posted on September 26, 2001 11:31:54 AM new
or- Let's Go Out And Market This Baby!!!
From the eBay Announcement Board-
Learn more about Auction for America at Mills Malls! eBay will be visiting select Mills Malls on the weekend of September 28th-30th to introduce you to eBay and Auction for America.
This weekend, we will be in the following cities:
Philadelphia, PA at Franklin Mills Mall
Chicago, IL at Gurnee Mills Mall
Phoenix, AZ at Arizona Mills Mall
Ft. Lauderdale, FL at Sunrise Mills Mall
Come visit us and learn how you can assist the relief effort through Auction for America.
posted on September 26, 2001 11:44:03 AM new
This is just going to get worse isn't it?
Hopefully the mall merchants will do some h#ll raising since ebay will be "encouraging"
customers to spend money on ebay and AFA instead of in their stores!
posted on September 26, 2001 11:47:28 AM new
I wonder how the eBay apologists and cheerleaders are going to attempt to justify this one, but I'm sure we'll soon find out.
posted on September 26, 2001 12:23:46 PM new
I would be one very unhappy camper if I were a Mills Mall store paying huge rent each month only to have eBay come in a promote buying from them and not me. Even if it is for charity. I’m sure a lot of these stores and or the malls have their own fund raising programs.
I never heard of eBay going to malls or anywhere else for that matter to promote buying from us sellers before. Guess their goal must be falling a little short of their projections if they have to go out in person and peddle their program to the masses.
posted on September 26, 2001 12:30:47 PM newI wonder how the eBay apologists and cheerleaders are going to attempt to justify this one...
Well, I'm not a cheerleader, but I strongly suspect somebody has been looking over the numbers, figured that they're not on track to meet their "$100 milllion in 100 days" commitment, and decided that they need to recruit more "volunteers".
posted on September 26, 2001 12:40:49 PM new
Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this basic Marketing 101 principle-
A stunt like this is used not to get immediate results, it's used to recruit people, a few of whom will be long-term "customers," in this case sellers and buyers. All marketing analyses that I know of about this sort of thing say it doesn't work for short-term goals, because its success rate is very low. What in the WORLD it has to do directly with meeting the 100 million goal is beyond me, since it's very likely that the costs to ebay to set this up will exceed what the people they are recruiting will put in AFA. Why don't they just put that money IN AFA? And, do malls really need another "charity" vying for your money? Has anyone been in a mall since the 11th? They're like Charity Central. And, as has been pointed out, does small business really need ebay in their faces in a time of recession? Talk about blatant disregard of their own stated purpose, which I thought was to raise 100 million for the victims...
posted on September 26, 2001 12:43:14 PM new
Why am I envisioning Meg dressed up as "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" standing in front of these malls with a Black kettle and ringing her bell????????
posted on September 26, 2001 12:48:44 PM new
The people that wanted to donate toward these causes have already done so. Any attempts by eBay to recruit people now to use AFA will be largely unsuccessful in my opinion.
The auction counts for AFA auctions should decrease exponentially over the next few weeks (they're already dropping now). I'd be surprised if there were more than a 1,000 auctions running during the last week of the effort (unless eBay strong-arms their partners and threatens higher licensing fees if they don't).
I agree with the other post that this mall visit is an effort to gain longer term customers. It has little to do with AFA.
They've used this tragedy to boost (force) Billpoint usage. They've used this tragedy to (artificially) boost their revenue & earnings for the quarter through accounting games. They're now using the tragedy to recruit new users for the site. Heck, they'll probably even keep the interest on the money while it's in their Billpoint account.
posted on September 26, 2001 12:58:17 PM new
These Mall events were planned before the Sept. 11th events.
It was part of the Ebay Storefronts Grand Opening.. which has been cancelled in favor of promoting A4A instead.
Now don't get me wrong, I support the spirit of A4A - but as a Storefront Owner - I'm very disappointed that the promised grand opening and promotions aren't going to be delivered...
