> For online auctions to work you need a large buyer base so it can attract a large seller base.
And how do you propose companies should attain a large buyer base without spending large amounts of money? eBay is NOT forcing you to use their platform, much like google is not forcing you to use their search engine. Customer acquisition is EXPENSIVE.
> They worked hard initially and now they deserve to gouge people who are using their site?
I don't think I follow your logic? Software development and marketing don't just all of the sudden stop as soon as a company attains a substantial network effect. Should facebook stop developing now that it has a substantial network effect?
> Fees are high because eBay has no idea how to keep earning money except to gouge people.
How do you propose they protect their network effect then?
> I cannot prove either...Ask anyone (or I guess, just sellers would be more accurate) if they would use eBay if they had to. They would say, "Fuck No", so why do they use it? Because, Network Effect.
Classic case of Cognitive dissonance.[1] If I read between the lines all I hear is "complain complain complain", with no substantial evidence to back it up. If this is that big of an issue, you (or anyone for that matter) would see an opportunity and steal market share yourself. I'm sure you would find the costs of establishing and maintaining a network effect exponentially difficult.
And how do you propose companies should attain a large buyer base without spending large amounts of money? eBay is NOT forcing you to use their platform, much like google is not forcing you to use their search engine. Customer acquisition is EXPENSIVE.
> They worked hard initially and now they deserve to gouge people who are using their site?
I don't think I follow your logic? Software development and marketing don't just all of the sudden stop as soon as a company attains a substantial network effect. Should facebook stop developing now that it has a substantial network effect?
> Fees are high because eBay has no idea how to keep earning money except to gouge people.
How do you propose they protect their network effect then?
> I cannot prove either...Ask anyone (or I guess, just sellers would be more accurate) if they would use eBay if they had to. They would say, "Fuck No", so why do they use it? Because, Network Effect.
Classic case of Cognitive dissonance.[1] If I read between the lines all I hear is "complain complain complain", with no substantial evidence to back it up. If this is that big of an issue, you (or anyone for that matter) would see an opportunity and steal market share yourself. I'm sure you would find the costs of establishing and maintaining a network effect exponentially difficult.
[1]- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance