Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

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AuctionBytes Blog
News and insight focusing on
ecommerce and the online auction industry
by Ina Steiner, Editor of AuctionBytes.com

April 29, 2008

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

By: Ina Steiner

Tue Apr 29 2008 18:04:31

Have you ever wondered what eBay founder Pierre Omidyar meant when he espoused the concept of the level playing field, or what he thinks of the radical changes currently rolling out on the site? Now you can hear straight from the horse's mouth, thanks to eBay blogger Richard Brewer-Hay's most recent post.

Brewer-Hay posted three video excerpts from an interview with eBay CEO John Donahoe and founder (and Chairman of the Board) Pierre that was conducted recently for eBay employees.

Frankly, I was surprised to learn Pierre knew what DSRs were!

Comments (30) | Permalink

Readers Comments

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Kal

Tue Apr 29 19:13:44 2008

This interview was very disappointing. Quite depressing actually. I get the impression all these changes are coming from Pierre and not Donahoe. I wonder why Pierre doesn't just run the company himself? I guess he needs high priced executives mouthpieces to take the heat. Although I think Pierre will be taking some of the wrath now himself.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Dan

Tue Apr 29 19:38:00 2008

The third clip was insulting to sellers of any size; he states that sellers, in general, don't wan't to be rated by their DSRs. And like innocent children, sellers don't know that the DSR system is really good for us, because it will keep buyers coming to back to ebay, by encouraging better seller performance.

Good, resposible sellers, have no problem with some system that rates them for their service to buyers.

The overwhelming majority of sellers who have problems with the DSR system don't agree with the ''one-size-fits-all flawed logic'' in that it applies the same to all sellers, regardless of sales volume, business model, type of product, etc, etc.

And ebay knows the DSR system, as it stands, is very flawed, regarding shipping times and shipping/handling charges. I won't digress into that discussion, as we've all heard it a thousand times before.

Like any large, multi-national corporation, the spins provided for their own employees and constituents, only provide a glimpse at the greater, veiled goals of management.

I can't resist one dig (hey, I studied economics and sociology back in college)... I wonder if you took Pierre's comments, and substitued the word ''ebay'', for the word ''Wal-Mart'' what it would sound like.....replace the term, ''dsrs'' with ''standard employee compensation package''....

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Matchboxcarguy

Tue Apr 29 20:09:41 2008

They are all completely out of touch with the eBay culture & members.

They are ruining a great thing. The total trashing of the brilliant feedback system began with the ''Square Trade removals'' & ''Mutual withdrawal.'' (This is when the retaliatory feedback became a problem.)

The newest changes will finish off the feedback system. And when it's gone, so goes eBay....

Sorry.....

:O(

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Lisa

Tue Apr 29 20:44:12 2008

As eBay does a slow crash and burn, other sites are seeing opportunities. The right site with a simple vision (go to ebay's basics!!) will sooner or later catch on. I'm disappointed that nobody gave Pierre a pre-interview session or even the talking points. They see opportunity with car makers who can't sell their cars to their own communities, they see opportunity for these dealers who sell at cutthroat prices and in this economy, they will. But the economy will get better and by the time it does, eBay will be a bittersweet memory to sellers like me who have found another place to peddle my wares.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: angryjim

Tue Apr 29 20:56:48 2008

A very sad attempt at spinning some positive PR. Also painful to listen to. Not the best attempt at damage control - nothing new or encouraging said here. To have Pierre Omidyar publicly speak about all the "wonderful" changes at this point in time suggests panic and desperation are starting to set in at eBay headquarters. This is no interview - it is a stage show.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: tj

Tue Apr 29 21:09:17 2008

well the bottom line is HE made his money now & why give a rats as# about how.................burn in hell

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Boycott Ebay

Tue Apr 29 21:28:32 2008

All you people who thought Pierre would do things differently, now you know otherwise. Forget "community." It is a myth. Maybe it always was.

Do what is right for your business and stop looking back. You've been used.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: dimes

Tue Apr 29 22:08:59 2008

What would be the purpose of Donahue ''interviewing'' Pierre for the *cough* enjoyment of the eBay staff?

Too much grumbling from the old-timers about how the company has lost sight of its original vision?

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: The PEZ Myth

Tue Apr 29 22:12:48 2008

"I interviewed Mr. Omidyar a few years ago when I was writing "The Perfect Store: Inside eBay," and he waxed nostalgic about the early days, when eBay was a true community. Users chatted endlessly on its message boards, and when they had problems they sent e-mail to Pierre@ebay.com. One of the greatest innovations was the Feedback Forum. Buyers and sellers rated each other after a transaction, and the ratings were compiled and placed after users' names. EBay became a virtual small town, where people were known by their reputations."

