Let me answer your question first. Our promotions were created to bring both sellers AND buyers to the site. I cannot mention all the features we have for both, but I would be glad to discuss them on our boards.
The Cash Cow specifically is available as an incentive for both buyers and sellers, not just sellers, as you mentioned. Any registered member is allowed to participate in this program.
You can check our "Carnaby Rewards" section of the site to get more details if you would like.
relayerone
Our site has been in Planning and Development for approximately two years. We had a "soft launch" last year, and then decided to go back to the drawing board and implement features that would be more beneficial to both buyers and sellers, and re-tooled our marketing strategy. The "Carnaby" name, however, has been registered since 1997.
posted on July 18, 2001 07:31:44 AM new
Dear Carnaby
Yes, thank you for your reply. I did go back and look on the site and the Cash Cow does indeed benifit both the buyer and seller, what a great idea. And the prizes are wonderful!!
While I was there I racked up some cash points, looked at all the new stuff. Hurry up mail man!! I want my CD!!
posted on July 22, 2001 08:55:24 PM new
A FANTASTIC Site!
I'm very enthusiastic about the tools available, plus the CS, which, so far has answered my STUPID questions in a matter of minutes, as opposed to DAYS!
Plus, the site is just plain FUN to browse and use!
So, I'm listing as fast as possible and PRAYING for bidders!
With no listing fees, I can't lose...and, who knows, THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE ONE!
posted on July 23, 2001 12:23:38 PM new
I just signed up! (Not as Wedgewood however, as that handle is strictly for AW message boards.
This site is a class act! Thanks for posting this thread, Wallypog. I'm not sure if the site has had an official launch yet, so it will be interesting to see how things develop.
posted on July 24, 2001 05:04:13 PM new
I tried to register at Carnaby. Tried several different passwords and it wouldn't accept any of them. Didn't say what was wrong--just invalid password. So I finally said to heck with it. Probably won't amount to any more than bidville anyway.
posted on July 24, 2001 11:06:52 PM new
stan41, I believe you can write to [email protected] with any problems with the registration. They've been super on the spot with everything everyone else has needed help with. As with any new site there are a few kinks here and there but I'm happy to see they're all being resolved quickly and efficiently.
Hmmmm. Probably won't amount to anymore than another BidVille? Could be, you just never know, but at least Carnaby already has advertising, etc. in the works. They already have a test marketing plan in the works for the first week of August. I'm kind of anxious to see what they have up their sleeves.
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posted on July 24, 2001 11:17:11 PM new
Stan41
I recall the term Guidelines was right under choose password. I clicked it first and it said your pw must be at least 7 characters and have letters as well as numbers. In fact I think it said you could only use letters & numbers, no spaces, dashes or other characters (*&+@ etc.)
If you want to try again just click that Guideline button to make sure.
We appreciate you taking the time to look through our site, and would be more than happy to help you through our registration process via email.
We are not looking to compare ourselves to any other sites, however, and only wish to be judged by our level of service to our members and - of course - quantifiable results.
This means that our growing community will be our judge and jury - All we ask for is a fair trial.
posted on July 30, 2001 06:16:15 AM new
Just finished purchasing an item on Carnaby... (from robnzak, no less!) and found it easy-to-use. Nice job, Carnaby!
posted on August 14, 2001 09:06:53 AM new
I was surfing through and heard about the new site - from a quick glance would appear to be VERY promising.. even hear people talking about making sales.. This is good to hear. I'll probably get myself signed up and list a few items and see what happens.. 8) Can't hurt to try to find other venues after all.
posted on August 14, 2001 09:49:20 AM newCan't hurt to try to find other venues after all.
Katiyana, never truer words spoken. I believe that we, the auction users, have the power to do something about things we don't like. I'm thinking maybe my motto should become 'vote with your feet', as in if you don't like the direction a site is taking and they refuse to listen, then move along and take your customers with you.
posted on August 14, 2001 10:04:33 AM new
If you crosslist the same items on both eBay and Carnaby, why not start the Carnaby item at a little lower price. No listing fee for now on Carnaby so you can pass that savings on to potential bidders, at least at the start of an auction.
posted on August 14, 2001 10:05:12 AM new
Carnaby is a great new site with all kinds of things happening. It looks like they have a plan and they are being very upfront about their promise that Carnaby will not always be fee-free. IMHO, that one statement goes a long way towards helping someone make a decision as to which site they are going to support.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot of listing, bidding and selling going on there yet. I hope this will soon change.
I don't know how may "really experienced" on-line auctioneers we have reading and responding to these posts, but I would like your opinion on the future of on-line auctions. Carnaby suggests that "we can all agree that as an industry, the online auction marketplace is still in its infancy".
From my POV, the novelty of on-line auctions seems to be waning. Sure, there are more and more items being listed, but these appear to be more of the same thing. And, many of the items now being sold aren't really being auctioned - they are being sold just like in a shopping mall.
