mboyko
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posted on September 27, 2000 04:48:59 PM
I'd like to address a point that many users seem to be making on this board. They claim that pleasing the customer is paramount in importance. The reason is that you need repeat customers to make the most money and stay in business. Well, I would like to challenge this theory. It seems to me that newbie customers are the best kind. Oftentimes, they are so eager to win their "first" auction that they will bid well over what a seasoned buyer would be willing to pay. Some might say that you'll run out of customers. I've been selling for a long time already and I haven't run out! You know all those countless millions eBay is spending to attract new customers, right? Well, I'm the one who gets to benefit most from it, because most of my customers are first time buyers! Last time buyers as well, you say? Who cares with eBay hauling 'em in by the millions!
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texmontana
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posted on September 27, 2000 04:55:37 PM
Uh- in your previous posts we heard you defending your shipping methods by explaining you had only been selling on eBay for six months. I think it's safe to say that alot of us selling on ebay get great satisfaction from doing our job well - the money is only one reason.
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mcjane
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:03:29 PM
Pleasing the customer IS paramount. Watch out your feedback doesn't come back & bite you in the backside. Customers should be treated fairly and honestly. A good seller takes pride in their dealings with others.
I don't base my success on repeats, I base it on my feedback.
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amalgamated2000
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:14:15 PM
Mboyko, I think you are missing the point. It's not that other sellers don't like new customers or don't have new bidders bid on their items.
It's that they have new customers AND repeat customers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All rights reserved. All wrongs reversed.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Sep 27, 2000 05:23 PM ]
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dman3
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:17:17 PM
um when your done with your buyers will you send them to me I will take every buyer you dont need to return to you and I will take them all over and over and over.
not only will I take them when your done but I will give them a good deal and if they buy more then one Item I will give them combined and or free shipping.
My feeling on this matter though is I cant build my bussiness on all your used discard buyers since I feel it is you that will be not around long as long as many of the new buyer will be.
also remember each and every seller who makes a sale to a new buyer is building or killing ebays reputation even if they dont return after the frist time to me there is thousands and millions of other sellers who need these buyers after they buy from me or you.
for every unhappy buyer at any of our auctions it makes one less buyer over all or one more scamed buyer who bids next time with additude.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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jeanyu
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:20:12 PM
I truly believe in newbies and an honest to goodness customer base. It's getting tough--newbies bid for enthusiasm--your repeat customers bid with confidence cause they know they won't get screwed. JMHO.
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CleverGIrl
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:24:07 PM
MBOYKO -- I was at first thinking that surely yor post was a put on. But then I have just come from your other thread, about bilking ebay by violating its listing rules. I can only conclude that this is no put on, this post of yours DOES represent your attitude about custoemrs.
AW has been a real education for me. If I never quite understood it before, I have come to appreciate the fact that there are people in the world who get satisfaction and pleasure out of breaking the rules, violating trust, operating in BAD faith whenever they can, lying and cheating (whether the customer or ebay or others), acting vindictively whenever possible, and so on. I truly didn't understand that before. I don't know how much of the foregoing applies to you (and let me be clear it was meant as a GENERIC statement meant to describe some participants I've encountered here on AW and sadly, as Sellers on ebay), but I do know I'll not be bidding on any of your auctions.
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mauimoods
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:32:49 PM
"your repeat customers bid with confidence cause they know they won't get screwed"
Amen jeanyu
My repeat customers keep me afloat. Dont have alot of feedback, because over 400 of those are from my repeaters. If you dont want yours, I will take them any day!
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vorlon4
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:38:54 PM
Considering repeat customers ar at LEAST 25% of my business-I'd say I need them.
When a buyer is comforatble with you, (s)he will sometimes bid higher just to know they won't get screwed.
Repeat customers are an asset.
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dejavu
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:41:20 PM
" Repeat customers - who needs \'em?"
I do and I LOVE them.
They are the people who bid come what may......they are the people who say send me the whole lot, shipping be damned, they are the people who say what do you recommend?
My repeat customers let me exercise my aesthetic and artistic judgment and pay for the privilege for doing so.....and I have a ball.....this is too much fun for one person!
I am having a blast~ how 'bout you?
edited for speeling
[ edited by dejavu on Sep 27, 2000 05:42 PM ]
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roxw
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posted on September 27, 2000 05:42:06 PM
I think mboyko finds a thrill in posting these types of messages.... frankly, I'm growing tired of hearing his "points of view".
_________________
roxw
I'm learning to laugh! 
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Meya
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posted on September 27, 2000 06:06:50 PM
I think mboyko's attitude about repeat bidder is great, considering he most likely doesn't get any. Lowered expectations...
