posted on January 19, 2001 07:10:48 AM new
Some of us on another board were just trying to figure out which of the two their auction management most resembled.
posted on January 19, 2001 07:40:11 AM new
RebelGuns
I'd HAVE to say "Titanic" because the Titanic folks denied reality, and continued to close their eyes to the inevitable. The Titanic crew was so full of themselves, so arrogant they failed to take reasonable precautions or listen to advice.
As opposed to Gilligan's Island, where everyone was just a silly "happy camper," and continued to live a form of fulfilling life on the Island, even though it wasn't their 1st choice, they were happy. ALSO, they all, continually wished to be rescued, and tried any advice offered - I don't see Yahoo wishes a rescue, or accepts any advice but their own. NO, Yahoo is more like the Titanic crew who finally lead many including itself to their death. On Gilligan, no one was killer or really hurt by their situation - no so with Yahoo and/or the Titanic!
posted on January 19, 2001 10:42:18 AM new
I like the analogies. : ) But whatever ship that is leaving Yahooland (whether in is the Titanic or Minnow) I would like to be on it. I'm just letting my stuff entered 1/9/01 run out.
Anyone know where the new land of the free and opportunity will be? I am hopeful that AuxPal will make a good home. I have transfered 50 items there and found some looking, but no bidding as of yet, but I am hopeful.
posted on January 19, 2001 10:48:55 AM new
I'm doing a little shopping around and trying to see what goes well on what site. In other words, I might list certain categories on certain sites and different on others. Looks like the day of the one auction site devotee is over for me. I'm posting now on four sites, according to what is selling the best where.
posted on January 19, 2001 11:58:39 AM new
Since when has Yahoo or anybody else been acting in any other interest than their own?
The business model that is collapsing: banner ads, is what kept away the fees. It wasn't really, 'free', as sellers we attracted buyers or at least lookers (hits to Yahoo) which generated revenues. Since the money wasn't comeing out of our pockets directly, we got absolutely nothing in terms of service from Yahoo.
At least with fees they will have to provide some service or the remaining sellers will go to ePay. Of course most will go anyways and the big question is how many? I've been amused at the decline so far: I wouldn't have bothered counting until February 10 or whenever the freebies are over (actually a little later...I have 2000 items on 14 day listings with the Bulk Loader). The 30% decline so far is more than I would have thought.
I predict a 90% decline by the end of February. Let's say Yahoo can maintain 300,000 listings for the rest of the year. If the average listing fee is $.50 (probably high) then that generates $150,000 every 10 days that generates $5,325,000 on an annual basis. And if they mimmic ePay's larcenous policy that listing fees are non refundable even when the seller gets stiffed, it's an easy way to charge and bill without the hassle of getting involved in policing the site. That's 5 milion more than they were getting.
If on the other hand they had taken our suggestion and charged a 5% FV fee, what do you think they would have made? Based on my 2000 listings, they would have made $6000 in FV fees from me in 1 year. I don't know if I am the typical seller but I do know that there are lots of items selling for less and many selling for more, so I think I'm a fairly good model for this guess. I am 1/1500 of Yahoo at 3 million listings. If that number was to remain constant for a year (it was growing, but say with FV fees it kills the growth), then Yahoo would generate $9 million. That's 4 million more than the listing fees would bring in...nearly double. But they would have to provide services like refunding FV fees to the sellers who got stiffed, and then that would make them want to get rid of the stiffs, so more expenses would be involved.
So even with a 90% reduction in listings, it's not clear what was best for Yahoo's bottom line. Since they do still get a good bit of money still for advertising, the reduced traffic will cost them as well and I don't know how to estimate the value of that.
I do know that they have turned their back on a niche of sellers who cannot pay listing fees and who can pay FV fees. And if I was running things, I'd rather try to develop that into something greater. And I'd rather try to improve the site with some basic services any community demands, like a Police force and waste removal.
[ edited by zzyzx000 on Jan 19, 2001 12:02 PM ]
posted on January 19, 2001 12:58:03 PM new
zzyzx000,
I have to disagree.
"At least with fees they will have to provide some service"
Yuchpoo has already shown that they will do what ever they want, include shut peopel down without notice or explanation.
posted on January 20, 2001 12:54:35 AM new
If Yahoo is the Titanic, does that mean we will have to endure a long movie about it? I think Eric Estrada would be the perfect person to play the lead caracter, since he disappeared from the face of the earth much like Yahoo auctions will. The theme song could be sung by George Michael`s partner from Wham! (I think Andrew Ridgely was his name.) His career really took off after the end of Wham, didn`t it? . The difficult part will be getting George W. Bush to play the top decision maker at Yahoo. He is the only one who could play the role of someone that stupid and make it look convincing. I can`t wait for this flick to come out on DVD.
posted on January 20, 2001 07:14:03 AM new
OOOOOOOOOOOOO I can see this could get off subject, and into political slams real quick.
I would think the head of this Yahoo Ship should be Al Gorey - seeing as he invented the internet, such a feat - combined with being able to lie with a straight face, is definitely necessary for head of the Yahoo Ship - perhaps he can get more funds for this sinking ship from the oriental temples who have always been so willing to raise funds for him.
Okay, now the Republicans & Democrats have had their say, lets get back to the serious matter of the Minnow Crew running this Titanic Ship into the iceberg!
posted on January 20, 2001 10:52:27 AM new
Being a major portal that advertises, they aren't Gilligans Island, stranded in the unknown territory. Yahoo is the Titanic!
posted on January 20, 2001 11:13:37 AM new
Full steam ahead into disaster, that's Titanic.
In their own little world, that's Gilligan's Isle.
Most of the Titanic crew went down with the ship, the Minnow crew also took some responsibility and cared about the passengers' fate, that's not yahoo.
posted on January 20, 2001 11:00:20 PM new
So the Auction Team at Yahoo isn't real bright. They effectively showed the door to the pro seller, but perhaps they have their eye on Joe Sixpack, of which there are many. Have you noticed what's happening at Half.com?
There are 5 million ads there, all for recent used 'media' like cds, books, videos, games. I bought 10 videos there 2 weeks ago. it was great for me and for ePay (they own half.com). I averaged about $3.50 per movie and bought all of them in 20 minutes. One I got for $1.45 in great shape. ePay took a big bite (what is it 15%??) and they limit shipping to breakeven at best.
As for the seller, how about the guy who created the ad, wrapped the tape in a padded mailer (don't they cost $.50 or more each?) emailed me confirmation, took it to the post office and made what, about $1?
As long as there are 5 million of these folks, "special or challenged" as they may be, willing to do all that for $1, Yahoo can expect to get some of them listing auctions on their site, at least until the morons tire of whatever it is that motivates them to work for peanuts.
BTW, Half.com is far from cool. I didn't get one of my tapes, and there is no way I can cantact the seller to ask why (except the old Yahoo trick of leaving a message in his feedback), and I can't even complain to Half.com for 3 weeks from the shipping date. And get this: a buyer can only make 3 requests for refund in their LIFETIME no matter what the reason. I see there can be a problem of buyers repeatedly claiming they never got the goods, but there must be a better solution to that problem.
[ edited by zzyzx000 on Jan 20, 2001 11:02 PM ]
[ edited by zzyzx000 on Jan 20, 2001 11:02 PM ]
