posted on November 6, 2001 04:42:16 PM new
After what RB mentioned above, I thought something was a little strange, so I decided to do some basic research and I found out some interesting things.
You be the judge...
1)Register.com has auctioncow's whois information, showing they are "onecentmusic". He also used the same name (Auction Cow) as above so as to not give out any personal information during registration.
These things made me wonder: is this someone you would trust to run an auction site, where you have to give them all your personal and credit card information?? Just wondering....
posted on November 6, 2001 05:03:32 PM new
I can clarify that quickly.
OneCentMusic was a seller that was going to work with us opening the site. As I have stated before, many current and previous ebay sellers are working with us. They are located in Atlanta.
That relationship has changed and you will see the registrations change from OneCentMusic over to Auctioncow, Inc. based in Phoenix. They were a place holder until the articles and incorporation form.
I really cannot comment on their problems, but OneCentMusic is a different company than AuctionCow or Mootropolis. This is will be shown shortly in the new updated registar information.
Basically, OneCentMusic will not be a factor in the future, but I wish them the best of luck.
posted on November 6, 2001 07:34:33 PM new
ROFL! Toollady! Good one, and one I did not even think about. Duh!
No, its Chuck as in Charles. However, I go by Chuck because everytime I think of my given name I think of Charles Emerson Winchester the III, from M.A.S.H.
posted on November 6, 2001 07:59:24 PM new
Ok here are my questions.
Will you notify by email users when the terms of service change from when they register ? If so will you do it by email or rely on them to read it on the message boards?
How will your boards be moderated? If a post is deleted will the offending member be emailed with an explaination?
Will you see to it that the terms of service are enforced the same for all members/
posted on November 6, 2001 08:15:00 PM new
"Will you notify by email users when the terms of service change from when they register ? If so will you do it by email or rely on them to read it on the message boards?"
I do believe people have the preference of the way they want to be notified, either by e-mail or by announcement.
"How will your boards be moderated? If a post is deleted will the offending member be emailed with an explaination?"
Actually, our message boards are about to go independant to their own site not connected with the primary site. Mootropolis is being setup right now on new servers and you will be able to go to them directly without auctioncow. The message boards are moderated by a couple of people, Patty being the primary one. Our thoughts were to allow freedom, which people are doing right now, with common courtesy. Allowing Mootropolis to go independant means that people further understand they can post about ANY auction site.
Patty is planning on e-mailing any offender their reason for their deleted post(s) or suspended posting account. The accounts on mootropolis will be independant of auctioncow.
"Will you see to it that the terms of service are enforced the same for all members?"
Yes. Two sellers (powersellers) brought to our attention they would feel better if the message boards were not connected to the auction site. Thus allowing for independant decisions. In reality, we also plan to incorporate Mootropolis as its own entity also.
Also our Fraud Assistance Center (FAC) will be moved over to join with Mootropolis, as our FAC also covers multiple auction sites and services.
This is happening as we speak, and as is the registrations being moved over to the corporation from their placeholders.
posted on November 6, 2001 09:18:41 PM new
The message board layout sounds very good. I can see that you have learned from the errors of a few other auction sites that have preceeded yours and have recitifed those errors. Good show.
posted on November 6, 2001 09:30:26 PM new
bidsbids:
The board is already up and running, and people like our simple layout and design, so far. I am certain some people disagree with some features, but at least we don't require a credit card for the message board.
AuctionCow.com
posted on November 6, 2001 09:34:52 PM new
When mootropolis gets separated from auctioncow, will the message boards still be freeware, or will they be a paid for software program?
Also, is this indicative of the software that will be used for the auctioncow auction site? ie: vaporware
posted on November 6, 2001 09:52:24 PM new
toollady:
We like supporting small third party providers. Unlike OTWA (aka Andale) which is running a version that costs over 10k in cost or more, we feel that what we have now offers equal if not better value to the posters. We could be spending the money in other places, rather than on software that does the exact same thing.
The boards will be free to posters, and there will be no pop ups. Banner ads are being considered, but will be heavily restricted. Funding for running mootropolis comes from a different independant source.
The board is running now, and runs smoothly. Patty believes we should move up to version 3, but some folks have stated that they might not like all the new features of that version. This is in some debate, as version 3 has not gone gold.
Auctioncow is not vaporware. We don't MAKE software. Again, here is where I say that we will use the most cost effective (effective being the keyword) means to provide our auction services to our customers. If you mean have we spent millions of dollars only to re-invent the wheel... no, we have not. If you disagree, well, that is your perogative.
