Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games

**Adam** · 29th January 2007, 09:42 AM

Weird thing is, they're suspending brokers who used to sell alot and making them request reactivation via a complex system of faxing in ID and stuff, for "breaking eBay rules"

Yet, they're allowing new auctions from "solo sellers", and still haven't removed the categories

Talk about bad customer service

Bo · 29th January 2007, 09:47 AM

15 for Baja still.

**kitiara** · 29th January 2007, 10:06 AM

If I were EA, instead of outlawing the sale of virtual goods, I think I would try to corner the market on it now that eBay is so graciously bowing out. I'd start my own UO-auction site and collect the sales fees from the sellers the way eBay did. Maybe even get in on the action with "official" UO auctions. EA obviously isn't opposed to the sale of in-game goods for cash (as is evidenced by their creation of the game code store, where you can buy tokens and advanced players and such for cash).

That's what I would do, if I were EA

**Tabbitha** · 29th January 2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitiara

If I were EA, instead of outlawing the sale of virtual goods, I think I would try to corner the market on it now that eBay is so graciously bowing out. I'd start my own UO-auction site and collect the sales fees from the sellers the way eBay did. Maybe even get in on the action with "official" UO auctions. EA obviously isn't opposed to the sale of in-game goods for cash (as is evidenced by their creation of the game code store, where you can buy tokens and advanced players and such for cash).

That's what I would do, if I were EA

Sounds like a plan,but I am curious as to how any other 'site' for trading in this way,would also overcome the 'pay your taxes' thing ?

**kitiara** · 29th January 2007, 10:21 AM

The issue with taxes has been shut down in the past. An activist group of eBayers, actually, was influential in keeping it from passing Congress a couple years back. I don't think it's going to pass anytime soon (even though it's being reintroduced, if I'm not mistaken).

Even if it did pass, most ecommerce software has the ability to calculate sales tax into a transaction, and it would then be up to the sellers to run it as a legitimate business and properly account for their sales and report sales tax to the government (in the US anyway).

The tax reporting burden really isn't on the auction site, but on the sellers themselves. The auction site is just facilitating the connections between buyers and sellers.

**kitiara** · 31st January 2007, 12:18 PM

Just checked eBay and found one way that former UO sellers are getting around the "sale of virtual items" clause. One seller who sells rune libraries is now instead selling a GUIDE to where to find a rune library. I would bet that the guide says, "follow me to my house and I will give you runebooks."

Ha!

**Maddux** · 31st January 2007, 01:33 PM

The reputable and larger brokers are still demanding items. They have a client list and the demand is still there. It just cuts out many of your "mom and pop" sellers.

Petra · 31st January 2007, 02:45 PM

as of 1/31 there are only 5 auctions on Ebay for Chessy...

atlas607 · 31st January 2007, 02:46 PM

guess its time to think up a uof classified section! =D

Whadya think Adam?

**Adam** · 31st January 2007, 02:49 PM

I don't have the money for the software, so I can't get that setup

29th January 2007, 09:42 AM	#61
Adam Lead Administrator Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 6,440 Gold: 710 My Mood: Thanks: 61 Thanked 958 Times in 318 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games Weird thing is, they're suspending brokers who used to sell alot and making them request reactivation via a complex system of faxing in ID and stuff, for "breaking eBay rules" Yet, they're allowing new auctions from "solo sellers", and still haven't removed the categories Talk about bad customer service Get your own personal forum Like these ones - Personal forum listing Bored @ work? Play in our arcade! Useful Tips on how to use UOForums Open your own blog

29th January 2007, 09:47 AM	#62
Bo semi-retired from gaming..... Join Date: Sep 2005 Shard: Baja Posts: 2,526 Gold: 690 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games 15 for Baja still.

29th January 2007, 10:06 AM	#63
kitiara Polar Bear Queen Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: Atlantic Posts: 4,496 Gold: 1,221 My Mood: Thanks: 91 Thanked 104 Times in 62 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games If I were EA, instead of outlawing the sale of virtual goods, I think I would try to corner the market on it now that eBay is so graciously bowing out. I'd start my own UO-auction site and collect the sales fees from the sellers the way eBay did. Maybe even get in on the action with "official" UO auctions. EA obviously isn't opposed to the sale of in-game goods for cash (as is evidenced by their creation of the game code store, where you can buy tokens and advanced players and such for cash). That's what I would do, if I were EA [UOCraft.com - Pet Power Calc] - [The Syndicate Guide to UO:KR] - [Photography: Blog - eBay - Flickr] - [Bird Blog - Geek Blog - Poker Blog]

29th January 2007, 10:21 AM	#65
kitiara Polar Bear Queen Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: Atlantic Posts: 4,496 Gold: 1,221 My Mood: Thanks: 91 Thanked 104 Times in 62 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games The issue with taxes has been shut down in the past. An activist group of eBayers, actually, was influential in keeping it from passing Congress a couple years back. I don't think it's going to pass anytime soon (even though it's being reintroduced, if I'm not mistaken). Even if it did pass, most ecommerce software has the ability to calculate sales tax into a transaction, and it would then be up to the sellers to run it as a legitimate business and properly account for their sales and report sales tax to the government (in the US anyway). The tax reporting burden really isn't on the auction site, but on the sellers themselves. The auction site is just facilitating the connections between buyers and sellers. [UOCraft.com - Pet Power Calc] - [The Syndicate Guide to UO:KR] - [Photography: Blog - eBay - Flickr] - [Bird Blog - Geek Blog - Poker Blog]

31st January 2007, 12:18 PM	#66
kitiara Polar Bear Queen Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: Atlantic Posts: 4,496 Gold: 1,221 My Mood: Thanks: 91 Thanked 104 Times in 62 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games Just checked eBay and found one way that former UO sellers are getting around the "sale of virtual items" clause. One seller who sells rune libraries is now instead selling a GUIDE to where to find a rune library. I would bet that the guide says, "follow me to my house and I will give you runebooks." Ha! [UOCraft.com - Pet Power Calc] - [The Syndicate Guide to UO:KR] - [Photography: Blog - eBay - Flickr] - [Bird Blog - Geek Blog - Poker Blog]

31st January 2007, 01:33 PM	#67
Maddux I've got Skinnies with RPGS! Twelve 'o'clock! Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Pacific Posts: 6,605 Gold: 23,462 Thanks: 22 Thanked 62 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games The reputable and larger brokers are still demanding items. They have a client list and the demand is still there. It just cuts out many of your "mom and pop" sellers.

31st January 2007, 02:45 PM	#68
Petra Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. So study hard and be evil. Join Date: Dec 2006 Shard: WoW Perenolde/Blackwater Raiders Posts: 1,370 Gold: 2,013 My Mood: Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games as of 1/31 there are only 5 auctions on Ebay for Chessy... Siggy courtesy of Nevaeh, thank you!

31st January 2007, 02:46 PM	#69
atlas607 loves uoforums! Join Date: Dec 2006 Shard: Great Lakes Posts: 248 Gold: 585 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games guess its time to think up a uof classified section! =D Whadya think Adam? ~0> PM me with SIG REQUESTS <0~

31st January 2007, 02:49 PM	#70
Adam Lead Administrator Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 6,440 Gold: 710 My Mood: Thanks: 61 Thanked 958 Times in 318 Posts	Re: Ebay to ban the sale of Virtual items for games I don't have the money for the software, so I can't get that setup Get your own personal forum Like these ones - Personal forum listing Bored @ work? Play in our arcade! Useful Tips on how to use UOForums Open your own blog

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