posted on September 19, 2001 08:23:26 AM
I've just been looking at the AFA antiquarian book listings, there are currently 93, with 1,620 total book AFA listings, compared to something like 2,800 listings in regular non-AFA Antiquarian History just by itself.
I have a large number of antiquarian books running currently, most are 19th century U.S. or civil war history, 2 days into their course. There wasn't anything in the AFA listings remotely like even 1 of my books, so no specific competition there. Even if there was, I think many collectors would also want to check book condition, edition, and other info before placing a bid. In the AFA auctions, only about 20% of books listed seem to have bids currently.
As far as my own stuff, this was a specially hand-picked group of some of my best items, and I sell a lot of books -- I had set it up through Auctionwatch 7 day advance booking on the day before the WTC tragedy, so far I have bids on 30 out of the 100, however, in ordinary times (based on my experience over the past 3 years), I would have expected bids on about 60 of them, so I think bidding levels are likely slow & down.
I don't like the AFA promotion due to the way eBay set it up, but hey, if someone wants to participate, ok by me. I don't think it will adversely affect my sales (too much, anyway) beyond ordinary adverse effects.
I **may** list 1 or 2 AFA items, but I guarantee that while they may be good items (I won't stoop to putting dreck on at any time), their opening bids will be quite a bit higher than usual -- if we are asking bidders to support our donations, then they should be prepared to make a true generous donation, not snap something up for a low-ball bargain just because it has free shipping.
In other words, if I had a book I would usually start at 9.99 & expect it to finish at $30.00, then I would likely start it at $19.99 or $24.99, just in case it received 1 bid only, otherwise I don't feel all the effort involved would be worth it, any of us can make a simple donation in excess of that just by clicking on a direct link to the Red Cross or some other organization that is actually doing hands-on work at Ground Zero, not sitting back in their California offices reaping promotional benefits.
By the way, I'm a Canadian, and yes, I have already made donations as I'm sure a huge number of Canadians have, from sheltering stranded passengers, to giving blood, to sending supplies, to making direct monetary contributions.
Good, honest people know what to do in times like these, they don't need to nonsense of a promotion like AFA to go into action.
posted on September 19, 2001 08:28:07 AM
<<<It's a good thing most people here can see gross hypocrisy for what it is...
Were that true, those professing their profound sympathies and concern wouldn't be trying to derail any charitable effort. >>>
ANY? What if it is a self-serving scam that will hurt many people, possibly to the extent that it will HELP, people, and what if there are many simple alternate ways just as good or BETTER than the scam to accomplish the same goal?
Here's the SIMPLEST example I can possibly think of. It was suggested by someone on the eBay soapbox, and IMO it would raise just as much (maybe more) than this AFA garbage, and it would also allow ebay to toot their own horn when they announced it with their arms around Pataki, and allow Bush's cheerleading, and if they had done it this way, I would have cheered also, and been HAPPY about their publicity. What it wouldn't have done was-
1. Put sellers who object to it on shaky ground in a position of competition with the sellers who use it.
2. Promoted Billpoint.
3. Stigmatize any seller who didn't participate with this hairbrained idea of giving everyone who did an icon on their About Me or auction pages. You think that some participating sellers won't run just ONE or a few auctions just to say, LOOK, world, how charitable I am?????
4. Avoid the shipping issue.
Set up an account with VISA, MC, etc., similar to the account that Billpoint has. 100% going to charities. DO NOT demand that sellers sign up for Billpoint. Use a third party. Publicize it like they publicized AFA, Hug Pataki. Contact Bush.
Run a dutch auction with 100,000,000 charitable pledges at $1 each.
Simple concept to me. Good for eBay, good for the country. Great gimmick. People join eBay in droves, revenue is artificially inflated, Wall St. is happy, most sellers are happy....
<<<Were that true, those who abhor ebay's "exploitation" wouldn't be devising ways to acquire the AFA logo on their feedback page. >>>
I, for one, will not have that logo on my auctions, or About Me page no matter what. I have no CLUE who you're talking about. if you're talking about anyone here who has expressed sincere outrage at AFA doing that, I have to doubt that that's happening. If you're talking about others, well, there will always be hypocrites who would try to profit on other's misery...
