PayPal is fine financially. eBay is what has the eggs together. By offering one payment terminal (Not technically, but still), they're the ones taking the risk. By splitting, they have more tough choices. For example, do they start supporting Google Wallet? On the plus side, they'd gain customers. On the downside, they'd be shooting a loaded gun at PayPal. When they're together, you have more control.
As for the multiple claims, I could see that getting hairy real quickly. As a seller, I'll survive, and won't notice too many changes (Other than smaller growth). But, I'll end up with more work for each transaction.
PayPal will do just fine. I didn't know about the retail stores, but I know that they're the go-to "Social Wallet". They have been for the last couple of years. As for eBay, who knows? They want to be a retail store. Amazon has that covered. eBay needs to try to quit marketing "direct deals on $500 boots", and go back to being a site for smaller merchants. But, they couldn't care less about us. I haven't had any bad returns (yet) on eBay, and I have a 100% feedback rating. I do, though, take a percentage from sales, and keep it set aside for when a bad transaction occurs. At least that amount is less than the cost of a traditional storefront for me.
I shouldn't complain, but I remember the old eBay. I was able to call the seller, and chat about the item. He shipped it, and I mailed him a check. Our packages arrived at about the same time. My best eBay customer (Who I still know today) wanted a specialty laptop (Windows 98 for a legacy program), and I had one still on the store. He called me, and we talked. He ended up buying 4 laptops from me that month, and today still buys components and computers from me. He lives over 2500 miles away from me. That was the beauty of eBay. It was a chance for people to have their own stores, and conduct business how they thought best. I want those days back, but sadly the world isn't the same place anymore.
Back on topic, I think eBay has created a solution for a non-existant problem.
Bookmarks