Comments on: eBay is becoming impossible for the frugal…

By: Miss M

Miss M — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:18:16 +0000

I guess I won't ever use ebay again! Somehow I earned a lifetime ban from paypal, I think someone broke into my account or something. I know I never did anything wrong but if I try to use paypal it will block the transaction. I have to use a card in Mr M's name if I need to use paypal for anything.

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By: MoneyMateKate

MoneyMateKate — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:58:24 +0000

A big worry here: eBay owns a 25% share in Craigslist. Right now they charge fees just for job listings in certain cities (last I heard it was San Fran, NYC and Boston) and, unfortunately, Erotic Services (I say unfortunately because I'm a Therapeutic advertiser, and all of the hookers are now spamming "my" board). So yes, eBay is killing their own baby, and we have plenty of reason to worry about what they'll ruin next.

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By: BrokeBint

BrokeBint — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:28:09 +0000

Yeah, they introduced several of these measures on the UK site a few months back.

I did have a storefront at £6 a month where I could list my comics collection for selling off, and only pay 3p per listing for each item in the store. Comics are a very niche item, so I was just about covering the cost of the store, most months. With the hike in fees, I’d be paying ebay way more than I could ever sell.

I’m currently on the lookout for a better site to sell at, whether auction or not. No luck so far But perhaps the number of people looking for an alternative will give a new auction company or listing site the impetus to become a real competitor, who knows?

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By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:33:42 +0000

I was just about to list some stuff on eBay, so this was very timely. Several of your items fill me with dismay, but I'm perfectly fine, in fact, with the need to go through PayPal. In my RL job, as a bookstore clerk, I've witnessed scams involving money drafts (you wouldn't think it was possible, but it is) -- ergo, I understand why eBay is protecting themselves by ruling out that payment method. Likewise, as an eBay seller, I would never take personal cheques anyway, because there's too much possibility for fraud. I've read other stories of PayPal being less-than great, but they protected me when one of my purchases turned out to be a bootleg from HongKong, instead of a box DVD set from Montreal, and I'm grateful. I'm a bit worried about the shipping costs nonsense, though. I'm gonna put my stuff up on Thursday; I guess I'll see how it shakes out.

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By: rhea

rhea — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:56:24 +0000

Are there other auction sites? I'm a clueless ebayer.

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By: Serena

Serena — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:49:02 +0000

I've never actually purchased anything off of eBay because I just haven't been able to figure it out. IMO, it's not a very user-friendly site.

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By: LJkramer

LJkramer — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:42:16 +0000

Thanks! Terrific coverage of a lot of ebay/Paypal's ills, but it would devour far too much time to cover all of what's wrong with ebay due to Whitman & Donahoe's "Disruptive Innovation" scheme against ebay & Paypal users. Our responses to those destructive changes culminate in the mass exodus of FABULOUS ex-ebayers from the site and from using (ebay-owned) Paypal. Another response includes the petition to FIRE DONAHOE! Found by searching the internet for, " Ebay Stockholders and Sellers Calling For Immediate Termination of John Donohoe CEO Petition" (found at petitiononline) After reading & signing the petition, PLEASE pass the petition info on to others.

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