posted on October 24, 2000 09:43:50 PM
I used to sometimes place classified ads that might say "89 Corvette, best offer over $4,000 by Friday". To me, placing a listing on Ebay is not much different. At least on Ebay the bidder understands that someone else can offer more. With a classified, the customer usually tries to buy it for less......and gets mad when you won't cut the price.
posted on October 25, 2000 04:20:38 AM
Similar, in that ebay merely provides the "page" on which your "ad" appears.
Different, in that ebay's revenues from that "ad" relate directly to how much the item sold for - and therefore ebay has a vested interest in the item obtaining the highest price possible.
That's a bit like the owner of a storefront charging rent based on the tenant's monthly revenues. The landlord may be sorely tempted to turn a blind eye to less-than-legal activity if he knows his own "take" will be substantially greater than if he makes sure his tenant stays on the up-and-up.
[ edited by HartCottageQuilts on Oct 25, 2000 04:22 AM ]
