Google vs Ebay: the battle continues

Apparantly, the battle is not over between Ebay and Google. In my previous post, Ebay pulls Ads off Google, I mentioned how the two companies were feuding in Boston during Ebay Live. Then, it was announced, that Ebay will run "limited" ads on Google once again. Now, it seems that there is a complete Cyberspace Showdown: Google vs Ebay, the results of which could completely change the world of online retailing.

This will be extremely interesting to watch playout. Both of these companies are such monstrosities, that I do believe things may change way beyond what you and I can imagine in the near future.

All I know is, Ebay is not what it used to be, and with battles like this one to fight, no wonder.

EBay Moves to Recharge Its Auctions

From the NY Times today:

EBay Moves to Recharge Its Auctions

EBay is also testing new ways to deliver search results. Instead of heading each list of results with items whose auctions are about to expire, the company will in the coming months give users the option of seeing search results headed by items the company predicts will be most appealing to buyers — a measure determined in part by how well sellers have been rated by other buyers on eBay.

This should be very interesting! I have almost 5,000 feedback, 100% rating (lavender-haze). Hopefully I will not be lost among the bigger sellers with 5 digit feedback and higher. For those just starting out or with low feedback that is not stellar, this could be very bad. I think the potential is there for scammers to try even harder to steal some hard-working sellers ID info.

Good news for Ebay store sellers?

I'm really really hesitant to even hope that this may be true. But rumor has it, that it was announced today at Ebay live, that they will be placing an Ebay Stores tab back near the header on all the Ebay pages. There was quite an uproar from store sellers awhile ago when any link to stores was removed when the new header design came out.

Ebay pulls ads off of Google - bad news!

This can't be good news for Ebay sellers. No matter what you typed into Google's search before, SOME type of Ebay ad would come up!

EBay Pulls Ads From Google's U.S. Ad Network

Ebay's stand: "an instance in a continued experiment eBay does to determine the best allocation of its advertising and marketing budget."

Google's stand: "an angry reaction by eBay's management to Google's decision to hold a protest party concurrent with the start of eBay Live, the company's annual conference for merchants. Google has been reaching out to media to promote the party, aimed at eBay merchants who are upset that eBay doesn't allow them to use Google's Checkout online transaction system."

If I had to choose, I'd have to say I'm leaning toward Google's stance. It's not like Ebay has a money shortage and needs to trim their budget or anything.

Inkfrog buys Elite Turnkey Design for more template options

I have used Sparedollar, which was bought out by Inkfrog, since the beginning of my Ebay days. I love their easy listing tool, and the fact that they host my pictures as well. Now they have just purchesd Elite Turnkey Designs, in order to expand their template choices! Check out Inkfrog's new Template Center! This is great news for many as Inkfrog's template choices were a bit limited before now.

eBay Seller Joins Chorus of Complaints over Search

Very interesting article on Auctionbytes regarding the flaws in Ebay's search tool that have been talked about for almost a year now and never acknowledged before to exist publically. There can be no denying by them any longer that there does indeed seem to be a problem! It will be very interesting indeed to see what happens next. We can only hope and pray that they will eventually see the light and put the Ebay store items back in search.

Latest $15 rebate offer from Paypal

If you are a Paypal user and plan to be doing any shopping anytime soon, be sure to sign up for their latest $15.00 rebate. This is good for ANY site that takes Paypal, not just Ebay. Here are their terms and conditions:

Receive a $15.00 USD rebate by registering for this offer on http://paypal.promotionexpert.com/greatshopping/signup/index.html and using PayPal to make a purchase of at least $30.00 USD or $34.50 CAD.

To qualify for this offer, purchases must meet the following requirements: Registration. You must first register for this offer on http://paypal.promotionexpert.com/greatshopping/signup/index.html using your PayPal account's primary email address.

Single Purchase: Once registered for this offer, you must use your PayPal account to spend at least $30.00 USD or $34.50 CAD on a single purchase on an eligible website.

Eligible Website: You must make a purchase on www.eBay.com, www.eBay.ca or any United States or Canadian website that accepts PayPal. Purchases on www.eBay.com and www.eBay.ca must be made through the eBay checkout flow via the eBay website and must not be made through the PayPal Send Money tab.

Promotion Period: Purchases must be made between February 8, 2007 12:01 AM PST and March 31, 2007 11:59 PM PST.

Excluded Transactions: The following transactions are excluded from this offer: Send Money transactions, payments to Personal Accounts, eBay payments made to Personal Accounts, donations, PayPal Mobile transactions, payments for services, Virtual Debit Card payments, PayPal ATM/ Debit Card payments, payments made when you are not logged into your PayPal account, and PayPal Plus Credit Card payments not made through your PayPal account.

Rebate Payment: The $15.00 USD rebate will be deposited into your PayPal account by May 28, 2007. If you made your purchase in Canadian Dollars you will receive the Canadian Dollar equivalent of $15.00 USD at the day of the rebate payment.

Limitations: Limit one registration and one $15.00 USD rebate per PayPal Account. Offer available for a limited time. Offer is limited to PayPal users in the United States and Canada. PayPal account must be in good standing prior to and throughout the offer period to qualify.

Happy shopping!