Talk:EBay

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/Archive 1: to September, 2005 /Archive 2: Sep, 2005 - Oct, 2006

Contents 1 Info on what I'm adding and why it should stay 2 "Controversies" 3 finally change it to look like eBay 4 Third Party Providers for eBay 5 Unusual items 6 eBay Template 7 eBay Stores 8 Acquisitions & investments 9 Frequency of fraud

[edit] Info on what I'm adding and why it should stay

Ebay is taking the right of having private feedbacks away from sellers as of 10/26. You will not be able to list an item to sell if your feedbacks are private. eBay has not bothered to notifiy sellers of this. The info here: http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200610.shtml#2006-10-02120653

Also many people are complaining to ebay at: http://pages.ebay.com/help/newtoebay/suggest.html

Anomo 19:23, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

• Oh excellent. I always hated the idea that sellers could have secret feedback. If I remember right, the "private feedback" policy started when it was eBay's policy that feedback could never be removed. I do wonder how you can say "without notifying sellers", though, since today is October 5th, it takes effect on the 26th, and you linked us to exactly where they are giving such notice. Further, I don't see in what way it is a "controversy" -- at least, your edit doesn't explain it. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 19:37, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Before, people had a choice whether to user private feedback and sell from private feedback and negs still show up as a number and percentage, but eBay takes away that choice. Anomo 04:33, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes, and it what way is it a controversy? Got a reliable source describing it as a controversy, so we can properly characterize it as such? --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 05:44, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Controversies"

Couple of comments about the "Other controversies" section:

1. Why is the Diebenkorn scam an "eBay controversy"? There was no controversy; there was an unethical art dealer committing fraud.
2. Why is PayPal's paying that fine stemming from before eBay acquired them an eBay controversy?
3. Is the Baazee CEO episode still active? What's the status of it? Isn't it more of a general website controversy rather than anything relating to eBay?
4. In what way are the ticket scalping issues controversial?

--jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 20:02, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] finally change it to look like eBay

Link on WP for script: Wikipedia:WikiProject User scripts/Scripts/Edit Top 70.111.218.254 13:33, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Third Party Providers for eBay

A note about the third party providers/auction management software that help automate business on eBay?

Inc: Marketworks Channeladvisor Fruition

to name a few

19/10/2006

[edit] Unusual items

I've tightened up the "unusual items" section, removing those that were only referred to by eBay item numbers (or copies of eBay listings), given that anyone who wants to can post something odd on eBay and then list it here. I've changed the comments so they say that external source for "unusualness" need be provided. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 23:49, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] eBay Template

For anyone who likes to shop at eBay:

{User:Bearly541/Userbox/Ebayaddict}}

Bearly541 03:20, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] eBay Stores

I am new to Wikipedia so please forgive my ignorance.

I have added a new section on eBay Stores.

Does anyone know how I add my cite in the References area? http://www.proimpulse.com/ebay-store-design/ 16:33, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

You don't. Wikipedia doesn't permit self-promotional links. —Bunchofgrapes (talk) 16:36, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

What are all the References at the bottom of the page then? There are several self prmotional links there like 1, 5, 6, links to Auction Guild, etc.

Did I miss something?http://www.proimpulse.com/ebay-store-design/ 17:05, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

How are those self-promotional? Some of those may be a little sketchy as good sources, but they aren't blatently promotional. Take #6; it's a reference to an article in the International Herald Tribune; a well-known newspaper. Please read Wikipedia:Reliable Sources for what sort of content is allowable in the References section. And read Wikipedia:External Links for more advice about not linking to a web page under your control. —Bunchofgrapes (talk) 19:31, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

Thank you! I understand now about References and Wikipedia:External Links. I wanted to link to a page on my site that is directly related to eBay Stores and the design of them (eBay Radio even interviewed us on this).

Thanks again! http://www.proimpulse.com/ebay-store-design/ 20:07, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

Such a link would be in violation of the external link policy. Please stop adding it. --ZimZalaBim (talk) 20:22, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Acquisitions & investments

Under Acquisitions & investments, there needs to be some sort of edit to the statement "ebay aqcuired kruse auctions."

There needs to be grammar check, and information on when the aquisition occured. -(Theemojesus 20:39, 30 November 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Frequency of fraud

During I think it was about 2003, a new MMORPG, Eve-Online, started.

I spent about six months playing, during which time I learned how to make a lot of in-game currency, which I was then selling on ebay.

A small number of other people were also engaged in this activity, and we got an idea of who was who through the ebay listings.

We found that fraudenlent buyers were a *major* problem. Buyers would pay with stolen credit cards and it would only be later that the payment would be recognized as fraudent. With Paypal in particular this was a major problem, since Paypal then billed the seller for the fraudent payment and because Paypal exlude virtual goods from their insurance programme. With other forms of payment (Western Union on-line money transfers, for example) this wasn't a problem because WU would honour the payment once it was made.

As a result, I began to track *all* the sales of ISK (the in-game currency) for a period of about two months.

It turned out to be very easy to spot a fraudent buyer. They would bid over the going rate and they would often bid on many auctions concurrently. This was of course because they weren't spending their own money and because they wanted to get as much ISK as possible before the card was detected as invalid.

There was only *one* case of a more sophisticated fraud, who built up a +5 reputation before going on a fraud spree. He did well, because ebay at that time only showed the current rating, which for him of course was only going down by -1 each time someone gave a negative feedback that he'd defrauded them. (From that episode, I learned to always check the full user history).

What I found was that about *HALF* of all bidders were fraudulent.

I emailed one seller who lost the equivelent of 3000 dollars of in-game currency.

I think this information is quite interesting and I wish/intend to add it to the Ebay page.

Any comments/suggestions?

Toby Douglass 18:25, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

Comment: It isn't interesting. Suggestion: Don't add it. KarlBunker 18:37, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

I think it's interesting, but it most definitely will get shot down as original research. Gzuckier 20:32, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

If I write up the work, can I not refer to it from the Wiki? Toby Douglass 13:09, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

No. It's original research, and you don't get to insert it into Wikipedia either directly or by reference. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 14:15, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm offended by your tone. I have no ulterior motive to "get it into the Wiki". Fraud is an issue with on-line auctions and objective statistical information is useful - and THAT is why I've been prepared to do the work necessary to write the work up and publish it. Toby Douglass 22:20, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

Sorry if you're offended. One of Wikipedia's official policies is no original research. Of course fraud is an issue, and of course objective information is useful -- but Wikipedia doesn't allow you to include your own research. On the other hand, if you publish it and it's deemed a reliable source, another editor may choose to use it (and you can recommend they do so here on this page.) --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 23:42, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

That's cool - I was wondering if I could write it up and then add it in. I'll get it done, then put a pointer to it here, you guys can review it and add it if it's acceptable or give me feedback if it is not. Toby Douglass 13:23, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Great! I look forward to seeing it. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 15:48, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Despite my comment above, I think this would be extremely interesting--to fans of this particular type of game who sell or have considered selling their in-game currency currency on eBay. To the rest of the world? To eBay users in general? to WP readers interested in eBay? Not so much. In the first place, your research only covers this one type of eBay user, and in the second place, the only real lesson from your research is: "exercise a little caution if you're selling an item that appeals to teens and children." KarlBunker 22:36, 8 December 2006 (UTC)