posted on August 27, 2001 05:13:16 AM new
A quick look at the site's message center reveals nothing but discontent. Numerous threads on the desperate need for improved user verification, non-paying auction winners, ripped off buyers, etc., etc.
Coupled with it's small sell through rate can this site continue much longer? Seems unlikely to me.
A very large number of auction items doesn't guarantee success.
posted on August 27, 2001 05:47:37 AM new
I believe you are looking at the wrong site, or purposely misconstruing what is happening, either way, isn't it against guidelines here to discuss other boards?
posted on August 27, 2001 06:03:28 AM new
bidsbids,
Bidville's PREZ has been quoted as saying there's sufficient funds to run the auctionsite for three years. I don't know what the "burn rate" is, but if the business plan is on track, there's enough money for just over two years of operations.
As you point out, there's quite a few problems that remain unaddressed. Each of these will cost money and increase the "burn rate."
posted on August 27, 2001 06:13:49 AM new
Still trouble in La-La land, even after they kicked me off? Hmmm ... guess it wasn't me after all
I did some browsing in their Sportmania sale over the weekend and I am impressed. I thought the sale was strictly sports stuff, but I saw lots of non-sports stuff at pretty good prices. Whatever happens to Bidville, I think we all have to commend those few folks who got that sale off the ground.
Nice goings guys and gals
As to the Message Center, you should invite them over to Carnaby if they just want to chat ... it's a very friendly place and we need more members. But, personal attacks and paranoia are not welcome.
posted on August 27, 2001 07:14:57 AM new
I thought the AW guideline was for specific posts on other sites chatboards. The general tenure of the message center there is one of open rebellion or revolution. There appear to be a multitude of things that need addressing and there is no mention of anything from the site founder.
posted on August 27, 2001 07:27:48 AM new
Everyone..
I would like to remind you that what is discussed on other message boards has no place on AW message boards.If you would like to discuss general issues, please do so. But if specific issues are brought forth, I will have to lock this thread.
Thank you all for your co-operation.
posted on August 27, 2001 07:32:13 AM new
Hi Smitty ...
I'm not sure how "specific" this is, but I have heard from more than one person that there are a few people posting over there using the ID AW_MODERATOR and signing their posts with names like "Joice" and "Marty".
posted on August 27, 2001 07:40:57 AM new
Much of Bidville's auction sellers frustration, reflected in the tenor of the messages, is due to the stagnant sell-through rate and little prospect for improvement.
The inefficient search function for the SPORTMANIA items in which, despite a "fix" of sorts, auction sellers paying to feature their items may not have them show up in the listings, is further exasperating the situation.
posted on August 27, 2001 07:54:22 AM newauction sellers paying to feature their items may not have them show up in the listings
Really? That's almost as bad as Yahoo keeping the listing fees when they end an auction with no explanation!
I'm beginning to think that in spite of all it's rules and policies, eBay may be the only place to go. These other guys should find something else to do with their internet talents.
Well, the other day I took note that there were some 9,600 SPORTMANIA listings. Later, the same search returned a 3,000 "limit".
Of course, one of the SPORTMANIA organizers said I was wrong, that the 3,000 "limit" was always in place.
Ummmmm, I really don't think so.
I found a single seller with 6,975 SPORTMANIA listings which has resulted in thousands of listings that cannot be browsed. Bidville's fix has been to provide a tree, but there's still two categories exceeding the 3,000 "limit".
Since title searching is limited, I'm wondering how Description Search coming soon is going to work.
posted on August 27, 2001 08:39:41 AM new
The lack of a description search is a real challenge to sellers that try to group items into lots. Unless individual items are mentioned in the title they will never be found by the search engine. Perhaps that major shortcoming is part of the reason there are some many individual common sportscards auctions?
It's been about 8 months since BV has been up and running and the description search is still on a back bunner somewhere.
posted on August 27, 2001 11:02:03 AM new
Well, I am one who for now is closing up shop at Bidville and moving my auction inventory to Carnaby and the FREEbay. Will probably list a bit on Yahoo and Ebay as well. I am opening a retail shop and cant afford to have my name shredded by some lowlife who has been going around there ruining feedback. However I am not giving up on the site or the quality of items listed there. I think the site has alot of potential. As to the boards, I wish there was an ignore button for about 3 people over there just as I do here. Would make reading the boards much nicer. I have lost patience with people who bring the negativity and sadness of their own lives and try and push it on to everyone else. One thing I have noticed on Carnaby is that people there have a positive and upbeat attitude. very refreshing
http://ballsandstrikescollectibles.beckett.com/
posted on August 27, 2001 11:09:18 AM new
Right on Umpire! I wish you a ton of success in your retail store, and at Carnaby. I suspect the 3 people at BV that you got tired of are the same three that kept pushing my buttons until I decided self-exile was a much better option than getting pushed to the point where I would start acting like them with the insults and insinuations.
posted on August 27, 2001 11:54:20 AM new
Since Aw has seen fit to allow a thread started on the basis of what goes on at another message board, I will respond to some of the individual comments of such reports:
"A quick look at the site's message center reveals nothing but discontent"
MUST BE A VERY, VERY QUICK LOOK!
