Why the anarchy on eBay? Why the apparent contradiction between the merchandising as a community and the escalating A system fed by the anonymous Buyer and Seller The online marketplace auction community is based on annominity encouraged by eBay and now moved out onto the independent platform as they emulate the eBay image.

The usernames are the basis for all business transactions and real names are discouraged with the argument that the security of the ‘User’ is jeopardized by such familiarity. Further compounding this are the users who have multiple usernames. This argument for annominity is negated as the identity of any User can be found after one transaction down to full name, address, phone, and email address. So if the username is so easily ‘found’ - why the challenge to continue to hide the real identity? The practice of anonymous usernames continues to be encouraged even on the eBay forums themselves further compounding the problem.

Driven by annominity and compounded by the allowed use of multiple usernames for individual posters - posts are more antagonistic in the online environment than it would be in a real face to face confrontation. Attitudinal negativism is ramped and driven by biased inflammatory responses meant to bolster the injured party’s position. Those not contributing to the popular position on the board are treated to group hazing rituals that isolate the target and drive the non compliant poster off the board or forum. The hazing on eBay forums themselves varies from board to board and is dependent on the tolerance of the eBay appointed Moderator, who may not work for eBay itself, but a subcontractor brought in to run the forums. As the anarchy escalates so does the number of forums forming to campaign the anti eBay sentiment and sponsors independent auction platform growth.

A nationally mandated solution? Coming soon maybe a solution in that all online Sellers will have to be Nationally registered as mandated by the Streamlined Tax Act. The current practice of the multiple anonymous usernames policy maybe looking at a radical overhaul in the near future. The lack of annominity may change current business practices as they need to protect that National License and also temper the tone on the boards as personal integrity is at stake - and there may be a trickledown effect on the negativity.

The brick and mortar standard - a solution. Currently the community is both the solvent and the glue driven there by a company that has become so aloof it will not communicate directly with its own team , the Buyers and Sellers, except in press releases, limited notices on the announcement board, faceless extended email campaigns, and the promise of token access to phone service if the user ‘pays‘ for the extra service - excepting stores where it will be provided as one of the benefits. So much for the team effort - that would take discussion and that is nonexistent.

Thousands of new online auction platforms are springing up to compete as the exodus continues but the new platforms do not escape unscathed. The fall out - the entire online auction community as it struggles to gain credibility in the eyes of the public with all the bad publicity spread so efficiently with the search engine spiders. It is time for a change in the online industry and maybe conforming to brick and mortar business standards is what it will take.