posted on September 4, 2002 05:42:59 AM new
I stated correctly then... $24.95 for 600 listings per month. While that is basically on $.04 per listing, what if you don't list that many auctions?
Not to mention if you list 600 auctions and get (0) bids? At the very least on Yahoo you will probably make ONE sale, whereas on AP it is highly doubtful you will make ANY sales.
posted on September 4, 2002 06:09:39 AM new
Gee Designs,
Why is it doubtful that you will make any sales on AP? Just because it's new?
Sure, our expectations for our first month are not huge. They are not even small. We're not making any big promises or beating the drums. We aren't in this for the flash! We are trying to build something. Slowly, carefully, so that it can grow and evolve.
To be honest it's mostly to start the process of stocking the shelves so that when we do start to push the advertising we don't have bidders upset about not not seeing anything to buy!
So yes, maybe in the early stages it may not be the value that it may be later.
But are you suggesting that when AP is doing well sellers should give us more? Do you think we'll get envelopes with money from sellers wanting to pay more?
While not a co-op many of the principles are there.
I have made the initial investment.
If our business model works all will benefit including Bidders and Sellers. But we will all have to do our part. And if it fails we all took our best shot. No harm done.
I know it might not be the best thing for all sellers and I understand that. I did when I designed our business model too.
But I think it's a super place to be for many sellers, especially those that sell on a regular basis.
It gives you a hub base and an alternative to Ebay. And you don't have to stop listing anywhere else. You can link all of your listings on other sites through AP.
posted on September 4, 2002 06:36:15 AM new
Jamie ...
There are tens of thousands of folks like me who dabble in the on-line auction business as a hobby and a way to "meet" people only. It would take me 3 years to find 600 items that I wanted to try and sell on the internet.
Therefore, charging me $24.95 monthly when I may want to list 3 or 4 items is an unreasonable expectation.
Why would you expect the big time sellers (those who may list 600 items monthly) to pay you an exhorbitant fee just for the chance of maybe getting a sale or two? Seems to me that most of these sellers would choose a venue that has bidder traffic.
There's really only one venue that can offer that, and with all due respect, your "reputation" coupled with your plan will probably result in no looks or bids, let alone sales.
Why would anyone want to send you $24.95 for something that will probably not be around a month or two from now?
If your plan is not simply a "make Jamie rich quick" plan, than why don't you revise it to offer some kind of money back guarantee if:
1. A seller doesn't get any sales (or even looks or bids) on their 600 "free" listings,
2. Your venue goes tits-up in a month.
I doubt very much if your paid-in-full membership will get past 3 or 4 people otherwise.
Finally, And if it fails we all took our best shot. No harm done ... does that mean you will refund the money that you have collected, or does the "no harm" refer to Jamie only???
posted on September 4, 2002 08:03:21 AM newRB, that was a low blow. You should only have the moxie and integrity that Dman has.
Which one? The one about the "turth"? Obviously, in addition to having no sense of humour about this ridiculous idea of yours, you are not an X-Files fan.
I still have the Acura. It's an amazing car. A little rusty, but it's fun to drive a car that can hit 7000RPM without the drive shaft falling out.
I can drive mine all day long at 7Krpm ... never lost a drive shaft yet. btw, I thought you got some bids on that old rust bucket on eBay? Did you decide not to sell it?
We charge $24.95 per month.
For what? Your Acura must be paid for by now. Looking for a real car Jamie?
There are no listing, FVF, or any other fees to sell and you can have up to 600 live listings at any one time during the month.
Except the dreaded $24.95 monthly graft fee, whether you list or not and whether you sell or not.
How much do you charge for dead listings? I suspect that's all you're going to get
posted on September 4, 2002 09:26:42 AM new
Canvid, nice to see your smiling face. I can only imagine the emails between you and AuctionWatch to get you reinstated. Let me just make a couple of corrections.
Geez he even tried to help Twinny. He would not have his empty pop up infested board without Rich's very valuable help and support.
Sorry, but Rich didn't code a line for Internet Pioneers. I seem to recall asking him some questions about setting up the directory structure. Hang on to Rich. You know squat about coding or HTML. Don't accuse him of treason and change his passwords, like you did last time. Otherwise, Auctionpie will end up looking like a Hawiian vacation. Remember that little fiasco?
If you publish information that hasn't been published you have nobody to blame but yourself if it isn't correct twinny.
Facts are facts, and if you delete the page or alter it after I bring it to your attention, that doesn't make it incorrect. It only means that you are doing a poor job of covering up after the fact.
To be honest it's mostly to start the process of stocking the shelves so that when we do start to push the advertising we don't have bidders upset about not not seeing anything to buy!
You've been open three days, and so far there are four videos listed, by you. (I can see how you wouldn't want to invite bidders there. LOL!) Auctionpie couldn't survive as a free site, let alone a fee site. And I think you'll find that nobody's buying that "like a co-op" crap.
