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[Syriel]

Whether or not you think this is a good idea depends on what you think of scalpers/resellers, especially those that evade taxes in order to make more in profit.

From the Guardian:

Nov 17:

Google has suspended the accounts of hundreds of people who took advantage of a loophole in US sales tax to make a small profit on Pixel phones.

The Google customers had all bought the phones from the company’s Project Fi mobile carrier, and had them shipped directly to a reseller in New Hampshire, a US state with no sales tax. In return, the reseller split the profit with the customers.

Such an arrangement is against Google’s terms of service, which state that customers “may only purchase Devices for your personal use [and] may not commercially resell any Device”.

“I’m not defending those who violated the terms of the sale, but I do think it is heavy handed for Google to block access to all of their services for doing so,” wrote Daniel Eleff, the owner of the site. “Was violating Google’s phone resale policy really worthy of an effective digital death penalty?”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technol...-customer-accounts-for-reselling-pixel-phones

Nov 18:

Google has reversed its decision to disable the accounts of customers who resold the company’s new Pixel phone, after a chorus of complaints over the company’s imposition of a “digital death penalty” for a minor infraction.

The company emailed users who had been banned, noting that it had reviewed their appeals and re-enabled their accounts. Users had been shut down after they were accused of taking advantage of tax loopholes to earn a profit reselling the phone.

In the email, Google said it “takes violations of our terms very seriously, and we ask that you review relevant terms and product policies to ensure that you understand them”. It added: “Repeated violations of our terms may lead to account termination.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technol...e-reverses-decision-ban-pixel-phone-resellers

So, what do you think? Good Guy Google, fighting the good fight? Or Evil Corporate Overlord, trying to control your every move?

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

It would be totally fair to ban them from using Fi and buying hardware from them ever again.

But a blanket account ban is too far. They do too much in too many areas for that to be anywhere close to reasonable.


How much would someone make, like 30 bucks?

 

[Ominym]

Damn, that's pretty hardcore. And while I have no love for scalpers, I think it would've been smarter for Google to fire a warning shot here. Keep the threat of a blanket ban, but let people know you mean business.

Granted, the truly dedicated would likely create dummy accounts and probably already are. But ultimately it's Google's platforms. They don't owe you access. So it's their call. But I do think this could've been handled better than buckling to the cries of scalpers.

 

[Cookie18]

Scalping being good or bad aside it's pretty rich for Google to be punishing people for taking advantage of a tax loophole.

 

[pswii60]

Scalping being good or bad aside it's pretty rich for Google to be punishing people for taking advantage of a tax loophole.

My first thought!! Hypocrites!!!!

 

[Syriel]

Scalping being good or bad aside it's pretty rich for Google to be punishing people for taking advantage of a tax loophole.

My first thought!! Hypocrites!!!!

Except it's not a "tax loophole" so much as "tax evasion."

There is a difference between following the tax code of the country you are in, and straight up just not paying taxes.

 

[Vanillalite]

I hate scalpers especially in the tax thing. I don't see why Google should be the arbiter of this though.