forshoppin
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posted on January 7, 2001 12:57:26 PM new
If you are serious about the thought of a COOP please email me at [email protected] (Yes, you can laugh because I am up to no good!!!!!!)
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tomasz
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posted on January 7, 2001 01:28:35 PM new
I don't know what the thought of a COOP are could you post a link to them????. I was thinking abous suing Yahoo for breach of contact, but I'm involved in one already I don't want to get confused.
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forshoppin
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posted on January 7, 2001 01:48:13 PM new
email me because Yahoo eyes are watching! Thanks!!!!!
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reston_ray
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posted on January 7, 2001 03:49:04 PM new
I would love to see a CO-OP be formed by the sellers.
I'm not naive enough to believe we could develope a full function auction site.
What I do feel is possible would be a Master Web Site, maintained by a member owned non-profit.
The Master Site would contain a general policy statement, include member web sites, or links to them elsewhere, a brief summary of each member and links to their auction listings. There would need to be a small quarterly fee from each member to defray expenses.
The CO-OP site would require a paid adminstrator who would be compensated by member fees, any individual consulting fees charged for helping sellers set-up web sites and other specilized services and possible advertising revenue.
Individual members could then include links in their auctions, emails, postings and packages pointing to their own site/auctions and the CO-OP site.
The administrator, with the help of members, could advertise the CO-OP site, include it in search engines and do other general promotions.
The initial set-up and out of pocket costs would be nominal but the project could be a dark hole of time for the administrator with little initial compensation.
OAUA membership might be a requirement to participate, for established standards, and a chat board here or at OTWA might provide communication without requiring another place for each of us to visit.
Tutorials for helping non-net savvy users (like me)to including links etc., some broad based Board for representing sellers and guiding management and maybe even a classified section.
This model is used everywhere in small communities and large, for business to join together in common interests and promotions(Chamber of Commerce etc.).
I'm sure many suggestions could be added to these thoughts and my outline is just a place to start. It might be that this would best function under the wing of OAUA.
I do feel it is very important that this not be a privately owned service. We buy enough services and rent enough venue space already.
Time to build something of OUR OWN.
I would be willing to contribute both time and money to the initial development.
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forshoppin
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posted on January 7, 2001 04:25:59 PM new
My Wife and Myself have already had a number of replies and comments on this subject. Too include a response from a "Corporate Officer" of an on-line Auction Site. I hope everyone gives this real thought and consideration. It could work with everyones help and input.
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outoftheblue
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posted on January 7, 2001 09:26:27 PM new
Hey Forshoppin,
I'm all for it! Sounds like fun. 
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canvid13
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posted on January 8, 2001 08:03:51 AM new
I like the idea but what happens if it's successful? What happens if a few determined people build it and then there's a mass of new sellers who want their say too and what if that say is dramatically different than the creator's of the site?
What about category balance? If you don't get a broad enough seller base you end up being a niche site?
Coops are never easy. You need to build a large mass of sellers to bring in bidders.
I think, rather than a coop, we need an association or lobby group that can deal with auction sites in general?
And even then, there are many, many, different types of sellers? Kids, folks who don't declare their revenue all the way up to big companies and even the USPS!
At least we're talking about it though?
Let me know more!
Jamie
canvid13
[email protected]
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stockticker
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posted on January 8, 2001 08:23:23 AM new
This is a co-op site that I came across several months ago where a bunch of eBay sellers of retro items banded together into a form of co-op.
http://www.auctionmap.com/
I always thought the idea had potential.
Irene
[ edited by stockticker on Jan 8, 2001 08:24 AM ]
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RB
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posted on January 8, 2001 08:30:49 AM new
Hmmm ... this reminds of those discussions that Meg probably had over coffee at Starbucks one day with a few friends, wondering how she could get rich without really working.
Now, let's see ...
We'll start out as a nice little, volunteer run community ...
Hmmm ....
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Pocono
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posted on January 8, 2001 09:39:47 AM new
uh...Meg was brought in WELL after ebay was successful. She didn't start it.
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musicman1313
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posted on January 8, 2001 09:44:20 AM new
I have thought about something like this for a long time. But, over the net it would be cumbersome and hard to manage. My idea has always been a auction equivlent of the Linux public domain idea. Or better yet, public TV. Where there are those paid to handle the issues and the rest pay dues. Although the chances of greed slipping in and ruining the whole thing are high. It would take alot of faith in those running it. I agree with what the last poster said about "Meg at Starbucks"
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outoftheblue
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posted on January 8, 2001 09:54:56 AM new
stockticker
Thanks for the link. I've never seen it in practice but it looks like it is at least worth a try.
RB
Must you always be so negative?
[ edited by outoftheblue on Jan 8, 2001 09:55 AM ]
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reston_ray
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posted on January 8, 2001 10:24:56 AM new
This is actively being discussed right now on OTWA under the title OTWA PLaza.
As their site is a competator to AW in many services, I wish to respect protocal but you can search for them under Online Traders Web Alliance and the discussion is in the eBay Community Forum.
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RB
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posted on January 8, 2001 10:52:04 AM new
outoftheblue ... if you want negative, just check out almost any of the threads started since Yahoo announced a user fee schedule, including this one.
I prefer to think my comments are realistic.
I am all for the entrepeneur, but let's face it:
1. NOBODY is going to devote their time and resources on a voluntary basis to help other on line buyers and sellers (mostly sellers from what I can see posted here) make money. This would soon become a full time job and even the most tried-and-true-help-my-fellow-man would soon lose interest in spending their own personal time and money with no tangeable return. It's easy to say "Yahoo has screwed us so let's do a number on them by banding together". It's a lot harder to do it! Just ask anyone with a relatively successful web site how much work it is.
