The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[AndroFan]

Interestingly, I was thinking about this today, and....

Disclaimer: I am not a/your lawyer

But in my n00bish opinion, Ebay/Paypal's formalized collusion seems rife for an atitrust tester suit. 1) They've completely excluded an entire genre of small (but rapidly growing) payment transfer methods, 2) they're acting in an obviously anti-competitive fashion by doing so, and 3) their "agreement" (ie: Ebay now owns Paypal) makes up a disproportionately large share of even the broadest market of "online auction goods transactions" (in all fairness, I haven't run the HHI numbers, so I can't really give more of an assessment of this than to say that it seems "disproportionate". Lawyers less lazy than myself (I AM NOT A LAWYER) might be inclined to do so and I'd be curious to see the results).


EDIT: Looking at Brianpore's list some more, I guess it turns on whether Dwolla and its ilk qualifies as a "bank to bank transfer" or an "online service" or not. From how I gather their system works, it sounds like it might, and might be allowed by Ebay's policies. Whether that's true or not, I have no clue...and whether that helps or not, I further have no clue.

Dont need to use paypal per say, but do need to use one of the accepted ebay payment methods. If you really care to read about it.

Basically these are OK, everything else...not so much

• PayPal
• ProPay
• Skrill
• Paymate
• Credit card or debit card processed through the seller's Internet merchant account

Our Accepted Payments policy helps ensure that buyers and sellers on eBay are offered safe, convenient payment options.
For most categories, sellers need to offer one or more of the following electronic payment choices:

• PayPal
• ProPay
• Skrill
• Paymate
• Credit card or debit card processed through the seller's Internet merchant account

Additionally, payment upon pickup and Bill Me Later are valid payment methods as well.
Payment methods not allowed on eBay:
For most categories, sellers can't ask buyers to:

• Send cash through the mail
• Send cash or money orders through instant, point-to-point cash transfer services (that are not banks) such as Western Union or MoneyGram
• Mail checks or money orders (except for items in categories specifically permitted below)
• Pay through bank-to-bank transfers (except for items in categories specifically permitted below)
• Pay by "topping off" a seller's prepaid credit or debit card
• Pay using online or other payment methods not specifically permitted in this policy

Payment method exceptions
These payment methods may be used only in the listing categories described below:

• Bank-to-bank transfers (also known as bank wire transfers and bank cash transfers)
• Checks
• Money orders
• Online payment services: Allpay.net, cash2india, CertaPay, Checkfree.com, hyperwallet.com, Nochex.com, Ozpay.biz, XOOM

Listing categories:

• Motors > Boats
• Motors > Cars & Trucks
• Motors > Collector Cars
• Motors > Motorcycles
• Motors > Powersports
• Motors > Other Vehicles & Trailers
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Air Compressors
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Brake Lathes
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Frame Machines
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Lifts / Hoists / Jacks
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Paint Booths
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Tire Changers / Wheel Balancers
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Aviation Parts > Engines
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Boat Parts > Motors/Engines & Components > Outboard Motors > Over 200 hp
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Car & Truck Parts > Engines & Components
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Motorcycle Parts > American > Engines & Components
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Motorcycle Parts > Asian > Engines & Components
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Motorcycle Parts > British & European > Engine & Components
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Racing Parts > Auto Racing Parts > Engine & Components
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Salvage Parts Cars
• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Vintage Car & Truck Parts > Engines & Components
• Business & Industrial > Agriculture & Forestry > Farm Implements & Attachments
• Business & Industrial > Agriculture & Forestry > Tractors & Farm Machinery
• Business & Industrial > Construction > Buildings, Modular & Pre-Fab
• Business & Industrial > Construction > Heavy Equip. Parts & Manuals
• Business & Industrial > Construction > Heavy Equipment, Trailers
• Business & Industrial > Healthcare, Lab & Life Science > Imaging & Aesthetics Equipment
• Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply & MRO > Cleaning Equipment & Supplies > Sweepers & Scrubbers
• Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply& MRO > Fork Lifts & Other Lifts
• Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply & MRO > HVAC > HVAC Units
• Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Manufacturing Equipment
• Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Metalworking Equipment
• Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Woodworking > Equipment & Machinery
• Business & Industrial > Printing & Graphic Arts > Bindery & Finishing Equipment
• Business & Industrial > Printing & Graphic Arts > Commercial Printing Presses
• Business & Industrial > Printing & Graphic Arts > Plotters, Wide Format Printing
• Business & Industrial > Restaurant & Catering > Commercial Kitchen Equipment > Cooking & Warming Equipment > Ovens & Ranges
• Business & Industrial > Restaurant & Catering > Concession Trailers & Carts > Concession Trailers
• Business & Industrial > Restaurant & Catering > Refrigeration & Ice Machines
• Real Estate
• Everything Else > Adults Only

