posted on January 6, 2001 01:28:02 PM new
A lot of people, including me, are looking for another auction site, and from what I have read on these boards there are a few sites which offer free listings. A few minutes ago someone posted a thread titled, "Read this ASAP." Now the thread is gone. I don't know if the person deleted it or if Auctionwatch pulled it. Anyway it disappeared.
In the thread, they listed this address:
http://www.lowestbids.com/info/pledge.asp
I really don't know anything about this site, but this letter from their CEO, seems pretty straightforward to me.
There is one thing I do know though, it is the sellers that make an auction site. No sellers=No buyers.
If every disgruntled seller from Yahoo & ebay would move enmass to another auction site and let their customers know where they had moved to, it wouldn't take long for that site move up to the number 2 spot.
But then, unless the sellers had something to protect themself, when that site did get to the number two spot, what would prevent them from charging fees. In essence, the sellers who help make the site, would be no longer needed and could then be cast aside.
I believe that the pledge from the CEO of LowestBids.com which promises that if lowestbids.com ever does start charging fees, any seller who has an account with them at the time, they MIGHT start charging fees will never be charged a listing fee or a F.V.F. will stand up in a court of law.
At the bottom of the page is this line, "Please feel free to print out this letter and keep it as our written promise to you."
A partner and I started on ebay about two years ago. We worked together for about nine months, and when I had to move to another state, I let her keep the user ID and I started fresh with another ID when I moved.
I now have user's ID on both ebay and Yahoo.
I have always made money on ebay. Before I ever listed anything on Yahoo, I spent a lot of hours doing research on Yahoo auctions.
I saw that I could make money on Yahoo. But the only way to do it, for me was to list thousands of items and let them sit until the right buyer came along. And while I haven't been on Yahoo that long, but my stragety was working. I was making some money on Yahoo. I wasn't close to making a living from my Yahoo auctions yet, but I could see that it was possible to. And the reason it was working was that a lot of sellers listed a lot of auctions on Yahoo for a long time before I started to list there. There were a pool of bidders to draw from when I started listing.
I was actually getting ready to drop ebay completely. That won't happen now. Not with Yahoo charging fees.
For me, it takes quite a bit of time to get ready to list a new item. I take photos and write detailed descriptions. And I save all my descriptions and photos to disc. But once I do get something ready to list, I don't have to touch it again until it sells. I can list a lot of items on another site in a short period of time.
I think, I am going to check out lowestbids.com. If I like it, I will use it as my second auction site. I really don't expect to make any money from this site, not at first.
But all that all it will cost me to list there is some of my time, and a few boxes of inventory will be tied up. And there is the guarantee of free listing and no F.V.F. forever. So I am not helping an auction site boost their business, for them later to start charging me fees when and if they are successful.
Gang, it is very seldom that I post on this board but I want to take a minute to thank you. I have learned a lot from you guys and gals over the past year or so. Some of you have been of more help to me, a lurker, than you will ever know, and I am grateful to you. Whether you move to another site, stay with Yahoo, or whatever, I wish you luck in the coming years. Take care, Gang.
posted on January 6, 2001 01:56:42 PM new
Thanks for your post.
It expressed a lot of the same appreciation I feel for the posters here.
The Moderator tries to find a reasonable balance between our sharing information and individuals who attempt to use the boards for self promotion or the advertising of specific services.
Even when certain information might be useful they can't open the door or we would be flooded with spam.
Don't know that this applies in the specific thread you mentioned but it has happened numerous times before.
If the original poster contacts AW management they will often assist in developing posts that share useful information while still conforming to the necessary restrictions.
posted on January 6, 2001 03:55:14 PM new
I was just over looking at LowestBid and was a little confused. What is the BidBar download? What does it do? I am very cautious about putting anything on my hard drive and they didn't give much info about it that I could see. The site looked upbeat and has possibilities. The pledge from the president I printed out, and would like to try them. Anyone out there with some experience on this auction site?
posted on January 6, 2001 03:58:49 PM new
not too much experience. have been there a couple times and did download the thingy. nothing has happened to my computer yet so i'm not concerned. it's been a while since i was last there but i think they have a live help option.
posted on January 6, 2001 04:41:12 PM new
Hi sammie0
My name is Bob, the C.E.O of LowestBids.com. I would like to answer your question about the BidBar. I will be brief as I do not want to be promotional. The BidBar is a way for you to always stay Live in your auctions. It is safe on your computer. If you would like more information you can use our Live instant help feature or you can email us.
