eBay's PS3/Wii auction cancellations are a good move
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Oct 14th 2006 at 7:21PM }
San Jose-based eBay angered traders when it cancelled their PS3 auctions this week, and now it looks like they're cancelling Wii sales too.
We feel your pain, greedy bastards console-camping entrepreneurs, but we've got to side with eBay on this one. None of the PS3s or Wiis that were preordered earlier this week were guaranteed for November 17th/19th delivery, and history's taught us that no console launch ever goes exactly according to plan.
This launch season looks no different from other launches for Sony. We've all got ample reason to be skeptical of Sony's ability to deliver plenty of the consoles to North America, given delay upon delay that's plagued the difficult-to-manufacture console. (On the other hand, rumor has it that Nintendo's stockpiling millions of its easy-to-manufacture consoles for the holiday season, but that still doesn't guarantee a trouble-free launch. Truckloads of consoles could go missing, for instance.)
It seems eBay has learned from last year's Xbox 360 launch fiasco in which retail stores that allowed unlimited preorders ultimately delivered far fewer Xbox 360s than customers were expecting. The result? eBay customers paid for items that opportunistic console campers had no chance of delivering in a timely fashion.
Don't hate on eBay. They're just being responsible. If and when you get one of these consoles in your hot little hands, list it then.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
OMAC @ Oct 14th 2006 11:27PM
36. Yes OMAC, but by making you leeches create bidding restirictions we will certainly shorten your profits.
Why do you post here if you're only interested in money?
Sod off back to wherever you came from.
Posted at 9:59PM on Oct 14th 2006 by Vince 1 star
Who said I was only interested in making money? I play games and Joystiq is a gaming website. Figure the rest out for yourself Vince. I got to my local Gametsop at 9:55 AM and was number 8 in line. If people didn't know about the preorder in time that is not my fault. I learned about it right here at Joystiq.com the night before. If people are willing to fork over large amounts of cash then so be it. The demand will cause me to sell. The fact that I bought a PS3 did not cause a shortage. I plan on playing it if it doesn't sell. I figure I won't sell if the demand is under $1000.
Also, I am not going to make the decision to sell until I actually have it in hand. It all depends on the going price of the PS3 when I acquire it. Would any of you turn down $1400 of free money if it meant not playing the PS3 for a few months? I can't look away from that kind of money. That's 2 mortgage payments for me. 1/10th of a car.
As for these people that are claiming they have multiple preorders, I believe them, but I have it on good authority that Gamestop and EB will be scrutinizing the preorders very closely to check names against addresses. Anyone with multiples is only likely to get a single unit. It seems that gamestop management learned a few lessons from the XBox 360 launch. Multiple preorders from the same name or address get reshuffled so unique addresses and names get first crack. If someone preordered multiples under the same name or address they are screwed, even if they preordered from different stores.
Of course that's just a rumor I heard.
Be mad at me all you want. I don't care one way or the other.
Danny @ Oct 14th 2006 11:37PM
Am I a capitalist whore because my family is poor and I need the extra money to afford a car so I can drive to college, get an education, and support myself? What about the busy guy with a good career who might need to go work the morning of the ps3 launch, he makes enough money to pay double for the console and still consider it worth the money... does he not deserve to get a ps3? Do I not deserve to sell him one to get ahead in this money-centric society? GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!
clo1_2000 @ Oct 14th 2006 11:45PM
eBay is a *private* auction site. They can tell you what is permissable to sell and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. If you don't like it, sell it on the damn street corner. There are 2 issues eBay has a problem with 1) People do not physically have this item in their possesion and 2) It isn't even 30 days until the product comes out yet.
Vince @ Oct 14th 2006 11:50PM
I'm sure you need the launch of the PS3 to get you through college Danny, I really do.
Thank god for all the good the PS3 will do for people like Danny.
Phew.
(Don't forget to sab those auctions)
Danny @ Oct 15th 2006 12:00AM
If Sony's not gonna make money off the ps3 then I might as well give it a shot. FIGHT THE POWER
Izuna Drop @ Oct 15th 2006 12:03AM
#35 - Hawk -
Two things:
1) The actions of ticket scalpers are not the same as those who are selling consoles. A concert/play/event is generally a one time thing; consoles, however, will be made and sold at a consistent rate. So this comparison is not valid.
