posted on August 6, 2001 02:48:41 PM new
I was under the impression that pop ups were part of an affiliate program, where by, the site allowing the pop ups was paid an amount for those who chose to visit the pop up site.
posted on August 6, 2001 02:58:41 PM new
toollady,
Who knows, but Bidville has stated that 20% of revenue went into advertising, and Engage/Flycast and FastClick were I believe mentioned as sites that carried Bidville advertising for placement on other websites.
posted on August 6, 2001 03:07:11 PM new
I think toollady is right. Now BV will earn even less revenue for it's site.
On the question of 99 relists or a small red x insteaad of photo I think BV will continue it's current policy of 'see no evil' and ignore the fact that many auctions are photoless or on an 8 year listing run. Even if the number of relists were trimed the bulk loader could be used to reload then every so often.
If Dim wants to see cause/effect stats on BV it may be best to start comparing Carnaby's growing numbers to BV/ePier's declining listings as the promised Carnaby ad campaign starts tomorrow. What a joy it will be to see a small auction site spending money on an internet advertising campaign. This should effect sellers at non-advertising sites into thinking about changing venues.
Thanks for your reply. I many times have disagreed with your opinions, but I do appreciate your ability to not misrepresent your opinions as fact.
Concerning your perception on the sportscard area on Bidville, I don't really know enough about other seller's practices to disagree or agree with you. I know that it isn't true with myself, and I have recognized few of my buyers as sellers. I am able to purchase my needs from several local dealers at very good prices, so I don't currently have a need (and really the time) to buy through auctions. My opinion is that there is a minimal amount of my card for your card type purchases as you describe. However, there is a significant number of sellers who also buy (or is it the other way around, buyers who also sell). Therefore you might have some significant number of purchases may by other sellers. As I said earlier, I really don't have enough info to have a strong opinion either way.
On trading, I have seen that the experienced traders are not the problem. It is going to be the "newbies" who will get burned and start the flame wars. Us "old f--ts" have been around long enough to handle our own problems if we have one.
posted on August 6, 2001 03:43:10 PM new
Let's take a further look at Bidville report for the week ending August 1, in which they reported 10,323 sales on 695,000 listings.
My statistics for August 1 indicate there were 694,709 listings, comprised of 370,774 sportscards listings and 323,935 "all other categories" listings.
So what of the three theories floating about?
The Sportscards Are The Deadwood Theory.
Suppose ALL 10,323 sales were from the 323,935 "all other categories" listings, with ZERO sales from the sportscards listings. The sell-through rate would have been
The "All Other Categories" Are The Deadwood Theory.
Now suppose ALL 10,323 sales were from the 370,774 sportscards listings, with ZERO sales from the "all other categories" listings. The sell-through rate would have been
The Few Pageviews and Even Fewer Bidders On All The Stuff Theory.
Okay, this is the 10,323 sales on all 705,000 listings, for which the sell-through rate was
Perhaps there are some pockets of interest, but in the broad categories it sure looks there's not much interest across the board. Not surprising that Bidville does not advertise all that much (I am online *alot* and have yet to see a Bidville advertisement anywhere).
[ edited by dimview on Aug 6, 2001 03:45 PM ]
[ edited by dimview on Aug 6, 2001 03:58 PM ]
posted on August 6, 2001 03:55:19 PM new
Off Topic for a second.
bidsbids,
According to their announcements board, sellyouritem.com started a print campaign last week in addition to doing sponsorships for a few opt in newsletters. They also have more ads coming out tomorrow in targeted publications.
posted on August 7, 2001 06:41:55 AM new
[AuctionWatch has prohibited me from posting the following report in an <auctionsite - date> subject line format. This report would have been Bidville listings - 07-Aug-2001.]
Here's some recent datapoints. The order is date, total listings, sportscards listings and percentage of total listings, and listings in all other categories.
A Premier or Premier Plus membership is required to use Bidville's image hosting (in excess of twenty), as announced on July 27 and effective August 1. For those without a Premier or Premier Plus membership, Bidville will begin deleting their images September 1.
posted on August 7, 2001 07:00:03 AM new
Hi stavecards ...
On trading, I have seen that the experienced traders are not the problem. It is going to be the "newbies" who will get burned and start the flame wars. Us "old f--ts" have been around long enough to handle our own problems if we have one.
Right on! The nice thing about trading in a community (I mean a real "community" ... kinda like eBay used to be!) is that members can warn each other about the bad traders. I, personally, have nothing against newb... (hate that word) new traders.
