The stock was somewhat proped up by that sales forecast, and analysts are not seeing the kind of growth that would support it. At this point, things have to move very quickly to keep the stock afloat, however there is no way they will get to $3 billion in sales if they raise fees.
posted on November 20, 2000 11:57:22 AMThe solution to eBay's profit problem is simple. They have to attrach more BIDDERS. That way more items sell and at higher prices and they can make a killing on FV Fees. That I could live with.
Bill
ubb
[ edited by cdnbooks on Nov 20, 2000 11:58 AM ]
posted on November 20, 2000 12:14:37 PMThe solution to eBay's profit problem is simple. They have to attrach more BIDDERS.
They are supposedly going to address this. A few months ago, Ebay announced that they would begin a MAJOR advertising campaign after the beginning of the year.
I think the only thing that's holding it up is that Ebay hasn't yet figured out how to charge people for viewing their commercials on TV.
posted on November 20, 2000 02:15:48 PM
Last few months they got $800 to a $1,000 from me. This month they will get $300 maybe.
Lot of sellers right now like me.
The system won't stay up. They lie to us about it. The sales are down and the fraud and deadbeats are up. They can go to Ace Hardware and Disney to make it up. Once they crap on the little guy he doesn't come back real easy. They don't have much connection to reality anymore.
posted on November 20, 2000 02:45:15 PM
In my view, ebaY's success is based on it's customer "community" base. We are the people who brought ebaY business, we are the people who taught (and teach)others how to use the system, and all the intricacies of the system. We are the people who showed others how to be successful using the system. ebaY used and abused us, turned away from us, alienated us and showed us they did not care. They instead turned to a business model that every other company on the internet has tried and failed at. They are turning to big business for future profitability and in my opinion they will fail. They were not happy with the slow steady growth of a person to person happy community. Their growth has slowed to a stop - something we the people started with things like Million Auction March WHILE SITES LIKE YAHOO CONTINUE TO GROW. When was the last time YOU told someone how wonderful ebaY is and how much you love it and how much fun it is?
Fortunately there are other options we the people can take, such as the SmoothSale option (the thing I think will be the direction person to person selling takes on the net) which when used in conjunction with auctions, websites etc will give us the flexibility to continue to be successful in this new way of doing business. As usual, only time will tell if ebaY is right, or if I am right, and if this downgrade is the first step in its demise, or just a glitch on the road. I do feel that the constant large cashing in of stock on the part of ebaY management tells me what THEY really think the future holds. My Daddy always said that actions speak louder than words.
-Rosalinda
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
