Swindled 127. The White Knight (eBay)
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Jun 11, 2025 A married couple faces a horrific harassment campaign linked to eBay executives, revealing dark corporate secrets. The chilling story intertwines bizarre deliveries and escalating threats as they battle their tormentor. Meanwhile, corporate misconduct is laid bare, showcasing a toxic atmosphere within eBay and its aggressive tactics against competitors like Amazon. The episode dives into the distressing fallout of a shocking betrayal and raises critical questions about corporate accountability in a world where harassment and intimidation lurk beneath the surface.
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Steiners' Launch of Auction Bytes
- Ina and David Steiner started Auction Bytes in 1999 to help sellers navigate eBay's frustrations.
- This newsletter quickly turned digital and became their full-time business based at home in Natick, Massachusetts.
eBay Turns on Critical Coverage
- eBay began attacking the Steiners by posting negative comments from company IPs and falsely reporting their site as phishing.
- This damaged the previously friendly relationship and made e-commerce bytes an adversary to eBay.
Company Aggressively Targets Steiner
- After rejecting content critical of eBay, their communications officer vowed to "crush this lady" referring to Ina Steiner.
- eBay hired Jim Baugh to conduct a covert operation against the Steiners, escalating the conflict.