posted on August 28, 2001 09:31:02 AM new
bidbids ... I hear ya about the cheerleaders thing
I don't consider myself a Carnaby cheerleader. In terms of the number listings, bids, and buys, Carnaby is dead in the water. Same could be said about Bidville, except they have a gazillion listings for stuff that most people aren't interested in.
Auctions aside, what I do like about Carnaby, and you can call this cheerleading if it pleases you, is that they provide a very friendly place to shoot the sh1t without having to wade through the unintelligible crap that was happening on BV when I was still visiting their message centre. It's nice to be able to state an opinion without the Southern Gang of Three jumping you with their insinuations and rows of stupid winking smileys!
Sorry AW Moderator if I am making reference to another forum or forums, but some of us just like to talk and are not really all that interested in the buy and sell stuff
posted on August 28, 2001 09:33:03 AM new
Just a few days away from September. Some schools have already started. Early Christmas shoppers are out and about. Carnaby, throw the sellers a bone and spring for some banner ads somewhere. If the sellers see a few banners ads they will be more inclined to come and set up shop. Ya gotta spend a buck to make a buck ...
posted on August 28, 2001 10:10:31 AM new
I think savvy sellers have clued in to the fact that there are other ways to make money at Carnaby in addition to selling your items.
I am more than happy to be over there growing my business and keeping an eye on my $$$$. My account is adding up quite nicely on a daily basis over and above the money I am generating through my listings!
Ask yourself if you can say the same thing about any of the other sites where you deal?
posted on August 28, 2001 11:26:16 AM new
HOOTERBUG - I listed you as my reference with signing up with Carnaby - enjoy the referral (dunno if you get anything, I haven't read everything in detail yet). Will get getting this great bulk loader tool tonight and playing with it the rest of the week to figure it out. We'll see what action I can get there for my stuff.
posted on August 28, 2001 11:52:50 AM new
I think savvy sellers have clued in to the fact that there are other ways to make money at Carnaby in addition to selling your items.
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Good luck with the contests and C Cash. Remenber that cash is only worth something if the site succeeds.
posted on August 28, 2001 01:37:39 PM new
Bidsbids: I wasn't referring to the Cash Cow! But the Bountiful Bovine is a nice touch, as long as you remember to login and shake hands with her every time you visit the site, that is!
As for the contests - the longer other sellers stay away the happier I'll be! Selfish, but true! But I'm not referring to the contests, either.
I'm not the brightest star in the constellation, but once I took time to really sit down and examine what this site was all about, the lights came on and I began to understand what really sets Carnaby apart from all the other sites out there. But I'll let you have the fun of figuring that out for yourself!
As for Carnaby being dead in the water - You Wish, RB! I hold Wallypog and Auction Watch almost totally responsible for the number of sellers that ARE on the Carnaby site at this time.
Wallypog let the cat out of the bag about Carnaby on this Auction Watch forum and probably caught the Carnaby Team with their pants down ( ) when a herd of 'us hooligans' arrived unexpectedly on their as yet, unofficially, unopened doorstep.
I really don't think they were quite ready for the gang of hairy miners (aka - sellers) that stormed their site as a result of that post. But, as always, they have been most gracious and have managed to welcome us with open arms.
Kick at their shins all you want about an advertising campaign. (Believe me, I've tried a few times myself.) But they march to their own drummer and are not going to go rushing off a cliff just because you and I think that is the best route for them to take at this time.
The way I see it, Slow and Steady wins the race. And that's what Carnaby is all about!
(I'm also hedging bets right now as to how long it will be before eBay has a great fuss up about the 'New' seller rewards program they have 'just implemented.' Oh happy day - I can hardly wait. Anyone want to guess at a time frame here - I'll give them until next Wednesday afternoon to hail this great new feature they have bestowed upon their deserving patrons! Bletch!)
posted on August 28, 2001 07:54:19 PM new
Sure, it would be great if all of a sudden Carnaby had a ton of buyers. But, as with any site that's only been available for a short time there's bound to be bugs and glitches that need to be found and fixed.
That's the reason behind their Test Drive. We sellers are putting up a few auctions, using the various features of the site and helping them to find out what works and what doesn't. Carnaby is giving us some awesome stuff in return like free enhancements, no closing or listing fees, etc.
The contests and other stuff are just a fun diversion. A few people have won some great prizes and this is just encouraging everyone to play around.
It's really a hoot to see how many people you've managed to refer to Carnaby. Since the count in the 'genealogy' area goes down to a fourth tier you end up with quite a few people under you in the tree. I'll just be so glad when they get that global sign-in fixed you'll be hearing me shouting cheers all across the country, LOL.
