Tainted Love
Ebay has filed suit against craigslist and its board of directors:
http://news.ebay.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=305980
We are surprised and disappointed by Ebay’s unfounded allegations, which came to us out of the blue, without any attempt to engage in a dialogue with us.
Coming from a shareholder that views craigslist as a prime competitor, filing suit without so much as mentioning these assertions beforehand seems unethical, and hints at ulterior motives.
Ensuring the future well-being of craigslist and the craigslist community is admittedly very important to us. But Ebay has absolutely no reason to feel threatened here — unless of course they’re contemplating a hostile takeover of craigslist, or the sale of Ebay’s stake in craigslist to an unfriendly party. (In which case, they’re out of luck.
For our part, we have always treated Ebay very fairly as a minority shareholder, and plan to continue doing so, despite this unfortunate development.
Addendum in response to commenter question - To be perfectly clear, Ebay’s stake in craigslist has not been “unfairly diluted” as they have claimed.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Courage, folks! I know you’ll get through this.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Don’t give into their big business intimidation! I love craigslist, a lot more than ebay. Except for the fornications hook ups, but besides that, you guys rule!
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Oh yeah…let’s just kept letting the rich get richer…and the poor people who just wanting to make a penny here and there for either there old used stuff…or even some of our services offered to others…get “screwed” for lack of a better word… So power and strength in numbers to the developers of craigslist!! I would be more than happy to ask you to FIGHT…for what is right! This is one of the best sites available to people who DO NOT care to get involved in the ebay hype! Thank you craigslist…I hope you don’t give up, your doing a great service for so many people! I thank you and so do many many others.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
[…] Craig responds on the company blog: […]
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Do you care to answer the charges? Did you dilute the minority shareholders? It is a fairly simple matter to determine. Love to get a comment on the facts, not your feelings…
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
[…] post at the newish Craigslist blog says that the company is: “surprised and disappointed by Ebay’s unfounded allegations, […]
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Whatever the particulars or merits of the suit, I’m sure Craigslist fans will stand by the company — especially with company notices titled “Tainted Love.” Classic.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
You go guy. craigslist is great.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Thank you Craigslist for “keeping it real.”
I love Craigslist for exactly the reason that Ebay is pushing people away.
The basic, no frills, what you see is what you get free classifieds and events.
Keep the big bad giant Ebay away.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Missed Connections
You (eBay): Middle aged, bitter, nerdy.
Me (craigslist): young, indie, hip
I saw you at the flee market. You told me own it … like I’d be impressed. You offered me a ride on your Harley … again like I’d be impressed. Your not cool.
C
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Personally, I’d dilute it with a poison pill! We all know how well eBay handles online classified services (Kijiji). We’d all be paying just to view CL if they had their evil way.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Its some muscle flexing on the part of eBay
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Dear Craigslist and all that support what CL represents. Don’t give Obay 1 inch. They will desecrate this magical place called Craiglist. I can think of a million and one ways they continue to dilute buyers & sellers on their own site!
In the meantime do you think you can let the eBayers back to being able to post links to their eBay listings! Right now it gets pulled. We need a place to trade in peace without having obay,paypal,skype or woestores microchip us. Maybe the peoples at CL will find it in their heart to support small business and invest in US. We all all hard workers. We dont need much either. We are used to not getting anything so it would be very easy to get us to be with you. IF there was only a place ….
Fruity loves you
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
if someone doesn’t stop the belly of the beast, pretty soon O-bay will charge us by the letter or for air. You will not be able to talk to one another without a skype phone, you cannot use anything but peepal and if you dont conform they will ding your twinkle stars. The internet was made to give us FREEDOM and be individuals!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Good for you. eBay is a giant bloated nightmare. I’m surprised you sold them stock. Whatever, I love you and will totally stand behind you business model.
I think eBay has made a mistake. The more noise they make the more folks will discover how cool CraingList is.
Rock on.
LF
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Ebay isn’t big business. It’s bad business.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Go Craigslist. My prayers are with you. U will get out of this mess that eBay created stronger.
“Thank you craigslist…I hope you don’t give up, your doing a great service for so many people! I thank you and so do many many others.” totally agree with linda above.
… eBay Insider
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
ick. Their way of going about it does seem shady…. Best of luck and kick their arses. And don’t change a thing. Thank you for helping me move across the country.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
this sort of story only makes me love craigslist even more. thank you ebay! and oh yeah ebay: good luck with that crappy classifieds craigslist-knock-off site. i’ll be using the real craigslist.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
@ Larry Fritz - eBay acquired the stock from an unnamed former Craigslist shareholder.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
feeBay has already alienated their userbase so much, I’m not surprised they’re feeling desperate. I considered selling my Nintendo DS on eBay, but then remembered about the unfair auction fees which were just marked up recently, and the fact I’d lose a cut if I did it through PayPal. Oh, not to mention the hassle of going to the post office. I put it up on Craigslist and got a response within hours, and my DS was sold locally the next day. I’ll never sell on feeBay ever again. I’m a loyal Craigslist fan and will be as long as they stick to their roots, which feeBay has not. I’m cheering for you!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I don’t think CL sold them stock. A shareholder sold his interests in CL to eBay, which CL could do nothing about, they just had to make the best of a bad situation.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:19 am
Why don’t you answer the allegations. Did you or did you not try to squeeze out the minorities?
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
Ebay is really a big bully crying foul when they themselves are the real aggressors. The love for ebay is not the company itself but what it stands for as contrast to craigslist that people love what you stand for and your site. I am new to craigslist but not ebay as they have and paypal there baby have really abused me as a customer.
I really hate, hate, hate ebay and paypal. I am a powerseller there and they freeze your account, limit yeah, loose money in paypal etc. I have about 800 transactions plus and 1 negative on record but you think that means anything to them. NOPE, So never mind FEEBAY as they just want more money so make all craigslist free everywhere so they will sell out or you buy them out and be done with them. If you need a donation just email me as you have it. Thank You and LONG LIVE CRAIGSLIST!!!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 am
Yeah yeah yeah, eBay is a big giant bloated monster company as opposed to poor defenseless Craigslist, whose founders as we know are nearly penniless.
I echo the comments above: beyond the puff and bullshit, what about these charges? Are they true? Did you guys do a “wash out job” to screw eBay? Facts? Hello?
If the charges aren’t true why don’t you just explain why and how and we can all go on loving CL.
I don’t love anybody who screws *anybody* out of their rightful money, and the millionaire founders of CL don’t get a pass because they run a cool website. They should be subject to the same rules as the rest of us.
Just answer the charges in clear terms and we’ll all be happy to jump to your defense…
SI
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 am
How can those of us who use CL everyday become a part of CL? Seriously, if everyone that uses Craigslist jumped in to help, we could make a powerful statement, as well as obtain some ownership in it by sticking together to preserve what we have here.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 am
[…] Here’s Jim (Buckmaster?) responding on the Craigslist blog. […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
This will turn out to be a nightmare for Ebay - they will end up losing so much goodwill (assuming they had any to begin with) - first you had the seller’s strike that eroded Ebay’s image, now this - what a bunch of sad bullies!
Craigslist will always be the best!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 am
Can you explain more about what you actually did with respect to diluting eBay’s stake in CL? I can’t find anything that explains this on the web.
Thanks.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 am
[…] to an eBay Press release: Tainted Love We are surprised and disappointed by Ebay’s unfounded allegations, which came to us out of the […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 am
Gave up using E-bay as soon as I discovered Craigslist, no fees is the very reason. Can’t afford all the fees everytime you post something on E-bay, and for what?
Hang in there Craiglist, E-bay has nothing on you and your great site!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:39 am
eBay is not the 800 lb Gorilla. No site is perfect and CL has it’s share of issues (flagging) but I back CL not eBay.
Bad publicity is publicity.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:40 am
Dear Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster- We applaud you . Dump those dirt bags of ebay -put them where they belong! Pound ebay into the next cyber world. Get Ebay off you backs - no matter what it takes… and then take ebay and Paypal away from them. All’s fair in love and war.
Craigslist- You’ve got a cheering team here for ya- and we’ve got your backs. Dont let those corporate bullies at Ebay think they even have a chance.
If anybody has some dirt to unload about Ebay - Now is the time to it pass on the the Craigslist People- go for it… spill away.
Craigslist has always been a great place to hang-chat-etc.
Thanks Guys- for showing the world -that Ebay isn’t the almighty powerful ones they think they are. They can’t even maintain what they’ve got … and now they want Craigslist- NO WAY!
Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster- we stand with you all the way !The Good will prevail!
