posted on May 31, 2001 01:23:19 PM
Hi, Code. I think the observation that the co-op movement is still trying to figure out what members want is unfair because it implies that nothing is being done and there is no forward movement. Freud once wrote, "What does a woman want?" yet he was one of the greatest pioneers in his field. I took exception to your comment because I believe it paints the co-op movement as inept and clumsy. Perhaps I misinterpreted your remark.
It may be that niche and specialty co-op are the way to approach the problem of creating an alternative trading site. It's (maybe a little) easier to organize, and buyers know they can find an item according to their interest. One reason I am in favor of a generalized co-op site is because I believe it should be a place where displaced eBay sellers of any type can join together. I'm simply talking about an online "flea market." However, in some cases it may be more practical to focus on niche co-ops. Perhaps when a dozen specialty co-ops pop up, eBay will start to take notice and realize they are no longer the only game in town.
Jamie, right or wrong, AuctionWatch saw your posts several months ago as promotional. More than that, the subject of a co-op was dominating the eBay Outlook. This may be a subjective interpretation on their part, however I would also observe that you tend to barrel ahead and do things your own way. In this case you met an "immovable object." I was right there, and I also would consider "email me for more info" to be promotional. I appreciate that AuctionWatch took the time to discuss this, both internally and with us in the Moderator's Corner. We may not agree with their decision, but we should still use whatever resources that we can. AW has repeatedly stated that co-op issues may be discussed in a non-promotional manner. If you were watching the JSOnline thread, you should have a good idea of what that means. I just want to emphasize that the co-op movement is bigger than any individual or group, and we should use whatever tools we have. That includes AW.
posted on May 31, 2001 05:31:20 PM
Pocano: Your record's a bit scratched.
You are entitled to your opinion just as I am. Notice that I don't attack you personally and still won't?
The facts are the facts. We have accomplished quite a bit. We have led in a direction that has created an entity that many people know of. Have you? We have garnered the support of a base of subscribers. Have you? We have developed a small website to move forward from. Have you? We've even spawned two spin-off groups, one of which is doing well on its own. Have you?
We've listened to many, many, hundreds of emails from the people who will be working with us in a few months.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not accusing you of anything or flaming you in any way. I am simply asking you a question??
It's a lot easier to go on board and puke on everyone's hard work and ideas than have to answer to someone isn't it?
Speaking of hard work and energy, there's been a lot put into the various seller driven and supported sites.
It's a shame there hasn't been more vocal support for any of them here on these boards. I know it's affected the path we've taken in building AP and I'm sure it's affected others thinking too.
Maybe one day you'll surprise us all with a really helpful post?
Twin: Code's been around from day one. And he/she's made a few useful suggestions.
All: See the problem with these boards is that nobody can hear your tone.
None of what's written here really bothers anybody. We all are used to it by now. I just want to have fun with any message board. If we can share a few ideas even better. For every goofball post I've seen there've been 2-3 great emails.
posted on May 31, 2001 06:55:13 PM
AuctionWatch does have rules about what can be discussed in the forums. In particular, they discourage discussion of other boards. Also, discussion of posters who are banned from AW is also taboo. For that reason, I have been speaking in the most general terms. Perhaps it's best that we don't start pointing fingers. But the comments I made were not directed at anyone posting in this thread.
Except for the comment by Codasaurus. Yes, there are plenty of reasons why a co-op won't or can't succeed. I don't accept them. I think that attitude is wrong and it is damaging. Everyone's welcome to their opinion, and criticism ultimately helps. Code isn't being vindictive, just stating an opinion and I value his input. But we have to get past why it won't work. Because it can and will.
posted on May 31, 2001 08:02:20 PM
What I would really like to know is where peoplew come up with there facts and figures.
2.75 Million dollars what tree did you pick that figure off from ???
The Auction site its self can be on line and running for about $2,000 to $3,000 and some programing time maybe less $$ then that.
Just what is it you think A Webserver is any how ???..
Basic server that will run nearly 10X faster then a new 1 GIG processor with windows is made of a Old computer of 300 to 500 MHZ processor reformated and setup with a free copy OF linux linux from the package is set up as a mail server web server news server FTP server and anything else you might need.
