Judge Judy's lawyer has AOL. I could talk to him for EBay but it'll cost EBay and well would Judge Judy really want to have to deal with all the bad deals happening on EBay? I think not.

That woman belongs in prison! Thank God most people selling on eBay are decent people.

I have seen several eBay situations on court shows-- the one you have here is clearly a candidate for the most outrageous. I'm not sure what the answer is for eBay's fraud issues but it does seem that the feedback system has its limits and going to court over small amounts is counterproductive. I think eBay should have more responsibility for the fraud that occurs on its service--- that might cut into their profits but maybe eBay would get better sales if people knew that eBay would make good on the small percentage of deals that involve fraud. Using some public arbitration system for other some cases could be an interesting approach.

So Judge Judy does the work for ebay??? Wow, I thought that's what customer service on ebay should be doing?... I must misunderstand what customer service is...

What's humerous is that ebay just did a job cut at ebay, And to top off the cuts it happened to be: jobs in customer service!!! All the while telling their sellers that in order to get reduced fees that they must have the highest standard of customer service!!

So I see that the buyer of this bogus auction could not resolve the issue through ebay??? Wow... How pathetic!! But guess what??? Ebay made money off of this buyer AND seller, so they don't care!!

The customer service at ebay was already non-existant so when there's a problem for the seller or buyer there, you get guided all over their site to be lead to a group of questions and if you click on the question that even comes close to yours, you will get canned answers... There is no number to call that you can talk to a human unless you have two hours to wait on the phone and continue to listen to programmed messages that are meaningless to your situation, and then when you do get to a human, they ask what you need and the minute you say something they push a button which guides you back to the automated messaging... TOTALLY FRUSTERATING AND UNACCEPTABLE!!

And now cut jobs in "customer service"???

I'm so glad I dumped them and went to a more user friendly site!!

I see the demise of ebay happening right before our very eyes!!

BOYCOTT VICTORIOUSLY!!

Interesting - defecting Ebay sellers are acting like Ebay allowed this - where if you watch the whole clip the plaintiffs state that Ebay suspended this chick's account.

Hmmm...I wonder if that seller left retaliatory feedback before she was suspended.

Everybody needs to wise up and see that this is the kind of thing that gets Ebay a bad rep - notice that Judy doesn't buy on Ebay?! How many others watch her show and say to themselves...'Great another reason I won't shop on Ebay'.

Well listen up potential new ebay shoppers. Ebay has made changes that some sellers ...see above... think are unfair. They think that if you pay them money and aren't completely satisfied...but stuck with the item anyway...that it is your problem. They think that they should be able to criticize you the buyer even after they have your money...kinda goes against the American tradition of the 'customer being right' huh?

Ebay has made changes though so you can rest assured that people like the fatty on Judge Judy will be outta there. Some here like to say that legit sellers will leave too...so not true! Look at their supposed boycott they talked up in the forums. Look at all these commenters that have left for other unheard of sites. Now go look at Ebay. Is there any item you can't find? Within a week you're likely to find just about anything you could want at 30% or more off the cheapest online retail store. I bought a wii on Ebay for less..LESS than it costs in store. I did that during the week of the so-called boycott too.

Now - go to some of these other sites they're bragging about..as a buyer how are you more protected at these no-name sites than Ebay? Where is there more chance for fraud? Don't believe all these naysayers crying...they're often deluded into thinking that they are owed a living by Ebay. They often think that Ebay is supposed to be a kind of compound-like-cult where everyone buys and trades from each other in this utopia..and that Ebay really isn't a business and its shareholders are just corporate puppets that don't care about the little guy. Well there are a lot of 'little guy' shareholders and they too have been demanding that Ebay make some changes to attract the market of Judge Judys - those scared to buy on Ebay - because of this type of fraud.

So who should Ebay listen to?
A) The few sellers that tell them to 'keep everything the same. It doesn't matter that your stock has languished - what matters is that you keep the storefront where we can criticize our buyers if they give us lip.'
Or B) to the shareholders and the millions of sellers that want Ebay to do something to get more shoppers bidding! That will increase money for everyone. If sellers are so afraid of possible negative feedback...they should learn how to list, sell, and communicate in a way that is more customer friendly.

