A challenge to ebay default infor programme
A challenge to ebay default infor programme
About a year ago I took this up with eBay:
" ‘Sigh.’ I am an individual collector of cameras who periodically sells of excess items, not a major retailer of currently manufactured items. All of the camera items I sell are AT LEAST 40 years old and eBay does not have standardised catalogue page descriptions for them. As standardised eBay descriptions for the vintage camera items I sell don’t exist, eBay cannot legally compel me to use a service that it has yet to create!
So eBay’s threats of draconian action such as:
“Make sure your listing follows these guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including restrictions of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.”
- is probably unlawful. I would have to research the relevant statutes regarding consumer rights, retailer’s responsibilities, and the rights of those who subscribe to on-line services in the domiciles eBay is incorporated in.
Further, EBAY DOES NOT OWN ANY STOCK as a regular on-line retail service such as Amazon.com does, so it cannot construct a “catalogue.” eBay is currently an AUCTION services provider. This has important implications for buyers at eBay’s site, as merchantability, fitness for purpose, warranties etc. are not normal in auction environments. Accordingly, I avoid buying new items on eBay, instead using Amazon or another retailer that OWNS the stock and gives the buyer standard consumer rights.
eBay has of late subtly changed the language of it’s communications with buyers, for example: “Your ‘ORDER’ from X for Y...” This is not an ‘order’ in the sense of a normal retail sale, but a winning bid at an auction. To pretend that it is otherwise is misleading and a misrepresentation of the legal situation existing between a seller and buyer at an auction. Is eBay trying to instill in buyers a sense they are using an ordinary retail service like Amazon?
With regard to all the small, irregular sellers of collectable items, like myself, they most certainly are not.
I would like to remind eBay that I am not one of it’s employees. I PAY to use your services. I use eBay because it is a fun way to buy, sell and exchange old items with other enthusiasts worldwide.
The question remains for eBay’s board of directors, are you going to try and turn eBay into a quasi-‘retail’ operation, or remain as an auction services provider?
Regards,
Peter de Waal"
to which eBay replied:
"Hello Peter,
Thank you for contacting the eBay Catalog Support. We would like to kindly ask you to provide us with details about the missing items from our catalog that you are trying to sell. Any information such as Brand, Model, Manufacturer's Part Number and Barcode or ItemID of the listing will be most helpful.
Regarding the other raised concerns and questions, we will escalate your request to our second tier support and inform you on any developments on that matter. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best Regards
Vsevolod Starshov
Catalog Support
Email:
DL-eBay-CatalogSubmission@eBay.com"
In other words: 'we are going to do this, so comply.'
I tried.
