posted on October 29, 2001 06:38:43 AM new
Apparently Carnaby is trying to incent sellers to achieve. This is something eBay's PowerSeller program misses the boat on! eBay's PowerSeller program gives you a hollow pat on the head AND a stern warning that they'll dropkick you out of the program if you don't maintain your selling #s. eBay offers no tangible benefits to sellers. Carnaby does!
If this should happen to be my last post on AuctionWatch due to the lousy CC message posting requirement, I'd like to wish Carnaby much success and best wishes for the future! Hope their advertising has a lot of success and we begin to mention Carnaby as a top site along with eBay and Yahoo.
Over the past four months we have been responding to your input to
improve our level of service. Since then we have made many
improvements
to our Max Loader, greatly modified our Auction Manager, introduced
the Carnaby Stores, enhanced the site's performance and image hosting
capabilities (in both volume and speed), and responded to numerous
requests for importing items from other venues and UIEE files.
We are also putting the final touches in the category reorganization
and our universal login. Our expected release date for both of these
programs is November 10th. This will not affect any of your existing
auctions.
** -- What is next?
We are now ready to move to our next phase which includes attracting
a larger number of sellers as well as addressing potential buyers.
Our marketing campaing will extend to the radio, targeted banner
advertisement and select opt-in email campaigns.
**-- Holiday Extravangaza?
We are also ready to support a "Holiday Extravaganza" event, the terms
of which will be introduced on Sunday. Please expect an email before
the weekend is out. If you will be interested in participating, the
requirements are relatively easy:
What would you need to do?
- Select the "graduation" icon from our listing forms. This icon has
been redesigned for the event, and will appear to the browsers on the
site as a Holiday Extravaganza icon.
- Include the term "HolidayExtravangza" in the body of your
description.
There is no need to place it in your title. All event listings will be
followed by the special icon.
That is it. We'll take care of the rest.
What will we do?
- Identify items listed for the event with this special icon:
Although we have a very talented graphics design staff, we would like
to
give our members a chance to participate by submitting their graphics.
If you are a talented artist, submit a replacement idea for the two
images on the extravaganza search page.
Submit your work by Monday evening and we will select the most
appropriate
one and give all those who make a submission credit on the page.
- We will provide banners on the front page and other main pages of the
site with links to the event search page.
Again, if any of you want to contribute banner ideas for the
front page, you are welcome to submit them in gif format (217x77
pixels)
or (50x60 pixels).
**- What about the Charter Member Program?
We have been extending a special program to a number of experienced
sellers
from many different venues. We call the program the "Charter Seller"
invitation.
To qualify as a Charter Seller we are asking these members to "claim"
an
auction subcategory and list and maintain 200 or more auctions in that
subcategory for at least 90 days.
As part of this program we are offering the following deal:
- guaranteed free listings in either our auction or
store services for one year
- exemption from the store maintenance fees for 90 days after
our free trial period expires
- a $100 enhancement fee credit per month for your first three
months of operation
- email support and access to our exclusive sellers forum
This arrangement allows us to build a considerable inventory and gives
the sellers a first-comer advantage as the site grows and matures.
This probably leaves you wondering - And, how do I fit in, and why
haven't
I been made this offer?
As a token of our appreciation, we are offering you the same deal.
Well,
not exactly. To those members who have supported us with their
listings
over the last four months, who have gone through the quirks of the Max
Loader, the Auction Manager, the Stores and the Maxime, we will make
the
same offer with one slight modification:
In addition to the benefits you have already earned, you can
participate in
the Charter Seller program by maintaining a daily average of 20 or more
auctions in ANY category. What will this do for you (in addition to
the
credits and benefits you may have already accumulated?)
- We will provide our services completely free (no listing fees, and no
closing fees) for and additional 90 days from what you have already
earned.
You will receive a $100 credit per month that you can apply towards
enhancing your auction listings with bold, highlight, etc.
You will get free use of the stores for 180 days (90 days from our
current
trial period + 90 days from the Charter Program - and and additional 90
days if you participated in the stores pilot).
After that, the standard monthly maintenance fees will apply depending
on whether you choose to keep a
basic (7.95/month) or pro store (14.95/month).
After the free period (90+ days for auctions, 180+ days for store
items)
you will be charged a reduced 2.5% closing fee for every item but NO
listing fees for the entire 1 year period.
If you want to increase the benefits you have already earned, just
write
me back and say "I do" (want to participate) and maintain your listing
commitment. That's all.
I apologize for this winded letter, but feel it's time to step our
.COMmunity into high gear!
posted on October 30, 2001 08:45:13 PM new
I think Carnaby is very innovative.They have a very good shot at being very very succesful...btw.good luck to you wherever you end up
posted on October 30, 2001 09:16:55 PM new
Yeppers Carnaby will be the BEST SITE to offer a challenge to the "Giant"...........as we can no longer Chat and compare we have to just "wing it". I am going to do that at Carnaby!!!!
Good Luck everyone!!!!!
Thanks dimview and others that have kept us informed!
eBay offers no tangible benefits to sellers. Carnaby does!