Include 128 Ram of memory pump up the cache memory A Few Large hard drives a net work card and at the least a T1 line Add Auction software porgram which is avalable free use gimp or any other top linux graphics progams to design your auction look type up some term and policy after they are looked over by your legal advisor.
if you are growing linux is great as computers can be linked networked togeather locally or even remotely all the programing need is already a part of linux you can have one two 5 a dozzen computer like this networked togeather to handle mail auction data bases website for store fronts.
And with most online advertizeing being pennies per 10,000 veiws you could adverize the site to a million people or more a day on line for under $200 perday on some larger sites its a bit more.
Now let look at it this way.
10 people willing to invest $1000 per year.
1000 people willing to invest $10 per year
16,000 people investing $4.50 peryear membership fees these are.
32,000 investing $2.50
How about Member ship investment of $9.00 for 32,000 or more invester per year.
Even at 64,000 coop members you havent scatched the surfice of registered online auction users not to mention new comers to the comunity.
in all seriousness since this site will be seller owned your not talking right now where sellers or buyer will come from your looking for number of seller willing to invest less then the cost of an average lunch peryear to build a future in the on line auction comunity.
all Honestly intersted in seeing this coop move to the site and selling mode faster should be getting other sellers interested.
stop leaveing keeping this movement going to a few and complaining about how you feel it is going if each person get five new people excited and interest and they get five.
Instead of comeing here next week and saying we have a list of 400 interest investor we can come here and say we have 20,000 interested investor all at a min of $9.00 peryear each.
and a promise of $180,000 in startup funds and the week after we could be here talking about the 60,000 new interested and a promise of 540,000 in start up money.
in three weeks if people were promoteing the Idea we could be here talking about more then a 500,000interest investing members.
these number are not far fetched there are 21 million or more registered on line users out there 60,000 just scratches the surfice.
ebay and other internet companys have so many people fooled at what the cost is and mainly its all because of the reports of the billion dollars in investment capital they burned through in a few short month period of time mostly waisted on high paychecks and partys to celabrate their pay day bonuses.
Ebays bigest tv coverage was due to user who tried auctioning legal item such as body parts guess what you dont pay to be in the news stupidity is fee advertizement.
posted on June 1, 2001 03:32:50 AM
Rich makes a bunch of valid points.
Which is why I feel confident that if we achieve our membership goal when we start our drive that we will have a fine functioning site within a few months.
When we started with Auctionpie I looked at various business models and I looked over the data that we had collected and continue to collect.
This is the basis for what will become Auctionpie. We spoke with many companies that wanted to be involved because they see the opportunities of even a fraction of the market participating.
The key won't be whether we or any site gets 5000 or 50000 listings to start, it will be the sell through and frankly I'd rather have 5000 listings with happy sellers AND buyers than a big listings warehouse.
My background is in Marketing and Developement. It takes a long time to build a good name and only a few seconds to ruin it. That's why I or AP haven't made any big sales pitches, grand standed, or made quick rushes to solicit funds.
We've been slowly building the site and the truth is the concept may still not work! It may not even look much like what we truly want and it may even not be a true co-op!
But the important thing is that we can stand by whatever we write here on AW or on AP or say in interviews. It's important that I and our group be straight with sellers AND bidders at all times. We may not say what you want to hear but we will be honest with all.
posted on June 1, 2001 08:25:24 AM
POCONO: Do mean like all the .bomb professionals wandering around wondering what happened to them??
What a horrible attitude!
I'll take a bunch of folks who passionately want to make something happen over a bunch of "Professionals" any day of the week!
Believe me it takes folks like Rich to create something good. Then when it becomes successful and there's lots of money around the so called "professionals" show up to leetch and bloat costs.
His point may not be as gracefully or clearly written as others, but it's very valid.
I know a very successful internet site that was created by a few students, not one of them professional. Of course they are now.
Opportunities lie all over, perhaps you should find some instead of crapping on others??
Sorry to the rest. I just find it incredulous for some folks to make statements as if they actually know what they are talking about! You can spend from $10 million or $2,000 to get a site online and you won't see that much of a difference. One outfit quoted us almost $300,000 worth of equipment that we absolutely needed (and they so happened to have on hand!) that was available at liquidation sites for less than $15K!!
It takes a lot more than a snappy piece of software to make a venue like a seller based auction house work!!
posted on June 1, 2001 09:56:00 AM
"The Auction site its self can be on line and running for about $2,000 to $3,000 and some programing time maybe less $$ then that."
If that is the case then I am preplexed at why someone so interested in establishing a co-op hasn't simply loaned the co-op the seed money.
