Monday, February 07, 2005

Company backlash strikes gripe sites Company backlash strikes gripe sites By James McNair, The Cincinnati Enquirer Quick-tempered Americans really lose it when they've been had as consumers. Increasingly, they are taking out their anger on strongly worded Internet gripe sites. Take a look at www.MyVWLemon.com, which boasts 2,000 members and about 15,000 message board postings from Volkswagen buyers.Many such sites exist. But a growing number of consumers around the nation are eliciting an unexpected response from the companies they're assailing: lawsuits and legal threats. As companies find their names and logos besmirched on Web gripe sites, they unleash allegations ranging from trademark violations to defamation. 5:31:17 PM    comment []

EBAY: Credits, fee change aimed at small businesses Less than a month after announcing a price hike that enraged small business owners, eBay Inc. said it would reduce some fees and promised to improve customer service. The online auction giant said in a Web posting Sunday it would credit $15.95 — the cost of a one-month subscription — to small business owners who operate "eBay Stores" in April. EBay also announced it would reduce the minimum fee for inexpensive auction items from 30 cents to 25 cents, starting Monday morning. 5:17:11 PM    comment []