EBay Sellers Plan Boycott Week

Movement to protest fee hikes and policy changes gains steam

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 10, 2008 4:10 PM CST

Copied

EBay Sellers Plan Boycott Week — In this photo provided by eBay, incoming Chief Executive John Donahoe in shown. Donahoe will become the new CEO after longtime Chief Executive Meg Whitman plans to retire at the end of March. EBay Inc. said Tuesday it will cut by up to 50 percent the fees it charges sellers to list their goods online,... (Associated Press)

Torqued eBay sellers are giving the online auction site some pretty clear feedback about planned changes. Using eBay's own chatrooms, sellers are trying to organize a one-week boycott to protest jacked-up fees and changed feedback rules. But the would-be boycott is nothing new, reports CNNMoney, as each January eBay introduces new policies and disgruntled sellers get restless.

EBay has never paid much heed, but the tables may be about to turn. One pro-boycott thread on eBay counted 4,000 posts in nine days, and a similarly themed YouTube video has garnered more than 16,000 views since yesterday. Many sellers can't afford to participate, but they're willing to take a financial hit to get eBay to listen up. The new measures are "really a slap in the face," one seller said. (More eBay stories.)

Report an error