eBay and their mounting secrecy...

[StefB]

I've noticed more and more over the years that eBay seem to be 'locking down' what we can and can't see once a listing has ended.

For example, a few years back you could see on a listing who the actual bidders were. I understand on eBay's part why they changed things like that, as it cuts down on trading between members behind eBay's back etc, which meant they were missing out on a cut.

A step change has occurred recently however where 1) they've even stopped stating 'sold' on items, so it's difficult to tell whether a listing has ended naturally with no bids, or if it has sold and 2) where a best offer has been accepted you can no longer see what that acceptable offer was, see - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2711439992...84.m1438.l2649

Both of these, particularly point 2), are total crap in my opinion - why the need for such subterfuge? In their seller tips section (probably also now changed beyond all recognition and reason) eBay always used to suggest checking completed items to see how much similar items have sold for, before pitching in with a starting/reserve/Buy it Now price for your own item. We are now totally prevented from doing anything like that if eBay won't allow users to see what other items have sold for.

I know eBay isn't held in very high esteem on here at the best of times, but it does have its uses and it feels as though they are making it very difficult for sellers nowadays, what with the grotesque final values fees too and the inability to be able to leave negative feedback for piss taking 'buyers'.

[MRLEON83]

Ah, I think they've just hidden some areas, for instance when you are searching for a listing, you select more refinements or 'show only' you then have the option to select completed listings only ... also if you click the image of the completed listing it opens up the full page/description history etc ...

[StefB]

Ah, I think they've just hidden some areas, for instance when you are searching for a listing, you select more refinements or 'show only' you then have the option to select completed listings only ... also if you click the image of the completed listing it opens up the full page/description history etc ...

It does, but in the case of the best offer accepted scenario I see it stil hides the final sale amount :-(

[axisus]

The world absolutely needs a viable rival to eBay, with no competition we are all stuffed. We need a massive company like Microsoft to throw their weight behind it.

[Viz]

I know it's not an auction site but can't believe the monopolies commission allowed ebay's purchase of gumtree to go through.

[Fusionista]

I know it's not an auction site but can't believe the monopolies commission allowed ebay's purchase of gumtree to go through.

As an EBay 'member' of a decade's standing, I am very appreciative of what they have brought to the second-hand marketplace. They are the "Online Exchange & Mart", the "Amazon of Used", and have all but replaced local newspapers as the medium of choice to buy and sell used articles.

That said they are increasingly falling into the trap of behaving like a monopoly. There is always a 'good reason'. The problem with Gumtree is that it is riddled with fraudsters (that is just too nice a word for the criminal parasites who make a living by ripping off other people). EBay will argue that it will bring its anti-fraud expertise to bear.

The acquisition of PayPal was another such move. In a competitive market, vertical integration should mean that prices come down, not go up. But there are no comparable operators. Unfortunately, Amazon will not step up as trade in used goods cannibalises their retail franchise. I suppose logically they too might become a target for an ever-more powerful and profitable EBay.

Sadly, for an anti-statist like me, it seems inevitable that successful businesses behave in this way, ultimately necessitating some kind of regulation.

[mellowsun]

The barrier to entry for a 'new' ebay is too high, so unless an outfit the size of Facebook, Google, Apple or Microsoft were behind it, there's not much chance of a rival emerging.

What was great about the early days of the web was that if you had a bit of technical expertise, but more importantly, vision, you could set up something, get it up and running and then develop and improve it as the traffic built up. 'If you build it, they will come' was often true, and it didn't need to be too polished to start with.

These days, apart from the big players, everyone starting now is just another also-ran fighting over the long tail.