posted on September 30, 2000 08:26:12 AM new
Every few months I drop in at Amazon, and post an item that is doing well on Yahoo and eBay to see if Amazon has risen from the dead. I did my regular check on Amazon a week or so ago, posted an item that is selling like crazy for us on Yahoo and eBay, and to date not a bid! So much for Amazon for another few months.
I keep hoping it will come back to what it use to be. When Amazon first opened we sold as well on Amazon as we did on eBay, but the in September of the 1st year the bottom dropped out and basically nothing since.
I go over and check out Amazon every few months and post to see how things are going - to date, it seems Amazon is still dead.
posted on September 30, 2000 05:07:56 PM new
I gave it a try these past several weeks. I sell secondhand books and thought the cross-listing on Amazon's book pages would work. I've sold some things, but the whole experience has been so underwhelming, I am now experimenting with Yahoo.I list most of my stuff on ebay and half.com, but I really want to diversify if any other sites have customers!
posted on September 30, 2000 05:42:33 PM new
I know what you mean. I sell equestrian equipment and used to have a very active market at Amazon. I sold as much there as on Ebay. Then they made "improvements" and the market dried up. I just finished some auctions on Amazon that I listed to see if things had improved. Zip, nadda, nothing. I'm selling on Yahoo and eBay and looking for a third site, but it is hard finding a site that has an active equestrian section. It is frustrating because Amazon used to be great.
posted on October 6, 2000 05:50:58 PM new
I don't think it was the "improvements" that killed Amazon, it was the sellers they allowed to influence their site early on. Those Charter Sellers were an amazingly exploitative bunch. Amazon buyers were considered suckers, IMHO.
It set a tone that was continued by the sellers who jumped on soon after. In the first six months of Amazon's auctions, it was easy to see that sellers frequently thought of Amazon buyers as rich and stupid.
I don't think enough people considered what would happen over time, as new users learned how to search and more experienced users began to speak up in chat groups and mailing lists.
I think Amazon's recognized it's no longer doable. They lost all the momentum they once had and the barriers to entry have risen, not lowered. Amazon itself now might have some problems with buyer trust.
posted on October 7, 2000 10:03:22 PM newIt set a tone that was continued by the sellers who jumped on soon after. In the first six months of Amazon's auctions, it was easy to see that sellers frequently thought of Amazon buyers as rich and stupid.
That's painting with a pretty wide brush there. I have always found Amazon buyers to be more discriminating, they appreciate convenience, and they are willing to pay a premium for quality (both in the product and the level of service). They also appreciate the support of Amazon behind the auctions, such as 1-Click and A-Z Guarantee. I believe that they probably average in a higher income bracket than other sites, but that may be partially because they read more books.
I believe that Amazon auctions fill a vital niche for a certain segment of the population and no other auction site is currently filling this need. With a little support from Amazon, they could take off again any time.
...
or die without it.
posted on October 8, 2000 06:03:55 AM new
In my current experience!
It is also dead at eBay in my area, at least compared to last year. I would say by 2/3!
As to priceing and exploitation, look at eBay's Camera area, where the consumer really seems to overpay because of ignorance, and the same can be said for the auto area because of associated costs, etc..
posted on October 8, 2000 09:28:49 PM new
Boy Edfan..... What a crummy thing to say............ I never expected YOU to say something so untrue and downright mean.
We ran our auctions very professionally and we had great success. And our buyers were the BEST!
And we worked together and helped each other and there was NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! Amazon was thriving and kicking egreeds butt!
until........Amazon shot itself in the foot and the party ended.
But that still was a slap in the face Edfan. I expected better of you.
posted on October 19, 2000 08:34:10 AM new
I'm also amazed at the decline in the Amazon auction. However, I'm not pointing the blame at anyone or anything in particular.
I also had high hopes for Amazon. Sales were excellent when they first opened. Now -- it doesn't even pay to list for 10 cents a listing. (We handle software only.)
I personally don't list anymore because of a conflict with Amazon management. Unfortunately I was 80% wrong and they were 20% wrong, (they were 100% unforgiving!) However, my wife still lists software items -- she has her own little software business. But she has yet to sell the first item in over a month of listing. I sell these same items on eBay quite successfully.
