Does eBay Think It Can Resolve Issues by Ignoring Them?
This was not a local station, this was probably the biggest UK news and current affairs station run by the BBC. I listened as they reported the store closures and referenced the troubles eBay has. They then interviewed one of the eBay protest organisers. The interviewer rushed through his list of questions and the, now familiar, mix of issues vibrated from the speaker. Fees up, visibility gone and eBay's poor customer services all got a predictable airing.
Given the BBC does not run any advertising, I heard the names of eBid and Amazon touted as alternative sites for fed up eBay users to try. I had to smile to myself knowing how much such a plug would cost a business on a national commercial station.
But as I became used to the idea that, at last, the mainstream media are waking up to this story, I waited eagerly, expecting to hear a spokesman from eBay confront the issues and defend the policies that precipitated all the unrest. Without time to start recording, I grabbed my notebook and pencil. At last, thanks to the BBC, I was going to get some quotes from eBay.
The BBC, love them or not, are a highly professional media organisation that reach around the globe. On visits to the US, Malaysia, Spain and Greece it was nice to watch their TV News channel piped in to the hotel room. It's a reminder of home when you're travelling and it's a reminder, too, of the influence and reach of the BBC. I take it for granted that when they report on a dispute of any kind you can bet your bottom dollar they will try to offer a view from both sides of any divide. But I waited and waited and there was absolutely nothing whatsoever from eBay during the entire report and interview. Not a single peep from them. I wouldn't be surprised if some listeners were left with the impression eBay was shut until Monday!
I simply cannot believe the BBC didn't invite eBay to participate or comment in some way. It's inconceivable to me. This is the BBC for goodness sake! I can only draw one conclusion from this observation. It appears to me that eBay are deliberately ignoring these protests and the issues being raised.
It seems no matter how loud the peasants riot outside the iron gates, the Lords and Ladies inside have decided these lowly people aren't worthy of recognition by their 'community', and they just carry on eating cake.
I am now convinced eBay is expecting to ride out these protests in the belief they can ignore it long enough for the storm to blow itself out. But whether that proves right or wrong I, for one, am not impressed. I expect better quality customer relations from this size of business and I fear they have completely misjudged the mood of their user 'community'.
How many people, rightly or wrongly, assume a veiled admission of guilt whenever the right to remain silent is used as the sole means of defence?
It was made clear in the BBC interview that the protesters are now cooperating together internationally. Apart from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and even Italy were all mentioned. eBay built their empire from the amazing communication abilities opened up by the Internet. They exploited the dawn of the net age and won big time. But surely they, of all people, should understand the global nature of the web and how easily their customers can talk from one continent to the other now?
I was able to find the protesters direct email address quite easily via eBays own forums. If anyone at eBay wants it then please use the 'contact me' link at the top of this article. I offer this help as I've been told emails sent in to eBay frequently appear to get lost or go unanswered .
There are times when silence can be potentially very destructive. I will sign off this piece with a quote from Winston Churchill; "To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war".
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- The BBC, love them or not, are a highly professional media organisation
- I simply cannot believe the BBC didn't invite eBay to participate
- "To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war".
26 Comments
Post a Commenthi im having probelems with ebay right now, i bid on 14 items and won items ranginf from a dollar to 40.00
turns out the guy selling fake movie props. itell ebay idont with to buy the items because they r fake and i did research adn just because the guys says their acertificate doesnt mean their real,, does anyone know how ican get out of buying with this guy ive sent withdraw forms. this isnt the first time this guys have problems. i read all feedback and theirs so much but so much good feed back that it almost out does the bad. anyone wanna help me out i wrote ebay the dickheads
still investigating it.
I believe the only reason India was given a chance to list cheaply on the U S site is to raise the auction count. The numbers are not good for e bay and I think the quarterly report needed a boost for the stock holders. Once again Ebay has angered the masses just adding fuel to the fire for the U S Sellers. So whats next on the agenda Free listings from China? And a raised listing fee for the U S A Sellers? Meg and Bill need to go!
eBay are not only ignoring the complaints and protests, they're actively doing everything in their power to silence dissenting voices, including imposing permanent bans on sellers who are just a little too angry and who make a little too much sense. Thankfully, many of us have other venues (our own websites, blogs, etc.) on which to speak out. eBay won't be able to keep a lid on this forever, no matter what they do. They've injured and insulted tens of thousands of users (800+ stores lost in Australia, and Australia only has a total national population of around the size of greater London!), then imposed ridiculous bans and restrictions on the same people they insulted and injured. Talk about contempt for your customers! No wonder eBay is full of scams, frauds, and ripoff artists! They don't seem to have a clue about what REAL customer service and honest dealings are!
I think eBay is talking to us with things like the 20cent listing on the US site India. They are telling us loud and clear what they think of us and our outrage.
I used to love selling thru Ebay. But now i just see a greedy company that does not care about its members.
An excellent article Graham. I am becoming fastly disillusioned with eBay and am currently looking elsewhere for a viable place to sell.
Pink Slaps. Trolls. Chinese Flooding. CEO Hatred. Bait & Switch. Lies & Incompetence. Ebay is turning rapidly into a cyberspace cesspool and those in charge are to high and mighty to do any plumbing.
I like so many others fully support the 4 day strike however I would like to see far more listings on venues other than FeeBay, the competition just isn't there YET.
I can't help feeling that those who simply gave up & closed their shops have missed a golden opportunity to rattle FeeBays' cage.
FeeBay cearly have issues with fraudulent members but rather than address the real issues they would rather censor the discussion groups by removing any trace of dissatisfaction & brutally force their way onto others.
FeeBay's top brass don't see a problem with what they're doing, they also underestimate the damage they are causing by what they're NOT doing.
eBay has become associated with fraud, scammers, phishing etc, doesn't this speak volumes about FeeBays' policies.
Type the right word into FeeBays' (advanced search) search engine and you can instantly return over 500,000 listings in breach of FeeBay policy, Why?
A critic of the protest group said "adapt or die
EBAY has now said all that they will to say to their "selling community." They are also ignoring the shareholders they have branded as "dissidents." The entire place now seems to be in the hands of a few highly-skilled lawyers, whose continued failure to "get IT" is going to result in nothing but shareholder and consumer litigation, and intervention by government-regulators. hm
There are groups from the following countries: USA, UK, Canada, Italy, Germany,
Belgium, Finland, Denmark, and many many more, who are slowly finding each other and coming together in the worldwide protest.
UK boycott idea is growing fast, Sept. 15-19, no selling, buying, listing and stores on Vacation Settings. Lets face it, ebay needs new management and they need it soon. The
stockholders are getting nervous and it is beginning to show. The media worldwide is watching. Ebay can spin until they vaporize, some things cannot be hidden. Ebay is mismanaged, beginning to be associated with fraud, failed ventures, scam artists, thieves, malicious hackers and a long, long list of other unsavory things.
For those of us that are saddened by what has happened to ebay, there is some hope. If the stockholders start screaming, current management is toast. If the stock market keeps responding to the worldwide outcry and damaged reputation of ebay, things will change.
No one expects t