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16th of April, 2008

07:01 pm - Ebay does WHAT?!?!? Just stumbled across this article about Ebay removing payment options for transactions as from 17th of June. All items appearing on eBay.com.au as of 17 June 2008 must be paid for using one of the following: 1. PayPal 2. Pay on pick up (i.e. paid for when picking up the item) 3. Visa/MasterCard (with transactions processed by PayPal). So no direct deposit, no cheques, no money orders and no non-Paypal credit transactions. The ACCC have begun investigations into whether this can be considered Trade Monopoly and have asked people for submissions. Ebay have effectively agreed that it is but have asked for an exemption under the auspices of them doing it for the safety of Australian Ebay users. Unsurprisingly, many Ebay users seem to think they are able to make up their own minds about what is best for them. And while I generally think online petitions aren't worth the paper they're written on I'm going to sign this one. Normally I don't spend much time on the Ebay forums, but they're awash with discussion too. Personally I use Paypal, but for local buyers I use Direct Deposit where available. I've been buying things online for over 10 years now. And I was buying things from overseas before I had a computer. They only time I've ever had a problem with losing money: Paypal. I'm hoping that the ACCC will be treating Ebay like the Microsoft of online Auctions. Then perhaps the choice of payment options will be retained. Ebay is already getting money from listing fess and a percentage of the sale price. They don't need more from handling the transaction as well. Edit: Apparently there was a story on this on A Current Affair tonight as well. The talking head from Ebay likened the introduction of Paypal to the introduction of the use of seat-belts in Australia (!) and someone has already come with this: Current Mood: annoyed Tags: computer, copyright & censorship, ebay

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8th of December, 2006

08:49 pm - Updateryness Slowly getting the address changes organised for the new place. Contacted my insurance today and the good news is that my Contents premium will drop about $15 a month from what it is now. Obviously no-one can be bothered to travel all the way out there to burgle a house. The job is continuing. Working for a bookbinder is rather like a glorified Craft Class: put PVA glue on this piece of paper/card/board, stick it to another piece of paper/card/board in this specific way, repeat, repeat, and again. The first few days I came home aching from being on my feet nearly all day. After two weeks my legs can now cope but my back still twinges towards the end of the day. Car is going along all good now that the gearbox has been replaced. I've done nearly 450 kms since I picked it up! Still need a name for it. Packing going slowly. Procrastination is a way of life not just a passing fad. Looking at buying a new phone. Sick of not having a cordless, especially when it's not in the same room as the computer and I need to make a support call. I've decided I'm going to get one with a built in answering machine rather than pay for voicemail each month. And to celebrate my initial success on Ebay (and as a birthday present to myself) I've ordered one of these :-) I also need to write a review for God On My Side. Current Mood: busy Tags: car, ebay, firefly, job hunt, moving

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28th of November, 2006

10:26 pm - Small Ebay pimpage On Sunday, with thanks to the assitance of mortonhall I finally stopped procrastinating and actually put some of my shit fine merchandise up on sale. More to come but for now the current list is here. There's currently 28 people watching the D&D boxed set :-) Tags: ebay

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