Ebay`s fault that Paypal is bombed
First eBay cancelled all the PS3 auctions because of fears that fraudsters would be selling pre-orders and be unable to actually deliver the item within their 30 day rule. Then they relented and allowed the auction provided the seller had at least 50 sales, a rating of at least 98%, could deliver within 30 days of end of auction and used Paypal as the payment method.
For background read my previous post.
Unfortunately, eBay which owns Paypal didn't tell Paypal of this arrangement, Paypal has its own set of rules and delivery must take place within 21 days. Of course those who thought they were complying with eBay's rules found their Paypal accounts frozen because the two companies obviously don't talk to each other.
Hundreds of accounts of those who listed PS3 pre-orders for auction were frozen entirely, not just the sale amounts for the PS3 pre-orders but moneys from other sales as well. Some power sellers found tens of thousands of dollars frozen and will be kept so for months or in some cases up to 180 days.
Even sellers who refunded back their pre-sale auctions and now have no disputed moneys in their account still have their accounts frozen. So it was no surprise to read that someone had bombed Paypal offices (1) a few days ago. That's certainly how I would react if I found that after years of being a perfect seller with no complaints and doing tons of business some idiot at Paypal froze my account.
Of course it is wrong to bomb the offices of innocent Paypal employees who had nothing to do with that decision. I did not have my account frozen but if I did, I wouldn't bomb anyone, although I have the experience and ability to do so. No, I would find the moron at the top of Ebay and send that person a letter filled with dog-poop. Hopefully that person would realize that it's not good business to treat customers with contempt. The dogpoop hopefully would convey our contempt for idiots. I am not suggesting that hundreds of Ebay sellers who were treated this way do what I would have done. But if they do, I'll understand.
Click here for image of PS3 inner design.
ENDNOTES
(1):
Wired, Bomb Blows Out PayPal Window
An explosive device blew out a thick, plate-glass window Tuesday evening at the Silicon Valley headquarters of PayPal, the online payments unit of eBay.
No injuries resulted when what local fire officials said was an explosive device shattered a 6-foot-square window on the ground floor of the four-story building in San Jose. The explosion occurred outside a building exit.
Investigators were still trying to determine the nature of the device. "Whatever it was, it disintegrated," San Jose Fire Department Capt. Jose Guerrero said. "Whatever caused this was pretty strong."
About 45 employees were working in the PayPal offices when the explosion occurred at 7:24 p.m., eBay spokesman Hani Durzy said. Most employees had left the building early ahead of the Halloween holiday celebrations, he said.