E-Bay and the UK

[Ed Fowler]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7879701.stm

EBay has said it intends to ban trade in all knives, apart from cutlery knives, on its UK and Ireland websites.

The ban will be implemented "as soon as possible" in order to provide a "safe" marketplace for its members, it said.

EBay said the ban was the best measure, bearing in mind the "complex" laws surrounding knife sales in the UK.

 

[topspeclt]

What kind of moronic blanket ban is this?

+Some people abuse children so no one is allowed children anymore.
+Some people are criminals so everyone should be locked up.
+Some people cut themselves on knives so no one should be allowed knives
+Some people crash cars so no one should be allowed to drive cars.

I find the eBay decision the biggest load of tosh I have ever heard! So now we can't buy LEGAL knives like SAKS, fixed blades or whatever!? WTF.

UK have already lost the right to own firearms, it seems they don't want people to be armed even with knives. I wonder if FEMA has been contracted to build camps in the UK too! LOL.

Socialism at its worst.

1984 is here.

 

[jujigatame]

So even though Ebay was "satisfied" with their current policies and enforcement, they've just decided to give up. That's super.

I wonder if the same watchdog group bought other illegal items, and if Ebay would make the same move to ban all sales of such on their site? I have a sense that the knife paranoia in the UK makes 6 illegal knives (over an unspecified period of time, mind you) feel more like 6,000 or 6,000,000.

At the risk of repeating myself, the UK is on it's way to being the Republic of Nerf where everything is covered in foam and everyone will be safe from harm.

 

[mp510]

They are ceasing knife sales on ebay IE and UK to save face, period. Same reason why they stopped most gun part and magazine sales on eBay US after Vriginia Tech. BBC set this up to happen with their reporting, the same way an American media outlet heavily publicized the fact that Cho bought a couple of .22 mags on eBay. Remember, the stigma against knives is heavy in the UK because of the crimes they are associated with. When eBays name gets run through the mud by the media and they don't react, it makes them look really bad. They have to make a calculated business move- what will cost us more- scaring off the soccer mom's by being merchants of death; or voluntarily giving up a small amount of sales. They cite 'safety' and what not, but it is very clear that those terms are covers.

Ebay would make the same move to ban all sales of such on their site? I have a sense that the knife paranoia in the UK makes 6 illegal knives (over an unspecified period of time, mind you) feel more like 6,000 or 6,000,000.

If I recall the story that prompted the new regulations, the knives in question would technically be legal to own but not carry (without good purpose). Even more evidence that certain folks had a certain engoal in mind. It would be like KMART not caving to Michael Moore and the crippled kid when they made a scene in their corporate HQ.

 

[jujigatame]

If I recall the story that prompted the new regulations, the knives in question would technically be legal to own but not carry (without good purpose). Even more evidence that certain folks had a certain engoal in mind.

True, because in one of the other related stories there, they mention that the knives "are illegal to sell or carry in the UK...." It seems the folks who bought them and reported it took it upon themselves to pass judgment that they were irredeemably evil weapons that should never be possessed by anyone.

 

[TOM1960]

Ebay was probably tired of hearing complaints from and against other e-bayers for non-shipment (or outright fraud!) when the knives were actually confiscated by UK Customs agents. The fastest way to avoid such online problems (for ebay, anyway) is to ban the listing of such items on its website.

 

[JamesBond1972]

There are an incredible number of people quite legally and responsibly trading in knives on Ebay UK at the moment. I don’t think that Ebay are aware of exactly how much money and trade they are going to lose when they bring in this stupid ban.