"The general tenure of the message center there is one of open rebellion or revolution"
TOTAL MISREPRESENTATION, IMO.
"auction sellers paying to feature their items may not have them show up in the listings,"
JUST PLAIN WRONG - featured auctions were not affected by this because the seller that listed 6975 auctions did not feature any of them.
"Of course, one of the SPORTMANIA organizers said I was wrong, that the 3,000 "limit" was always in place."
IF YOU ARE REFERRING TO MY STATEMENT, THEN THE ABOVE IS JUST TOTALLY TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT, TWISTED, AND BASICALLY, A LIE.
AS IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP HERE:
The seller that listed the 6975 auctions did not realize that by using the bulk lister that way it would jam things up like it did yesterday. when the sale was conceptualized, it was decided not to place an item limit on indviduals. This was unforseen, and part of our learning experience.
Dimview is correct about the almost 9600 listings as of early Staurday morning,(I believe it was Saturday, have been slightly ill).
However, when Dimview tried to equate the 3000 item view limit to an unscheduled maintance shutdown early Sunday morning, I pointed out that I had seen the 3000 view limit, earlier on Saturday, so the two things were probably not related.
However, on Saturday morning I did see over 9500 listings.
without going into details, there are many helpful and thought provoking posts there. There is also some negativity, from people who may have undisclosed motives, and even from people who are really trying. but the view that has been presented above that there is nothing but negativity and discontent is very myopic, and I believe it is a deliberate misrepresentation. there is just as much name calling and dissention I have seen here, even with the moderators to patrol the boards. Why do you think they have moderators?
If everyone was so nice here, they would not need them.
(Sorry mods, not trying to advocate your unemployment)
Most of this post is just my opinion, but then the same is true for most of the other psoters.
posted on August 27, 2001 12:10:50 PM new
jimhhow >
Dimview is correct about the almost 9600 listings as of early Staurday morning ... However, when Dimview tried to equate the 3000 item view limit to an unscheduled maintance shutdown early Sunday morning, I pointed out that I had seen the 3000 view limit, earlier on Saturday, so the two things were probably not related. However, on Saturday morning I did see over 9500 listings.
Using search gave 9,600 results early Saturday and later that day or Sunday a similar search ran into a 3,000 limit.
There is only one way I can see that happening. Bidville changed the software configuration for the "search" function.
Your comment that dimview equated this occurrence with the "unscheduled maintenance" is clearly incorrect, since dimview didn't even mention "unscheduled maintenance" in any message.
posted on August 27, 2001 01:23:19 PM new
Oh, give us a break! You could be talking about any auction site, even ebay has plenty of discontent. You must not have anything better to do with your time.
[b]A quick look at the site's message center reveals nothing but discontent. Numerous threads on the desperate need for improved user verification, non-paying auction winners, ripped off buyers, etc., etc.
Coupled with it's small sell through rate can this site continue much longer? Seems unlikely to me.
A very large number of auction items doesn't guarantee success.[/b]
posted on August 27, 2001 01:41:12 PM new
Hi Jim ...
Firstly, I am hearing all kinds of good things about Sportmania ... nice going
Secondly, you state: Since Aw has seen fit to allow a thread started on the basis of what goes on at another message board, I will respond to some of the individual comments of such reports
I'm not sure if I would go there if I were you Jim. If you open the floodgates, there's a lot of things that I could say about what happens on those boards that would rock the AW readers who don't want to go there and see for themselves ... things that are not tolerateed on any other auction site forum.
posted on August 27, 2001 02:04:47 PM new
deichen >
Oh, give us a break! You could be talking about any auction site, even ebay has plenty of discontent.
Of all the free auctionsites Bidville seems to have a bit higher frustration level, some of which is due to one of the lowest sell-through rates.
You're right, though, eBay has its share as well, but they also have the highest sell-through rate. Even Yahoo!Auctions, by most reports, has a respectable sell-through rate.
You must not have anything better to do with your time.
I think one of the more interesting aspects of the story is the "burn rate."
Bidville currently has a 1.4±% sell-through rate with little prospect for improvement. A stagnant sell-through rate continuing into YEAR TWO and YEAR THREE would not be good news.
posted on August 27, 2001 02:05:29 PM new
This thread has been locked due to it's disruptive nature and it seems to be becoming more about another site's message boards than it should even after previous warnings. Therefore it is locked.