I would think that a functioning site would go a long way towards showing the potential membership what they can expect for their money.
"I'll take a bunch of folks who passionately want to make something happen over a bunch of 'Professionals' any day of the week!"
Don't you see how very divisive your attitude is? You think you can carry off the establishment of a co-op by displaying this attitude to the very professionals who combine experience and knowldege in the computer industry with a passion for a co-op?
The more of your posts I read the more I believe that you are acting in an utterly self defeating fashion.
posted on June 1, 2001 10:31:15 AM
Hi fellow auction users. Here's a new face on AW. Shaz here....
In reading from the beginning of this thread, although it has been a few days since it was posted, I thought I'd chime in.
Getting back to the original topic, which was about the Flash presentation that "hg" received.....I can vouch that it wasn't from AP. We have one opt in newsletter of which I am the editor. Any and all material that is included goes past me before it is sent out to our readers. Perhaps I can help clear the air for many of you about the intent and content of our newsletter. If you have specific questions, feel free to email me. ([email protected]).
"lovepotions"
Thanks for the suggestion for the question of the day. The fact is I have used a tool for a survey such as the one you speak of. I'm surprised that you didn't notice it while perusing our web site. Maybe you should take a look.
"codasaurus" and "pocono"
I regret that you have such negative opinions of the work that is done here at AP. I myself have spent long nights devoting my time to help others such as you all get but one step closer to their dream of a user supported auction site. It may be your idea that a site like AP would not be enuff to get the support needed by sellers and buyers to make a go of it, however, it is my opinion that if you and others with similar opinions would join forces with a site such as AP instead of constantly acting as an opposing force, the numbers would be titanic. I'm aware that we will not have the support of every member of the online auction community to back us, but I will say that we will never shut anyone out just because of their opinions. So you are welcome if you ever come to your senses that we all need to come together, not push apart.
Also, "codasaurus"
As editor of the Auctionpie.com Newsletter, I have seen who has subscribed to our newsletter and demographics are taken. I can tell you that a considerable percentage of our readers have identified themselves as buyers only. AP is not only interested in the ideas of sellers. As a matter of fact, there will be a section of our site survey specifically targeted at buyers in the near future. Maybe you can share your ideas on it when it comes out.
Sorry folks that this is so long. I may have been a bit long winded here, but the truth is I can't say enuff about the importance of a strong unity between all sellers and buyers in an effort to make a site like AP work.
Oh yes, and Cathy.....it is nice to see that you are still at the wheel of your little boat there. I've always said how determined and hard working you are. Perhaps your sharing this thread with us will help make a difference to anyone with questions on what a "co-op" is. Maybe even to those who share the ideas of a general site as well. As you and I know, results are the bottom line.
posted on June 1, 2001 11:57:06 AM
Code: Believe it or not AP wouldn't be up without the help of "Professionals" but it's been folks like Rich and Shaz and others who have built it.
There's a difference. Nobody is picking on "Professionals"!!
Geez!! It's Friday!! Go have some fun!!! Everybody! Even you AW mods!! Enjoy some life!!
I know a small group of teens on the interent right now Running a whole network made up of older up graded computers all running linux They have web sites web hosting email service pop3 and web based a irc chat net and more there is 6 computers in the net work each at a cost of just under $200 a month There total costs less then $10,000 per month to run there network a month but the total cost of the equipment was nothing useing old computers from home that just sat an collected dust.
me an millions of other users over the past three years have used this network at and inless some one told you it was built and ran and the oldest person involved was 15 year old you wouldnt know the difference in how there sight ran from any other large network that is exsept ebay since there net work is down far less time daily weekly and monthly then ebay.
With some minor up grades to the computers and a Networkcards they do all the work them selfs. this group of teen could have a auction site up and running in under two weeks the software is open source and free. avalable right on the interenet for down load or can be had on CD for the cost of shipping.
There isnt anything said that cant be done.
IF you would like I can bring in some expert friends who can disput your figures in a heart beat.
I have one friend right now with there own auction site of there own and doing very well selling what they list there what do they sell there software for there auction site and vitual postcard hosting $14.95 + shipping.
They are makeing $3000 to $5000 weekly there cost to have there server on line way way under that and yes the auction site has other sellers as well selling and makeing money as well he make his service totally free to buy and sell makes his return selling there own ware.
http://i-mse.com/index4x.html
I recomend Clicking on the bottom link (server info) for all who think any server is a million dollar investment.
check it out this is not a million dollar investment This is a net work set up on average computers in peoples liveing rooms ..