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 am
Appears 1 individual had this as a plan for some time. Thats how takeovers generally proceed.like a snake in the grass. Get a glimpse of the technique in the Movie “Meet Joe Black’ i like the way CR is and would be disheartened if it turns out to be another part of the vast censoreship {ed} sites that go that way once too popular & bought out for $$ & control of the worlds information dissemination. ie, google & youtube. The think-tank plans are Written all over the tunnel walls. Dam shame.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:12 am
CL did not sell them stock intentionally. Ebay received it when an ex-CL employee with a ~25% stake went to Ebay, looking to sell it. Apparently there was nothing in the agreement with CL that precluded the sale to an outside corporate entity (and potential competitor) such as Ebay.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:23 am
please don’t give in. they’re ruining all of this and this is one of the few decent experiences left on line.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 am
Come now Craig, if you were just more transparent about the whole ownership structure you would not get yourself, and others, into this mess.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 am
[…] year financial investment”. Sounds to me like eBay is getting desperate. Craigslist blog post here. eBay press release here. […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 am
ebay has become increasingly cumbersome and costly. I’ll take craigslist any day. Hope you smack the giant down. They continue to try to bribe and or coerce any other online venue to join them under their umbrella. Too bad the umbrella is full of holes. Sales are down, market share is dropping. They have no customer service and every touted attempt to bring security to their site causes more problems. ebay constantly ignores many of it’s users complaints.
The disruption strategy isnt working as planned. Hopefully CL will win this fight and ebay can go back and sulk in their corner of the internet and leave one of the best sites for buying and selling on the internet alone.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 am
The only surprise here is that Ebay didn’t pull something like this sooner.
It’s hypocritical, at best, that they complain of being “disadvantaged” when that’s what they do to their own paying customers - the sellers. The Ebay business model is to pay your fees and they will hide your listings behind countless scammers and counterfeiters.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:13 am
Good luck and I’m behind you all the way. eBay needs a serious spanking. I find their behavior these days just bizarre; they’ve turned into an insatiable monster and they need to be stopped!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 am
Ebay is threatened by you folks. After the recent changes at Ebay customers of Ebay ( including me) are flocking to Craigs. Lots of discussions on their fourms about customers fed up and leaving for a much better way to sell things.
Let us know how we can support you!
THX
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 am
Go Craigslist!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 am
Just one more ploy by ebaY to get their name in the headlines while their dirty little house of cards is falling fast.
You go CL….ebaY, like it used to be, is almost over and they are looking for any money they can get their greedy little hands on.
They only wish that their crappy little Kijiji could be like CL…which will never happen.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 am
Go craigslist!!!! Give ‘em hell!
I hate ebay
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:33 am
Good luck guys, all my encouragement is for you.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:33 am
Dear Craig’s List, I LOVE U VERY MUCH!!! PRETTY-PLEASE let me know if I can do ANYTHING to support you. I am a Powerful,Licensed Massage therapist in FL who will use ALL of My intellectual BICEPS & anything I’ve got to be your dutiful minion.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:43 am
Does eBay Practice Fiduciary Duty of Loyalty To It’s Sellers?
ebay has no regard for it’s sellers financial investment in their company yet has the nerve to file a law suit against an entrepreneur who has a better platform than they do…
eBay sellers acted in good faith with them; opened stores, purchased inventory, spent time consuming hours listing all our items in the store, building reputation and business only to be forced out because we now don’t fit their new master plan.
Does eBay, their representatives and subsidiaries make truthful and complete disclosures to those placing trust in them? Are they not obtaining an unreasonable advantage at the latter’s expense?
Kudos Craigslist!!! We all wish you the best in slaying the dragon!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:47 am
It is simple, E-bay are a pack of whores who’s greed over paid by 10X for Skype. Craigslist is a class act who I have used over 100 times with great results, I cannot say the same for E-bay. Let’s get real this is pure revenge because Cargslist is making an impact E-bay’s bottomline I will never use E-bay again after this BS
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
Ebay is out of line. Capitalism is built on fair competition. Ebay has gotten out of hand with its fees.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
No worries. People hate Ebay - they just screwed over millions of users. If it comes to Craigslist or Ebay, people are going with Craigslist, no doubt.
Buy your stock back if you can. Just the fact that Ebay owns some of your stock is unsettling after their recent actions. Distance yourself from Ebay, they aren’t going to fair well long term.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
[…] Craigslist has responded to eBay’s lawsuit, noting it “came to us out of the blue,” according to a posting on its craigslist blog Tuesday. […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
Fight them every step of the way. They are big bullies, they got rid of Yahoo auctions so that when they started kicking their sellers around they would have fewer decent options.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 am
I really don’t know what the allegations are, nor what the facts are, and quite frankly I don’t care. I’d like to see FeePay (a.k.a. ebay) and their sister PayPal, be deleted, in one quick key stroke.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 am
[…] luidt de eerste reactie van Craig Newmark en Jim Buckmaster van Craigslist. Waarom? Ebay daagt het bedrijf voor de rechter […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
[…] it appears that ebay is taking legal action against popular website craigslist. Now, I’m slightly worried. If I owned a stake in a company (even if it was a minority 28pc […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:12 am
How can we who enjoy the benefits of Craigslist help in dissuading eBay? Would a one month boycott of eBay help twist their arm.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 am
I love CL and wish you guys good luck for the good fight. To add to Dorothy’s advice, in addition to buying your stock back, hopefully you have already pinged each and every CL stock holder to ensure against a hostile take over.
In all fairness, I like ebay too, but the ease of use, local outreach and of course the FREE factor, makes CL no. 1 for me.
Now I wish you guys could have sued ebay when they started kijiji….but then that is the difference between CL and ebay.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 am
back off ebay….you big companies want everything….if someone if offering something free to someone…..0mg….your not making any money…7.7 million last year..w0w….greed is comsuming you…..leave craiglist alone!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
[…] Craigslist has responded to a lawsuit filed by eBay, noting that it "came to us out of the blue," according to a posting on its craigslist blog Tuesday. […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 am
I have a suggestion for you.
Make a free auction site. Their market cap will drop immediately. You have more power over them than they over you. A lot more. All you have to do is threaten to go in the auction business.
Screw them.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
Craigslist should remove Ebay as a Minority Shareholder because THEY (Ebay) are the predator… and if they (Ebay) had their way, Craigslist would be off the web. Isn’t a Kajiji a sorry mock and lame copy of Craigslist?
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
Wasn’t it obvious from the beginning that eBay’s investment in craigslist had some end like this in mind? They have every reason in the world to want to destroy craigslist. Now that they’ve finally decided to attack, I imagine it’s going to get pretty bloody before it’s over.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
~ JOIN THE WORLD WIDE eBay BOYCOTT ~ BE INFORMED ~
Find your State or International Location folder and join us. Former employees are welcome too!
A place to organize.
A place to unite.
A place to focus.
United we stand, Divided we fall.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs3o3Ed3Rog
http://www.accknowl.com/
Boycott Victoriously … While Making Noise!
Evacuate by May 1, 2008!
Please support Australia’s protest and sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/ebayau/petition.html
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:10 am
I’ve been out of the finance game for awhile now, but wouldn’t it make sense (if a majority of stock is held preferred) that CL call its stock and get eBay out of its bed?
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 am
As a lawyer with experience in these matters, I would love to see details on eBay’s claim on how craigslist “diluted” eBay’s ownership stake in contravention of DE law. In fact, this type of anti-takeover action is quite common and routinely upheld in the states of DE, MD, and so on. Certainly a claim that the directors have violated their fiduciary duties is tenuous. Is eBay trying to “browbeat” craigslist with non-meritorious claims?…
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
In response to Nerd’s comment about calling stock (regardless of whether it is common or preferred); it is not a good option for craigslist either financially or for the long-term control of the company.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
How did eBay acquire an ownership interest in craiglist? My understanding is that craigslist is a privately held company…
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 am
shame on ebay! i would love to see this backfire on them.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thank you eBay:) I had not heard of Craigslist until now and very pleased to be here.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 am
It’s like this:
Craigslist = beloved
eBay = tolerated
Now…
Craigslist = beloved
eBay = another bad business decision. Not even tolerated.
eBay is bad and getting worse.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 am
JT - I’m not sure how you can make that statement. Are you privy to information regarding cash position or current ROR of investments?
If they have excess cash that is currently earning a low ROR what better investment could they make than in their own stock?
Assuming they believe their own stock is going to grow.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 am
[…] But the best part is Craigslist’s response. In typical Craigslist fashion (re: angry dude who isn’t getting his way), they posted a blog entitled “Tainted Love“. […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
[…] Craigslist has responded to a lawsuit filed by eBay, noting that it “came to us out of the blue,” according to a posting on its craigslist blog Tuesday. […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 am
Feeborg/ Payfool’s M.O:
http://www.powersellersunite.com/viewtopic.php?p=152006#152006
( excerpt)
“Like Pharaoh or any other true tyrant, eBay doesn’t wait for prophesy to be realized, but instead kills in infancy. This is how it has come to be –and remains, according to Forbes– the #1 e-commerce brand worldwide. (The key word there is brand.) With the exception of Skype (which was not a competitor per se anyway), eBay buys out rivals when they are comparatively cheap, otherwise they simply sue. BidBay, trademark infringement, zapped, WorldAuctions.com, accused of having a feedback system, must be infringing, calls for injunction, whap, Alternabay, infringing, slap, Brickbay site for Legos, infringing, slap, slap,…….More often they see who is positioned to dominate any market and buy them before they get too big.
