eBay appears to have worked out what everyone else has been saying for months: plans to force people to use PayPal are the dumbest idea ever.
Plans to make eBay compulsory in Australia have now delayed "until further notice", suggesting that eBay has almost worked out what everyone else has been saying for months: this was possibly the dumbest idea ever.
Since the ACCC told eBay that its plans would probably see it dragged to court faster than you can say "half-price listing sale", the big question has been what would happen next. eBay had originally intended to implement the plan on July 15, and effectively suggested to users that there probably wasn't much point in offering other payment methods in the interim.
However, it seems to have had a change of heart, doubtless influenced by ongoing discussions with the ACCC (and perhaps some sticker shock at its growing legal bills, despite our helpful offer of some free advice). In a notice posted on its discussion forums yesterday, the company made the big admission:
Payment methods that are currently permitted will continue to be allowed on eBay.com.au until further notice.
This is likely to be as close to "we got it wrong" as eBay ever gets. While this isn't a total reversal — PayPal still has to be offered as an option on listings — it should ensure that users who complain that their buyers aren't interested in PayPal, like the specialist cake tin seller who berated eBay bosses at its Melbourne public meeting to explain the changes, now have other alternatives.
Along with the back-pedalling there was also a minor degree of arse-covering, with eBay noting that changes to the site reflecting this policy might take a while to kick in. Presumably, the company doesn't want more reports of how it failed to originally implement the ACCC's suggestions.
"eBay regrets any ongoing uncertainty that this further delay may cause and will advise you of any future plans for implementation following the ACCC process," it continues. Frankly, the only uncertainty now is whether the annoyed sellers who have planned to move into other forums such as the Trading Post can be persuaded to come back, and how eBay can repair its damaged brand.