I don't know what happened to your first failed beta attempt, but what you've got now is an unimpressive off-the-shelf auction software package. Anyone capable of playing "connect the dots" could do the same. (Like I said, hang on to Rich.) So much for your "revolutionary" feedback system, etc., etc.
Please stay away from Auctionpie. I don't want any of you there.
That's your customer base you're talking to. Sigh. I think we're all resigned to watch your writhing, agonized swan song until you finally, mercifully, pull the plug on Spampie.
posted on September 4, 2002 10:21:01 AM new
RB, Auctionpie may not be for everyone.
If you are only listing 3-4 items per week I would think that our fee would be way too high for you.
You're welcome of course but we didn't build our business model for your demographic.
Attacking us repeatedly seems kind of silly then, no?
And boy, you sure do an awful lot of posting for someone that does so little selling.
Hopefully you can sign up at AP and be a bidder?
as for the rest of your questions I just can't answer them. Their just too ridiculous.
Ebay or any other site does not guarantee you anything of the nature that you are suggesting. Why on earth should we?
And I can assure you AP will last much longer than a month!
Robertsmithson: Before I reply to your brand of crap could you please post a statement to the effect that you do not have any contractual arrangement or affiliation with any any Auction site or Online Auction Industry company other than that of seller or bidder?
posted on September 4, 2002 10:55:18 AM new
Well, one expense you're not going to have Jamie is advertising. You're getting it for free here, but unfortunately, I doubt if it will have the effect you want
Hopefully you can sign up at AP and be a bidder?
No sellers = no bidders
And I can assure you AP will last much longer than a month!
How much longer? Are you willing to back your idea up with an ironclad money back guarantee if (and when) the idea crashes and dies?
Ebay or any other site does not guarantee you anything of the nature that you are suggesting.
In fact, eBay does not charge a selling fee unless an item is sold. You should know that Jamie!
Why on earth should we?
To justify your $24.95 monthly graft fee. You have to do, or provide something for that ... something more that a lot of hot air, wishful thinking, a wonky site and empty promises
posted on September 4, 2002 12:03:32 PM new
Canvid13:
First of all, WHY is there a limit of 600 listings? Are you afraid if a powerseller did actually join up you wouldn't make enough of their profit?
$24.95 per month on a brand new site is just ridiculous. Even AuctionDiner/Bidway had a hard time selling people on their MLA plan with it's monthly fee, and they already had 4.5 million users established, but only managed to get a few thousand to pay their monthly fee.
"Why is it doubtful that you will make any sales on AP? Just because it's new?"
Yes, and because your reputation proceeds itself.
You don't expect a HUGE amount of bids the first month (or months) then why do you expect the same FEE regardless of your ability to bring in bids to the sellers?
"But are you suggesting that when AP is doing well sellers should give us more? Do you think we'll get envelopes with money from sellers wanting to pay more?"
posted on September 4, 2002 12:44:09 PM new
Look, I don't know if some of you are simply, bored, lazy, stoopid, stupid, or someother wonderful term that stands for people that don't read clearly listed things.
If you are simply trying to scribble down mistruths you are doing fine.
If you don't want to be an Auctionpie subscriber that's fine. We aren't offended. AP may not be for all sellers and there is nothing wrong with that. We support all other Auction sites and feel that this helps the industry. There are many good ideas in the marketplace, many niches, and many ways to buy and sell goods.
Our goal isn't to be number 1 or Beat out others.
We are not about competition. Money is not our primary goal.
" You don't expect a HUGE amount of bids the first month (or months) then why do you expect the same FEE regardless of your ability to bring in bids to the sellers?"
We have a discount plans that cuts the fees in half until the end of 2002.
posted on September 4, 2002 12:51:12 PM new
To coin an oft used phrase ... Jamie, please stop SPAMMING the AW Forums with this garbage advertising for a venue that is hopelessly done before it even got started.
posted on September 4, 2002 01:38:56 PM new
OK ... right after this.
I wish you success Jamie. Please let us know when you have become a gazillionaire with this scam. We'll tell you where Meg goes yachting with her friends and maybe she'll let you come too. You'll have to dump the rust bucket though ... I think the entry fee is at least a Porsche.
posted on September 4, 2002 01:48:09 PM newTo be honest it's mostly to start the process of stocking the shelves so that when we do start to push the advertising we don't have bidders upset about not not seeing anything to buy!
This is what plagued sites like AuctionCow. They could not bring out their sure-fire secret marketing plan until they had adequate listed items on hand because it would have ineffective. A virtual Catch-22.
The few sellers that do sign up will not stay long without sales.
posted on September 4, 2002 03:37:18 PM new
Just want to get in here an touch on a few Things here.
First Auction pie does not ask for Credit card numbers and to my knowledge does not accept credit cards at this time .
Billing will be done by snail mail or email When the site does start billing.
