Apologies to Ro....

Evidently my last post got an eBay friend  somewhat in hot water with their PR group.  I thought it was a thought provoking post and interesting/valid point of view re: paypal vs. new payment systems.  I sincerely didn't want to get an old friend in trouble.  Heck JJ is out there calling Eric Schmidt a liar so Ro's piece is somewhat tame by comparison. I guess this answers my original question of if this was corporate approved or not. :-(

Also, I haven't heard from Ro today, but several other friends in eBay let me know that he got in big trouble so eBay corporate communication folks he's not behind this post.  (Remember you guys are a Web 2.0 company now and even have your own blog technology so it's time to embrace blogs!)

Ro if you're out there buddy, let's sell some auto parts!!! We have like 20-50 of the top parts sellers on board in that hot category and we have mucho ideas on how to do even more.

Comments

[MD Rocks]

I wish I were MD, and had his brains, and his money. No, I'm just an average person who saw how Scot operated his business on a daily basis.

Let me be clear. Most of the employees of Channel Advisor were decent, smart, hardworking people. If they moved to Silcon Valley, they'd have a chance to work for someone other than Scot. As it is, North Carolina is not exactly a hotbed of high paying jobs, so they're stuck with him.

[George]

Just someone is a big tough guy...with an attitude like that i am sure your Ex status was a good thing for Ebay. Hiding behind "just someone" is pretty easy a real friend of Ro's would have just spoke out openly. I think you have the MD syndrome...

[Just someone else also]

That fact that Scot typed his gossip rather than said it is not the distinction of a blabbermouth. Scot drew attention to the post in question, knowing full well the employee in question could lose his job over said post. The KIND thing, the SMART thing to do would have been to email the employee first and give him a heads up--especially since he claims the employee is a "friend". THAT is how how you make friends and get information. Scot is so far outside the information loop at eBay it's ridiculous, and even more so now that every eBay employee saw how Scot buried one of their own. But this is nothing new. Scot pisses off the people he depends on for information by blabbing about what he thinks he knows in the Wall Street Journal, investor conferences, etc. Essentially, he is regarded as a someone who can't keep a secret both in and outside of eBay. He's a joke--a laughing stock inside the company! When I worked at eBay, CA got more complaints about customer service than any other company of its type. As soon as Scot runs out of "inside" information (most of which he now gets from disgruntled customers and others with an axe to grind--ever notice his "news" about eBay is universally negative, even though he makes most of his money on the back of eBay?) he'll be dropped by Wall Street like a hot potato. Couldn't happen to a nicer, more honest guy. The SEC should investigate Scot's investment holdings to find out if he's trading on inside information. I wouldn't be surprised if he shorted eBay the day before last year's article in the WSJ about Google's Payment service.

[Just Someone Else]

Hey Just Someone -- I've reread the post a couple times and best I can tell, Scot's not in any trouble. Looks like the poor eBay dude may be in trouble for posting his opinion, but that's about it. And, it appears that even if Scot were in trouble, it was probably his fingers (and not his mouth) in this case, seeing as this is an on-line blog. But, other than that, I'm not going to argue with an individual of your obvious intellect.

[Just someone]

Scot, this isn't the first time your mouth has gotten you in trouble. Haven't you learned from any of this? I used to work for eBay--and believe me everyone there thinks you are a joke. Your company is full of liars and scumbags, maybe that's why you're being sued? Most of your book is full of crap eBay taught you. You are an idiot.