posted on September 19, 2000 02:22:35 PM
Before I run head first into some unpleasant experiences, I would like to hear yours. (hopeffuly good ones) Please let me know if you are using TakeToAuction.com, if you are making any profit and how the general support is. Thanks.
I still do not believe that their business model makes one lick of sense, but they are now a public company and I have requested a prospectus. Requested it a couple of weeks ago, but haven't received it.
However, it is my understanding that you can now buy in for as little as $25. I think I'm gonna give it a shot just out of curiosity.
posted on September 19, 2000 05:58:54 PM
This is how I feel about taketoauction sellers, and thanks to the internet, this quote is now more true than in the era it originated:
"There's a sucker born every minute."
posted on September 19, 2000 06:26:38 PM
I detest TTA, and will do anything I can to get them removed from eBay.
If you went to Sears and bought an $800 refrigerator, but the one they delivered was worth less than $400, you'd be pretty angry. But, Sears says, this one is the model number on your sales order, all sales are final.
Or, worse yet, you buy an $800 refrigerator on sale for $400, with Sears promising that they have enough stock so anyone who wants one gets one. But on the day of delivery, Oops, they decide that $400 is just way too cheap, so they tell you that they don't have any more in stock. Then they take 4 - 6 weeks to refund your credit card.
Or how about, TTA guarantees (how can one guarantee something when all sales are final) that all items are "NEW". I have been in contact with numerous unhappy bidders who received items in boxes with "refurbished" stickers on the boxes, items that were broken, or items that were "seconds".
The first scenario is called "bait and switch". It is against the law, and it is out and out fraud.
The second scenario is against ebay rules, but where TTA is concerned they look the other way.
There are some happy bidders, but the ones that get screwed are not. I am a one-person crusade to end this company.
Not my name on ebay.
[ edited by Valleygirl on Sep 19, 2000 06:28 PM ]
posted on September 19, 2000 06:43:10 PM
Now that's the kind of feedback I needed. I am not yet willing to spend $100.00 to try that out and all you get are your winnings within one year. They actually keep the $100.00. Thanks for all your input, I will just watch for a while.
I actually got a Radar Detector for a real good price bidding on one of those auctions. It was brand new and works great. Saved me about $60.00. So I guess it depends on what you buy maybe.
posted on September 19, 2000 08:42:30 PM
It is possible that it depends upon what you buy.
So far the problems have been with camera cases (pictures shows expensive case, received cheap case), Camcorders (labeled refurbished), Camcorders, (received broken) BMX bicycles (item shown was 2000 loaded model, received stripped 1998 model), expensive vases, (oops, warehouse error when actually they forgot to use a reserve), one-of-a-kind items (oops, warehouse error, yet item was back up for auction three days later) matted prints, (dirty, smugged, creased etc.) I have been in contact with as many unhappy bidders as I can. One even set up a web site for filing complaints online with:
1.BBB
2.Florida Attorney General
3.Florida Consumer Affairs
4.Federal Trade Commission (bait and switch)
5.Fraud.org
The BBB and the Florida Consumer Affairs have been the most helpful.
It appears the only happy bidders have been with jewelry and disney figurines. I'll betcha the disney figurines are seconds or end of run items.
Not my name on ebay.
posted on September 20, 2000 07:19:28 AM
Buyers can get a real good deal from the suckers who join TTA. Case in point: "Jack" joins TTA and pays them $450 to list an item which sells all over for over $600. Item is listed on ebay starting at $450. Because of TTA's lousy ratings, no one bids. I bid and win at $450. I email TTA and tell them I am paying by CC and will charge back if item is not as described. I get exactly what I paid for. I am very happy. TTA is very happy because they made a small profit on the item and get to keep Jack's $450 payment. Jack has made zip and lost $450. And my positive feedback may help TTA but it does nothing for Jack. So he financed TTA while doing nothing for himself. He would have been better off buying something wholesale for $450 and selling it himself, keeping the profit and getting his own good feedback. TTA is the equivalent of buying a coop. You still get to pay rent while the landlord has your money and still owns the property. It's very rarely a good deal.
posted on September 20, 2000 07:41:34 AM
yisgood, Nice story, but that's not the way TTA works. Jack is NOT out $450. That $450 goes back into his account. He is only out the usage of his credits for that week.
