"Indeed, it was a concern for the "balance of the marketplace," not a desire to bump up eBay's bottom line, that explains the most recent set of fee increases, said Mr. Cobb, who runs eBay's North American operations. The feeling inside eBay, he said, was that a kind of equilibrium needed to be restored between those using auctions and those selling items for a flat price in an eBay store. A sharp increase in the commission charged on all store sales, this reasoning went, would lead more sellers to embrace the auction model.
The company also said it believed that too large a proportion of sellers were using the "gallery" feature - choosing to have a picture accompany a listing - so the company raised its fee for the feature by 40 percent to restore its premium status."
That last part - the gallery photo is too much of a popular feature, and so they want to decrease the number of sellers using it?
How is that logical? A logical business person would say - a lot of our customers like this; they must feel that it helps them sell; so let's try to encourage more people to use it by dropping the fee a bit.
posted on March 6, 2005 09:18:50 AM new
"it was a concern for the "balance of the marketplace,"
I said this all along. Stores were too good a deal compared to the regular listing fees.
"A sharp increase in the commission charged on all store sales, this reasoning went, would lead more sellers to embrace the auction model."
And REDUCING fees on regular auctions never entered their minds did it?
"company also said it believed that too large a proportion of sellers were using the "gallery" feature"
Now THIS point of view is one that I've never understood. Wouldn't just making it FREE for everyone increase sales? Why charge for this at all?
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web! http://www.replaymedia.com
posted on March 6, 2005 09:21:49 AM new
Why did they contract with a marketing firm to enlist more store sellers if they really thought there was an imbalance? I don't get the reasoning!
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 6, 2005 09:24:27 AM new
I agree about the gallery photo price but I think it beefs up the sales. I haven't been using it until my last set of auctions and I am sure that it is helping. They would still make money if they charged a dime. They might even make more when sellers see the price.
But what I want to ask is it necessary to use the gallery when you are using Vendios marquee? What would be interesting to do is make a template and on one of your auctions that you put on eBay use the template that says "click one of my auctions to see all my auctions at one time". Or will eBay frown on that?
posted on March 6, 2005 09:27:46 AM new
I was using gallery on everything. Now, I've decided to use more BIN and less gallery, unless I have something really unusual or high ticket. It's just costing too much to run a regular auction to use gallery on everything like I was. I don't see the logic of their thinking at all on that.
posted on March 6, 2005 10:17:52 AM new
I got a reply from Bill Cobb's underling, Bryce, basically saying toughski.
They will not acknowledge the trust issue that they have with potential bidders.
That comment that the clothing seller gets from bidders "finally finding a seller I can trust" speaks volumes.
Don't get bidders? You don't have an auction. You have a mall that isn't open.
I am glad investment firms are looking into sellers as an indicator of the "reality" of ebay.
Instead of relying on a pair of Meg's-Rose-o-matic Reading Glasses.
Poor Bill Cobb. He's a $2 hooker on a winter night in Salt Lake. But he keeps trying.
posted on March 6, 2005 12:32:07 PM new
Replay, you said:
Now THIS point of view is one that I've never understood. Wouldn't just making it [the gallery photo] FREE for everyone increase sales? Why charge for this at all?
EXACTLY!
I've always felt that eBay should include additional photos as part of the listing fee, or maybe make it an extra penny or two for the gallery photo and/or a second photo in the ad.
I really believe that photos help sales, and they would collect more FVFs.
I also think the reporter should have asked the obvious question - You mean, you're raising the price of a gallery photo because TOO MANY people are using it?
What about NOT ENOUGH?
How many auctions include a gallery photo is an obvious question that should have been asked.
Maybe the number of people who are using it hasn't lived up to their expectations. Therefore, a higher price for those who do (???)