<<<Were that true, there would be no expressions of outrage that ebay is attempting to pass off sellers' efforts as their own because true giving is devoid of any interest in WHO reaps the glory. >>>
You have it in reverse. The sentiment is NOT to get credit for what ebay is doing, the sentiment is that eBay shouldn't exploit the work of others to get credit FOR EBAY, credit that will tangibly result in gains on THEIR bottom line. I think people who complain about eBay "getting credit", EVERY poster who says that, would unanimously make an agreement with eBay that says- YOU shuddup, and I'LL shuddup, and we'll both watch the money go somewhere where it will do good. Just don't try to capitalize on MY sincere effort to help.
<<<So ebay's taking credit for YOUR good works. On the list of worries right now, that one takes its deserved position at dead last.>>>
When you look at it that way, maybe. When you look at it as a Corporation cynically trying to capitalize for their bottom line on (mostly) someone else's good works, time, expense, and effort, HECK NO. It's a very legitimate worry, as Twinsoft has said many times now. And I don't think anyone who knows the effort that Twinsoft has put in for the Online Auction COMMUNITY (and in this case, I use the word COMMUNITY properly, and am not bandying it around like eBay does) thinks that he is exploiting this...
And oh, BTW, isn't anyone a wee peeved at being told by eBay they are part of this loving community on the one hand, but also being told by ebay WHEN IT SUITS EBAY that ebay is "only a venue"? Venue or community, Meg? MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
posted on September 19, 2001 08:28:22 AM
<<Dawna34...you have nothing that proves these auctions will hurt the regular auctions. I could accept it if you were wondering if there was a possibility...but to state it as fact is just scare tactics.>>>
No I'm not using scare tactics if you would have read my other post you would see why I feel this way. So again here is my reasoning why I think it will hurt regular auctions. What I am seeing is that if a charity auction has a widget selling for $20.00 and a regular auction has the same widget (Or Close To) for $20.00 + $5.00 shipping why would a buyer bid on the regular auction when they can get the charity widget for $5.00 cheaper (NO SHIPPING) and the + is they can feel good about buying the widget because the amount went to charity. Even minus the good feeling why wouldn't a bidder bid on an item when there is no shipping cost (We all know the various threads about shipping and how bidders feel about it.)
Do you have any proof that they won't effect regular auctions??
<<<All your tears were shed for the victims? Is your compassion so limited that once it is spent you have no more? Do you not, when seeing a tragedy, shed tears until you think you can shed no more, and then minutes or hours later see another injustice or cruelty and find the tears are as abundant as before? Your tears are finite and once spent your heart is never touched again? Then I can understand why you find me incomprehensible...and I am shedding tears for you because of it. >>>
Well, You must shed a lot of tears every minute of your waking life watching the nightly news must really drain you emotionally, picking up a newspaper must do the same thing even prior to WTC because there is injustice everyday, there is someone somewhere everyday being hurt or killed. Do you enjoy being depressed??? Do you really think everyone else should feel the same, There is a point when the tears have to stop and everyone must get on with there life. If Granee has shed tears and is ready to go forward with life then what is wrong with that.? What Right do you have to question someone's compassion if they are ready to get on with their life? Must everyone feel the same way you do?? Tell me is there a correct grieving time that you think everyone must adhere to??
[ edited by Dawna34 on Sep 19, 2001 08:58 AM ]
[ edited by Dawna34 on Sep 19, 2001 08:59 AM ]
posted on September 19, 2001 08:50:49 AM
Amy, many times I agree with your thoughts but I wonder about this statement that you have made:
I am not worried about these charity auctions killing my business...nor do I think they will drive all those so called little sellers off ebay. If any leave it is because they wanted to...or because their business was already failing. It won't be because of the charity auctions.
I have just done a search for some china and porcelain items. Many of the same pieces listed for the AFA auctions have much higher bids than others that are not AFA. These are nice pieces, not junk.
I have bookmarked some to check the end results. Some sellers may have paid more for their stock, they may not be in a position to give it away or to offer free shipping. They may need all the proceeds from their auctions to support their families.
