margot
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posted on June 1, 2001 09:35:57 AM
Has anyone read to two articles in today's Wall Street Journal concerning eBay? The first article is on the front page, right hand column. The second is on the Front page of the weekend section and is co-authored by the WSJ writer that posted here a few weeks ago.
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vidpro2
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posted on June 1, 2001 10:00:27 AM
Let's see if these links work:
http://interactive.wsj.com/fr/emailthis/retrieve.cgi?id=SB991350495337273297.djm
http://interactive.wsj.com/fr/emailthis/retrieve.cgi?id=SB991340890181239693.djm
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margot
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posted on June 1, 2001 10:12:47 AM
Thanks for the links....
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sun818
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posted on June 1, 2001 10:16:12 AM
Feel free to use hmunster/hmunster if those pages require a log in and password.
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reamond
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posted on June 1, 2001 10:46:31 AM
The most interesting bit in those articles was that eBay has invested in ReturnBuy, which lists distressed/returned items on eBay.
eBay now has a business interest in one of its large "sellers". That interest could produce conflict on the "venue".
Would eBay suspend ReturnBuy for infractions ?
edited to add- look at ReturnBuy's TOS on their auctions and negs.
[ edited by reamond on Jun 1, 2001 10:50 AM ]
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cabledogii
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posted on June 1, 2001 11:34:44 AM
This is very interesting indeed. Have you noticed how many links to their home page they have in their description?
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reamond
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posted on June 1, 2001 11:43:37 AM
Now now... let's not talk about infractions by a seller that eBay owns a part of.
All small sellers better get a sturdy helmit to wear, because there is going to be some pretty big feet on our heads.
eBay isn't only going to kiss the a*ses of these big out fits, it is going to buy into them.
Now the eBay "venue" has ownership in at least one seller on the site.
eBay announced it has registered 10 million shares of stock for acquistions.
[ edited by reamond on Jun 1, 2001 11:48 AM ]
[ edited by reamond on Jun 1, 2001 11:55 AM ]
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margot
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posted on June 1, 2001 01:13:43 PM
I looked the the ReturnBuy site and they only sell on eBay, at the moment. I looked at some of the stuff they sell...picture doesn't always match the item (shows 2 and they are selling only 1, or different color, or it's perfect in the picture but the one they are selling has broken part or missing piece.) I don't know about you, but I like to see a picture of the actual item that I am considering bidding on. If it's broken or soiled......show me.
I work hard to give accurate pictures and discriptions on my auctions. It would be so much easier for me too if I could use ad copy of the item and just add the "Oops, it's broken/dirty, but buy it anyway."
Sure doesn't bode well for the small seller.
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reamond
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posted on June 1, 2001 01:32:12 PM
Not only are there complaints regarding the images not being representative of the item, but look at the "all sales are final" in the TOS.
There may be a lot more red text on their FB page.
6000+ uniques- 11,000+ total
249 unique complaints
300+ neutrals
If my math is correct, 1 out of 12 unique FBs are complaints or neutrals.
How does eBay handle complaints from a company that it is invested in and shouldn't eBay's involvement in ReturnBuy be stated on the auction page ?
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chum
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:05:10 PM
Wow I read those stories and I feel what we feared would happen IS starting to happen. I have copied those articles to show my friends that sell on ebay. I think now is the time to prepare for the future. The listings on bidville are really taking off so I think I will list some items, and inform my customer base of the change. Nothing good ever lasts forever.
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twinsoft
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:12:18 PM
EBay executives insist that they haven't lost sight of their small sellers and that their own analysis suggests that eBay auctions on average are fetching higher prices than ever before.
If you include the new car and real estate sales, you could suggest that the average price is higher. But every independent analysis shows that prices for any individual item is down by 30%-40%. eBay is number-fudging.
Two years ago I bought a Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer. Average bid price, $500. Today I am selling the synthesizer. Average bid price today is $300 (because there are a dozen others for sale at any given moment).
"There can be a natural clash between progress and the preservation of core principles," says Mr. Omidyar, eBay's founder and chairman. "I wish we had the right answer for that."
It's so unusual to hear the truth from eBay, it sounds like a foreign language. Yes, eBay's "core principles" are under seige. And don't expect Omidyar to do anything about it.
One positive note is that the media is finally paying attention to what eBay users are saying, not just Pursglove's media-speak. Kudos, WSJ.
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margot
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posted on June 1, 2001 02:17:17 PM
How does eBay handle complaints from a company that it is invested in and shouldn't eBay's involvement in ReturnBuy be stated on the auction page ?
Good questions!
I had to chuckle at the efforts of the WSJ people to sell on eBay. They found out it's not as easy as they thought. It seems they hit many of the newbie pitfalls. Instead of asking posters on AW about selling Armani ties, they should have asked more details on how it's actually done.
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vidpro2
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posted on June 1, 2001 03:16:52 PM
I thought it added a great deal to the article that the Wall Street Journal tried to sell online and had essentially the same results as everyone else. Interesting how sellers can say that they are realizing lower prices and it's dismissed. AuctionBytes can publish a study quantifying what the sellers are saying and eBay refutes it (but doesn't disprove it). Now the WSJ comes out and says the same thing - maybe there's a trend here?
vidpro2
http://www.auctionbytes.com
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Damariscotta
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posted on June 1, 2001 05:27:25 PM
The article on WSJ sellers was a real eye-opener.
Imagine, tickets for the hottest show on Broadway sold so quickly! How did they do that?
Collectible plates aren't big sellers? Here's a news flash for you. Whether on-line or B&M, those things are the kiss of death. Best use them for skeet shooting.
I'm still trying to figure out why no one would want to buy a diamond ring over the internet from a brand new seller. Why would bidders have any doubts about that?
The fact is, there are a lot more people who know "those old (GI Joes/beer signs/depression glass dishes)are worth money" than there are people who actually want to own them.
The online auction business has only accelerated this; my guess is that at least 75% of all the stuff on the group shop shelves will never find a real home. Most dealers think that the right person just hasn't come along. On the internet, they have, and they are not interested.
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Empires
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posted on June 2, 2001 04:33:15 AM
Nice article! The only thing missing was the gone fishing sign from ebay's sellers...
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