Since eBay went public it has been gorging on rivals and would-be peers of all kinds:
–1998, Up4Sale.com eaten up for pocket change
–1999, Butterfield & Butterfield consumed (and later spit out to Bonhams at a profit), also German Alandus consumed and made into eBay.de
–2000, Half.com consumed, eventually made into eBay Marketplaces
–2001, MercadoLibre (Latin America) and iBazar (France) consumed
–2002, PayPal
–2003, the Chinese EachNet and Internet Auction Co. (Korea)
–2004, Marktplaats.nl (83% share of Dutch market) and Baazee.com swallowed up (Baazee to become eBay India), while 25% share of Craigslist taken, plus acquisition of Rent.com.
–2005, UK Gumtree, German OpusForum, and Spanish Loquo (all classifieds), plus Shopping.com and Skype bought up
–2006, Swedish Tradera consumed, networking site MeetUp.com bought, and some nebulous deal with Google also confirmed, but details not fully disclosed
–2007, StubHub (tickets sales) consumed, GittyGidiyor.com (main Turkish auction site) underway, and StumbleUpon bought up (like a Digg for websites), plus Kijiji (classifieds) extended to the US (already being a market leader in Germany, Canada, France, Italy, China, India, Taiwan, and significantly, Japan)…….As to the Craigslist issue, a look at Kijiji is instructive. It is direct competition for Craigslist, which of course eBay already partly owns, and raises the question, will Craig sell to Kijiji rather than eBay? (EBay often starts out with only a minority share, e.g., EachNet, IAC, etc.) In the same way that an auction site depends critically on traffic, so do on-line classifieds. It looks to me that eBay would like to dominate non-print media classifieds the way they dominate e-auctions so bringing Kijiji to the US extends this effort, puts a choke collar on Craigslist, and also serves a purpose with Google Base. (Still only beta, has nothing to do with auctions now, but Google lists eBay items via Google Base Store Connector, they show up heavily in Product Finder, and there was also the deal in which Google became the single text-based advertiser for eBay in all non-US markets.)
EBay’s true goal seems to be to position itself, in one way or another, to get a cut of everything anyone attempts to sell outside of a brick-and-mortar store. ”
The good news is that CL has shown that the model works. The key may be for a PRIVATELY OWNED company structure.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
What eBay wants from craigslist is for it to go away and die in a corner. It’s that simple. You don’t trust a company that has a history of hyper-aggression towards any and all competition. I am a member of eBay but they are my second, if not third, choice. Whatever I am trying to accomplish in the marketplace, I consider craigslist first, and clearly what eBay would like is that I have no choice, as they would be the only choice. I have described craigslist to those who are unfamiliar as the Wild Wild West. In this shootout with eBay, I wish you all the best so to Craig, Jim and all who have changed the world as we know it … Go East and kick some ass.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
Everyone STOP using ebay for ANYTHING until they quit the unmerited lawsuit against CL. And email them just WHY you are quitting their bloated service.
Craig, this too, will pass. Use your best lawyers to vigorously defend, and know that there are million CL users who will also help if asked.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
I’ll repeat what’s been said a few times. What can we do to help?
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Ebay is going to need that stock. It was a very good investment. When the whole world has learned about Craigslist and no longer uses eBay, they can live on the proceeds of their CraigsList stock.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
[…] fired back in a blog post. “We are surprised and disappointed by Ebay’s unfounded allegations, which came to us out of the […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 am
Craigslist should start a PayPal account and allow people to donate money to help CL with this lawsuit. There would be a nice irony in that.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 am
This move comes as no surprise given the history. So the other aspect of FeeBorg I’ve been wondering about: Where is the FTC / other US Gov depts involved with Antitrust/ monopolistic practices? Or has ebay ‘bought’ enough political influence to keep a coin operated(?) Gov. from going after it? I would think this would be among the logical counter-moves.
How would FTC respond to massive requests by citizens & groups such as CL community members to go after the ebay monopoly? Shall we find out together? THEM’S FIGHTIN’ WORDS, ARRRR!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 am
Which part of NO does eBay not understand? N for nick or O for off
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
eBay is a bully and has a bullying culture. It is a place that rewards this type of behavior in its leaders. As a former eBayer — I know first hand. Don’t be intimidated by a bully.
Craig - you did the right thing by calling them out.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
What is up with the management team at craigslist? These jack#$%’s have no idea how to run a company. They wouldn’t have all the problems they’re facing if there was more then two people on their board, Craig and Jim. The closed nature of craigslist is the root to their problems. Big companies need a certain level of transparency to keep them honest. If they were smart they would expand their board including the CEO of eBay.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
I just cashed out of Paypal (E(vil)Bay’s evil step child - I left them with the .20 cents they gave me to verify my account. I won’t use e(vil)Bay again - not even for comparison shopping - as the prices aren’t real…
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
I haven’t used used Craigslist (yet) though I knew of your existence.
But you have just earned a whole book of adhesive gold stars in my esteem now.
I will see if I can use Craigslist somehow in the future.
EBay has become a greedy bully, forcing their sellers off their site (by fee-ing them to death) and attempting to force their proprietary and unsafe system of Paypal down all members throats with lies that it is for their own protection (when it is really for eBay’s unearned profits).
Go David. Rah, rah, rah David. Aim that slingshot at Goliath.
Don’t let Goliath bully you or take over you as they are trying to do with all their competition.
You have earned my respect by taking on this bully.
EBay has earned the contempt of thousands (maybe millions) of formerly loyal members, by their recent short term profit -only business plan.
Stay true to your convictions and don’t let them suck your company dry.
We, who never paid attention to Craigslist before, are out here, taking notice, and liking what we see.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
And Paypal along with them. Craigslist is the real deal and always keeps it real. These companies have lost it entirely. Don’t give in to them. Don’t even wait around for them to try again. Buy out their shares and send them packing. Give us a number. We’ll altogether buy their arses out! The war against the haves and the have nots will be won by us! Hillary GO HOME!
EBAY GO HOME! Corporate outsourcers…just die!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
For all the people that want to know the TRUTH? Why do you confront CL about providing the details of the lawsuit the EBAY has filed? Do you not think that the burden of proof should lie with the the plaintiff? Why does EBAY not provide the details of their complaint with craigslist? Probably because this is just another attempt to run a competitor against the wall by making them come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend against a lawsuit that might not even have any real grounds.
In the legal system, two parties face off until one runs out of money, and then the other has won. In the e-world today, who do you think has a bigger budget for lawyers, EBAY or CL?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hmm I think Ill Start a brand new site called “Free Bay ”
fuckers
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Say ‘NO!’ to
Korporate Kommie Krapitalism
Say NO! to ebay!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
ebaY purchased Craiglist stock in a backdoor and sleazy way - the standard ebaY operatiing method. There is no doubt some nasty and nefarious plan behind this ebaY suit, but unfortunately ebaY HAS bought way more influence than should be legal! No one is regulating ebaY/PayPal so they will do whatever they want, whenever they want, until someone has the deep enough pockets to sue them successfully without settlement, or some legislator has the guts to regulate them.
There is already an ebaY Boycott scheduled starting 1 May 08, and this suit is one more VERY good reason for everyone to cease doing business on ebaY, buying, or selling. Even better, move ALL your ebaY business to CL - that would be a real kick!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
eBay is nothing but a bunch of cry babies. They bneed to wake up to the fact that what they own of craigslist is all they are going to get. Nobody wants eBay here they do need to move on. If they are so unhappy then sell the stock they own and move on no hard feelings. If they are going to this much trouble over nothing then that clearly shows that they are dis-honest and are using this as a way to gain ground on craigslist. Just more bad behavior from eBay, for once they found someone they CAN’T push around.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
eBAY sucks dick anyway; don’t give up.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
Ebay is attacking craigslist just as they have attacked other entities that threaten their MONOPOLY of the online market. They will attempt to OWN c/l just like they did with preypal, skype and others.
What’s next? Ebay going to go after onlineauction.com? Ioffer? ecrater? etsy? all the rest?
Join the worldwide boycott http://www.myspace.com/boycottebay or http://www.forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Stick to your guns, Craigslist. Any FREE online classified ads has my backing (even tho I don’t like CL’s ‘flag ads’ that is exploited on the Pets section!). Something smells rotten in de bay, since the beginning of this year esp., like they themselves have been a victim of a hostile takeover. CYA!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
[…] its 28% shareholder ownership of the company. Craigslist then fired back with some pointed blog postings and claimed the bad guys over at eBay were acting […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
[…] an appropriately named Blog post, a posting called “Tainted Love“, Craig says “Ebay has absolutely no reason to feel threatened here - unless of course […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
[…] a blog entry posted on its site Tuesday night, Craigslist said it was
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Love craigslist….. Down with ebay!!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
I am sure craigslist with get through this. I love both craigslist and ebay not sure what ebay’s motives are behind this.
I feel this mostly have to do with the competition that craigslist poses to ebay. Just send a open notice to all craigslist users we are all united and ready to help
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
You hang in there craigslist…Ebay is just getting greedier and greedier all the time..
