posted on May 31, 2001 07:14:18 PM new
well this is something I thought might happen, I decided to look around, and even if there is no great software out there for some of the little guys I thought I would give them a try.
05/31/2001 eBay no links aloud in your auctions.
05/31/2001 BidBay announcement board, no links to other sites.
don't know about you but if you were looking for another site to list on right now would it be BidBay??? How many others will follow suit? I have all the software maybe it's time to start my own auction site, anyone feeling the same way?
posted on May 31, 2001 08:59:49 PM new
Don't know why not, it applies to ebay and that it's changes are having ripple affects on other sites. If everyone follows ebay into this new link policy it will still and always be relevant to the changes at ebay because they were the first to get bent out of shape over links.
posted on June 1, 2001 12:28:43 AM new
Hi airguy. I think toollady was referring to your mentioning a site that starts with a B and ends in a Y. Mark of AW has banned that company from his forums and doesn't want anyone to mention their name.
posted on June 1, 2001 02:48:09 AM new
I have looked at some of the other auction sites mentioned in "leaving ebay threads" and have noticed one thing.
The format always looks like ebay.
If they have to copy ebay, what makes you think they will stay around? Most knock offs, or counterfeits, tend to be unsuccessful.
Many threads have been started to complain about pictures and descriptions being copied by another seller, but some of you are willing to go to a copied site? I don't get it.
Personally, I have in the past, posted at a few other sites with no success at all. I think I will stay with the real thing. JMHO.
posted on June 1, 2001 06:57:34 AM new
mrgroup - airguy
You need to review the agreement with Yahoo - they started canceling auctions a couple of months ago because of links! They not only cancel your auction, but on Yahoo if you get an auction cancelled, they aren't like eBay, you don't get a refund, and you are lucky if they don't kick you off and cancel your account. Yahoo went wild about 2 or 3 months ago doing TOS canceling, with no explanation and your account went your auction was cancelled. You ought to check out the Yahoo Board.
I post on the one beginning with a B and ending with a Y, and use links with no problem. I also don't understand why the name can't be used here, this is an open forum.....what is the problem with B....Y?
posted on June 1, 2001 09:31:13 AM new
Hello insightwatcher. Go to AW's OTHER ONLINE AUCTIONS forum and look for the threads concerning that particular company. I think you'll find your answer there.
posted on June 1, 2001 05:58:31 PM new
We actually recieved a warn from eBay last week that as of 5/31 eBay would start removing auctions and those with too many links may get suspended.
I understand their reasoning and dont.
Our site got very few click throughs via eBay. We rank very well with search engines and have mail lists from various points of sale we have attended over the years.
We actually drive traffic to our eBay items via that list. Most of our new bidders and we get many come from search engines and other points of contact/sale.
One of the reasons eBay has worked so well since it "took off" as compared to other .com's is partnership w/o considerable restriction. Alot of people have yowled for example as eBay deployed half.com, others about attracting larger business to eBay. eBay going this route is just smart business, more money there. At the sametime however they need to keep the playing field level or they will go the exact sme route as many others have.
One of the things the majority of our customers have stated they like about eBay is the ability to work one on one with sellers and get good deals as well as finding nice places to continually "buy safe".
The more restrictive ANY site gets the less its chance of success on the net. Displayed time & time & time again.
While we still drive traffic to our auctions at eBay and thus others auctions as restrictions and expense continue to rise it does open an opportunity for other services to provide small business a "new venue" and have it succeed.
I dont pretend to understand much of the mindset of restriction. Our "click throughs" from links best case were 64 on one saturday. Yet, each week we email tens of thousands driving them at our auctions. We have always figured the openness of the site lets us help its success and thus ours as well and again, I see no reason to change that given we never had much click through on the site to begin with.
We in fact get more requests via eBays new "mail service" than we ever had on click through. Can I buy this now direct?
The only thing we have noted over the years is eBay each and every year has had our revenues fall off while at business to consumer points of sale they have risen.
Trying to reign the site in (so to speak) I do not personally feel is the answer to increased revenues/safety. The keys to this are laying down some standards of conduct of sellers and buyers and rigorously going after em' and feedback isnt it.
Here we recieve a warning remove all links by 5/31 or else, so it took me 16 hours time to do in less than 2 days and not a single competitor of ours has removed theirs and their auctions all still running.
I again realize why they are doing what they are doing. Many reasons, lost revenues, people giving them the problems of external sales that go awry, people using the site as nothing but cheap advertising. Put 10 items out and say "See the other 1500 here". All understandable issues.
It does open an opportunity however for othr sites to slay in more than likely a considerable number of auctions IF they did it right and perhaps gain a foothold they could run with. Amazon would be one that would come to mind.
Signed: WhyNot!