It doesn't take millions to be competitive or to offer viable alternatives to billion dollar companies.
posted on November 6, 2001 10:13:44 PM new
hhmm.....Okay, so you have spent $0 for your message board software. This is good! More money for advertising!
I guess you are still shopping for the auction software.
Now, based on your answer above, you want us to believe that your budget for advertising is such that you are gonna blitz the media and get bidders stampeding, when the site opens?
How long will we have to wait for the advertising blitz and the bidders?
Till the cows come home?
Anyone else feel like they are being fed a line of bull?
posted on November 6, 2001 10:20:25 PM new
The $10,000 prize giveaway sounds in jeopardy to me. The gegy guy that promoted his site months ago was so damned convincing and intelligent sounding that I'm not sure of anything anymore.
I feel your sense of doubt toollady.
posted on November 6, 2001 10:33:50 PM new
Jimtaxi:
I can fully understand, and our motto here is that we make no promises. Time will tell, and it costs you nothing.
If you have doubt, that is well earned from the likes of other auction sites. I wasn't born yesterday, and know very well the promises of other sites and the bullpucky.
If we fail, well then, that is our fault, now isn't it?
posted on November 6, 2001 11:00:21 PM new
Toollady what is your agenda here? Why so confrontational? I see a new site trying to get running and your statement about being fed something seems a bit out of line. I normally respect your opinions here but in this case I can't see why you are being so judgmental.
posted on November 6, 2001 11:50:19 PM new
toollady:
I have no idea what we or I have done that has irked you so. I apologize if I have said something in error or something that has offended you. I have just tried to answer questions here, and have made no promises to you or anybody else about advertising budgets, etc. I never said what our advertising budget was or that we were going to have a advertising blitz.
I will refrain from answering further questions here at AW unless I just want to be attacked.
I am sorry, so I guess will be going back home. Anyone has any further questions feel free to e-mail me, or just come over to the mootropolis message board.
I guess answering questions that people put forth is equivalent to "feeding a line of bull". I didn't try to hype our site here, just answered questions and joked a bit here and there. Oh well... registering a credit card on AW seems to have been a waste of time.
posted on November 7, 2001 05:59:32 AM new
Some of us, including me, are starting to remind me of eBay. You know, the venue that makes an accusation, has a trial, passes sentence and carries out the execution all without the presence of the accused ... the "guilty until proven innocent" concept.
It stinks guys and gals. At least with Bidville, we have facts and past experience to go on.
I say let's give Chuck et al a chance to prove that they can make it work. If they can't, no skin off our noses ... right?
toollady - with all due respect, why not lay off a bit until we see where this goes
posted on November 7, 2001 07:03:03 AM new
toollady,
Just curious, what exactly are you looking for? I have seen you slam nearly every site mentioned in one form or another. Just my observations, but sounds like someone that has an interest in a specific site and does not want to see any new competition succeed. Again, just the way it has appeared to me.
Auctioncow,
Don't back away from those that are interested in learning about your site just because of one person. You may be doing just what she wants. There are many intelligent auction users here and can see what she is attempting. In my opinion, her outbursts show her for what she is.
RB,
To me toollady sounds just like your first paragraph. Maybe a little too much so.
posted on November 7, 2001 07:22:35 AM new
Auctioncow,
I posted this before, but you may have missed it. I would like to hear your opinions in regards to my following observations:
Many people LOVE auctions and the reason that bids dropped on auctions sites is because they are no longer fun because of all the features. There are still millions of people that LOVE auctions, it is just that they have gone back to where they can find their love - the live auctions!
As much as some may disagree, what ruined online auctions are the snipers because they took the FUN out of auctions - the thrill of bidding AND EVEN BEING OVER BID and winning the item back. I know this for a FACT, because I am an auction goer as a BIDDER myself and have gone back to live auctions as a buyer for the thrill. Some actually enjoy it - not just go to win a item. Many people go to auctions and even bid and win and pay (of course) for items that they will never use. JUST FOR FUN and THAT IS WHAT MADE EBAY WHAT IT IS TODAY, too bad eBay forgot (OR NEVER UNDERSTOOD) why people went to auctions in the first place. FUN!!!
For many this WAS A SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT which was available from their livingroom or Den. NO MORE, because of snipers, Watch & Forget + Buy it Now!
I could almost write a book about the demise of the online auctions because there are so many other reasons that most don't even realize or even understand about the auction goer because most never went to auctions before the online auctions came to their livingrooms.
Another thing that should be considered as well, Auctions in a way are much like gambling, only leagal in states where gambling is not. And don't forget how many people LOVE to gamble. Buying is not a gamble, auctioning is in a way!
posted on November 7, 2001 07:39:54 AM new
opals4u,
What am I looking for?
