posted on September 20, 2001 02:52:34 PM new
<<<Isn't this exactly what you are doing of eBay? You are certainly questioning the compassion, patriotism, motives, etc. of eBay and I'd say it's pretty consistent, personal and derogatory. >>>
Yup, but it's based on a whole lot more evidence of and personal experience with eBay than the posters in favor of this program have of the motives and character of who THEY are attacking. It's a lot easier to um follow the actions of a publically-traded Corporation that you happen to be an umm guest of as a user than it is to draw conclusions about INDIVIDUALS who you don't know and never met.
And I DIDN'T have this ID before this particular situation arose, in fact I haven't posted on this board for at least 6 months under ANY ID.
[ edited by GreedBay on Sep 20, 2001 02:55 PM ]
posted on September 20, 2001 02:59:20 PM new
So you believe, SMW, that because I told you once before that you were wrong I "insulted" you, and maybe that my posts are all the verbs you used in the first paragraph, without rasing legitimate concerns? Then, um, why don't you do what the mods suggest, and click the icon in the upper left hand corner, like I am doing now?
posted on September 20, 2001 03:58:28 PM new
thewholenineyards, you are absolutely correct...and I live in the same state. I feel very bad for miscounting, especially that plane. From the stories I have heard, there are some folks on that plane that are deserving of the same acclaim for their selflessness as the NYPD and NYFD.
jeanyu, I am myself using this to help fulfill what I feel is my civic duty in the matter. I do not feel that my business is threatened by it, and the evidence has borne that out. I don't really care how eBay is looking at the situation...to be honest, I hadn't even thought about the possibility of a tax write-off until I started reading all of these vehement threads on AW.
"Does that mean I ask my friends or business associates to donate to the relief cause in my name?"
Neither has eBay...they have just put a program into place that allows people to augment whatever else that they are giving to help those in need. At least that's how I see it...eBay did not twist my arm to join the program, but I welcomed the opportunity.
posted on September 20, 2001 04:54:31 PM new
I am a New Yorker and have some personal knowledge of those lost and those working in the rescue operation. I have cried and I have contributed and I know that lfe here will never be the same. That said I have to
fault EBAY for what they are doing in the name of Patriotism. Life and business should be going back to normal. That is what the Mayor of New York, the Governor of New York and the President of the United State have said. That is not what EBAY has said. They have said that for the next 100 days business cannot be conducted as usual on their site. Many people will be losing their jobs as the domino effect of this disaster begins to take hold. EBAY could and should have been a haven for some of them to make some extra money instead it will just be another disaster arena for them. If EBAY had done this for a two week period I think it would have been a wonderful, thoughtful gesture but what they are demanding at the expense of the sellers that have made them rich for 100 days is unfair and in the end unpatriotic.
posted on September 23, 2001 08:34:27 PM new
I am 15 minutes away from the crash site here in PA and I will NOT be participating in the A4A auctions. I have been, however, doing the following: helping fill up firemen's boots with money, donating each time I see a collection container, shipping CASES of tee shirts directly to those in need, waving my flag proudly, teaching my children about the true sacrifices the men the flight that went down here made, calling in tips as I discover them on the net, making tee shirts for the people who are searching the crash site, praying, and the list goes on .....
If you will notice, none of my contributions involved any scheme to make my company or I look better. None involve anyone's input ... it is about an outpouring of love from Americans to help others.
I am sorry but in this instance eBay is really doing their sellers an injustice. eBay will look good, and sellers who try to feed their families on the sales they make will be footing the bill. I have been reading the discussions here and some of the items have been real eye openers. OK, so eBay will not charge you for a basic listing ... but they will charge you for additional services. You must list the items and pay the shipping. Now I discover that if you sell to someone in your state you must also pay sales tax. To me this whole program is just a logistical nightmare.
Is it about greed? Maybe not ... but it is about Public Relations. Good press ... but at the expense of the very people that built eBay. All this to build Billpoint? When I want to build a particular part of my company, I do it by being better than the competition. Providing better service, better products. I have seen tee shirts that we printed many years ago that are now threadbare ... and yet the print is still bright. That is how you are supposed to build a business, not by using a tragedy to further your goals.
How can eBay justify charging their sellers and yet do not contribute themselves? How many sellers out there are making as much as Meg and Pierre, or for that matter, any of their management staff?
They could easily make a multi-million dollar donation, just as many other companies have done. That is, if they really cared as much as they want people to believe.
Of course, I will say once again, I will take all of this back ... and begin listing on A4A auctions, Billpoint and all, if eBay decides to match seller's donations, even up to a limited amount. Then we will know if their minds are on building their business and Billpoint or the suffering of those innocents who were harmed by this tragedy.
In the meantime, I will continue to fill those firemen's boots and help donate directly to those in need. That is my way ...
God Bless America, and us all. Let's hope we can all get thru the coming months intact.
posted on September 23, 2001 08:49:53 PM new
Funny, I thought this was an open forum where free speech was allowed. If you don't like the carping, moaning, bellyacheing, sniveling, whimpering, grouseing, complaining, whining, mewling, griping, and snarling ad nauseam, feel free not to read it. Some of us are frustrated and disillusioned with Ebay's attempts to exploit a tragic situation for their own gain. We also have a right to express our opinion.
posted on September 23, 2001 08:55:55 PM newIf 1/10th of the energy y'all are expending here having fits and hissies were spent on helping others or even working to improve your auctions / customer service, what an amazing change would be wrought. Think about it.
posted on September 23, 2001 09:25:07 PM new
kristie
Maybe sellers need to get together and rescue their auctions from oblivion. Some on the Ebay discussion forum are listing their auctions with S4S [Sellers 4 Sellers] in the title so sellers can help each other through the lean times ahead. I think it's a good idea.
posted on September 23, 2001 09:48:16 PM new
I'm sorry to report that the confusion continues.
Got the following answers today from sellers whose A4A terms say that the buyer pays S&H and/or can use Paypal, checks, etc.
Seller #1: "you pay the total + S&H to the eBay, we will ship it to you @ our cost"
Seller #2: "I am going to Cancel the auction to Correct a few Errors and Relist later. I will let you know !"
Seller #3: "Yes you can use paypal. I will pay shipping charges. Just go to paypal and pay."
Seller #4: "If you want it insured then you need to pay me through paypal, check or money order $10." [For a 20" fixed-frequency monitor (HEAVY) sent UPS that will be lucky to hit $200]
BTW: Has ebay addressed the insurance options at all?
If you don't agree to a seller's sky-high insurance quote (say, $10 instead of the actual cost of 35 cents), will he still package your widget with loving care?