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
It is amazing and shocking to me that anybody would take side with eBay on this. Craigslist owners have set-up a great precedent of what all in the world need to learn - just enough that you need. Going beyond that is greedy. I liked the quote where Craig said (paraphrasing) “I make money and then find ways to give it back - instead, I will leave it this way”.
eBay and all other large corporations represent greedy people - and they have no clue what mess they have got themselves into!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Digg this Blog posting here:
http://digg.com/tech_news/eBay_Has_Filed_Suit_Against_Craigslist
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Thank you for informing me of this. Now I realize how much of a scumbag company eBay is.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
does anyone notice ebays reaction is also similar to what they did to Google checkout almost a year ago? Google check out invited everyone to join them for the Boston Tea Party at Ebay Live and then ebay pulled the Google adwords like a day later. Tantrum management huh? What do you all think about that? Maybe we can all send them some of those big baby pacifiers or personalized baby bibs just like what they did for the Jericho TV show with the peanuts! We could go viral everybody. Lets show them the power of all of US in the magical community of Craigslist! Just because we can!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Fight them.
I already sent them an email stating that I will leave ebay if they dont stop whast theyre doing. I despise monopolistic behemoths. I do a lot f ebaying but ill close my account.
Ill live.
jb
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
[…] they were going to delivery peanuts to the CBS offices to fight for Jericho to be renewed? I posted this on the Craigslist blog this morning. does anyone notice ebays reaction is also similar to what they […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
“they will end up losing so much goodwill (assuming they had any to begin with)”
No, I can attest that they in fact, have *no* goodwill. Not to mention the bloodsucking paypal doesn’t either.
Frankly, if ebay wants to pursue this crap, maybe people need to look in to regulating ebay’s countless scam auctions like giving full disclosure as to their rates. Also, maybe provide some *real* customer service. And, it’s time that paypal be regulated like the bank it pretends to be.
I take much comfort in the fact that as ebay scrolls through these posts that they can do nothing to delete them,l like they do over on their own site. One has to wonder if that’s what they really want to do here.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
[…] (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/22/BUKE10A0NV.DTL 4/23, http://blog.craigslist.org/2008/04/tainted-love […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I am sick and tired of Ebay gobbling up their competition and that is what I believe they are up to. Just another reason why I am glad I jumped the Ebay ship as it is the Titanic —- sinking into the abyss—–just another Amazon wanabee.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
[…] and there are concerns that the lawsuit is part of an attempt to seize the rest. craigslist seems baffled by the whole thing: We are surprised and disappointed by Ebay’s unfounded allegations, which […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
This is total bull****. Why can’t people just get their riches on there own. Craigslist is a totally awesome way for people to sell or get rid of stuff they no longer want. I will never stop using Craigslist. I have bought quite a few things on it and will continue. EBay is totally out of line here, how exactly are they being “theatened”? They make enough money, leave Craigslist alone!
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Excellent posts of support.
Now, someone must STAND UP and purchase these 28% from eBay.
Come on, folks, now, really. What would it take? Just get it off bastard’s hands.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Behind CL 200%
You should start an auction site- you have something Ebay’s lost - RESPECT.
Good luck!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
As an online merchant, I recall the days when I received bogus emails saying ” I want to purchase your products, but will only do so if you accept Paypal”
In response, I told the respective customer not to hold their breath. I do Not accept Paypal today, I will never accept Paypal ever.
We still don’t, merchants who use Pay Pal, are generally not approved by Banks as Legitimate Merchants, hence they trade by Paypal.
Your friends will be soooo jealous..
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
“To be perfectly clear, Ebay’s stake in craigslist has not been unfairly diluted as they have claimed.”
So was it diluted fairly?
And what about the allegations you were diluting poor Knowlton too?
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Pat Kenefick,
Craigslist never sold stock shares to Ebay, one of their shareholders did so in secret and the sale wasn’t known until after the fact. Slick ebay tactics and imho, they placed a mole in Craigslist to achieve this sale. Ebay’s been trying to get a hold of more Craigslist stock ever since and for no other reason than to take it over or crush it out of existence to be replaced with yet another ebay monopoly.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Wow, surprised there are a few eBay shills here. Hey, CL doesn’t have to give you any info about its internal financials because it’s a privately held company. Lawsuit documents are sealed, why is that? You should be asking eBay, but then you’re really paid by them.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hey guys you are #1!!! I think Ebay have some problems …. and this lawsuit is the most stupid move they’ve done. We are a little classified site in Italy… but not as little than kijiji ! :-)) we all are fan of craigslist!!! Have a lot of luck Craig & Jim and please….. let ebay enjoy their minority stake ! hahahahaha …. Paolo
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
GO CRAIGSLIST GO. I am not used to feeling strongly about anything but Craigslist is an exception, its just a great, great, service for the average person who wants to get real things done in their life. Whereas EBAY got me a pair of “lightly used” ugg boots that looked like road kill. Thanks Craigslist, thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks. I will march for you, bike for you and I will even WEAR those ugh boots just to make a point.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Like many others here, I love Craigslist. I may not have used it to the extent that others have, but over the years it’s no doubt saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars in listing fees had I used eBay or newspaper classifieds. And the friendships I’ve made with people met through Craigslist (mostly roommates) I consider priceless.
To that end, I have an idea for how you could offer to buy out eBay’s shares without having to come up with a large sum of money. Pick a generous valuation for the stock…hopefully it’s around or under $200 per share. Then, through the Craigslist site, allow users to purchase 1-10 shares each. Make sure that every buyer agrees to a legalese document limiting shareholder rights (like the minority shareholder rights to sue that eBay is exercising). You could even allow these shares to be traded on the Craigslist website, so they won’t be valueless.
I see this as a win for everyone, with the possible exception of eBay should their motivation be to sabotage Craigslist. For eBay, they get to sell their shares at a profit. For Craigslist, the eBay lawsuit goes away and the core community values are strengthened. And for us users, it gives us a chance to own a small piece of an organization that we believe in and makes our lives better.
(IANAL, of course, so there could be some legal reason why this idea wouldn’t work)
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Even if Craigslist diluted the shares - so what? Many companies dilute their shares for various reasons.
Ebay’s possession of Craigslist stock was a hostile takeover as they were unsolicited by the main partners. The partner who sold out to eBay is a self-absorbed and potentially immature jerk. They knew what they were doing and they sold out a great site - against the wishes of the other partners who built the site.
There are too many monopolies growing out there. KUDOS to craigslist for staying their own course and not selling out for the money. I am sure it would be an easier decision to sell of their baby and move on to another venture - but they don’t. This keeps the site free for us to access and use.
Ebay is just another google - sellouts.
I believe strongly in capitalism - I also do not believe that healthy capitalism includes gluttony or greed.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
C’mon, did you REALLY think Egay buying a stake in CL was a GOOD thing?? Please. Ebay is the biggest SCUMBAGS on the web. Craig, bubby, you can’t be THAT dumb, can ya? Well, you’re a web developer, so that’s one strike. But THINK about it. Well, CL has been going downhill themselves for a while now, so, it’ll be crash and burn, hopefully for both. The egos always take over
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Fuck Ebay. Simply put… Fuck Ebay.
Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em,Fuck ‘em, FUCK ‘EM!
Jesus, come on… you’re going to pick on a dot org??? really, Ebay?
Trying to kill the spirit of honest, easy and casual exchange of product,idea and social connection through a simple, easy and consistent resource,e.g. craigslist? you suck and you know it, too.
I hope you burn down in a firery helicopter crash like leonard skynard!
Account removed as of today and nexer to return.
Good luck, craig and remember, you have the support of an entire community behind you–
Cheers!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I just pulled all my adds and watches off ebay. Maybe if enough people do the same, this greedy corporation will get the message to back off c-list.
Boycott ebay!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Craigslist is great. EBay is very greedy. How can we help? Community in action!! The Craigslist community!
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Hang in there guys! While I am primarily an eBay seller, using Craigslist only occasionally, the manner in which eBay does business is questionable at best. As far as I’m concerned, Craigslist is yours and if the courts have half a brain, they will rule in your favor. If there is anything that we can do, please let us know. I’m quite certain the small and vintage sellers on eBay will be behind you all the way
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
abajo el puto ebay monopolio
fuck ebay monopoly
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Anymore eBay is a joke. New Mr, CEO John Don-Hole will stop at nothing to destroy eBay with some of the stupidest ideas I have seen. To get my business degree I had to work my ass off, this guy Mr. Don-Hole must have gotten his out of a box of Cracker Jack. It’s not enough that he is hell bent of killing what little business there is left on eBay, but now he has to pick o other people as well. What’s the matter don-Hole is Kijiji not working out for you the way you wanted it to? It sure is a bitch when you run into someone that you can’t bully, you run with your tail betwin your legs and cry foul and sue. You are a real big man, just wait for your fall to come. I would just love to see Craigslist start an auction site and put your ass out of work just like all the others that you have run off ebay, And if your are reading this Don-Hole you are a moron kiss my ass. Is that enough NOISE for you
Somewhere in the world a village is missing it’s idiot, just look on eBay you will find him he’s the guy running the company.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Ebay is a big bully who is obviously playing dirty! Craiglist is offering for free what they charge for so they are using strongarm legal manuevers to squash Craiglist! It’s simple and easy to use. I haven’t used Ebay in years, the site got too complex and it was hard to use for local stuff. I discovered Craiglist last year and it’s the greatest!
