Tag: Ina Steiner

AuctionBytes Conducts Online Shopping Survey

On December 24, 2007

AuctionBytes.com, one of my favorite ecommerce news sources, is conducting another survey to study online shopping behavior. The survey explores a number of areas that are important for small business ecommerce merchants to fully understand about their customers. If you have a few extra minutes, I encourage you to complete this survey. Ina Steiner, the editor, will publish the survey results in a few weeks, and I will make sure to share with you as well.

You can complete the survey here >> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=vX4t6OvcNW0_2fO8NFL8pFuA_3d_3d

Antitrust Lawsuit Filed against eBay over PayPal, Payments Policies

By golf

On April 12, 2007

In eBay, PayPal, Web/Tech

AuctionBytes’ Ina Steiner reported this week that an anti-trust lawsuit was recently filed against eBay.

‘Michael Malone filed an antitrust class-action lawsuit against eBay this week under the Sherman Act, alleging eBay "utilizes its nationwide monopoly of the on-line auction market to monopolize the available forms of payment that sellers can use on eBay." eBay controls which payment methods sellers may advertise in their listings, and this year, it eliminated buyer-protection for non-PayPal transactions. eBay owns the PayPal payment service.’

The article also references the old conflict between PayPal and eBay. Before eBay purchased PayPal, PayPal’s management team prepared an anti-trust lawsuit against eBay and threatened to pursue the action. Ultimately, PayPal did not file the anti-trust lawsuit, but it is ironic given the current lawsuit’s claims.

Very interesting stuff. We will have to keep an eye on how this develops.