reamond
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:24:35 PM new
eBay has invested in a seller known as ReturnBuy, which has nearly 30 pages of auctions on eBay.
It should be disclosed on the auction page that eBay is an investor in ReturnBuy.
It has gone beyond trying to bring big liquidators to eBay. eBay is now invested into one of these sellers, according to the WSJ.
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gravid
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:30:43 PM new
OK you business people and lawyers - what is the correct government agebcy to look into an undisclosed conflict of interest?
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Capriole
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:31:23 PM new
$22 for a vcr with a 2 star functionality.
Oh boy.
They are capitalizing on the "something for nothing" toughts that seems to whip the "common sense" neurons from firing in a consumers brain.
Ebay isn't a venue...it's the competition!
I am just not so happy! Sure I can get away with selling a discontinued media format, but damn, they are going to kick some fanny for some folks.
Greedy B****rds
BTW, Meg, you look terrible in that WSJ faux wood engraved portrait. Buy a better hair cut!
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morgantown
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:44:52 PM new
What a crappy outfit, fabulous feedback. They use "stock" photographs instead of the actual item.
HEY IDEA! I can scan pictures out of Gene Florence's Depression glass books instead of photographing the actual items. Yea right...
MTown
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twinsoft
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:49:23 PM new
They could have found a better photo. Did you notice the dig about "Mr. Potato Head?" Meg worked for Hasbro and it's know she collects Potato Heads. (About 20 million of them.)
_
www.gratefuldad.com
Online Auction Sellers Cooperative
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twinsoft
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:54:12 PM new
Does this thread fit in somehow with the "Can eBay handle returns?" thread a couple of days ago.
I hate to keep ragging on eBay, but their own good old boys are sporting a 10% "non-positive" feedback rating. That's worse than anyone except the outright crooks and frauds. And talk about your copyright infringement and misleading descriptions. And to top it all off, a no-returns policy. They'll never make powerseller with that attitude.
It's just too depressing.
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Capriole
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:59:23 PM new
12 pages of auctions is what I get when I search "returnbuy."
Are they powersellers already?
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chris97
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:15:13 PM new
Make fake ID's - bid on their auctions - then neg them like they've never been negged before. Ha Ha Ha Ha (demented evil laughter) HA HA HA
Sorry for the troll post.
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eventer
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:17:21 PM new
They are Gold PowerSellers.
You only have 3 days to pay or on the 4th day they relist. No checks, MO, or PayPal. No returns.
Run the list of negs/neutrals at Vrane. It says it all. They do respond to a number of them saying they are trying to work it out but love to blame a lot of the mistakes on "our XYZ department is reviewing the complaint" in a number of them.
They give a "star" rating on usability but then list "untested" in the description. How can you give a usability rating if you've never tested it?
They've got links to a second page which explains "about them" but then have another link directly to their home page where you can even join a "members only" club.
If this is the "wave of the future e-tailer" on ebay, I'm a lot less worried...these people are stumbling all over themselves.
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twinsoft
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:36:12 PM new
The PowerSellers agreement is here. The PS home page states that powersellers must offer a satisfaction guarantee, tho' it's not part of the official agreement. According to Vrane, they have over 2% negative feedback. They are not qualified powersellers.
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morgantown
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:38:24 PM new
Well said Eventer!
Perhaps we don't have as much to worry about! Unless bidders get totally turned off and leave eBay outright. Hopefully, they will be heading to the niche sites where the "quality" sellers are! 
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morgantown
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:40:27 PM new
Hi Twinsoft, that's right, they don't qualify for PS status. I looked at their feedback via vrane too. What a mess.
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Mikecol
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:41:21 PM new
Take a look at some of their other interests.
Butterfields is a ebay company.
"About 20 million of them" potatoe heads - When are they going to plant us.
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twinsoft
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:44:19 PM new
Their feedback isn't as bad as 10% dissatisfied as someone suggested in another thread. Sorry I didn't check that thoroughly. However, I don't think they're qualified powersellers. Their positive feedbacks are less than 98%. As Mr. Natural would say, "it's a sign 'o the times!"
[ edited by twinsoft on Jun 1, 2001 03:46 PM ]
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eventer
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:46:24 PM new
Unless bidders get totally turned off and leave eBay outright
THAT is the one thing that worries me the most about some of these "bigs".
Yes, they "might" bring a new wave of people to ebay but if their first experience is one like some of these are happening, ebay will quickly be deleted from their "favorites" bookmark & then we ALL will suffer.
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reamond
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:54:31 PM new
I also count at least 4 off site links on ReturnBuy's auction pages.
Those disgruntled buyers should take the problems up with ReturnBuy's partner eBay.
Return"Bay" should also have to disclose their involvement with eBay on the auction pages.
[ edited by reamond on Jun 1, 2001 04:02 PM ]
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morgantown
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posted on June 1, 2001 04:02:43 PM new
OTOH, if the "Big Guys" set the standard on eBay regarding shipping fees and other TOS. We are not going to have anymore complaints over twenty-five cent handling fees!!!
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Damariscotta
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posted on June 1, 2001 05:04:46 PM new
Just curious, what legal reasons require them to disclose this?
Should I be disclosing that I am an ebay stockholder on my auctions?
Have a nice weekend.