Watch the # of stores dramatically decrease between now and the 1st - when fees start applying.
posted on September 26, 2001 12:59:25 PM new
I am sure those that have retail stores in the malls are not accepting this well, I would think that they may have some kind of merchant assoc. and quickly have their leases read, to interpret, that this may be a compete or even a conflict. I live in Florida, to far North from where they are going to be or else I would have gone there just to be nosy and report back here. all the malls around here have their own methods of involving the community with charitable drives. Such as establishing a donation center in one of their vacant units. I wonder if they are going to ask the people that I read about in sshayler's thread yesterday: Ebay launches Members Helping Members Program, (sorry, I do not know how to make it clickable.)that way they do not have to pay the expense of sending their own employees. I find it very coincidental in the marketing process of these two so called programs.
Reenie
posted on September 26, 2001 01:07:44 PM new
Katiyana wrote-
<<<These Mall events were planned before the Sept. 11th events.
It was part of the Ebay Storefronts Grand Opening.. which has been cancelled in favor of promoting A4A instead. >>>
YIKES, Katiyana! I guess eBay again is operating under the premise "make hay while the sun shines" I mean the "sorrow lasts"
with AFA. They did the same thing with their "helping" program, which was planned months ago.
This is getting amazing to me. Pretty soon no one will have to criticize this program, it will yell about its own goals from the ebay rooftops.
posted on September 26, 2001 01:21:31 PM new
I do not see how this would hurt a mall store any more than a bake sale, gun show, craft show, etc. The idea behind this for you 101 people is to bring more people to the mall to buy the goods of the stores. The same as it is for the other shows.
eBay is a name that some people are interested in. I know I have co-workers that would probably go to see this eBay display. They do not use eBay currently but have been talking about it.
Glad I took the 103 course.
Do you think when we finally go to war some of you can hang this up and worry about living instead of you eBay sales.
posted on September 26, 2001 01:28:17 PM new
Covering my mouth with BOTH hands so I can't type what I am thinking and so the moderators won't have to tell me to "chill out".....
posted on September 26, 2001 01:33:33 PM new
Uh, LaneFamily, tell me, since you took 103 and I only took 101-
How is this mall circus going to help eBay achieve its stated goal, which is to raise 100 million for the victims? Isn't that the point according to eBay? Or am I misguided?
And I see you say you think it's to help the sales at the mall stores? Uh huh. You don't think eBay is spending money for the "privilege," money that might be better spent if it was put INTO AFA??? It can't be to help eBay recruit a few long term customers? And you just saw Katiyana say that this was planned before the attacks to promote eBay Stores. Um, if it was planned to promote ebay stores which DIRECTLY compete with mall stores, tell me, how was it supposed to have "helped" mall stores in that case????
posted on September 26, 2001 01:42:44 PM new
GreedBay I totally understand your thinking and I do not necessarly disagree with you I am just stating the facts of why a Mall brings in shows like this one be it for store fronts or AFA or Cookie sales.
Yess the mall gets a fee we all know that. I have friends in retail some close other just cause I see them at the store all the time. Some of them know I sell on eBay. Not once ever has anyone in retail ever told me they are afraid of ebay ot that I was going to cut into their sales.
It just ain't going to happen. I believe too many people here are to focused on eBay as a giant mall and anything eBay does will hurt them.
Well look what this did to bidders befor AFA was anounced, in many catagories they were all gone, they were in mine. What do you think is going to happen if we do go to war, they will be gone again. Who give a crap if they try to raise money for a charity, let them. Protest it, take you business to the mall down the road. Get out and do not look back. Go open a real shop in a mall instead of selling out of your basement (this only applies to some). Try it see how you like it.
posted on September 26, 2001 01:53:52 PM new
LaneFamily-
I owned the largest used book store (by far) in a city of 125,000+ people for many years. Speaking for myself, I don't think I need to be told how B&Ms operate. The point (again) is that ebay said that the purpose of AFA is ONLY to raise money for the victims. This marketing stunt will not get that done. And people don't necessarily have to be concerned about only one thing at a time. I am DAMNED concerned about war, and the concurrent loss of more precious life that will result from it. However, this board is AuctionWatch, not WarWatch, I'm a member of a few Internet newsgroups and boards like that where it's appropriate to discuss THAT subject at length. And believe me, I'm doing it.
posted on September 26, 2001 01:54:58 PM new
to finish up, I do not know how they are going to work it. If it were I, I would be helping people sign up on the spot and let them look for something. People might even place bids on it right there.