There I'm done...BTW the plaintiff's daughter was hot. I hope she buys from me on Ebay.

Woodykid,

I take issue with your comments about sellers, both in this article and in previous articles. The reason I disagree with your comments is because most transactions an Ebay are a contract between the buyer and the seller... a contract for the sale of goods.

Sellers of any kind, whether on Ebay or off, can generally set the terms of their sale. If the terms are too one sided, then buyers can refuse to purchase, or buyers can negotiate with sellers for different terms.

On Ebay, if buyers do not comply with the seller's terms for sale, then that seller should be able to leave negative feedback, period.

Now, some dishonest sellers took advantage of the old system and left retaliatory negative feedback anytime a buyer leaves negative feedback. AND THAT IS WRONG. But, when Ebay changes the feedback system to prevent sellers from leaving any negative feedback, then Ebay is penalizing all sellers, rather than attempting to eradicate only the dishonest sellers. And that is what is driving small honest sellers to quit Ebay.

So I disagree with your assertion that readers of this forum should disbelieve all of the crying naysayers.

Rather, I submit to the readers of this forum that what Ebay is doing is interfering with the seller's ability to contract FAIRLY. Ebay is trying, and becoming more successful with each passing year, to dictate to sellers what their terms for sale will be.

My opinion is that if Ebay continues to interfere with the sellers' ability to contract, they will continue to lose sellers. And as Ebay continues to lose sellers, these "unheard of" websites that you speak will grow in size and reputation.

Your above post suggests that Ebay should listen to their shareholders more than their sellers. And that's fine its your opinion.

What I am asking of you is to quit insulting people that do not hold your opinion or do not agree with your opinion. That means no more name calling. That also means intelligent comments on the merits.

Good day sir.

Mike,

1st off - what names did I call anyone here? A 'naysayer'? OMG - Did you watch the video? Why don't you write in to Judge Judy if you want to address name calling. I guess this blog's not intelligent since it posts videos of Judge Judy calling an Ebay seller an idiot amongst other things. I think you should examine your double standards!

2nd you failed to make any intelligent argument yourself against the points I mentioned - buyers afraid of doing business on Ebay due to a preferential seller oriented feedback system, shareholders tired of management not making drastically needed changes to attract new customers and marketshare. I never said I agreed 100% in every detail...just that it's good management is making changes. But You and a select few of vocal others feel Ebay should not make changes despite their flat stock price. That things are better left the same. Tell me that's intelligent.

good day sir to you

Woodykid,

Thank you for your response

To address your first point about a double standard:
Have I ever addressed you as any thing other than sir? No. Have I ever gone down the name calling route with you? No. So what double standard are you referring to?

To address your second point:
(a) Whose fault is it that, as you put it, buyers are afraid of doing business on Ebay? You claim it it because of a seller oriented feedback system. I suggest that if buyers are afraid of doing business on Ebay, it is because they don't want to get ripped off. So whose fault is it? It is the fault of dishonest sellers, for being scammers, and it is Ebay's fault for not removing the scammers. Honest sellers are not to blame.

(b) Shareholders tired of management not making drastic changes to get new customers - First, I never said that management should not make changes, and on the contrary, I feel that management should make changes. But since I am not management, I can't do anything about it, nor can I effect what changes management makes. The only thing I can do is opine as to what changes that management SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT MAKE.

What changes management should not make - I don't think that management should kill the seller's ability to leave negative feedback.

What changes management should make - I think that management should address shill bidding, feedback manipulation, and getting rid of the scamming sellers.

It just so happens that the changes that I think management should make are coincidentally the changes that management refuses to make. Furthermore, management has a track record of making changes that enhance the problems I identified above - like hiding bidder's ids after the bidding crosses $200. This doesn't eradicate shill bidding, it makes it worse.


Thank you and good day sir.

Woddykid,

And to further address your point about a seller oriented feedback system. In your post above, you suggest that buyers afraid of doing business on Ebay because of a preferential seller oriented feedback system.

I submit to you that the seller oriented feedback system is not the root of the problem. The dirty sellers and Ebay itself is the root of the problem. Changing the feedback system to a buyer oriented system, while seemingly good from the outside, can actually make the problem worse. Why? Because when honest sellers quit Ebay, guess which sellers are left behind - the scammers. Buyers may feel safer, knowing that they can't be retaliated against. But again, this change to the feedback system does not address the root of the problem. It treats all sellers as guilty.

