New Categories Are Closed to Rank and File eBay Sellers

by: mcposty

Gift cards for stock?? How idiotic an idea..as to ebay saying only paypal can do it? That is assinine

by: Rexford

Maybe they will restrict themselves out of business.

Another page out of Amazon's playbook.  Restricted categories.

by: gizmo

I said it before , if it were not for stupid , ebay would not qualify.
OH yah , they already win the stupid category. Useless stock , just like their venue, their auctions , what are they? Stupid!

by: toolguy

eBay is so STUPID that they've been in business for 2 decades and make billions in profits each year!

I wish I was as stupid as ebay is. . .

by: mcposty

Uhm..ebay was hugely successful before the idiots came in..they havent grown ebay at all, they have shrunk it...they are extremely stupid, and the only reason its still successful is its name...it could be so much MORE successful if stupid people were not in control.

by: pace306

Tool, so was Packard,Studebaker, Pan Am and many other companies - so your comments make no sence. Hint (THINK before you speak).

As for the topic at hand ...., since when has eBay EVER done a smart, legal, helpful thing (if there wasn't something in it for themselves).

From taking fvf on shipping to forced returns to only allowing 1 payment option - the play field is always crooked. Mostly because crooked people run it.

That there's severe nepatism between eBay and PayPal ?????? Old news, but you'd to know "we were right" all along.

Ebays poor judgement - de rigur!

by: pace306

"PayPal is currently the only entity allowed to sell electronically-delivered gift cards on eBay."

That statement is illegal and restraint of free trade. Trust eBay to break the law .... Again

by: toolguy

@ pace

Packard, Studebaker and Pan Am never made BILLIONS in profits.

1 payment option???

You're free to open any merchant account with any major bank you wish to and ebay will accept it.

by: toolguy

As far as Paypal being the only seller of gift cards that sounds like a good deal for buyers concerned that they might get ripped off from bad sellers.

I give that a thumbs UP

by: toolguy

After more research this "stockpile" gift card thing might get really BIG for eBay & Paypal.

I'm going to try it out and see if it's easier and cheaper then using a conventional broker.

by: RKTOYS

"Packard, Studebaker and Pan Am never made BILLIONS in profits."

Adjusted for inflation they probably did.  Do you even read those quarterly reports that show Amazon growing double digits while eBay creeps along about even with inflation?

"1 payment option???
You're free to open any merchant account with any major bank you wish to and ebay will accept it."
Why can't they offer payment processors that people actually use, like Square, Stripe, Google, Intuit, etc?  No, just a costly merchant account and authorize gateway that isn't feasible for smaller sellers.  If anybody used them, they'd be blocked too and Tool here would be cheerleading the how they still let you pay with Flooz and Dogecoin...

by: ruthie

Waiting in line at the grocery a couple days ago ...they had these displayed with the regular gift cards.

by: pace306

TOOL FOOL - comparing the numbers(in profit) that those companies made at that time to what you quote eBay makes now - its EXACTLY the same.

Studebakers top profit amount was $49,370,091.00 which today is $690,962,175.96.

Pan Am's number would be $2,603,004,766

Packard's number would be $2,100,263,485

THE POINT IS - just because you make alot of money and are around for 20 yrs or so - means NOTHING. Its NOT an indicator of good business NOR is it an indicator of smart decisions.

These companies and MANY others made MILLIONS if not BILLIONS (in todays money) and yet they are GONE.

eBays making Billions and illegally preventing specific sellers from selling certain items is a crime (in these United States) called Restraint of Free Trade.

If the item is legal to sell then the law MUST be applied EQUALLY. Dont like it? have Congress change it.

by: pace306

Foll said "As far as Paypal being the only seller of gift cards that sounds like a good deal for buyers concerned that they might get ripped off from bad sellers.

Im SURE you mean "As far as Paypal being the only seller of gift cards that sounds like a good deal for for Paypal and eBay. By cutting others out of a market (which is illegal) and pretending to be concerned that they might get ripped off from bad sellers isnt a legal justification of anything.

But of course eBay and Paypal are "separate companies" right? Except that Paypal DOESNT operate independently of eBay - they ALWAYS take eBays side in any matter and the CEO of Paypal WAS eBays last CEO .... nothing to see here - right?  

by: HappyOne

What comes to my mind with gift cards to buy stock from a ''newbie'' investment company reminds me of several recent Ponzi schemes. Is the stock which is purchased in fractional shares actually purchased? Who owns and controls the stock. Who preparers the investor's statements. How is the ''float'' handled for the gift card monies  when purchased and redeemed. Does this company have Federal Insurance?

Another point why would a gift giver pay $29.95 to give a $25 gift. Many established brokers have a $7 to $9 commission fee on any size share transactions. Maybe a serious gift giver should setup a real stock account for the gift to children. Actually buy a share or two of ''Facebook, Disney or something every so often would be the same cost with more protection.

I wonder how this wine online thing is working out? Is the saving really that great or are special rare wines being offer.

by: ConnecticutGal

HappyOne is right.  Plus, you have to give your social security number to Stockpile to do this.  Just exactly who is Stockpile and how do they safeguard your personal info?  Will you actually own that fractional share outright or a piece of Stockpile's holdings? Will Stockpile put the account on a DRIP (dividend reinvestment program) and if so, will they charge for this? Last, you would be paying 20% for the pleasure of buying a fractional share.  Sounds easy-peasy but not a practical way to buy a share or two when you can do this through most major banks today if you don't want to use one of the discount brokers.

by: Tiffee Jasso

I don't think any of the categories compete with anything I sell. Wall Street is ran by a handful of billionaires who make an amazing amount of money off little people who buy small amounts of stock at inflated prices.  

by: comet

@RUTHIE-----I  have  seen  eBay  "Gift  Cards"  in  stores  for  a  while  but I  think  the  ones  I  have  seen  are  for  regular  payments--like  a  gift  card  you  would  buy  for  Target  or  Chili's.  Not  the stock  ones.  But  of  course  they  could  have  both  out  there.  

It  does  sound  like a stupid  wya  to  "invest"  tho--and  if  some one WANTS  say a single  or  few  shares  of--Disney  or  Amazon  etc--there are brokers  who  for a fee  can get them for  you.  

Seems  to  me  I  have  100  shares  in  that  "Too Big TO  Fail"  company  sitting  around   here  somewheres----if  any  one  is  interested!  

by: Marie

I understand Ebay's concern over security when dealing with these electronic gift cards.  I think it is a viable concern.  I don't however think that means that only PP is qualified to sell them.

Further if you look at PP's Ebay account, they have been selling all kinds of electronic gift cards for a long time.  These stock gift cards just seem to the the newest kind.

I think gift cards for purchasing stocks is really a creative idea.  In the past I've purchased stock as a gift for one kid or another in my life as an investment for their future and sometimes just for the fun of having a certain stock.  I've always thought purchasing stock as a gift is kind of fun to do.  

I think in time these gift cards will catch on just fine.

by: Will

Simply sounds like desperation on eBay's part, to grow their company.