Looks like Chuck plugged the plug a while ago? It's a shame we may never see that secret marketing plan in action. If the secret marketing plan was anything like the web expertise in launching an online auction website then we won't be missing much.
More prove that starting an auction site is a lot harder that it appears.
posted on June 23, 2002 06:28:50 AM new
Starting an "auction" venue is easy ... making it work is the hard part.
I, too, was a member of AC - did a couple of buys and sells there. I gave up on the venue when it first went down and haven't been back since. If it has truly bit the big one, did you guys at least get an email or something? I haven't received anything from them about status.
posted on June 23, 2002 07:39:46 AM new
Not sure if what I have read on another message board was just a story or rumor but I had read that someone from auction dinner bought auction cow and will be opening it.
posted on June 23, 2002 09:43:39 AM new
Patty posted these yesterday in the AuctionCow forum ...
Chuck is working on some issues and deals that I am not aware of exactly, but should be making a announcement on the return or no return of AuctionCow when he decides to do so.
I have been working on a lot of issues, and took a small break from posting here, but I did get to monitor things from time to time during that period.
Okie Dokie? Are we all clear now?
---------------
It looks like Patty is getting fed up with her beloved Mootropolis and I wouldn't be surprised to see her pull the plug on it.
Back in the 1980's the modems were used mostly for BBS ( Bulletin Board Systems ) that were almost all free. The syops ( system operators ) setup on the software and phoneline(s) on their computer and did it all for fun or the chance to make new cyber and local friends ( and a chance to play God with their own creation ). Those were great days as there were no graphics and almost every BBS was the same as the others. There were passwords and codes to lean to navigate. The phonelines were almost always busy and a speed dialer setup with 10 different BBS phone numbers would get you into one in 10 minutes with a little luck.
Patty has stated that she was a BBS system operator back then but is now in the community bulletin board thing for money. Patty, there isn't that much money to be made and the headaches are not worth it. The Mootropolis denizens should idolize you but instead seem to treat you like the owner of the downtown movie theater, someone that lays down laws they don't always like. The denizens act like they are doing you a huge favor by being there when the truth is probably the other way around, you are doing them the huge favor.
posted on June 23, 2002 11:55:39 AM new
Its dead Jim. They started just to late. Maybe if Auctioncow/Mootropolis started hmm... about three or fours years ago, they might have had a chance.
So far most of the oldies are gone. Here's my list so far:
Haggle was started in 96', sold to InfoSpace in 00', closed shop last December.
Firstauction was started I think somewhere in 97' or so, closed shop about a year or so ago.
DealDeal started in 96', dead in 02'.
The only original ones that are somewhat alive is:
ePier (1999)
Carnaby (1998)
Bidville (2000)
Auctionweiser (1999)
Yahoo (2000, but maybe gone soon)
Amazon (2000, but I think they will cow tale to eBay soon)
Those are the only ones that I know of that are not dead. Yet. I guess we will just have to see what happens.
I commend the other sites that started within the last few months, but if these sites that have a three-year or more lead on the newer ones are struggling (include two public companies), how can a new site (especially if it is free) expect to survive?
I guess if you have a dream, you really do not know what's going to happen until you try. If Auctioncow could of secured some funds, and had a stable system, well, who knows. If they comeback, they comeback, if they don't they don't. At least they tried to get the site off the ground.
I partly agree with RB in sticking with eBay, and maybe a couple of the other ones.
posted on June 23, 2002 01:24:37 PM new
I would not be surprised if the plug was pulled on the moo. The trolls from bidville do as they please, so a user agreement is a waste of time, and to moderate these idiots would be a full time job alone. Its the same stuff rehashed over and over......
posted on June 23, 2002 02:18:39 PM new
Actually, bidsbids, you only posted part of that message. The other part noted to Fanini that Moo and AuctionCow are two separate entities.
Though, I don't know WHY Mootropolis would close down. Odd that people even mention that when just in the last month they added several new features and stuff (Marketplace, links, and new servers (notice that mootropolis.net is now active). The message board is far from dead and very active. Patty needed a break in my opinion from all the idiots you have to deal with constantly.
One mystery CompTalk is why AuctionWeiser, which is now InterShopZone.com (they even advertise on Moo) switched their software over to the EXACT same software used by AuctionCow and PriceFire use. I wonder what was wrong with their software from before?
XCent's software is too limiting in many ways, so it was a bad move. Though it DID give InterShopZone a better "look" with cleaner lines and organization.
posted on June 23, 2002 03:10:04 PM new
Well look who came out of the blue. I'm gone for a little while, and Yourdesigns comes back to greet me. YD, thanks for the welcome back.
