posted on February 15, 2001 10:52:01 AM
Concerning the eBay "experience," a Fool.com columnist recently wrote the following:
"eBay is no longer a haven for unique and desirable offerings. You're seeing users put up penny auctions of nothingness in the hope that you'll see their ads or sign up for PayPal and net them a paltry $5 affiliate commission. Writer David Langford said it best when he told me last week that, 'even flea markets and pawn shops aren't that tawdry--unmoderated Usenet boards, maybe.'"
Do you agree with his comments? If so, what should eBay do about the situation?
Or do you feel the great influx of mass-produced "practicals" have brought a new vibrancy to eBay? Consider that for these "praticials" (say a camera, for instance), many people rather would deal with a name company than an unknown individual seller.
Where do you stand? I am soliciting your comments for a future AuctionWatch.com article exploring the issue. I know your time is valuable, but please take a minute to let the online auction public know what you think.
posted on February 15, 2001 11:08:18 AMeBay is no longer a haven for unique and desirable offerings
That's funny. fool.com, no kidding.
And I bet these writers have spent a lot of time browsing the site over the past 6 months. And what exactly do they collect?
Sure there's plenty more "stuff" to wade through than there was 2 yrs ago, but there's still some very unique & desirable items being listed every week on eBay.
I sell unique items, and by the prices some of them fetch, they must be considered very unique by some collectors standards.
posted on February 15, 2001 11:24:55 AM
FWIW, whether this particular columnist has it right or wrong, fool.com is no joke. It's a very saavy investment site. Here is the explanation of the name, The Motley Fool, from the site, fool.com:
What is The Motley Fool? -- Headquartered in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, The Motley Fool was founded in 1993 by brothers David and Tom Gardner. Our name derives from Elizabethan drama where only the court Jester (the "Fool" ) could tell the King the truth without getting his head lopped off. We're dedicated to educating, amusing, and enriching individuals in search of the truth.
"Those who understand compound interest are destined to collect it. Those who don't are doomed to pay it."
accidental smilie
[ edited by paperfan on Feb 15, 2001 11:27 AM ]
posted on February 15, 2001 11:26:25 AM
Apparently the writer is not experienced with any number of "antique" stores that sell lots of stuff that are neither old, unique, or even collectible--mostly it's junk at a high price. Sellers in all venues are trying to make money, something that seems lost on this writer.
I shop on eBay to find things that I want at a decent price. About half the time I do well and the other half of the time I end up looking elsewhere and paying less for it.
Writers can be very clever at crafting words at the expense of the truth.
posted on February 15, 2001 11:37:24 AM
the answer is simple...
its in the numbers - just look at the volume that moves through eBay; high and low end.
posted on February 15, 2001 12:45:13 PM
If ebay spent less time bothering sellers for silly things, (like banners that are just a bit too big, or a link to their feedback on another site or perceived VERO problems that aren't) and spent more time botherin the phoney sellers of fake auctions, it would become a better site.
posted on February 15, 2001 12:48:14 PM
All that tawdry nothingness sure is bringing in the money!
I think maybe instead of being named the Motley Fool they should change their name to The Fool On The Hill.
Yes, ebay is no longer a haven for JUST unique offerings....it is now a haven for unique AND practical new and used items....most of which are also desirable if the numbers are to be believed.
posted on February 15, 2001 02:11:10 PM
As a buyer, I don't spend a lot of time worrying about what sort of seller I am dealing with. If she's a SAH mom selling her child's old clothes or a mega-merchant selling cartons of packing tape, who cares? I look at the deal.
If anything, I'd just as soon see MORE stuff on ebay so I have the most variety and choice when I go to buy. What I want is to save money and my time in running around town looking for stuff I need.
posted on February 15, 2001 03:34:16 PM
WORSE
When I started on ebay it was great. Now it is a morass of endless listings of the same junk, most with no bids. These just clog the service up for those of us with the better items. Buyers give up in frustration at the time it takes to search and load listings for viewing. I said long long ago that ebay needed two broad divisions, that being "Antiques & Collectibles" and "New or Utilitarian Items". That way the items like a collectible doll from the 1950's isn't competing for space with an "As Seen On TV" Taplight listed for 1 cent.