Same computers you would go to the store and pay $700 to $1000 a few years back with some small up grades.
posted on June 1, 2001 06:27:38 PM
If you will note the URL I gave this network is ran on the same computer they use every day at home its not even a spare computer.
one of the website in the network hosts well over 5 million vitual postcard page per week.
another free service they offer to people with websites of any type.
all of this mind you ran with ISDN and DSL net connections.
check this out it is ran on the same net work useing windows and ISDN .
http://pc2auction.com/
There is only one thing listed on this site but in the end of dec and over january the site was loaded and doing well.
Just a note this is not promotion this is to prove an you can not only get a server up and on line and a auction site but dozzens of other on line services for well under some number spouted here that run very very well 24 hour a day 7 days a week.
This net work is running on windows useing ISDN and DSL not t1 and not millon dollar servers and fancy equipment and has been online in bussiness three years that I know of and took about 4 months of week ends to build and get working well.
is a few of the many people I worked with on a intranet project we were doing for UL underwriters labs back in 1995.
posted on June 2, 2001 05:43:41 AM
Is it that you don't WANT to understand?
or it that you really don't?
Does ANYONE really believe that you turn on a bunch of old dusty pcs networked together,
and lo and behold a successful co-op auction site is up and running?
Let alone with enough buyers and sellers, advertising, start-up capitol, insurance, law firm,
tech and cust. service staff, servers, bandwidth, etc.?
You have GOT to be joking...your way is fine for only 20 people
on the site at a time, but I would hope there is more than that.
Like I said, leave it to the PRO's!
Your way is amateur and doomed to failure...AT BEST!
Perhaps if you hire on some of those 12 year olds, they can explain it to you.
posted on June 2, 2001 06:00:01 AM
Also... those wacky kids you described are AUCTIONING off all their domains, complete with content VERY cheap, and with NO BIDS.
They are even selling their "SERVERS" (not old dusty PCs by the way)
posted on June 2, 2001 12:50:03 PM
These site are not servers They are all computers Running windows and most of the 7 server are all running very sucessfull bussinesses they make there dollars on advertizeing main on the user who have there virtual post cards on there websites. the auction sites were set up resently as mainly an exsmaple of what can be done with there software on a windows machine useing Just ISDN.
this network in not useing dust old computers but they are use the same computers for there server that they may well at this time be useing to send email or post on this message board for all you know at this time.
I can almost assure you tim is not here right now as I know him well and his responce would be Let them laugh who think they know it all because while ebay laugh all the way to the bank with your money he laugh all the way to the bank with the money made from there website.
he would tell me in his own way he dont have time for know it all jokers.
band with is not a problem when these servers are run on broad band cable DSL or ISDN .
If you doubt the band width of cable modem go see the page at the GRC website about what cable band width is capable of.
There were 474 computers attacking on that website over 100 were cable modems they disable a system with two T1 line just one cable modem alone could have over loaded there system both t1 s and shut.
Cable gives you the band width of a T3 at the cost of a phone line and a dail up service not a T1 not to mention loads of speed.
for a server speed only counts for Down load not uploads.
Check the list on there search page of the number of post card pages they host and serve out there on the Internet Cybergreet is one of not only the frist but the interents largest Post card services on the internet. they make in some weeks just on advertizeing what it take a ebay seller to make in a few months.
they also run a postcard banner exchange that services more banners then there postcard sights do.
This is an exsample of what can be done when people try and work togeather. on an Idea.
You say if it can be done this way then why hasnt some one interested already set up a coop auction site well there are a few reasons right in this thread.
posted on June 2, 2001 03:12:34 PM
Well HUH ! you said it
Now what ????
I havent post a message on a coop thread any where on the internet since mid march I got the same Responce then.
Actually HUH !! is better then some welcomes I have received Im glad you posted that thought.
Just for the Record here I never said anything about takeing some dusty old computers and turning them into a sucessfull coop auction site I said you could take some windows machine and with some programing turn them in to webservers to and an auction site network the Sucessfull part like all the other auction sites this is up to those who use the services.
like is for ever said in many threads on these boards ebay would not be today what it is with out its users. the buyer and seller that make it what it is.
That goes for bidville Sellyourownitem and many other new auction site popping up they are only as sucessfull as people make them.