Now, since our imaginary items sells retail for over $600, let's say Jack sells it for $550. He's made $100 profit, and the $450 still goes back in to his account.
posted on September 20, 2000 07:47:09 AM
Since I happen to know "Jack," I can tell you what actually happened. I bought the first item he posted at $450. He made nothing. He tried again. Again I bid $450 and no one bid against me. A few people even emailed me to ask why I am bidding on a seller who has such lousy ratings. I got the second one at $450. Jack started the next auction at $500 and got no bids. He eventually gave up on TTA and lost his $450. And he has nothing to show for his money. Not even a few good ratings.
posted on September 20, 2000 07:51:07 AM
Well, I don't know "Jack", but....hey, wait a minute....
Anyway, this story is quite different now. Jack didn't lose his $450 because the item only sold for $450. He lost his $450 because "he eventually gave up on TTA."
posted on September 20, 2000 07:56:24 AM
>>Anyway, this story is quite different now. Jack didn't lose his $450 because the item only sold for $450. He lost his $450 because "he eventually gave up on TTA."<<
He gave up on TTA because of the logistics. It sounded very good to be able to offer a $600 item for $450. But folks only pay $600 when buying it from legitimate stores. When buying it from an ebay seller on auction, they want a discount. So the value now drops. What does it drop to? Well, if the seller has good feedback, maybe $500. But with the lousy rep that TTA has, it doesnt go past $450. And since that's Jack's cost, he won't make any money. So all he was doing was enabling TTA to make money while not even recovering his investment. It's a great deal for TTA but a lousy deal for their members. And Jack is not an isolated case. He's just the only one who told me his whole story. There have been similar posts by others here in recent months.
But let's be fair. Pose the question: Did anyone join TTA and have a positive experience?
posted on September 20, 2000 08:16:55 AM
Wow. I knew nothing about Take to Auction. I just visited their web page and thought it poorly laid out.
In any case, who determines the shipping cost? I just looked at an item on eBay, a watch, that the seller listed a shipping price of $42.00 to ship it UPS.
Are they kidding? Does Borillar use Take to Auction?
posted on September 20, 2000 08:20:42 AM
OK, now you have described how TTA really works, and I agree with you.
What really bothers me about TTA is that while "Jack" may only be able to get the item for $450, "John" may be able to get it for $400.
There are clearly many people who are happy with TTA. But, as I stated in the previous thread, the only way that TTA's business model makes sense is if some users profit at the expense of other TTA users.
And how one goes about becoming one of these "privileged" members appears to be a total mystery.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Sep 20, 2000 08:22 AM ]
posted on September 20, 2000 08:29:12 AM
I took a very close look at TTA's stated process back in April (which is in the thread already cited near the top), but it basically boils down to these key points....
1) "Credit" really means membership fee, IMO.
2) The TTA user only gets income on an item if there is more than one bid.
a) If more than one bid, the user only gets the difference between ending and starting bids.
b) If only one bid, the user gets nothing (same if there are no bids, of course).
3) Bidding must thus be hot on enough items to repay the membership fee.
4) User only picks item to "take to auction," TTA does the rest. Low overhead for the user, but when things go wrong, the user gets the blame (i.e. negative).
I would never sell things that I personally don't have in hand, and I don't buy from those who are TTA, or those who say things like "subject to availability." I do not like TTA's model of "business" in the least.
Personally, my opinion is that they are in the business of selling merchandise (that is apparently in questionable condition), but looking to drag in "members" for the sake of the membership fee (do not be mistaken by their use of the word "credit" ).
Members are, in "picking" an item to "take to auction," really gambling, in the sense they have to hope the chosen item gets enough bids to help counter the membership fee. I think it looks like a game instead of sales. I can't really say how many win vs. lose at it, though.
Also, at least at April, bidding on TTA auctions looked rather cold (not good for #3 above), and most of the users had a notable number of negatives. (Thus they are not helping eBay's reputation either. )
Again, this is all what I found in April, though I doubt much has changed. (Please correct me if I am wrong. )
----
What's being done in the name of direct marketing nowadays is crazy.
The above are all just my opinions, except where I cite facts as such.
Oh, I am not dc9a320 anywhere except AW. Any others are not me.
Is eBay is changing from a world bazaar into a bizarre world?
[ Edited to correct mistaken formatting attempt on my part. ]
[ edited by dc9a320 on Sep 20, 2000 08:31 AM ]
[ edited by dc9a320 on Sep 20, 2000 08:32 AM ]
