posted on November 5, 2001 05:04:40 PM new
When you have an auction site that has at least six million items almost everything becomes Walmart-like. Take a good look at the completed auctions sections of a few random categories. No bids or one bid is the general rule with a lot of BIN purchases. Online auctions are quickly becoming a thing of the past. The fad has faded and ebay has adjusted to the change by aggressively pursuing the fixed price arena. Adjust or fail to survive. The niche auction sites will always be popular and survive but not a general auction site, at least not in my opinion. I was at ebay four years ago and have seen this morphosis take place over those four years.
posted on November 5, 2001 05:24:12 PM new
bidsbids,
I am not saying that, that is not WHAT happened, but WHY? People did NOT just get tired of auctions because go to some live auctions and see the numbers of people attending!
Why are people leaving the online auctions and going back to live auctions? I think I am pretty close in what I said in my previous post. People have not suddenly stopped enjoying auctions - just the kind that the online auctions have became.
posted on November 5, 2001 06:34:57 PM newPeople have not suddenly stopped enjoying auctions - just the kind that the online auctions have became
Yes, the sad fact is most of them aren't "auctions" anymore, but simply on-line stores. When a new venue comes along (like Carnaby) and starts advertising their stores, it just drives another nail into the spirit of auctioning. If I am going to have to pay the full price for something, I'd rather buy from a real on-line store where there are some guarantees that I am going to get what I paid for and where real customer service exists, not just some guy sitting at a keyboard in his mother's basement.
If I am going to buy from a STORE in the first place, I am going to Wal-Marts, where I can at least get a smlie and thank you, along with an occasional glimpse of a little leg.
posted on November 5, 2001 07:49:26 PM new
I don't think online auctions are a fad. THere is definitely a place for them in the grand scheme of things.
I agree that ebay is moving away from its core and to some gobbled up mess they are trying to figure out.
posted on November 6, 2001 06:46:15 AM new
The SAD problem is that we will NEVER know because there are no sites that will try the old fashioned style that built eBay. The just plain old auction without features.
Therefore those that have left the online venue and went back to the live auctions will NOT come back to the mess that are now called auctions. I certainly would not bid on auctions with all the snipers, and fixed pricing. It is stupid to me to pay more on auctions than I could get it for down the street. This sniping has taken all the enjoyment out of auctions unless you just want a second or two of the thrill of winning. Auctions are no longer exciting, as a matter of fact they have becomes very dull and disappointing.
Again, my opinion, Which now we will never know the truth because every site wants to COPY the big boys and follow them down the path of self-destruction!
posted on November 6, 2001 06:55:04 AM new
I am still enjoying "auctions" in a small way as a buyer. Since eBay and I decided to part ways, I have done a bit of buying on Carnaby. It's not really "auction" buying as everything I have bought so far has only received one "bid", but I am finding some neat and unique stuff that I can't find in the local WalMarts, like:
- Rottie Christmas cards (for my brother-in-law who has a Rottie)
- embroidered elephant for my mother-in-law, who loves elephants
- a beautiful print of wolves at night for my other brother-in-law who loves the great outdoors (the framing is costing me $243.00, but he's worth it!)
- some Sandalwood candles (which I can't find anywhere else) for my wife
- and some non-sports trading cards for me (my "new" hobby)
posted on November 6, 2001 07:20:17 AM new"...If I am going to have to pay the full price for something, I'd rather buy from a real on-line store where there are some guarantees that I am going to get what I paid for and where real customer service exists, not just some guy sitting at a keyboard in his mother's basement..."
OUCH! that hurt!
I don't like the BIN feature as it takes away from the true spirit of auctions so in addition to my regular auctions, I have a storefront on Carnaby for those impulse shoppers who can't wait.
Rob, your blanket statement on stores does a disservice to folks like me who really bust our ass trying to pay the mortgage while sitting in this windowless musty smelling basement.
Rob (of the south)
posted on November 6, 2001 07:38:59 AM new
Hi Rob Of the South ...
My comment about sitting in the basement wasn't directed at sellers like you or any other seller. It was directed at the so-called auction venues' "Customer Service" departments
If I have a problem with a purchase at WalMart, I can talk to someone face-to-face and get it resolved. If I have a problem with a purchase at an on-line store, er, auction venue, I have to send 11 emails, receive 11 non-related 'bot responses, then give up!
If I have to pay retail, I'd rather have the "real" customer service that goes with it.
I still don't think the concept of "stores" fits in with the auction philosophy. When I go to WalMart to buy something, I don't place a bid and wait to see what happens. I also don't experience the joy of watching what other bidders are going to do.
I don't think it's proper to use the words "auction" and "store" in the same sentence!
posted on November 6, 2001 07:49:23 AM new
thanks for the clairification, now I remember what you were referencing.
I don't think it's proper to use the words "auction" and "store" in the same sentence!
I don't either, but that's why I have a "store" AND "auctions", different goods for different types of customers.
PS - didya find those books I am looking for yet?
nope, I don't think they exist, I believe you made them up to mess with my head.
Actually, I have been paid by your competitors to keep you busy looking for these books, thus taking away time that you could be using to pay down your mortgage!
posted on November 6, 2001 08:34:21 AM new
Rob of the South,
Now you don’t fool me about that basement. I know that if you tried to dig a basement in Houston, you would probably hit water before you hit bottom.
Just a little humor from your fellow Texan. Hope you are doing well in your ventures.