By the way, thanks to all of you who have given us a try.We wont let you down.
Have a good day all.
posted on January 7, 2001 10:08:02 PM new
outoftheblue
At this time you need to download the Bidbar. However this wednsday we will offer a web based registration. Also lowestbids will be available in three formats.
1 BidBar
2 Full application
3 or web based, no download.
As far as the live icons, we will be trying different ways to let buyers know sellers are live in their auctions.
As far as categories. I have seen a few users here ask for categories.
To all. Please email or use live instant help to tell us what categories you want. We will add them on the day we receive them. (providing they are legal of course).
I am serious when I say we want to listen to all buyers and sellers needs.
Our email address is [email protected].
Direct phone # 775-886-7037.
Thanks
Bob DeMaio
President & C.E.O
LOwestBids.com
[ edited by lowestbids on Jan 7, 2001 10:09 PM ]
posted on January 7, 2001 10:19:24 PM new
Hi pocono
I have read your posts here.
How about you call me tomorrow at the number above anytime after 9.30 a.m pacific time.
Take care
Bob
posted on January 7, 2001 10:21:47 PM new
bob, pocono replied to something i wrote in the other auctions forum. maybe you could enlighten all of us, maybe tell us if this is something your site could possibly look into.
I am intrigued by the advertising system on your site, but I have a question:
What is the average total gross sales on your site per day?
I think this is really the only way to get an idea of how many bidders are "out there".
Or perhaps you have a better way to report the success rate on your site.
But at this point, even though the site looks very interesting, I don't think there would be enough bids to justify my time, even though the listings are free.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Jan 7, 2001 10:28 PM ]
posted on January 7, 2001 10:27:39 PM new
bob, this is the post that pocono posted in the other thread. i asked him what site he liked and why he liked it. i hope he doesn't mind me re-posting over here.
Pocono
posted on January 7, 2001 09:54:10 PM
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Ya know jokester, I like ebay!
I like ebay circa 1997.
I like ebay before all the whiners, and cryers started making other peoples business's and lives THEIR business.
I liked ebay when you weren't put out of bussiness because a competitor snitched to ebay from many different alias's about some minor infraction, such as posting in a "wrong catagory".
Hell, there WAS no wrong catagory...post anywhere!
I liked ebay when bidders paid, and when you were NARU, it was only AFTER they contacted you to try and work things out.
I like ebay back when fee's were low, and sales were high.
When Pierre was accessable, and running things.
Before the VeROs and PowerSellers, and Voices, Net Rats, and stockholders.
I like ebay when "I" was important to them, and "I" helped to build them.
When a REAL person answered my emails.
When you could sell ANYTHING without some boob complaining that it was "Politically Incorrect"
Back when bidders trusted sellers, and with good cause, because buyers and sellers treated each other with decency, fairness, and trustwortheyness.
Back when you paid only with a money-order or check, and shipped exactly the item you advertised.
Back when I didn't need to hang my head in shame when telling people that I was selling on ebay.
That's what I like. That's the site I wanna sell at.
Give me THAT jokester, and I'll come running to your site.
posted on January 7, 2001 10:29:20 PM new
amalgamated2000
We start charging for outside advertising in about a week. Advertising banners on our site will remain free for a while. Listing fees will remain free forever as will F.V.F.
Our revenue is also derived from another one of our sites Instant web advertising.com. It uses the same advertising technology.
I can tell youwe have several thousand BidBars in use. The real breakthrough for our site will come wednsday with the new BidBar which will be A.O.L compatable,.
As always you can ask any questions 24 hours a day on our site.
posted on January 7, 2001 10:30:46 PM new
Mrjoker.
It seems to me that pocono might have some good ideas. I encouraged him to call me directly to discuss.
Thanks
Bob
posted on January 7, 2001 10:35:48 PM newI can tell youwe have several thousand BidBars in use.
That's good to hear, but all I really care about is my bottom line.
Can you give us any idea of how much bidding activity there actually is on your site?
