Ebay needs my help? hahahahaha

[Sundogg1911]

I got an email from ebay asking me to contact my senator and local rep because the want people selling on ebay to have an auctioneers license. Here is my reply:

well....it makes about as much sense as you no longer letting me sell cast bullets because of Virginia Tech and some deranged individual. If you think that keeping me from selling reloading items is making our country safer you are sadly mistaken. I dont think that you should need an auctioneering license, but why should they listen to me. You didn't when I asked how the country was going to be more safe when you are making it harder for law abiding citizens to purchase legal reloading components to practice shooting or to defend their familys and property. If you chose to make your own rules that limit my second amendment rights do not ask me to help you. Sorry, but I have to pick my battles, and the second amendment is a little more important to me than your ability to make money while suppressing it! :roll:

[Nueces]

Well said. Nicely done.

[mtgrs737]

Hear Hear! Buy that man a beer! Or Two!

[montana_charlie]

I got an email from ebay asking me to contact my senator and local rep because the want people selling on ebay to have an auctioneers license.
I'm not sure I understand.
When you say 'the', did you mean 'they'? If you meant 'they', which 'they' are we talking about...eBay or your legislators?

I can't see any reason for eBay to want their sellers to have to go out and get auctioneers licenses. I would think they would much prefer that anybody can sell on their site, even if it was just an unplanned idea to get rid of some old clothes.

However, if people in your state had to get a license...and pay a fee for it...your legislators would get to haul in some 'tax' money just because eBay exists and your neighbors like to use it.
That is legislative freeloading in my book.

Maybe you should check that out again...
CM

[LiquidLead]

I bet it wasn't really from Ebay. Sounds like some sort of spam or something similar. I hope you didn't pick up a virus when you opened the email. They Have gotten to be expert at disguising that stuff.

Mike

[PatMarlin]

They're (our greedy politicians) itchin' like junkies and graspin' at anyway they can to get ahold of internet tax dollars.

I wonder how the mainstream sheeple internet loving roll over society likes this one.. :roll::mrgreen:

[Sundogg1911]

Here is the actual email. I am a computer network engineer by trade. I looked at the route that the email came from and the IP address. It is from ebay to the best of my knowledge.


Dear sundogg1911,

You may have heard the Pennsylvania State Board of Auctioneer Examiners is lobbying for eBay sellers to be licensed under the state's outdated Auctioneer Licensing statute. In fact, one eBay seller has already been forced out of business because of attorney fees incurred while fighting the State Board and the potential of huge fines if the Board ruled against him. Without swift action by the eBay Community and the Pennsylvania legislature, your eBay sales could also be at risk.

Recognizing that auctioneers and eBay-based businesses are completely different, Pennsylvania Senator Rob Wonderling and several cosponsors have introduced a bill in the State Senate that would make it clear eBay sellers are not required to be licensed auctioneers.

Please support this bill and write your Pennsylvania state senator and representative today.

The auctioneers are pushing hard to make sure you're required to be licensed--an unnecessary layer of regulation and bureaucracy for your small businesses--so make your voice heard today!

Sincerely,

eBay Government Relations

[montana_charlie]

As I suspected...

[Kraschenbirn]

Ooooh...if this were to to fly in Pennsylvania, I can see it coming to Illinois, too. Our current governor (ol' Red Rod Bla...goof...ovich) is so desperate for money to fund his socialist agenda he'd try to tax sex if he could figure out a way to keep track of the "who, what, and when."

For me, it wouldn't matter all that much. Since the "gun parts/reloading components" ban went into effect, I no longer sell on fleaBay and only occassionally buy anything...and then, only parts and supplies for my Radio Control models.

Bill

[fatnhappy]

Geez, you'd think flea bay might consider it worthwhile to spend a couple dollars to further their own interest, and help defend the business that was destroyed by regulation. Since when does the state of PA have the authority to regulate or tax interstate commerce? I can't imagine even a District court in CA would venture so far from the constitution as to allow that.

I guess it's just easier to spam your membership list and make them carry the torch.

[pipehand]

If I'm not mistaken, isn't E-Bay the auctioneer? You would merely be the seller, and the auction function is conducted through their website, in which case, E-Bay would be liable for the liscensing fee. Maybe they don't want to pay it , and by making you believe you will have to pay it, they want you to fight their battle for them.
Locally, there are "auction barns" where you can take your stuff to have auctioned off, instead of trying to sell it through the classifieds,etc. The auctioneer does the auctioneering, not you. You pay a percentage, just like you do to e-Bay.

[montana_charlie]

isn't E-Bay the auctioneer? You would merely be the seller, and the auction function is conducted through their website, in which case, E-Bay would be liable for the liscensing fee. Maybe they don't want to pay it , and by making you believe you will have to pay it, they want you to fight their battle for them.
Which part of this (from eBay to Sundog) did you not understand?

"You may have heard the Pennsylvania State Board of Auctioneer Examiners is lobbying for eBay sellers to be licensed under the state's outdated Auctioneer Licensing statute."

In order to qualify to take the test, an applicant must be enrolled in an apprenticeship program for not less that TWO YEARS while employed by a licensed auctioneer.

I don't know (yet) if there is a fee for the license itself, but an applicant must pay a PRIVATE TESTING FIRM $220 just to take the examination.
If he decides to back out of testing, the company will keep $50 of his test fee for 'processing costs'.

(Read about license testing here... http://www.pcshq.com/pcsweb/PCSCandPg.nsf/FNL/PACIBAuctioneer032306/$file/PACIBAuctioneer032306.pdf

The Pennsylvania licensing act says:

(a) Requirement for license.--it is unlawful for any person to engage in or carry on the profession of auctioneer, to conduct a sale at auction, to hold himself out as an auctioneer or as an apprentice auctioneer or to offer to conduct sales at auction in this commonwealth without first obtaining from the board a license as an auctioneer or apprentice auctioneer. Any member, officer or employee of a partnership, association or corporation who attempts to sell at auction or who is actively engaged in the auction profession must have a license as an auctioneer or apprentice auctioneer.

(the entire act http://www.parealtor.org/content/upload/AssetMgmt/Legal%20Services/Laws%20&%20Regulations/Auctioneer%20and%20Auction%20Licensing%20Act.pdf )

Making eBay sellers comply sounds like 'crap' to me...
CM

[PatMarlin]

Well I for one don't understand it. It's all a pile of crap- that much I understand.