eBay can bite my shiny metal ...

Computers are stupid, have you ever noticed that? They can only do what you tell them to, and they'll do exactly that. And you know what else? Businesses that rely completely on computers are even stupider.

Take eBay for instance.

Their computer system noticed that the same ip address accessed the same listings with 2 different accounts -- added 2 and 2 together and came up with 22. You've been shill bidding and we're suspending your account for 7 days -- then you have to beg our forgiveness. Of course, it didn't say anything when the auction was still going, or when the winning bidder hadn't paid yet, or even before the package shipped out. They did do it after a large number of items had been listed (thus allowing them to steal the listing fees when they cancelled the auctions due to the suspension). I've been an eBay customer for over 8 years -- never big, but there. When I first started on eBay I put a link on my web site that said, "Have you been to eBay yet?". It didn't take too long before I changed the link to say "Are you tired of eBay yet?". Especially when I started noticing the prices on eBay costing more than what Internet stores charge, and customer service non-existent. The link disappeared completely long ago.

Needless to day I'd tell eBay to bite my shiny metal ... but I'm still trying to get an item I purchased a month ago straightened out, and I communicate with the guy through my now suspended eBay account. So I'm screwed right now because even though I didn't do what I'm accused of, I did break one obscure little section of the EULA.

So when I finally finish the last of my business I will tell eBay the same thing hundreds and thousands of other former users have.

Bite my shiny metal ...