Word on the street is that eBay is trying to be nicer to its customers in order to win some of them back. Ticked off buyers and sellers around the world have made it no secret that things at eBay haven't been good for a while.

One example: eBay has gone "PayPal only" in Australia, and people think that's a sign of things to come in the United States. By allowing only PayPal to pay for auctions, eBay has suggested things will be safer. Customers know better. All that will happen is eBay will make more money.

The latest eBay idea is to offer "more" buyer protection. (I put more in quotes, because that sentence suggests that buyers are currently protected, and there are plenty of unhappy eBayers who might say differently.)

If you've ever bought an item off eBay, then you probably know about the misery of snipers. Just when you think that you're about to get the cell phone you wanted at an incredibly cheap price, some scumbucket sweeps in and outbids you by a lousy fifty cents. You find yourself staring at the screen, empty handed, as you beat your breast, tear out your hair, and cry to the heavens, wondering how the universe could be so cruel.

Having been both a buyer and a seller, I have learned that the misery of eBay cuts both ways. No matter how much research you do, how carefully you craft your posting, the ultimate price of your item depends upon the whims of the markets. Sometimes, last-minute bidding will drive your item's price through the roof. Other times, it just lies there like a slug, not doing much at all.

What makes this even worse is the fact that most items have a reasonable range values, a truth that seems to elude many eBay patrons. As a buyer, you often find yourself getting outbid on items because some maroon in Outer Bumpkinville hasn't done his research and is willing to massively overpay on a cell phone. On the other hand, as a seller, you sometimes find yourself getting rid of items for far less than they're worth because your listing isn't as slick as one put up by a professional salesman.

Ideally, eBay would pair buyers and sellers in an exchange-style market, where they would be able to determine the best price for an item at any given time. They wouldn't be undermined by the pressures of uninformed buyers or boring webpages. In the absence of these distractions, the ultimate sale would lack some of the drama of eBay, but would be a little more satisfying for all concerned.