Now for RB and Rob and others,
Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in on auctions vs. stores. When on-line selling started, the only venue for a seller, without their own website, was an auction site. People who had sold before at shows, flea market, antique stores, etc. had no choice to sell online other than in the auction format. Therefore you have had many items being sold in the auction format that realistically are better suited to a fixed price format. What I believe you are seeing now is an adjustment to this fixed price pressure. This showing up in the form of buy it now prices on auctions, fixed price format sites, and online storefronts. I believe this trend will continue because most items are better suited to a fixed price format and that is how the items are sold in the “real world”. For these items, fixed price is the preference of the buyer and they will go to where they can find a fixed price and the ability to buy now. For example, sportscards have had a strong show and shop system. Sportscard buyers are used to going to a show or shop, finding some of their wants, and buying it now. They are not used to placing a bid to see if they might win the card in a few days. Therefore fixed pricing will continue to grow to meet the needs of the buyer and eventually most of this will move to dedicated fixed price sites or storefronts.
Where does that leave auctions? I believe that will leave auctions with items that are suited to the auction format. The majority of items in online auctions will then be similar to the items you find in a live auction. Primarily these will be unique, one of a kind or low production items without a set price. The buyers are used to buying these items in an auction format and enjoy buying in that type of format.
In summary, it is my opinion that the current trend will be beneficial to online buying in the long run because it is moving to meet the needs of the buyer.
posted on November 6, 2001 08:46:38 AM new
Another great post stavecards
I believe that many of the card sellers that you refer to now have the capability to develop their own websites to market their cards. They should cut out the middleman (the "auction" venue) and provide their own guarantees and customer service. I'm sure that if a scoundrel shows up in your type of business, you honest guys will run him out in a hurry.
The auction venues are not set up to do this ... as long as the fees keep rolling in they could care less about who is getting hosed.
I am one of those buyers who would much prefer to "buy it now" if the price is right. I do not want to go through several levels of auction bureaucracy though just to be able to talk to the seller.
Maybe the future of these venues isn't in jeopardy. All they need to do is take the word "auction" out of their vocabularies so that new users will understand that they are really only a front for a bunch of retail operations (ie: the mall).
posted on November 6, 2001 09:48:46 AM new
I started reading about Buy It Now from sellers who were using it on Yahoo! the summer before this last one. It seems to me that both systems definately have a place in the market.
I never used it much until eBay introduced BIN last fall. I decided to try it on a few items I had to list. It wasn't 'new' merchandise but it was items of which I had multiple sets and I wanted to sell them all before Christmas without flooding eBay with a couple dozen of them. (Amazingly enough I was the only seller who had these.) In this case BIN was a godsend. I moved almost every set out within just a few days and generally speaking my buyers were begging for more. I was happy to have the cash coming in and they were happy to have their package shipped before waiting on an auction to end.
At the same time the auction format is best for the more unique items--especially for those which I have a hard time determining value. I know if I set a price I'm willing to take and make it enticing the buyers will set the price and I'll usually be happy with the results.
It's a vast world we live in and there's definately room for both formats. I've seen many people say they should be separated on an auction site but I can't understand why. I like having it mixed up because then I can see all of the items instead of just what's listed in an auction format or what's listed with BIN.
RB makes a super point about customer service. I personally feel each and every seller should set their own CS guidelines, refund, insurance, so on and so forth and stick with it. I hate shopping in stores with an 'as-is' policy and really hate buying from sellers with that policy as well. Granted if something needs returned it can be a hassle to go to the post office but it's no more of a hassle to me than driving an additional 15 miles beyond the post office and standing in line at WalMart to return something. (Actually I haven't returned a package via the mail since I bought a lousy bunch of kettles from Fingerhut, LOL.)
-----------------------------------
posted on November 6, 2001 11:42:47 AM new
It is a secret, if I told you I would have to shoot you.
No, my name is Charles (or Chuck as I go by). The reason I don't use my name in posts is that I am not the only one that can use this id, so it could be someone else.
posted on November 6, 2001 11:57:39 AM new
When BV first opened it's message center I repeatedly made the suggestion for a two section BV setup; one for items suited for the auction format and another section for items suited for a fixed prices setup ( a la Half.com ). At least 80% of the thread posters in the BV message center were ready to hang me from the nearest tree.
People that only want auction items do not want a bunch of fixed price items in their way and people that only want fixed price items do not want a bunch of auction only items in their way. It would have been a simple programing setup ( maybe not, since BV still doesn't not even have a simple description search ).
posted on November 6, 2001 02:16:32 PM new
I totally agree with bidsbids,
I kave seen numerous complaints from bidders about having to search through thousands of items to find that one unique one of a kind!
BUT , the auction site owners will not listen to bidders, they ONLY listen to the GIANT sellers that want to have their items showing along with what most auction users are searching for. (THE UNIQUE ONE OF A KIND ITEMS!!!)
All this has accomplished was to drive off the BIDDERS and all that is left is an occasional buyer that passes along. THUS, SINGLE or NO bids.
Take a good look at the completed auctions sections of a few random categories. No bids or one bid is the general rule with a lot of BIN purchases. Online auctions are quickly becoming a thing of the past. The fad has faded and ebay has adjusted to the change by aggressively pursuing the fixed price arena. Adjust or fail to survive. The niche auction sites will always be popular and survive but not a general auction site, at least not in my opinion. I was at ebay four years ago and have seen this morphosis take place over those four years. 