posted on May 26, 2001 08:34:14 AM
Hmmmm. I found this comment quite humorous..
"Without branding and links to a seller's
Web site or storefront, buyers won't be able to differentiate the questionable sellers from the legitimate ones as easily. Moreover, they just might stop buying."
Isn't that what feedback was/is for? I don't have a web site [at least not for retail sales], does that mean some buyers might see me as a "questionable seller"?? Hardly.
I actually see the new link policy as being a positive thing for the small, [or should I say very small] mom & pop outfits.
Did anyone actually believe this day wasn't coming?
posted on May 26, 2001 10:00:22 AM
Actually to me feedback is only a number. I think without a website a business will lose sales. I have a website, and probally 8 out of 10 customers visit my site before bidding to find my full product line, and to make sure I am a "legit" business. ebay has made it clear in articles they dont make enough profit on antiques and collectables. What I do on the free sites is list the same items on all the sites, and when it sells on lets say epier, I cancel the auction on the other sites. Another thing that will help the free auctions is all the items ebay is banning. They have banned alot of weird items, but those items sell great. So eBay if you are reading this please keep banning items, because your loss is their gain!
posted on May 26, 2001 10:06:55 AMI think without a website a business will lose sales.
Never had a website and I have plenty of sales...at all price ranges. A website isn't needed to legitimize a business. Scam/fraud artist can also set up websites. Having a website doesn't prove a "business" is legitimate and the buying public isn't fooled into thinking it does.
Chum...do you REALLY list the same item on multiple auction sites at the same time? What happens if the item sells on two sites at the same time? Seems to me you would have some pretty angry customers
posted on May 26, 2001 11:26:09 AM
I think it does have alot to do with what you sell. My website is more like a huge about me page, not items for sale. I do think they are making a huge mistake banning websites, and next probally will be the about me page. When the mass-merchants like walmart hits the site they already have a brandname which will help them. Speaking of walmart did you see where the government fined them 9 million dollars for selling junk exercise machines? lol.
I have never had the same item hit twice on the free sites. I always leave a time gap between closings incase such things would happen.
posted on May 26, 2001 12:53:36 PMreddeer, if it was a new "sunglasses" seller with low feedback, a link to a business Web site certainly would lend some credibility to the seller, at least as far as I see it. If it was a well-done and effective business site with all the essentials: details about the product line, product guarantees, contact information, phone or fax number, Brick & Mortar location (if there is one), and a doorway link to currently-running auctions, I think it would ease the potential bidder. At the very least, he or she would be likely to bid on those auctions rather than on those from another new seller without a site (if the same products are offered by both). Just my opinion.
posted on May 26, 2001 01:07:12 PM
Marble...wouldn't the scenario you mention be of limited time span...once the seller had some feeback under his belt, there is no need for that website?
Plus...guarantee, contact information, phone numer, fax number and link to current auctions can all be done on the auction page. Product line information and b&m store information can be done on the me page...I've seen sellers who own antique stores who have pictures of the interior of their stores on their me page along with the address and phone number of their store and some history of how long they have been in business...isn't that just as effective to prove they are legit?
posted on May 26, 2001 01:18:45 PM
True, Amy, but the business Web site could contain informatin about the seller's entire product line, which one auction description normally wouldn't. A link to the seller's other auctions is great, but the buyer still has to click on all the auctions to read information on all of the seller's offerrings. With a business Web site, it's all there. And even with increasing feedback, the Web site still gives that aura of authenticity. At least that's how I'd typically see it, as a buyer. A lot depends on the overall content of that Web site.
Plus, a search engine used to find a certain product might return a link to that business Web site which, in turn, contains a link to the seller's auction listings. After viewing the effective business Web page, I'd be even more inclined to bid on that seller's auctions than I would be to surf around eBay for other listings for the same stuff. I'm not saying every buyer would operate that way, but I think many would.
Added later: Yes, the AboutMe page would be effective too. But why not both?
[ edited by marble on May 26, 2001 01:20 PM ]
posted on May 26, 2001 10:24:40 PM
It's a lot easier to get a good feedback rating, especially if it's sham feedback, than it is to create the appearance of a stable business.
I was checking last week on something someone told me about. It seems that there's a whole group of people who run eBay auctions just for feedback. I searched for, and found dozens of them.
These auctions are run as Dutch, at one cent. The sham auction promises information, like a list of wholesalers or get-rich quick stuff. But, what it really is, is a way to build sham feedback.
I will never trust a good feedback rating again. Not when it comes to a major transaction. Actually, I've pretty much sworn off making major transactions on eBay anymore. Too much fraud.
If only I could check out a seller's website from their auction listing, then I might know if I'm dealing with a reputable business.
posted on May 26, 2001 10:42:13 PMThese auctions are run as Dutch, at one cent.
Yes, and if one was to click on MY feedback they could see that I don't run Dutch auctions, or start items at 1 cent. They can also get a pretty good feel of the quality & quantity of merchandise I sell. If they really pay attention they can also see I've been selling on eBay since 1997, have close to 1000 feedback, and no negs.
I also use my ME page as a Gallery of some of the past items I've sold on eBay. I think it shows potential bidders that I've sold some pretty high end [and fragile] trinkets over the years, and that I know what I'm doing. In the past 6 months I've had close to 1000 hits on my ME page, so it appears some bidders do indeed check it out.
Marble
Yes, a link to a business web site certainly
would lend some credibility to a new seller, but that's their problem, not mine. I bulit my eBay rep up just like everyone else here did, through blood sweat & tears. The fact that someone has a web site, and is a "legit" business, doesn't necessarily mean they will be any more, or any less, professional than any other small or large dealer on eBay. Some of my best transactions have been with legit biz red star power sellers on eBay, as have some of my worse transactions. Feedback gives me a feel of what kind of PERSON I am going to be dealing with.
