eBay announces new PayPal delay until ACCC has its say

by Alex Zaharov-Reutt

Friday, 27 June 2008

Page 1 of 3 ! eBay is praying that the ACCC will agree to its ridiculous request that it be allowed to break Australian law in forcing buyers and sellers to use PayPal. But as eBay users go away to other sites and don’t plan on coming back on any other day, all this forced Paypal work and no fair play makes eBay a dull auction site. Here we go again. eBay’s attempt to grab even more money from its users by the forced use of Paypal has hit several roadblocks: buyer and sellers aghast and in disgust, an investigation by the ACCC (the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission), a draft notice that suggests the ACCC won’t let eBay get its way and now a second notice to eBay members that the forced changes are being delayed yet again. eBay today sent out another message to eBay members notifying them of this change. eBay’s previous delay came only 9 days ago on June 18 so it is somewhat surprising to see they’ve had to change their plans so quickly. It’s suggesting an image of an eBay in disarray, wouldn’t you say? In an interview with iTWire editor Stan Beer, Caroline Coops competition partner at leading Australian law firm, Mallesons Stephens Jaques said: "prohibiting sellers from including non-PayPal competitor payment systems in their listings strictly speaking falls outside the notification lodged with the ACCC but risks running counter to the "spirit" of eBay's agreement not to engage in the notified conduct." Ms Coops also said: " it is unusual, but not unheard of, for the ACCC to issue a final notice that reverses the views expressed in a draft revocation notice." The email states that: “Changes to eBay.com.au scheduled for 15 July are being postponed until the review process with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding its recent draft notice is complete.” This, of course, is pure common sense, something eBay has shown little of in recent times. Why you’d loudly announce changes were on the way after the ACCC issued its draft notice indicating it was unlikely to acquiesce to eBay’s original request is tantamount to spitting in the ACCC’s soup – why attract that kind of attention? But the boneheads at eBay who dreamt up the scheme to rip Australians off came up with this boneheaded scheme in the first place, so clearly, some weird thinking is going on over there. However, eBay then tries to smooth things over a bit by saying that: “As previously announced, eBay.com.au is continuing to work with the ACCC to achieve an outcome that benefits buyers and sellers.” Well, good luck with that mollifying the ACCC, but I suppose eBay has to try something, ‘cause nothing is working so far.  So, what else does eBay say, pray tell? Flick over to the next page to see... << First page <   1 2 3 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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