAuctions.
> I go into
> this with eyes wide open. No one is making me do anything. If I didn't
> like the terms then I wouldn't do it. It's a free market and we all
> choose with our pocket books. You choose what you want to do and I'll
> choose what I want to do. It's Capitalism at work. God bless
> America! :)
And closing with the "Free market! Nobody forces you! Rah-rah America!
I'm claiming America for my side and waving the flag so you can't
disagree with me!"
Yeah, again... when it comes to online auctions in the US, eBay is
closer to state-run monopoly than it is a competitor in a functioning
capitalist market. (You know... a company that is competing with other
online auctions for our business.)
eBay in Japan? Oh yeah, there's some competition and some real
capitalism. "God bless American companies engaging in a real capitalist
market! Creating a real free market! People can decide which company
they want! Companies compete for their business!" Yahoo is doing a fine
job over there.
PS: Didn't eBay have some policy against paid shills? ;)
pacray
> positive feedbacks and ZERO neutral and negative feedbacks. I take my
> Ebay'n seriously. Been doing it for a LONG ASS TIME. I understand the
> fees, I understand the positives, and I understand the negatives.
> Don't force your hippy anti-establishment agendas on me. You choose
> what you want to do and I'll do the same!
Is this you?
http://myworld.ebay.com/johnnyjay7/
It looks like you have a feedback rating of 3!!!! Wow, who's smoking
crack?
Josh McCormick
> You're smoking crack, buddy. Have fun in 1999. I have over 2,000
> positive feedbacks and ZERO neutral and negative feedbacks. I take my
> Ebay'n seriously. Been doing it for a LONG ASS TIME.
Come on... be an American! Defend your point of view!
Don't just wave the communist flag in a newsgroup you never participated
in before then run away. Show us how eBay is actually a healthy
capitalist company engaging in tight competition against other online
auction companies for our business!
You can't commie out on us now! I can ask the questions again if you
can't find them!
Sara Zielinski (SaraAB87)
television shows so it is even reaching a non-online audience, its gonna be
big.
I am definitely supporting it if only for the fact that there are WAY too
many non-paying idiot buyers out there and no way to weed them out. Also I
am not in support of paypal always ruling in favor of the buyer and ignoring
the seller, (basically a buyer can scam you out of any item if they really
want to) here is a story to read:
http://consumerist.com/355224/seller-gets-scammed-on-ebay-despite-doing-everything-right
pacray
Then please share your real ebay ID with us so we can verify you are
telling the truth. Most everyone in this group is happy to make
public their eBay ID as it is a way to verify reliability. Can you
verify your reliability, or do you have something to hide?
Josh McCormick
I smell something being hidden. eBay UID or GTFO!
Josh McCormick
>>>> Then please share your real ebay ID with us so we can verify you are
>>>> telling the truth. Most everyone in this group is happy to make
>>>> public their eBay ID as it is a way to verify reliability. Can you
>>>> verify your reliability, or do you have something to hide?
>>> I have nothing to hide. You guys are funny!
>> I smell something being hidden. eBay UID or GTFO!
>
> Mail for News Groups. Thank you proving my fears correct!
>
> What were we taking about, again???
You've brought a smile to my face. If you should ever meet me, (Mr.?)
Anonymous, let me buy you a beer. Assuming you're of age.
We'll just have to figure out some coded way to know it is you, and not
an impostor who reads this newsgroup, and wants a free beer off of me.
microlo...@yahoo.com
He knows we'll all give him negatives for no reason :)
MARK
buy stuff from you.I have never known anyone who doesn't want free publicity
and customers.Lets face it you have a feedback rating of only 3.You have
been exposed:)).At least you have 3 positives.:) johnnyjay7 do you have any
good deals??? notice the 3 questionmarks:) 1 for each feedback.Ha!
"Johnny Jay" <johnn...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e93fb8eb-0122-44c9...@p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
You guys are proving EXACTLY why I wanted to use a unique ID and E-
arkanoid
> Hey if your all that you say then why not let people know your ID so we can
> buy stuff from you.I have never known anyone who doesn't want free publicity
> and customers.Lets face it you have a feedback rating of only 3.You have
> been exposed:)).At least you have 3 positives.:) johnnyjay7 do you have any
Nah, that's crazy talk -- there are TONS of johnnyjay7's. There is no
way it could be the same guy. ;-)
MARK
"arkanoid" <goo...@zumbrovalley.net> wrote in message
news:05c70441-f115-4693...@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
arkanoid
> You guys are killing me!!! One day ago JohnnyJay7 never existed to me.
> I just made this e-mail address, Anywho, I feel no need to justify who
> I am beyond this post. I'm just saying, if you don't like Ebay's
> policies then don't participate!
:-) OK, I guess we'll have to take your word for it if you feel it's
too dangerous to share with us.
And, I think that was sort of Ray's point -- don't participate, in
order to show ebay that we don't like the new policies. Will it be
effective? Maybe and maybe not, but if those who care don't even try,
failure is certain.
MARK
Hey come on lets face it the guy was exposed:) johnnyjay7
arkanoid
> Hey come on lets face it the guy was exposed:) johnnyjay7
:-)
So, steering this back to the original topic, does anyone use any
alternative sites? I know I buy mostly from here or forums these
days, but are there any competing auction sites any more?
