posted on July 31, 2001 03:48:54 PM new
Here's some datapoints from the past two weeks. The order is date, total listings, sportscards listings and percentage of total listings, and listings in all other categories.
From the high on July 27, when Bidville announced its image hosting policy, there has been a decrease of 10,798 listings (-1.5%), while sportscards have increased by 5,989 listings (+1.6%), so there has been an decrease in all other categories of 16,798 listings (-4.9%).
What does this tell us?
It was pointed out to me that sellers of "common" sportscards are generally listed without images. That makes sense since they are hardly worth the time and effort of scanning, uploading, etc., so these listings are largely uneffected by the image hosting restrictions.
Sellers in other categories, however, are keenly aware that images are a necessity in making a sale. They are the ones that will feel the brunt of the image hosting restrictions.
I previously mentioned the number of listings required for sales based on the 1% sell-through rate:
Bidville is allowing just 20 free images each month, so the average seller will have 0.2 sales each week.
What seems clear is that sellers require a large number of listings for minimal weekly sales, and the average seller will likely find it difficult to generate sales sufficient for a $5/month Premier membership, let alone a $10/month Premier Plus membership.
What we don't know is how many auction sellers are currently using Bidville's image hosting, but we're sure going to find out starting tomorrow. I'm looking for a continuation of the decline as sellers are confronted with the image hosting requirements.
And it looks like we'll be needing some FLUFF sometime tomorrow.
posted on July 31, 2001 05:16:55 PM new
Just don't post any of your fluff over there ... The Prez is deleting threads about the falling number, and unlike the AW Moderators, he's doing it with no warning or reason
posted on July 31, 2001 05:27:35 PM new
And they should be deleteing post about falling numbers and complaints aout it, sellers shouldn't be complaining since the drop will improve the chances of the remaining items getting bids as well will cause a turn over to make the auctions look fresh again.
look what the decline in listing did for yahoo they may not have as many listing over there and they may not have a high sell through in each category but the items that are selling are now getting fair market prices more like they should have been getting all along.
also look at what happens to Ebay every time there listing Drop off the bidding incresses and sales go up.
Every time ebay gets a rush of listing the bidding drops off items end with less bids most with only one so many item listed no need for buyer to fight to win.
when avalabilty goes up prices Drop you over sell your market, when avalabilty drops prices and bidding rises suply and demand doesn't matter if your selling new retail antique oe collectables.
posted on July 31, 2001 09:06:07 PM new
The first phase of Bidville's experiment is underway, mandatory Premier and Premier membership for unlimited image hosting, and here's the stats:
posted on July 31, 2001 10:30:12 PM new
I said when this all started that this move by bidville will driveup the card listings as the other listings fall. I was made fun of but your numbers are correct and what I though was true. The way things are going Sports cards will be 75% of bidvilles listings thats OK if that is what bidville wants. But to bring in buyers bidville will needs more then just sports cards even the card sellers know that. This image hosting thing deal may not kill bidville but it will hurt them bad. Now the shutup or packup attitude of some of the sellers is running people off they dont want to believe what is happening so if anyone post a opinion they dont agree with they say dont let the door knob hit you it is so sad.
posted on August 1, 2001 04:25:28 AM new
Image hosting on Bidville is not the sole option for listing pictures! I would say that the majority of people on the internet have a certain amount of hosting space provided by their ISP.
posted on August 1, 2001 05:18:01 AM new
Just a thought- Image hosting is just a free perk built into Bargainandhaggle.com . Maybe the users that are upset about image hosting should move to Bargain and Haggle and experience the sales growth I have. Never had much luck on Bidville even when image hosting wasn't an issue. Just a thought. Convert you people, Convert!
posted on August 1, 2001 05:39:23 PM new
Here's some recent datapoints. The order is date, total listings, sportscards listings and percentage of total listings, and listings in all other categories. Mandatory Premier and Premier Plus memberships for image hosting began August 1.