I’m sure Ebay planned this all along in a backroom with their coniving team of unscrupulous lawyers! I’ll never use that site again.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Key words minority share holder!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Craigslist is public? Ebay fucking has stock in Craigslist? Holy shit!
Is there a competitor for Ebay i can use from now on????
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I am extremely happy with Craigslist and more than a little disapointed with eBay.
The good folks at Craigslist are providing a great service to individual buyers and sellers that is sincerely appreciated.
Keep up the good work. Don’t let the greedy slugs at eBay get you down!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Everyone must patronize craigslist on a certain week or day, by listing something for sale. If everyone listed just ONE thing that they normally would have listed on feebay, that would be so special!
Pick a day, any day will do!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
In fairness to eBay. I think we should all call eBay’s Media contact and get their side of the story.
Media Contact
Kim Rubey, eBay Inc.
408.376.7458
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
i own the unethical.com domain name.
would you guys like to use it for a bit?
joe
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I think we all love Craigslist… but that’s not really the issue here. Let’s not be too hasty to jump to conclusions.
All I really know so far is that EBay isn’t happy with the fact that Mr. Newmark and Mr. Buckmaster allegedly diluted EBay’s ownership interest unfairly and without representation.
As I understand it EBay owns (or owned prior to dilution) 28% of Craigslist. That’s a pretty big chunk, and in most companies it’s worthy of board representation. If you buy 28% of something, you ought to have some say in what happens to it. But my understanding of Craigslist’s board is that Mr. Newmark and Mr. Buckmaster are the only two members, and that EBay is not represented at all. (A two person board member consisting only of insiders is generally not considered proper corporate governance anyway.)
And what Mr. Newmark and Mr. Buckmaster apparently did was reduce EBay’s ownship stake of the company without EBay’s OK, which is a legitimate beef if it’s true. (Would you want your bank reducing your savings account balance by 10% without your permission?)
If that is indeed the case, then I think it’s fair to say that EBay’s interests are underrepresented on Craigslist’s board. EBay has every right to that representation because it paid for shares of the company. That’s exactly what shares of the company represent — and Mr. Newmark and Mr. Buckmaster know that.
I certainly would be saddened to see Craigslist change and become more commercial, but if it does, don’t blame EBay. Blame Mr. Newmark for not being more judicious in issuing shares of his company. He is the one who decided early on to issue shares to someone who wasn’t on board with his long-term vision for Craigslist — someone who would later sell out. And also blame Mr. Newmark for not putting together a more equitable board that includes representation for EBay. Had he done so, EBay probably would not have grounds for the lawsuit they are filing.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Here we go a fight…… I’m a member to both services e-bay and craigslist.org..
Sounds like ebay wants everyone to pay there fee’s and dissolve craigslist.org in the furture.. Glad you all foresaw this..
Lawsuits and money and agreements…. “Can’t we all get along
I would like to sell my Chopper But I can’t afford E-bay at this time..
If those e’bayers start slinging mud …
I WILL NEVER USE THEIR SERVICES IN MY LIFE TIME..
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
They just tipped their hand, this was their plan from the beginning. Anyone surprised, is just being naive.
Maybe the time is ripe for a CLASS ACTION lawsuit or three, against ebay from all the people who they have tried to manipulate. It isn’t hard to come up with grounds on a number of fronts.
Write to the FTC & complain about Feeborg & Payfool’s monopolistic practices. My, there’s a class action suit just waiting to happen, right there!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
We eBay sellers may just be noise, but Craigslist has a great opportunity not just to defend itself against eBay, but to be the first one to cause difficulty to eBay in its disrespectful and arrogant path that focuses on profit and nothing else.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Does ebay EVER get tired of fucking it’s customers? How many times have I (or you) heard the sentence ” I USED to sell on ebay”? I’ve said and heard it at least one thousand times, minimum.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
And one more thing:
FUCK EBAY
………..just had to say it…………….you know how it is…….let’s make it an internet mantra
April 24th, 2008 at 12:25 am
You guys rock!!! The ebay refugees are all rooting for you. Ebay is pretty much out to screw everyone these days. Don’t give in just because they happen to be the biggest bully on the block. Just wish you would start your own alternative auction site.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:26 am
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=2000556933&tstart=0&mod=1209019309039
So you will know that you are truly our heroes.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am
In the past 3 months, I sold about $750 on eBay and bought about $2200 worth the goods. I also sold $1000 on craigslist for an old tool (Delta DJ20 Jointer) and bought about $400 worth the goods. I view both sites as equalizers for the middle class. As retail prices get ever higher you can always find used equivalents cheaper through these two sites.
I am deeply bothered about this malevolent lawsuit. Our nation has become an extraordinary nation of greedy businessmen. I think, as a small guy, boycotting eBay would be one way to send a message that their malevolent actions do not meet with my approval. If enough eBayers (100,000+) have a similar reaction and let eBay know their sentiments, may be eBay will reconsider its greed.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Simply put … It all boils down to greed.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:21 am
I’m researching the feelings and attitudes towards Ebay by current and ex members and issues like this are invaluable to it, I to like the format of Craigslist and hope sincerely that you keep working as your members want (which you do very well now).
Have bookmarked the blog and will be avidly reading the comments that it receives…
April 24th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Ebay is a GIANT monster and will go at great lengths to step on people and companies that they feel get in their GREEDY way! As an ex-seller on ebay we are boycotting Ebay May 1st to stop this Greed Craigslist has given so many people an opportunity without any selfish whims! YOU GO CRAIG! Don’t let this monster push you down!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs3o3Ed3Rog
http://www.accknowl.com/
April 24th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Well eBay blogger, eBay is a PITA to use, they encourage a monopoly by paypal, the site is too complex and too commercial. I was looking for a used travel trailer and all I got when I searched was a bunch of RV dealers pushing their wares, with ads repeating over and over.
On top of that, someone stole my identity there once, I had to go to the real time help site to get that cleared up! My user name there is jan_rn, I haven’t used the site for years, I was only a buyer.
Paypal also turned out to be a PITA, and I have no idea what email I’m even registered on with them. I hate the unholy alliance between paypal and eBay.
This lawsuit seals the deal as far as my disdain for eBay, talk about bully tactics!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:26 am
(Not to get off topic; refer to my earlier posts. ) http://www.powersellersunite.com/ points to a number of useful alternative venues for those wanting to jump ship from FEEBORG/ PAYFOOL. There is a useful site volume count at http://www.powersellersunite.com/auctionsitewatch.php
Their forums are quite helpful in coming up the learning curve. It is not sales volume alone, each venue has it peculiarities & quirks; & there are many specialty sites that may work better for some.
( also, don’t get suckered into buying “google adwords for free”- it’s a scam. When you Google it, remember to include ” misrepresentation” etc. or you won’t find the real information as a lot of people are hyping it.
http://www.24hourtrading.co.uk/blog/the-get-google-ads-free-site-is-a-complete-scam-267/
Again, it’s appropriate to organize CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS, Antitrust & probably racketeering charges against ebay/ paypal, which fronts like a bank but has skated around FTC & other regulation until now. It’s time to go after their weak spots, not just sitting around complaining about those that would pimp us. Contact your government representatives!
April 24th, 2008 at 11:37 am
You can tell ebay is getting desperate when they do something so underhanded, pathetic and stupid and succeed in showing their true colors.
They’ve been having more than their share of bad press lately (self imposed), between the fraud they promote that now runs rampant on their site to the way they’ve begun destroying the site by treating their customers (the sellers), who built them from the ground up, like last weeks trash.
I hope this latest ebay blunder opens the eyes of many, as to what ebay truly stands for… their own dishonest, greedy, gluttonous monster appetites.
They stand for all that is disgusting and evil in big business.
~~~GO CRAIG and JIM, we’re all cheering for you!~~~
(: (: (: ~~~WE LOVE CRAIGSLIST!~~~
:) 
April 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I hate ebay!
Stay away from them Craig! You’re a good soul with a great business.
For the little people like me, please do us a favor and avoid the evil empire…
April 24th, 2008 at 11:50 am
this is just one more reason for me to GET OUT OF EBAY !!! it’s not right to have to pay fees for off times when I’m NOT selling on ebay.
GOOD LUCK GUYS !!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
[…] such an out-of-the-blue action, Craigslist wonders if their isn’t more to the story. Craigslist’s Corporate Blog states “Coming from a shareholder that views Craigslist as a prime competitor, filing suit […]
April 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
[…] blog: Tainted Love, noticia en el NYTimes, reacción en reddit, […]
April 24th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Korporate Kommie Krapitalism = KKK
Say NO! to ebay!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
[…] is thinking that Ebay is planning a hostile takeover of Craigslist.org or a sale of their stock to an unfriendly party. Craigslist is dismissing all negative comments […]
April 24th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
It will be a cold day in hell that I will give eBay any more of my business. I can’t stand a company that first acts like your friend then turns on you. I can remember back in the late 1990’s eBay would show up at collector’s shows and ask people’s options and they really did listen to people. Then when the “Queen” can in to run the company after a few years I started seeing very disturbing behavior. eBay has become the school yard bully, they will try to push anyone they can around including there customers, that would be the sellers the people that are paying the bills, not the buyers, but as usual eBay gets it ass backwards. Pad there listings by offering discount days, if they can offer discount days then they can lower there damm fees. And lets not forget when they padded there listings, got caught then could not even get there bull shit story straight. This time they are finding out they are not going to push Craigslist around.
