eBay Bans Auctions Of Digital Goods

[PixelProphet]

http://techdirt.com/articles/20080328/014049683.shtml

eBay Bans Auctions Of Digital Goods
from the another-market-mucked-up-by-digital-goods dept
We've pointed out more than a few times how digital goods muck up traditional markets that are based on the concept of scarcity, and it appears that eBay has come to the same conclusion. It's now banned the direct sale of purely digital goods from either its auctions or its direct sales offerings. Instead, those who want to sell digital goods need to put up a classified ad on the site, rather than a transactional platform. The basic reason has to do with the (wouldn't you know it?) infinitely reproduceable nature of digital goods. That allows eBay sellers to list the same product many, many, many times over, since they have an infinite supply. This practice is screwing up listings and (more importantly) is being used to manipulate feedback ratings, and so eBay has done away with it.

No more selling those 'rare' skeleton at the helms for money people...

[Baconbits]

oh well that's too bad. I really don't care lol

[2starTagregory]

Wow. Disney is a wreck. And Im glad you can tradce unused cards still tho

[GoodPolarGirl]

To many words. I don't understand, Will a person please make it into easier terms?

[goofy_bout_mickey]

I believe what they are talking about when they say "digital items" is stuff like spoiler sheets, handbooks, and directions on how to do stuff, not VMK items. You can still trade cards with codes on Ebay. You just can't sell an item that would require a meeting in game to receive it. This has been the case since last year.

[GoodPolarGirl]

Originally Posted by goofy_bout_mickey

I believe what they are talking about when they say "digital items" is stuff like spoiler sheets, handbooks, and directions on how to do stuff, not VMK items. You can still trade cards with codes on Ebay. You just can't sell an item that would require a meeting in game to receive it. This has been the case since last year.

Yay! Thank you for putting it into easy terms for me.

[awsomered]

Originally Posted by goofy_bout_mickey

I believe what they are talking about when they say "digital items" is stuff like spoiler sheets, handbooks, and directions on how to do stuff, not VMK items. You can still trade cards with codes on Ebay. You just can't sell an item that would require a meeting in game to receive it. This has been the case since last year.

some people have been selling like red white and blue hats and I've seen a cowboy hat on there too. they would meet with people and this caused serious scams.

[WDWTigger72]

Too funny, Digital Copyrights (I believe that is what it was) banned selling electronic items such as vmk ites on ebay a long time ago, except for physical trading cards since you physically sent them to people. They put that rule into place many years ago, but unfortunately never applied it until pretty much the last year. I cannot remember the exact rule but remember them pulling all digital items from many games, unless it was a collect card, stuffed animal, etc with a code...

"We understand that digital goods, by themselves, are not the cause of Feedback Manipulation, but clarity of policy and ease of enforcement require all digitally downloaded items to be offered via the Classified Ads format"

This quote was directly from the article on ebay (Q&A session) and I found it funny because through the article they where saying that digital goods where the cause and reason for change...Then this individual answered a specific question with the quote above, almost sounds like a vmk response Hahaha, couldn't help myself...

Anyways, How about doing away with people who sell counterfeit goods, or stolen goods...instead of feedback manipulation, I have always believed the feedback system there was a false sense of security anyways, and hopefully they clean up ebay...

[slinkyman]

I read something about this several months ago... so it's nothing new. Direct VMK items from inside the game itself is no longer allowed - however VMK Quest Cards are able to be auctioned off for money since they are a REAL ITEM. Also.. they could include:

***BONUS INFERNO MAGIC!!!***

People will always find a way around certain things.

[goofy_bout_mickey]

Originally Posted by awsomered

some people have been selling like red white and blue hats and I've seen a cowboy hat on there too. they would meet with people and this caused serious scams.

See below.

Originally Posted by slinkyman

I read something about this several months ago... so it's nothing new. Direct VMK items from inside the game itself is no longer allowed - however VMK Quest Cards are able to be auctioned off for money since they are a REAL ITEM. Also.. they could include:

***BONUS INFERNO MAGIC!!!***

People will always find a way around certain things.

You're right. They put some little trinket or small value item in the listing and then include the bonus.