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revvassago
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posted on June 1, 2001 05:16:43 PM new
http://www.returnbuy.com/consumer/about/press.html#ebayapi
This says it all
This is clearly a conflict of interest
Shame on eBay
By the way, I didn't realize it took $15,000,000.00 to be a seller on eBay.
Oops better stop selling then
[ edited by revvassago on Jun 1, 2001 05:20 PM ]
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gravid
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posted on June 1, 2001 06:17:58 PM new
Don't employees of eBay have to disclose that when they list items?
Would that not apply to corperate as well as individual sellers?
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airguy
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posted on June 1, 2001 08:44:10 PM new
no they would not qualify for powerseller status.
(do you think they call in on a silver toll call line or do you think they have their own account rep on an 800 number??)
links in all their auctions to their web site
I guess this will fall under the links are ok to ebay and half.com sites
I wonder if these guys pay listing and closing fees.
no wait ebay gives them operating capitol, we pay ebay, ebay pays them. that stinks!
they've used ebay feedback on their web site that's not aloud
http://www.returnbuy.com/consumer/testimonials/index.html
soon you can purchase from their web site
http://www.returnbuy.com/consumer/join/index.html
so ebay gives them money, gives then a API link into their servers, and we can't have links from our auctions and basically ebay is saying they don't want the little guys to have web sites. but it's ok if your a company that we have an interest in. gotta love those big boys
don't you just feel like you'll see a logo in a few months that says "ReturnBuy an eBay company".
you have to give them credit for one thing though, they don't use ebays seller assistant pro
well folks it's been fun, it looks like your going to have to have too much money to play in ebays sand box, good news is if your someone like return buy maybe ebay will give you the money you need to play. The cost of doing business is just getting to be too high. Too many rules and too much greed.......
ok the URLs should work now
[ edited by airguy on Jun 1, 2001 08:45 PM ]
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twinsoft
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posted on June 1, 2001 11:04:54 PM new
I'd give ReturnBuy a week to get their ducks in a row, and edit their ads. After that, users should start complaining to eBay SafeHarbor, and documenting the responses.
eBay has a lot to lose if this gets media attention. Their "darling" is breaking every rule in the book.
Of everything that ReturnBuy is doing, the PowerSeller thing bugs me the most. I work hard to maintain my PS status, even though I'm a dinky bronze. It means something to me, anyway. To see PS logos handed out as "honorariums" really p---es me off.
Good that it happened though. This should make an interesting test case.
_
www.gratefuldad.com
Online Auction Sellers Cooperative
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humber2
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posted on June 1, 2001 11:52:20 PM new
Hmmmmm.
Looks like ReturnBuy doesn't like paying eBay big fees.........
Sales start at $2.50, no IPIX, no only a $ reserves
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antqe
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posted on June 2, 2001 12:46:04 AM new
Compliments of TAG.
[ edited by antqe on Jun 2, 2001 12:52 AM ]
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reamond
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posted on June 2, 2001 08:24:14 AM new
One reason this is a conflict of interest is that the owner, referee, and rule maker, now has a player in the game.
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thepriest
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posted on June 5, 2001 05:24:01 AM new
bump
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thepriest
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posted on June 24, 2001 08:36:25 AM new
any new info?
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bhearsch
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posted on June 24, 2001 05:27:17 PM new
Hi guys. I started a thread on June 4th about ReturnBuy and the fact that they weren't following the rules. You might want to check it out if you missed that thread:
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&id=385895&thread=380160
This is a post by vidpro2 from that thread:
QUOTE
"In a previous NewsFlash, AuctionBytes reported that ReturnBuy was in violation of eBay's links policy and failed to maintain the required positive feedback ratio of 98% to retain Power Seller status. After looking into the situation, EBay spokesperson, Kevin Pursglove responded to AuctionBytes with the following information:
"When we look at a seller's record, we look at their entire record from the time they started. EBay has looked at ReturnBuy's entire record from the point they started and it is slightly under 98%. ReturnBuy will be treated like any other Power Seller that doesn't meet the minimum standards. They will be sent a notice advising them of their current status and will have 30 days to bring their feedback ratio up to requirements."
As for links within ReturnBuy's auctions, Mr Pursglove said, "A seller who has links within their auction pages will receive an educational email reminding them that email links are not allowed." According to eBay, a seller then has 14 days to comply with the "no-links" rule.
When asked if eBay's investment in ReturnBuy had any bearing on their treatment, Pursglove said no and reminded us that eBay had suspended Kruse Automotive for 30 days for violating feedback rules even though eBay owns it outright.
END QUOTE
It looks like eBay IS playing favorites. 
Blanche
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vidpro2
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posted on June 24, 2001 08:22:44 PM new
Blanche, has it been 20 days already? Looks like there's another phone call in order.
vidpro2
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bhearsch
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posted on June 24, 2001 08:36:17 PM new
Hiya vidpro2. Yep, better grab that phone because it looks like ReturnBuy is still at it. 
I'm going to send eBay another email asking if I can use ReturnBuy as an example of the proper format for an eBay auction. I've been sooo confused by the new policies concerning links, email lists, etc. that I assume it's OK to follow ReturnBuy's lead since eBay has part ownership in the company. They must be doing everything by the book, RIGHT? 
Blanche
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