posted on August 11, 2000 10:49:53 AM new
I started a thread earlier about eBay giving our info to a 3rd PARTY but I now have to ammend this to PARTIES. http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=235370 I'm sorry if this info is redundant but I think it's important to all of us.
The following post by a "pink" was on eBay's Soapbox on July 31. This is a different company (not Annuncio)- I believe Annuncio uses it's targeting techniques strictly through email campaigns. The name of the company that is doing this personalization technology profiling for eBay is DYNAPTICS and this quote is from their home page:
_____________________________________________
"Dynaptics is the first company to bridge the gap between analyzing a customer's shopping history and considering current Web site behavior in order to achieve real-time personalization."
April, 2000 IDC.
_____________________________________________
http://www.dynaptics.com/
Here is the post:
_____________________________________________
Dear eBay-ers,
eBay is exploring the possibility of introducing new personalization technology that would help you find items of interest based on your needs and preferences. Currently, we are testing a product that will suggest items to you based on your bid history.
We'd like to invite you to become a beta test member and try out the technology yourself!
All that's required is for you to click on the following URL to access the beta test.
http://216.112.105.77/dynaptics_sign_in.htm
From the page, type in your eBay user ID and your email address. Within 24 hours of receipt of your request, you will be sent an email from Dynaptics (the company we are working with to develop the personalization technology) containing a list of items especially tailored for you! After you try out the test, don't forget to share with us your thoughts. To do so, follow the link to the on-line survey found in the e-mail that Dynaptics will be sending you. Your input will help us shape the look and feel of personalization initiatives before we roll-out to the larger eBay community.
If you're ready to try out the test now, please click on the following URL:
http://216.112.105.77/dynaptics_sign_in.htm
I have been thinking about this last development with Dynaptics and their personalized shopping list. I'm wondering if this program will pull more buyers away from viewing the actual item listing pages and therefore cause the sellers to receive less page views.
Also, I now think I have a better understanding for eBay's insistence on using the "WATCH" feature since this may be a way for them to track the items that you're interested in purchasing.
This is quite ALARMING and here I was worried about my privacy in regards to DoubleClick - eBay may prove to be much worse!!!! You know, all I ever really wanted was a place with an honest, straight-forward format to buy and sell my merchandise on a person to person basis. Where did it go?
Blanche
Edited to clarify that it was not an EMAIL but was instead a POST by a pink on eBay's soapbox
[ edited by bhearsch on Aug 11, 2000 10:04 PM ]
posted on August 11, 2000 03:17:41 PM new
Yes, it is quite alarming. I'd like more info on this. Will eBay be sending spam emails to members based on their bidding? Or providing our email addys and bid history to a third party for marketing purposes? Wow, this sounds worse than targeted banner advertising.
posted on August 11, 2000 03:24:02 PM newVeryModern, thanks for replying to this thread. To tell you the truth, I was beginning to think I was the only one that found this eBay beta program disturbing.
There has been so much going on lately in the eBay Outlook forum that a topic can disappear quickly from the front page if there is no response. Thanks again for helping to keep it visible.
Blanche
[ edited by bhearsch on Aug 11, 2000 03:25 PM ]
My main concern, other than the obvious privacy issue, is the effect this may have on our page hits. Will this possibly dilute our buyer base by tying them to a specified list of items for sale (via their buying profile) which will keep them from having the incentive to actually go through the category listings themselves?
posted on August 11, 2000 04:28:07 PM new
Blanche: I found the announcement of the Personalization Technology "possibility", (that is in Beta?),on the Soap Box last week. If you go back a ways on the Soap Box you will find a thread started by an eBay teckie touting the program and responding to some of the posts. (Gee, do you think they could have found a more obscure Board?)
It looked to me that this guy was responding to only positive, Hey I think I'll like this! posts. I got the impression it was a CYA thread so eBay could say we got feedback from users,and they love it at roll out.
My first impression was that it would hurt sellers if their auctions aren't lucky enough to be picked by search. My second impression was that it was a prelude to another optional feature where a seller could pay a fee to make sure their auction would be captured by this search feature.
The word technology didn't strike me then as a means of tracking. I assumed that eBay would be doing the search from recent bidding history, (which anyone can see anyway), or you would get to choose keywords, or something along those lines.
I didn't realize, (nor was there any indication given by eBay), that this would be handled by a 3rd party. A 3rd party performing searches for eBay will have to be given that person's information.
The question then becomes if this Personalization Technology will be limited to eBay information, or will it follow you around the web and offer items based on all of your web surfing.
No matter what it is, eBay may be crossing the line with this one if eBay doesn't have the good sense to disclose that a 3rd party is involved. That the 3rd party will be given personal information, and whatever else this "technology" is designed to do, like follow you around to compile information for a personalized search.