2) Whether Sony created a shortage or not is something that could be debated (I'm not saying they did or didn't). It may, however, be a good business strategy. By creating a shortage Sony sells out of systems at launch, analysts get positive on PS3 sales, and investors feel that the PS3 will be a success.
#39 - Anna -
You certainly have a point, if eBay ends up flooded with PS3s/Wii(s), that will certainly drive the price down. There will end up being a median price and that is what sellers will be looking at. However, market conditions can certainly change that median price. If, for example, Sony does release, as it says, 100,000 new units/week, then the median price will likely drop. If not, then it may actually go up. The number of people looking for the console will also have a bearing on the price. In order to calculate the price, you'll need to know the market demand v the market supply.
I understand people who are upset because they don't think it's fair to take advantage. However, I also think that people will pay what the market will bear for the any commodity. I live in Jersey City, right on the water next to NYC, and there is a ton of building going on. Most of the real estate is bought up before the building even begins. The apartments are then sold at a higher price. I ask you, is that not fair or right? I am making no judgment; I am just posing a question.
Tom @ Oct 15th 2006 12:13AM
Ebay should have kept the auctions open. Don't collect some sort of fee and/or penalize the seller if they are unable to provide the product within 30 days? Maybe the penalty toward the seller should be raised so as to serve as a deterrent. For example, the seller is auctioning a PS3 for $2,000. Maybe they should be told that if they can't get get the PS3 to the user within 30 days, then the transaction will be cancelled, and then they will be CHARGED $2,000. On the other hand, maybe ebay needs to make special rules for certain products like the PS3: "You need to actually HAVE a PS3 in order to sell it on ebay." Maybe that's what they'll end up doing, but they really should've done it in the first place.
On the subject of preorders, I would just like to say I think they are a scam in much the same way the ebay thing is a scam. Suppose there was no such thing as preordering. What would happen instead is the people who REALLY want the system would be standing in line anyway, on launch day. Those very same people did that very same thing a few days ago, except they paid extra and they didn't actually get a system. Now I know there are a lot of arguments against what I've just said... but if you really think about it you'll see the same arguments can be used to justify selling a PS3 on ebay. In a way, Gamestop is like the ebay seller. They may be charging quite as much ($100 instead of $1000+), but why is it they can get away with it at all, at any price? It's because people are willing to pay that $100 or that $1000 to get it reserved... that's "free market capitalism" at work, and it's equally stupid on ebay and at Gamestop.
CollectiveXp @ Oct 20th 2006 7:06PM
This wouldn't even be an issue if there weren't so many idiots willing to pay ungodly amounts of money for a game console.
Unfortunately True statement,
"Idiots, the world is full of em"
umrain @ Oct 15th 2006 12:23AM
In related news, I have heard rumors that stores like Gamestop buy new games from publishers, and then sell those to the consumer at higher prices then they bought them for!!! CLEARLY THEY ARE RIPPING US OFF.
Ragnarokender @ Oct 15th 2006 12:59PM
Nothing wrong with resell, why is it immoral at all, if you dont think its worth paying 2x, then dont buy it. If you want one early, get in line early. Ebay was not wrong or right, they can do whatever they want I think this move removes a lot of future issues so its all good.
NotOfThisEarth @ Oct 15th 2006 12:40AM
I managed to nail down 3 of them. Helps when your little brother is the gatekeeper. They're all going on Ebay. Why? because there are people who will pay handsomely for one just the did for the 360 last Christmas. Don't like it? Tough shit.
DWells55 @ Oct 15th 2006 12:48AM
Oh, give me a break, people. I camped out in front of a GameStop the morning befor eopeening to get a pre-order. There's absolutely no reason I should not be able to resell my item for a higher price. I need to sell it before it comes out - because, quite frankly, I can't afford it on the salary of a currently unemployed 16 year old who does freelance computer and Xbox repair.
Reselling things for more than you paid is the way things work. Everyone is out to get a profit. People by and resell land and houses, it's a perfectly legitimate business. Sony makes money because the end user of the PS3 is bound to buy games which makes money for Sony. The store makes money because they bought the PS3 for cheaper than they sold it. Why shouldnt I be able to make money?
