It is laughable that ebay is trying to pretend to be Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus. Most people know that when they go to Ebay they are not getting "new" stuff. Ebay keeps promoting "new" and it is deceptive to bidders because it is all overstock and returns or flat out fakes. Most people are smart would not buy big purchases like flat sceen tv's or high end clothing at Ebay. Ebay needs to get back to basics and quit pretending to be a high end department store. I guess thier new ad campaign with Pinnochio's nose is fitting.

Sarah-

This is ridiculously hilarious!!! OMG!!! What's next on the eBays' knee-jerk plate? How funny!!!

Good to know : )

Interesting article, Thank you..

" I guess their new ad campaign with Pinnochio's nose is fitting."

Exactly my first impression.

Yep...
"The Power of Too Many"
and
The Power of Too Much...

"Skype was purchased in October 2005 for about $2.6 billion (that is not a typo - that is billion with a “b”)

of which an amazing $2.3 billion was booked as goodwill.

The remaining $300 million accounted for Skype’s tangible assets."

"I find it telling that throughout Ebay’s 2005 annual report,
management makes reference to all of the great operational ways Skype will help Ebay’s traditional operations,
although management avoids ever using the word “synergies,”
but fails to ever brag about what Skype will contribute to the company’s bottom line, profit margins or ROE."

Ebay, the company with the dreamy business model and an iron-clad-alligator-infested moat,
is wagering nearly half of its net worth on the future of Skype..

http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/060912/16737_id.html?.v=1

Yes, GREAT MANAGEMENT..(????)

"$2.3 billion".. for GOODWILL..???
Wow.. This is mind-blowing..

It's also very notable that ebay sees this chat contact as a "power" and of value for ebay sellers..

When ebay, itself does not provide this kind of "valuable" contact for it's customers...
not for serious fraud.. not for serious billing errors.. not for anything.

But then these factors are not important to ebay.. they don't increase profits.

Quite incredible!

When users all over the world are up in arms about eBay you get this kind of news reported!

Maybe sellers on eBay should stop trying to make a living by selling things and apply for jobs with eBay instead? There must be some really cool jobs available.

I read this on the same day as I read this:

http://blogandcomment.com/?p=4

Are they real? Quite incredible!

I think most of the "news" being reported lately will eventually make an impression.
Rome wasn't built in a day.. and neither was ebay.. and I doubt that it will come down in a day either. It will take a little time.. but it IS coming down. Just look at the various charts.

Speaking of charts..I have been trying to follow the auction count charts.
It appears that both Medved and Dealscart are having troubles getting those numbers.. again.
And Powerseller Unite went down a day or so ago.

I can't help but wonder what the problems are in getting these counts.

Is there a journalist out there who can/will look into that?
I'm sure many people are interested in those numbers.. especially now.

Dealscart also posts counts on ebay stores. In the past I have tried to keep up with these store numbers and it was a nightmare.

At that time ebay was posting stores both numerically and alphabetically. The numbers NEVER were easy to get and NEVER were consistent. There always was a vast difference between each page of store numbers.
Ebay could say the lack of consistency was due to the constant "changes"..
Hey, I doubt that as these were numbers of "stores".. not auction item listings. Hundreds of stores don't open and close THAT fast.

Also the last time I looked.. the store numbers that were listed were for NORTH AMERICA..not US stores.