Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 03 July 2008 16:15
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 4
One can only hope eBay has truly have learned something from all this and isn’t scheming more dastardly cunning plans in the background.
eBay certainly is under the global spotlight now, and all its future actions will now be heavily scrutinised. eBay should be under no illusions that anything else will happen!
One thing is certain: the world does not need eBay. eBay could drop off the map tomorrow, and people would simply go to other sites, find other ways to buy and sell. Few, aside from employees and shareholders, would truly care.
Sure, some major power sellers who make big bucks (and pay big fees) to eBay would go through pain if eBay disappeared, but they’d quickly find somewhere else to sell, if not several places online including their own online shopfronts.
eBay does try and spin its humiliating retreat with some gumpf about “safer experiences” that no-one truly believes anymore. eBay says that it’s “goal has always been to provide members with a safer experience. Under the current circumstances, we will continue to look for ways to do that while still offering a variety of payment choices.”
Hmm... the past few months have made many think eBay’s “goal” was to rip off its users. Apparently, it’s “safer experiences”. Wow!
Still, eBay is forcing sellers to offer eBay whether they want to or not, with eBay’s notice saying that it “requires all sellers to offer PayPal as a payment choice on eBay.com.au along with other permitted payment methods of their choosing.”
eBay will no doubt ensure the “Paypal” logo stays bigger than other payment options in an attempt to funnel people to this option. Heck they’ll probably make it bigger still, who knows. Clearly the idea that consumer choice will dictate the winner doesn’t really jibe with eBay’s thinking.
At least eBay has found one thing to be pleased about concerning the whole sordid affair, saying: “Although we have decided not to move ahead with the further planned changes, eBay is pleased that all buyers can now choose PayPal along with other permitted payment methods of their choice.”
eBay also tries to convince Australians that safety really was the whole focus the entire time by assuring us all that: “Other recently introduced safety measures, such as PayPal Seller Protection and increased PayPal Buyer Protection (now up to $20,000) will also remain.”
But if eBay thinks that’s the end of the story and we can all now go back to playing happy families and being shiny happy people holding hands going “ka-ching” for eBay with every transaction, eBay’s newest Australian competitor has seriously questioned eBay’s credibility.
Continued on page 3.