That was taken from a 1995 NY Times article by Adam Cohen, who wrote "The Perfect Store." It's convenient for eBay to trot out "Populist Pierre" for a dog and pony show to illustrate that the founder is on board with the new Elitist eBay policies. Of course he's on board with the changes - he has a vested interest (about $15 billion dollars worth) in selling this to Wall Street.

I think it's time to re-evaluate the waffling Mr. Omidyar - is he a visionary or con man?

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: new day same shit

Tue Apr 29 22:44:38 2008

i wonder if Pierre will tell his children about the billions he made on building a community, only to break the backs (and businesses) of those same people who built it.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Henrietta

Tue Apr 29 23:14:17 2008

Of course he won't but your business is only broken if you let it be.

Look up, not down, look forward, not back. You are free, not a bonded slave, you are bright or you would not be running your own enterprise.

USE eBay. You have paid your dues now use it. Do your sales research on eBay then list and price for less elsewhere. Learn how to do your meta tags and keywords. Build your brand and place yourself in whatever markets you think fit your business style, while maintaining your brand identity. Don't spread yourself too thin. Make sure one site is working before adding another channel.

Don't go somewhere they want you to pay a 50% off couple hundred $$ lifetime membership fee. Who knows how long the lifetime will be?

Go someplace that has excellent SEO built in, build a store there, stock to the gills. Promote. Survive. Grow. When you are a millionaire you can give interviews and say, I owe it all to eBay where I learned how NOT to treat my customers.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Henrietta

Tue Apr 29 23:19:08 2008

It is very rude to make personal remarks, but what's with the hair? It looked like a helmet with a dent right on the left temple. You can see something shiny.

Better to watch the clip with your eyes closed (LOL) so you are not distracted from the words by the writhing hands.

Donohoe looked like he was missing a couple of teeth. Not nearly as handsome as in his PR portrait.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Fruity

Wed Apr 30 00:25:14 2008

Let me get this right, Don Ho is interviewing Pierre on a subject he already knows about, in a place where they have people they know sitting in the front row. WOWEEE looks like Ebay is going down the pooper big time, had to rent out Ron Popeils rotisserie set to film this late night infomercial. All those clapping seals. Please for the love of God, bring back the WINDORPHINS if you're gonna stick us with this propaganda. OMG Ina, I think I just dislocated my jaw. I'm gonna go blog!

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: RT

Wed Apr 30 01:04:36 2008

Pierre your a sell out. Give it time and I believe ebay will slowly fade away. Poor ebay but nice happy rich ebay employees that resided in the top jobs.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: MHTH

Wed Apr 30 02:00:32 2008

La-la-la... "I believe people are basically good, but too dumb to make proper decisions for themselves." La-la-la BLAH!

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Henrietta

Wed Apr 30 04:59:26 2008

Fruity that is not nice. Don Ho who passed away VERY recently was a decent man who treated his employees and associates with respect. He had a kind word for everyone and did not change with wealth.

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: BeBopDeluxe

Wed Apr 30 06:01:28 2008

Hmmmm.......ebay must be feeling threatened if they feel the need to trot out Pierre and have him voice his approval of the new policies. Of course, now that he is Chairman of the Board and not getting his hands dirty with the actual running of the company, he will say anything to keep his stock rising........Is there anyone out there who doesn't see through this horses**t???????

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: EBAY REFUGEE

Wed Apr 30 09:23:28 2008

I posted this on the ebay blog, but am sure it will be deleted so I am posting it here also in response to these videos. So here goes....

The fact is this new feebay will NOT work. It is all smoke and mirrors designed for 1 thing only. MORE revenue! Ebay realizes they are NOT the only game in town and they are trying to squeeze every last penny out of the system before Donahoe does what his previous jobs were entailed to do and that is to breakdown major companies and sell them off in pieces!

Ebay’s numbers plummet every time they have a new “sale” and then they have to design some new “sale/scam” to get those numbers back in a hurry! Their numbers have fallen yet again after this last “powersellers only” sale (level playing field huh?) and with the huge international boycott 1 day away, it’s now time for ebay to take drastic measures again to fool their stockholders into believeing that they are running an honest business.

I see nowhere mentioned, the fake auction listings from the last boycott (of which there is TONS of proof) and no mention of plummeting numbers (hence all of the “sales already promoted this year along with the ridiculous “complainer coupons”) and no mention of the deleted or hidden ACTIVE boycott threads as well as the hidden forum page on the Australian site!