I was willing to camp out in front of a store to get this item. There's no reason I shouldn't be able to make money off that. I'm saving someone else the trouble of waiting 24 hours in front of some Wal-Mart to get a PS3. If they feel that their time is worth more than the money they'd spend buying my pre-ordered PS3, that's their decision.
How can someone talk about morals and then suggest that you fake-bid on auctions? You break a legal contract by fake-bidding. That's immoral, at least more than selling something and making a profit. Buying and reselling for a profit - it's called Capitalism, get over it. I need some money for a car and for a Wii. Some guy has money and needs a PS3 without waiting ages for it. What's the big deal?
Embassy @ Oct 16th 2006 3:07AM
do u guys kill your own cows and harvest your own food..??...do u buy your electronics directly from the manufactuer...???...cuz dam those lousy retailers for upping the price for those electronics!!!..and DAM the butchers for charging for beef when the animal was put here for us anyway!
its called CONVIENIENCE...the people who waited in line at 5am did a SERVICE for everyone else who wants to buy one later...paying 2 or 300 dollars over retail is worth NOT standing in line for 10 hrs for some people...just like the butcher who prepares the meat FOR YOU and just like the retailers who supply the goods FOR you...
Ebay Gouger @ Oct 16th 2006 7:58PM
"I'll sabotage a dozen or so auctions on ebay, but that's my lot."
You do know that Ebay can track you down fake account or not, allowing the seller to sue you back to the stone age right? Still a minor? Well, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't be too happy about being sued for your stupidity.
Patrick @ Oct 15th 2006 1:06AM
I will laugh so hard when I hear of people going into massive debt to pay for multiple systems only to be in a position where they couldnt shift 'em.
Poor little Danny needing the coin to go to collage. Someone give him a tissue to wipe his sorry, broke ass.
with a potential of 200K systems be scalped off and with supply coming to shops soon rather than later (it wont be as bad as 360) people would rather go to a B&M store than use some ebay selling wanker. Coupled with all the news and press this is getting I seriously doubt we will see a repeat of last year. Sure there will be a few numb nuts that will buy at a stupid but that will be in the manority.
As soon as people wake up and realise its just a gaming console the better. sheesssh.. People are treating it like its the ark of the covenant.
PS Kudos, to Anna too for your comment!
Skipjimroo @ Oct 15th 2006 1:29AM
At #50
Don't forget to contribute for the new church roof and buy some starving orphans dinner you sycophantic bastard.
PSWii360 Fanbot @ Oct 15th 2006 2:28AM
AS much as $600 is too much for a souped up pS2, parents will still pay triple that in order to satisfy theri kids. Sweet, the PS3 is for spoiled brats!
Ness @ Oct 15th 2006 3:00AM
Damn yall still bitching about is you dont like the prices on ebay Dont F++king buy plain and simple. Thats what ebay is all about it about buying rare products you cant find in a store and for that sometimes you pay a premium. Now everyone have tons of money and for some its an opportunity to finally have some real cash in your pocket around christmas time. You are the idiots for buying it no one is making you do it dumass! Im willing to take money if someone is willing to give it. For all i know that person is rich and 2k is nothing for something they really where on the other hand am broke and could really use it. No one bitches when you underpay for something on ebay, so guess what that gravytrain goes both ways, I see people pay triple for Pc parts simply because they dont about newegg or tigerdirect. So who's fault is that but you dont seem them complaining
John Lucas @ Oct 15th 2006 3:00AM
Here's something no one thought about.
The scalpers might actually LESSEN the desire for the product they're profiteering from.
The PS3 is on shaky ground for a number of reasons but with the scalpers trying to gimmick the price higher it may weaken the lust for this type of gift when it's all said & done.
And besides who says these guys gotta go through eBay to scalp? They can do this in a number of places & setups. Maybe not as organized or professional as eBay but anyone can advertise & promote what they have & sell it. Internet classifieds anyone?
Craigslist?
The scalpers actually hurt Sony with their actions & may make the product less desirable in the long run.
And yes only fools pay so much for a gamesystem.
Damn if you don't get it at launch get it in the days afterwards. It ain't that serious. They'll be plenty available soon enough.