Now, I do not know too much about any of these sites. If I can use them, and they work, then I am all for whatever any company improvements, for any site. As long as it benefits the client/consumer. I think we all can agree that anything is an improvement, as long as it works. I couldn't care less if Auctionweiser, Auctioncow, ePier, or eBay for that matter is using the same type of software. Who care? Do you have some sort of vendetta against a site that goes against Auctioncow? All that I can see is that Auctionweiser (or Intershopzone) has been around for a few years now, these newer ones have not been. They seem to be adding a lot of new features to their site. The bulk uploader is easy to use, their bulk relister is easy to use also, and they are the only one (besides Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay) that provides other services besides auctions. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not comparing them to the big three, or any other site. I am just stating what I see. If you want to know what software they are using, or what they are doing, ask them I guess. I am not a programmer, and I never said I was. I guess Yourdesigns knows more about this stuff than I do. If Auctioncow get back up and running, then good for them.
So I do not know what to tell you, or how to react to what you typed. I guess you put me in an impasse. I do not think you can compare Auctioncow or Pricefire to them, ePier, Bidville, or any other site that has been around for a few years or more.
My original point was to say, that I just do not know why people (or companies) continue to start auction sites. The market share in Internet auctions is very thin. What makes you think that Auctioncow, Auctionweiser, ePier, Bidville, or even Yahoo could actually compete against eBay.
Anybody remember the movie Tucker? Think about it.
posted on June 23, 2002 03:12:41 PM new
How can Moo ever make any respectable revenue? Those rinky-dink ads for BV sellers?
The reality of the situation may be sinking in and Patty may be ready to give up the project.
posted on June 23, 2002 07:44:28 PM new
Well Bids,
Here is one thing I have noticed. There are 5 Banners on the mail page and 10 on the boards page.... I know the ones like HillBilly has are 10.00 per month and at that rate = $200.00 per month plus how ever much the others are paying for there Banners I don't know there have been quite a few of them in there so even at 200.00 per month that is makeing money:}:}
posted on June 23, 2002 08:08:57 PM new
$200 per month on banners is beer money. Patty has to be assessing her site's future and not finding it pleasant. The bigger the site the more baby sitting it needs and more personnel.
I agree with Computalk in that I could care less what software a site runs. I think Chuck got a real humility lesson in trying to get his basic Phase One site running. It all shows how good the tech departments are at many of the established sites like Carnaby.
posted on June 24, 2002 05:56:33 AM new
It also looks as though Patty is kibitzing much less with her Moo friends. She may be too busy as she stated, but I suspect, for her, the writing is on the wall. The original concept was interesting, but it has simply turned into another "dimview vs the world" forum. The novelty for many, including Patty, has worn off.
The good part is that, either through attrition, apathy or experience, the number of folks arguing with the dimwit are dwindling. Pretty soon she'll have no one to agitate, and that will be a good thing for the entire on-line auction industy!
posted on June 24, 2002 07:53:49 AM new
The main competition for mootropolos.com is www.otwa.com and a comparison of pricefire.com auction to eBay would fit the size of these two message centers. Before YourDesigns can chime in here and state that Moo is still young and growing, OTWA is growing as well. Moo was new and fresh and had a moderator that frequently joined in discussions and was very easy with the rules but as B B King sang The Thrill Is Gone . New ventures may be exciting and challenging and hopeful of success but as time passes the excitement tends to pass as well.
posted on June 24, 2002 08:25:55 AM new
B.B. King was right.
The desire to get up and go to your longtime job everyday, which used to be fun and something to look forward to, is now simply a means to pay the bills. I have a picture of my new Jeep on my office wall to "remind" me why I am still working long past when most of my friends have retired.
Imagine having to spend volunteer (non-paid)time and energy everyday to maintain and keep fresh something that you really wanted to do, but that has become stale with the same old, same old.
Unfortunately, if you look at the most popular forums at the Moo, the discussions invariably go back to discussing Bidville, become dominated by dimview's negativity and tunnelvision, and eventually get locked or abandoned. Folks like CuFF, who are good persons in terms of auction stuff (buys and sells), just haven't learned how to ignore that TROLL yet. When they do, there will be nothing left to "talk about" at the Moo.
Patty should have reacted to this problem a long time ago and done more to encourage the other forums to get some action ...
posted on June 24, 2002 09:41:22 AM new
Actually, in a forum in the Underground of Mootropolis, Patty stated she took a break at an exotic location (vacation). Sounds like a vacation, which I think all of us have done once in awhile.
Really, Moo's overhead has to be low, and with the banner ads and hits, there should be plenty of income to keep the lights on. As for the long term plan, with the expansion to add more content that should help. To make a site valuable you need content that keeps people AT the site. A message board is one way, and people do spend a lot of time on them.
AW stays aflot with paid-for services. OTWA wouldn't exist to the extent it does without Andale's paid for services.
On another note: I think dimview's days are numbered on ANY forum. People are truly tired of the dimview vs the world war, and have been posting on many other topics. Since dimview now no longer posts to the stats to Moo's forums, his audience has shrunk considerably. Most people don't want to take the time to go through 6 popups just to read a table chart of numbers.
posted on June 24, 2002 09:55:33 AM new
The added discussion forum bombed for the start. I think that took a lot of wind out of Patty's sails.
Moo can exist perhaps on its meager income but the stated goal was to make money and perhaps go full time on the venture.
The AW and Andale boards draw in new services users and keep others from straying. Their strategy makes sense.
Dim loves the 'Battlefield Mootropolis'
