eBay/Craigslist Ebay!

[thegreatrandini]

I signed on to Ebay and emailed customer service and complained about them caving into Yanmar. I told them I bought a used tractor on Ebay and wanted to resale it on Ebay someday. I think anyone on this board who has an Ebay ID should complain about them not allowing the sale of grey market Yanny's.......

 

[Bob_Skurka]

You mean that they should allow auctions for tractors like this one?

Yanmar Tractor on Ebay

 

[Whiskey]

Not this again!

Didn't we just have a thread closed about this subject?

 

[California]

Bob,

That's a YM240, the US version of YM2000.

That model was sold in Yanmar dealerships when they had a dealer network here, before they departed in the mid- 80's.

I don't think Yanmar's objection to gray market tractors includes models they brought over for their own dealers.

 

[thegreatrandini]

no that one was intended for the US market and has not been banned. There is one listing that is getting by though......

 

[Bob_Skurka]

OK, just out of curiosity, how is Ebay supposed to know if the particular tractor is grey market or if it is old domestic?

And, since I didn't check because I don't follow grey market tractors, what about the other brands like Hinomoto, Mitsu, Shibiru (SP?) and others? Is Ebay stopping those auctions too?

 

[Tractors4u]

Apparently Yanmar USA has an Ebay user ID and they stated that they will be looking at ebay from time to time looking for grey market Yanmars and they will notify ebay about them.

 

[thegreatrandini]

No we did not have a post informing people that I complained to Ebay. No we did not have post asking others to complain to Ebay.. Why do you not like this post?

 

[thegreatrandini]

I was told they had a list and would check. There is listing getting away with it. Some tried listing as Zen noh but I see they are gone now too...... If no one takes the opposing side Greys will be harder to sell......My point is that I bought my used tractor on ebay so why can I not sell my used tractor on ebay?

 

[Whiskey]

thegreatrandini:

Felt like you needed to post it again even when your first try got dumped.

Tell ya what....I'm sorry I said anything and I'll take the high road and kindly bow out on this.

 

[thegreatrandini]

Thanks and the next time I don't like your post I will take the high road and bow out.....

I really do think it is important!!!! Maybe if you owned a Gray you'd have some empathy......

 

[arthr31]

thegreatrandini.
Where I work, I'm frequently asked how something is going to work, specifically what the outcome may be if we do X. When I don't know, I say, "well, lets get into the lab and try this out." Then I can make a reasonable reply.

With that being said, why don't you run a little test for us? Why don't you list your tractor on ebay and see what happens. If you really want to get rid of it, then good. If not, make the reserve really high to be sure no one gets your viet baby. If yanmar is out there looking for grays, you might get a first hand experience of what is happening.

Thanks, let us know how it turns out, that is, if you decide to do this... -arthr

ps. perhaps i'll do it, tired of not being able to start my 1601 in the cold...

 

[Tractors4u]

There are currently 3 grey market Yanmar utility hauler type vehicles, 1 grey market tractor and one engine for a grey market Yanmar. It doesn't appear that they are sitting on the edge of their seat waiting to nail someone. Even if Yanmar can shut down the sale of grey market Yanmars on ebay, that doesn't mean that you can't sell one the way people sold them before ebay; classified ad in the paper or in the front yard with a FOR SALE sign attached. It has worked for me many times.

 

[thegreatrandini]

We have already seen what happens?

 

[Villengineer]

Let's look at this logically from eBay's point of view. Here is eBay's sale fee structure:
Over $1,000.01 5.25% of the initial $25.00 ($1.31), plus 2.75% of the initial $25.00 - $1,000.00 ($26.81), plus 1.50% of the remaining closing value balance ($1,000.01 - closing value)
So, let's estimate that the average yanmar "grey" sells for around $4-6k on eBay. So let's call it $5k. Based on that eBay would get $1.31+$26.81+$60($4k*.015)=$88.12 per sale. So let's say they were to have an absolutely phenomenal year and 2 sell a day (730 tractors), they would get roughly $64,240 in fees from these sales.
Now let's estimate what it would cost them to fight Yanmar:
In my experience, this type of litigation, when the 2 parties do not come to a settlement, can take years and at minimum I would estimate the litigation fees at over $100k a year.
Your profile says you're an accountant, do the math. Why would eBay ever want to fight Yanmar on this? They exist to make $, and they can't make $ fighting this battle.

 

[thegreatrandini]

Would it make ur day if I agreed with you? I do you know. I just thought it worth my 5 minutes to complain to Ebay. You do what u want. I will let them know I don't like buying a tractor on Ebay then having it banned from Ebay! Why do u not like this idea? If enough people complained they could fear litigation from the other side of the coin. I don't think it likely but for me it's better then just rolling over.......It is possible that other people are intelligent! I get the concept ok!!

 

[arthr31]

First off, I don't think we know first hand what happens. I think, at this point, its most speculation.
Secondly, I don't think you or any class action party could go after e-bay because they don't carry a particular product anymore. That'd be like me going after GM 'cause they don't carry or sell the oldsmobil anymore...

And, I'm interested, did you get any human response to the email you sent to ebay? Post it here!
Otherwise, don't you think this is getting a bit tired?
-arthr

 

[thegreatrandini]

Dude I just sent the email yesterday. They have not responded. Hoye tractor posted the announcement which replaces Gray tractor auctions under "lack of Yanmars." I will let all know if I get a response.
I am tired of defending my post and actions. Yes I am. I simply told this board that I complained and ask everyone to do the same. If you don't want to ok. Free country. I did not ask you to run a phony auction or anything........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif