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Technology Stocks : eBay - Superb Internet Business Model
EBAY 87.03-0.1%3:59 PM EST

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To: Kenneth M. Koff, CPCU who wrote (3252)5/24/1999 3:28:00 AM
From: KeepItSimple  Read Replies (2) of 7772
 
Excuse me, but why does anyone ever PAY ebay their percentage cut?

I mean, say I want to sell a 3000 dollar computer. I enter in bogus information, except for a free hotmail account.

Now, I run the bid as normal, and someone wins. I simply contact that person and make arrangements for payment. Since EBAY doesnt hold the merchandise in escrow, what can they do? The only info they have on me is a free email account address. Why bother to pay Ebay at all?

Can they sue you?

Isn't this a gaping hole right through the heart of their business plan?

(btw, a friend of mine who uses ebay all the time said that this sort of "never pay Ebay their fee" stuff is now about 85% of total transactions.. The only people who pay the fees anymore are the newbies and the large retail stores selling stuff there. Ebay also, unsurprisingly enough, doesnt break down the "non-paying bid wins in their quarterly statements, as far as I know))
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