posted on December 27, 2000 11:23:32 AM new
I have some products that are legit to list in two or more categories.
In fact I have rotated the listings among several categories and following a sale will relist in a different section.
I would be willing to pay a fee, like the Featured fee, to list the items in more than one category at the same time.
I understand the need to limit listings when no fee is charged. Without that restriction, the site would be over-run with duplicate listings and they would be placed in inappropriate categories.
I wonder if a system could be put in place where, at the time of listing, you could include say two to five additional categories with a fee for the additional listings. Much like the second category option eBay now offers.
It might offer a viable alternative to the present restrictions, for higher priced items, without cluttering the site.
I don't want to encourage YAHOO moving towards a "for fee" site structure but I don't mind "for fee" options that might provide profitable selling tools.
posted on December 27, 2000 12:01:59 PM new
When I am a buyer:
I search for my favorite collectibles by name. When I see 2, 3 or 4 or more of many identical items - same pictures of same things (which often happens even with different sellers involved), I quit looking and go to another auction site that does not do this.
I like to think that what I buy is special and unique. What need do I have to pay a high price plus shipping and handling plus insurance, for any item that is so non-remarkable it is all over the internet.
I cruse the internet every day looking for the special item that seldom appears, that may be unique, hard to find, that I think is special that I might be able to keep in my collection or sell for higher amount thru different outlet or with more detail or more pictures. I am willing to wait a long time for the right buyer - if I believe I have a desirable, hard to find item.
Even seeing 2 pictures on the same auction house of the same item immediately tells me that it is probably common, unremarkable and probably cheaply made. I may be wrong, but this is a conception of multiple auctions with identical pictures many folks have.
As a seller, I have many multiples of items (such as vintage railroad or fraternal pins) that are highly collectible, rare to anyone but me, (or handmade)desirable & very unique, but you will not see more than one identical item appear at a time in any auction house.
To run multiple pictures of items in one auction house is to denegrade your item & the auction house.
When you run multiple items (I'm not speaking of dutch where there is one picture & several items), you harm you and me.
posted on December 27, 2000 03:55:25 PM new
reston ray, I think it's a great suggestion! I can see both sides of that- as a buyer I get frustrated by jillions of items that are exactly the same, but I wouldn't be too bothered by one or two multis, and I think the fees would actually DIScourage real spam rather than encouraging it.
watafind- I know where you're coming from but I don't completely agree. I would bet that the areas I shop in may differ from the ones you do though.
Say I'm looking for Sun Set Malibu PJ doll from the late 70's. I would be excited to have a whole range of choices, from like-new in the box down to played-with with a haircut and missing hands. It gives me more of a choice, and I like choices. I also would prefer to be able to choose to buy from a seller with terms of sale that I am comfortable with. I prefer having a nice selection of things to choose from, and I think there's room for everybody's items. Where it gets frustrating is if you are browsing by photo & you have to wait for an entire page to load, only to find out that every item is identical. That makes me nuts!!
posted on December 27, 2000 06:06:03 PM new
My concern is never about older items that are in varying condition, but about newer items that are exactly identical or maybe have a different color stone, or name or slight different shape or color.
Go to Amazon Auctions - look at the category for Pinbacks and let me know again what you think about running virtually identical items.
It can destroy a good auction house and chance for sellers to sell - including the seller's items who spoils the well.
posted on December 27, 2000 07:05:16 PM new
I think that's a great idea.
This is exactly the kind of thing that Yahoo needs to focus on -- charging for features that add value for the seller. Fortunately, that is the direction they have headed so far.
However, the opposite of this -- reducing the value of the free listings (i.e. scrambling the listing order) is not a good idea.