A funny article I read about this, some clown from eBay stated that the layout of Craigslist has not changed since it first started, big deal at least there site works, that’s more then I can say about eBay’s technical nightmare. I think I just might be shocked if the site ever worked. The worst thought in the world would be if eBay got control of Craigslist, I could just see Best Match on Craigslist. eBay you are a minority share holder, you have little to no say, so sell you stock or shut up. Leave Craigslist alone, No body wants you around, get the hint.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Support the boycott.
Go to eBay > Community > Seller Central
(boycott threats are on the last page - eBay has placed them there to shut posters up).
April 24th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I find myself very disappointed in Ebay. Greed is a sad and sorry thing.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:07 am
I think that a boycott is just like a crash diet, yea it seams good but after a little while everything will be back to normal again. The only way to realy have a long term effect on ebay will be to make quiting a life style change. It is very hard to quit ebay. They have gotten me way more at times than I thought I should have for junk around my shop.
On another note— I think that those 15,000 ebay employes are probably the ones posting junk car ads on CL, over and over and over.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Hey Craig:
Ever think of starting an auction site here. The timing is perfect with myself and tons of other ebay sellers looking for a new auction site to sell at??????????????????????
April 25th, 2008 at 7:59 am
If there was some way for me to make my -JUNK- viewable across the nation in one easy search, it seems I could get more for it. That is one of the big things ebay had done for me. ——— I guess it is hard to stay small and get big at the same time. Ebay got big and just seams to want to get bigger. They are about profit and not serving the needs of there users. If you got big but did it by meeting the needs of the people it seems that would be ok.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Someone from Corporate Craigslist should put Craigslist up for sale on eBay.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I don’t think Ebay will be happy until EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET hates them.
Take heart, we’re all behind you while you stand up to the big bad bully idiot that we all know as Ebay.
Hell, take heart. The way they’re running Ebay right now, they may be bankrupt by the time the suit actually goes to court and you’ll win by default.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I am soooo looking forward to the day that Ebay gets called out on all of the unethical dealings they have been involved in. I am a seller who has recently left that site because I just can’t stand being apart of it anymore. I don’t care what the spin-doctors are saying—sales are falling and the prices are dropping so low that it is not even worth it to sell there anymore. Non-paying and fraudulent bidders are flocking over there in droves.
I am a total believer in the replies made by Craigslist and I hope this can set a precedence in the future for online auctions.
If Ebay is allowed to continue on doing business the way they have been, it looks bleak for any fair market auctions in the future. They want a total monopoly and will do whatever they want to get that. They have been bulling thier sellers too. They own Paypal as well. That is a lot of power already. They have a lot in common with Walmart.
How boring for consumers. How sad.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I am an ebay power-seller from the past, who rarely sells on ebay now. Selling is impossible on ebay now because of a feature called Best Match in their search system, also their fees are WAY too high.
Do not let ebay manipulate craigslist. Ebay is destroying itself, and wants to take Craigslist with it.
I am going to start listing all my items for sale on Craigslist. Sorry ebay…….You Fail.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:46 am
it’s all $$$ driven/involved. let’s beat eBay to death by adding more powerful search. Go Craiglist!!!
April 26th, 2008 at 4:11 am
I’m a big fan of Craiglist and also trade on e-bay.
What were you guys thinking when you let the enemy into your house?
April 26th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I have never sold on C/L but I am going to start. I hope they would start an auction site, then alot of people would leave ebay. Ebay has alot of traffc and that why people sell on ebay. Also Start a fund for the battle you are going to have with ebay, It will take years. I wish C/L the best and I am going to open up an account and start listing today. I am trying to get away from ebay but because of the traffic I sell on ebay. I purchase My own merchant account and soon I will stop accepting paypal.
Stand Tall and start a battle fund to support legal troubles you are going to have with ebay
April 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am
As an engineer at ebay, all I could think when I saw the news was, “Surely, there’s another place to work.” Frankly, I doubt that CL is always right about everything, but for eBay to sue CL is off the charts stupid. eBay had no business grabbing that 25% in the first place. It’s a shame, because my co-workers are really nice, sweet people. But it’s as if I am working for the Bush administration or something. I feel dirty. I’ll be updating my resume this weekend.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Be strong Craigslist we ebay refugees stand behind you.
Here is a great video for the upcoming global boycott which includes Australia, UK, Canada, Germany and the U.S.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32286043
April 26th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Hey, all ebay sellers $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ check out ONLINEAUCTION.COM
April 26th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Of course I would like to see eBay smacked around. Just as they have done to us buyers and sellers and other Companies. No protection is ever offered to you as a buyer or seller. Yet alone respect.
Let’s say CL is in the wrong…. Well, create a new site now for us to follow you. No one else can create a CL; we need you, we need your vision. I have spent an hour reading all the entries and I am proud that you have such an intellectual crowd. Our enery is with the founders of CL NOT ebay. Only the best to CL.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Bah… everyone BOYCOTT !!!
April 27th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I HAVE BEEN WITH EBAY FOR 3 YEARS AS A SELLER AND BUYER, AND I JUST SAW THE BLOG ON THE LAWSUIT AGAINST CRAIGSLIST. THEY JUST LOST ME! THEY ARE ALL ABOUT TAKING YOU FOR EVERY CENT THAT THEY CAN SQUEEZE OUT OF YOU, THANK YOU CRAIGSLIST, AND I WILL DO MY BUSINESS HERE FROM NOW ON!
April 28th, 2008 at 1:14 am
The problem for CL, as I see It, is ironically It’s very sucess.Obviously I have no idea of It’s market value but If ebay is worth $40 billion as I heard,could’nt one guess CL is worth at least $2 billion, making ebays share worth like $560 million? Or more? lots of cash at play here. Ebay and the ‘Ho - understand this.CL has user loyalty. Something you threw away. I myself am willing, as I’m sure ALL CL users will WORLDWIDE, to throw serious cash @ CL to buy you out or defend them thru legal proceedings. Craig - ALL you have to do is ask. Think about it.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:21 am
But also consider the fact that this is all PR to the eventual sale to ebay. Craig would be extremely wealthy. To Hell w/ the sellers/users.TheEXTREME GREED the avg.person is experiencing WILL ultimately destroy us all. INCLUDING the greedy bastards
April 28th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Craig, why do I have a terrible knot in my stomach telling me CL as I know It Is about to be gobbled up? We would hope you are staying.With all due respect Craig,Was your philosophy towards wealth recently thrown out the window?I absolutely mean NO disrespect
April 28th, 2008 at 3:05 am
sounds like politics, not money. ebay representing the morality police, trying to shut down the liberal thoughts and actions available on craigslist.
talk is meg witchman wants to follow arnold to sacramento, and is looking for a
path to his right to get there. that’s all we need. she’d have everyone’s data, you’d never be able to access you account, and you’d never get a tax refund, even though it would be right there in your paypal account.
what does the judas get, anyway?
April 28th, 2008 at 3:43 am
I guess EBAY needs to compensate for their higher seller fee loss, dedicated sellers shutting their doors, and Paypal fees stuck to not just sellers but buyers as well!! I “USED” to be a seller on EBAY. FEES!! FEES!! FEES!! Craigslist rocks not just because it is a free community, but because
it still grasps the concept of “community” itself.
Ebay should back off.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:42 am
hang in there craigeslist ,[ E BAY SUCKS] you are much to check things out than E bay maybe thats why they feel threaten by you , just another big business trying to push out a amaller one
April 28th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Are the “recent unilateral actions” as asserted in paragraph 4 of eBay’s PR outlined anywhere?
My knee-jerk reaction is to side with Craigslist. I’m a long time user and a huge fan of Craig Newmark. But I’m curious as to what exactly eBay has accused Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster of.
CN and JB _did_ agree to eBay’s minority position in CL. And they profited from the decision. That being the reality, eBay must have some reason to think they’re stake has been “unfairly diluted.”
What have CN and JB done? Right, wrong, or otherwise. Links to authoritative info on this?
April 28th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I am so happy that someone introduced me to Craig’s List about two weeks ago. This site has gave me the help I needed to be able to purchase items for my family that I would not have normally been able to. I am really upset that eBay thinks they need to stick there nose in to where it does not belong. Hopefully alot more people will find out about Craig’s List and there will no longer be any eBay. Go Craig’s List. Thanks so much!
April 28th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I have been very impressed with Craigslist. I have had good luck both selling and buying on this website,,,and the icing on the cake,,,meeting some nice people as well.
I don’t use e-bay,,,it is confusing to us seniors. Craigslist keeps it simple stupid…if you know what I mean.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
April 28th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY
April 28th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Let the CL’ers pitch in and buy all of Ebays shares and dump the GREEDbay site. Who needs them anyway. What will it take to buy them out? GO Craigslist!!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I am very glad to see the establishment of the Craigslist Blog. My congratulations!
In the mid 1970s, I pulled Homefinders Bulletin out of near bankruptcy and designed it into probably the historically first commercially successful computerized information system. Now I’m the founder of post-science, knowledge beyond science, and no longer runs any information transfer business, but still very fond of the memory running HB.
