How does one reach millions?

[max691p]

To explain and address certain issues, one must have a clear mind and must not be guided by anger and revenge.
However this is not easy when bullying is going on, when the issues have been going on for a long time and when one feels like talking to the wall.
The petition at this address - http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=1999 has been going on for a while but only a few people have signed for it.
This is only the tip of the iceberg about many of eBay wrong doings but a long listing of signatures might help me to address other concerns to the right channels too.
How does one “advertise” this site and this petition over the Internet, please?

[Weedy Lady]

When I visit the link on your post I read a long rather wandering and ranting complaint story. It seems that you are upset about a lot of things about EBay. And if so, which ones do you want to have fixed?

And where is the petition?

Perhaps the obtuse way in which it is worded and the lack of an actual properly worded petition is the reason people are not signing.

[RegDCP]

I have to agree with weedy lady that your petition is poorly written.
I also disagree with your statement that "Facts are really simple. eBay is currently the ONLY choice to sell or buy SAFELY something on the Internet."

If this is so, why then are there countless thousands of websites safely selling their wares?

If you want the admin's phone number for ebay it is not hard to get.
I did a whois on ebay.co.uk and it told me it was an internationally registered company so I did a whois on ebay.com which gave me.

Administrative Contact :
Payable, Accounts
hostmaster@ebay.com
2145 E Hamilton
San Jose, CA 95125
US
Phone: 408 376 7400

[richkoi]

I do not think eBay has a monopoly on anything because you are free to open up an eCommerce site and directly compete with them through MANY channels such as Amazon.com, Yahoo Stores, Froogle, Adwords, etc...

Also, Internet petitions are not taken seriously by a majority of Internet users. If you even want to attempt to build an internet driven consumer case against a company you would have more luck starting/joining forces with a site like http://ihateebay.com/.

The most sound way to solve this problem is by sending your complaint to eBay, leaving them, and competing with them by opening your own eCommerce portal. After that has been done, then make a clear consumer awareness case against them via the Internet AND other media.

A majority of eBay users benefit greatly from the low barriers of entry that eBay offers. I think that the free internet market will work the bad-nicks out of their system eventually, especially if there are those, like you, exposing their flaws.

If eBay is truly not doing anything to self-regulate, then yes, go ahead and build a case and expose the problem. However, government intervention via monopoly busting or regulating is only going to hurt the free internet market in the long run. Also, it doesn't sound like there is a big enough case against eBay for action like this to take place anyways. You have to make Microsoft sized mistakes for the monopoly busters to come to life.

The consumer voice is powerful but only if it is taken seriously. I would never take an online petition seriously if it was written like a rant or conspiracy theory. For example, there is a site out there that bashes Google's privacy (or lack thereof) techniques, but it is written like a conspiracy theory and comes across as completely nutty. I had one read through the first page of that site and ran the other way.

However, a website with a clear, well thought out case, plus a testimonial forum on the wrongdoings of eBay... I just may have a second glance at a site like that as long as no one was flying off the handle.

[wmrobwl]

You're main mistake is that it is too opinionated. You feel that Ebay is doing wrong, but your opinions are to get the government involved. Many people who may not like Ebay, but may also not like to have governmental restrictions imposed on internet commerce companies.

If you're plan is to get your voice heard, then maybe you should join forces (like already mentioned) with other anti-ebay communities. Another good one is ebaysucks.com. Another great web site, which you should model after is paypalsucks.com.

I think you need to calm down first and then come up with something smarter (not angrier). Dont let your anger block some good smart ideas.

[max691p]

WOW!! Should I say “great criticisms”? I was only asking how to reach millions so that they could see and sign up the petition (assuming, they liked it, of course).
Apparently none of you liked it – for different reasons (and this too is very interesting).
This is my answer to some of your comments (and I am strictly talking UK here and EEC perhaps).
There are several bodies in the UK that fight counterfeit goods. Some of them are linked to the Government and to the Police. In any case, tax payer money (mine too) are used to keep these offices running. Not very often, they will find some poor sod that has made illegal copies of films, bags, watches or else and he/she is taken to court and on the front page of the local media.
eBay is proposing counterfeit goods of all sorts, not to mention copyright infringements and possible money laundering. You can come to your own conclusions is this is good or bad.
Accountability? Here in UK (and the rest of the EEC) eBay does not have an address or a telephone number. Any problems or issues raised by a member, can only be dealt via e-mail, and this can cause annoyance and frustration. One of the most important issues is that eBay fails to reply to a good 40% of e-mail received. Other issues of concern are that eBay only list a few of their policies/queries on their site and often do not reply with the relevant information. At which point, serious issues like the hijack of one’s user ID and inappropriate charges to his/her account are left in a limbo while e-mail don’t get replied.
Yahoo used to have auctions, but it was bought out by eBay. Other European Internet houses have also been bought by eBay. Over 10 European Countries are served by eBay. There is no one else that covers more than one territory here in Europe. Amazon sells many products across Europe but as an auction site is non existing. With no competition out there, eBay is allowed to run the show as they feel fit – with a lot of smoke and false promises and with changes to their policies on a weekly basis. Yes, I would call it a monopoly.