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Auctionbytes-Update, Number 160 - February 05, 2006 - ISSN 1528-6703     Contents | Next Story
	From the Editor By Ina Steiner AuctionBytes.com February 05, 2006 Reading AuctionBytes: From the Editor
I strongly urge all eBay sellers to check their templates to make sure your listings comply with eBay's new Safe Payments policy. Apparently some people are reporting auctions that contain references to BidPay to eBay - and eBay is pulling those listings down (http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y06/m02/i02/s01). By doing so without giving sellers a warning (BidPay was initially an accepted method according to eBay's own policy), it seems to me eBay is accomplishing the following: Losing sales by removing listings Making potential buyers suspicious of legitimate-looking eBay listings Making sellers upset The enforcement is also making small sellers question the "Level Playing Field" famously touted by eBay - accusations are already flying that eBay is giving special treatment to one well known, high-feedback eBay seller who still has BidPay and Cash listed as accepted methods of payment in their listings. Whether it makes good business sense for eBay or not, the reality is, sellers need to take a hard look at their listings and terms of service to make sure they are not violating any of eBay's policies. Other new policies include "Item Location Misrepresentation" (http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200602031447062.html) and a new addition to the Keyword Spamming policy (http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200601261508202.html). In a recent announcement on eBay's message board, eBay noted it now has over 150 policies. The post, called "New Consequences and Other Policy Management Progress," is required reading (http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200601261616502.html). In case you didn't see it, the New York Times wrote an article about counterfeit items and mentioned the Tiffany lawsuit against eBay (http://digbig.com/4gehk). The article got much play in the media as reporters wondered if eBay will have to change its business model to police its website (as opposed to eBay's argument that it is "a venue only"). I was a guest on a CNBC segment with an eBay user, Carrie Pollack, talking about the issue with Maria Bartiromo. (David thought it was funny that she called me "Ira" twice during the segment.) You can view the video on AuctionBytes.TV by clicking on the link: http://digbig.com/4gegn. In this issue we're publishing the results of the January online payment survey. It probably won't be surprising that PayPal is the overwhelming choice of online payment by respondents. We also have lots of interesting letters from readers today filled with information and opinions, including a warning about the "Yellow Button" emails, so be sure to check them out at http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y206/m02/abu0160/s06. Thanks for reading.