I never understood the camp-in-line, preorder mentality. Just go to the store & if it's there, get it. If not, wait until it is & play the old stuff until it's there.
But the companies I'm sure are happy that folks get so hyped up for their products. I guess it serves its purpose.
John Lucas
Tachion @ Oct 15th 2006 3:03AM
"I can't believe some of you capitalist whores are trying to justify this opprobrious scalping of consumers.
The practice makes a complete mockery of the collective trade agreement as we know it. The system relies on a principle that the worth of a product lies in what the maker decides to charge for it. This 'its worth the amount the buyer pays' argument completely ignores issues of liklihood, immediacy and circumstance.
By the logic your suggesting, it would be fair for someone with all the money in the world to buy everything and charge the public THEIR VERY LIVES (forfieted as slaves) to get anything. If you want to make a point please do so, but at least argue it properly."
Are you really that dese?
Read any basic economics book and you will realize that something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it... plain and simple. My economics professor posed the question as to whether or not NFL players or actors were worth what they got paid... the short answer is plain and simply "yes", because the public is willing to pay X dollars to watch an NFL game or a movie.
It's called suppply and demand.
The supply is low and the few people that decided to wait up and get a pre-order can sell it for whatever price they want and, if someone decides to buy it for $1000, then good for them. That's their money, and if they want to spend that much on it, then that's their right to do so (although, admittedly, its stupid to pay that much for it).
You just need to realize that just because you can't afford to pay the outrageous price the sellers are selling it for doesn't make it wrong.
Jok3r @ Oct 15th 2006 3:16AM
Hahahaha Owned
Anna @ Oct 15th 2006 3:38AM
Personally I think that the entire concept of preorders is slightly immoral. They take your money, have it for a month, can invest it, earn interest on it, use it towards other things. Without delivering a product, or even guarenteeing a product on launch day.
$50 may not seem like a lot but if you add up, 4500 (from Wikipedia) Gamestop's, and 10 PS3s and Wiis per store. (Seems like a good average number, probally low though). Thats 90,000 reserved consoles. Multiply that by $50 and you have $4,500,000... Invest that for a month, and even earn 1% interest on it and they just earned $45,000, without deliving any product.
Buying with the intend of selling I don't really like either, not becuase of the money (I've given my belif about the way those ebay auctions will go), but becuase this will deny someone a console at launch day.
That being said I bought a Wii flat out at Zellers a week ago, becuase I was able to get #2 on there list and I'm not going to have the ability to be out at Walmart at 5AM in the morning like I was at the Gamecube launch, due to lack of transportation and crappy busses on Sundays.
Also those people flaming capatalism, and those people flaming non capatalism. Please remeber that this message board has people from all over the world posting on it, there will be competing ideologies. Just becuase you share the ideology of your country, and it works for your country, doesn't mean its right for another, and you guys shouldn't flame people with different belifs on the market.
Oh and thanks for the Kudos, Patrick ;)
dsub @ Oct 15th 2006 3:59AM
hey OTAM:
No one charged those outrageous prices, 9/10 auctions for 360's started at $300-400 respectively depending on which version was for sale. Same goes with 9/10 of the PS3 pre-order sales. Those prices got that high because the BIDDERS not the SELLERS drove up prices. So long as there are people willing to pay the money, they will be sold on eBay. Your aggression is only justified by the fact that you are jealous that if you don't get a PS3 at launch some snot nosed punk kid with a rich mom and dad or some other dedicated sony fan with deeper pockets than you will get one because they can afford to pay the price. End of story. This is no more different than being jealous of some guy who just one the lottery. We all feel the same way, the only difference is we have learned to accept it as life, while you still dwell on it as if you are more entitled to a PS3 than they are.
As of right now every single person in America has or had an equal chance at getting a PS3. Whoever gets one has their god given right to do whatever the hell they want with it. If they want to keep it, cool. If they want to sell it, cool. This is America, land of the free. Not land of the free to do whatever you want except buy something and sell it at a higher price to make a profit. It's how the world goes around OTAM, it's how business works, it's how America works. It's called capitalism. This is no different or any more evil than Sony manufacturing a HDTV for $400 and selling it for $1200.