None of us know the financial position that other sellers are in. They may be hanging in there in tough times but the charity auction competition may affect them greatly and it may push them to the edge.
You may not be worried about the charity auctions affecting your business but I am sure that some others are. Three months from now we may know the results.
Please remember to address the subject, not the poster. Your post to Amy above is very close to the line, and to continue to post in like manner could place your posting privileges in jeopardy. Please keep this in mind as you post.
Everyone,
This thread is becoming combative and unproductive. If the personal comments continue, I will have no choice but to lock the thread.
posted on September 19, 2001 08:56:40 AM
eSeller004...100% of what is collected by ebay is going to the charity....and from the statement of the September 11 fund, 100% of the monies donated goes to the beneficiaries
posted on September 19, 2001 09:00:16 AM
While I have shed my share of tears the past week over the insanity of this disaster, could we possibly look past the very human side of this arguement for just a moment, and examine the VERY REAL economic side of it?
What IS the goal.....of eBay or any other corporate contribution? AOL contributes $10M; Bill Gates chips in $10M; GE drops another $10M; eBay goes for $100M (with only $1M actually being theirs!); etc. Obviously, the powers-that-be at eBay wanted to make the biggest splash in the corporate pool & while their motives MAY have been commendable, examine some facts:
....People were, are, and will continue to contribute AS CAN & AS NEEDED to the relief efforts in NYC and DC.
....Many, many, many millions of dollars were already rolling in from corporate America & individuals to help. But the question must be asked: WHEN DOES IT BECOME 'More than enough'? How much is ACTUALLY needed to deal with disaster relief to the people who NEED it?
....A great many posters refer to their own personal survival depending on eBay auctions and they have already helped in other ways whether it be thru the Red Cross or others. There is NO doubt that some of these sellers are the ones least able to take the competition from AFA items!
....While we ARE in the midst of a very trying time emotionally with the attacks, we are also IN a very trying time ECONOMICALLY!
The "one-upmanship" of eBay "committing" $100,000,000 from "it's community" may be wonderful....but it is also taking $100M OUT OF THE BUYING & SELLING COMMUNITY that could have been turned over and over and over time and time again during the 100 day period eBay mandated this program to last! That would help spur the economy and make MORE dollars available to people to contribute to any ongoing or future needs from this disaster.
There can be no doubt that eBay has handled this VERY poorly and upset the very foundation of its business "partners" they depend on....buyers & sellers! I only wish there was some way for them to be able to step back at this point and re-plan the fiasco....but it's already at that "horse and barn door" thing!
Why does eBay's "encouragement" of participation in AFA remind me WAY TOO MUCH of those little "pep-talks" you get from corporate management about how YOU don't to be the reason that XYZ Co. doesn't get their 100% participation award from United Way??????
posted on September 19, 2001 09:16:13 AM
I agree even prior to ebay coming out with the A4A Auctions there is a worry by me and many other sellers that this Christmas season would be slower due to the economical forecast, A lot of people are loosing their jobs I have heard that Boeing plans to lay off 200,000, The airlines have laid off, I even have heard that Eastman-Kodak will be laying off and how many more to follow. This alone impacts the sales on ebay. There will be less money going into ebay this season because of these layoffs and because of people holding on to their money in fear of there jobs. But now with the A4A Auctions it makes it even harder if a buyer only has so much to spend then why wouldn't they go for an item that has no shipping and feel good that they are giving to charity at the same time. I don't know I am very worried about what the financial impact will be not only for myself but for many other sellers on ebay.
posted on September 19, 2001 09:25:07 AM
I think bidders can also make decisions here. Before rushing out to pay $60+ for a china plate on a charity auction, maybe pay $10 plus shipping to another seller who is not doing an AFA.
Take the extra $50 or so you would have spent on the AFA plate and donate it directly to the Red Cross or a charity of your choice.
Your $10 purchase may be directly helping a seller pay their rent or feed their child or buy their medication. Just my thoughts on this.
posted on September 19, 2001 09:53:49 AMDo you have any proof that they won't effect regular auctions??
Actual proof? No, as you have no actual proof of your concern.
