posted on October 14, 2001 04:31:41 PM
I rarely ever post to any board, I do however lurk most of the boards having to do with Ebay.
I have been an Ebay member since Dec,97 I have seen all the good times and have enjoyed meeting fine people from all over the world.
For a long time now it seems most seller's are unhappy with Ebay tatic's.
Well it seems to me there is power only in numbers, so what about a union.
IMHO, if you lived in Podunk Nebraska and knew a few sellers there, how about getting together for coffee, maybe advertise for an Ebyers get together in your local paper.
It may start slow but Podunk to Schmoodunk, people could band together town to town, city to city, state to state.
From this Podunk coffee clatch, a union could grow into a giant powerful enough in numbers to have a decent say in the way we are treated by a giant corporation.
I know unions have been discussed to no end I was here at the first town meeting AW had, I also pushed and prodded the beginning of OAUA.
I just feel with what happened in NY and how united the country has become that now is the time to get started.
LIke I said I rarely post and probably won't post again to this thread.
Thank you all for your time, I enjoy reading all your good post's and have learned a great deal here
BTW I have invited four Ebay seller's for coffee tomorrow morning.
posted on October 14, 2001 05:34:16 PM
And let's say we start an eBay "Union", and eBay meets our demands.
Then, a few years down the road, we have some seedy sellers. They screw over a lot of people. But eBay can't kick them off, because they are part of the "Union".
Then, when the "contract" with eBay expires, we demand that they lower their fees even lower than we originally demanded. eBay refuses, so we "strike". Gradually, the "striking sellers" become fewer and fewer, because they are earning nothing. Then, after a few months of holding picket signs around our computers, we log on to www.ebay.com to find it is no longer there.
Yup. This whole union idea sounds great. Sign me up.
posted on October 14, 2001 10:44:36 PM
And just what "demands" would this "union" make?
What is it that is wanted?
And how about a buyer union...one that will make demands of ebay...demands that say we sellers can only charge exact postage, or we have to start at $1 NR.
posted on October 14, 2001 11:02:00 PM
It seems that "something" is needed to tame the beast. But what? I don't think too many of us feel that eBay is looking out for our best interests.
posted on October 14, 2001 11:08:43 PM
When you expect someone else to look after your best interests you are frequently disappointed as the other person often does not define "your best interest" in the same way you do. Plus, when someone else looks out for your best interests instead of you doing the "looking", you tend to lose control of your own destiny.
posted on October 14, 2001 11:54:04 PM
There are a few places where many of us sellers are gathering. If you search S4S you should find over 4000 active auctions and over 4500 closed auctions. If you search SBXA you should find over 500 active auctions and about 75 closed. Sellers supporting each other through encouragement. Sellers are starting the merge and support both groups. Infomation on SBXA can be found on the soapbox chat at the bay. S4S infomation can be found in the auction listing chat at ebay. I'm not saying union. What I am saying is that the numbers are growing of sellers in these groups. They check in with their highs and lows. They buy and list but mostly they are there for each other rather then standing alone. Buyers are signing in also to show their support. It may not be perfect but it is the single most postitive thing I have found for myself as a seller to be with a group of fellow sellers. Sellers and Buyers alike are welcome.