Dan @ Oct 15th 2006 4:30AM
eBay is absolutely right in shutting these auctions down. I do think that the punishments being meted out to the sellers is a bit harsh, but they really should know better. I have no problem with eBay sellers in general, but selling the system you pre-ordered when you know damn well there's a decent chance you won't get one is just stupid. and if you really can't afford the system without selling it in advance, what the hell are you doing pre-ordering in the first place? It doesn't give you an excuse to pass all your pre-order woes on to a buyer.
Of course, Gamestop and EB are every bit as guilty of this as the ebay sellers. They're selling systems they don't know they'll have. Even still, they're far better equipped to deal with any problems that may arise than the ebay sellers. At the very least they know they'll be getting more systems soon, and are better equipped to refund those that don't want to wait.
That's why, really, the eBay pre-order policy isn't designed for this sort of thing. It's designed for orders on the same level as gamestop's and eb's, for the large scale ebay stores that get their stock straight from distributors. Buying out someone else's consumer level pre-order is just to unpredictable, and eBay understandably doesn't want that reflected on them. (Though it doesn't really matter, eBay's gets a lot worse than this on a regular basis and doesn't do a thing about it).
Pulse @ Oct 15th 2006 7:09AM
*Laughs hysterically at people who are now stuck with PS3*
Danny @ Oct 15th 2006 7:53AM
I need a car more than you need a ps3. And if all you guys can do is make fun of how poor I am, I hope your ps3 blows up in your fucking face.
Chris Lawrance @ Oct 15th 2006 9:05AM
You know I've been reading through these and I understand both sides of the argument. I admittedly considered making a quick buck by preording one because I'm a poor student who could really use the cash. The problem was I was to lazy to just go do it. Someone had mentioned earlier that price gouging doesn't necessarily apply here because this isn't a necessary commodity, or something you are going to rely on everyday (ie. gas) The one thing that I think people are overlooking though is what is the nature of ebay? Its an auction. In this case MSRP doesn't apply AT ALL. Auctions are all about how bad a person wants a good an equating that to a dollar sign. I think this is a bad move on Ebay's part simply because as anyone that usually shops on ebay has found out, it has become less and less an auction site and this just furthers that. If this were a store that were doing this then shame on them. But again, this is an auction. Ebay shouldn't have to take flak when the PS3s dont come through for some people and I believe this is probably why they have decided to close it down, not because its immoral or wrong (Remember that you can by a nuclear submarine or russian tank on ebay) My 2 cents
Scutpuppy @ Oct 15th 2006 10:26AM
John Lucas (#65),
"The scalpers might actually LESSEN the desire for the product they're profiteering from."
Lessen the desire from ebay levels maybe. But the price of the PS3 is not going to fall below 599 USD (on ebay, for the premium version).
killcount @ Oct 15th 2006 11:47AM
I always pictured the gaming community as just that, a community. I always thought of other gamers as friends, people who all shared a common interest. It doesn't surprise me though with the main streaming of gaming that we are going to have supposed "gamers" who are willing to rip everyone off.
Yes, you got in line and preordered. I was at the preorder too, I was 11 in line at an EB that had 10 PS3's. I was there at 5 in the morning. 5 of those PS3's are going to be sold on ebay most likely for close to 1,000 dollars. Some 12 year old who just wants the newest fad and has rich parents is going to get it now, denying me, someone who has played games for 20 years now, a chance to get it.
It just seems to me like we are hurting our own community.
Dansk @ Oct 15th 2006 12:24PM
Pre-sale for popular consoles is a huge area for scams, so Ebay was right to remove them.
puppydg68 @ Oct 15th 2006 12:14PM
"es, you got in line and preordered. I was at the preorder too, I was 11 in line at an EB that had 10 PS3's. I was there at 5 in the morning. 5 of those PS3's are going to be sold on ebay most likely for close to 1,000 dollars. Some 12 year old who just wants the newest fad and has rich parents is going to get it now, denying me, someone who has played games for 20 years now, a chance to get it."
You can't base arguments on assumptions like that.. Lets assume there is a regular post-grad who's been playing games for 20 years, who had to work on pre-order morning, goes and buys it on ebay for $1000, how is that person any different than you? Not all of the ebay'd ps3 are going to spoiled rich kids, thats an unfair statement to make.. In the end it's the hardcore guys who will wake up early and the ones who pay higher prices on ebay.. People who want the console will get it this christmas via whatever means they are willing to accept. One person stands in line early, another who either can't stand in line (work) or would rather pay a $300 premuium not to do that.
