Our hypothesis is that in a slowdown, eBay actually benefits. And that's because buyers still want the things that they want. Consumer electronics, computers, whatever. Yet people will become more value-oriented. At the same time, I think that we will actually see an increase in sellers. You may get gifts that you don't necessarily want, things you don't use anymore -- things that you can sell on eBay and raise some cash.
At eBay, you have a cubicle like everyone else. Do you miss anything about life at Procter & Gamble/Bain/Disney/Hasbro? Your office?
(laughing) You know, I don't actually miss the trappings of the offices I used to have. I love being in a smaller environment, feeling like I'm in a bit of a PT boat, as opposed to a battleship.
About two years ago, you said that you were only going to be the CEO of eBay for five years.
Yes. (laughing) It was on the heels of our systems outages -- an incredibly stressful time -- and I wasn't sure that I could actually do it for longer than five years. It really is a 7-by-24 job -- you're constantly on call. But the management infrastructure we have built makes this a more manageable long-term play for me.
I haven't heard a retraction of the five-year plan.
(laughing) I think I'm going to be here a little longer than that.
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