The coop is about sellers makeing it on there own Thats what all this is about takeing that bridge called ebay steping off of the edge and going out on there own.
to step out there you must believe you can because once you burn that bridge there is no turning back.
When your in the middle of a bridge and you step off the edge you had better just keep moveing full speed ahead because if you stop to look down before you see the bottom you'll be in the water.
I run and hosted my own site with my ICQ program my files are in a directory on my computer and any one who knows my ICQ Nick name can click on the House icon and see the site I set up there and im just running on a 33.6 modem with a dailup connection.
33.6 modem is not to awfull for veiwing its slow when down loading big files Napster mind you is a network Running on small computers all conected at all speeds of modem DSL and cable.
In fact I have winamp and for nearly two year I ran my own online streaming audio station Jingles MP3s and voice all from 14.4 modem handled not to band concidering I was working on a old 66 MHZ packard bell with a 14.4 modem 8 megs of ram up to 125 connection no problem, but the computer at that level was maxed out just about I could get the mail program up and send and collect mail not the band width but was doing all the computers memory would handle.
down fall of running a server on dail up is when you log off line the server is off line 24/7 Connections were very high at that time today they are very low cost.
Use to be people said web servers were not a possiablity as fixed Ips were High cost Today cable and DSL are alway connected you have a fixed IP and even if you dont have a fixed Ip it can be changed automatically by the server software or manually on the fly after connection to the provider.
The sucess of linux winlinux and windows software avalable for free the avalabilty of DSL an cable at prices afordable to most has changed all that.
in fact in october WIndows will introduce Window XP for home use it wont even no longer be nessary to add software to your windows machine to make is your webserver it will be built in feature just like win 2000.
the server will be built into the operating system of new home computers.
I have been around computer and the internet nearly 10 years nowand I can say this it has never been easyer or lower cost then right now to get a full time server online or a network of servers.
a few year back I got a free copy of RedHat linux 2 hour installed and set up one week to get use to getting around linux is from the box a web server news server email server ftp server just add a Ip number if you want to run iton a T1 popin a network card for the line to hook into and call the company to run in the line.
This version is Free set up on any computer with a min of 4 meg of memory on any 386 or 486 computer and a min of 1 gig HD.
The linux box I had could have competed with any new processor running windows 98 and never needed rebooting ever there is a learning curve to linux but not nearly as bad as it use to be for the most part can be setup to point and click icons just like any windows machine.
posted on June 3, 2001 09:49:23 AM
Gee Pocono, we all can't be as great as yourself.
I think what Rich is trying to say is that there are currently alternatives available if a group really wants to go forward on a shoestring and that in fact you don't need millions.
For you to leave your responses I think is not addressing the point but making fun of the poster which is pretty pathetic.
The fact is that it has become easier in the last several months to create and maintain a site than it was a year ago or when we started to put AP together.
And frankly it doesn't matter how expensive or inexpensive a site costs if it doesn't focus on making itself work to the goals of all involved.
Perhaps you and a few others could follow AW's guidelines and make all of our lives a bit easier here on the message boards.
A little less hostility and perhaps new folks would post without fear of being ridiculed mercilessly??
We don't have to agree with what each other says but good manners really don't cost any money.
posted on June 3, 2001 11:48:38 AM
The point here is that the coop Auction sight is not about a server A server is not a multi million dollar deal it is a computer you add a keyboard monitor OS bew it windows unix linux and some editing progarm and work form there.
the coop site need not be one giant multi million dollar investment when all online seller have a computers already collectively capable more then the best big boy system out there.
a server need not be over 250 MHZ a min of 24 meg of ram the more the better but 24 will work fine to start.
It does not matter today window 95 98 NT 2000 all can be set up as webservers as well ad unix and linux and other systems.
You can run these computers with a t1 or t3 of some type but any DSL or cable broad band internet conection will a static IP will work if you dont have a static IP you can get them free for your DNS check out www.dyndns.org I think that is the URL on this information.
Since I am talking about a network of coop auction sites ran by many coop users world wide and basically you dont down load files from a auction site speed and band width is not a problem.
mainly what auction users are uploading to Auction site is text information the uploads are very breif in nature useing very little band width and server time can up load the text for even a 1000 listing in about 40 to 90 second.
