Yes, ethics is an important issue in multiple listings. In my example on what I have done, I believe that I chose the sites so that I was not put in the situation of having two people buying the same item at the same time. One site was one where buyers knew that items may have already been sold and knew that a deal must be negotiated. I consider it bad business to put the items on two sites where the item could be “sold” to different people at the same time. However I believe this is already happening and will continue to happen on small sites. Some sellers believe it is worth the gamble and don’t see it as an ethical issue. I think this points out that there is a need for several sites to have shared listings so that you increase the exposure for a listing to several venues.
Thanks for asking, but I’m no help on your non-sport request. I do have some non-sports, but they are mostly from the late 80’s and early-mid 90’s. I used to buy them for my daughters to entertain them at shows when they were kids. Also my wife used to sell Coke cards and similar type cards when we did shows. Still have a lot of them in my garage, but there are few items of that type that I think you collect (if this movie is an example).
posted on November 6, 2001 09:51:19 AM new
Another excellent round of responses. With the very low chances of selling a common item on almost any site there really is very little danger of selling it twice in a short period of time. If the seller is diligent and watches his items a few times a day there is almost a zero chance that the common item will be sold twice. A problem arises when the seller only checks his items infrequently and is not diligent on keeping up with his multi-listed items. I agree with Robnzak that listing on more than two sites can make one feel like a whirling dervish and I also strongly agree with stavescards that the book storefront belongs in a special area of BV perhaps with the warnings about items being subject to a previous sale marked in large letters for all to read when auction users enter that special area. That seems like a more ethical thing for BV to do instead of loading the new storefront in the middle of the night and not saying a single word to any of the BV faithfull, which is what actually transpired a month or two ago.
posted on November 6, 2001 10:03:57 AM new
I just visited the Yahoo Message Boards here at AW and I can now see a very good reason for at least some kind of a dip in BV listing numbers starting on 11/20.
This greatly reduced listing fee is long overdo. eBay has actualy stated that is is going to raise their fees soon. I think a reverse exodous to Yahoo is coming and not just from sellers that fled to alternative or free sites when Yahoo's hefty listing fees started but from weary eBay sellers that are tired of eBay's increasing fees and new checkout hassles.
This new development should also prove a very difficult hurdle for new auction sites as seller will be more reluctant than ever to try listing their items on low traffic and unproven sites.