What I do have is ancedotal proof.
Anaylize how bidders bid. They seem to, on avverage, to bid on an item because it is the first one of the item that they are looking for that they come to....or because others are already bidding on it.
To use a recent item I had up for bid. I had 4 of these items, all identical, each listed seperately a few minutes apart. Each auction mentioned that I had more currently up for auction and had a link to my sellers list.
The first to get a bid was the first one I listed...this one would have shown up first in either a category browse or an item search or browsing my sellers list. The second bid on these items also was placed on the first one listed. The third bid also was on this first one. By this time the other three were sitting at their beginning price of $14.99 and the first one was at about $25. Eventually the next two got bids but the first one continued to get more. By the last day the first one had multiple bids and was at $40, while the fourth one still did not have any bids. In the end the first one sold at $10 more than the next highest and the fourth sold at $14.99.
This phenomenom occurs frequently. And it boggles the mind to watch bidders continue to bid up one item and ignore an identical item...when they could stop bidding on the first and bid on the other and give themselves a beter chance to get a lower price.
I have also experimented with no shipping charge auctions. No matter how I do them, even to listing Free Shipping in the title, there is no difference in number of bids or prices realized.
I have come to the conclusion that people don't bid on items on ebay in a logical manner. They don't bid in their own best interest. There is no reason to suspect that the buyer will act any differently when faced with the AFA auctions. Free shipping isn't going to mean anything to most of the buyers...they won't be looking for these auctions because of the free shipping. So those auctions won't be competition for that reason (free shipping).
There may be people who seek out the AFA auctions but they will most likely have a high percentage of buyers who are looking to find something to buy "for charity". This would include those who have been drawn into ebay specifically because of the AFA auctions. I think you will find (if anybody does a study on it) that those who buy the AFA items are buying them in addition to what they would normally buy, not instead of.
The influx of new buyers because of the press coverage will take up any slack that occurs because of the AFA auctions.
If you seriously are worried then I sympathize with you but I would suggest you put that worry out of your mind because I think your going to find you've been worried about nothing.
We have more to fear if there is a steep decline in the economy...possibly. But even then, we may find ebay is recession proof. Figures on past performance from ebay suggest that ebay might be recession proof.
posted on September 19, 2001 09:55:25 AMYour $10 purchase may be directly helping a seller pay their rent or feed their child or buy their medication. Just my thoughts on this
I am glad you feel so much for an eBay seller. What about the 100,000+ people already layed off from jobs, maybe buying through the AFA auction instead of forgetting to send in the 50 would help out some of them.
P.S. I seem to have seen something like what you posted in a PayPal message about Billpoint. Any relation?
posted on September 19, 2001 10:29:07 AM
"And it boggles the mind to watch bidders continue to bid up one item and ignore an identical item...when they could stop bidding on the first and bid on the other and give themselves a beter chance to get a lower price."
I notice this a lot, too. I had an item a few weeks ago sell for $26.00 when there was an identical one by another seller that didn't sell at $6.00. These were the only 2 of this item listed at that time, and both were easily found by searching. But each was listed in different categories. I'm thinking that more bidders browse for items rather than search.
posted on September 19, 2001 10:31:04 AM
I must admit that I've been entertaining the same thoughts as thepackratsattic.
When is it going to be enough money collected? Who decides which families get help from these many donations?
Are ALL these different chairities for strictly helping the families?
How does the Insurance that many will get play into this?
It looks to me like we are working at making some pretty weathy victims here.
Everybody knows fullwell that we will be making the middlemen plenty rich.
I donated BLOOD I don't believe in giving my money to these charities.
You want me to help a family....give me their name, address and phone number and I'll help them directly. This way I KNOW where my money is going.
One more thing before its all said and done maybe some of us sellers that get put out of business will be elegible for some of that donated money!
posted on September 19, 2001 10:42:39 AM
I have created a 2nd user ID in order to sign up with Billpoint and participate in A4A, but I'm so uncomfortable with the concept.
How can anyone say that this will not be in direct conflict with regular auctions? If I were to list "like" items in both areas, which ones will get bids & sell?