Also, considering the timing of recent circumstances, is there a possibility that you might extend the free advertising for another week or so? If so, I would be willing to give it a try, but until the 10th, I'm working on getting in the last of my free listings at Yahoo.
posted on January 7, 2001 10:40:33 PM new
Our intention is to make advertising banners on our site free for at least the next 3 months. As far as the banners that our customers want to place on A.O.L Alta Vista etc..we will be giving about 50% of those free in the beginning. As far as the bidding numbers, I will have my engineers run the statistics for me in the morning and I will post the results here tomorrow.
Thanks
Bob
In looking at your site, it specifies that the banner advertising is only free until Jan. 10. I would be willing to give it a try, but it's just not possible in the next 48 hours. Are you saying that this free advertising is going to be extended.
Also, I am looking forward to seeing the sales stats you provide.
One more point. We know that the price of banner advertising is plummeting (mainly because it is not very effective...) But as your site grows and you are able to purchase larger advertising blocks, will the price that you charge sellers for banners also fall?
Sadly, even at 1/2 cent per, I'm not sure banners would be cost effective. But, again, if it is cost effective, I would think that this would be something you could demonstrate through your site's statistics.
posted on January 7, 2001 10:50:56 PM new
lowestbids:
I want a guarantee that there will never be reserve fees. I will not pay them and that is why I left eGREED last year (I was averaging $10,000. a month in sales at the time) I sell mostly $100. - $1,500. items that will not sell without a low opening price (I've tried) and I can not afford to lose my investment to bid shielders and/or site outages (I have lost thousands of dollars to both)
posted on January 7, 2001 11:00:33 PM new
pegasus777
I will add that to the pledge on the website tomorrow as we will not ever charge reserve fees.
As I have stated before, our business model is a enhanced advertising revenue model. We only benefit when our users advertise their auctions.
We will also email a written copy of our pledge to anyone who requests it.
I do not believe any auction site can make it with the help of the buyers and sellers who took the initial time and risk and then turn around and deceive them. That is a recipe for failure and one we will never partake in.
[ edited by Lowestbids on Jan 7, 2001 11:02 PM ]
posted on January 7, 2001 11:02:20 PM newI want a guarantee that there will never be reserve fees. I will not pay them and that is why I left eGREED last year (I was averaging $10,000. a month in sales at the time) I sell mostly $100. - $1,500. items
Let me get this straight... You gave up 1/8 of a million dollars per year due to reserve fees that amounted to 1/10 of 1% to 1% of your revenue????
posted on January 7, 2001 11:22:41 PM new
I did look at lowestbids.com the other night- and this is why I scratched it off my list:
* * * * * * *
http://www.lowestbids.com/bh/sellerinfo.asp
LowestBids.com offers sellers the only true live auctions. In addition, LowestBids.com currently does not charge a percentage of the selling price. Instead, we charge you a listing price, much like a classified ad. By doing this, LowestBids.com stays neutral in the bidding process. We give you the most choices as to how you want to sell your items, such as:
* * * * * * *
The front page says free listings forever- the seller info page says they charge a listing fee.
posted on January 7, 2001 11:35:03 PM new
amalgamated2000:
I did not give up anything. I just took my business elsewhere. I will NOT pay reserve fees. Period.
I left eGREED because of the principle of it. I would have paid higher listing fees across the board or higher fees for items above $50. but I would NOT pay reserve fees. I did some on eGREED this Fall - but decided I would rather make less than pay the unfair and ILLEGAL reserve fees. I would rather get by on less income than pay extortion money to protect MY investments against site outages and bid shielders.
As it is, I am doing quite well with my web page, eGroups, and I was doing okay on Yahoo (and I will do okay again when I find another auction site)
Regardless of your opinion of the site/s under discussion or of the poster/s that discuss that site, you will afford them the same respect any other User would receive in this Message Center. If you have directed your concerns to Diana via email , as has been requested, they will be addressed by her after she has time to make an assessment of the situation.
Until then consider this a friendly, not so subtle nudge.
posted on January 8, 2001 05:31:24 AM new
95-97 were the Golden Years of eBay as far as I'm concerned. It's amazing to see newbies defending the "new generation" eBay. They don't have a clue.
posted on January 8, 2001 06:36:02 AM newPocono posted on December 5, 2000 08:25:10 PM
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lbceo
posted on December 5, 2000 08:13:44 PM new
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Well lets see.
A Do you really know I am the C.E.O of LowestBids.
B. Do I think you are going to make a difference with your posts.
c. Do you have any clue what is really going on here.
D. Do you think anybody really cares what you think.
E.If we really wanted to over run these chat boards it would be so easy.