If Carnaby's way is rather slow and easy that's okay with me. Hopefully by the time the site starts generating a bunch of traffic it will be stable enough to support it and there will be plenty of listings to keep potential buyers coming back.
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posted on August 28, 2001 08:05:20 PM new
You sellers have the patience of Job. It's obvious to me and a few others that this is an inept attempt to be the next eBay. The long time it's taken them to get this far should earn them the nickname of 'F Troop'.
posted on August 29, 2001 05:58:13 AM new
I'm a little astounded by the animosity toward this site. So far, I've been very impressed with CARNABY. It costs me nothing except for the 30min/day I devote to it!
I get the feeling that WHATEVER they do, some folks will be negative towards them. Why? If it works, EVERYBODY profits! If they fall on their face, what did ya lose?
posted on August 29, 2001 06:08:20 AM newThe long time it's taken them to get this far should earn them the nickname of 'F Troop'.
Over at Bidville, they're known as "The 3 Illiterate Stooges" (can you guess who they are??)
PS --- I also enjoy Carnaby! Please don't get the wrong impression when I refer to them as "dead in the water" ... that is only in reference to their (any other other site) ability to catch eBay. Carnaby is fun. I have a sorta challenge over there that when the number of different DVD listings (not the same ones listed in more that one category!) reaches a "certain" number, I will double that number with my DVD listings.
[ edited by RB on Aug 29, 2001 06:14 AM ]
[ edited by RB on Aug 29, 2001 06:17 AM ]
posted on August 29, 2001 07:03:37 AM new
Here's the main reason that I think Carnaby is a load of baloney ...
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/010622/01028555.html
I think this part of the news story is the funniest ...
Carnaby has plans to introduce an even bigger Cash Cow Sweepstakes giveaway by offering an annual prize of $12 million, a $1 million prize every month, a daily prize of $10,000, and 25 $1,000 prizes every week.
======================
Would you buy a used car from this guy?
posted on August 29, 2001 07:40:30 AM new
It's too bad that eBay has become the standard for judging the online auction industry. Be that as it may, what I see at Carnaby is a top notch site with lots of potential, even without the contests and other attractions being offered there.
When you check the seller's rewards programs, from what I see they are the best in the business.
Also, from what I can determine, Carnaby doesn't need thousands of other seller's listings before a smart seller can have success there. My read on the situation is that if a seller can build a good winner's circle with other like minded sellers who have a bit of marketing know-how, they are well positioned to be in an almost immediate win-win situation on this site. Plus, what other site offers cash incentives (and I'm not referring to the contests here) as a reward for seller performance?
My gut feeling is that Carnaby is not really trying to attract the small time seller, though they are certainly set up to cater to their needs as well. Their B2B business section is fantastic as are the incentives for other major players entering the fray.
Has anyone actually seen a notice anywhere that this site is open for business yet? Or are sellers just finding the place on their own and setting up camp before an official opening takes place? I like the fact that this site is not making a big bang until they have everything securely in place. Having dealt for way too long on e-higgledypiggledybay I am most impressed with the well thought out approach to doing business that the management team on this site seems to be taking!
Edited to correct a typo.
[ edited by Wedgewood on Aug 29, 2001 08:06 AM ]
posted on August 29, 2001 08:58:04 AM new
I think it's more the other way around. They've been open for a while and nobody has showed up. Why does the site take so long to load up on the first page, even with a cable modem?
KISS ... Keep It Simple Silly . This is the most complex and confusing auction site after eBay. At least with eBay there is always somebody that can show you the ropes. The average first time user will spend a few minutes on Carnaby and get lost in the maze and leave.
posted on August 29, 2001 09:39:11 AM new
"...At least with eBay there is always somebody that can show you the ropes..."
respectfully disagree, support has appropriate threads available for every avenue of the site, their quick in reponding to questions or concerns, and there are also plenty of sellers (like me) to lend a hand. Of course, in order to help, you have to be willing to take a moment to ask!
BTW, I have cable modem too, and the pages load just fine for me.
posted on August 29, 2001 09:46:05 AM new
Rob, I meant somebody that could show you the ropes not in a website support fashion but in a real world friend, relative, co-worker, etc. There are 29 million registered users so everybody knows at least one person that can help them out.
posted on August 29, 2001 09:53:06 AM new
um...Houston's only a couple hours away from most major cities, come on over...I've got a cold six-pack (of Pepsi's)
posted on August 29, 2001 01:46:17 PM new
OK, I listed my first 4 items manually (haven't DL'd the Max yet, but will try to work on it this weekend I think). Love the professional looking templates - my auctions on Carnaby look much snazzier than my Ebay listings, I think... I may have to learn how to design my own templates to start snazzing up the Ebay listings - but that's another story.