The other nice thing about these trading communities is that if an idiot does come along, there are "no holds barred" to gang up on him/her and get rid of him/her (i.e. zero moderation). It works just fine
Finally, I get to "meet" great people from all over the world who are not interested in trying to make money by selling bootlegs, could care less about how much it costs to mail a dozen tapes half way around the world, and who are genuinely interested in just having a good time.
posted on August 7, 2001 08:31:31 AM new
I thought that when Bidville listed some 10,000 sales, it meant there were some 10,000 SALES. It now appears, however, that a good number of those sales were actually trades.
Then we're really talking about a sell-and-trade-through rate that is 1.4%. And the sell-through rate is actually lower than that?
posted on August 7, 2001 09:13:40 AM new
I think those who've been telling us about their robust sales the past month or so have been very misleading if they failed to disclose the fact their numbers included "trades" or failed to exclude those "trades" from their numbers.
I thought this was an auctionsite, but it looks like it really an auctionsite-swapmeet combo.
posted on August 7, 2001 09:21:50 AM newI thought this was an auctionsite, but it looks like it really an auctionsite-swapmeet combo
Which wouldn't be a bad thing as long as "He" allows it. It makes more sense to trade than use money anyway if two collectors with similar wants and haves can get together.
As a matter of fact, offering a trading service might be a GOOD idea
posted on August 7, 2001 09:39:46 AM new
From the perspective that Bidville anticipates "going public" within a few years, I'm not so sure this would be a good thing.
Of course, I don't see a 1.4% sell-through rate with little prospect of improvement in the foreseeable future as very encouraging either.
I believe that you are jumping to conclusions from one person's speculation. There is no proof that any of the sales on Bidville are actually trades. The only discussion that I see on this point was RB's speculation that this may be occuring and my reply. I responded that I had no knowledge one way or another. I know that all of my sales on Bidville are actual sales. That is the sum of my exact knowledge on the subject. I have seen no posts from people saying they are doing this.
It is becoming blatantly obvious that you are grasping at any discussion of opinions to take statements out of context to further your own personal agenda to blast Bidville at any opportunity. This is insulting to those of us who are trying to have intelligent discussions only to have our words twisted to further one person's agenda.
posted on August 7, 2001 09:49:21 AM new
stavecards,
AuctionWatch prohibits links to other boards, but I'm sure most folks probably read "other" boards and have noted that more than a few Bidville auction sellers "swap."
posted on August 7, 2001 09:55:05 AM new
Dimview, I would like to respond to some of your postings in this thread, but I am sure that it will be considered a moderation issue. So without going "behind you Back", I want you to know up front that I am going to contact the moderators.
posted on August 7, 2001 01:04:51 PM new
Okay, back to topic ... Bidvillle listings. I think the flucuations in the BV listing numbers may soon be affected by recent advertising by 3 rival auction sites, Carnaby, Yahoo, and SellYourItem. The effect the image hosting change at BV may become minor in regards to these new advertising cmpaigns by 3 rivals. If the listing numbers do not take a significant downward trend then it would seem that web advertising may be a waste of money,although it's way too early to decide that yet.
posted on August 7, 2001 01:39:46 PM new
Heard a radio spot for Yahoo!Auctions last night. I thought it was rather stupid ... with two guys talking about a baseball card, then the player's jockstrap, etc., with the announcer saying "find just about anything" or something like that. Still, afterward, you knew about Yahoo!Auctions.
Anyway, late-afternoon update ...
08-06 696,434 376,297 (54.0%) 320,137
08-07 697,490 377,221 (54.1%) 320,269 @ 9:40 AM ET
08-07 697,294 377,287 (54.1%) 320,007 @ 4:30 PM ET
posted on August 7, 2001 02:11:35 PM new
hmmmmmm.... maybe they have heard that BidVille is the leader where sport cards are concerned and are trying to get a little piece of the sport card action.
Just a thought,
CuFF
I'm really gone now! Bye
[ edited by CuFF on Aug 7, 2001 02:12 PM ]
posted on August 7, 2001 03:06:41 PM new
Even I wouldn't say that Bidville is the sports card leader. I sell on both Yahoo and Bidville. My sell-through rate for Yahoo is 50%+ (I list my auctions for 14 day durations so that would average to a 25%+ sell through per week). While I don't track my Bidville sell-through as I do on Yahoo, I would estimate that it is similar to the overall site sell-through or slightly higher. For me, Yahoo has had a very good sell-through rate since the listing fees were initiated. Also Ebay, and probably Beckett (including fixed price listings) have significantly higher sportscard listings.
Now, the Yahoo auctions ad (particularly for sports) are not new. Since the fees started, I have noticed many TV and radio sports themed ads for Yahoo auctions. Also they have been a frequent advertiser in the Beckett price guides with full page ads. I do believe this is a factor in the sell-through since I continually get a number of relatively new bidders.