F. What are you really afraid of.....OUR SUCCESS.
G. How come you never address the issues.
H. Do you really have nothing else to do.
I. The fact that you are so obsessed shows that you are truly concerned about LowestBids
J. Lets see lovebugy account created today at6pm hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Face it you can not stop progress.
Oh by the way I am really just one of those cheerleaders for a site I love. But I will email the C.E.O and tell him about your kind words.
*******************************************
Joice,
This person has been perpatrting a fraud on these boards claiming to be the CEO of lowestbids.com
Now, he comes here and says that he is nothing more then a cheerleader, so as to try and recover from the damage he has caused to the site.
I beleive that by him admitting he is NOT the CEO, after deliberatly passing himself off as such, that he should be immediately banned from this site, and Mark should be notified of such a fraudulant act.
I am shocked that something like this can happen here, and a person be permitted to impersonate an auction site owner with no protection to us, the users.
Please take action immediately.
Thank you.
lbceo posted on December 5, 2000 08:30:38 PM
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I never stated I was the C.E.O from LowestBids. My user name is lbceo. Is your name really Pocono. I am emailing LowestBids with all of these threads. Let us see if they know what is happening on a site that they advertise on which also allows users like you to spew hatred.
Pocono posted on December 5, 2000 08:35:09 PM
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Golds was for sale Posted by lbceo on December 1, 2000 06:36:54 PM
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I am the C.E.O of a new auctionsite. No not BidBay. I was approached about a month ago to buy or take over the user base at Golds. I am sorry they choose to close this way(if indeed it is permanent).
**************************************
Ah, yea you DID say it...LMAO
I have ALL your posts copied.
lbceo posted on December 5, 2000 08:46:13 PM new
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The concept of message boards is interesting. People can apply under any name. Look at Ebay, users in this forum encourage each other to set up one account to bid and another account to sell. I was just illustrating that in the end message boards are totaly unreliable.
Pocono I am leaving and will stop using this user name. But the funny thing is ,anyone can create accounts and say almost anything they want, which in the end make these boards at time useless. So have fun in these chatrooms as I am leaving and have proven my point. They will not have to ban me as I am through talking in these boards Thanks for proving to me the value of these message boards. In the end I think Ebay feels the same way. Good bye and good luck
********************************************
Please read this thread for the TRUTH!
I have been BEGGING for action since December 3rd on this situation...
posted on January 8, 2001 06:56:19 AM new
***(HERE'S SOME MORE)***
lbceo posted on December 3, 2000 03:58:00 PM
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twinsoft, I will keep my post to related chat rooms.
Pocono
you wouldn't happened to be one of those Ebay workers/sellers that they are talking about in those other threads. Oh one thing being that you have it wrong. 48 employees and 19,000 sq feet of office space. If you want to challange this, email me at [email protected] and I will email you a picture of the buildings we are in and our staff. Or better yet come by and see us in Carson City Nevada. One final thing, our auction site was meant to be different and change the rules. Some will like it, some will not. That is o.k. I understand the skeptics out there. You have all heard it before. Remember what auction site has the most complaints and doesn't do anything about it. It is not us.
liveauctionguy posted on December 3, 2000 11:10:46 AM
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Pocono
I quess they can't help it if their site is too advanced for some people. It goes to show you that ebay has done a great job of programming people to accept less. Oh by the way dozens of power sellers use the site. I quess you should stay where you are. Sorry if this sound personal but if you took the time to look at the site you would see it is definetly not an ebay imposter. Changing bad habits takes time, but the rewards will be worth it.
[ edited by liveauctionguy on Dec 3, 2000 11:14 AM ]
lbceo posted on December 3, 2000 12:16:10 PM
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pocono
you have the right to your opinion. We are glad their are ebay users like you because it gives people who truly want a fun, safe and caring auctionsite something to remind them of what the alternative is. I reiterate stay where you are. Have a nice day. Oh check out the ratings next month.
lbceo posted on December 3, 2000 12:17:20 PM
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Oh one more thing. We are advertising heavily right now on A.W.
Pocono posted on December 3, 2000 12:23:37 PM edit
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***I reiterate stay where you are***
You have been asked to take your concerns to Diana via email. I am issuing you an informal warning because your continued discussion of this matter is combative and threatens to disrupt this forum.
Please email Diana with your concerns. As you know, her email address is [email protected].
