posted on May 3, 2004 12:46:23 PM
Just picked up voicemail from Gene in Product Management at eBay. Their team wants to come visit me onsite to see how I do things, get ideas, listen to suggestions, etc. It'll be sometime next week.
I'm sure I could come up with a list longer than John Kerry's face, but what would YOU like eBay to answer? Here's your chance.
--
Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #36:
During the filming of "The Imposters" (1998), director Stanley Tucci bestowed the Golden Ham award on the actor who had gone farthest over the top in that week's filming.
posted on May 3, 2004 01:00:37 PM
Good for you, Fluffy!
Should be a barrel o'laffs. Are they bringing lunch?
Please keep us posted.
What to ask? The ongoing question of bidder location. Why did they change it to only show after the auction ends? It would be so helpful to know before.
posted on May 3, 2004 01:05:41 PM
Thanks, Lucy!, but I don't think the visit is based on merit. It may have be related to eBay's marketing efforts subsequent to that trade show I went to. They've contacted me a couple of times since then.
So what you're saying (and I agree with) is that sellers need to know where the bidders are. Would we still need to know this if bidding were geographically restricted? Because that would be one of the top items on my list. If they don't have a U.S. zip code, don't let 'em bid on U.S. auctions.
And for Jack's sake, if they aren't local, don't let 'em bid on local auctions.
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Edited because I used the wrong name!
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on May 3, 2004 01:19 PM ]
posted on May 3, 2004 01:13:09 PM
In full agreement with the NPB/Feedback issue.
I'd also like to know if they are ever going to consider splitting the site into antiques and collectibles for one site and new items for the other, sort of the way they did eBay Motors.
posted on May 3, 2004 01:18:45 PM
NPB feedback, noted.
Can you explain the site-splitting (or side-splitting) thing to me? I'm not sure I understand the value of it. Do you really get lots of new-item results when you search for antiques and collectibles, or is it something else?
posted on May 3, 2004 01:30:05 PM
Personally I find that one ridiculous. They want new items split from old but fail to realize that all it is going to result in is fewer view, less bids and still will not eliminiate the problem of that it was intended to solve. People are still going to call a 3 years old piece vintage and age new sterling with a plastic bag and some egg whites and call it antique.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on May 3, 2004 01:31 PM ]
posted on May 3, 2004 01:31:06 PM
I'd like to see the site split because it's getting way too big the way it is now and there are just too many categories to wade through.
I realize that if it's split there will still be people that will put reproductions into the antiques and they will put new jewelry into the old jewelry but over all I think it would make it easier for both buyers and sellers.
posted on May 3, 2004 01:41:28 PM
I believe the rationale for eBay Motors was (at least in part) the different fee structure.
I don't remember who brought it up, sorry, but I did like the suggestion that a non-eBay site be created for antiques and collectibles. Could be a good business opportunity for someone. I used to browse the Butterfields "Great Collections" auctions on eBay and I loved it because I knew these were all things that had been inspected by Butterfield & Butterfield. I got some nice deals, too. Given the level of buyer frustration with misrepresentation of goods in the antiques and collectibles area, a reputable site that *doesn't* cop out with the weaselly "we are only a venue" excuse could do very well.
posted on May 3, 2004 01:43:01 PM
How about a warning when we make a mistake giving us the opportunity to correct it before yanking an auction or worse, yanking us? Oh, and the warning should tell us specifically what we did. Not a "You violated a rule somewhere in our fourty page rule book" Email. Now, of course, no warnings for repeat offenders!
And, how about taking the side of the seller for once? Not just power sellers, but all sellers. We do pay the bills.
Seriously, I like the feedback one. That should have been done a long time ago. Kind of goes with the suggestion above.
posted on May 3, 2004 01:45:18 PM
I think we're mixing apples and oranges. Restriction to U.S. only and supplying bidder zip codes are different.
I absolutely agree - if the auction is U.S. only, bidding should be restricted to U.S. users. I'm sure that could be easily done by eBay.
I do think sellers would still need to know where the bidder is located even if the U.S. only restriction were implemented. The US is a big place.
I'm not sure it would be possible for eBay to implement a restriction along the lines of what Jack's been asking for all this time. It would have to be linked to the region stated in the auction and not everyone has region listed. In my case, the three choices I have are San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles. So I don't list regionally.
But, eBay has blocked bidder lists, why not extend that to exclude (or include) bidder locations? Maybe you or I could add a location to our bidder block???
posted on May 3, 2004 02:02:09 PM
Fluffy... this is more a Paypal issue than eBay... but since eBay owns Paypal... it might be worth talking about. It drives me crazy that my account gets e-mails from Paypal saying that I have a payment waiting for me.... when I don't have a Paypal account for my selling address...and I don't want one!!! A paypal user should NOT be able to send payments to anyone who isn't a Paypal user. It's a marketing ploy that, in my opinion, could easily be considered a form of SPAM. It's a pain to have to contact the bidders and tell them... no.. you didn't really pay me... I need you to cancel your Paypal payment and send payment in a form I accept. Anyhow... that's just one of the little things that bugs me. Thanks for taking our input!
posted on May 3, 2004 04:54:46 PM
I agree with Kiara- there should be some deliniation between the things you would find in a department store and the the things you would find in an Antiques and Collectible shop- If they called it EBAY antiques and collectibles and made a seperate "market" out of it I think many of the shoppers and sellers who got annoyed at the junk market it has become would come back to the fold-The antique and collectible buyers and sellers are what made EBAY into the mega mess it is today- I think if they held to the government definitions of antique and collectibles for postings it could be a very good site-
posted on May 3, 2004 05:11:09 PM
well this is just GREAT, Fluff! ... remember i said when they called a couple weeks ago, i didn't have much to say, because i wasn't expecting the "call" ...
