RANT: Ebay is doing the right thing

[pentium]

As we all expected with both the PS3 and the Wii, people were going to buy the systems and as son as the computer was warm they posted it on ebay where they made fortunes and made finding the systems a nightmare for anyone else.
I personally wondered if this kind of thing was ok under ebay rules and so o googled around. Shure enough, it seems ebay is pulling down PS3 and Wii auctions as fast as they can. Our local newspaper did the same thing and did not allow PS3 and Wii ad's in the classified section. I'm also hearing of people who are even getting the full force of went they tried to sell the systems which they usually bought in numbers.
Ebay has terminated quite a few accounts for immediately reposting auctions after they were taken down and they were told not to post again, some have sold all their systems and discover they LOST money because of bad deals and some have even sold their system right after they buy it from another person!

Of course, the great stink of ebay ending auctions and killing accouns have made the real complainers come out of the woodwork.
Here is a post from digg.com where somebody was saying that ebay is unfair. I have a feeling he is stretching the truth a bit.

ebay SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS. they arbitrarily cancel auctions, even when the auctions meet their rules to the letter. they then arbitrarily cancel/suspend some sellers accounts, and refuse to lift the suspension even when the seller explains why the account should not have been suspended.

i pray for the day when google starts an auction business, and every person involved with ebay ends up homeless, hungry, and selling ass for cash.

Now let's disassemble this and look closely...

they arbitrarily cancel auctions, even when the auctions meet their rules to the letter.

It takes quite a bit of work to make ebay actually kill an auction. I would do it if I see a console hit the site at 6 AM on release day and you can see the pic was taken with the system in the car.

they then arbitrarily cancel/suspend some sellers accounts, and refuse to lift the suspension even when the seller explains why the account should not have been suspended.

Anyone can can kiss ebay's ass. Don't forget that a killed account is usually an IP ban so respect your account or you lose the ability to use ebay.

i pray for the day when google starts an auction business,

**Shudders**

every person involved with ebay ends up homeless, hungry, and selling ass for cash.

Nah, google will probably employ them. You on the other hand qualify for all three.

Just my 2p.

[Topcat]

The reason I believe they're so tight about them, is 90% of PS3 and wii ads were scams, especially around the holidays. There's nothing wrong with a little profiteering, but when people are getting ripped off entirely, it makes it hard for the legit guys.

[pentium]

I saw quite a few too when I was around ebay in early december.
It seems that many tried to pay out with selling on ebay for lots more.
Tis guy did all the hard work and even made a chart:
Ebay PS3 price depreciation

[willawake]

i agree that there is nothing wrong with profiteering, if the market is willing to pay a high price due to undersupply then that is what business is all about. Unfortunately there was not undersupply so the prices crashed. Interesting article btw.

but we are not talking about someone's internet shop, the sale is going on a platform which is already known to take a hard line.....which is in the consumers interest anyway.

so taking a risk for some short term profit and suprisingly getting cancelled...

what is fair? making a rule and applying it across the board or making exceptions. on the other hand isnt it rather expensive to start negotiating with minor accounts, it will need a lot of personnel time.

anyway you will only hear from the whiners on the net.