Pandoras_Trinkets
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posted on October 28, 2000 05:29:42 AM new
Got this goodie this morning....
------Greetings from Amazon.com Auctions and zShops,
I am writing to you today because you are a seller that uses CrossLinks to
merchandise your items in Amazon.com Auctions and zShops.
We are in the process of making some exciting new improvements to our site,
which will affect the way you sell through Amazon.com. Please be aware that
in preparation for these changes, we will be altering the way CrossLinks
work on our site.
On October 30, we will be removing the CrossLinks keyword search box from
the Sell an Item pipeline and reducing our introductory free offer from nine
CrossLinks to three CrossLinks. We will continue to extend our introductory
free offer for this feature.
Of course, you can still use our other merchandising features: Bid for
Featured
Placement, Bold, zShops storefronts and Auctions About Me pages.
How this works:
Beginning October 30, any new item you list will accept only three
CrossLinks. Existing items with more than three CrossLinks will retain all
CrossLinks until the item relists, 14 days in zShops or whenever your
Auction item closes.
What do you need to do?
Absolutely nothing! We'll trim the extra CrossLinks for you. If you'd like
to modify your CrossLinks before we do this, just go to your Seller Account
and edit your open items. Your first three CrossLinks will be retained, but
anything in slots 4 through 9 will be removed.
Thank you for selling through Amazon.com Auctions and zShops. Look for more
improvements coming very soon.
Sincerely,
Mike George
General Manager
Amazon.com Auctions and zShops
http://www.amazon.com
----------------------
I guess maybe thats what they were up to the other day? Hmmm?
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valeriet
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posted on October 28, 2000 12:31:16 PM new
Only Amazon (or Ebay) would call a reduction in services "exciting".
[running outside to scream]
OK, I'm back now. I was wondering what else they could do to hurt my sales any further!
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http://www.valeriet.com
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Pandoras_Trinkets
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posted on October 28, 2000 02:17:06 PM new
I forgot to add this was my favorite part:
What do you need to do?
Absolutely nothing! We'll trim the extra CrossLinks for you.
Why THANKS 
I'm not sure I can take anymore *improvements*
Gee Val I heard you all way from the west coast!
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whereistheprophet
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posted on October 28, 2000 04:28:52 PM new
Hmm...
Kind of reminds me of one of my old bosses announcing the Christmas bonus at the party back in '96
"Well boys and girls, b*** over 'cause here it comes!!!!"
needless to point out that year we got ZERO.
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westsoundgifts
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posted on October 28, 2000 07:38:07 PM new
I also received that "improvements" email and was less than thrilled. Why doesn't Amazon.com just come right out and tell us that they want out of the auctions and zShops business???
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valeriet
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posted on October 28, 2000 09:06:46 PM new
I don't think they know what they want. On the employment pages, they are hiring programmers and testers and support for auctions and zShops, even want the support people to be "seller advocates." HA! I'd like to see that! (I really would)
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http://www.valeriet.com
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canvid13
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posted on October 30, 2000 05:03:28 AM new
I think simply that they need a new leader. Bezos should do what Omayer did at Ebay and bring in some people who can steer his vison of what he wants Amazon to be.
I think the stock price dropping to as low as it did also has the folks at Amazon panicking a bit as most of them have stock options.
That being said they seem to be focusing on the elements that bring them the biggest returns (makes sense although not necessarily to us Auction folks).
I'm just glad Auctions are still running! Even at this meagre rate it's still better than Yahoo and Ebay.
Maybe a group of sellers should start to band together to find one of the big three that will listen or a fourth?
Jamie
canvid13
[email protected]
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valeriet
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posted on October 30, 2000 08:49:13 AM new
From a spot check, about half of my auctions have no crosslinks right now. After the big change, it will probably be worthwhile to go in and choose the 3 best links for each auction.
Sorry for all of you with thousands of listings... I only have about 750 and I dread the thought.
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http://www.valeriet.com
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harkabeeparolyn
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posted on October 30, 2000 09:41:07 AM new
According to the posted message, the reduction in the number of crosslinks was supposed to be part of the preparation for the "exciting" changes, whatever they are. Anyone have an idea what a reduction in crosslinks might be a prelude to?
