posted on January 20, 2001 06:02:20 PM newI am not starting this thread to encourage a bunch of advertisements for other auction sites. I am starting it in hopes of getting some good dialogue going about what people want and hopefully you will all respect this wish and not mention the names of sites. The reason I ask this is because I want this to be a productive thread and not a battle of the cheerleaders. Thanks for your cooperation.
It seems that there are a heck of a lot of people dying for an alternative to ebay.
When they get a site that is original and well created they complain that it should have the features that they are used to.
When they get a site that has all of the features that ebay has they call it a knockoff or wannabe.
No matter what the site is like theywant it to have ten million bidders on opening day.
How does one please a crowd that seems unpleasable?
posted on January 21, 2001 05:55:14 PM new
You can't please everyone, such is life. People have gotten so use to bad mouthing Yahoo! and eBay, they will bad mouth even the new start-ups. Not giving them any time, to get off of the ground.
Surprising how much is expected, in such a short time, when not paying anything for it? Especially when most of those with short patience levels, would more than likely, never try to do it themselves.
posted on January 21, 2001 06:49:46 PM new
There are those, as you have observed, that can not be pleased. These are the people that want the functionality and traffic of Ebay, but without the cost.
As an impersonator of another president Bush once said, not gonna happen!
posted on January 22, 2001 12:52:16 AM new
I think the main reason people call these other sites, "wannabees" is because the other sites target the same audience as ebay.
Maybe one of these sites could have any listings with a start bid $1.00 & under be free, to encourage low start bids, then charge .20¢ for any start bids over $1.00.
How about offering buyers incentive by giving them credit for positive feedbacks.
Maybe create a live atmosphere where all items in the same category end on the same day.
Just some ideas to throw out there, but I think it'd be nice to see a different marketing strategy.
posted on January 22, 2001 10:48:21 AM new
It's a given that we all want to be able to sell things.That would please all of us.But I also would like support that is a real person who can specifically answer my questions.I don't mind paying for a site that produces sales. I like the idea of a flat fee based on auctions listed.They have a steady income- I have a predictable budget- that pleases me.
What pleases me probably won't please others. That is the nature of man. I have found sites which please me more than others. I use them to buy and sell.Perhaps all the smaller sites should do a survey in about 3 months to see what about their site pleases people and what doesn't.Then adjust.Which will probably displease those who just hate change.
cathy
posted on January 22, 2001 04:29:38 PM new
Great topic! First of all I am not looking at an alternative to ebay. I'm pleased with my sales there and have no problem paying the little they charge. What I am looking for is a site on which to sell misc items I don't specialize in or a site to sell duplicate/stock items. Basically, I'm searching for a site to supplement my ebay sales. I will not pay a listing fee for any other site than ebay. I will happily pay a FVF to any site. My perfect secondary site would be a site where there are quality items listed not junk I wouldn't even want to pay the shipping on if I was a bidder. The problem with alot of the free sites is they are full of junk listings that will never attract the right buyers. So basically to keep activity going within the site~~the cheerleaders trade back and forth never really attracting the right bidders needed for everyone to make money.
Stay tuned! I have an interesting question to ask in the Golds Forum