They will take this information home to the others in the family and get family members to use it.
They will tell their friends about this online purchasing. They will tell their friends and but the end of the 100 days everyone in the free world that has access to a computer will be buying from eBay.
Then the following 100 days everyone will see how easy it is to sell on ebay and everyone will start listing and about day 10 after the first 100 days eBay will crash cause there are too many auctions.
posted on September 26, 2001 01:57:48 PM new
I believe in this case the "expert from out of town" ain't gonna helP. I do not believe it has anything to do about how much further along one might be than another education wise. This is just plain economics. Most retailers who choose to be in a mall know that certain events come with the territory, and when you speak to these people the day of the event you will find most of them will say that the event took away from, not added to. I also believe as an ebay seller along with my fellow ebay sellers are in a commonality,and within this commonality us 101 people do have other concerns. These concerns may not be on the same priority list as others, but they are there, to belittle them does not make one the master.
Reenie
posted on September 26, 2001 02:15:27 PM new"They've used this tragedy to (artificially) boost their revenue & earnings for the quarter through accounting games"
...and therefore won't need to lose any future revenue by giving sellers a FLD (?)
Rob
[ edited by robnzak on Sep 26, 2001 02:26 PM ]
I asked myself that one too, and I've come to the conclusion that since (fortunately for those who care) their FLD is usually just before Xmas, and that will be a different quarter than the majority of AFA fudge figures will fall under (if you assume as I do, that most action in AFA will come in the first month), this thing will have a snowball effect, and they will do the same thing with FLD as they usually do, because they will again have to artificially inflate their numbers...
posted on September 26, 2001 02:26:57 PM new
thepackratsattic:
eBay is not my first or second job, it is a third. I would not be put in the poor farm or debtors prison if eBay fell of the face of the earth.
Before you say this puts me at a different perspective than everyone else that is not true. We may be looking to eBay/Auctions/Sales a bit more since my wife works for the airlines but hopefully not.
GreedBay
Did not say you needed to be told about them just maybe reminded. I notice you do not have one now in your small town
lattefor2
"expert from out of town" I like that. Not sure why you are calling me that (if you're directing that at me). As far as education goes I probably do not have as much as some of you I have a different look at things is all.
"mall know that certain events come with the territory, and when you speak to these people the day of the event you will find most of them will say that the event took away from, not added to"
Yes, Yes, Yes, I agree totally with that.
"These concerns may not be on the same priority list as others, but they are there, to belittle them does not make one the master" I never said I was a master how ever I do belittle people that cry cause something changed. You live in such a small world. This is going to help everyone in the end eBay out in the public eye for what ever reason. You sell there as you stated, anything that might attract one more person will help someone's sales.
I also sell on smaller sites also like SYI, Carnaby, ePier etc. When they spend any money even for banner adds people cheer cause it might bring one more customer to that site. So why would eBay sellers cry foul about this.
No, I am not an eBay cheerleader, yes I have put up AFA auctions and plan to put up 100 of them, 1 for each day.