Starting from 1975, I used the first two year to run all the rental information competitors of HF out of business, except UC Berkeley Housing Office, first year to ruin their reputation in service and the second year, their income. When some of my innovations became effective, HF received threatening phone calls to bomb (!) its office from the Housing Office (!). I told the office workers not to give up, but I would not be going to the office for a while. In the third year, the 30 years old local newspaper Berkeley Gazette folded.
From my experience with HF, I wrote The Computer Newspaper, a business plan for expanding HF into an Internet newspaper, which should replace almost all the newspapers in the world. Craigslist is currently the frontrunner in the competition in this grand prize in business.
Here is the interesting part about eBay. If you open up a newspaper, eBay started as one of the least respected section of the classified section dealing with auctions. HF deals with one of the most profitable and important part, the rental classified section. Craigslist can run eBay out of business without even compete with it directly in auctions. CL is in a far better position to capture the Computer Newspaper than eBay by its efficiency of operation.
My tentative suggestion for CL is to offer to buy back the 25% eBay own. Whatever price eBay asks should be raised by no-string-attached donations or some business operations which can generate the necessary revenue, but do not affect CL current public service operation. As the founder of a knowledge company (PSI), my suggestion for a profitable subsidiary of CL is to start a knowledge company selling analyzed statistical data cllected from CL.
I am glad to see that Craigslist is led by people (Jim and Craig) who are not corruptible by money. Knowingly or not, craigslist can become one of the most powerful companies, if not the most powerful, in the world. There will be far greater temptation in the future than now, and now is the time to settle all the future possible problems. I, as a retired information transfer business operator, am at your service, as a public service. Thank you for your attention. ### HC http://www.post-science.com
April 28th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
i tryed to get on ebay but they wanted to charge me to post an item on there. I like Craig’s list . so go for it craig’s list !!!!!!!!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
HOW CAN ANYONE NOT LIIKE CRAIGSLIST ? ABSURD !
April 29th, 2008 at 1:55 am
I am always on your side. Craigslist is great. I listed my listings, I rented my house, I found my job in Craiglsit and more. You are great. Thanks.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:56 am
While I do not pretend to know the exact allegations raised by Ebay, my thought would be that this case will not be a winner. These suits are very difficult to prosecute. It will be tied up in court for many years.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Craigs’s List has provided a fantastic service and I am really discouraged that this is happening. In the area where I grew up we have a small statewide publication called Uncle Henry’s which is a published (paper) free classified ads service. You pay like $1.50 for each month’s Uncle Henry’s at the local convenience store. It’s terrific and it’s a great way to find stuff. I am so excited about Craig’s List because it’s like a huge version of Uncle Henry’s!
Hopefully this all gets resolved.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Craig may be a wonderful (and refreshingly different) person but that does not mean he is beyond the law. If there are laws in place to protect minority shareholders (such as eBay in Craigslist) then they need to be respected.
Ebay negotiated with its purchase with the whole Craigslist board back when and even if Craig regrets their decision, he can’t go around trying to dilute the position of stakeholders whose views may not be aligned with his.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Seriously, this law suit will cost a fortune. You should take us up on offers to help. I would for sure donate monies to the cause. I am sure millions of CL users would.
If everyone gave between 20 and 50 that would be awesome! Don’t let them eat you alive and drain your bank accounts.
Maybe Bill Gates could help LOL
You guys are awesome and the least corrupt.
Ebay has been creating a monopoly for years. Why the hell isn;t it being stopped?
April 29th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
While it’s not easy to comment on this without all the facts, my bias is towards CL since eBay is like the Goliath in the ads battle against CL’s David. Hey, I like rooting for the underdog.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:04 am
I really want Ebay to fail in this lawsuit. They have enough of the market. They have also proven to be irresponsible with their growth and profits, and disloyal to their core member base.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:32 am
As a small business owner (www..mallpros.com/index.php?store=bigmoneymaker) I hate it when the big players try to keep another player from getting just as big. This is America for heavens sake. Everyone has the right and privelege to expand and be profitable.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Big business need a check… Please obolish Ebay and CL… if ebut has kijiji then Craig should create “buck the list” or “Bucksters List” or “Save a buck and List with us” or maybe “Buck’s List” (in honor of Buckmaster). With new companies coming to the web everyday it may be no time at all until Buck’s List appears and Craigslist disappears… Oh sorry ebay dudes your shares are worth nothing now
The greatest thing about CL is you don’t get screwed by THE MAN. I have read the Craig doesn’t care about the money, if that’s the case then a bold move like “Buck’s List” would endear him even more to the loyal CL hordes.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
CraigsList services far more purposes than eBay. It is hard to believe that an 800 pound gorilla company could be so threatened a group such as CL. Sad, really sad.
janis
April 30th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
[…] Source: [1] Craig Newmark’s blog: Tainted Love [2] Associated Press: EBay makes public its complaint […]
May 1st, 2008 at 4:33 am
Ever since I discovered CL, I’ve all but stopped using eBay. I had long hated eBay’s abusive cost structure for sellers and abhorrent support system. I admire CL’s ethics. CL is what the Internet ought to be used for.
I was very disappointed when I learned that eBay owned a sizeable amount of CL stocks. I am now glad to hear that eBay is trying to incite trouble with CL because I hope that CL will sever this cancer from its back as a result. eBay’s interest in CL can only have been for one reason - to eventually absorb it and further dominate the market.
The fact that eBay is suing is a good thing. It tells me they are not getting their way. Hat’s off to CL!
May 1st, 2008 at 4:42 am
Inside Out: “I don’t love anybody who screws *anybody* out of their rightful money, and the millionaire founders of CL don’t get a pass because they run a cool website. They should be subject to the same rules as the rest of us.”
Inside Out? Should be Ass Backwards. You know for a fact that Buckmaster and Newmark are millionaires? You have any idea what CL’s revenue is and what their operating expenses are? Maybe the rules should apply to eBay too, as it’s quite evident they violated the Shareholders’ Agreement in the first place.
All the idiots demanding they spill the beans obviously have no knowledge of things like gag orders, nor the fact that any counsel worth its salt has instructed them to be very careful in public statements. Get a freaking clue…I’m not sure if you’re willfully ignorant, or intentionally trying to sabotage Craigslist’s defense.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:25 am
[…] closely-held Craigslist in the Delaware Court of Chancery for diluting its stake. Last week, in a blog entry posted on its site, Craigslist said it was
May 1st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Does anyone remember, *very* recently, Margaret NitWhit sold off nearly 2.5 MILLION shares of her greedbay stock within a short 3 month period, immediately PRIOR to their stock taking a MAJOR DUMP and her departure from greedbay as ceo… blatant insider trading… it’s so obvious… how in the heck do they get away with this chit?
Not to mention, there were several other greedbay execs who were doing the same thing, during the same time frame, such as Bill Cobb… coincidence?
I think not.
Seems to me Martha Stewart went to federal prison in a similar circumstance.
I sure wish someone could/would push the SEC into investigating all of that BS.
That ought to keep their lawyers hopping busy for a while and laying off Craig and Jim! lol
May 1st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
This does not surprise me and is consistent with eBay’s management style. We will see how it works out through the legal system. Good Luck!
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 am
So we discover, from the now publicly-released (and redacted) copy of eBay’s complaint against CL, that in July 2007 they made it clear that they wanted to buy the rest of CL that they did not already own.
Gee - surprising eh?
I also find it highly ironic that eBay repeatedly asserts that CL’s actions to dilute their share were “designed to damage” eBay - as if Kijiji - and eBay’s intention to buy out the entire organization - isn’t intended to damage CL?!?
Article from TheRegister:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/01/ebay_releases_craigslist_complaint/
Copy of eBay’s complaint (redacted for public release):
http://tinyurl.com/5q7ynz
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 am
eBay has become the Wal-mart of the internet! The big bully on the block. I alone screwed eBay out of $4000 last month, something I am so proud of. I’d like to see eBay pick on someone their own size, how ’bout eBay vs. Walmart or eBay vs. Amazon.com . The best way to fight these corporate giants isn’t through the right-winged lined court system, but thru the pocketbook of the consumer, and by screwing them every chance you get.
Bruce Hillberry vs. Walmart
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
To Craig and Jim - I suport you all the way. Everyone knows of ebay’s greedy tactics…. they very allegations they accuse you of.. are things they have done… and gotten away way… They’re bleeding their ebay sellers dead… and manipulating Global Ebay markets… they’re like little children… if they can’t have it .. no body else will.. and they want it all
WHEN IN ENOUGH … ENOUGH WITH EBAY? HOW MUCH WILL IT TAKE TO SATISFY THEIR GREED.
They have caused heart aches in many lives - many who used to sell on ebay - that depended it .. not just for extra money- many to put food on the table., or for medical, or prescriptions… they’re ruthless..
I belong to a forum which also suports the both of you and your staff.. and know that you will rise ! I wonder how many other companies the public doesn’t know about .. that ebay has attempted to do that with- but with the other companies - they’ve succeeded… YOU SHALL OVERCOME!
i SUPPORT YOU THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS ..SUPPORT YOU BOTH.. AND THAT IS JUST WITHIN A QUEENS, NY. FIGHT TILL THEY DEATH… EBAY MUST BE CRUSHED, You’ve both been inspiring, and men of true Integrity.
