amalgamated2000
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posted on November 20, 2000 10:07:38 AM
Ebay announced today that they would be licensing their technology to third parties, allowing companies to integrate eBay's functions into their sites.
While I happen to think that getting technology consulting from Ebay is kinda like getting voting consulting from Florida, this is still a VERY good thing for sellers because it will bring in substantial revenue that does not come out of our pockets. (At least until all these companies figure out that Ebay's technology sucks.)
Here's a link to a story about this:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-3777616.html?tag=st.ne.1002.bgif.ni
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figmente
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posted on November 20, 2000 10:36:39 AM
Could just as easily become a new drain on ebaY revenue... which they then need to try to make up somewhere.
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Reamond
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posted on November 20, 2000 10:50:49 AM
Who would buy eBay's technology ? Another auction site ? In which case they already have an operationg system.
Unless GM, Honda, and Ford decide to start auctioning new cars ? Don't think so.
eBay has hit its stride as the nations garage sale. That can't gild this lilly any more.
Unless eBay finds a way to improve profitability at its current and I believe near peak revenues, it should be at $10 a share in a year.
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mballai
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posted on November 20, 2000 11:03:40 AM
This is actually geared at people who program applications and devices to make eBay more accessible. This is really quite a good idea.
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tolz
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posted on November 20, 2000 11:29:33 AM
Selling their technology? Nothing new here.
There are firms such as Seibel that have bought out firms such as Opensite Technologies. Siebel nows owns this firm which produces and "SUPPORTS" Auction Software.
eBay cannot even support their own site. How do they expect to support other auction sites?
In adition, there are several sites where you can obtain free Auction software. However, you pay for what you get. Many of the free Auction Software sites stand room for drastic improvement and do not come with 24/7 support.
Sorry eBay, nice try!
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RB
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posted on November 20, 2000 11:31:39 AM
Who would want to buy something that only works right some of the time 
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VeryModern
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posted on November 20, 2000 11:42:11 AM
Reamond - I heartily agree.
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amalgamated2000
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posted on November 20, 2000 11:56:13 AM
Who would buy eBay's technology ? Another auction site ? In which case they already have an operationg system.
I'm betting that it will be business-to-business sites, primarily. Sites that are currently selling with a fixed price but are interested in switching some of their items to auction pricing.
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reamond
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posted on November 20, 2000 12:29:04 PM
B2B is floundering worse than anything else.
The auto industry has tried it with their suppliers and has a dismal performance.
B2B is going nowhere for the same reason B2P goes nowhere - COMPETITION AT THE CLICK OF A MOUSE - scares them to death. Exactly what eBay sellers are now experiencing.
How can a site grow a B2B or B2P on the Net ? Have minute by minute price changes like gas stations across the street from each other in a price war ? B2P flounders because the prices are the same as brick and mortar and in some cases higher when shipping is added in.
Convience ? There is nothing convienent about going to Wal-Mart, but their growth is huge. It is price for fungible goods that wins. The Net offers severe and instant competition.
For B2B and B2P, the Net needs a Maverick to come in and start offering goods at wholesale prices.
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VeryModern
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posted on November 20, 2000 12:36:07 PM
who would switch *to* auction format. It is dead dead dead dead. There are no bodies willing to bid.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on November 20, 2000 12:47:09 PM
There are no bodies willing to bid.
I think people would bid, but "improvements" like the watch feature tend to discourage them from doing so early on in the auction.
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amy
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posted on November 20, 2000 12:53:50 PM
"who would switch *to* auction format. It is dead dead dead dead. There are no bodies willing to bid."
VeryModern...I think you had better get in touch with my bidders and let them know that the auction format is "dead, dead, dead"..they seem to be under the impression it's live and kicking, at least they are bidding like it was.
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VeryModern
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:02:21 PM
mypotatoehead and amy - perhaps I should have said dying dying dying dying.
The buy price option will further reduce bidding activity which almost everyone (??) agrees is on the decline rather than the rise. Ebay agrees, or they would not have started introduced BIN. If they still believed in the model they would have made 1 cent auctions with no reserve FREE to list, ya know? Invested in AUCTIONS..
Anyway, I have been round and round with you Amy, and as have said before, I am not talking about *you* but the vast picture out there. My interest is in the collective as opposed to the individual. One individual can always buck a trend. Hey. I am able to SELL on Yahoo, so there you go.
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VeryModern
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:06:49 PM
oh and mrpotatoehead - I don't think it has anything to do with "watch". Things have just simply changed. No more standing in line to buy beanie babies, no more bidding things to the sky on ebay. Maybe people are going to focus on paying down some of their debt for example. It's inevitable isn't it? How fat can a pig grow?
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VeryModern
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:13:32 PM
Today:
Dow 10462.65
-167.22
(-1.57%)
Nasdaq 2875.72
-151.47
(-5.00%)
Think this is going to help?
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VeryModern
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:15:08 PM
or this:
EBAY 3:58PM 34 11/16 -8 3/4 -20.14%
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:27:36 PM
VeryModern-
In the three years I've been on eBay, my experience in the (admittedly small) corner where I hang out is that I have noticed little change in the number of items for sale at any one time, and the ending prices seem to be relatively constant ( except for many of the items I'd like to bid on, unfortunately  ).
No more standing in line to buy beanie babies, no more bidding things to the sky on ebay.
I think that is typical of fad items (currently manufactured "rare" collectibles, this year's gotta-have Christmas toy, etc.), and not every category and seller has seen this kind of wild bidding activity. Some just plod along week to week, making routine regular (although maybe not spectacular), sales.
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amy
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:27:44 PM
VeryModern...I WAS addressing the "collective".
I don't think you have any proof that in fact bidding is way down or that the auction format is dying. Ebay's stock has nothing to do with the bidding.
Ebay, in my opinion, gave us BIN because the customer (us) have been asking for it for quite a while. It is your OPINION that they did it because the auction format is dying.
My experiences on ebay is not unusual...I talk to a lot of other ebay sellers at real life auctions and I watch their ebay auctions...from what I am hearing, nobody is complaining about bid activity being down. From the seller's auctions I have watched they are still getting a good strong percentage of sales at more than their opening bids (and more than they paid for the items...and they are still selling most of their merchandise.
Don't go out and buy that black dress yet, there won't be a funeral for ebay auctions for a heck of a long time. The patient isn't dying..not by a long shot!
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macandjan
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:35:21 PM
[ edited by macandjan on Dec 3, 2000 02:43 PM ]
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chum
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:38:54 PM
Ebay is in trouble when it starts copying Yahoo's features.
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macandjan
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posted on November 20, 2000 01:50:59 PM
[ edited by macandjan on Dec 3, 2000 02:44 PM ]
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capriole
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posted on November 20, 2000 02:38:06 PM
I can totally see this working in smaller more community centric venues.
There are a few of items I wouldn't bid on at ebay, but if I know the sellers, esp through interaction in the community, and the site had a less laissez-faire approach to security, then I'd be at'em.
Some items...
Saddlery (broken trees, rotting leather that an amateur doesn't see)
medium format gear (phot.net has a great board to post what you think of a seller and a it's a great community, no anonymity),
Video equipment no matter how good the feedback.
However, within the context of niche market where a community can let each other know the way a seller or bidder behaves in meaningful and consequential ways, it can be a way of selling that has a future outside of the bustling aisles of ebay.
Forget browsing. Too big.
Forget jumping all over an auction because an item is sooo rare...another one will pop up next week.
OR
Maybe ebay wants to be the microsoft of auction software. Better buy a couple of shares now!
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macandjan
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posted on November 20, 2000 02:47:59 PM
[ edited by macandjan on Dec 3, 2000 02:44 PM ]
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