Really, this boils down to a philosophical argument. Its like the old example:
which came first, the chicken or the egg.

You and I can debate all we want until we are blue in the face

My position has been to point out that Ebay's decisions are not in its best interest because the effect of Ebays decisons is to drive sellers away to other venues.

My question is: wouldn't Ebay's best strategy be a strategy which seeks to retain their sellers rather than drive them away.

Well Mike at least your comments are a little more specific now, compared to many other commenters that just scream "boycott Ebay" without offering specific solutions. If you want to search for some of my posts I offered many valid solutions to address the feedback problem. Ones that would appease both sellers and buyers. So I won't repeat it here again. Bottom line is that the handful of vocal dissidents offer few solutions and they want things to remain the same. Perhaps you're an exception.

Ebay is a cash flow machine - and yes they need to be wary of sellers that might defect - however there truly is no viable alternative on a global scale like Ebay. If there was, Ebay would probably buy them. I totally agree that Ebay is a monopoly. That's why I like them as a stock. Additionally Paypal is another cash generator for them. However, because of the lack of competition Ebay reacts slow..I really wish that they had a little more competition. I already wrote how Amazon could be...but they're fees are much higher and you can hardly sell anything due to restrictions. Also their feedback is worse than Ebay's. And that is AMAZON! I just think that looking at Ebay's current listings and global dominance it will take more than a few sellers to make a difference. I think Ebay is focusing on ramping up new buyers and like any company as big as Ebay they have to make sacrifices.

I don't think they will lose more sellers than they will gain - primarily because of the lack of competition. Trust me when I say if there was some legitimate competition my feelings would likely be different. I realize you think that these other companies that are spread out far and few between will gain ground. I disagree and I don't think Ebay management overlooked that possibility. But like I say...any place that gains considerable ground..Ebay will buy them. Look at Craigslist.

I have from the beginning always understood that some of these changes will not go well with some sellers. Let's face it NOBODY likes having their fees raised. I have considered a variety of auctions both big and small using analytical software and the bottom line is that if any seller claims they are no longer profitable to the point of being put out of business...it is a clear exaggeration. The increases in totality were a negligible effect on sellers and still way below its nearest competitor...amazon.

Nonetheless there will always be a commenter that says..."negligible??!!! you should see how I'm barely making it as it is..." and they'll go on and on. But my point has always been that since when is Ebay a charity? Economics 101 makes it clear that over time anyone that is selling a product that receives a hefty profit margin will face diminishing margins in time. Therefore I contest that many sellers' niches have deteriorated without any assistance from Ebay.

This is happening right now to me with my Wiis - I sell a lot of them on Ebay and as more people buy them up and more sellers list them on Ebay my margins go down. Soon I will find something else to sell. That's the nature of the business. I don't blame Ebay because their fees have risen. I change with the times. Ebay does the same. So I think some complaining sellers need to figure how to do the same. Actually most sellers are aware of this and are too busy to vocalize minor Ebay change issues on comment boards because they're too busying selling and adapting. Those that think they need to go elsewhere..so be it. My main point is that these vocalizing critics have never given evidence that they are so savvy with business and marketing ideas and have such a cornerstone niche in their product lines - that they would be in existence without Ebay. For all the complaints I hear I wonder how many would ever have been able to do what they do with their stores and listings if it were not for Ebay. How many begin selling on Ebay..realize they've found a nice way to make money. Open their own website and go on to leave Ebay and just run their own website. very few..but yes some do. Ebay doesn't ask for a piece of revenues when the seller moves on, even though it was Ebay that gave him/her their start in the first place.

You are right...which came first the chicken or the Egg? I say in capitalism, the answer.. 99% of the time.. is the chicken. So now you have all these eggs that have hatched and the majority will always stay close to the coop ..some though will venture off and try to find other coops - it won't affect the Ebay coop though. Because Ebay knows that the other coops are basically spread out so much that few will try to look that hard to find them. When they do, it will often be empty.

