Ebay at it again!
Posted 20/07/2009 - 10:21
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There was a world before ebay . . . it was just a bit more time consuming.
Unfortunately almost totally ineffective by comparison as well.There was a world before ebay . . . it was just a bit more time consuming.
There is really no other way to find that rare book that someone in Australia might have, or conversely sell that obscure 1920s camera part to a Japanese collector.
The problem is that it was all a simple idea if everyone behaved well, but of course some don't as always, so layers of extra rules get ladled out to put things right. Then there are unforseen consequences, so more changes follow the first ones and so it goes on until the whole thing gets totally top heavy with regulation.
For the sort of things I sell it is still workable, and who knows, maybe they will have to back track on some of the changes yet.
Best regards, John
Posted 20/07/2009 - 10:50
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Hardgravity wrote:
This is going to stop a lot of people advertising, what's the point in a free listing if you can't cover postage costs?
Free post is only compulsary for certain categories. With some categories you can still have a free listing and charge separately for p&p.This is going to stop a lot of people advertising, what's the point in a free listing if you can't cover postage costs?
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I'll happily sell for 99p if I can charge relevant postage, but not being able means that at 99p some things cost more than that to post (ink refills for example!) so the only answer is to put it all on the start price and cover costs that way.
Yes that is what you will have to do sometimes, and it's not a bad way of doing it, in my opinion. Buyers like it.I'll happily sell for 99p if I can charge relevant postage, but not being able means that at 99p some things cost more than that to post (ink refills for example!) so the only answer is to put it all on the start price and cover costs that way.
The other answer is to still start at 99p and hope it will be bid up enough to cover the p&p and more. That is likely with a popular item worth a few pounds.
~Pete
Posted 20/07/2009 - 10:59
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johnriley wrote:
The government would probably put new requirements on sellers and might well ensure that all accounts were logged with HMRC. This might trouble some sellers quite a lot!
I'm not sure the government would do anything like that, actually. EBay is a virtual monopoly - that needs capping, in my opinion.
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Lower fees would be great though. Could/would the government cap them?
If they did, then ebay would do what the banks do and get the money some other way.Lower fees would be great though. Could/would the government cap them?
The government would probably put new requirements on sellers and might well ensure that all accounts were logged with HMRC. This might trouble some sellers quite a lot!
~Pete
Posted 20/07/2009 - 11:28
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I'm not sure the government would do anything like that, actually. EBay is a virtual monopoly - that needs capping, in my opinion.
I'm quite sure they would if they could get away with it. Especially when people are asking them to "do something" - this opens the door.I'm not sure the government would do anything like that, actually. EBay is a virtual monopoly - that needs capping, in my opinion.
I wonder what you mean by capping? eBay has been successful because the format has been right. It's a successful business model if you like. Is the lack of competition eBay's fault? Should runaway success then be penalised?
In other words, do we have a society where it's OK to be successful, as long as we're not too successful? And by who's standards and perspective?
I'm not offering any answers by the way!
Best regards, John
Posted 20/07/2009 - 11:59
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Ebay's monopoly: link
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If the market cannot break eBay’s monopoly there will need to be government intervention. Partly this is because a monopoly is not in the public interest. An equally important reason is that the internet, and eBay in particular, have been important in the development of new small businesses. A lot of people have started their own business on eBay and that needs to be encouraged. Governments have an interest in promoting entrepreneurship by encouraging free markets and auctions are a particularly good way for people to start in business. eBay should not be allowed to behave in such a way that it damages that process. If the US and UK governments are not willing to act it may be a matter for EU intervention.
If the market cannot break eBay’s monopoly there will need to be government intervention. Partly this is because a monopoly is not in the public interest. An equally important reason is that the internet, and eBay in particular, have been important in the development of new small businesses. A lot of people have started their own business on eBay and that needs to be encouraged. Governments have an interest in promoting entrepreneurship by encouraging free markets and auctions are a particularly good way for people to start in business. eBay should not be allowed to behave in such a way that it damages that process. If the US and UK governments are not willing to act it may be a matter for EU intervention.
Posted 20/07/2009 - 12:05
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By capping I mean putting an upper limit on the Final Value fee and on the PayPal fee.
We already do have a society where industries such telecoms and electricity and gas utilities are controlled to some extent by bodies setup by the government. There is a limit on what they are allowed to do and charge.
The general public via the government can judge when a company has become so successful that further profit is undesirable. Personally I don't believe that eBay needs to pile up more billions of dollars of sheer profit.
We already do have a society where industries such telecoms and electricity and gas utilities are controlled to some extent by bodies setup by the government. There is a limit on what they are allowed to do and charge.
The general public via the government can judge when a company has become so successful that further profit is undesirable. Personally I don't believe that eBay needs to pile up more billions of dollars of sheer profit.
~Pete
Posted 20/07/2009 - 12:08
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ps. I appreciate that this is a complicated business and I agree there's a danger that government intervention could hinder rather than help. I'm just beginning to wonder about it, that's all.
~Pete
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7650 posts
21 years
Totana,
Spain.
There was a world before ebay . . . it was just a bit more time consuming.