REAL answers. So far all I have seen is fluff. Nothing but promotional posts and the hard questions being glazed over.
auctioncow wants us to believe they are different. However, they are coming in right on the heels of a site that made very similar statements and were found out to be less than honorable.
Auctioncow has yet to show anything of substance.
Auctioncow has gone on about their messageboard. Anyone with server space can download the program for FREE and have a messageboard too. Not a lot of work involved to do it.
Their homepage has a counter on it. Have you checked the pageviews? A whole 1200 pageviews since the URL started showing up in a sig line about a month ago. It's not even a smart counter. I hit reload on the page and the counter advanced (it's now up to 1203 ).
Auctioncow is talking the talk, but not walking the walk. There were statements made about their user agreement and privacy policy, but it's not even on the site yet to view, but we should take auctioncow at their word?
Let's see some substance before even thinking this may be something worthwhile.
posted on November 7, 2001 08:13:40 AM new
opals4u,
Actually, I was referring to gegy. At least to auctioncow's credit, they didn't try to pawn off free software for their message boards as their own.
I have not slammed auctioncow. Sorry if you find my questions to be that way.
I don't believe in fluff, I like to get right to the meat of the subject.
If auctioncow wants to hawk their site, then let them show what they have. Right now, they don't have anything other than a domain name, a free software message center and the promise of a $10,000 giveaway.
auctioncow was asked if they were going to use "out of the box" auction software. The answer was that there wasn't any software sitting on the shelf at CompUSA. True, but there is plenty of it floating around the net. This type of software, in general, has been known to be difficult to work with and doesn't have much scaleability (ability to handle increasing amounts of data). Customization and enhancements are difficult to make and changes are limited by the license that accompanies it.
If this is the route auctioncow is looking to take, and based on answers given, it appears the case, then auctioncow has a VERY long row to hoe.
posted on November 7, 2001 08:15:24 AM new
opals4u ... Should we not give them time to show substance before slaming them?
The title of this thread is "Auctioncow to launch in December". According to my calendar, it's only November 7th. Maybe the toollady is in a different time zone?
posted on November 7, 2001 08:23:29 AM new
toollady, I do see your point on some of the similarites betwwen gegy and auctioncow but maybe we should just sit back and watch what transpires. No one will get hurt because no one is going to spend hundreds of hours loading auctions to their auction site because we all have seen the newcomers come and propose the better mousetrap several times before. That better mousetrap rarely makes it from the concept phase to the store shelf phase. Like Chuck said "Time will tell".
A while back toollady you scolded the bowling team named The Bidville Bashers for harboring too much hatred but you may be guilty of harboring too much distrust.
No matter what I enjoy watching these guys trot out here with their magic formula for a successful online auction. Aren't we all fascinated by TV infomercials with charismatic pitchmen, all the while thinking in the back of our minds that that magic sparkle crap isn't really going to clean my toilet.
posted on November 7, 2001 10:36:36 AM new
I thought answers were being made the the questions posted here. You can't expect a company to give out ALL information about what they are doing. Ebay, yahoo, amazon, or NONE of the rest tell us how much they are spending on advertising, upgrades, message boards, etc. I am going to write yahoo.com right now and DEMAND complete documentation on their future plans.
What difference does it make to us?
I see the point though. Toollady assumes that you have to have millions of dollars to open an auction site. Auctioncow is stupid, they should have spend thousands if not hundreds of thousands on software to run their FREE message boards. Then they should spend millions advertising it.
Then they should spend millions on auction site software. Then let's go with tens of millions on advertising.
Who in their right mind, other than Microsoft, is going to spend this kind of money? VC has dried up and the stock market is very unforgiving. From what I read here, it seems that auctioncow is run by former and current sellers. One of which is out of the picture (or so we are led to believe, time will tell).
OH! and btw, here is a fine example of a LARGE company spending just a few thousand dollars:
http://www.sprintbid.com/
Their software out-of-the-box auction site software that sells from a few hundred dollars to a customized price. The second most expensive version is $5500.00 which is what I believe sprint purchased as it has all the features mentioned. It could be a cheaper version because they don't use a lot of auction features that normally come with it.
Why didn't sprint spend a million dollars designing their OWN software?
I have seen, and use a lot of sites that are ran by single people with little or no money, but get tons of hits per month. I say good for them. I can give you tons of examples.
We have all seen the auction sites come and go, and auctioncow doesn't seem all that different, but that doesn't mean it won't work. I sure the hell ain't bettin the farm on them, but I will at least give them a chance.
The gegy guy that promoted his site months ago was so damned convincing and intelligent sounding that I'm not sure of anything anymore.