2. The on line auction business has just about run it's course. Us "old" small time buyers and sellers have been moved to the back of the class in favour of the big time sellers who generate large amounts of money for the venues. If you read between the lines of Yahoo's latest announcement, and many people have figured this out, Yahoo does not want the Mon & Pop business anymore.
So, my advice to you is take off your rose-coloured glasses and have a look at what is really happening. It's not negative ... it's real
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reston_ray
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posted on January 8, 2001 11:10:22 AM new
We all view the elephant from a different perspective and what we each see is both accurate and different for what others see.
While being responsible to our own business is our primary goal many feel it is productive to join with others in working towards common goals.
The focused involvement in OAUA and the constant help offered here on the boards are both ongoing examples of these efforts.
I hope we can find common interests on which we can work together and respect or even encourage differences.
We can be different without having to remain completely seperate.
The success of these boards is proof of that.
Seeing reality is important. Working to change reality is also valid.
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preciousminutes
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posted on January 8, 2001 11:12:02 AM new
reston_ray
Well Said!!
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RB
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posted on January 8, 2001 11:22:31 AM new
I agree - very well said reston_ray. I sincerely hope you folks can make it happen and I wish you the best of luck
[ edited by RB on Jan 8, 2001 11:23 AM ]
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reston_ray
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posted on January 8, 2001 11:35:52 AM new
This idea is taking off right now at OTWA with about two dozen users having committed to participate.
While their initial focus was to make it an extension of the regular OTWA posters there is consideration of a broader based identity.
With the idea being discussed on several forums, I do hope we can create a wider circle of participants with resulting better promotional results for everyone.
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forshoppin
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posted on January 8, 2001 11:40:59 AM new
reston: I love your comments but they give me a headache. It takes to much thought to translate them into common English. I think you have stated the best thoughts about this but........ You are losing some of us common folks who want to be involved. As you know I am trying to get a group of people together so we can stop talking and start building something. Unite the troops I guess. And I still can't figure out where you are and what you are doing although I know the end goal is the same for both of us. I would rather be working with you then doing the same work you have already done! Please explain this to me simply!!!!!
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jwpc
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posted on January 8, 2001 11:52:56 AM new
Reston
Thanks – I thought I recalled that there was already a group or two formed for just such a purpose, not that it seems much has been accomplished by them.
What I hear being said is that the sellers (at least these on the board) want some type of a union of sellers, to force Yahoo and other auctions sites to cater to the sellers desires. I personally don’t like the idea of unions period. I believe a company/business has the right to make decisions, and/or changes based on their own insight and management, even when it is foolish or unbusiness like. At the same time the customer, in this case the sellers, have the right to stay or go if they no longer wish to do business in the manor the company dictates.
Personally, I believe in FREE enterprise. Forming such a union to attempt to force Yahoo or any other site to cater to given desires, is no different than if you buyers united and demanded you ship on a certain day, or packed in a certain way. I know right now, everyone would be screaming about such.
I don’t like the fee approach of Yahoo, I would have easily accepted the FVF, but I grant them the right to do it, they own the site, and I am merely a customer. IF I wish to continue business with them then I agree to continue it according to their rules – BUT on the other hand, I also have the right to leave if I don’t like their ideas, or changes. THIS is free enterprise, not forcing an owner to do as the customer wishes.
Just my opinion.
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forshoppin
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posted on January 8, 2001 12:01:09 PM new
A co-op works together to help all the members reach a goal. A union would force it's way on others and that is not what I feel the sellers here are about. I (as an individual) would not be involved with a group forcing anything on anybody. Part of the reason I am upset with Yahoo is that they feel they can step into something they have paid no mind to for two years and decide to FORCE their will upon us. It's more along the lines of a central page where the sellers can let others know about what they have for sale and where they can find it. We have all been uprooted from a place where people knew where to find us. Now what? In order to keep any sales alive we must move and find a way to take the bidder/buyer base with us. Each seller is an individual and looking for individual things in a new auction site. A centralized page would make it so the bidder/buyers could find which site their favorite seller(s) have gone to.
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reston_ray
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posted on January 8, 2001 12:44:25 PM new
If anything I've said suggests a Union like identity I apoligize as that is the furthest thing from my mind.
Forshopping is on target with the idea of an electronic bulletin board. We join together, post links to our web sites and auctions and promote the primary site in our listings, emails etc.
I've intentionally been general in my suggestions, boardering on vague and murky, to offer the most open opportunity for other to suggest and discuss what they are thinking or want.
Already people have mentioned existing co-ops among the pottery sellers, the program associated with OAUA, Linux programs and the web cicle they are starting at OTWA.
I'm trying to encourage people in finding answers for our common goals without relying on my limited knowledge to pick or champion any one solution.
In nother words, I don't have any answers. And I live too close to WASH, DC to know how to speak clearly.
But I do want to help and enourage others.
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forshoppin
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posted on January 8, 2001 12:51:46 PM new
Reston - you are forgiven!!! LOL There is something in the water in that area that makes people talk funny. I know what and where you are trying to go and hope that the others follow.
And I am in a state of shock. I posted a few (4) auctions on AuXpal to give it a try. I think it was Saturday and I have a bid on one of those pieces of junk that Yahoo wanted off their site. YaaaaHooooo!!!!!! Sorry!!! I mean Wwwwwhhhheeeeee!!!!!!
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preciousminutes
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posted on January 8, 2001 01:40:40 PM new
i have placed a form handler on my webpage wich you can post complaints,make a donation to help form it's own site.. if you would like the link to this temporary site feel free to email me
[email protected]
oops sorry forgot a few words!!!
[ edited by preciousminutes on Jan 8, 2001 01:46 PM ]
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