The eBay Community - Both the solvent and the glue: The re-defining of the online industry

Why the anarchy on eBay? Why the apparent contradiction between the merchandising as a community and the escalating tension that is creating an exodus to independent platforms, a slowdown in growth on eBay, and reduction in users on the platform? The empowered eBay business person EBay empowered the small user to compete in the business world on an equal footing with the brick and mortar stores without the overhead due to facilities costs and labor costs. They campaigned the ideal by marketing eBay as a community, albeit virtual, enjoining the User thru mutual goals regardless of geographical location thus mitigating the virtual isolation. Access to the community at eBay , akin to a global village, is won by acceptance of the notion that there are mutual goals. The goals, presented as a team effort, depend on driven self interest both on eBay’s part and the part of the user - a driving desire for both to succeed with spiraling success and escalating sales. The empowered User feels betrayal when the team concept breaks down due to lack of any meaningful discussion on application and interpretation of the Terms Of Service (TOS) and fees. Enforcement of TOS is final, arbitrary and capricious with little opportunity for discussion or appeal. The reporting mechanism is the community itself which defers policing costs away from Corporate. The mechanism is driven by self reporting by other members who usually have a self benefit as the reported target is often a competitor or personal rival.