During his misspent youth, Jake’s PayPal account was frozen. He tells Consumerist that it was due to “suspicious activity” that he knew nothing about and that Paypal/eBay never identified. He was never able to prove his identity to their satisfaction, and PayPal apparently didn’t want a no-good ruffian like him as a customer. Even if they never told him what it was he did that was no good. Half a decade later, as a responsible adult with a real job and a good credit score, he bought something on eBay and set up a new PayPal account to pay for it. Not so fast, Jake! They shut down this account, too, and blocked his credit cards from use on eBay…and still won’t tell him why. [More]
Judge Allows Payment Monopoly Lawsuit Against eBay/PayPal To Proceed
By June 1, 2012
When you go to the eBay Seller Information Center section about how to accept payments, there is no mention of any other payment service than PayPal, which as you likely know, is owned by eBay. This oh-so-close relationship is at the core of a lawsuit against the online auction site. [More]
Couple Faces $700 Tab For Listing Copy Of Rosetta Stone They Didn't Know Was Pirated
By May 21, 2012
A Washington state couple thought that when they found a copy of the pricey Rosetta Stone language-instruction software in their late nephew’s belongings, they could sell it on eBay to help pay for his headstone. Instead, they are now being told they owe hundreds of dollars to the software company because the copy they listed is allegedly pirated. [More]
Fraudulent eBay Buyer Leaves You Minus $1000 And A MacBook Pro
By May 21, 2012
Earlier this month, Jacob sold a MacBook Pro on eBay. His buyer appeared to be in Australia, but contacted him after payment and asked to have the computer shipped to Indonesia. Since he’s both a Consumerist reader and a person with a functioning brain, Jacob was wary of this change, suspecting some kind of fraud. He called up eBay to see what he should do. The customer service representative told him that he needed to mail the laptop, or it would negatively affect his seller account. So he sent it along, then heard from eBay less than 24 hours later that the buyer’s account had been compromised. You don’t say! Now Jacob is out both a laptop and the $1,023.74 payment. [More]
Invoking eBay Buyer Protection? Don't Use Multiple Accounts
By May 10, 2012
Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea for De to purchase a diamond ring over eBay. But the site does have protections for buyers, and is notorious for siding with buyers in the case of a dispute. Just not in his case. Even though he got to deal with one of the rarest of beasts: an actual eBay employee over the phone, asking questions about the item using one eBay account and then using another to make the purchase was too much for eBay to understand. [More]
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over eBay's Automatic Bidding System
By May 9, 2012
Back in January, we told you about the eBay seller who had filed a lawsuit alleging the auction website’s automatic bidding system was preventing sellers from getting the maximum amount a bidder would have been willing to pay. But earlier this week, a judge dismissed the proposed class-action suit. [More]
Another Seller Swears Off eBay Forever
By May 2, 2012
There was a time, around approximately 2001, when eBay was a global marketplace where you could easily and efficiently unload items with any market value that you wanted to get rid of. Now, it’s more of a global flea market full of scams and villainy. eBay and its old accomplice, the U.S. Postal Service, worked together to make Keith’s old iPhone disappear into the ether. [More]
eBay Says Selling Download Codes Is Copyright Infringement
By April 18, 2012
Stephen buys Blu-rays, but has no use for the free Ultraviolet download codes that come with the discs. So he turns around and sells them on eBay, because, hey, money! Only eBay shut down his last auction, claiming copyright infringement. Copyright infringement? In our brave new world, just because you purchased something and are holding it in your hand, that doesn’t mean you can sell it. Apparently. [More]
Please Join Us In Welcoming Your Worst Company In America 2012 Sweet 16!
By March 21, 2012
The floor of the Worst Company In America BattleDome is stained with the blood of the vanquished. But only one company can earn the privilege of placing the WCIA Golden Poo in its trophy case, so the violence must continue. [More]
EBay Dubs Booze "Incidental Contents" If You're Selling Collectible Containers
By March 14, 2012
Hello, officer! Why yes, this is a jug of moonshine, but that’s not booze inside. It’s “incidental contents.” That’s what eBay calls liquor if you’re trying to sell it,¬†but don’t try auctioning off that pack of wine coolers you bought while drunk last week. There’s an important disclaimer you’ve got to include if you’re shilling booze — er, incidental contents. [More]
Here It Is, Your Lineup For Worst Company In America 2012!
By March 12, 2012
Welcome to Consumerist’s 7th Annual Worst Company In America tournament, where the businesses you nominated face off for a title that none of them will publicly admit to wanting — but which all of them try their hardest to earn. So it’s time to fill in the brackets and start another office pool. That is, unless you work at one of the 32 companies competing in the tournament. [More]
Should I Accept $10 From eBay Seller To Remove Negative Feedback?
By March 8, 2012
Consumerist reader Ed recently had a rather unpleasant experience with a merchant on eBay, so he did what many of us would do — he posted a negative review detailing his problems. But then the seller reached out to him with a proposition. [More]
How I Lost $470 To A Vindictive, Abusive, Extortionist eBay Buyer
By February 9, 2012
Justin used to sell on eBay until policy changes made it a more favorable marketplace for buyers than for sellers. But he still has his account and a good feedback rating, so he’s helping a friend sell off some gold coins worth a few hundred bucks each. They’re shipped UPS with signature confirmation and full insurance. The coin itself goes inside a plain envelope, placed inside a sealed cardboard UPS document mailer. This plan worked for 25 shipments, until the buyer from hell wandered into Justin’s life. [More]
21 CEOs Who Floated Away On Golden Parachutes Worth More Than $100 Million
By January 27, 2012
Being the CEO of a multibillion-dollar global corporation is tough work. Or at least it had better be, considering the amount of money some of these folks were paid just to quit. [More]
Seller Sues eBay Because Bidders Don't Always Pay The Maximum
By January 5, 2012
We’re sure that any number of you have set up automatic bidding on an eBay auction and ended up winning an item without getting anywhere near the maximum you’d have been willing to pay. But one seller on the auction site thinks eBay’s automated bidding system is unfairly biased in favor of buyers and has filed a lawsuit. [More]
PayPal Throwing Its Hat In The Online Daily Coupon Ring
By December 14, 2011
PayPal is planning its own daily deal program in the U.S., joining the already crowded online arena where Groupon and LivingSocial are currently duking it out to offer the best discount. It’s all about options, these days. [More]
Shoppers Buy Goods Online At Physical eBay Pop-Up Store In London
By December 5, 2011
Now that many us shop online for holiday presents, you might be feeling nostalgic for the feel of a physical store, or at least that’s what eBay seemed to think when they put up a Christmas boutique pop-up store in London last week. [More]
Visa Launching PayPal-Like V.me Service Next Year
By November 17, 2011
Visa will roll out its V.me online payment service early next year. The company, which announced plans for the service in March, has also launched a developer program to help merchants incorporate its payment systems into their web sites and other products. [More]