“The time was taken to edit an interview that was originally intended for employees only and I then shared it with you. That is why I started this blog. To share things with you that you wouldn’t have previously had access too”

Richard Brewer-Hay…my response this this ridiculous statement of yours is do you really think the population of ebay is really this ignorant? This video was a meeting that was FILMED with MULTIPLE cameras and you want us to believe that you are doing US a favor by posting this thinking this was an ebay employee meeting only? DO NOT INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE. It shows you are already adopting ebays skewed views and that discredits you as an “unbiased blogger”.

Pierre Omidyar says that ebay “loves to hear from it’s “members”. Really? I have read thousands and thousands of posts of GREAT ideas as to how to help them solve their current fiascos. Not a single one of them has even been considered or discussed by any of the moderators.

The forum moderators do nothing….but ban posters (I for one am proof of this) and delete threads and censor serious concerns and comments and abuse their powers as a moderator. Yet they let the “ebay cheerleaders” run free and let them get with anything and any brutal antics they like!

Pierre also says that “sometimes members ask for things that are against their long-term goals”. Interesting that ebay is doing that to themselves as we speak.

Ebay is now sueing Craigslist for taking steps that are hurting poor little ebay’s profit margin from it’s stock shares in Craigslist. Intersting, ebay is crying foul for something when in fact they have done the same exact thing to MILLIONS OF SELLERS! Can you say HYPOCRITES??!!

Ebay there is a reason why there are tens of thousands of sellers and buyers alike fleeing from your site and for good reason may I say. It’s because your customer service is ranked among one of the all time worst in any major company in HISTORY!

John Donahoe……have you EVER bought ANYTHING on ebay? Have you ever tried to SELL anything on ebay? No you have NOT. So you have NO IDEA WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY! That’s like telling a football player what the next play should be when you have no idea how the game of football or the rules work!

This MAY 1st boycott WILL affect ebay much worse than they are downplaying it. And the reason is it’s your fault it has come to this ebay. When you KNOW about fraudulent sellers selling fake items, or sellers ripping off buyers, you do nothing…cuz you make money off those sales. When the non-paying and fraudulent bidders wreak havoc on sellers and a sellers honest reputation, once again you do nothing…and once again, because YOU STILL MAKE MONEY OFF THESE FRAUDULENT MEMBERS!

You have now given fraudulent buyers the ability to run about completely unchecked in this new system with NO recourse for the honest sellers that will become victim.

R.I.P. Ebay, your days are numbered and you know it. You have nobody to blame but yourself!

I have dedicated myself to educating people about this new ebay. And educating them on all of it’s new flaws. And to educating people on this May 1st boycott. I will not rest until this company falls. Thankfully, they helped this along tremendously with the steps they are taking. And for that and only that I thank you ebay…..for making my job of showing how fraudulent and one-sided and untrustworthy you are that much easier!!

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: shame shame

Wed Apr 30 09:31:17 2008

Meg and Donahoe were taking so much flack that the Ebay PR crew came up with this idea. And it's so phony it is hard to sit and watch. Omar is in total denial just like Meg and Donahoe.

They are all riding the crest of a cash-wave. Good sellers are leaving Ebay. Some power sellers hanging on as long as they can peddle middle-east rugs, phony "old world" antiques, and electronic gear and gifts from China and who knows where.

This "money-wave" will subside and analysts will look back at the bad feedback decision and tenacious Ebay management greed that led to the demise of ebay.

Meanwhile, immature, dumb, and dishonest, buyers pour in to buy on Ebay and provide a temporary fix to Ebay cash flow. Man, what a fabulous business model!

Ride that cash-cow Omar!

Pierre Omidyar Defines eBay Level Playing Field

by: Disappointed

Wed Apr 30 10:14:55 2008

The tapes are America's Phonyiest Home Videos.

Omar, you've been had by Donahoe. Now you're going to catch criticism. But you don't care as long as you keep the millions rolling in.

Omar, remember the days when you could go to work and feel proud of what you had done. Those days are gone forever.

You now have a chauffer, body guards, a gated community, and a some new "friends" because you have money.

Sorry, I liked the old Omar. The guy who was creative and worked hard and created a really neat place where good people could sell things to other good people.

But alas, Omar is living the American Dream. While a cadre of super-sellers move in and sell super-junk to a super-stupid (and sometimes dishonest) new breed of buyers. Ain't progress grand.

I'd go into denial too if I had Omar's money. Actually, I'd go into denial for 1/2 that. Correction 1/4 (or maybe less).

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