Communicating about payment methods
Sellers need to say in their listing specifically which payment methods they accept and only offer payment methods approved by eBay. Sellers aren't allowed to:

• Ask buyers to contact them for additional payment methods
• Offer a payment method to some buyers and not to others
• Discourage buyers from using any payment method the seller specified in the listing
• Ask buyers to pay using a method not mentioned in the listing.

This applies to all transaction-related correspondence between a seller and buyer as well as the listings.
Violation consequences
Make sure your listing follows our guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and your buying and selling privileges could be restricted.

 

[SpooPoker]



 
Still, cred.  It takes a man to admit when he's wrong. 

This explains my wife.

 

[valium]

ps i just realized,when i said that it was supposed to be a dirty dancing "nobody puts baby in a corner" zinger,but then realized that HERMES is literally in the corner of the scarf...so yeah,im looking a bit like a douche

I feel less n00b now. I saw those hand-rolled edges and

'd.






Still, cred. It takes a man to admit when he's wrong.

 

[330CK]



Interestingly, I was thinking about this today, and.... Disclaimer: I am not a/your lawyer But in my n00bish opinion, Ebay/Paypal's formalized collusion seems rife for an atitrust tester suit. 1) They've completely excluded an entire genre of small (but rapidly growing) payment transfer methods, 2) they're acting in an obviously anti-competitive fashion by doing so, and 3) their "agreement" (ie: Ebay now owns Paypal) makes up a disproportionately large share of even the broadest market of "online auction goods transactions" (in all fairness, I haven't run the HHI numbers, so I can't really give more of an assessment of this than to say that it seems "disproportionate". Lawyers less lazy than myself (I AM NOT A LAWYER) might be inclined to do so and I'd be curious to see the results). EDIT: Looking at Brianpore's list some more, I guess it turns on whether Dwolla and its ilk qualifies as a "bank to bank transfer" or an "online service" or not. From how I gather their system works, it sounds like it might, and might be allowed by Ebay's policies. Whether that's true or not, I have no clue...and whether that helps or not, I further have no clue.

I've often entertained the thought of taking eBay to court for this. Either that, or getting together a large group of my computer programmer buddies and creating a better online auction site, with lower fees, better customer service, etc. Someday...

 

[GMMcL]



Interestingly, I was thinking about this today, and.... Lawyers less lazy than myself [/SIZE](I AM NOT A LAWYER) might be inclined to do so and I'd be curious to see the results). .

Silly Andro. Lawyers don't run the market analyses! That's what they pay prostitutes experts (FTF myself) for. As to your analysis, I'm not anybody on this thread's lawyer, nor am I ANYBODY'S antitrust lawyer, but I agree there is a potential argument that a) Ebay has market power in the tying product (online auctions, or at least Ebay); b) is forcing customers to use the tied product (PayPal) against their will; and c) is otherwise acting predatorily with respect to other service providers. There's also a potential argument that they're creating what's called an "essential facility" -- basically, creating a market for online payment tools -- but then excluding all who compete with it in that space. But where does that get you? Most antitrust violations these days are measured under the "rule of reason." Reading Ebay's guidance on what kinds of payment methods are prohibited, and giving them the benefit of the doubt, the one unifying theme I see is that all the prohibited methods make it effectively impossible to undo the sale (because the money's in the wind). They're trying to strike a balance -- and that's where the rule of reason analysis will kick in: There is a legitimate justification at play that is unmoored to competition, and the rationale underlying that justification is not unreasonable. Stack that up and add a nickle and you can get yourself a stick of gum.

