Patricia013

Cramer's Mad Money - Profits of Doom (6/9/09)

"No action taken (or not taken) by eBay management has anything to do with benefiting or protecting eBay users (buyers or sellers): eBay’s every action (or lack thereof) is purposed solely towards desperately attempting to improve the appearance of eBay’s bottom line by whatever means necessary—undoubtedly more to do with the protecting of executive performance bonuses (or jobs) than with any direct consideration for shareholders—and if at any time there appears to be some benefit to eBay “users”, that will be purely coincidental."

Ebay gains or loses nothing on shill bidders - the item still sells and generally for even more money (and a higher FVF) - they could care less about shillers. Now second chance offers was quite a different story. Ebay users became afraid to use second chance offers - sellers were putting right in their listings that there would be no second chance offers and if a bidder got one it didn't come from him! That is what prompted the hidden bidder ID's. As said above the loss of FVFs on second chance offer is why Ebay came out with hidden IDs and for really no other reason.

As for me falling for one of those scams....no. Yet many people STILL fall for the nigerian scam and look how long thats been around in its various forms. ;-)

Cramer's Mad Money - Profits of Doom (6/9/09)

"Fraudulent SCOs were effectively stopped dead in their tracks by eBay’s blocking of access to users’ direct email addresses."

Told you before, all the phony SCOs I got came right thru Ebay's own message system.

Cramer's Mad Money - Profits of Doom (6/9/09)

Philip - no....they never said that hidden bidder ID's was to protect second chance offers - at least not to my knowledge. As usual they claimed it was for the "bidder's safety". I agree with you that it does improve the environment for shilling - but still state its main use was to save second chance offers. Shill bidding was always there - practically from day one. Ebay generally ignored it but they couldn't ignore the losses being suffered openly by scamming second chance offers. Either way makes sense but you chose to believe it was just to shield schillers. Ebay never thought to shield schillers from the beginning up to the time hidden ID's went into effect ;-)

Cramer's Mad Money - Profits of Doom (6/9/09)

Oh...I forgot to add BOO-YAH!

Cramer's Mad Money - Profits of Doom (6/9/09)

I'd like to know what flavor of Kool Air Cramer is drinking and did they at least send him a case of it for his comments? His turnaround from "that hapless company" to his present take was so quick you would have gotten knocked over by the wind if you were anywhere near him! Sad....very sad because a lot of people buy or sell on what people like him say. Cramer forgets that when Donahoe took over Ebay's stock was at $33.00 a share! You cannot hide the one year decline no matter what Kool Aid flavor you're drinking!

Philip Cohen - you and I basically agree on almost everything Ebay ;-)