Yesterday's heartfelt comments from readers to my post, "eBay's message to sellers: Grow or die!" were incredible. I was amazed at the quantity I received (and continue to receive). Even more impressive was the quality of the responses. No peasants here.

MEG, ARE YOU LISTENING?

The thoughtfulness, understanding of the issues and real concern from knowledgeable people went way beyond the usual whining that I see from some quarters. Many people even made good suggestions on how eBay could accomplish its financial goals and still accommodate the disenfranchised sellers.

Another thing that surprised me was that ALL of the comments were similar in their disdain for eBay. Not one person, seller or shareholder (of course nothing from eBay) supported eBay's rate increases, business strategy, or future as a company. I found that bewildering, but perhaps this post will give any supporters another chance to express their views.

Points of consensus:

• EBay does not care to directly address the concerns of many of their sellers. They treat this subject like so many others where they choose to "play innocent bystander" like they were not involved. I do not know why eBay chooses not to be more accommodating and pretend all is well. Pretending is not usually a good thing.
• There is real market pressure for an alternative to eBay so Google or any other entity that can gain traction in this space will be gloriously welcomed. To date this has not happened and there are only meager signs, at the fringe, that might be chipping away. Despite portrayals of seller options, nothing I read was convincing.
• I noted that; "if they raise rates for sellers by any percentage you choose, say 25% then they will make more money as long as something less than 25% of the sellers don't run off to do something else." This most certainly is the way eBay looks at it and, given that the facts will speak for themselves in the marketplace, eBay to date has calculated correctly -- BUT ONLY FOR NOW. Strange as it seems eBay could lose a high percentage of sellers and be fine. WHY shouldn't they do this?
• EBay is perceived as a monopoly and if it is not thwarted in the marketplace there could come a day (under a different Federal administration) when it comes under closer scrutiny. They are not Baseball, they have no exemption.