There are no Listing fees or FVF's on the site AT all listing is by subscription only $24.95 a month or one of the specials being offered at this time and for all I know more offers to come in the future.
As well Jamie has stated in other threads in the past that if the turn out was better then hoped these fees may be rolled back as well I believe as sellers start coming in the number of listing allowed will more then likely need to be adjusted as well,For now it is set up with 600 listings for a month which is very decent for people who consider them selves small or hobbies sellers and a large enough amount for a power seller to test the waters out.
as for the last minute, first free month of listing on Auction pie I did not know about this until the last min either , I think he did it partly because he figured out that it was going to take time for beta testers to get re-registered as the whole beta data base was flushed to clean up from beta testing, as well as get the site stocked a bit Guess you could call labor day more of a pre grand opening so rather then complain about AP's fees and now its free month why not let life be happy and stress free and if you want Enjoy a free month of selling .
Note to RB not to worry, I got your Humor in your truth post
Twinsoft Just for the Record, Jamie can't take any Password from me at all Since I don't have no access to AP or CP what so ever, Hunney is Jamie's administrator And he has a professional company handling Programming doing all the Coding and changing of things.
I have helped Hunney in some area's of the message board on things that are outside the area of her administrator dutys not because I have to but because I choose to, one of them areas is Moderation the main duty is to grin and bare it as there is no real mod dutys most of the features for that are disabled, ifthis chanages Im sure there would be some type of an announcement of it made not to mention discussion with me about any changes first.
Canvid Just A note to you, as to any work I did with Twinsoft, a few Emails only twinsoft is very capable of perl programming for sure, he did ask some advice on a few things that were fresher in my mind at the time then his, Only part I played in auction pioneers site was to watch mainly as it changed and was upgraded over the weeks, I was still busy working with you up untill the Communication from you stopped and you moved in the direction of getting the AP of today going, many of the direction you were going were a bit outside the realm of my ability as a designer and webmaster simply installing Scripts and updating a website big difference from what you decided needed to be done ....
posted on September 4, 2002 04:33:54 PM new
The site is unattractive. Really. Honest. The brown color reminds me of a pie of the "meadow muffin" sort. The limey green is most reminiscent of transmission fluid or bile. Sorry, but your color scheme is feces & bile. The graphics are partly amateurish and partly incomplete. The red "ad here" signs only highlight that you have no advertisers.
In your weeks of beta testing, you apparently never bothered to look at the boilerplate language of the "out of the software box" FAQ. Despite that you may have hastily changed that language (regarding fees and special option costs) when it was pointed out here, it still remains a fact that you brought your site live without even bothering to read a short FAQ document which is linked within your site.
Despite your "list" of sellers on the home page, only one seller (you) has any listings on the site. None of your listings has a bid. I understand that you gave your beta testers (all 8 or 9 of them) a free month for their efforts. And it seems that even with that enticement, not one of your beta testers is listing there.
You want sellers to give you $24.95 a month to stock your shelves, with very little hope of covering even this most basic expense. You suggest that your site will interface with various auction services providers (like Auction Watch), but the fact is that none of those services providers are set up to interface with your site, and without any volume of demand from their users that they do so, they won't. Heck, these services providers don't even interface with most of the small, but actually successful, sites. Auction services providers are a whole lot more than image hosters, and the sellers out there who do a 600 per month listing volume are using those providers for a whole lot more than image hosting. Those services are useless to them at your site.
And if your posts here and elsewhere are any indication, you have the customer interaction skills of a slug. Those who are not put off by your site's horrific graphics, your amateurish, generic and still-dusty boxed software program, your exhorbitant price structure, your total lack of bidder traffic, and their inability to actually use the 3rd party auction services they are paying for on your site (gee, what's not to like there?), are unlikely to tolerate your nastiness and abuse. No seller (either hobby or high volume) in the online auction industry "needs" you. You, however, "need" them--something you seem to have lost sight of in your efforts at making yourself into a "big man."
posted on September 4, 2002 07:29:01 PM new
All Forums on clutterpie are not Locked the only two that were lock for replys were News and polls and both of them are unlocked at this time how ever locked posts area is locked and old news as they should be The the Junk pile forums .
How ever if your not registered you can only vote in polls and post in one area of the board.
posted on September 6, 2002 11:54:49 PM new
Auctionpie has been up for five days (nearly a week) and only three sellers are listing there. A handful of auctions with no bids. Even with free listings, it seems nobody will touch it. Nobody wants their advertising either.
I can't believe we've been spammed for six months, all for this: a new out-of-the-box auction site with 11 items listed and no bids. Fer cryin' out loud, I could make more money selling girl scout cookies. All the hoopla, all the hype, for this? Color me disappointed.
posted on September 7, 2002 02:48:56 AM new
Let's start a pool on when the site disappears completely. I'll take the 02/01/03 square. [ Feb 1st, 2003 ]
Do you think we'll get envelopes with money from sellers wanting to pay more? 
Let me just make a couple of corrections.