There will no doubt be more participation from buyers than sellers. You can't convince me that buyers won't look at this as an opportunity to buy without shipping costs & give them a feeling a patriotism at the same time.
Will donating "more" make me feel better? No, because the bulk of it will go to the United Way. And I'm sure when this is all said and done, they will be presenting eBay with an award for their contribution.
On the fencepost now and will not be listing anything. I will continue to monitor the boards, in hopes that someone's post will trigger something to help me make the right decision.
posted on September 19, 2001 10:56:22 AM
I refuse to take part in the AFA on eBay. It's completely out of line for them to force the seller to pay shipping on top of donating the proceeds of their auction(s).
What I'm going to do is list as usual and set aside the final value amount of each auction to be donated at a later date. I'm not advertising this, it's not going to be noted anywhere in my listings, I'm just going to DO it. Additionally, my husband and I have already made donations to the Red Cross and the NY State WTC Relief Fund.
posted on September 19, 2001 10:58:48 AM
great every seller create a new name to sell your AFA auctions under, then ebay will be able to go to the press and say look how many people signed up in the weeks following the 11th just to help these families..............
posted on September 19, 2001 11:08:41 AM
*wranglers* Creating a 2nd ID was something I had to do in order ot accept Billpoint. I'm in a very rural area of northern, NY and the bank doesn't facilitate electronic transfers. Couldn't take a chance that the Billpoint option would start showing up as a payment option.
I do understand what you're saying...I didn't like creating a 2nd ID and I certainly didn't like signing up for Billpoint. Still haven't decided if I'll do anything with either......
posted on September 19, 2001 11:11:34 AM
I think I will continue to buy and sell in much the same way as I have always done.
I will also donate to the charities and people that I feel will benefit the most.
For anyone, like the poster above, to insinuate that some will "forget" to send our donations because we don't do it directly through an AFA offends me.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:22:45 AM
<<I am glad you feel so much for an eBay seller. What about the 100,000+ people already layed off from jobs, maybe buying through the AFA auction instead of forgetting to send in the 50 would help out some of them. >>
I have to make a comment here about many post I have seen about ebay sellers it seems there are people out there that seem to think that ebay sellers are theses Rich greedy lot that not only have lots and lots of money but only do this to fatten their bank account even more. I 'm sorry there are a lot of sellers that do this for a living, this is how they pay their bills, feed their family its a job just like anyone else that goes to a job outside of their home, sometimes even more so because there are more hours put into it a lot of seller work 7 days a week sometimes for 10 hrs or more a day. And there a lot of reasons that sellers choose to do this instead of working a regular job, Maybe their disabled, Maybe their moms that want to be able to support their family but sill be able to be there for there kids. Maybe they can make more money doing this than a regular job - and why not everyone would like to be able to better their situation for themselves and their familles. Why do people look for better jobs or ask for raises it seems to me they would for the exact same reasons. I just don't understand the attitude that ebay seller have no right to make a profit or a living on the things they sell I mean come on do you folks think the same way about Walmart, Kmart or any other brick and mortar establishment that makes a profit off of your purchases, that they shouldn't? if that's the case then there would be no one selling anything including food.
As far as the A4A Auctions go I am not saying that helping these people is a bad thing but I do think ebay did it for the wrong reasons and I think that another type of program would have helped the victims equally as well without jeopardizing sellers livelihood. Yes, charity is supposed to be there to help people but I also don't think that at the same time it's supposed to create hardships for others.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:42:27 AM
Here is a Press Release from Disney Auctions on eBay, then below that are the TOS from one of their auctions. APPARENTLY, to bid on a Disney Charity Auction, you must register a credit card WIIH DISNEY. To PAY for a Disney auction, you must pay with that credit card THROUGH Disney, NOT Billpoint. BUYER is asked to pay shipping.
IF what appears to be true here IS true, then Disney doesn't have to use Billpoint, but every small seller DOES? Buyers pay shipping for those auctions, but for AFA auctions the seller does? Is Disney more ummm "needy" than us? IF Disney's TOS is correct (the buyer pays shipping) is eBay ACTUALLY sponsoring any variation of AFA that the huge sellers want to throw up there
in whatever way they want to throw it up there? Variations that are VASTLY DIFFERENT from AFA? And eBay talks about community? Please, anyone that wants to say "but it will help," spare me. The press release below is another crass display of a Corporation grabbing for free publicity.