... well, please listen up to this: I was recently noticing, that although our auctions are set up for U.S.-Only, we of course get the occasional nice email from a different country ... we trade ... we love each other ... all goes well .. we trade again ...
I have one certain Canadien who we have traded with many times over the years on ebay, and I always welcome them to bid on anything THEY like, even though we are set up for u.s.only ... [edited to add, 'actually' MORE than just one... a few]
So, I already know when you put a screen name on "Blocked Bidders List", it will block that ID from bidding on ALL of my listings .... WELL, I propose that the Pre-approved bidder list, allow THOSE screen names, to bid on ALL of our listings, all the time. .......... make sense???
[the way it is now, you can only pre-approve bidders for "a given" auction number. ... NOT all your listings.]
This would make good sense.
Sorry for this 3rd 'edit', ... but this idea will be ESPECIALLY important if/and/when ebay implements truly "blocking" all bidders from other countries ... such as we say , u.s.only, and canadien says 'i want to try and bid!' ..
[ edited by aintrichyet on May 3, 2004 05:18 PM ]
[ edited by aintrichyet on May 3, 2004 05:29 PM ]
[ edited by aintrichyet on May 3, 2004 05:43 PM ]
posted on May 3, 2004 05:35:33 PM
I don't fully understand the separation idea. I don't see where Ebay motors is really separate. For example if you did a search on EBay for SEbring you will get both dinnerware and cars - so other than the fee structure is there really a separation?
But please, for God's sake, ask Gene why oh why there is no "Fresh Fish" category!
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I require the same from them."- John Wayne/The Shootist"(from the novel by Glendon Swarthout)
posted on May 3, 2004 09:08:26 PM
NPB feedback please...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
It's too bad that their blindness can't see they are killing more soldiers than President Bush ever has... Protest Loud and Proud! Your fellow taliban and insurgents are rejoicing at the support...
posted on May 3, 2004 10:19:44 PM
Lets just get rid of NPB's altogether. Call it the Easy to Buy Program or some such name. When the item ends, the bidder's Paypal account automatically gets charged and the seller gets the payment. No waiting, instant payment just like a real web site is run. Make it optional for sellers, for those still stuck on the old fashioned check and money order payments. It can run just like a credit card transaction as a 2 step system...when bid is placed a "hold" is put on the bidders account for their max bid amount. When the auction ends, they get charged the actual amount of the sale plus shipping. This is how a regular credit card processing sytem is run.
No more NPB's, and saves ebay the time and trouble of having to process fee credits.
posted on May 3, 2004 11:09:25 PM
Fluffy...Ditto on NPB feedback, zip codes of bidders and seperating the new and used items into seperate sites. I also like the idea of warning of impending cancellations of violating auctions.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on May 3, 2004 11:37:52 PM
I'd like to see a new color introduced to the front page scheme - the yellow/blue combinatio does nothing for me.
I think that the ® in the logo should be purple.
I want an explination for the Burger King mini banner at the bottom of the page.
There should be more spacing between the green "featured Items" box and the first item listed.
And last bu not least - why is there no eBay mascot/? No silly monkey, no multicolor Monster - hell they could take a page from the auto loan company that brought the Pets.com sock puppet and.... well hell I nominate Izzy from the Atlanta Olympics - there is still plenty of Izzy (or whatever its name was) merch out the in the "please god, just get it out of here" liquidation market. ... whatayathink?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
Now you're talkin'...and why "Burger King"?..Why not "Royale with Cheese"?....
Fresh Fish! Fresh Fish!
Naughty, Naughty Izzy..last I heard a puffer for Vivid...
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I require the same from them."- John Wayne/The Shootist"(from the novel by Glendon Swarthout)
posted on May 4, 2004 12:12:28 AM
Fenix...Rotflmao. They need to hire an interior decorator from Beverly Hills to re-design the whole site.
One little perk that I thought would be nice is if Ebay would create a "Virgin Bonus". When a new member signs up, his/her first won auction should result in a refund of the FVF to the seller. If the bidder signed up after the auction was listed, then all fees, including listing, gallery, etc. should be refunded to the seller. Sort of like a commission for procuring a new bidder.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on May 4, 2004 08:43:16 AMHey Fluffy Congratulations.
Thanks for the warning - Boy am I glad when I've gone to Trade Shows where eBay is in attendance, like the ASD/AMD, I totally avoided the eBay area, suite, group, etc. Personally, I don't want eBay visiting or even asking to visit me - but living in the middle of no where - I would doubt they'd make the effort.
I was a bit tempted at the August & the March ASD/AMD, to go into the eBay area to use the computers to check on some items I had seen, but op-ed to use the in room computer at our hotel - guess I'm a rather private person.
posted on May 4, 2004 10:43:36 AM
Agreed! with above, tell them their TV commercials really do suck, they need something, maybe a new writer? for them!
And.... the NPB feedback (again)
__________________________________ In cyberspace, you can't hear a liberal scream.
posted on May 4, 2004 11:24:20 AM
I',m available for ideas for a modest fee of say... free listing fees for one year per concept : )
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 4, 2004 01:18:20 PM
I'd be interested in knowing why they don't have a lower listing fee for items you know aren't going to end above $7-$10
If I was selling at a low opening bid, knowing the item will go up, I have no problem with listing fees, but when it's never going to go higher, well. Also FVF's.
