Psst! Want to buy a submarine?

“It’s not every day you can bid for a 2,000 tonne submarine online, but that’s what it’s come down to. The HMAS Otama, the last Oberon submarine built for the Australian Navy has been sitting, rusting in Western Port Bay for six years. There were celebrations in 2002 when a small group of volunteers won the sought after tender with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Federal Government’s Federation Fund. But the money is running out and the foreshore they have tried to put it on has become or is environmentally protected.“
Wednesday, 24 November, 2008: ABC Stateline

Western Port Oberon Association Peter Spyker said selling the submarine on eBay was a serious proposition, not a publicity stunt. “We are testing the waters at this stage,” he said. “We will see what the response is.
“We need some assistance in finding a permanent site – and we are happy to receive offers.”
– Is eBay the answer for Hastings’ sub (2008-Dec-04) [Hastings Leader]

Hastings Maritime Museum – Otama
http://www.otama.com.au/

eBay still forcing PayPal

“While we disagree with the ACCC’s draft notice, we have decided to withdraw the notification to stop any further confusion and disruption among the eBay community,” Mr Smith said. (eBay Australia head Simon Smith) [1]

So how does Mr Smith explain eBay’s actions in the auctions?

… Although eBay yesterday backed down on plans to lock out paying by money order, direct bank deposits and cheques, it has not rolled back a recent policy forcing all sellers to at least offer PayPal as one of the payment options.
Sellers are reporting that eBay is systematically deleting auction listings from sellers who state in their item descriptions that they “prefer” to be paid with non-PayPal methods, such as bank deposit. … [2]

Because it’s all about the security for the customers, not about how far eBay has their snout in the trough.

… On eBay’s website, much of the written material conveys the message that payment methods other than PayPal are not safe and do not have appropriate fraud protections.
But the ACCC wrote in a draft notice on the issue last month: “The evidence available does not support the view that PayPal is the most secure method of payment or offers the best service for all transactions.” … [2]

It looks like it is time for the ACCC to use a bigger stick!

[1] eBay scuttles PayPal plan (2008-Jul-04) [The Australian]
[2] eBay still ‘forcing’ sellers to use PayPal (2008-Jul-04) [SMH]
[3] eBay continues PayPal forcing (2008-Jul-04) [MashUp]

Time to give up on ebay.au ?

In a great example of how to win friends and influence people eBay Australia is moving ahead with the rort to force all Australian eBay transactions via their PayPal service.

My way or the highway, says eBay [1]
Fran Foo | June 18, 2008 [The Australian]

EBAY Australia has fired off a strongly worded letter to its 5 million customers, warning that failure to comply with its new PayPal ruling will result in an immediate removal of product listings.

This is the strongest sign yet that nothing will stop plans to make PayPal, an eBay subsidiary, the only electronic payment mechanism available on the auction website.

Members received the email late yesterday, with a firm statement that come July 15, PayPal and cash on delivery will be the only payment modes on eBay’s website.

“As previously communicated, any listings that do not comply with eBay’s Accepted Payments Policy will be removed,” eBay said. (…)

This is despite the ACCC making a reasonably strong comment on the matter;

“The ACCC is concerned that the notified conduct will allow eBay to use its market power in the supply of online marketplaces to substantially lessen competition in the market in which PayPal operates,” ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today. [2]

In the ASIC submission to the ACCC, it is listed that PayPal was the only payment service in Australia that refused to sign the Electronic Funds Transfer Code of Conduct. So much for safer financial transactions!

EBay said the ACCC’s decision “undermines online consumer protection,” but at the same time, the company fully admits it wouldn’t try anything like that in the U.S. — possibly because of regulatory concerns, but more likely because it wants to avoid lawsuits from competitors and customers.
“In the US, we are not mulling, planning, or otherwise seriously considering a move to PayPal-only. There are US market-specific reasons why PayPal-only is something we simply cannot do in the US,” said spokesman Usher Lieberman in a blog post. [3]

The death-knell prepares to ring, and I’m hitting the highway.

[1] My way or the highway, says eBay (2008-Jun-18 ) [The Australian]
[2] ACCC proposes to revoke immunity for eBay’s PayPal only policy (2008-Jun-12) [ACCC]
[3] Amazon, EBay Test Legal Waters Overseas (2008-Jun-17) [Wired]