Down under, they are concerned with eBay Australia’s requirement that sellers only offer PayPal as a payment processor for their auctions.

eBay Australia Sellers React to PayPal-Only Policy

“eBay Australia made a decision to remove direct deposit, money orders and checks as payment options”

Are eBay Australia’s New Payment Restrictions Fair Trade?

“eBay Australia’s decision to restrict payments for transactions to its own PayPal service has resulted in a hue and cry from buyers and sellers alike”

eBay asks permission from the governing body, the ACCC;

“One day after announcing the policy, eBay filed an exclusive dealing notification with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which administers Australia’s Trade Practices Act 1974 and other acts.”

Ina Steiner offers discussion at the AuctionBytes Blog and there are more than a couple of PO’d folks in the eBay forum.

Somehow, by simple reason, it just doesn’t seem equitable that the company providing the online space for your sales, posting quarterly revenue of $2.19 Billion, ought to reach for more while angering (and harming financially) so many. I would personally hope that the efforts to look into the anti-trust issues were successful. Seeking immunity from prosecution (where have we heard that before?) screams out loud that something is way wrong!

Oh, and make it clear that if this is successful there – it will be implemented here!!!

Post from: EveryJoe

So, You’re Hogtied To One Payment System?

Sellers’ Union & Buyers’ Association Together

“We’ve had enough of eBay, Inc! With the recent fee hikes, we no longer believe that the corporate-run eBay site serves the needs of its users, we who made that site in the first place. However, the eBay Community now has a massive userbase. We must secure the commitment of a critical mass of sellers in order to develop a realistic alternative.

If we can secure the commitment of 10,000 eBay members to migrate to a new site, that will give us the numbers we need to make the move without risking our livelihoods. Run the seller unity badge in your sales, wherever they are! We’ll show FeeBay who really runs that site!”

Seems that many of these folks have been down this road with eBay previously and these new changes have added to the anger felt before. I’d wonder if the new “powers that are,” i.e. John Donahoe et al, gave that consideration when they dreamed these revised terms up?

I think I’d also feel disenfranchised as this person does;

“The REAL issues? FEEDBACK – PayPal’s new (Patriot Act) payment withholding rules.

I don’t know about anyone else, but if buyers can leave me negative feedback, just because they feel like it, completely protected by my inability to respond in kind, AND dispute an item at the same time, causing PayPal to withhold payment to me for up to 21 days, just because they feel like it. If it were an expensive item, it could bankrupt me, JUST ONE!

What reason would a serious business person have to invite that kind of abuse? What kind of businessperson would subject themselves to that kind of danger???”

Comments? Thoughts? Agree or disagree?

Post from: EveryJoe

eBay’s Actions Evoke Strong Emotional Angry Reactions