Ebay losing money...
- Thread starter baz
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kwelz
Member
As much as I would like to agree with you and say tjat shutting out gunnies is part of the problem, I don't think it is. We don't make up a large enough group in the grand scheme of ebays Business.
Car Knocker
Member
Concur.
MinnMooney
Member
I agree that eBay isn't bemoaning the loss of a bunch of reloaders, gun part buyers and the like. Our % of their business is pretty small.
I'm hoping that all retail marketers of sporting equipment like D&R Sports, MidwayUSA, Midsouth Shooters Supply etc. do not sell anything on eBay.... if they ever did.
I'm hoping that all retail marketers of sporting equipment like D&R Sports, MidwayUSA, Midsouth Shooters Supply etc. do not sell anything on eBay.... if they ever did.
saltpepperPA
Member
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- Sep 11, 2007
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- 60
I don't think they're loosing to much sleep over it... on the other hand, it's given a lot of other sites like gunsamerica a chance.
Since eBay earned almost $6Billion in 2006 and is sitting on $3.5Billion in cash, don't hold your breath.
I will continue to use eBay because it allows me to find and purchase items which wouldn't otherwise be available to me. The largest item I have ever purchased on eBay was an automobile. My guns, parts and ammo purchases have typically have gone to direct dealers anyway, in fact I think this will help online gun auction sites like www.gunbroker.com and www.auctionarms.com. This will also help keep down costs for me because naive people on eBay always had a habit of bidding-up gun parts beyond their value.
I will continue to use eBay because it allows me to find and purchase items which wouldn't otherwise be available to me. The largest item I have ever purchased on eBay was an automobile. My guns, parts and ammo purchases have typically have gone to direct dealers anyway, in fact I think this will help online gun auction sites like www.gunbroker.com and www.auctionarms.com. This will also help keep down costs for me because naive people on eBay always had a habit of bidding-up gun parts beyond their value.
did you know....
Ebay also owns paypal? just thought I'd ask.
we didn't do enough business at 40 cents an auction for anyone to care at all, whatsoever, about the amount of business done on ebay.
They thrive on economic downturns, like the one we're aiming for in the next year or so, so ebay will continue to thrive. I'm happy to see it, they think they're being responsible by shutting down gun owners? that's fine, and I'd rather work for Ebay than Enron... *clears throat* at least ebay's trying to keep it honest.
Ebay also owns paypal? just thought I'd ask.
we didn't do enough business at 40 cents an auction for anyone to care at all, whatsoever, about the amount of business done on ebay.
They thrive on economic downturns, like the one we're aiming for in the next year or so, so ebay will continue to thrive. I'm happy to see it, they think they're being responsible by shutting down gun owners? that's fine, and I'd rather work for Ebay than Enron... *clears throat* at least ebay's trying to keep it honest.
hexidismal
Member
I very much doubt they are losing anything. Actually, consider how much more support they are probably rallying from big business, hollywood, etc., and rest of the anti-gun mass media in general.
model 649
Member
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- Mar 16, 2005
- Messages
- 544
Looks like they still allow reloading equipment:
http://search.ebay.com/reloading-equipment_W0QQssPageNameZWLRS
Josh
http://search.ebay.com/reloading-equipment_W0QQssPageNameZWLRS
Josh
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I canceled my eBay & PayPal accounts a couple months ago when they announced further gun parts bans, and sent them protest emails explaning why.
Their BOT read them, and their BOT sent me form letter emails thanking me, and wanting to know if they could be of any further help in the future!
I don't think they give a Rats Patootie!
rcmodel
Their BOT read them, and their BOT sent me form letter emails thanking me, and wanting to know if they could be of any further help in the future!
I don't think they give a Rats Patootie!
rcmodel
Bruce333
Member
They don't miss our business at all.
Ebay isn't losing money...their stock is up .64 as of 4pm today...been a steady trend up all month. That impairment charge mentioned in the article is an accounting adjustment related to their acquisition of Skype.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_hi_te/ebay_skype_17;_ylt=A0geu1J6XAFHB1EAqAIAAAAA
an Olympic size pool.Kentak said:
Ebay isn't losing money...their stock is up .64 as of 4pm today...been a steady trend up all month. That impairment charge mentioned in the article is an accounting adjustment related to their acquisition of Skype.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_hi_te/ebay_skype_17;_ylt=A0geu1J6XAFHB1EAqAIAAAAA
Mojo-jo-jo
Member
As much as it is painful to admit:
1. Gun parts/reloading components was a drop in the bucket to ebay. They are probably better off financially without the bad press from the sham media that selling gun parts got them. Serious gun-rights defenders are probably only about 10% of the population anyway and my guess would be less than 1% of ebay users. I'm sure ebay did a cost-benefit analysis before the policy change and they went with the better bottom line. In actuality, the prices on gun stuff (with the exception of brass) weren't especially good anyway--I could order the same stuff for maybe a dollar or two more, and frequently less, from elsewhere. They were just convenient as it was easy to search.
2. I'm basically stuck using ebay for other things, especially unusual or outdated computer parts. I recently bought a system watchdog board for about $10 used on ebay. The same item would cost me about $200 from the manufacturer. Some other equipment I service requires old proprietary parts. Where else can I get a network card that hasn't been made since 1995, especially for $5 or less? I simply can't justify the expenses it would cost me to stop using ebay, anti-gun or not. It's an unfortunate part of doing business.
