posted on June 17, 2001 06:55:00 PM
"Help Make eBay # 2" ( by making ourselves # 1)
I'm proceeding with developing the non-profit, Internet People Power (iPeoplePower.org), both in concept and structure.
Events of the last few days have not made joint seller efforts thru a non-profit/co-op a popular topic so I'm keeping a low profile.
The need for user control is even more apparent and I'm working on a broad based Advisory Board to whom I would give over every function of ownership and control of IPP and would continue to work only under their direction and at their pleasure until they find other more capable persons.
The basic structure would be a Forum site where the history of online selling, the collective concerns we have with eBay and the solutions that exist or are developed could be discussed. It would have no function other than information and serving as a place where like minded sellers might reach a concessus and then move on to effect their chosen solutions. It would have no commercial connections nor any commercial purpose. It would catalogue existing and future user efforts but never participate in any profit motivated business activities. It would not have membership fees.( It could raise operating expenses by selling T-shirts etc.)
It would exist to help sellers find their best solutions to online marketing including all auction sites, web pages, fixed price venues, classified ads, RL locations, user groups and any other methods that might prove effective to their businesses.
A site with a marketing orientation for individual sellers and fueled by frustration, anger, fear and disappointment.
When the site and discussions exists I will, as a user, suggestion discussion of an idea I believe has merit. The creation of a seller owned non-profit, or the use of an existing identity such as OAUA, for the purpose of providing a gateway and linking to all selling functions both on and off eBay. Somewhere that a customer could come and find all of the offerings of a given seller including all of his auction listings, web sites etc. Or where a customer could come to find information and available search engines to locate items of interest.
Think of Disneyland and how the monorail and information kiosks tie all the various sites together.
Internet People Power might also help the various user co-ops tie together their activities.
Some day when a level playing field has returned and competitive forces are again in play, IPP will have served it's purpose and, unless it finds another windmill to tilt at, we can shut off the lights, close the door and move on.
Any success it may foster will be dependent on broad based user support provided because sellers believe it is in their best interest.
No amount of money can purchase that and nothing is impossible if we work together.
posted on June 17, 2001 08:57:52 PM
Ray: You are to be applauded for your efforts. Alas, I remain skeptical. eBay sellers will stick to eBay after all is said and done. You and your ideas are simply not abusive enough to give sellers their daily dose of painindears* that they now get on eBay.
Soldier on m'lad. As you can see from all the responses you are getting to this post, sellers are behind you all the way. (A looong way behind....)
posted on June 17, 2001 09:02:37 PM
this is high brow intellectual stuff,i am not sure dealers are in the mood for that.
having spent more time on this board,what dominates is SOMEONE DID ME WRONG!!
either they will not use paypal(or billpoint) or they want to use it on their terms(wont give bank info,dont want to be verified) or they want paypal or a third party to go after a bad guy and punish him ! for sending a bunch of rocks or an inferior laptop.
or how about the seller who closed her BANk account account but did not advise her buyers not to use paypal to send payments,and now she cannot withdraw fund from her paypal account.
or some seller who wants ebay to block her buyer to leave her negative feedback because she intends to hold her check for 15 days as stated in item description.
also lets not forget what the commies are doing to us-romanians,russians,why would anyone want to buy a nokia from a romanian?
i had a boss once who is lithuanian from chicago,he said dont ever trust the romanians who sell sausage in cicero!!
i am not saying they are wrong in posting these gripes,we all need to vent somewhere,but as long as this mood diminate,you will achieve nothing.
sorry to be the bearer of bad news,we have something more basic to deal with -LACK OF SALES!!!!!!!!!!
[ edited by hwahwahwahwa on Jun 17, 2001 09:04 PM ]
posted on June 17, 2001 09:26:22 PM
ray,
take a look at the post -I THINK WAYNE NEWTON BOT MY ITEM,there are so far 80 replies.
i made so much money on ebay i treated myself to a three lb lobster today!!!!!!
tomorrow i will have baby lampchop with au gratin potato and cream of leek soup.
then tuesday,MOON GU GAI PEIN which is chicken with straw mushroom,followed by long island duck braised in brown sauce with winter bamboo shoots and shitake mushroom.
then i will go on a diet for 1/2 day before i return to this board to read more about paypal and yahoo.
I tip my hat to your efforts. I'm sure you've considered it, but just in case I'll mention it anyway. There are a lot of services that are watching eBay closing the door on them, AuctionWatch, Andale, etc. I hope there is someway that you can lobby support from these companies, their survival is at stake.
posted on June 18, 2001 06:52:54 AM
AUCTIONWATCH made a very shrewd move when it created the storefront concept-first it serves ebay dealers to keep their item (picture and description) on their site,then it allows them to sell these items direct on the site,it is almost brilliant move,what went wrong???
same merchandise,same dealers??
Sniping works up a thirst"