posted on September 5, 2000 12:43:02 PM
While I like the idea of becoming a "lean" machine of any kind, I will pass on this particular invitation. If Ebay really knew how to become a "selling machine" they would not have instituted many of the recent changes to their site.
posted on September 5, 2000 02:20:35 PM
feistyone: sellers from all over the country flew to San Jose for the first eBay University classes. I think I read somewhere that they concentrate on many new innovations & services that many sellers are not familiar with.
C_Sliver: You can transfer these, to avoid have to take onerous classes for credit over at the College of Hard Knox.
posted on September 5, 2000 05:00:17 PM
C_Sliver: mY g00dness! I do believe U just went *bonkers*!!!
My condolences.
"If the San Jose, Calif., company wants to continue growing, it needs to expand the site's services. But each time it tries, an affiliated group of buyers or sellers goes bonkers."
posted on September 5, 2000 05:02:28 PM
My girlfriend attended the one held in SD, CA a couple of months ago. While she did not learn anything new, she said it would definitely have been helpful for those just starting out.
That aside, she says she still would have attended because:
1) Free breakfast provided -- croissants, fresh fruit, rolls, danishes, etc. Pretty good, especially for free.
2) Free eBay pen, which she proceeded to disassemble, and couldn't quite get it back together. And a workbook that provided "Tips" on how to become a better seller that you could take notes in. (She didn't take any notes.) Hmmm, wonder if either of these would bring any $$ at auction?
3) Free software for something. Has yet to be installed.
4) Open forum to ask an eBay rep and actually get an answer.
posted on September 5, 2000 06:07:18 PM
Is this one of those deals where you are invited to buy $400.00 of tapes to tell you what the speaker was not able to say in 4 hours of blah blah blah? I have a friend that loves those things. He never makes any more money after, but he gets all charged up about it and listens to the tapes while charging through rush hour traffic. I would rather take a vacation day and read a book in the park and feed the squirels.
posted on September 5, 2000 10:35:21 PM
I think it is a worthwhile program but would like to hear more reports from previous attendees.
My opinion at this time is that it would be better or more accurate to title it "eBay Grade School" if not "Kindergarden".
I attended NYU School of Business - evening classes - some many years ago. No educational experience before or after NYU was quite the same including being a Physic's Major at Fordham, nor professional classes for industary certification as an Insurance Broker or stockbroker liciences.
The main difference was that the teachers, who were excellant, recognized that many students were living the business experience daily and had much to offer on the subject matters being taught.
While the text book and the teachers experience were both worthwhile, the real time happenings that students could share, that ranged from lowly employees thru small business owners and even a few sons or daughters of people who owned huge corporations, offered an insight that was invaluable.
They could say "I was sitting at the bank, or in the boardroom, or with our advertising agency, or in a meeting with the Underwriters and here are some additional concerns we had to deal with and different approaches we took".
More like making rounds at a hospital than studying a book in class.
The Founder plus management plus users made eBay great.
Top management seems to be trying to carry the entire load themselves these days. I believe they are not doing a good job.
I do think there is a need and unfilled demand for commerical seminars to teach online selling. The opportunities it would offer well qualified presentors who provided initial information, services, partnerships and consulting are enormous. Think H&R Block, Kinkos, Mail Boxes etc., Office Depot and a few other services all rolled into one provider for online selling.
If I was 10 years younger and could find the other half of my mind that is missing I would open one locally tomorrow. Staffed with HS students on the computers, sellers to teach, a flock of consultants from every corner of preowned collections and a few pretty girls just because I like to look at them.
"Online Consignments" where the individual stuffs is fun and the small business sales make you rich.
posted on September 7, 2000 10:34:56 PM
NO WAY! I am the last person they would want to invite anyway! I would get thrown in jail after stating my opinions, and after proving how I have been unfairly treated at their venue. I have lost thousands of dollars from this company, and I want it to be known.... So, NO WAY! I don't want to go to jail for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
We should form, however, a million millinium march against eBay. They really don't know how many peoples lives they have affected by making changes, and putting certain rules into place.
If you want a list, email me and I will probably send you a book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