I am sorry I disrupted your bad mouthing of eBay for a minute. I will go about my live now also being glad there is such a thing and not trying to figure out how I can under mind them or scorn them in the public eye. I have auctions on eBay just like every one else, hundreds of them, I want eBay to look good.
posted on September 26, 2001 02:36:42 PM new
LaneFamily-
(with a smile too)-
<<<GreedBay
Did not say you needed to be told about them just maybe reminded. I notice you do not have one now in your small town >>>
Statement-
<<<I owned the largest used book store (by far) in a city of 125,000+ people for many years.>>>
Now tell me- how do you notice that from the statement I made, which could mean that I still own a bookstore here, but it's now the second-largest, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, I now work out of my bathroom? Or maybe I sold it at a very nice profit which allows me to do whatever I'm doing or not doing now?
Take your pick, one of those 3 choices is in fact the reality.
posted on September 27, 2001 03:44:04 AM newrobnzak, so few people are using AFA (current active auctions less than 31,700), I'd still expect eBay to play the same accounting games & have another FLD in the 4th Quarter (probably not now though -- the slight boost from AFA will help enough to avoid having to do it in the next few days -- wouldn't look right from a PR standpoint either, taking "focus" away from AFA). If AFA "took off", and they had lots of extra listings into the 4th Q, then they might only need to have the one around the holidays. If AFA doesn't take off (my bet), they might need more.
As is the case with every company in the world, they will likely blame their poor performance in the 4th Quarter solely on WTC, and won't claim that any part due is due to their own incompetent management, incompetent execution, or ill-conceived acquisitions. It will be interesting to see if they continue to blame WTC for the poor 1st Quarter 2002 results. And then 2nd Quarter 2002 results, etc. LOL.
The reality is that it affected sales for a week or two on eBay, and right now listings are already back to normal. If they don't increase in the next 6 months, it's not due to WTC, it's due to the fact that they're not as "recession proof" as Meg touted.
posted on September 27, 2001 06:03:42 AM new
Lane Family (smiling back at you) I was not referring to you, with My "expert from out of town" remark, if you interpreted it that way I do apologize. I was referring to ebay visiting malls. This is a strategy I do not agree with. I do not consider myself bad mouthing ebay because I do not agree with yet another tactic, this one now interfering with the bottom line of over the counter retailers. You say I live in a small world and you have the right to belittle people who do not like change,whatever size world we live in is our particular choosing, to express how we live in it, is also a right.
Reenie
posted on September 27, 2001 09:11:04 AM newI never heard of eBay going to malls or anywhere else for that matter to promote buying from us sellers before
Ebay used to have several vans that toured the country, setting up at fairs, flea markets and I believe malls and other locations, to promote ebay. From what I remember, this program was still running in 2000. It sounds like this is just a continuation of that earlier program.
The point of the touring vans was to promote use of ebay...buying and selling.
..it's used to recruit people, a few of whom will be long-term "customers," in this case sellers and buyers....It can't be to help eBay recruit a few long term customers?
And this is somehow wrong?
ebay's long term customers are OUR long term customers. Without a continuous infusion of new customers we sellers will see sales stagnate at best or dwindle to die at worst.
because I do not agree with yet another tactic, this one now interfering with the bottom line of over the counter retailers
The goal of individual merchants in the marketplace is to have as many buyers as possible buy from them and not the competition. Merchant A doesn't worry about the bottom line of merchant B when merchant A promotes his business.
In this promotion at the various malls, how is it structured? Is ebay one of many temporary merchants renting space in the mall to sell their products? (ie..a "show" of some type). Or is ebay the sole temporary merchant renting space on those particular dates?
If ebay is part of a "show" then it is the "show" and not ebay in particular who would be potentially hurting the bottom line of the other mall tenants. It would have been planned and carried out by the mall owners. Unless the Mills Malls owners are stupid, these type of temporary promotions have been agreed to by the mall tenants in the leases they signed. The mall owners have a right to rent out retail space in their malls and one area of retail space they use to rent to merchants is the "road" that connects the permanent stores.
If ebay is the sole temporary merchant on those dates then it is highly unlikely ebay's presence will do much at all to the bottom line of the permanent tenants. People are unlikely to stop at the ebay kiosk and then decide "oh, I think I'll go home and do all my shopping on ebay instead of here at the mall".
