jasonw1239 wrote:Data centers for high traffic ecommerce web sites costs money.
argyrebasin wrote:eBay is trying to mimic Amazon and failing. Again. They don't seem to understand that AUCTIONS are their core revenue stream. IMHO, they are messing with stores & fixed price formats that were dysfunctional to begin with but at least they were working.I wouldn't want to fix the mess that remains of eBay but I'm absolutely certain there are better ways to improve user experience, encourage sales, and attract sellers without reshuffling fees. Lowering some fees while increasing others so the net effect is a price increase will naturally drive away sellers at some point. At least with Amazon you know what to expect and they don't change "policy" ever 6 months to alleviate declining revenues.I think eBay is the problem with eBay. The only reason they are able to retain market share is because they leverage their "brand identity" as THE place to go for unique collectibles & cheap electronics etc. eBay has spent millions to promote the eBay name. Sadly, I see a future where brand recognition dwindles as they continually upset buyers & sellers alike by changing user interface, fees, policy and everything else on a whim in a desperate attempt to regain their former glory. Or perhaps I've thought about it too much.
Dear benjoshuasdad,On July 1, a bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives that would impose complex sales tax collecting requirements on internet retailers and entrepreneurs, including our eBay sellers. If passed, HR 5660, the so-called, "Main Street Fairness Act," would require small online retailers to comply with varying and regularly changing sales tax rules and rates for thousands of tax jurisdictions, and to collect and remit sales taxes from each customer. This new sales tax scheme would be extremely burdensome and costly to small online retailers like you who have set up shop on the internet. A similar bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate as well. eBay is working very hard to stop this bill from becoming law, but we need your help.Please join our effort to stop the passage of this anti-small business bill. In three minutes or less, you can sign this petition urging your lawmakers to protect small, online retailers by opposing new tax burdens.Together we can make a difference!Sincerely,eBay Government Relations
"Main Street Fairness Act,"
benjoshua wrote:Still, I always wondered why buying items across the border meant there was no tax. It doesn't make sense. I'm mean, I understand why it's the way it is, but it's whacked.
benjoshua wrote:Still, I always wondered why buying items across the border meant there was no tax. It doesn't make sense. I'm mean, I understand why it's the way it is, but it's whacked. The lack of cross border sales taxes encourages cross border and internet selling. It makes people in the middle of nowhere relevant to the economy everywhere. I can see where the Post Office will have to increase its rates even more as shipping decreases. And maybe decreasing shipping is a good thing. Maybe it'll help FLGS's. Who knows? Maybe I'm just thinking too much.
Starting August 2010• A chargeback will cost $20. (It was $10.) If you're in our PayPal Preferred program, you won't pay chargeback fees for your eBay transactions.• For full refunds, we'll continue to refund the percentage (e.g. 2.9%) on each transaction but we'll retain the fixed transaction fee. (Typically $0.30.) Pricing for partial refunds is not changing.This is the first time we've increased fees for these services, and our prices remain very competitive. You might see lower rates advertised elsewhere, but keep in mind that with PayPal, there are no extra costs, monthly minimums, downgrade penalties, or cancellation charges. To learn more about the hidden fees some companies charge, read this article from Inc. magazine.To learn more about chargebacks and how to prevent them, see the Chargeback Guide.We know you have choices when it comes to your online payment service, so thank you for choosing PayPal.
FormCritic wrote:States are sovereign. They cannot tax each other. Inter-state commerce is under the authority of the federal government. The law as quoted by Ebay sounds unconstitutional.
sauromatian wrote:I suppose it depends on where the transaction is legally considered to take place. If states re-define it as only the seller's location, they could hypothetically get around the issue ('hypothetically' meaning with new court rulings & legislation).
FormCritic wrote:And then come the lawsuits.No doubt, the federal government will find a way to tax internet sales sooner or later. They've been itching to get at that revenue source since the early days when Bill Clinton began running it past his focus groups.States might find it harder to do. Logically, a seller is always located in one state or another. Therefore, a sale has to take place somewhere even if it means shipping iron ore from Kansas to New Mexico.Internet sales would move...overseas or to dead airspace or Communist China or just about anywhere.
