eBay vrs42?

From: vrs <vrs_at_msn.com>
Date: Sat Feb 12 12:19:57 2005

> > 2) I am not allowed to take actions which could deprive eBay
> > (or sellers) of
> > revenues from others.
>
> Definitely disagree with this one. There have been occasions
> when someone has posted to this list pointing out some auction
> or other and indicating something incorrect (honest mistake or
> otherwise) and that caution is advised. Similarly there have
> been plenty of "look what some doofus has bid this up to"
> comments. Both of these seem to fall foul of (2) but I
> see nothing wrong with them.

I thought 2) was a pretty literal paraphrase of:
"5.5 Manipulation. Neither you, bidders nor sellers may manipulate the
price of any item nor may you interfere with other user's listings or
transactions."

Unfortunately, that can make it difficult to engage in some ethically
reasonable behavior.

The classic example are the many eBay users who have had their accounts
revoked (or threatened) by simply saying in public "This seller ripped me
off." (outside Ebay's own feedback system).

As I understand it, even revealing the identity of another eBay participant
is sufficient to get you in trouble. (Hopefully that requires someone to
make trouble.)

It is important to remember that eBay is all about the money, and that we
have agreed to their draconian rules in order to take advantage of the huge
market they offer.

> If I see that X
> is bidding on a pile of widgets and I believe he
> only needs some of them I don't see why I should
> hold off contacting him and seeing whether we can
> come to some arrangement between ourselves. I don't
> think it makes any difference whether we do this
> before either of us has bid or whether we do this
> after either or both of us has already placed a
> bid.

I don't say it is always (ethically) wrong, but I do think there are
situations where it is possible for a set of buyers to get together and
force a price that is unfair to the seller.

> (In the latter case, we have possibly already
> failed to achieve our goal of the lowest possible
> price; in the former case, we still have a chance).

Unless one of us retracted their bids, which hopefully we agree would be
unethical, and also a violation of our user agreement.

    Vince
Received on Sat Feb 12 2005 - 12:19:57 GMT