AuctionWire

IN its quest to make online shopping safer, auction website eBay has stirred up a hornet's nest of discontent. For approximately five million Australians, eBay has become a virtual marketplace for buyers and sellers to exchange goods. But it's not your typical market. According to eBay, the website contributes an estimated $2.6 billion to Australia's gross domestic product (GDP). Last month, the online auctioneer announced that it would be introducing significant changes. From June 17, eBay will no longer allow direct deposits, money orders or personal cheques as a payment option, leaving buyers with only two options – cash on delivery, or the online commerce website PayPal, which is owned by eBay.

On news.com.au

My eBay Script - MeS, is an eBay Storefront Generator that allows you to host your own ebay store. Design your store layout anyway you want and product will be pulled from eBay.

My eBay Script gives the more savvy webmaster the ability to completely customize their site. MeS offers them globally usable functions and variables to make and build their site any way they see fit. With MeS, the finished product does not look so much like a cookie cutter type website. Adding eBay content can be as easy as copying the eBay URL from their search into the MeS Feed Import Wizard and the links that was on the eBay search page is now apart of their MeS site. Still, if you want more granularity, you can import eBay products by category ID as well as an eBay RSS feed URL.

Myibay.com, an eBay managing and sniping service, released a new version of eBay sniper software.

New York, NY May 7, 2008 -- Myibay.com, an auction managing and sniping service for eBay, released a new version of sniping software for Windows. This version includes additional languages, enhancements and important bug fixes. The most important update featured in this version is language translation pack based on contributions by myibay community. In addition to English, myibay now includes German, French, Dutch and Portuguese interfaces.

EBay will roll out a host of changes to its feedback mechanism this month globally, including the controversial elimination of sellers' ability to leave negative feedback for buyers. EBay will roll out a host of changes to its feedback mechanism this month globally, including the controversial elimination of sellers' ability to leave negative feedback for buyers.EBay announced the feedback changes along with modifications to other areas like its fee structure in January, prompting many sellers to complain and even organize a strike.However, eBay has stuck to its guns and proceeded to implement the changes, seeking opinions from buyers and sellers while refining and modifying some details.

By Skrevet av Juan Carlos Perez

That’s an interesting little power play eBay is trying to pull in Australia, one U.S. sellers might want to keep an eye on. As of June 17, barring regulatory intervention, the auction giant will allow sellers to offer only two payment options — cash on delivery or PayPal, the eBay-owned online transaction service. No more direct bank deposits, no checks, no money orders. Uncharitable observers, and there are many, might suggest that eBay is abusing its dominant position in auctions to give its own payment unit a competitive advantage while happily collecting transaction fees. But no, says eBay, it’s all about the public interest — those other payment methods just aren’t safe.

On siliconvalley.com

Hi everyone...I've got good news for sellers who list in our Fixed Price format. For a full week, insertion fees for Fixed Price listings on www.ebay.com, and for Parts & Accessories listings on www.ebaymotors.com, will be capped at 50¢! That means you won't pay more than 50¢, no matter what the start price. (All insertion fees at less than 50¢, as well as any listing upgrades, will still be charged the normal rates.) The 50¢ Fixed Price Listing Fee Sale starts tomorrow, May 7, 2008 at 00:00:01 Pacific time (12:00 a.m. plus one second) and ends one week later on May 14, 2008 at 23:59:59 Pacific time (11:59 p.m. plus 59 seconds). There are a few categories and types of listings that are excluded, so check out our information page for full details.

eBay Announcement

When is it?Starting Wednesday, May 7, 2008 between 00:00:01 ET (12:00 AM plus one second on Wednesday, May 7, 2008) and ending on Wednesday May 14, 2008 at 23:59:59 ET (11:59 PM plus 59 seconds).
What are the fees? Insertion fees for Fixed Price listings will be capped at 50¢ for items with a price over $9.99. Listings created prior to May 7, 2008 which are scheduled to start during the promotional period May 7 to 14, 2008 will be eligible to receive the promotional rate. Motors Parts & Accessories listings will be included in this promotion.

eBay Announcement

eBay is testing a new shopper rewards program. Once shoppers sign up for the program, they earn eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases from May 15 through August 14. Participants will then have 30 days to spend the "bucks" on eBay. Purchases in certain categories are excluded from the promotion, such as all categories in Motors except Parts & Accessories; Classifieds; Live Auctions; Giving Works; Real Estate; and Business & Industrial Capital Equipment.

By Ina Steiner