If Disney REALLY supported AFA, and their terms are in actuality so DIFFERENT from AFA, WHY DON'T THEY TAKE THEIR ITEMS, GET A DIFFERENT POSTING ID, AND SELL UNDER THE SAME RULES THAT ALL OTHER AFA SELLERS HAVE TO SELL UNDER???
___________________________________________
Disney Auctions Supports eBay's 'Auction for America'
All Proceeds From Items Auctioned During the
Week of September 17 Will Be Donated to September 11th Fund
WHAT: Disney Auctions has joined eBay's "Auction for America" program.
100 percent of all Disney Auctions proceeds this week will be
donated to The September 11th Fund which has been established by
United Way and The New York Community Trust. Contributions will
assist the victims, their families, and communities affected by
the events of September 11.
This week's auction items include:
THE LETTER "D" FROM THE DISNEYLAND HOTEL SIGN
Own the letter that has become a pop culture icon and is taken
from one of the world's most famous hotels.
MAX KEEBLE PREMIERE
Receive true VIP treatment by attending the premiere of Disney's
upcoming film "Max Keeble's Big Move." This exclusive experience
gives bidders access the red carpet when Max Keeble makes his
big move to the big screen!
DISNEY STORE THEMING
Bid to own colorful character and prop figures previously
featured in Disney Store displays.
DISNEYLAND RESORT
Choose from a wide variety of artwork, signs and fixtures
previously installed at the Disneyland Resort.
WHEN: The items will be up for auction from September 17 to
September 24.
WHERE: Bidding takes place at www.disneyauctions.com.
CONTACT: Brandy Phillips of BSMG Worldwide, +1-310-966-5501,
[email protected], for Disney Auctions
ABOUT DISNEY AUCTIONS:
Disney Auctions (www.disneyauctions.com), presented by eBay, is
an online marketplace from Walt Disney Internet Group and eBay
(Nasdaq: EBAY). Disney Auctions features authentic, rare and
one-of-a-kind Disney collectibles and memorabilia from every
aspect of Disney's fabled entertainment legacy.
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X23404392
SOURCE Disney Auctions
CO: Disney Auctions; Walt Disney Internet Group; eBay; September 11th Fund; United Way; New York Community Trust
ST: California, New York, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania
IN: ENT MLM
SU: NPT
09/19/2001 13:26 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
______________________________________________________________________
Disney will arrange for Buyer the packing and handling of the purchased Item by a carrier and/or packer of Disney s choosing, and will insure the Item against loss or damage. Buyer will bear the cost of shipping, insurance and any import-export tax fees. The Buyer shall immediately pay the full purchase price of the Item, including any applicable shipping and insurance fees by credit card. The following credit cards are accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Disney Credit Card, Discover, JCB. Disney Auctions Conditions of Sale govern the sale and license of this item.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:45:19 AMkiara So a general statement about some people offends you. Well I hope your not in that minority now. I dislike the AFA cause it is linked with the United Way but I believe it will get more donations because the buyer is getting something real and those buyers may not have taken the time to donate otherwise.
doroncj I am glad you took the time to do something like this to participate. Some people would have done nothing at all and I totally understand your problems. Thank You.
wranglers I understand where you are coming from but most sellers already have a second or 100 eBay ids. Just use one of them.
packer Donating blood is a great thing and is mo opinion worth more than money. I commend you for that.
You want me to help a family....give me their name, address and phone number and I'll help them directly. This way I KNOW where my money is going
I believe in this also but it would be difficult for me to help a family in NewYork since I live in Iowa. I have no idea what their needs are and sending money to a charity to represent me and give them the things they need is the best I can do now.
One more thing before its all said and done maybe some of us sellers that get put out of business will be eligible for some of that donated money!