Boing @ Oct 15th 2006 12:03PM
Jeremy sounds like the same baby that was whining about this policy in the eBay forum thread linkin in the story.
Whether something is legal or not there's a little thing called morals which you and all of the other $2000 PS3 sellers clearly don't have.
The eBay policy on pre-sales clearly says that "The seller must guarantee that the item will be available for shipping within 30 days from the date of purchase" So how are you guaranteeing this?
And even if you are some how magically "guaranteed" a PS3 or two at launch, why not just wait until you have it in hand before raping people? That way eBay would have no arguement.
Small Business Hosting @ Oct 15th 2006 12:41PM
I think it was a wise decision.
sam @ Oct 15th 2006 1:25PM
Yes, i agree with ebay for doing what they did. Even the manager at gamestop told the people preordering that they werent 100% guarunteed a system(me being one of them) because sony has the right to short them out on the number of units they recieve. So yes, i agree with the you cant sell preorders.
As for when the actual system comes out, I for one will put it up on ebay. Those of you who say that the people who woke up early to just to make a profit dont really care about the system is wrong. I really want a PS3...but im a college student and dont have $800 (system + games, etc.) to just spend like that.
So what is a person like me to do? Think of a SMART way to make money off the stupid and/or rich people who will pay on ebay and then buy one for myself. Dont blame those of us who were willing to wake up at 4am (or even earlier) to get something that has value to it. We're not the ones artificially driving cost up....the people who are willing to pay so much for it are. Im not gonna put a $1000 reserve on my system. Ill be happy to sell it for however much it sells for....be it $600 or $1500. Yes, the more it sells for, the happier i'll be. But ALL of you would be. Just beacuse i want to sell something that has so much potential value to it has nothing to do with my morals.
So those of you who were not lucky enough to get one or were too lazy to go get one (with the exception of those who went and didnt make the cut), stop being bitter about it. And for those who went and didn't get one...i know this is mean but, sorry thats Life. Deal with it. I skipped class and met people who took a sick day from work to get in line...so you guys need a better excuse.
Kevin @ Oct 15th 2006 2:12PM
eBay is now pulling Wii auctions. I was trying to get in before that happened. Oh well. Once there is less than 30 days I may try to get mine in there.
Kevin @ Oct 15th 2006 2:17PM
Haha check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nintendo-Wii-Pick-Up-Delivery-Service-READ-CAREFULLY_W0QQitemZ200037291033QQihZ010QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
alan james @ Oct 15th 2006 3:01PM
I think puppydg68 hit the nail on the head. What everyone is lacking here (at least the ones making the arguement that selling a PS3 ebay to make money is akin to a crime) is some simple common sense.
The argument that selling a console that IS going to be in great demand for a profit is somehow immoral or criminal is, pardon my french, friggin' idiotic. The only reason the opportunity is there to make money selling on ebay is because the console manufacturers are taking advantage of ALL of us by hyping the launch and increasing demand through "implied" shortages, and doing it when they know demand for such goods are at their greatest (i.e. the Christmas shopping season).
It wasn't that long ago that when a console launched, you actually might be able to walk into a store that day and pick one up. Today, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that ANYONE not pre-ordering a console will get one on launch day, and almost no chance that those same people will get one before Christmas.
Back to what puppdg68 stated... if you didn't do what I did to get my pre-order, then you aren't getting a PS3 on launch day. I don't care how many people only pre-ordered with the intention of selling it on ebay, you just aren't getting one unless you're in the first 1-2 rounds of pre-ordering, standing in line at 6am like all us other saps.
Furthermore, using the griper's same logic, an arguement could be made that standing in line at 6am in the morning for a console you fully intend TO KEEP is just as unfair or immoral than selling it on ebay. I mean, is it fair that, because I don't have anywhere else to be at 6am on THAT particular morning (like a job), and because I have both suitable transportation and the money on-hand to make the pre-order, that some other person without such advantages has to go without a PS3 for 3-6 months (or more), until such time they can just walk into a store and buy one?
