New Ebay Contracts: What’s in the Fine Print?

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:


New Ebay Contracts: What’s in the Fine Print?
Ebay’s new contracts require users to complete an involved form and snail-mail it to them in order to retain the right to make legal claims against the site. Find out how, why, and what you can do about it.

by Signe Predmore
posted Nov 09, 2012


If you’ve ever bought or sold anything on E-bay, your consumer rights with the online company are changing as of today. November 9 is the last day that E-bay users have to opt-out of a new forced-arbitration provision and prohibition on class-action lawsuits, both of which appear in the company’s new user agreement contract.

The company announced on September 15 that unless consumers send written opt out notice today, they would no longer be able to file suit against E-bay. The company said it would only accept opt-outs received via snail mail and using a special printed form. Otherwise individual arbitration, a private legal proceeding known for favoring the corporations that pay the legal bills, will be your only means of resolving any dispute with the company.

Unsure of what this means, exactly? You’re not alone. The implications of the legal changes, and the means of evading them, are deliberately opaque. “Most people aren’t even aware of the impact of an arbitration clause to begin with, then asking them to print out a letter and send it in the mail is just ridiculous,” said Christine Hines, Public Citizen’s consumer and civil justice counsel. “Opt-outs generally don’t work; an opt-out by snail mail is an extra outrage.”

By making it unlikely that most users will protect themselves against the new provisions, E-bay is eliminating potentially valid legal claims against their site. For example, users will find it more difficult to challenge any misuse of consumer data. Also, those with small-dollar claims typically file class-action suits because it does not make financial sense to pursue such matters individually. By protecting themselves against class-action, E-bay can potentially take advantage of whole groups of shoppers. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/new-ebay-contracts-whats-in-fine-print

[Horse with no Name]

1. I quit using Ebay a while ago

to either buy or sell.

I have to admit I had several really good years buying and selling but the last several transactions that I had just made it where it wasn't worth the hassle.

Stupid stuff..I sold an item (that was plastic) and used an entire roll of bubble wrap to protect from any really hard chips or knocks. You could have thrown it against the wall and it would have bounced back at you. I then placed it in a padded envelope and mailed it. The buyer received the item and then gave me negative feedback. Why? Because she preferred it to be in a box instead of an envelope. I asked her if it was damaged...she said no, but it might have been.

I purchased a lot of 10 XL mens shirts that were supposed to be like new. I received a lot of 10 Medium shirts that were in very worn condition. I never got my money back and neither Ebay or Paypal would intervene UNTIL I returned the items to the seller. I ended up donating them but still, it was "just one more" reason that I wasn't enjoying my Ebay experience anymore.

Then the fees changes, and then the PayPal only, then the change with the feedback...ugggh.

I always figured Ebay would finally just go away...the way of Myspace.