Blackthorne Software Discussion Forum: Seller's Assistant Release: Decreasing financial viability of eBay/Blackthorne

By kevin loftus (kevin81) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 11:37 am:

Once again I find myself seriously questioning the viability of continuing to use this vehicle (eBay) as my primary source of income.

Ebay has continuously acted like the spoiled child, wanting more and more, with only the pathetic, transparent, ruse of "New and Improved" to offer in return.

Now, with their "bastard child" Blackthorne, they have taken yet another good idea and run it into the proverbial dirt, once again with the "New and Improved" promise. This time, however, Ebay may have finally overstepped their traditional ground...we have PAID for this service, unlike a simple "take it or leave it" available site that one can register with or not.

In fact, this sounds very similar to the kinds of situations that eBay warns it's buyers about under it's various "How to Buy and Not Get Ripped Off" help pages! The promises also sound very similar to the eBay Motor promises that obviously have never been kept. (Have you been to that dark, misaligned, confusing site lately?)

Conclusion? Maybe there is merit to a class action suit (and I would seriously consider joining it depending on the circumstances), but the most powerful action you and I can take is to spread the word....this is a blatant rip-off and while we may not be in a position to simply jump ship since we've built our business around this core, we certainly can make every effort to discourage anyone else coming aboard.

Until this "New and Improved" software (that we've already paid for) is re-reintroduced as free to those who have already paid in full and been loyal customers, I urge you to make it known via your online and daily conversation that this is yet one more of eBay's slick, underhanded, corporate moves that profits ONLY eBay, NOT YOU.

By Lahood Stephen (sisyphus1900) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 06:30 pm:

Just like with PayPal. A good system is introduced; in the case of PayPal it was free. In the case of AA and AAPro it was to be purchased. Once we have spent a lot of time learning the programs, and become dependant on the service… eBay purchases the company and passes on more taxes to the sellers. There is no such thing as a buyer with a credit card on file (unless he is also a seller)… the fee always comes out of our cut. Now we must rent AA & AAP for a fee that is greater than some people pay for Internet connection. It is never owned, though most of our business records are to be stored there. So once you quit paying for it you can’t even access your records……… CUTE!
As someone said earlier there has not been such unfair legislation since the 4:1 reserve policy. As eBay gobbles up everyone who does business with it… they become an enormous Monopoly. I sincerely hope that the Anti-Trust authorities address this issue quickly. Perhaps we should be writing our Senators rather than posting on an eBay board. We all see that eBay is one of the greediest organizations of the 21st century. It is a good thing, which was started as a very profitable swap meet. It made the founder very wealth very quickly… it was sold to corporate America… that is fine and as it should be. But give it a rest. Quit being so greedy, before you suck the blood out of it, to the point that only eBay can profit. At that point it will fold. And a dozen others will spring up but by then we will be scattered around the countryside. Let it be… take a fair profit and let everybody succeed together…
In concept eBay is a good thing. But merely by it’s conception it has put many, many people out of business, and made it necessary for them to change occupations or conduct their business on eBay. As such eBay has a tremendous responsibility not to gouge them. But instead they are viewed as easy targets by eBay.
I know that all of the clamor in the world will not change this situation. I have decided to pass the charge along to the buyers. With a sliding scale handling fee… perhaps $.50 for items under $50… $1.00 for things over $50 but under $100 and $1.50 for everything over $100. I will try eBay’s routine. Tax everybody a few dollars and get rich. I have already passed on the PayPal fees by charging everybody the percentage and discounting it for those who do not use PayPal… it is legal. I really hate doing this but as a seller I have absorbed as many fees as I intend to.