Re: Leaving eBay

On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:43:16 -0400, TyMeDwn1st <TyMeDwn1st@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:08:33 -0500, Ignoramus22839
<ignoramus22839@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 2008-06-18, Pogonip <nobody3@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
googler wrote:

Oops, your slip is showing. Alternatives almost always exist in
markets dominated by a company with a monopoly. eBay is is acting in
ways that almost classically define a monopoly, and a lawsuit by the
government to force at least some divestiture (PayPal, for example) or
a removal of bans from viable alternatives (Google checkout, for
example) would almost cetainly survive summary judgement based on anti-
monopoly laws.

Time for a new hobby, goog.

He is actually correct.

About what constitutes a monopoly? Nope.

www.definr.com :

monopoly (http://definr.com/monopoly)

n 1: (economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only
one seller; "a monopoly on silver"; "when you have a
monopoly you can ask any price you like"
2: exclusive control or possession of something; "They have no
monopoly on intelligence"

Googler is not particularly good at expressing himself, but he's
closer than you give him credit for. A company can have a monopoly in
a market even though there are other companies doing business in that
market. If the company has control of the market, they can be in a
monopolistic position. They don't have to be the only company
attempting to do business in the market to be adjudged a monopoly.

Standard Oil was not the only company in that market. They only had
about 80% of the total business they were involved in, and less than
80% in some parts of that business. In some parts of the market, they
had higher than 80%.

Just to complicate the argument, there's nothing inherently wrong with
having a monopoly. If you are the sole supplier of a product, and no
similar product exists, you have a monopoly. What is illegal is
attempting to maintain that monopoly by trade practices that prevent
other companies from entering that market or obtaining market share.

eBay cannot be prosecuted for having a monopoly. They can only be
prosecuted for unfair trade practices in maintaining their position in
the market.


--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
.

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