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CoolTom-07
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posted on September 27, 2000 06:50:24 PM
Yes, Meya, definately a self-fulfilling prophecy...
Now, as to the unfortunate Mr. Boyko. I know my words will fall deaf upon your ears, but perhaps another "problem child" who thinks eBay is but a continuation of their grade school playground, they might prove educational.
If you are attemting do be a troll, I suggest you read the posts of Jerry12 to see how it is done properly. Sadly, that does not appear to be the case as your feedback records that you truely act this way in real life.
In your first thread you indicated that you would sell your honor and reputation for the difference of sending an item First Class at Priority rates. At best, the price of your aforementioned honor was a little under $3. You lowered the price to as little as 25¢ in the second thread.
Now this. I suggest you sit yourself down by your GetAClue answering machine. You have a lot of messages waiting. They will be from your concience.
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feistyone
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posted on September 27, 2000 07:07:43 PM
mboyko
Anyone with one ounce of sense and two ounces of logic knows that every business needs repeat customers.
I wonder how long Ebay would last if each person bought 1 item and never returned?
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kitsch1
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posted on September 27, 2000 07:15:12 PM
What this thread needs is a dunce cap gif. I don't have one, pity.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/[email protected]/
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eventer
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posted on September 27, 2000 07:20:29 PM
I believe mboyko subscribes to the P.T. Barnum theory of selling
There's a sucker born every minute.
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helnjoe
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posted on September 27, 2000 07:20:52 PM
I love my repeat customers! I have laughed and cried with some of them. I've talked with young wives overseas who needed a Mom who understood what it meant to be seperated from their military families.
I've fought and kissed and made up with some of them too. I have met some of the funniest, most trusting, young-at-heart people you can imagine.
I love doing this and each new customer that I get isn't just a dollar sign to me.
I've had my share of nuts but I don't lose any sleep over them.
I'll take repeat customers any time.
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magazine_guy
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posted on September 27, 2000 07:25:45 PM
I love my repeat customers. I don't go so far as to be kissing young wives overseas, though.
Seriously, about a third of my sales are from repeat customers; many are international. I make it easy for them to come back- link to my auctions in each email, link to the gallery, offer free shipping to repeat customers. Personalize email. With the listings getting soooo crowded at eBay, customer loyalty becomes even more important.
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shaani
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posted on September 27, 2000 07:39:27 PM
The customers you treat with kindness and respect may recommend you to their friends, family and business associates who may also recommend you to others.
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macandjan
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posted on September 27, 2000 08:06:44 PM
[ edited by macandjan on Dec 3, 2000 07:57 PM ]
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twinsoft
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posted on September 27, 2000 08:19:21 PM
With this second troll thread Mboyko has again demonstrated the retaliatory tactics that so many commented on earlier. And all you folks lining up to brag about your great customer service are only encouraging him. Let Mboyko have his petty revenge and let's all give it a rest, 'kay?
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Shoshanah
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posted on September 27, 2000 09:35:12 PM
Hey, twin...you beat me to it....
********************
Shosh
http://www.oldandsold.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?justdisp&Rifkah
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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lovepotions
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posted on September 28, 2000 08:58:23 AM
Brand new bidders actually make me apprehensive since they will more than likely be DEAD BEATS compared to seasoned bidders with decent amounts of positive feedback.
When has a 100+ feedback bidder ever bailed out on your auction????
How often has a new guy with no feedback bailed out on your auction???
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MAH645
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posted on September 28, 2000 06:17:36 PM
I love repeat customers,it lets me know they were happy enough the first time to come back,and alot of them send other customers my way for the same items.
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quickdraw29
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posted on September 28, 2000 08:21:44 PM
Wow, all the sellers responding to this thread have all been overly critical to mboyko's opinion that newbies can bring greater rewards/profits. Well, facts speak louder than theory, so after reviewing my past sales for the last six months I've been able to conclude that mboyko has some credible thoughts on the subject.
Buyers who have 10 or less feedback have accounted for 66% of my profits, while repeat buyers represent 66% (exact percentages) of my losses. When you also consider the extra effort to retain a repeat buyer, one begins to wonder what's the point of targeting repeats.
Now, when I compare the profitable items for newbies vs repeats I've recognized newbies have higher percentage profits, averaging 19% more profits than a repeat buyer.
So for all these critics here on AW here's a proposition: Send all the newbies my way and I'll refer all my repeats to you!
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mballai
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posted on September 28, 2000 08:57:15 PM
It's a well-known fact that repeat buyers cost less than new ones. I have their info on file. Even though their feedback is not cumulative, it adds icing to the feedback cake--it proves one's reliability.
Long-term business relations may not be a norm in the auction business, but I appreciate those who return.
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