Are ebay abusing their monopoly by pushing PayPal?
20 October 2004, 03:50 PM
#31
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Originally Posted by gsm1
I've no issue with Ebay having a greater market share. The problem is that, like Microsoft, they are using that position to force people to use their own products.
Apparently it wasn't "pure" monopolization that was the issue though.
20 October 2004, 03:59 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by Spoon
No confusion from where I am.
There's certainly an attempt to change your tune though without actually admitting it.
So it's pure monopoly now is it?
There's certainly an attempt to change your tune though without actually admitting it.
So it's pure monopoly now is it?
Your position, if I understand it correctly, is that ebay is not a monopoly because it has competitors. That argument only holds for a pure monopoly. A monopoly, by definition, *can* have competitors.
Ebay is a monopoly, but that wasn't the point of my original post. What I have a problem with is the use of their position to push PayPal down everyone's throats - as gsm1 says.
20 October 2004, 04:00 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by Spoon
Exactly, that's when it becomes unhealthy competition.
20 October 2004, 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by TopBanana
No and it never has been. For heaven's sakes, this is like banging my head against a brick wall!
Right I'm off for a pure cup of coffee.
20 October 2004, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by TopBanana
...or when you're talking to an imbecile.
Don't let the office bullies win, you do have feelings tell them.
20 October 2004, 04:33 PM
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They dont force people to use paypal though 
Its recommended- being part of the same company it would make sense, but they dont force you at all. Its not like you cant purchase without using paypal, unless individual sellers make that stipulation
Its recommended- being part of the same company it would make sense, but they dont force you at all. Its not like you cant purchase without using paypal, unless individual sellers make that stipulation
20 October 2004, 04:39 PM
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Waaa haaa haaa, I knew this would kick off. *Hic* Ooh, too many bears and chips watching this.
Spoon and 'nana please come back, I want to see round two.
(Spoons right though....Ding Ding)
P.S. ebay DON'T force you to use paypal.
Spoon and 'nana please come back, I want to see round two.
(Spoons right though....Ding Ding)
P.S. ebay DON'T force you to use paypal.
20 October 2004, 05:00 PM
#39
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OK, here's what the Oxford English Dictionary has to say on the matter:-
monopoly
• noun (pl. monopolies) 1 the exclusive possession or control of the supply of a commodity or service. 2 an organization having a monopoly, or a commodity or service controlled by one. 3 exclusive possession or control of something.
— ORIGIN Greek monopolion, from monos ‘single’ + polein ‘sell’
Since something cannot be "virtually exclusive", and Ebay is not the only online auction, the only possible conclusion is that Ebay does not hold a monopoly.
monopoly
• noun (pl. monopolies) 1 the exclusive possession or control of the supply of a commodity or service. 2 an organization having a monopoly, or a commodity or service controlled by one. 3 exclusive possession or control of something.
— ORIGIN Greek monopolion, from monos ‘single’ + polein ‘sell’
Since something cannot be "virtually exclusive", and Ebay is not the only online auction, the only possible conclusion is that Ebay does not hold a monopoly.
20 October 2004, 06:54 PM
#43
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Originally Posted by Tentenths
Since something cannot be "virtually exclusive", and Ebay is not the only online auction, the only possible conclusion is that Ebay does not hold a monopoly.
21 October 2004, 01:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Tentenths
Since something cannot be "virtually exclusive", and Ebay is not the only online auction, the only possible conclusion is that Ebay does not hold a monopoly.
'In practice, few monopolies are absolute'
http://www.economist.com/research/Ec...?TERM=MONOPOLY
Microsoft was found to be a monopoly. Do you think the US Department of Justice somehow forgot about the presence of its competitors: Apple, Novell, Sun et al?
As I've already said, the economic term 'pure monopoly' describes the scenario you are talking about. It's a particular, and rare, type of monopoly.
Originally Posted by Spoon
Next.
21 October 2004, 03:12 PM
#48
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Originally Posted by TopBanana
The Economist magazine entirely disagrees with the OED:
[I]'In practice, few monopolies are absolute'
[I]'In practice, few monopolies are absolute'
Incidentally, based on your reactions to others' opinions on this thread, perhaps you should have transposed the first two words of the thread title and omitted the question mark?
Last edited by Tentenths; 21 October 2004 at 03:15 PM.
21 October 2004, 03:39 PM
#49
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Originally Posted by Tentenths
So what you're saying is that the OED (the accepted authority on the English language) is wrong? Perhaps you should write and let them know!
Originally Posted by Tentenths
Incidentally, based on your reactions to others' opinions on this thread, perhaps you should have transposed the first two words of the thread title and omitted the question mark?
21 October 2004, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by gsm1
This discussion has gone all over the place. Whatever TopBanana said I'm sure most people got the gist of his OP. Shall we start on Oligopolies now? 
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