As for the double standard I first referred to... what I was saying is that you seemed to have no issue with this blog posting a ranting and raging Judge chewing out an Ebay seller, albeit obviously fraudulent, but nonetheless one that showed how much advantage the seller has over the buyer in the current system. I on the other hand make comments to a very very small select group of those claiming to be disenchanted Ebay sellers that want to keep a system in place that would allow sellers like the one on Judge Judy to thrive. Several of their comments make it seem like Ebay owes them a living. After acquiring my MBA in less than 2 years and working for top consulting and recruiting firms, owning my own firms, and yes buying and selling a lot of stuff on Ebay, which helped pay for my schooling by the way, I believe I am qualified to call out those that make emotional responses without researching the facts or providing viable alternatives. For all anyone looking at these comments knows, the posters could be people that work for the small competing sites. Is there anything that requires commenters to provide disclosure. Bottom line nobody knows who these comments come from. I keep seeing the same one posted over and over claiming Ebay shareholders are part of ponzi scheme. If I can't call that guy a moron on the same comment board then I guess you and I have a different understanding of how these boards work. Why don't you post a comment for that guy and tell him to quit insulting shareholders with such false remarks. I can't help it if I see an a shoddy attempt to try to put together an online boycott that ends up so disheveled. If I have to have my comments censored on an internet comment board where anybody that hates Ebay can say anything they want but because I find little validity to such unbacked opinions I'm not allowed to have the same freedom of expression?!!! That kind of mentality is the very reason logic is lacking in the few vocal dissenters. They want everyone to agree with them without any numbers to back there plans or viable alternatives for those that would follow their defections. Do these sellers that want to lead others to boycott or outright leave Ebay offer some comparable business plans with some charts and projections on how a seller that follows them would be making a good financial decision. I've heard chants claiming other places offer lower fees and a more fair feedback system. I decided to check out what is reasonably the most viable alternative to Ebay...Amazon. Guess what - they have higher fees, a worse feedback system, and a very difficult process to even list anything. So when I examine the facts, and see poor advice being given on a forum where some might emotionally react and switch to places that offer poor visibility for listings thus affecting their sales negatively, I think someone needs to put that shoddy information its place.

I guess If you think I come across worse than Judge Judy in my comments .. then maybe you should write the blog's creator and tell him/her that he should stop posting blogs that has Judges screaming names at others and calling them fat. Tell them that you think when they do that it's like they are endorsing that behavior. But if you think the blog post is ok...but my comments are too harsh - then yes you do have a double standard. Because guess what - this is a comment board...only one or two steps higher up on the scale than graffiti in a truckstop's bathroom. Or if some people think it's much more than that ...in that case don't be the guy to tell people what to say and and act like a censure. As a judge clearly proved - some sellers deserve to be called an idiot amongst other things. If she can do that, and it gets posted..well then why do I not have the right to do the same? Especially when I'm not even near as harsh as she was.

Woodykid,

Thank you for the thoughtful response...

I have nothing against against you... in fact, you are one of the more intelligent posters here.
I generally believe you are correct in saying that there are no viable alternatives to Ebay other than Amazon. But time will tell.

And your intuition is leading you to something which I shall reveal to you now. Some of us bloggers have been here a real long time. We have seen a lot of things.

Approximately 1.5-2 years ago... this board was overtaken by the worst spectacle of behavior I have ever seen by posters. Myself, Gary E. Sattler, Texas Trader, Tony P., Michelle, and others were just bloggers... and we were publicly defamed on this site by individuals which I don't care to mention by name. The end result was that Gary E. Sattler became a writer, and the offending posters disappeared.

I was a witness to this... and as a result, I have taken it upon myself to personally police this site, so to speak. My intention is not censorship, and I am not in favor of censorship of any kind. Actually, Ebayers come here to vent, because Ebay exercises so much censorship over their own forums... so its no surprise

Rather, my intention is (in addition to posting my own opinions) to call out people who insult others, AND KEEP THIS SITE CLEAN. I want people to be able to discuss Ebay freely and openly... without risking being pinkslapped by the Ebay moderators.

And I will watch this forum both now and in the future.

Your down to earth post immediately above was most appreciated.

Thank you, and good day sir.

Understood. Thanks for your comments as well and FYI it might be helpful to know if I'm talking to a mod or just another commenter.