I wish Amazon all the best and hope that they can regain their "success story".
posted on December 20, 2000 01:25:51 AM new
It is designed to be "dead" at Amazon. They have seen to it by their actions. No one would make such decisions. They want the people to spend their money in books & on their items.
posted on December 20, 2000 04:23:52 AM new
Look what Amazon just sent me- more price competition for sellers of books and cds.
Dear Amazon Customer,
As someone who's purchased great bargains from us in the past, how would you like an exclusive sneak preview of our new Amazon.com Outlet? (Don't answer yet--there's more!)
How do blowouts of up to 50% off toys and electronics and up to 60% off kitchen items sound? How about books for less than 5 bucks, CDs for less than $7 and, during your preview, an additional 10% discount on any Outlet purchase of $50 or more? (Now how much would you pay?)
Well, send no money now--your exclusive first crack at great savings is absolutely free:
Go to http://www.amazon.com/outletpreview
Bookmark the page--this URL isn't yet available anywhere else, so bookmark it to make sure that you can get back.
Explore Amazon.com Outlet for great post-holiday buys (please note that holiday delivery on many items will not be possible).
Use the discount claim code below through December 29 for an additional 10% off your Outlet purchase of $50 or more!
posted on December 20, 2000 10:01:11 AM new
Well, heck. I noticed that they DO have the dollar deals Auction Ad way up there at the top of the page. May be a good time to launch some more dollar deals.
posted on December 20, 2000 03:53:28 PM new
HI Valerie,
Do you work for Amazon?? I'm an auction seller too on Amazon and am hanging in there and hoping things get better but you can't have your sales affected the way they have and be that chirpy about things??
Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to criticize you or anything. I just am curious if you work for them in any way or not??
posted on December 20, 2000 06:06:36 PM new
No, I don't work for Amazon. I sell on Auctions, zShop, and, now, Marketplace. Also on Ebay. I am doing OK.
Amazon Outlet has been selling on Amazon Auctions for quite a while. They probably just wanted an easier way to dispose of clearance and damaged items than $1 auctions. They really don't compete with auctions, although they did draw bidders when they listed this stuff as auctions.
posted on December 20, 2000 07:51:14 PM new
I don't have a problem competing with Amazon either. I didn't have a problem with their auctions. I actually liked them and bought a few things.
I hope they get their act together though because I think they've built the best base of any platform in the marketplace!
posted on December 21, 2000 02:24:58 AM new
Thanks so much for that link. I looked around and ended up getting the COOLEST last-minute Christmas gift for my nephew and it was marked down over $200. Hope it gets here in time... It's gonna be close!
posted on December 21, 2000 09:41:04 PM new
Amazon Dead - not for me!
I have been with Amazon since the beginning of their auctions.
Every month I deduct expenses and look at the bottom line - so far I have always made enough to stay.
I maintain the $40 pro merchant account so I do not have to work with my ads other than list them and occasionally pick some to feature. Because I am an Auction Pro, Amazon gives me $20 to put on features a month. I generally use this at $.05 a time - on the last day an ad runs.
When bidding is really slow on Amazon, I spend my time adding auctions to YAHOO (or using features) or EBAY. When bidding picks up, I add more items to Amazon.
Since the beginning on Amazon I have more than made the Pro-merchant fees & expenses & cost of merchandise on Amazon - even on "slow" months.
If I should ever not make pro-merchant & excess features (if any) & cost of merchandise & what I consider satisfactory profit for time & energy expended tending it, I will leave Amazon - but luckily that has not happened to me yet.
posted on December 22, 2000 09:37:14 AM new
Me too! As much as I gripe, it's about what could be as opposed to what is. I still think Amazon has the best platform for auctions by miles. If at some point they decide to actually go after Ebay look out! They will do some damage.
The fact is that I think Amazon is losing money on Auctions, especially for the service they offer.
I think that as the market evolves and the shaking starts you'll see Amazon either end auctions or go fast forward.
It probably won't be with the current folks running things. I don't know what has happened internally but things are not the same in Amazon. Before they used to lead and innovate, now they react, and poorly too.
All they need to do is focus and work from within. Deal with good sellers and build on us.
I think you'll see auction commissions of 10-25% and I think the merchant account will go to $99-250. And I think that it will still be the best value, especially if they improve.
Just because you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel doesn't mean it's not there!
What a crummy thing to say............ I never expected YOU to say something so untrue and downright mean.