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]
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eBay Says Selling Download Codes Is Copyright Infringement
By 4.18.12
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]
Worst Company In America Round 2: PayPal Vs. Charter
By 3.23.12
It’s the final day of competition in Round Two of Worst Company In America 2012, but there are still an awful lot of awful businesses still waiting to do battle. So let’s get to it and do it, shall we? [More]
Please Join Us In Welcoming Your Worst Company In America 2012 Sweet 16!
By 3.21.12
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 3.14.12
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 3.12.12
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 3.8.12
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 2.9.12
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]
Seller Sues eBay Because Bidders Don't Always Pay The Maximum
By 1.5.12
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]
Retail Websites Admit They Sort Of Encourage Drunk-Buying
By 12.28.11
Alcohol doesn’t make you do anything. But a few glasses of wine sure can quiet that voice in the back of your head that tries to tell you, “We don’t actually need that Tim Tebow Fathead wall sticker,” or whatever regrettable impulse buy you might be on the verge of making. And online retailers admit that those occasional after-work happy hours or the extra couple of drops of vodka in your homemade Bloody Mary that sometimes work out to their benefit. [More]
PayPal Throwing Its Hat In The Online Daily Coupon Ring
By 12.14.11
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]
PayPal Admits Regretsy "Donate Button" Fiasco Should Never Have Happened In The First Place
By 12.7.11
As any regular reader of Consumerist knows, PayPal is a company that’s not exactly known for admitting its many failings. But not only has it opted to release the Regretsy.com funds it had frozen because that site had used a “Donate” PayPal button without being a non-profit charity, it has also confessed that it should not have put that money on lock-down in the first place. [More]
PayPal Bows To Internet Scorn, Agrees To Release Regretsy's Funds
By 12.6.11
Anyone who has followed PayPal’s not-exactly-customer-friendly behavior over the years is likely in for a shock. After previously telling the owner of Regretsy.com that all the money she collected for her Secret Santa campaign had to be refunded because she used a “Donate” button — oh, and freezing her personal PayPal account just for fun — the online payment service has done a complete 180 and now says it will release Regretsy’s funds. [More]
Shoppers Buy Goods Online At Physical eBay Pop-Up Store In London
By 12.5.11
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]
Senators Introduce Bill To Compel Amazon & Others To Collect Sales Tax
By 11.9.11
As has been discussed here on numerous occasions, even though Amazon.com didn’t charge you sales tax on that laptop you purchased, you still may owe it (though very few people ever pay). Thus, once again, a bipartisan group of Senators in D.C. have introduced legislation that would require online retailers to collect sales tax. [More]
Paypal Links Account Missing $2,000 To Yours, Demands You Pay
By 11.3.11
Reader Ben awoke to a rude discovery. Somehow another account had been linked to his Paypal account, and the new account was $2,000 in the red. Paypal was knocking on Ben’s door, telling him to pay up, or else. They locked up his account and froze his cash. When he protested, they treated him like a criminal. [More]
Manufacturers Trying To Stop Sale Of Coupons On eBay
By 10.21.11
If you go to eBay, there are plenty of coupon clippers out there willing to sell you hundreds of already-clipped coupons for only a few bucks. But according to a group representing dozens of the country’s biggest food, pharmaceutical, tobacco and toy makers, it’s a practice that eBay needs to put an end to. [More]