No, that's not fair, but that's where the big S, M, and N have taken us with THEIR sense of capitalism. As for Ebay, none of the people here putting Ebay on a pedastal for what they've done have any clue just WHAT they have done. For selling my PS3 pre-order on ebay (within what I understood are their terms of use), Ebay cancelled not only my PS3 auction, but also pulled a previous auction that had just ended and for which I had just received payment, then suspended my account without citing the specific rule I violated. Then they proceeded to email every last person that bid on the PS3 auction AND my unrelated one advising them I had been suspended for "serious" violations of ebay rules.
Basically, they made it sound as if I was a deliberate fraud. So, of course the person I had just sold a $700 projector to (who had already paid my paypal account) emailed me asking for his money back and threatening to file a fraud claim if he didn't receive a refund within a week. All this to a user that has perfect feedback and has never had a single complaint from a buyer or seller. Wow, thanks Ebay, that's justice.
Regardless of your opinion of what I did, thinking that Ebay took approriate action is, I'm sorry, moronic. Rant out...
jon christy @ Oct 15th 2006 5:01PM
Well I am a seller and I think it is ridiculous that ebay is banning accounts over this, I totally agree that they have every right to end auctions and such. But we as sellers ones that sell a lot pay a great deal of seller fees and paypal fees and fees and feesI work incredibly hard to maintain that glorious 100% positive feedback from customers and after many years if my account was wiped out due to this I would be very upset and irrate. I hear everyones ridiculous "they are wrong for selling them for a profit crap" You stand outside a game store for 12 hours in the cold! You could have the same as they did. You odd excuse is they take all the systems that you could have reserved... B.S. as those same systems you could have reserved would have been gobbled up by the hundreds beside the ones buying to sell. You have the right not to buy off ebay and hunt the stores day and night like all others do, but IMO if you have the cash and want the luxury of some other fool waiting in hell for hours to save you the trouble you should have that right. But ebay banning these sellers without even a warning is ridiculous. We sellers pay great amounts of money to sell on ebay. Take for instance 1 PS3 if you sell it at say around $1200. Well ebay listing fees are about $40 after final value fees. Paypal fees are about $35.00 so they get $70 for nothing other than allowing exposure! Then they want to ban you???? Its not right at all. Not to mention they then contact all the buyers of your other auctions and tell them to ask for refunds from paypal for the other non-PS3 related auctions...and this is beside whether or not they received the products already or not..Tell me this is right? And get this I am not one of these banned sellers I just realize how wrong this is. Believe it or not folks most ebay sellers are not scum, they are you friends and family and they work hard to sell on ebay. Ebay does not warn or communicate with anyone when they make these decisions, they then request the seller to send in drivers license copies, business records, credit card statements, utility bills??? WTF.. And even then they will ban you if they feel like it. Not cool at all..
cjr @ Oct 15th 2006 4:45PM
Will you guys cry foul if I buy a PS3 and don't have too much fun on it? After all, I've denied someone else from owning a PS3 who might have had more fun on it. Although, what I find more fun than playing a console is selling it for a profit on an online marketplace. So in a way I'm entitled to it
dori. @ Oct 15th 2006 8:09PM
I for one am going to sell my playstation on ebay, but not until I recieve it.
I think it's right for ebay to pull pre-order auctions, given that you cannot sell something you don't have the guarantee that you'll get.
As far as the morality of selling on ebay, it's perfectly moral, it isn't like I'm buying all the world's water and then auctioning it to the highest bidder, I'm selling a game console. I'm just taking advantage of the market.
rarz @ Oct 16th 2006 8:58AM
I said FU-CK YEAH!
DCSimian @ Oct 16th 2006 9:32AM
Seriously, the whole scalping thing is a two-way street...yeah, people put up consoles for outrageous prices...but then there are people who choose to bid on them and buy them at those outrageous prices...no one's forcing their hand...it's taking advantage of the demand and fervor of others...
I can wait...others apparently can't.
RaZor @ Oct 16th 2006 2:25PM
Sony obviously did not help matters with the short supply.
But if morons with extra cash want to over pay, that's their problem.
I would not even want the first PS3's that roll out of the factory anyway.
Look at how many problem the 1st run 360's had.