DOWN WITH EBAY… CRAIGSLIST RULES.!!!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay/start
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I don’t know sounds like some of these posts are from ebay employees to me… would not be the first time they’ve blogged nasty stuff and got caught…. Just like they got caught at Auctionbytes.
Considering ebay is buying out a bunch of classified sites all over the world and doing it very publicly. This looks like the same hostile take over they pulled on Paypal years back.
We support you Craigs List. We’ve even added a marker for you on our boycott ebay map. Feel free to join the party and paint the world yellow.
Becareful and stand strong! You are not alone! We are with you!
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Don’t be surprised. Just another twist to make money anyway and every way possible.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
[…] closely-held Craigslist in the Delaware Court of Chancery for diluting its stake. Last week, in a blog entry posted on its site, Craigslist said it was ?surprised and very disappointed? by what it said were […]
May 5th, 2008 at 8:12 am
A friend of mine wrote this spoof yesterday about ebay, I thought I was gonna’ die laughing! lol
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i34891
If you want a good laugh in the midst of this bs, check it out!
May 6th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
eBay is out to dominate any competitor they perceive as a threat to their way of thinking, even if that domination might break the law. eBay retains 24/7 legal council to deal with of any problems down the road.
The following was taken from a forum on eBay, and spelling errors were corrected:
For people who are new to the eBay boycott being supported internationally:
As per eBay’s new “restructuring” policies and changes, if you want to sell on eBay, you must allow eBay to:
1. Steal your right to leave honest feedback
2. Force an unfair DSR system.
a) Punishing you for favorable ratings between “Good Transaction” & Excellent Transaction”
3. Hide your listings in “Best Matches”, but not tell you how placings are calculated.
4. Force you to accept PayPal.
5. Put “WARNING” signs on your listings for not offering PayPal.
6. To refund YOUR money (via PayPal) to a customer at PayPal ‘s sole discretion.
7. Withhold your funds for 21+ days, via PayPal.
8. Hide your bidders’ IDs.
9. Pad their listing numbers.
10. Lie to the media.
11. Give bad customers coupons, so they will continue to abuse sellers.
12. Increase your FVF by 67%, at their whim.
13. Withhold performance discounts from you.
14. Throw away your feedback percentages, except for the last 12 months.
15. Remove your auctions and not notify you why.
16. Censor your opinions and ban you for those opinions.
17. Red flag your auctions and put others listings on them.
18. Ruin their own reputation by protecting scammers.
19. Make you pay for their mistakes.
Boycott eBay, and the monopoly they’ve created!
UNITED WE STAND - DIVIDE WE FALL!
The International Boycott IS ALIVE & WELL!
Join the N.O.I.S.E. & Boycott Feebay / Rapepal.
Boycott May 1st and beyond.
JUSY SAY NO TO EBAY! BOYCOTT IN YOUR OWN WAY!!!!
If you are boycotting eBay, please add your name to the map at:
http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellation_map&mapid=137440513566
http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay/messages/?start=Start+Reading+%3E%3E
May 11th, 2008 at 5:23 am
To all of you cry babies out there who are moaning about CL possibly dealing with Ebay in a less than fair manner, I say………….What goes around, comes around. Ebay has been screwing it’s customers for years. In my opinion they are the greediest entity in existance and I for one would love to see them go down. The whole lot, including Skype, PayPal and anything else they’ve got their grubby paws into. I was an auction seller for many years, and in the early days Ebay was great. Then I hear they started buying up every single online auction site that even came close to competing with them. What has happened to this countries anti-trust laws? The gov. didn’t blink an eye when they went after Bill Gates and Microsoft. So now they are going to wimp out when it comes to Ebay? I say they should take ‘em down! LONG LIVE CRAIGSLIST!
May 13th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I use both if I want to sell it locally then its Craigs list if its a hard to sell item new and I can can still cover those crazy fees then I will use feebay. I don’t care if anyone breaks any rules because I have no faith in the enforcement of the laws anyway. The Fact is that the best way to deal with anyone that treats you unfairly is to not deal with them at all. Just hit the ignore button…and let FREE TRADE prevail…In other words If Ebay treats you unfairly then don’t use them and don’t look to the gov. to fix it for you. If Craigslist is the better deal and they treat you fairly then use them …its simple and effective ..POWER TO THE PEOPLE !!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
BEATING EBAY WITH THEIR OWN GAME!!
I have been reading what is going on and it appears to me that ebay wants it BOTH WAYS!
If ebay can launch a rival to Craigslist than Craigslist should be able to do the same, especially seeing that ebay has the auction advantage at this time anyway.
I think ebay knows that their new changes were going to drive MANY sellers (like kyself) away and seeing that craigslist has such a HUGE market it feared them as the place in which their customers would run to. This part they have it right though.
I would come to Craigslist in a second and so would MILLIONS of other people. Ebay would sink like a lead brick! Then Craigslist could buy a MAJORITY share in ebay..lol
For all of you ebayers who have not heard what Donahue has called its sellers you should know. He calls us NOISE, he said ebay was a Flea market (not that tha is bad) but to him it is. It was these “Flea market” folks who made ebay what it is. But of course, once we have put them where they wanted to be, we are thrown out with the trash.
And get this, I have heard that ebay was HAPPY about the boycotts because it drove stock prices down which allowed employees to buy them up at a cheaper price.
They were also caught listing hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions of listings during boycotts. It is believed that this was meant to deceive stockholders into thinking the boycotts had no affect on listings.
When BUSTED for these FAKE lsitings they first claimed it was an error, then they said it was a test. They still haven’t decided which stand they will take on the issue.
You see, these listings were found to be from one of their other sites. They posted shipping at prices like 500 for a can of oil, a generator for like 2200 shipping etc (violating their own ploicies). and if you did try and bid on an item it would say it was not a valid listing etc.
Now call be crazy but what are the odds that they would run “tests” of hundreds of thousands of listings, which were clearly bogus te exact same time there was a boycott.
You can find tis info at youtube. Just type in ebay BUSTED.
I wish you well Craigslist and please do not give up because that is what they are hoping for. They will try to bombard you in litigation to try and brake you but consider opening up an auction site and BEAT them with their own baton.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
After being trated like crap on a fraction that i felt didn’t deserve a lifetimE ban.Craiglist HAS BEEN a god send.I would even dontate to craiglist If there was a option for that.Let keep it alive at ever cost.
Keep up good work.stomp out the giant.IT evilbays fault..Sometime when you bite the hands that feed you they bite back..
May 31st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
You bed down with dogs….
The fact is, the craigslist concept is killing ebay. While they’ve made tactical decisions to inflate their profits short-term, they (ebay) are a dated concept in a rapidly evolving technological world.
That craigslist actually allowed a chief competitor to buy an appreciable stake in their operation tells me that maybe the Craigslist decision-makers need to be a little less “San Francisco” and get a little more “New York City” with their business strategies.
This Trojan Horse was clear in coming.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am
ebays ceo made…$450 million in 10 years…thats $123,287.00 per day…everyday. let’s say she worked 12 hours a day 7 days a week…she made $10,274/hour…
i have an idea…how about $274 per hour for meg and ten thousand per hour can pay some staff to actually perform some customer service…(that stuff they claim sellers should do, yeah, the stuff they never have done) the extra $10 per hour…split back to 24 hours=$5 k per hour solid through 10 years would pay 250 customer service reps…
i guess you have to be okay with taking cash that should be used to help the people that made it be there in the first place, in order to be a ceo at ebay?
the reason laws exist in the first place…to make sure whats happening at ebay doesn’t happen.
just my 2 cents…had to add it
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 am
craigslist is the best thing to come along for the public to be able to find what they need without having to pay the middleman(ebay). I use to be an ebay shopper. I havn’t been to the site since I found craigslist. craigslist is the best site out there. Thank you so much for being here. Thank’s a bunch, Delores A. Hall
October 1st, 2008 at 4:24 am
Good luck and god bless you craigslist.
eBay is despicable in its treatment of its customers, users and partners. part to blame is that it is accessible by so many fraudulent scam artists. their tough rules and aggressive behaviour reveberates to all customers and this is a problem.
Meg is a strategy consultant and follows Porter’s strategic forces to a tee when trying to usurp market power by all means including customers, partners, suppliers, and rivals.
In the end, they are not good at keeping their good customers. this action against craigslist is a symptom of this litigious, overly aggressive culture at eBay.
However, if they win this battle, make sure you are trying to win the war.
A multi-industry coalition against eBay should be formed to teach it a lesson.
Good luck Craiglist.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Any excuse they can to try to deter competition, they’ll take, pitiful.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:11 am
Go craigslist!!!! Give ‘em hell!
I hate ebay
August 24th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Ebay’s is American style fascism, styled under the Disney corporate model of totalitarianism. Craigslist on the other hand is true democracy, for all it’s good and bad. Ebay is dying slowly, but painfully, I say ‘good riddance’ and ‘die you greedy bastards’.