Are ads online the new tip jar?

A few weeks ago there was a good card/memorabilia blog debate on PayPal donations. The question was, "should bloggers ask for PayPal donations because of the service they provide?"

Some bloggers proudly display the PayPal link and don't mind asking for donations. Other blogs hate the idea and say no-way to PayPal donations.

Here's a great article on the Seth Godin blog which asks if online ads are the new tip jar? What effect would that have on the virtual world if everyone clicked an ad after reading a blog article that you liked?

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2123/32529256

NAXCOM Capitalizing on eBay's Complete Nonsense

Maybe eBay/PayPal has some serious competition?! The Sports Collectibiles News blog has a great story on Naxcom taking advantage of eBay's poor customer service.

I hope eBay/PayPal take a hit with the arrogance they've been giving to their core client base. I talked about some of this with my post last month.

I haven't used Naxcom before, but I may now!

eBay Changing Feedback Policy - Sellers at Risk

The feedback system on eBay will be changing this spring - although I'm not sure if it is for the better.

Beginning in May, sellers who have bad experiences with buyers will not be able to leave negative feedback. EBay is eliminating the ability for sellers to leave negative feedback! How does this promote an open community forum??

A one-way feedback system seems to be a disaster waiting to happen. The feedback system is supposed to encourage an open community ... this can't happen with one way communication. EBay's feedback system was first introduced in 1996 to promote an honest and open market environment.

This really seems to put the sellers at risk. I'm surprised eBay is going this route since it's the sellers who pay their bills! I'm not a eBay expert or eBay watch-dog. I'm sure the Gavel Chat or eBay strategies blogs will have more on this.

I think the online community needs some alternatives to eBay and PayPal. They seem to have forgotten how they go to where they are.

PayPal Treating Customers Like Dirt

I hope this story has a happy ending, but this is just insane!

I got an email yesterday from PayPal saying that my account was frozen. It turns out, it was frozen because I tried to sell Super Bowl tickets. What? PayPal asked me to complete the following steps:

• Confirm my identity
• Confirm my location
• Submit receipts
• Confirm my soc. sec. #
• Provide proof of shipping
• Set my credit check address

Seven steps to prove I am who I say I am because . . . I didn't sell anything! That's right, I didn't sell anything.

My background: I've been on eBay for 9 years, have over 500 transactions, and have 100% positive feedback. I use eBay as my garage sale and have sold old trading cards I no longer want.

But because I tried to sell my Super Bowl tickets, PayPal decided to treat me as a criminal. I'm all for PayPal doing their due dilligence with someone who just opened an account, but after 9 years with eBay and over 5 years with PayPal? This is just stupid.

So now PayPal wants a copy of my tickets. As if the other 7 steps weren't enough... they want a scan of my tickets. Which as you know, is a security risk that eBay warns sellers not to do. I'm hoping Chris Nerat @ the Gavel Chat blog has some good advice.

This is easily the worst case of customer service I've ever experienced.

Update 1/23: I get an email from PayPal saying they need a copy of my driver's license (as if the credit check, bank account, and credit card information wasn't enough) and a copy of the tickets. I find it amazing that my account is frozen first... and then they ask questions. It's like Jiffy Lube saying they aren't going to service your car until you provide proof of ownership!

Update 1/24: The BBB has received my complaint and is working with PayPal. This is now registered as a complaint against them. I got an email from the eBay Strategies blog who said I should inform Bill Cobb @ eBay. I sent him an email this morning.

Update 1/27: My email to Bill Cobb @ eBay was forwarded to PayPal which isn't changing their stance. They demand a photo ID and a scan of the tickets to prove I'm not guilty of a scam, before they unfreeze my account. Sounds familiar to the Salem Witch Trials - if the bound and gagged person floats, then she's a witch. But if she sinks to the bottom, then she's innocent.