posted on October 2, 2001 10:05:47 PM
I think Auction for America is a good idea on the one hand. But I also feel that the contributors to Auction for America are not showing us non-participating sellers in the greatest light. I have given donations through the recent telethon on television and in other ways, and have decided not to participate in the AFA auctions as a seller. I am not a big seller, and oftimes don't even get bids. I don't even know if sellers who are participating in the AFA have a designated icon on their listing page that indicates they are selling for AFA. Again, I don't think that's fair. I notice there's even a box to check for bidders who want to only view items that are under Auction for America? Personally, I think that's taking it a little too far. I am just as horrified as what took place on September 11 as anyone else, maybe more so, but I'm not sure I like how this whole thing was set up in the auction environment to look so divisive between sellers who are and are not using AFA.
posted on October 2, 2001 10:37:50 PM
harvest wrote:
But I also feel that the contributors to Auction for America are not showing us non-participating sellers in the greatest light.
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but I'm not sure I like how this whole thing was set up in the auction environment to look so divisive between sellers who are and are not using AFA.
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How is it set up to show anything different? I'm a contributor and I'm not showing you in any kind of light. People going to my regular auctions have no idea if I'm donating an item for A4A. Even if they click on show other auctions, they won't know I am donating. I'm not giving just so people will think I'm a good Joe! Only when they do a search or open my auction will they see. Of course they can click the little square to see only A4A auctions, but that won't tell them that a certain bidder isn't participating. It's a choice sellers can choose to make, and if they choose not to, no one will know. Sort of like the United Way that was taken out of my hubby's paycheck..no one at work knew who was giving.
I happen to think this is a fine thing for eBay to be doing. Other than it giving them some glory, and possibly harvesting future sellers, they are not "making" money off of this. They are donating the fees (yes, I know we are donating the product, but if that upsets you, don't..give through other means).
One of my lower selling items (I put it up for just over $1, Dutch Auction, and people usually buy several), is selling for close to $15 for one on an A4A auction. It's making people feel good to give more than the value. And right now people need to feel good. My son lives outside of and works in NYC, and he's still trying to feel his way in what is a different world to him. It's not easy for those who haven't lost anyone to cope, I can't imagine how those who did lose someone can handle this.
This is such a small thing in the scheme of things..worrying about if someone will know you didn't donate. Believe me, people know some people give in other ways, and no one would think twice about an eBay donation, or lack of one.
posted on October 3, 2001 12:37:44 AM
harvest wrote:
I notice there's even a box to check for bidders who want to only view items that are under Auction for America? Personally, I think that's taking it a little too far.
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I can't speak for anyone else, but I have used the exclusive A4A search and bought several items. Each time, buying something I would not have otherwise even looked at. I've given away half of what I've bought. The ONLY reason I'm buying anything right now is that the purchase price is being donated to the WTC 9/11 fund. I live in Brooklyn, work in lower Manhattan, and haven't gone more than about an hour at a time without thinking about what has happened to us. A4A is an opportunity to do something normal that is also helping.
DMRick wrote:
One of my lower selling items (I put it up for just over $1, Dutch Auction, and people usually buy several), is selling for close to $15 for one on an A4A auction. It's making people feel good to give more than the value. And right now people need to feel good.
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I paid a fairly high price for an item, and when the seller saw my address, she told me she wanted to send me two! I accepted the second for a friend whose husband is a firefighter. We do desperately need to feel good, and it's not easy.
posted on October 3, 2001 03:58:27 AM
The real problem with A4A or even the traditional charity is that our emotions get tied to our wallets to appease our conscience. Is this a short term bandaid or have you experienced a real change in your life because of what has happened? If nothing radically changes in the way you live and respond, then it doesn't matter how close or far you were to ground zero. And the money you give or spend on an auction matters even less.
posted on October 3, 2001 04:26:41 AM
I did some buying recently and just searched as usual. I didn't find any AFA items that way so maybe it's not a fair example, there were no AFA auctions to pop up ahead of the rest or anything. I've browsed the AFA a few times but didn't find anything to buy yet.
Just one more thought on this general topic. Our paper [the Washington Post] recently reported that local food banks are BARE probably due to people funneling their charitable money and energy to the charities for 9/11 and because people are losing work and showing up for help. I keep reading about more and more efforts to pump up the 9/11 charity, like Michael Jordan donating his salary after going back to basketball.
I personally don't feel penalized as an ebay seller for not doing AFA but I am thinking some more local giving might be crucial right now if people have stopped focussing what's happening in their own towns.
posted on October 3, 2001 04:33:57 AMHarvestmoon:
Everyone gives and grieves in their own way.
IMO, A4A has been run will a relatively high conscience.
What Telethon can you watch without being assaulted with guilt for not giving?
kudos to eBay for not using such tactics! eBay is being fair with respect to how each individual chooses to contribute.
Please don't feel that you are not being shown in the proper light, that is just not so.
I'm glad you're here. Whether you participate in A4A or not, you are participating in life as normal as usual and that is just as much needed right now!
As many of my posts show in the last few weeks, I am a confessed A4A cheerleader. If I can help spread around that warm fuzzy feeling, why not?
It makes me feel good.
It makes my bidders feel good.
It has nothing to do with buyers and sellers who choose not to activvely contribute in this way!
posted on October 3, 2001 07:44:15 AM
It scares me to see the changes. It directly affects my ability to list. Each day goes by and I end it not knowing which way to turn. I have bid on and listed AFA. I have bid on and listed S4S. I have bid on regular auctions. Mostly I am having trouble with the listings. This all has me so down in the dumps. I feel like I've been thrown one curve ball after the other and I don't know which way to swing...
posted on October 3, 2001 04:18:43 PM
I think it is a good thing too - Ebay does not need anyone's permission to do something like this, something that people here give me the impression they were expecting. I believe that if ebay decided to drop all fees, and give sellers $5 for each auction listed, no strings attached, people here would find SOMETHING to complain about it!
posted on October 3, 2001 05:20:22 PMI believe that if ebay decided to drop all fees, and give sellers $5 for each auction listed, no strings attached, people here would find SOMETHING to complain about it!
I can't speak for others, but that would upset me. I'm sure that there are some that wouldn't care if eBay's system was hacked or not, I'm not one of them.
posted on October 3, 2001 07:21:49 PMEbay does not need anyone's permission to do something like this, something that people here give me the impression they were expecting
Very true. But someone doesn't need my "permission" to beat me over the head with a baseball bat either.
posted on October 3, 2001 07:29:35 PM
Everytime I post an auction on AFA its sold in two-three days. I had one item go for double what I get in my regular auctions. I just sold two items off my regular list to a new bidder who bought my AFA auction item. I'm going to list a few more items on AFA..it's a great way to donate and have bidders check out your other listings !
posted on October 3, 2001 08:17:04 PM
Not a really strong analogy, as it is not legal anywhere to do this. There are consequences. People don't need permission to hit you over the head with a baseball bat, but the reason they tend not to are the consequences.
posted on October 3, 2001 08:30:08 PMPeople don't need permission to hit you over the head with a baseball bat, but the reason they tend not to are the consequences.
Precisely my point. Ebay perceives that they can do anything they so choose, without fear of the consequenses. This must change.
posted on October 3, 2001 08:33:31 PM
Oh, there are always consequences, I agree with your there. If this new checkout system evolves into something like half.com, then in my opinion it will be the beginning of the end of ebay. However, right now, they can tweak small things without a huge threat of consequences, because where are people going to go? However, a lot of small actions can lead to a big action. Remember IBM, everyone hated them, but had to deal with them. Then came the IBM clones, and IBM basically disappeared from the PC market.
