eBay does not actually need a lot of infrastructure in a new market (relatively)- int's all server based. Amazon is a another story, with their inventory approa

eBay does not actually need a lot of infrastructure in a new market (relatively)- int's all server based. Amazon is a another story, with their inventory approach requiring critical mass of warehousing close to market. eBay are famous down here in New Zealand (at least with those that care) for believing that serving a dial-up market with heavy picture laden HTML from 200-300ms away and no local presence was going to work. A local start-up (Trade Me) destroyed eBay pretty quickly and has gone on to post better per person numbers than (I believe) any eBay affiliate. Same story in China. I say there are/were too many MBAs in eBay and not enough (especially local) tech-heads. Meanwhile Skype is doing great things post eBay ownership. L an ex Trade Me MBA. The only one at the time, and part time at that.