posted on June 20, 2001 08:38:20 AM new
In all honesty I don't for a second believe that I can find a better source of buyers or sellers for rare items than eBay. If I want a rare recording, a highly collectible comic book, a rare 80 year old fountain pen, then eBay has the buyers and sellers for those items. What eBay doesn't have a rock solid monopoly on (my view) is on the not so rare items, baby clothes, computer gear, etc..
As a seller I may have to use eBay because of the nature of my product. The idea of a boycott is one I laugh at. I'm not going to cut off my nose to spite my face and neither is any other seller with a lick of sense. What I can and have begun to do is to shop elsewhere when it comes to items that eBay still has competition. The other day I stopped my search on eBay an item decided to look elsewhere. Kind of surprised to see I could make the same purchase from AW Storefronts, Bidville, PayPal Stores, Yahoo, etc. at the same price and lets me protest eBay's strangehold without costing me anything. I guess eBay had me blinded as a seller and my buyer eyes forgot to look elsewhere, but those days are over.
It might not be much of a protest to some, but eBay can't NARU me for it, eBay can't cancel it, and it doesn't cost me money.
posted on June 20, 2001 09:02:40 AM new
That's one way and I applaud anyone who bypasses eBay though my stuff is old and unusual.
I know a boycott is never going to happen for any length of time, but I've wondered if just one Sunday..... Kind of like a sick-out. I can't afford a whole month but one Sunday I could swing.
posted on June 20, 2001 09:11:24 AM newKind of like a sick-out. I can't afford a whole month but one Sunday I could swing.
Just out of curiosity... If a bunch of people decide not to list auctions on one particular day, but then list them at a later time, what does that accomplish?
posted on June 20, 2001 09:59:23 AM new
Exactly mrpototaheadd - a one-day boycott would disturb ebay no more than a fly does an elephant. Only a sustained boycott by many sellers would get the point across -- but the irony is, the sellers who still sell on ebay will then have less competition, thus their final values are likely to go up. Simple economics will tell you the group that needs to boycott ebay are the buyers. However, the only buyers I know who are boycotting ebay don't have a problem with ebay itself, but they don't use ebay anymore because they got burned by the sellers. This means they aren't likely to follow any grand exodus of sellers to another auction site -- they'll simply buy from shops and other, more reliable venues.
posted on June 20, 2001 10:10:17 AM new
as buyer I have been shopping other sites for awhile, but still Ebay has the best selection and prices. So still buy there 80% of the time.
As a seller no other site can compare and so won't be joining any boycott. Actually its a joke everytime I see "boycott" and ebay mentioned. LOL
posted on June 20, 2001 10:32:17 AM new
I agree an eBay boycott will not work right now. But there are a lot of sellers like me who now find it better to sell at antique shows as I get better prices for most of my better pieces. A lot of the buyers are ex-ebay buyers who tell me they got tired of getting things that did not match the description. I used to run 20 - 30 auctions but now just have 5 a week and sometimes none.
A joke is now thinking ebay is the place to sell most of the top items.
posted on June 20, 2001 11:51:37 AM new
I disagree with the idea that eBay is the best place to sell items, with the best selection and prices etc.
I have not bought one thing on eBay in the last three months. Am home from work this week with a broken ankle, so I just popped in here today to get a feel for what is going on at eBay as I have been away from eBay for at least that long, if not longer.
However, I have made several purchases on other sites and have been more than pleased with them. Sellers had 'take-it' prices so I assume they had carefully calculated a selling price that was also satisfactory to them, as well. I think savvy sellers ARE going elsewhere, and buyers are starting to follow.
I also think that it's mainly the greedy sellers who continue to support eBay, (and do the most b*tching about it, as well) as they keep hoping for the high prices that the old eBay used to produce when it was the only game in town. You can put up with almost anything if you think you're going to get paid for it
Serious sellers with reasonably priced goods are finding success elsewhere, and well they should. The sellers who refuse to be abused any longer by eBay's guerilla tactics have nothing but my utmost respect! (And my business as well!)
A boycott eBay protest will never work. Who has the time or energy to waste on such nonsense. But quietly going elsewhere certainly will, and is, working for a lot of smart sellers!
posted on June 20, 2001 02:28:21 PM newI also think that it's mainly the greedy sellers who continue to support eBay, (and do the most b*tching about it, as well) as they keep hoping for the high prices that the old eBay used to produce when it was the only game in town. You can put up with almost anything if you think you're going to get paid for it
Trying to get the best price possible for one's item can hardly be called "greedy" . Normally its considered "good business"
The "high prices that ebay used to produce" are still there...their just on items that are not over-saturated. I know I haven't seen any true drop in prices over the past 3 1/2 years...I still put up the same number of items and find I am actually getting more income that I did a year or two ago.
I support ebay and don't b*tch (although there are some things I don't agree with...but it is unreasonable to expect to agree with everything ebay does)> I am not greedy.
Serious sellers with reasonably priced goods are finding success elsewhere,
And serious sellers with reasonable prices are finding success at ebay
[ edited by amy on Jun 20, 2001 02:29 PM ]
posted on June 20, 2001 04:02:41 PM new
mrpotatohead,
In no way do I think I could effect any financial impact on eBay by a one day "sick out." I realize I'm just a gnat to them.
But if one angry powerseller can get cnet's attention (and that will mean more mainstream attention), I think that a lot of small sellers could get media attention also.
The last thing any dotcom needs right now is bad press.
Just because something seems futile, doesn't mean that one shouldn't take a stand. It probably wouldn't change a thing. But one thing's for certain - doing nothing definitely won't change anything.
posted on June 20, 2001 04:42:46 PM new
Adultsonly,
I have deleted your post about the shooting star jacket auction. You have made the same post in multiple threads, which is disruptive to the forum. I have deleted the same post in other threads as well.
I believe you've made your point; please do not continue posting the same information repeatedly.