Love the cash cow - every search and item view gets me a few more CC points - I put up a little bit of everything I have available right now - so we'll see if I get any views.
posted on August 29, 2001 02:13:58 PM new
With a little practice you can get the 80 daily maximum browse points in 15 clicks or less. 6 points for the items with 5 stars and you can click them twice. Won't take long before the browse points lose their importance.
posted on August 29, 2001 07:12:30 PM new
Yo crack me up, bidsbidsYou gotta get a more positive outlook, man! Have you started to earn the bonus points every day over and above the basic 80?
posted on August 29, 2001 08:18:43 PM new
Well, let's see. It seems to me that when I first started out on eBay I didn't have any friends or relatives who knew anything. I learned most of my way around by stumbling through very poorly written tutorials. Then, later on I fell into the chat areas. It was several months before I knew they were there. At least on Carnaby you can find the link to the chat area in a very noticeable place.
And think of it this way--if there are few people who know the ropes about Carnaby, think of what a hero you could be by learning it first and teaching those you know! I know I sure helped out a few of my own family when it came to eBay and now I'm driving them all in the direction of other auction sites, too. Hehehe
I don't mind going to a new site and learning new things. As it is I haven't dug nearly as deeply into Carnaby as many people have--mostly just know enough to get my listings going and that stuff. I still haven't set up my stuff for the auction manager but will most likely as soon as I start listing again. After using Manage Auctions with eBay last year it spoiled me absolutely rotten. I just love the convenience of some of the features and my buyers really liked it, too. Some say it's too confusing to do the different things. There's no rule that says a person has to sign up for the Cash Cow. That's strictly optional. Of course, if you do you do have a chance of winning a prize. Sometimes I just click on the cows to see what number pops up, LOL. (Yes, so easily entertained. :P)
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posted on August 30, 2001 01:25:39 AM new
Well the posts are mixed with those who believe, the negatives , and those who choose to sit back and watch & wait. I only found this site three days ago, spent yesterday and part of today looking through and talking to customer service.
Right now the point is well taken the bidders are not there and the sellers are in small numbers. Somewhere on this internet time and again I have heard how epay is not the way and someday the people who really built them are going to leave, boycotts abound, sellers threaten , and new sites come and go. Ebay has it's pockets of bidders and probably always will in some sections, but if you havent noticed they are driving away full blast from the samll seller and teaming up with big business. Amazon is a functional mess and Yahoo has never been the same since they started charging and the sellers clamor for a site they can depend on. The theory its never good to put all your eggs in one basket is a good one. Ebay was built brick by brick auction by auction into the cash cow it is now.
Back to Carnaby , I went through the site from top to bottom and you have to hand it to this group. Software that allows you to set up your auctions and list all at once from your desktop, so it comes with free posting software, they host the pictures, a TICKER PROGRAM that you have to take a look at to believe (really dont pass on this one the program even shows ebay and yahoo) . Also a site that shows tremendous forethought, they have specialty shops , storefronts coming , chat boards , information boards, a wanted section , b2b and a CATEGORY LISTING that few rival. The customer service is not only the best I have seen in quite awhile but the responses are beyond quick.
What they dont have is bidders and sellers. Too many categories empty for want of an item. Now I have heard sellers from all walks of life, part timers and full timers , they want some alternatives to ebay but they dont want to come unless there are bidders and massive sell throughs. It doesnt work this way in auctions or in the real world. When the site is sitting on top of the world its easy to buy a ticket.
Yes these people have had this site up and than down and now back up. They are taking there time with it and doing it right. What they have here is a model of something that has all the signs of becoming a leader in the industry and the way they are bringing it along is a testament to the fact they will be here FOR THE LONG RUN.
The site has tremendous potential but we as sellers have to make use of the potential and bring the numbers to reality. Small individual sellers have for far too long not seen the potential they have as a UNIT. We can make or break a site, bidders dont come without product and small sellers dont come without bidders , catch-22 at its finest.
I have watched and looked at every site out there , I have studied the trends and walked in your shoes. I have also made the same comments you do. I have gone to amazon and established weekly auctions with bidders (20 items a week with over 200 bids every week) when others said it could not be done. I have learned from other sellers and helped as many sellers as I could. Now its time that we all try to see how much power we have.
I agree right now I dont see bids en masse and not sure of the sell rate there but it cant be much right now. There are ways to bring the bidders there and they have worked before but first put the cart before the horse.
