posted on September 13, 2000 09:03:26 PM
I get it about Paypal. It was sneaky and underhanded in my opinion.
I'm amazed at the amount of posts about paypal here tho, in comparison to the many many many things ebay puts sellers thru. I am not even going to attempt a list at this time.
I am honestly curious, I mean I really want to know......
Is this anger sort of a build up of all we've been thru with a company "ebay" that we cannot seem to fight, that obviously won't listen to us, That we cannot win against?
ebay has pulled some pretty detrimental tricks on sellers, things that have shut sellers down, and or severely damaged sellers businesses, yet there has never been this kind of outrage.
posted on September 13, 2000 09:13:46 PM
Playpal used deception to build its marketshare.
Many people insist that the five-buck bounty was a g00d marketing technique, but I will always contest this $5-Bounty which induced the hugest amount of SPAM and manipulation in the history of the Net.
People are furious with Paypal, cuz they are furious they didn't see it before.
People are upset because they perceive themselves in a POWERLESS position, and it ain't kewl to be hooked, lined, and sinkered by a snickering snookering five dollar bait.
When I read posts here, I detect large amounts of fury at eBay; but like you said, there AIN'T no alternative, and there is plenty of Korporate AmeriKa which would like to see the DEMISE of alla these new little microbusinesses.
We need to communicate true seller needs and concerns in an effective manner to eBay, as truly, eBay is the ONLY CORPORATION WHO TRULY CARES ABOUT US.
posted on September 13, 2000 09:26:44 PM
Hi Kitsch1 - Yea, there has been this level of outrage occurring before and all that rage was directed at Ebay, particularly down time, verification of users, "only a $1.00", etc.
Guess there just haven't been any major firestorms over Ebay recently.
posted on September 13, 2000 09:29:42 PM
Many are upset with the deceipt...It is not a matter of the 1.9% or whatever..It is the constent changing of rules, since it's inception...every month, we are being hit with a new rule, not in addition to, but which supersedes all other rules...That is deception. Frankly, I was all surprised when I found 5 bucks in my account...I had totally forgotten about it; so that was not my personal motivation.
I did NOT like the way X.CON was using their flashing icons, which AW was placing on all your listings, if you all recall....So, Paypal seemed a good alternative...Then POW! X.CON came along and gobbled up Paypal, and started re-writing the rules...
There are things one has to learn to live with, and others one can discard. In the long run, I will get back with Ebay, after all the commotion quiets down..But I don't have to stay with X.CON.
I feel bad for Damon, who is only an employee, and is getting all the flung garbage...
posted on September 13, 2000 09:36:10 PM
Hi Jada, nice to see you
I'm still reeling from the threat that ebay wants to give my privacy away. I think privacy in these here United States of America is a precious thing, another expression of our freedom. It means more to me than 1.9%
Don't get me wrong, Paypal screwed up. They pulled a bait n switch, but we can walk away from paypal and never look back. There are more options.
posted on September 13, 2000 09:36:50 PM
Eventer - You're right, how could I have forgotten all that? Guess my brain is on an all-night coffee break tonight.
Read about your daughter doing so well, congrats to both of you!
Edited to add - Kitsch, I agree with you on the privacy issue, that ought to be the user's choice, not something Ebay forces down the throats of its members.
[ edited by jada on Sep 13, 2000 09:38 PM ]
posted on September 13, 2000 10:34:55 PM
Hmmm, kitsch -- I seem to remember several firestorms, including the Reserve Fee Fiasco and the JeffDefender situation, eBay Automotive, right off the top of my head.
There are other eBay-related issues that affect sellers more like the frog-in-the-boiling-water thing, but I do know people respond en masse to the most egregious circumstances.
posted on September 13, 2000 10:44:46 PM
Good question.
And I'm not sure how to answer it for myself no less anyone else.
I have now come to expect actions which I perceive as anti-small business/individual seller from eBay. Nothing they do any longer surprises me. Nothing.
I had do deal with personal fears and internal contridictions. I love eBay the concept, have had significent positive changes in my life because of their existence and have come to enjoy and respect the users. The gentlest thing I can say is I hold the present senior management in contempt.
Stay, leave, ignore, shout, I don't know what to do. So I do a little of everything and mostly try to protect my own dwindling sanity and peace of mind.
For awhile I let them control how I felt. Anger seemed to be the daily blueplate special. Now I'm trying to be responsible for my feeling and I'm really enjoying everything a lot more.
I did insulate myself from having any dependency what so ever on eBay income. That I can leave tomorrow some how make me more free to stay, on my terms, and try to bring about changes for, what I perceive is, the better.
If I'm riding a burro and tilting at windmills, so be it. I always liked the music that went with that story anyway.
If in time positive change occurs, due to internal forces or the marketplace, great. If I just stand here and push againt a immovable wall, well, for now this is where I'm happy to be and what I'm happy to do.
I don't want to let eBay have the power to make me angry anymore but, I must confess, I do hope some day we can, together, make their present management unhappy.
posted on September 13, 2000 10:59:17 PM
Sorry Kitsch - But, "oh dem memories of firestorms of the past"
Guns - Including antiques (which are NOT considered firearms) Angry Mobs - Thunderous slanderous talk.
Legal Bullies - and the closing of Live Support the next week - Boom - dark angry words - con theories abounded.
The Great June Crashes - hysterically angry people with auctions ending and bids waiting for the system to work for more than 30 seconds at a time. Couldn't GET into Ebay to yell - so they came here and savaged each other for hours at a time.
The reason why - is that Ebay hasn't REALLY pulled a bellyflop on the level of Paypals - since the Reserve Disaster (what, almost a year ago?) The Rallying Cry of "just a buck" still rings in their ears - and to their credit, they did back off and revamp the policy to a more rational one.
Do they still mess up? - you betcha. Do some folks get manhandled at times? - Yea it does happen.
But, this Paypal mess has the stench of death about it. They crossed a huge line in how they feel about their customers and what kind of respect they can expect to receive in the future. At least Ebay kinda learned that there are limits where people will NOT be triffled with. We will see if Paypal can survive this and learn as rational beings should.
Nutspec
"I spent most of my money on wild women and parties - the rest I just wasted"
posted on September 13, 2000 11:32:45 PM"Firestorm Du Jour"
I love that title, a definite winner of a name for a forum! I can only get indignant for such a sort period, and after awhile I get bored with others being indignant.
posted on September 14, 2000 04:37:07 AM
I think the difference between the Ebay "firestorms" and those concerning Paypal is that, for the vast majority of sellers, ebay is the only viable game in town, whereas Paypal is merely one payment option among many - which Paypal does NOT seem to realize.
