Ebay - Disaster or Brilliant Move?

Author: jawapro
Date: Thu 17/04/2008 10:10 AM




 

Ok ok - so most of you are probably wanting to see photos of my new house. Well - sorry to disappoint, but you’re still waiting.

Why - well mainly because I’m still unpacking and can’t take good photos yet - all you’d see is piles of boxes. I’ve been pretty busy moving the last bit of stuff from my flat and trying to organize things here. To prove my point - tonight is the first time I’ve had a computer going here. And for those of you who know me - that’s pretty drastic.

The phone got put on today, so the net should follow it as soon as I can organize it. Then you can start to expect regular posts again (including photos).

Anyway - on with the topic of the day.

The great Ebay crisis. Or at least that’s what Today Tonight would have you believe.

You see - Ebay Australia has decided to change their policy. Currently if you sell something, you can choose how you accept payment. There are a few common types - bank deposit, paypal, money order, etc…

Well, starting sometime soonish, ebay is only going to allow paypal and cash-on-delivery.

Now - this has caused a huge amount of anger from a lot of people. Today Tonight ran a story tonight (I finally got my tv set up) basically painting it as a greedy move by ebay - and picking on the ebay representative’s explanation. Almost no mention of the positive side of the argument.

Prices might rise by a tiny amount to cope with the fees paypal charges (2% of the sale price), but personally - I’m all for the move.

I always prefer auctions that offer paypal. If they don’t - I’m less likely to buy from them.

Why?

Its easy - you don’t have to go and load up your internet banking site to do payment - paypal is all integrated.

Its instant. You don’t have to wait a few days for the banks to clear things.

You can pay any currency - it handles it (so I can pay for an auction listed in US$ or British pounds etc).

And best of all - if the item doesn’t turn up, you can contact ebay and they can refund the money (after trying to sort things out first). It works - Dad’s had to do it once.

I love paypal. So personally - I think this is a brilliant move.

I’d be happy to cop the extra 2% for all that.

Bring it on ebay - and Today Tonight’s report was a one-sided farce.

Note: I dont know who the guy in the photo is - it was just a google photo that seemed to fit.




Comments: 10

 

Comment: 1

Author: DarthOblivion
Date: Fri 18/04/2008 07:07 AM




Well, I dont usually buy or sell stuff on ebay, so its all the same to me. But good for all you paypal lovers out there!

 

Comment: 2

Author: mlipsy
Date: Fri 18/04/2008 09:20 AM




That is major good news! Terry and I have had a bit of annoyance trying to deal with the annoying paying stipulations.... Look forward to the reign of Paypal here in Aussie! 

 

Comment: 3

Author: mlipsy
Date: Fri 18/04/2008 09:22 AM




Haha - when I posted my comment I saw a MAC AD for uni students on YOUR PAGE!!! Basically, up through April 18 students who buy a Mac can get a free Ipod Nano... pretty slick sounding, though I haven't checked the conditions....

 

Comment: 4

Author: jawapro
Date: Fri 18/04/2008 09:29 AM




Not reponsible for the ads on my site. A few months back ebay was apparently advertising new and used 'Klutz' on ebay according to the ads.

It's a waste of money to buy a mac just so you can get a nano. Now, if a nano came with a free mac - it might almost be worth considering.

Oh yeah - and its not Ebay.com.au's fault about the pick up only - thats the sellers.

 

Comment: 5

Author: Nifen
Date: Sat 19/04/2008 04:28 PM




SPAM!

I'm thinking about buying my self a Plasma TV. hmmm any thought?

 

Comment: 6

Author: turkeybrain
Date: Sat 19/04/2008 05:16 PM




Pioneer Kuro. No question. Unfortunately they may not be as good as they once were, as Pioneer has recently stopped producing their own panels. Before that, they were the best in colour and picture on the market. If you can get one with a real panel in it, GET IT!!!!!

 

Comment: 7

Author: Nifen
Date: Sun 20/04/2008 12:23 AM




well, i'll post some ones, i'm looking at, and you can let me know what you think. I'm thinking i'll buy in a month, two months the latest.
i'm just looking at getting a stand. i worked out, that time time you buy a BIG normal tv, and a set top box, your probably spending about 700, so i thought that i might as well save a bit more and buy a decent plasma. or LCD. but plasma is meant to be better for watching movies. and i saw pure HD the other day of rush hour 3, and holy crap! it was mostly beautiful! I never thought i'd see an image sooo crystal clear. I didn't give a crap about the movie, just couldn't take my eyes off the quality!

 

Comment: 8

Author: Nifen
Date: Sun 20/04/2008 08:47 PM




well it appears that my friend david is telling me to buy a sony 40" LCD. as for what i want its the best. Soo the sony store in hobart, he went to school with the guy and is going to try and arrange me getting the screen at wholesale prices.

That will be good :)

 

Comment: 9

Author: mlipsy
Date: Mon 21/04/2008 09:06 PM

 

Comment: 10

Author: jawapro
Date: Tue 22/04/2008 11:01 AM




"Pretty Slick Sounding" - doesnt that imply a good deal? Maybe I missunderstood - I'm not that fluent in Yanky-speak.

I was pretty sure you said "Now if only Ebay Australia...." without the people - but maybe I missed that too. Then again - I dont yet take daily backups of my database, so I cant be sure people dont change thier own comments either.

Anyway - regardless... about TVs. As I understand it, LCDs are better than Plasmas to watch in daylight. But if you want to turn off the lights and watch movies in the dark (like they should be watched) then Plasma is better than LCD.