Carnaby needs sellers and they need items to fill the slots up. Personally this afternoon my decision was made to try 200 items there and put those aside , but now because I have enough inventory through consignment and my own I am going to up that figure to 1000 items by oct 1st. No bandstanding here but I call on any seller who reads this to look at their inventory and list something even just 10 items there if you have a larger inventory than increase the amount. Less talk and more give it a shot , than make it a point to mention the site to someone at least once every day.
Screw the contests and cash cows , we all want to sell and as sellers we want a staff that shows us some respect. So far this group has shown a willingness to walk with us , and as I understand they are only three hours away from me if they get too big for their shoes I promise you I will pay them a personal visit.
If you know another seller ask them if they could list there even just 10 auuctions . Trust me this site can make a mark and we can help them make it but not by sitting back again like allot of us do and waiting for the bidders but by LISTING and giving the site a presence on the web. I have five hundred bidders on a mailing list and when the site starts to fill up with listings I will bring them to the table. We all know sellers and bidders so lets start just getting one of them to take a look, right now concentrate on the sellers.
Ebay has bidders but not without the sellers , for once stop the apathy and start showing the auction world that as a group we can function and support something. You dont have to devote everything to it but give it 10 percent of what you have , put 300 sellers together and we could start to fill the categories and than with a robust look the bidders will come and with the bidders more sellers and than more bidders and it all starts with the small independent seller.
I have met some of the greatest people in the selling community, I know I probably bored you and went on too long but thats why they call me ramblinrec.
Rob
[ edited by RAMBLINREC on Aug 30, 2001 01:34 AM ]
[ edited by RAMBLINREC on Aug 30, 2001 09:00 AM ]
posted on August 30, 2001 05:43:36 AM new
What Carnaby needs is patience from the rest of us. They seem to be taking the slow and steady approach to success. If the quality of their marketing campaign proves to be even 75% of the caliber of the site, they're going to do well. REAL WELL!! And if they go under, who cares? Noone had time to build a dependence on the site, so no big thing. Other sites with growing momentum like BargainandHaggle will pick up the slack. I sure hope Carnaby is a success since the more viable venues we have, the less dependence we'll have on eBay. Heck, their success, and the success of others, may even make eBay rethink some of their ways. The last thing we need is another unchecked "Microsoft"!
If they take another year to build momentum, so what? Step aside and watch if you can't take the time to help build the site. Meanwhile use other venues like BargainandHaggle until Carnaby proves worthwhile.
posted on August 30, 2001 06:16:19 AM new
Carnaby is no Bidville or ePier. I list the same items on all 3 sites and I'm noticing sales are actually starting to dribble in from Carnaby, whereas I find it impossible to move inventory on Bidville or ePier. The sales are coming in very slowly but they are starting to come in. They must be advertising somewhere. Who the heck knows where??? In the same way I couldn't figure out where BargainandHaggle was advertising at first before the site really started to gain momentum out of nowhere earlier this year. I think we might have a similar performance with Carnaby at some point in the next 12 months. In addition, Carnaby claims to have a large advertising budget for a new site, unlike BargainandHaggle. There is hope with this site.
posted on August 30, 2001 07:04:54 AM new
Well said, Ramblinrec.
I think one just has to look at the Carnaby announcements board to get a feel for where management is placing their priorities at the moment. They are working hard and long on site functionality (can't believe I actually used that word) and stability. They are fine tuning the Max Loader and Auction Ticker program and making sure the site is workable for people with older browsers, few technical skills and all sorts of other concerns. They are definitely not going to pull an eBoob and go flying off the roof to attract millions of viewers to a glitchy site that excels at playing the toilet seat game! (As in up and down, up and down...)
Also, Rec, in response to your shockingly overt promotional statement (gasp) about inviting other sellers to the site - the beauty of the refer-a-friend program and the winners circle program is that you can do just that. Ditto for sending out a Max Loader invitation. Some of 'MY' sellers are already set up and doing business and more are getting ready to come on board very soon. <enormous, happy grin!>
The wheel in my head is too small to allow the chipmunks to generate enough power to enable me to keep track of several auction sites at once. I will still sell a bit here and there on "the Other site" even if only to advertise the fact that I'm jumping ship to the big 'C' of opportunity.
I've spent the last month learning the ropes, asking the absolutely dumbest questions imaginable on the help boards, and figuring out some of Max's finer points. I'm ready to get into high gear and am aiming for second or third week of September to really let 'er rip. I have other seller friends (in my winner's circle ) who are going to do the same thing. It's about time a site of this calibre came along and when the management team rolls out the Carnaby Road Show and the rest of their promised advertising campaigns, I'll be there with open arms to catch the wave!
You gotta get a more positive outlook, man! Have you started to earn the bonus points every day over and above the basic 80?