posted on February 14, 2006 05:28:57 AM new
Talk about insultingly boneheaded eBay promotional ideas.
I guess they're not getting enough Guides written by willing schmucks or they are of insufficient quality (who'da thunk it?), because eBay has a (whoo-whoo!) contest for you to win a $100 eBay gift certificate IF your guide is chosen for the day.
So get busy, kids, there's a huge payoff here for all your hard work.
I especially enjoyed reading the rules of the contest which specify just how much contempt eBay holds each of us in:
By entering this Contest, winners agree to grant eBay Inc. ("Sponsor" ), its agents, subsidiaries and affiliates an non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sub-licensable right to exercise the copyright, publicity, database rights and any other rights entrant has in the Guide (and any part thereof), in any media now known or hereafter devised (including without limitation, the internet), without additional compensation. Further, entrant grants Sponsor the additional license to modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from, and distribute the Guide or incorporate such materials into any form, medium or technology, including the right, at Sponsor's sole discretion, to distribute and/or publish the Guide (or any part thereof).
That's right, children. You put pictures in your Guide, eBay now owns them. Your copy? Ain't yours any more; if you're capable of putting words in a row, eBay will use it any way they like, put their name on it and profit from it.
Talk about sucker bait. And talk about giving a big eBay middle finger to all the subject-matter experts who've set up shop on eBay.
I wonder if Bill Cobb gets up in the morning and says to himself, "Gee, I guess I'll go to work at eBay HQ today because there's a slim chance I might get paid."
fLufF
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[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Feb 14, 2006 05:31 AM ]
posted on February 14, 2006 06:06:33 AM new
Fluff - what are you talking about? I have to say that I love the wording there. I especially love in any media now known or hereafter devised. Unfortunately, I just have no idea what they are referring to. Gimme a link - I got some guide ideas for them
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 14, 2006 06:22:05 AM newFurther, entrant grants Sponsor the additional license to modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from, and distribute the Guide or incorporate such materials into any form, medium or technology, including the right, at Sponsor's sole discretion, to distribute and/or publish the Guide (or any part thereof).
I really loved this part. They can change your work however they felt.
posted on February 14, 2006 07:11:47 AM new
Ok - I'm sorry but i just HAVE to get involved in this one. There is one guide in the area that I sell in and the idiot that wrote it does not know what they are talking about. I mean SERIOUSLY don't know what they are talking aobut and gave advice that will have anyone in the business that does have even the slightest clue laughing in the face of someone that might try to use it. (would actually be dangerous if it were possible to follow their recomendations)
They then go on to explain that you should not buy from other sellers in the field (AKA - the ones that know something about product they are selling) because they charge more in shipping than they do. Well yeah honey, they do. But they charge $1 more for shipping and $5-10 less for the product.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 14, 2006 07:18:35 AM new
I think eBay is going to be just using the guides and modifying them as people email in that it should be this or that way.
It seems like they basically let people build and outline for them to fill in as they go along.
posted on February 14, 2006 07:21:06 AM new
Ooops! Spoke too soon. There are two guides... and in the second one, the person does not know the definition of words they are using.
I can't image a newcomer to the field trying to follow the sizing recomendations of the writer who continually referred to reccomended lengths as diameters.
Maybe I should write a guide on how to write guides. I'll make it short and sweet.
Know what the hell you are talking about!!
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
[ edited by fenix03 on Feb 14, 2006 07:23 AM ]
posted on February 14, 2006 07:23:17 AM new
Yep, sucker bait is right fLuff. I read that a few day's ago, laughed and went to something else.
They must think us poor sellers are desperate for money.
Don't feel bad about your kitty waking you up this morning. I had my 5 foot iguana land on my head this morning in bed, 1 inch claw's and all. Way past the OUCH factor. First time in almost 3 years that he has ventured upstairs. He was trying to make his way to the dresser top where the sun was coming in. I just happened to make a good launching pad I guess.
They say your memory's the second thing to go, I just can't remember what the first thing is.
posted on February 14, 2006 10:36:03 AM new
LOL glassgrl I bet Fluff could do a doozy of a guide on that and I would read it too. I can just see ebay having right to change all her do nots to dos and her dos to do nots.
Mike4x4 Do you really have a 5 foot iguana? How cool and painful that must be. What does he eat, the neighborhood pets? kidding.
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Can't touch this! uh huh, uh huh.
posted on February 14, 2006 11:38:54 AM new
The iguana is vegetarian. They eat mainly colored greens like lettuce. I have a total of 16 lizards. I like low maintenance pets. Feed them (depending on which one) from once a week to once a month. Most 4 legged critters get food close to once a week. My snakes like my copperhead and boa eat only once a month or more. The boa eats 2 or 3 full grown rabbits every month to month and a half. My favorites are my bearded dragons. Very friendly, don't have a nervous break down if you handle them to much and have very interesting personality's. They eat either colored greens or bugs and baby mice.
They say your memory's the second thing to go, I just can't remember what the first thing is.
posted on February 14, 2006 01:08:34 PM new
Did everyone miss the non-exclusive part? (I guess everyone missed the class on Contract Law 101?) Non-exclusive license means you, the author, can sell your work as many times as you wish. Also if author receives no payment or declines payment, then no contract has been entered into. Oh, and those under the age of majority cannot enter into contracts... sorry kids!
This contract is basically your typical publishing contract with most of the right weasel words. I've seen much worse.
