N E Buddie

Detroit is Hemorrhaging

Standardization of parts was the key to success for our WWII Jeep and for VW after the war.
Small and affordable with new styling built the Japanese market in the sixties.
It is completely obvious what is next for the US.
It will happen because we cant afford to import.
It will happen because we cant afford the gas.
It will happen because we cant afford the labor.
Thats right folks, the new ultra light carbon fiber/solar John Deere commuter lawn mower/tractor.

Detroit is Hemorrhaging

Standardization of parts was the key to success for our WWII Jeep and for VW after the war.
Small and affordable with new styling built the Japanese market in the sixties.
It is completely obvious what is next for the US.
It will happen because we cant afford to import.
It will happen because we cant afford the gas.
It will happen because we cant afford the labor.
Thats right folks, the new ultra light carbon fiber/solar John Deere commuter lawn mower/tractor.

Detroit is Hemorrhaging

Standardization of parts was the key to success for our WWII Jeep and for VW after the war.
Small and affordable with new styling built the Japanese market in the sixties.
It is completely obvious what is next for the US.
It will happen because we cant afford to import.
It will happen because we cant afford the gas.
It will happen because we cant afford the labor.
Thats right folks, the new ultra light carbon fiber/solar John Deere commuter lawn mower/tractor.

Insights from a Derivatives Salesman

The only way to assess MBS risk is to know the parties and influences on the values of the properties DIRECTLY. There is no moving or flowing formula for doing this accurately. The present systems don't change with local markets and factors such as storms, toxic spills, local economies, earthquakes, tax structures, building/construction methods and materials, crime data, etc...
Bundling of mortgages and reselling to another party is foolish and should be banned.
Period, end of subject.

A Stockholder, and Merchant, Loses Confidence in eBay

Very serious problems mount at eBay with Paypal support - false Item Not Received disputes and Not as Described claims, and now the silencing of the seller in feedback.
Is there a rabbit in eBays hat? Is this a marketing or business arrangement experiment, or is this a very disturbing and sinister version of company value manipulation? Is there going to be yet another secretary document shredding investigation?
It may appear suspicious that eBay would form a business arrangement with Buy.com at the same time as the implementation of the controversial reputation and revenue damaging feedback policies.
Whether or not management is "padding the numbers", (with questionable Buy listings and others), in a veiled attempt to keep up appearances, allowing time for new empowered buyers to gather is debatable. Whether or not there is a solid case against eBay for the Better Business Bureau, the FTC, the SEC, the Attorney General or a class action lawsuit, or even a criminal prosecution is a matter to be very seriously pondered. Whether or not John Donohoe will ever face justice, whether or not these policies constitute a criminal act, whether anyone is liable for irreparable harm is yet to be determined.
Seemingly beyond an attempt to "cook the books", these combined policy decisions may appear to be the opposite of a "pump and dump" investment scheme, - a "bear attack"- (an attempt to drive down the value of company stock,) and bears close scrutiny.
If this is not a clumsily masterminded conspiracy, or misleading and deceptive practices, or some attempt to monopolize certain category sales for under the table profit, then what is it?
Is leadership on the line with an attempt to defraud investors while the company poses to repurchase an announced 1.9 billion dollars worth of company stock, and is this going to become headline news?
If there comes an announcement at the Live! convention of the cancellation of the questionable Buy.com agreement, if there is a sudden rollback of the feedback policies all this will just be coincidence and management comes out smelling like a rose, right?
Wrong.
When the gavel drops, company reputation, member trust and potential revenue have been wasted. The rising global flood of competition grows, steadily eroding this pathetic sand castle.
Obviously at the very least, these decisions will be the focus of investigation and study by students of economics and law, by business law specialists and by media now and for many years to come.
Until proper member safeguards are adopted, from the perspective of countless users, eBay company reputation is no better than that of their worst member.

eBay: Not Everything Needs to Be Auctioned

Compared to fixed price format sales, auctions are nearly as exciting as gambling and are more fair, at least when properly regulated.
The online auction site eBay should do more to protect its members from the abuses of a one-way "feedback" system where buyers can blackmail sellers and unscrupulous Paypal users can claim "item not received" and receive a refund without proper investigation.
Member history can easily be developed with the use of a fair "transaction rating system". US government agencies use similar systems. Buyer and seller performance levels should be as visible as the hood ornament on your car.
A secure and safe online marketplace would be universally welcomed.