Band width is still not a problem since this is a network of auction Site around the world even if one or two had a problem the whole system but them two would be intact still running.
because each server can uses mulitple domains if one server fell apart and the data & domain name could be tranfered to another server in the system if it was going to be out for a prolonged period of time.
everyone useing the network buyers and sellers would not be all useing the same server at the same time page uploading wouldnt be a problem.
all the servers dont even have to be different some can be mirror sights doubleing the aution site user capasity size.
the whole system is not running on the same direct link to the internet and no one sever is running with the same ip so chance are slim the whole network would fail inless the whole internet went down.
in the case of a server crash only one small part of the network goes down windows can be rebooted and synced faster then unix or linux which can take up words of 30 to 40 mins to reboot and from 1 hour to get back up to speed.
One larger computer can be used as the central search for the network and as a link to find different auction sites and also to find out network status and if a server is off line.
each server would have its own Mail server so end of auction notices would also be far faster.
as well as each site can have its own FAQ and message boards since all the sites would be running the same auction software and operateing system the help and files would be the same for all site as well.
NOW you asked do I really think a bunch of computers can make a sucessfull coop NO I do not only people can make it a sucessfull coop
people have to stop compairing the cost of the server and advertizeing to sucess of there bussiness and hobbies.
does this coop need a muli million or billion dollar advertizeing budget NO it doesn't I disagree completely with that it will need advertizeing but not to the degree other dot coms used to put them selves out of bussiness.
What I purpose is that this coop benfit all the auction comunity this includes buyers and sellers.
the coop needs motivated sellers and Buyers what I have purposed is that the coop pay Member buyers a percentage of 1% of fvf in this way 1% of all the purcases any user signing up as a member BUYER useing them as the person who recomened them.
each registered member will only be allow one selling membership and one buyer member ship to keep things fair.
these numbers are Just an Idea of how it could work with enough interest as all know the cost of doing thing rarely goes down but it is posible if there is enough in the online comunity hopeing on board prices could start lower the less they could be higher.
server Members want a server in the coop network member ship could be ($100 a year) there listing would be free but they would pay the fvf on sales, server member get 1% of all fvf on sales from there for upkeep of the server keeping it up date and registered in search engines and local types of advertizeing..
seller membership Which intitles the member to a say in changes in the coop auction site and policy set at ($9 a year) listing fees set at .25 up to A $100 starting bid.
.50 for starting bid over $100 with or with out a reserve. and they would pay fvf on all sales
Buyer Membership $9 This intiltes them to a say in the coop auction site and policy changes + 1% bonus on othe fvf paid on all purchases of everyone they recomend for a buying memberShip .
for people who dont want a member ship but would like to sell in the coop network any site.
listing fees.
.10 on .01 to $9.99
.20 on $10.00 to $49.99
.50 on $50.00 and up with or with out reserve
FVFs for all
set at 3% on all sales up $500
4% from $500 to $999
all sales $1000 and up fvf of $25
1% to the member they were recomended by if they were recomended
1% to the member whos server the sales was made on the remander goes to the coop.
now we have motivated members buyers and sellers promoteing membership in the coop for buying and selling the coop benifits all the coop Auction comunity.
Seller acually do own Not only the Auction site run it and control the policys and change but they run and own the servers as well.
All Members at the server level are responable for the server up keep updates search engine spider registering and local adverrtizeing of there server.
Member buyer are motiviated to earn there 1% every $1000 in winning bids there recomended members make, is more then then there yearly membership fees back the harder the buyer promotes buying memberships and buying from the coop the more return they get.
The Co-op its self will be responceable for over all advertizeing of the coop Owned Auction network.
as the membership and buying grows so does the advertizeing budget of all.
as well the co-op which is all Members can use part of the income for developement of other coop services.
possibly Group heath insurance for members
coop packageing with the coop name and logo on it boxes envelopes tape labels invoiceing paper mouse pads cup mugs shirts to get the name out there.
since all servers can have multiple Domain I am recomending that server member that want to go to the extra time could register a second domain and offer coop store fronts to all users of the coop member and
non-member.
the fees for this as follows.
$10 one time set up fee that goes to the Member who runs the server for server up keep and update and management of the extra domain.
$25 Yearly for a coop store front www.yourname.coopservername.com.
$50 www.yourname.com virtual host store front all store fronts would have 30 mb of space good enough size for a fair store front.
$5 for each addition 10 megs of space the user needs per month .
all store fronts include shopping cart user must provide there own merchant account.
All server members who want to have a server auction site message board store fronts and other coop services.
There server must meet the coop Specs to be a server in the network.