The cheery tone is pretty darned patronizing. Sounds like the tone you'd take with little children.
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valeriet
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posted on October 30, 2000 01:25:32 PM new
There was a short time when Amazon tried putting little thumbnail photos of other suggested products on the product page. That, combined with the three auction or zShop suggestions pushed the item description so far down on the page that it was hard to find. Thumbnails were removed.
I think they may be reducing number of auction/zShop suggestions in order to put the thumbnail pictures back in.
Edited to add: part of the problem with internet development is that all of the programmers & designers are given 21" screens and a network connection.
Just a guess,
Valerie
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http://www.valeriet.com
[ edited by valeriet on Oct 30, 2000 01:27 PM ]
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watafind
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posted on October 30, 2000 02:35:26 PM new
Amazon reduced the number of my auctions from 520 to 338 sometime yesterday or evening before. Is this one of the exciting new changes???
Has anyone gotten all of their auctions back that were removed???
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valeriet
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posted on October 30, 2000 03:01:09 PM new
I got back about 30%. Now nothing. Amazon support says that they are spreading it out so as not to clog the system, but I don't see any "spread out." I had a bunch relisted in a lump and now nothing in Opening Soon for the last 8 hours....
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http://www.valeriet.com
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westsoundgifts
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posted on October 30, 2000 04:26:50 PM new
Not only have none of my "lost" auctions returned (about 150-200), my Payment Transactions page was still messed up this morning. I've no idea what may or may not have happened with my zShops since Friday. I am no longer getting any email from Amazon.com at all. I know that I have auctions closing and/or should have closed today. In fact, I can't seem to access the Amazon.com site at all.
Color me confused.
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valeriet
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posted on October 30, 2000 06:43:01 PM new
30% of my relists went through and then... nothing. I still have over 100 that need relisting. Called Amazon, new story is that Payments is down -- probably for a couple more DAYS (although customers keep emailing that they have been able to pay!). And "Dave" at auction support says that we need to relist by hand. Not sure if that means forever? Also, what if (not for the first time) he is misinformed and auto-relist kicks in again, then you have to remove all the double listings. Be sure to keep a list of auctions that you relist by hand in case of this eventuality.
Valerie 
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http://www.valeriet.com
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whynot
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posted on October 31, 2000 02:26:57 AM new
I must not have got the email or not read it yet. Nothing surprises me much any more there. I think Val has it right, she usually does. They are not quite sure what to do.
As far as Bezos goes I hazard to guess. Having never spoke w/ the man and worked with him I cant comment. From TV Interviews/news I have saw with him in it he doesnt appear as corporate America. That can be good or bad.
As to the auctions service itself they keep movin' people about I'd assume seeking a formula that makes Amazon & zShops profitable. Its also my guess that most improvements they make are making it less profitable thus they scratch their heads, move in a new group to try and make it work.
With that said what they need to do is hire some people who have the expertise and know how to MAKE it work and make real money. I can almost pinpoint the problem w/o ever being there.
They bring in corporate management, bring is some people from sales, take a few thoughts sent their way and tell the programmers thats what we want. The programmers will come back and say "well heres what we can do".
*IF* the corporate management overseeing the two places KNOWS what it takes to succeed in auctions both Person to Person and Business to Consumer AND what it takes for a given small business reseller to establish and succeed in a webshop (zShop) they can take the market. Both that is. eBay's and Onsale's etc. If that person knows how to attract businesses and that person knows programming much the better. eBay and others have had lots of time to get the right people and make the right formula for money.
Amazon add's a new spin to that. Both zShops and the fact Amazon is a retalier. That can be a negative when they dont view the BIG picture as a UNIT and can be a huge positive when the entire UNIT is directed right. In other words the entire "amazon.com" experience works like a concerto.
I know exactly what they need to do and a year from now 99.5% of auction sites would be scratching their heads wondering what the heck happened. In fact, Barnes & Noble, Buy.com and many others would be wondering what happened.
If they'd hire me at a nice enough salary and gave me 6 months to get a concerto moving, 6 more months to get the Auctions & zShops kickin' they'd be amazed at the result.
Almost ANY Amazon seller could take the reigns of the auctions and do better as they know how to make money in that auction environment.
I dont think they can afford me
Signed: WhyNot!
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