posted on May 12, 2001 07:17:15 PM new
I just changed my user ID to my URL. After the announcement that eBay would no longer allow email addresses as user IDs, I considered changing my user ID to my email address, but waited too long.
I'm not going to make the same mistake again. You can just bet that before long we'll be unable to register a user ID with a URL. By changing it, it clears the way to use the URL on photos, and in other ways in the auction listing without causing trouble with eBay's ludicrous rules.
posted on May 12, 2001 08:05:41 PM newroofguy, it has to be the right kind of advertising.
Agreed, drexelantiques, it certainly does.
And despite all manner of wasted money bet to the contrary, it is extraordinarily difficult to convince people via advertising to buy something that they find overpriced. Nutty advertising is money down the drain.
I know two retail businesses which rose toward greatness, held on for a bit (annual 6 figures to the owner), and then fell, blaming "the chains"; a common trait among them was owners who felt that advertising was something they could not afford (unlike a new pickup truck). What drives the successful small business larger is not simply the pull of advertising, but the fear created by the need to pay for the ads. If one's business doesn't seem that way, consider that if not now, soon, one's competitors' businesses WILL seem that way.
The converse is also of course true. Bad businesses with little hope of success but plenty of money for advertising. Businesses which NEVER DID identify a profitable product line.
I'm far from the first to observe it, even in this thread. The essence of eBay's value is that eBay solves the advertising problem that most of us never knew we had. It's fully understandable that eBay has moved to reduce the pull of that audience toward non-compensated off-eBay sales. We hope of course that they won't kill the golden goose while they try to maximize its value.
posted on May 12, 2001 09:18:29 PM new
I agree with oldfashioned, your response was a canned blurb. It's doubtful that your email was even read by a human - it was skimmed at best. Email support systems software use sophisticated techniques to guess an answer to your question and all the support person has to do is verify it and click "send".
The solution is to keep shooting your email to [email protected] until you hit someone who will actually read it. I have done this several times in the past and it always works. It may take a few days, and DEFINITELY will take patience.
Of course - in this case, since your complaint really doesn't have a clear answer (certainly not a one that first line email support is empowered to effect) then you may never get any answers other than the blurb.
posted on May 12, 2001 10:42:46 PM new
Drexelantiques, you definitely got a canned response. But I suspect a human at eBay will eventually tell you the same thing.
If you are up to it, let eBay know you feel they are violating the law and you will respond with legal action if they suspend your account.
Then you'll have to get an attorney. Maybe you could file a class-action suit.
eBay is a monopoly and its behavior reflects that. Unfortunately the Federal Trade Commission is a little behind the times and hasn't caught on to this. Or perhaps under the current administration they will not care to.
posted on May 12, 2001 11:59:28 PM new
Here's an angle I haven't seen addressed on this issue. We raise horses and our web page is primarily horse related, and yes, some of them are for sale. Since eBay won't let you link to your web page on your 'me' page if it contains 'items forbidden to be sold on eBay' and live animals are forbidden on eBay, wonder how they'll view this. Sounds like if they wanted to, they could make a stink about it. And no, this ain't my eBay id.
posted on May 13, 2001 12:11:14 AM new
Ebay has little competition but I don't believe they are a monopoly. Ebay advertises. Yahoo does not. (Yahoo advertises "Yahoo Shopping" but not their auctions).
"When you have a congress that allows mergers and downwaging to
the point of monopolies like the current bunch of crooks in congress have
done, you have sold the country to greed. It is just like putting a 15
year old kid, like Rush Limbaugh was, in the second grade. When it comes
to having cookies and milk, the fat kid takes most of it and leaves the
crumbs for the rest. This country is becoming just like Russia, corruption
is taking over everything. Now it is the Drug companies that have decided
not to provide enough of many necessary drugs so they can charge more. And
congress will do nothing. Microsoft now is going back to its same business
practices now that the government will do nothing. Pretty soon some one in
the Bush group will decide to deregulate the Post Office. People connected
to the Bush group will get set up in business and many places will no longer
receive mail and/or maybe receive it once a week. Will there be any other
area in our lives that someone will not attempt to gouge?"
Gary Lantz
--
(Like AOL/TimeWarner, the new propoganda tool for the right wing.)
--
Last year (April)California was paying $30 per megawatt hour. Now, 12 months later, PG&E is bankrupt and California is paying $1700 per megawatt hour. Bush does nothing. California didn't vote for Bush.
You INSIST upon bringing your liberal, I-hate-Bush/Republicans/conservatives, left wing politics into every thread on AW, regardless the topic of the thread (which so far HAS NEVER BEEN about politics, the Bush Administration, or the supposedly terrible way in which California's problems are being ignored by Republicans in Washington, D.C.), and I for one am exceedingly weary of it.
If you feel some overwhelming need (or burning desire) to rant your **hatred** of the more conservative politicians (and citizens) in this country, why don't you go find a more APPROPRIATE forum in which to do so, and spare those of us on AW who are trying to discuss online auctions the poison of your venom.
Back to topic....I took the plunge tonight, registered a domain name (godaddy IS very low-cost!), requested that my server direct that domain traffic to my webspace, and changed my eBay user name to my new URL.
Once I get some merchandise listed for sale on the website, I plan to offer free shipping on eBay purchases with an additional purchase from my website (or regular shipping charges without it) and see what happens.
Thank you to all, especially Lisa, who offered advice and information here.
Any bets on how long it will be before eBay bans the use of website URLs as eBay user names??????????????????
posted on May 13, 2001 01:43:37 PM new
I have tried inserting URLs in photos with little success. Clickable links are the only way to drive traffic to your site.
"In China at least the people have an understanding that the
government is a menace. But in the USA they are so brainwashed, so indoctrinated down
the party line that they lock step down the party line thinking.
As if automatons with the same program continuously regurgitating
the same propaganda back for all answers. As if they have all
been sent to the reeducation camps to be indoctrinated and
programed with the party speak, so that they
can all speak with one mind as a collective mind. It puts the
Borg collective to shame with the precision displayed by the
collective mind of the USA Republicans."
California is the 6th largest economy in the world, with a 1.33 Trillion annual GNP. Bush would rather watch California drag the U.S. into a depression than help Governor Davis, a Democratic candidate in 2004. California didn't vote for Bush.
posted on May 13, 2001 03:41:13 PM new
"The essence of eBay's value is that eBay solves the advertising problem that most of us never knew we had"
Well said. The collapse of Yahoo was a result of their arrogance to charge fees without advertising.
"AOL users are blocked from viewing websites for Democratic candidates and sites promoting gun control and allowed access to websites that promote gun ownership and agree with Case's political views."
The AOL/Time Warner (CNN News) merger is approved. CNN reports the merger in a positive light. CNN is now under the influence and control of Steve Case and AOL.
posted on May 13, 2001 06:29:25 PM new
sasoony: This is not ment to be derogitory, but if you wish to post here, stick to the topic. If you wish to be a "political", go join them in RT. I almost never post in RT anymore, because of most members "slanted" points of view.
beatnikangle: How did you do that, and what does it entail? By that I mean do you have a store already, or are you now setting it up? I would greatly appreaciate any information.
To the rest of the posters here:
A BIG THANK YOU!!! The information you freely share will, in time, make my wife and better ebay sellers, ergo more prosperous!! Therefore, when we have our first $2000 month of profits, I will buy you each a virtual coffee!!
Rick ;0
In the begining, God created the heavens and the earth.
posted on May 13, 2001 07:58:11 PM new
DDICffe; No offense taken, but I notice you have a RELIGOUS signature on the end of your comments. OK with me, and signatures are obviously within AW's guidelines.