Competition is great, but how many WalMarts can a community handle? Is the emergence of new on-line auction sites simply spreading the available items over more sites, or is this market truly just starting?
posted on August 14, 2001 10:15:45 AM new
With no listing fee on Carnaby for now, it might be a good time to list items like books, videos, CDs, trading cards, Comic books, magazines, low priced collectibles, etc. that you might not when they eventually start charging listing fees. Heck, if an item sells, Carnaby's 5% FVF also beats Half.com or Amazon Marketplace's 15% FVF. At the worst it would boost Carnaby's listing figures.
posted on August 14, 2001 06:44:19 PM new
Maybe I'm backward in my thinking but I really hate to see items listed just to 'boost listing figures'. To me it only cheapens a site and frustrates buyers looking for things. Don't take me wrong, it's not that I don't believe that all items need a venue, it's just that there needs to be a good mix of items for sale.
I'm sure that most of my stuff is what a lot of people would consider 'junk'. Much of it doesn't sell for over $10 and a lot for less than that, so see even I fit into that area of what could be considered 'padding' on an auction site.
I will be really glad when more sellers start listing on Carnaby. There are many categories that could use beefing up. I just cruised through a bunch of listings looking for stuff to bid on and was thoroughly disappointed. Seems like I bid on everything that I really wanted a few days ago, LOL.
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posted on August 15, 2001 03:33:24 AM new
I just wanted to make a quick comment. As for the future of on line auction sites. If you were around when this all first started it was more about a garage sale on line, than a shopping mall on line. Instead of getting up at 0 dark hundred and hitting the yard sales, we all found we could cruse the on line site and find what we were looking for among the treasures listed.
Now, the on line sites sell everything you can emagine. It isn't flipping through the pages and looking for your favorite item or "just to see what's up there" anymore.
I just think the flavor of on line auctions has been lost. At least for me. Gone are the days when I could find a great old piece of my favorite collectible or a blast from the past.
posted on August 16, 2001 02:54:58 AM new
RB, The 4x4 was my attempt to imply I drink a lot of coffee and always have. In my younger days I did try off roading, but on a dirt bike, never tried the 4x4, although I have a friend in California who does the jeep off road thing every year. She and her husband love it!! Sounds like fun but these old bones can't take that kind of bouncing around like they use to.
posted on August 21, 2001 01:41:47 PM new
I just signed up at Carnaby, it doesn't look like there is much activity yet, but the people were friendly, and the homepage was more colorful and refreshing than where I currently sell. But I remember when I started selling at Bidville, they only had 7000 sportcard auctions. But I believe Carnaby has potential. At least it wasn't full of negative threads. That is a turnoff to potential new buyer's or seller's. I plan on listing some auctions there next week. I hope they are successful. Hillbilly
posted on August 21, 2001 01:59:52 PM new
Right on RichHillbilly!
Ya know, with nice folks like you coming over to Carnaby, I might just start looking at collecting sports cards --- seems I collect just about everything else!
Hockey for me please
Rob
Buzzoon at Carnaby
Mud at Bidville
and someone else at eBay!
posted on August 21, 2001 05:04:08 PM new
Yay!! Hillbilly is coming over! That's great news.
I've only listed a few sportscards so far, and am planning to list a bunch more by the end of the week. We need more listings in that area to get it jump-started.
posted on August 21, 2001 07:13:59 PM new
Thanks RB for the compliment. I don't know very much about hockey, you must remember I live deep in them thar hills of West Virginia. Not very many people here follow hockey. emak, you spoke like you know me, do I know you? Well RB, I officially retired tonight from the message boards at Bidville. Those boards is the worst thing that could have ever happened to that place. Constant bickering and badgering. My wife talked me into staying away. Of course if something is business related, I will talk. But this place and Carnaby is my new entertainment. RB, where do you chat the most at? Here or Carnaby? See you guys later. Hillbilly
posted on August 21, 2001 07:27:28 PM new
RB --- I know we've had our differences and apparently both of us get a kick out of 'throwing stones at each other'. Setting that aside, are you into hockey? Are you near a major hockey city where you get to see the games in person? If you do get to see games in person, can or will you tell me which team?
posted on August 22, 2001 05:03:57 AM new
The # of current listings at Carnaby doesn't justify an Ad campaign, yet. They're caught between a rock and a hard place. They need to pump up the listing #s and selection at the site in order to entice Ad visitors or there'll be nothing to keep people coming back. I've listed a couple dozen items at Carnaby that sell well on eBay and BargainandHaggle, but I've had no bites yet. I'll keep trying though since Carnaby seems like a great site that should take off as soon as the Ad campaign sets sail.
[ edited by eSeller004 on Aug 22, 2001 05:04 AM ]
