Making eBay users register before purchasing an item costs the company $300 million each year

THE COST OF REGISTRATION: Cory Doctorow writes that making eBay users register before purchasing an item costs the ecommerce company upwards of $300 million a year, according to some estimates. For example, in purchasing parts for a coffee table. He explains: "There are a lot of people who, at some time in their lives, want to buy some specialized component or good. Before the Internet came along, we'd likely have just got the non-specialized equivalent. But because of the Internet, businesses all over the world are getting sales from the unlikeliest of corners. And what's more, some of those one-time only customers might discover that they actually really enjoy whatever the specialist thing is, and come back for more. It's win-win. But the fastest way to alienate those customers and scare away that free money is to make its owner establish a relationship with you before s/he can make a purchase." Agreed. It is most annoying.