1. Gun parts/reloading components was a drop in the bucket to ebay. They are probably better off financially without the bad press from the sham media that selling gun parts got them. Serious gun-rights defenders are probably only about 10% of the population anyway and my guess would be less than 1% of ebay users. I'm sure ebay did a cost-benefit analysis before the policy change and they went with the better bottom line. In actuality, the prices on gun stuff (with the exception of brass) weren't especially good anyway--I could order the same stuff for maybe a dollar or two more, and frequently less, from elsewhere. They were just convenient as it was easy to search.
2. I'm basically stuck using ebay for other things, especially unusual or outdated computer parts. I recently bought a system watchdog board for about $10 used on ebay. The same item would cost me about $200 from the manufacturer. Some other equipment I service requires old proprietary parts. Where else can I get a network card that hasn't been made since 1995, especially for $5 or less? I simply can't justify the expenses it would cost me to stop using ebay, anti-gun or not. It's an unfortunate part of doing business.
bogie
Member
Allowing sales of gun parts/ammo components probably COST them more than it made them. As it is, I'm guessing that they've likely got at least 2-3 employees vetting the listings and transactions.
I've got some shooting rests, t-shirts and stuff on the 'bay right now... It's Bogie's Bizarre... If you haven't noticed, if you put a listing up in firearms areas, it takes a while to be visible... That's because they've got folks actually checking them for stuff that can potentially get them in trouble.
Think of it this way. If a state bans something, and someone orders it off the 'bay, and commits a crime, they just lost EVERY bit of profit from their firearms area when someone from the state either charges them with bad interstate commerce or just sues them.
I've got some shooting rests, t-shirts and stuff on the 'bay right now... It's Bogie's Bizarre... If you haven't noticed, if you put a listing up in firearms areas, it takes a while to be visible... That's because they've got folks actually checking them for stuff that can potentially get them in trouble.
Think of it this way. If a state bans something, and someone orders it off the 'bay, and commits a crime, they just lost EVERY bit of profit from their firearms area when someone from the state either charges them with bad interstate commerce or just sues them.
The only people it hurt were the traders that were selling Brass!! the guy I
buy brass from had 1200 positive feedback's and is a Disabled Vet EBay didn't
even Give him (90 day) notice just sent him a Email telling him he could no
longer sell reloading brass ! he told me that there were about 500 guys selling
brass full time. But eBay had a Deal with Hollywood to sell there Props !! and
the Props made more money for Ebay..I still look from time to time but Ebay
will not get another Penney from ME !! Echo out.....
buy brass from had 1200 positive feedback's and is a Disabled Vet EBay didn't
even Give him (90 day) notice just sent him a Email telling him he could no
longer sell reloading brass ! he told me that there were about 500 guys selling
brass full time. But eBay had a Deal with Hollywood to sell there Props !! and
the Props made more money for Ebay..I still look from time to time but Ebay
will not get another Penney from ME !! Echo out.....
What are you trying to say? That Hollywood is selling reloading brass as props and not letting the vet?
Or that Hollywood is selling props that makes big money for eBay and Hollywood wants eBay to stop selling firearm accessories and parts?
Both scenarios are absurd.
zxcvbob
Member
I'm pretty sure whatever revenue they are losing from this, they don't care. It's a small price to pay for their sense of smugness, and may even add to the self-satisfaction.
Bob
--
"It's for the children"
Bob
--
"It's for the children"
Outlaws
Member
I got an email from eBay a solid month before they stopped that said those items were going to be restricted. If you want to bash eBay fine, but that is his fault he doesn't read his email.
bogie
Member
Guys. I don't think they're "anti" per se. I _do_ think that they are RISK AVERSE. They catch flack. They pay lawyers. It's that simple.
Again: It probably costs them MORE THAN THEY ARE MAKING to allow ANY firearms or shooting accessory to be listed and sold. LIGHTEN UP!
Again: It probably costs them MORE THAN THEY ARE MAKING to allow ANY firearms or shooting accessory to be listed and sold. LIGHTEN UP!
The whole point is that they were not assuming any kind of liability - it was pure image P.C. bull!
As for their feeling the pinch from the loss of business - they will only feel it when a true competitor emerges which will eventually happen. Hopefully sooner. Go Google auctions!
Scott
Nathanael_Greene
Member
I've been active on Ebay for nearly ten years, and I've seen it degenerate from a pretty cool thing to becoming a magnet for thieves and hustlers of every imaginable kind.
To me, that's going to be Ebay's eventual undoing. It's a shame, too, because up until about 2001 it really was a great way to do business with people. It was my first resort for finding all kinds of great stuff.
But now, prices on a great many items are at retail or above; sellers gouge on shipping to avoid paying listing fees; too many people just plain steal money from buyers. In my first 8 years on Ebay, I never had a problem, but in the last two, I've had money stolen from two vendors.
As for the big Skype writedown, it serves Ebay right. Dabbling in that business was a foolish waste of money and just demonstrates how badly their management has strayed from the core business.
To me, that's going to be Ebay's eventual undoing. It's a shame, too, because up until about 2001 it really was a great way to do business with people. It was my first resort for finding all kinds of great stuff.
But now, prices on a great many items are at retail or above; sellers gouge on shipping to avoid paying listing fees; too many people just plain steal money from buyers. In my first 8 years on Ebay, I never had a problem, but in the last two, I've had money stolen from two vendors.
As for the big Skype writedown, it serves Ebay right. Dabbling in that business was a foolish waste of money and just demonstrates how badly their management has strayed from the core business.
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