 

[noob in 89]



A pair of NTW Alexander McQueen black laceups in 40 or 41D. They are very well-made. But the store asks over $200 for them.

Wow. Thrift store?

 

[AndroFan]

I guess my lawprofs were masochists, because they actually made us run the HHI numbers

. That said, it's fair to say that rule of reason analysis also has its limits. Even under RoR analysis, anything considered to "destroy competition", independent of the claims made for defending the use of the feature (in this case to "prevent fraud" or "ensure fairness, payment, etc"), must ultimately be subject to some anti-competitive analysis. When the tying is as bad as it is here (I mean, we've got "Microsoft" level tying here), it doesn't seem unreasonable that a court would disregard the guidance justifications for the anticompetitive measures and actually *look* at what's going on. Of course, this is a Roberts court, sans Stevens (the most outspoken antitrust critic), which hasn't been the most kind to anti-competitive actions to begin with, so you might be on to something...

Silly Andro. Lawyers don't run the market analyses! That's what they pay prostitutes experts (FTF myself) for.
As to your analysis, I'm not anybody on this thread's lawyer, nor am I ANYBODY'S antitrust lawyer, but I agree there is a potential argument that a) Ebay has market power in the tying product (online auctions, or at least Ebay); b) is forcing customers to use the tied product (PayPal) against their will; and c) is otherwise acting predatorily with respect to other service providers. There's also a potential argument that they're creating what's called an "essential facility" -- basically, creating a market for online payment tools -- but then excluding all who compete with it in that space.
But where does that get you? Most antitrust violations these days are measured under the "rule of reason." Reading Ebay's guidance on what kinds of payment methods are prohibited, and giving them the benefit of the doubt, the one unifying theme I see is that all the prohibited methods make it effectively impossible to undo the sale (because the money's in the wind). They're trying to strike a balance -- and that's where the rule of reason analysis will kick in: There is a legitimate justification at play that is unmoored to competition, and the rationale underlying that justification is not unreasonable.
Stack that up and add a nickle and you can get yourself a stick of gum.

 

[mat135ta]



Wow. Thrift store?

Not exactly a thrift store...

 

[Nataku]



Here are the JL Powell boots I picked up. I have them on B&S, but always open for trades.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

These are amazing! I love them!

ChetBakerSings: Score on the Hermes scarf! WOW!


DarkMatter7 and I hit the thrifts today. Sadly these weren't the amazing LA stores but in an area closer to where I was. Still managed to find a killer Ben Silver tie at Marshalls for $10 and a Hermes tie at a thrift for $8. Thanks again man - it was fun!

So tired. Got 2 hours of sleep last night before we awoke to hop the flight. Going to bed. More thrift stops planned for the trip!

 

[Fueco]

Can anyone ID these Orvis pants I found today? They're a nice heavyweight cotton fabric with faux suede trim. They're my size...

 

[Anduru]

[double post?]

 

[Anduru]

Would anybody happen to know what year this might be from? I got it for about $12.99 CAD at Value Village.

 

[jkidd41011]



I guess my lawprofs were masochists, because they actually made us run the HHI numbers  .  That said, it's fair to say that rule of reason analysis also has its limits.  Even under RoR analysis, anything considered to "destroy competition", independent of the claims made for defending the use of the feature (in this case to "prevent fraud" or "ensure fairness, payment, etc"), must ultimately be subject to some anti-competitive analysis.  When the tying is as bad as it is here (I mean, we've got "Microsoft" level tying here), it doesn't seem unreasonable that a court would disregard the guidance justifications for the anticompetitive measures and actually *look* at what's going on.  Of course, this is a Roberts court, sans Stevens (the most outspoken antitrust critic), which hasn't been the most kind to anti-competitive actions to begin with, so you might be on to something...

 

The Microsoft/IE Explorer example is what came to mind for me as well. You have to wonder if the eBay/Paypal acquisition were to occur today if it woud be approved? I don't the anyone foresaw the explosion of eBay and online retailing since this occurred.

 

[jrd617]



I raise the bid to $20.

 

[SpooPoker]

MONTHLY THRIFT THREAD COMPLAINT LIST

USPS policies
selling pants
ebay/paypal monopoly

whats next/