Specs could be like this
All servers must be a min of 250 MHZ
350MHZ or better perfered processor with a min of 32 megs of Memory 128 perfered all servers required to have DSL or cable if the operators can afford T1, T3 or other direct internet connection go for it.up grades to all servers of min specs must be up graded within 12 month to includeing a reliable way to back up there system.
all servers must use the same operateing systems Windows 95- 98 - nt or 2000
software and templets for message boards auction site and store front must be standard coop templet so all site look uniform....
Mind you This is not Jamies Plan -- AKA AuctionPie
Jamie is convinced he is trying to build a brand name but can not be convinced Brands are just good in a larger coop Network
Not sure what the vintage coops plans are but I beileve a large network of niche sites and full catagoried sites standing togeather stand a far better chance then a single stand alone site trying to take on mamuth giant corps the like of Ebay, amazon and the others and out do there advertizeing budget alone.
Some of the Interested coop fallows I have talked to there main concern is the learning curve requiered to put togeather and run the servers in a network.
But Its my feeling that if auction seller are going to be working to build a member owned coop there is going to be a leaning curve anyhow since even if you ran one server and hired one or more to do all the work members are going to want to know whats being done and why always good for the left hand to know what the right hand is doing.
I believe the learning togeather the HTML perl and other computer skills nessary to build a user owned coop network will go a long way to building a bridge of trust amoung its members.
and if you can get all this for 2.75 million dollars go for it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The biggest numberone concern here I and many other have is that everyone interest and organizing this is wokr on the number they are working on a way to get fees brfore there is a service to build a server.
They are working on name brands building.
they aresniping and biteing at each other.
they are working on niche site and all catagory site ask what all concider good fee to list fvfs member ship fees cutomer service.
the Question here is who is really building a coop one group building a single auction site with its own set of rules is not a coop.
Right now there is at least two group makeing there own rules so what we have is two wresteing to have a name brand with it own rules and already competeing again each other for membership.
a cooperative compete against its self ????
This plan I set out here can get servers off the ground By people interested in Auction coop no body needing to collect any fees what so ever before there is a service to offer.
to make a server out of there computer or a spare computer they have the soft ware can be found free on the internet or there are people selling cds paged with all need for $9.99.
or if you have the time the 22 MB of files can be down loaded from the internet.
they would eith have to have a DSL connection or cable connection but the set up and testing can be done with a dail up account.
DSL normally you already have a static IP but if your service dont offer it one can be set up free.
the person would need to register a domain name for the server.
Total cost of getting a test server online under $20 if the user dont have cable or DSL and want it for a test server the cost would be from $120 to $200 start up no money sent to any one all there invest ment goes into there own computer and benfits them.
once there was a few servers set up and aution software setup you actually have a seed coop the coop ready for beta testing.
Problem I ask where is the group actually building the Auction seller owned coop ?????
Like i said, just keep meandering, isolating, and strongarming your way
to YOUR joke of a co-op (it's NOT coop, unless it's where all the old hens hang out).
You will NEVER get the seed money needed, and you will be
too little, way too late anyways...
In the words of mick foley...
"Have a nice day!" ... bang bang!
posted on June 3, 2001 01:09:42 PM
By the way folks...
I am 100% PRO Co-Op, I just will not have anything to do
with one that is "headed up", "organized", and "run" by someone with
no experience, no common sense, and no clue.
Don't worry though... There WILL be a sucessful Co-Op,
just not jamies.
posted on June 3, 2001 01:36:25 PM
Sticks and stones Pocono. I've been called worse here on AW. All I know is what our group has done so far and will be doing.
I haven't seen JACK SQUAT from yourself other than rule violations here on AW.
And believe it or not we are already working with professionals with track records who have done things!
Smoke only gets you so far big fella. Heckling also gets pretty boring.
I'd take Rich over you any time to try and build something.
Anyway, you've expressed your opinions? We've all listened to the great pocono so why do you keep hanging onto our coat tails?
If it smells like a fish....
If you really want to discredit myself, Rich, or anyone else why not honestly debate what the man is saying?? That's what this board is supposed to be for?
If you disagree with Rich prove him wrong??
If you think I'm so horrible at getting a group together prove me wrong?
Snickering like a retarded six year old (no offense to retarded six year olds intended) certainly doesn't prove anything?
I know I'm right here. Debate me if you wish, argue a point, but showing us all how immature you are is getting reallllllllllly boring!!
