"EBay chief executive Meg Whitman said her company has an advantage for several reasons, especially because it is obsessive about helping its users. "
Hmmmm. Ok, they reset our preferences to their preferences. They've raised fees. They haven't fixed site stability problems. They've taken our home page links away. They SPAM us.
What have I forgotten? How has eBay "helped" you? It got me thinking. Has anyone put together a comprehensive list of "changes" that have occurred within the last few years? I'm sure all those new policies & prices geared at helping us poor users would be SO obvious...
For Meg to say that just defies logic. Is she really that far removed from the user base? Did the shooting star jacket auction really have NO effect whatsoever? Does she just lie to help her own cause?
I'd love to see a timeline showing each of eBay's changes over the last 2 years... It would show how quickly & consciously they're choking the life out of users, not helping them...
posted on August 10, 2001 04:10:24 AM
The worst thing ebay does is suspend users without notice and without asking for their side of the issue.
"Let us help you out... Way out."
posted on August 10, 2001 09:49:59 AM
It just shows how "out there" Meg really is. She has no concept of what ebay sellers need/want and how much the business has changed over the years.
posted on August 10, 2001 11:06:58 AM
Does anyone know if someone is keeping an archive of eBay changes? Maybe someone on the DNF board? Others? I'd like to see a simple web page that gives date & change... IMHO, EVERY change has been in ebay's favor (financially), not the "users" they claim to be helping...
Despite my preference to receive notifications of any user agreement changes, virtually EVERYTHING from link policy, to banned items, to acceptable user names, apparently don't constitute a "change" to that... (lawyers out there, is that an issue? Sounds like it's really "stretching" to say that nothing's changed...)
posted on August 10, 2001 01:04:38 PM
What has eBay done to help its users over the years? They've provided a new medium to allow people to trade with one another worldwide. Believe it or not, this selling method wasn't accessible a few year's back, because it didn't exist. eBay created it and they have reduced the complexitites of worldwide marketing down to moron level, which is why they are ruling the online marketplace.
Nobody likes fee increases or the belt tightening that is being done by eBay management. But, the fact remains that all these things that are being done are important steps that eBay's competent management is taking to insure profitablity.
eBay squeezes every nickel that they can out of their customer base. That is why they are a successful company. Why are all the other e-business websites failing? Because they failed to incorporate this philosophy into their business plan! Everyone else was offering things with that unprofitable word "free". That's why! A company has an obligation to extract as much money from its customers base as it can, and if you do not share in this philosophy, then there is no safe place for you in this new world economy. The trick is to provide value to you customers, while at the same time maximizing your revenue structure. SQUEEZE...
eBay's managment is damn good and they have kept their promise to their shareholders over the last few years. Others have not. I own eBay stock because the company is run by folks who understand the game and continue to make prudent business decisions. I'm also a high volume seller, who is smart enought to realize that eBay's services don't come free and I'm quite willing to pay the fees associated in running my online business. No other marketing vehicle is as cost effective as eBay, which is why I glady continue to pen my check to the company each month.
A reality check is in order for all web users out there! The days of "free" are gone and it's time to pay the piper if you want to stay in the game.
posted on August 10, 2001 02:37:36 PM
I'm not arguing that eBay developed this market. I am saying that Meg is really stretching when she suggests eBay has an "obsession with helping users."
They do have an obsession (lining their own pockets.) The users have been trampled over and pushed aside in the process. There's just no other way to look at it.
compterboy, did you know that insiders have ALREADY "cashed out" in excess of what the company will earn in the next 5 years? (probably more than they'll earn in the next 10 years). As a stockholder, doesn't that seem "out of proportion" to you?
Maybe a little more "user help" and a little less "greed" is in order.
posted on August 10, 2001 02:38:53 PM
BTW, your comment "eBay squeezes every nickel that they can out of their customer base" is NOT a formula for long term success. Sellers have VERY LONG memories... There will come a time when eBay's not the only viable game in town.
posted on August 10, 2001 05:29:58 PM
I'm one of the shareholders who has partially cashed out when the stock was near its high. It made us a very significant sum of money. I still have additional stock and see no reason to sell more shares, as the company continues to make prudent decisions.
Regarding the long memories of eBay sellers, try and remember this when you are relisting your auctions next week...
You NEED eBay, just as most other online sellers do. That's the beauty of the equation.
posted on August 11, 2001 05:00:02 AMcomputerboy writes: You NEED eBay, just as most other online sellers do
Actually, I don't. 4 years ago, 100% of my sales came from ebay. Today it's around 18%. It drops more every year. Most items sell directly from my web site now.
I use eBay as "cheap advertising". My business has grown such that the 18% still represents a very significant number. However, there are other venues I could use to develop more leads / new customers now. FWIW, most eBay buyers are repeat customers (i.e. it no longer satisfies my goal of finding new customers -- since my customer base was developed from eBay, that only makes sense...) In fact, I might be better off selling somewhere else! If I sell a $20 item for $10 on BidVille, but get a new customer that goes on to buy $100 items from my site, it's a far better deal than selling that $20 item for $20 on eBay to someone that's already a customer of mine.
eBay is an enabler. They allow people to get started and provide good traffic while you get established. Any seller with good consistent offerings & good business practices will eventually (if they're smart) do it on their own, without assistance from eBay.
That's the biggest flaw IMHO in the thinking that eBay will be great forever... eBay is doing NOTHING to encourage larger successful sellers to stay on the site. It will be very satisfying to see them come "begging" in a few years with reduced prices (or free), other incentives, etc in an attempt to keep items/traffic on the site...
My memory IS very good... I'll remember exactly how they treated me when they were the "monopoly"...