I'll be happy to wait until I can walk in to the store and buy one.
Why is that so hard?
Mojo_Yugen @ Oct 16th 2006 3:17PM
"It's pretty sad that some people equate money with love. "
It's even sadder when someone equates giving a game console with love. ;)
But seriously, How is charging a premium for a GAME CONSOLE a moral issue? It's not like the pharmaceutical companies are auctioning off AIDS medicine (although I think I might regret putting that idea in their heads). It's a frickin' hunk of hardware! You don't need it. Waiting a few extra months isn't going to kill anyone. No one is forcing you to bid.
Hansel @ Oct 16th 2006 5:44PM
You greedy sons-of-bitches remind me of when I see films with a certain solution being implemented and the people involved are worried about money and making deals as their world is ending and people are dying. Have any of you people that aren't Ebay scalpers ever met one yourself? I have and they're all assholes. Seriously, I have never met a person that would do this that is normal/cool and I've met quite a few over the years, whether it's concert tickets, video games, or movie tickets--these guys are the lowest form of life on the planet. Sure, they can get up early for the lines because they either have no life, no money, or both. That's right, I'm calling all you scalpers losers and I'll be laughing heartily when you can't sell shit and have to take a loss on your beloved Sony system. I don't care about the buyers, I don't care if it's a necessity or not, I just can't stand the weasel-like qualities of said scalpers. These are the same people that would see a handicapped person drop money and not tell them until they're gone so they can pick it up themselves. I don't care if a few people are dumb enough to fall for it, this isn't capitalism anymore, it's akin dealing with criminals. Might as well be a fucking back-of-the-truck sale. You people will burn in hell with Sony and all the other Japs with no souls! Project Midway, indeed...
Doctar J @ Oct 16th 2006 9:42PM
Listen you stupid bunch of nerds, who really gives a shit if Ebay canceled some bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blastreme @ Oct 16th 2006 11:41PM
Gamers...
Time is money.
People want it now... Then its worth more.
More people want it now than later.
There are fewer units now.
Why do people have such difficulty with supply and demand? It really is very simple.
If you want it for the msrp, then WAIT FOR IT!! you've already waited this long. all you have to do is chill out and wait for the rush to die down.
Go have a martini. Or see a movie... or get girlfriends. :-)
J.T @ Oct 17th 2006 12:37AM
I disagree with many of the opinions. First off we live in a capitalist society so dont expect a break for anything. From cabbage patch and elmo dolls to barbara streisand tickets, every christmas,theres always been a 'hot seller' that supply just cant meet demand. So, if you want the item bad enough, you pay what the seller asks. If you have a problem with the concept then you're living in the wrong place. We ALL pay more than what something actual costs the sellers. From hamburgers to clothes. What a bunch of whiners.
I dont have a problem with Ebay /Paypal canceling PS3 orders. I understand their position because the Xbox 360s presales were a pure disaster. There is just no way to regulate preorders. If you look at ebay the very concept of capitalism is going on. How much are you willing to pay for this item? The seller may have only paid $1.00 but if sells at $800.. Should he return the money?
Hahasucker @ Oct 17th 2006 1:05AM
I think alot of you people are crybabies. Everyone equally had the chance to visit the game store on the day that preorders were announced. If i want to sell my 2 ps3's that i reserved because i was #3 and #4 online i can do. If you really want something, and its easy like this to attain but you are just lazy and sit in your chair all day, cry to someone else!
RpG @ Oct 17th 2006 12:24PM
Bravo for Ebay stoppage of pre-order auctions. Again most know that it's not because of selling game consoles for outrageous prices (if people are willing to pay, so be it) but due to the fact that it's a PREORDER, so there is no guarantee the seller will receive it AT LAUNCH. Didn't care about the PS3 preorder mainly cuz the 5 games (MGS4,Assassin Creed,Warhawk,GT HD, Heavenly sword) I wanted to buy aren't going to be available till spring 07. As for the Wii, sure I wanted one, but like most people had to work. Now did this scar my life completely for lacking such a system? I think I'll be ok and most will too. Yes Zelda Twilight Princess is awesome (played it at E3)but that's just ONE GAME. Besides SSB Brawl and Mario Galaxy is til spring and that's what I really wanted anyways.