key word spamming is annoying, but you cant expect ebay to monitor the content of all listings, or even most of them. it would take hundreds of people to check every listing, adding a lot of cost to ebay fees. you cant complain if the rules arent fully enforced, unless you're willing to fund it, i know i'm not.
if you're a key word spammer you have to accept that once in a while someone will report your ad and it will be removed. you cant complain, if you break the rules its your fault.
i dont see the problem either way.
i've been listening to ebay bubble bursting stories for many years now. fact is more people buy and sell more items on ebay that ever before and it is still growing in the UK. yes the costs are increasing for sellers (and buyers), but that is because ebay has been so much more profitable than many other markets, and why should all the profit go to sellers when it is ebay who make the sales possible.
also consider the effect a lack of competiton has on ebay, they can charge almost whatever they want because there is no alternative. the buyers go to ebay so its worth paying to get your products onto the ebay market. it costs you to sell, but you sell for more, so it is worth it. consider the cost of opening a shop, and the market exposure your products would have in a shop, in comparison ebay fees are still an absolute bargain because you can sell from home to anyone any where (plus its tax free
). if they doubled the fees it would still be the best (most profitable) option for most sellers.
if ebay costs continue to increase it will make it easier for a competitor to enter the market. ebay wont want to put their fees up high enough for that to happen. if they do it will mean thier fees come back down to kill the new competitor. ebay's fees will be controlled in one way or another, thats the beauty of market forces.
i think a competitor will come along in future. ebay isnt like microsoft, its quick, easy and relatively cheap to create an ebay alternative. if ebay fees keep rising eventually someone else will happily do it for less money. i dont think that would hurt ebay, but it will keep their fees in check.