Josh McCormick
> So, steering this back to the original topic, does anyone use any
> alternative sites? I know I buy mostly from here or forums these
> days, but are there any competing auction sites any more?
eBay's weakness is that it isn't really targeted to our hobby. There are
a lot of very specific things that deal with arcade games that eBay
would never implement in a million years.
eBay's other weakness is that the population of online arcade collectors
isn't quite small compared to other markets. A smaller population is
much more easier to sway to a new solution, and it is far easier to move
the critical mass and the bulk of the market over with it.
Sure, it isn't trivial. But it is very plausible that someone could
waltz right in with an application that is targeted towards arcade game
collectors, and seriously become the hub of online selling for arcade items.
Just throwing out ideas of things that could be done differently...
Perhaps games would actually be categorized into pre-defined titles
(which then allow other searches, such as year or technology). And that
would lead to over value-add like letting average Joe find JAMMA PCBs
that'll work on a 3-button vertical cabinet.
Another example would be testing status as part of the listing for PCBs.
Something to carefully define the working/not working status of the
item. There is a difference between 'untested - I don't have a pac-man'
and 'untested - found on an operator's shelf labeled BROKEN EQUIPMENT'
and 'untested - it is missing parts'. There is a difference between
'tested - I saw attract mode' and 'tested - I went through the test
mode, it all passed, and I played the game all the way through'. Test
condition would make a great searchable item.
Who would be in the best position to pull this off? KLOV. They're
already a part of so many auctions now. So many people use it as a
reference in their listings, and while shopping. They're already
collecting the eyeballs for anyone who is interested in a specific
title, say, 'Missile Command', for example. They already put eBay
listings at the bottom of listings.
If they had any serious intention of getting into the online auction
arcade business, they would be in the perfect position to pull it off.
It'd all rest on their execution of the marketplace.
Back to the original question, the only competing auction site I can
think of would be Yahoo! Japan. But the language and distance makes it
almost a completely different market. (This could certainly be bad, but
this could also be quite good if you can find the magic items to sell.)
Josh McCormick
> eBay's other weakness is that the population of online arcade collectors
> isn't quite small compared to other markets. A smaller population is
> much more easier to sway to a new solution, and it is far easier to move
> the critical mass and the bulk of the market over with it.
*CORRECTION*: eBay's other weakness is that the population of online
arcade collectors _is quite small_ compared to other markets.
arkanoid
> So, steering this back to the original topic, does anyone use any
> alternative sites? I know I buy mostly from here or forums these
> days, but are there any competing auction sites any more?
Hmm... a little googling and I guess I can almost answer my own
question:
http://www.bidville.com
http://www.bid-alot.com
http://www.auction.com
http://search.ubid.com
http://www.onlineauction.com/
http://www.webidz.com/
So, the more important question is has anyone used any of these?
Perhaps if ebay was not only boycotted for a week, but everyone got
behind one of these sites, maybe it would provide some much-needed
traction.
arkanoid
>
> Sure, it isn't trivial. But it is very plausible that someone could
> waltz right in with an application that is targeted towards arcade game
> collectors, and seriously become the hub of online selling for arcade items.
I would tend to agree. It has been done successfully in other niche (/
hobby) markets. I also think the expertise to make it happen likely
exists in this newgroup. And yes, having KLOV behind it would be a
big plus, but probably not really necessary. So, who is interested?
Gary V
pacray
> Blkdog7 I presume?
Nice find, Gary. I think you are right.
JohnnyJay7 is Blkdog7.
The mask has been removed!
matr...@sover.net
I have taped a post it to my computer and will not buy or sell
anything during that week.
Bob (Bobbys World Amus.)
Johnny Jay
That's the problem! I would be very hesitant to trust any of those
services or their users. The whole Ebay rating system is so
established that I feel very confident when buying items from highly
rated users. You might pay a little more or the seller might be
charged more but the feeling of trust is much higher IMO.
MARK
Johnny Jay
> Did you use trust and Ebay sellers in the same sentence?"Johnny Jay" <johnnyj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
I'm done participating in this thread because if I say I like Ebay I
get accused of being someone else or a shill for Ebay. Have fun!
arkanoid
>
> That's the problem! I would be very hesitant to trust any of those
> services or their users. The whole Ebay rating system is so
> established that I feel very confident when buying items from highly
> rated users. You might pay a little more or the seller might be
> charged more but the feeling of trust is much higher IMO.
Right. That's part of what the boycott is about -- not just the
higher fees, but also what is surely going to result in an eroding of
the rating system, at least from the seller's perspective.
microlo...@yahoo.com
>
almost seems as out of place as putting it in with "government" :)
arkanoid
much like a failed attempt at an arcade-only auction site. I'm just
wondering if anyone knows the history and why it seems to have died?
chicodj...@yahoo.com
else. EBAY crushed it with their selling power. Now, it some
RGVACers could get control of it and make it the predominent selling
medium for VAPS, KLOV and RGVAC, it could be a nice alternative.
> Has anyone heard of:http://www.arcadeauction.com/? It looks very