I am sure this is correct, the will be some sellers that have to quit and some may even have to find other jobs. As I said above so do the 100,000+ people that just lost their Jobs. The will be plenty more where that come from. i am setting here waiting to see how far American Airlines will cut which may have a direct impact on my family since my Wife works for them.
posted on September 19, 2001 12:04:02 PM
ShamebaY pure and simple !!!!!!!!
This "idea" of the PTB ( powers that be ) at ebay thinking up new and better ways to give them press is an insult to all ebay's members!
Not only are they expecting the sellers to pick up the ball for them, providing product,and free shipping , but also the members are to do all the support for them just as they do on their site with the chat boards.
They also come up with a great way to raise the numbers of Billpoint users to boot ! WOW.. some Suit upstairs got a raise for that one ! Have they no Shame ?
This is the selling season and this will drastically reduce sales for the general population of sellers that are just scraping by in this "recession". Now This !
Personally I hope that more people see through this obvious publicity stunt and numbers game and make ShamebaY eat their own words for once.. The members of the community are the ONLY community left at ShamebaY anymore.. The company stopped caring about their sellers long ago.
posted on September 19, 2001 12:21:38 PM
>>> the will be some sellers that have to quit and some may even have to find other jobs. As I said above so do the 100,000+ people that just lost their Jobs. The will be plenty more where that come from.>>>
Yes, that's true and probably some sellers would have to quit even if A4A program didn't exists because of the slow Economy, But I feel that the A4A auctions will hurt more sellers than would have been necessary. If the program would have been set up differently some of the sellers that will be forced to quit or unable to make it maybe could have continued and scratched by and there would have been that many less out of work.
I agree that their will be many people losing their jobs but if you happen to be one of them Personally I don't think that they will be thinking about all the other people who lost their jobs. This is reality, if your worrying about keeping a roof over your head and keeping food on the table I don't think that your sitting back worrying about the other 100,000 people that may have lost their jobs and thinking well its OK for me and my family to live in the park other people lost there jobs. No, you are thinking how am I going to survive. lets get real here, people will take care of themselves and there families before thinking about anyone else's problems that is a fact! What is that saying oh yea "When its happening to someone else its a recession, when it's happening to you its a depression."
[ edited by Dawna34 on Sep 19, 2001 12:23 PM ]
Yeah, neither benevolent Meg or Mickey Mouse would do that to people, would they...
Read the press release closely. Read the first line-
<<<WHAT: Disney Auctions has joined eBay's "Auction for America" program. >>>
A little exercise in logic here. Disney has either "JOINED" AFA or not. If NOT, they're lying, and possibly violating eBay TOS IF they list auctions the way they're listing. I have sent an email to timesensitive asking eBay to look at their auctions and determine that. If they HAVE "JOINED" AFA, and their posted TOS is correct, they are operating under vastly different rules than eBay is asking US to, and one upshot of that is that eBay's CRAP about the necessity of EVERYONE to use Billpoint is just that, CRAP. Not to mention that, if I were an AFA seller, it would er rankle just a little that I had to pay shipping, but Disney didn't... And BTW, does anyone know how much Disney shipping and handling is? Well, maybe this is all a mirage, and Disney is actually participating in AFA under the rules that all sellers are SUPPOSED to follow, but again, I say SHOW ME.
posted on September 19, 2001 12:34:39 PM
ebaY AFA terms of service clearly state that any auction listing where the seller describes or attempts to impose different terms of service will be terminated. If Disney tries what is stated above then they absolutely should be terminated, let us hope ebaY follows through accordingly.
posted on September 19, 2001 12:42:31 PM
I have opted not to resume posting for a week or so until the smoke begins to clear and the steps the government are going to take become public. In their haste to be seen as the"good guys" EBAY has done a great disservice to the sellers who have made them the multi- billion dollar Corporation they are today-If they really want to help let them roll back the new posting costs.As a seller if I am successful I am more than happy to contribute to a worthy cause as an individual but nothing plus nothing still equals nothing-
posted on September 19, 2001 01:11:03 PM
I dont see how anyone can be a "cheerleader" for eBay, Billpoint, Paypal, etc. Why defend them since they treat members like gum under their shoes? Does anyone honestly think eBay cares about them?
