e-bay buys shopping.com

alhamid said: "I wonder why they [url=http://www.thestreet.com/_tscfoc/tech/internet/10226146.html]bought them[/url] $620 million in cash deal. Probably more internet buyouts coming soon."

Heather said: "I think that we'll be seeing more and more of this as companies try to grow larger. I'm sure in a lot of cases it is cheaper to purchase something that is already tested and works than trying to develop something from the ground up."

BarbBQ said: "i was reading that they think that online auctions are slowing down a bit and that might be part of the reason why they purchased it."

Heather said: "There is also talk of adding sales tax to everything that that is auctioned on EBay. I wonder how bad that will hurt the sellers there?"

TheInsider said: "Hathor, I do not how tax will or will not impact sales. It would be a pass through like shipping. What hurts in when you take something like the Internet a level playing fee and start seeing Taxes, and other regulations impact the feedom that the Internet has enjoyed for years. Advantage clearly will go to offshore websites. I don't think it is meant to hurt, but you can now see more examples of Companies that claim "cybersquatting" over a domain name. There is already some offshore Companies that are getting trademarks that are ridiculous, and then claiming the domain owner is infringing on a trademark. The same offshore businesses that are pulling millions from US customers and never pay taxes. Then take domains from US businesses that do pay taxes. Also a growing number of those that use a US business and domain to establish a business relationship with a name Company here through the many affiliates programs that do not do a proper due deligence on the front end. I have had three different domains used that way, and because they were done from China there is no recourse on the priate. If I have had it happen to me that means it has been done thousands of time. Back to eBay and Shopping.com. It makes sense. eBay can direct much of the traffic from shopping.com directly to eBay thus enhancing sales... at the same time generate revenue from sales of other vendors. In our part of the Country eBay has done a lot to increase theft. Example golf shops are broken into and the merchandise is put on eBay for quick sale.. other Companies are seeing the same thing.. eBay, althought not intended, is a great fence for stolen merchandise. Taxes, that you mention, is just another systom of things to come."

roadwarrior said: "[QUOTE=Hathor]There is also talk of adding sales tax to everything that that is auctioned on EBay. I wonder how bad that will hurt the sellers there?[/QUOTE] that would definitely impact the sellers big time... i like to sell some products on ebay too, largely because there is no tax to be paid ;)"