Last week I did a search for mango butter, (my Mother likes the stuff). I clicked on one of the search results and it turned out to be a porn site. ( Don't ask, it was way past kinky). I clicked off, but if a bug was following me around for eBay would it then provide me with a selection from the Adult listings on my next Personalized Search?
I don't know, but whatever it is or isn't they can keep it.
posted on August 11, 2000 04:43:00 PM new
Oh GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can see it coming. FIRST, it will further DILUTE the number of people looking at our items. However, do you REALLY think that eBay is doing this so they can provide a service to people?
More likely, when enough users sign up, they will directed to listings from "eBay affiliates". Or, maybe there will be a new type of listing fee - "Enhanced Super Featured Plus +"
I'm sure this is costing eBay BIG BUCKS, and I'm sure it is NOT money being spent to enhance the bids the current sellers are receiving. It does not make any type of business sense.
posted on August 11, 2000 04:43:19 PM new
Well. as I wrote in another thread some weeks ago, as a buyer, this would be like a MYSIMON guy popping up like a
hologram in the grocery store to ask me if I would like to buy a pepper to go with the onion in my hand because 62% of
shoppers buying onions buy peppers. I would run screaming for the door.
Now if the sausage people pony up a couple of bucks, maybe grocery Simon could helpfully suggest their product and their
brand to me - hapless shopper, this contingent on the fact I go to the shop at this freak show store, which is not likely.
I hate to say NEVER, but I don't think this will work. I know what I want went I shop. There is NO chance that I will pause
even one microsecond to learn what EBAY thinks I may want to buy.
Are you kidding, it is laughable.
- Would you like to enable Billpoint? --
NO
- Would you like to see what Ebay Simon has found for you?
NO
-Would you like our magazine?
NO
Would you like the highlight that?
NO
Yes of course ebay wants to do this so that they can charge sellers but so what?
These ebay folks really just don't get it.
posted on August 11, 2000 05:31:26 PM newsmw, thanks for the extra info. I tried to find the thread you were referencing but my eyes are starting to feel like sandpaper so I think I'll take a break from the computer for a while.
You know, I feel strongly that any activities or dealings that I'm involved with on the internet are strictly between me and the relevant party and aren't anyone else's business. I am just sick to death of the interference by 3rd parties out to make a buck off of something that doesn't concern them.
The World Wide Web was NOT invented for marketing by privacy invading, spamming, scum sucking advertisers. It was invented for CONVERSATIONS.
Sorry for the rant but I have really had it right now!!
Blanche: My eyes haven't gotten to sandpaper yet, but I am working on it.
I found the thread. The last post was August 10th. There are 101 replies. This is what the teckie describes the "Personal Search" page located in My Ebay.
"Welcome, XXXXX. Based on your preferences, we recommend the following current auctions for you...." *
Don't you just love it? Bidders not using search but having selected auctions served up to them. I can't believe this won't be an optional "extra" for sellers.
Here is another crackerjack bit of news too. Note the part about the company that can track you on the web to your zip code.
posted on August 11, 2000 09:30:01 PM newsmw, thanks for finding the thread. I'm afraid I didn't realize all of those replies were there because I didn't scroll far enough. Yes, they are going to find auctions for the bidders that they think fit their criteria which will keep them from doing their own searches. Forget about impulse buying - there won't be any. What a disaster for the sellers.
I found the other article interesting as well. I sure wish dc9a320 would read this. Good old AKAMAI - I wonder where I've seen that one before? I think if you put a "tracking.ym0 before it that might ring a bell!!
posted on August 12, 2000 09:08:25 AM new
Here are a few more posts from eBay's Soapbox concerning this personalized technology that eBay is getting ready to roll out. Notice that they have decided to change the name to "SEARCH BY EXAMPLE" because of all of the negative responses. I'm wondering if the installing and tweaking of this program could be part of the reason for the recent tech problems.
Here are some ideas that we've developed to introduce personalization to the site:
* Suggestions on the homepage - "Welcome, cherokee2. Based on your preferences, we recommend the following current auctions for you...." * Suggestions on a new recommendation MyeBay tab * Links to ended auctions - "This item is no longer available b/c the auction closed. Here are other items that are similar"
We are still in the conceptualization phase, so please share with us your thoughts. Try out the beta, and tell us whether or not the recommendations are relevant. Your feedback via our online survey will help us shape the look and feel of any personalization technology that we might add to our site.
_____________________________________________
From: [email protected](0) (view author's auctions)
Topic: Re: Attention all eBay-ers, test out our new personalization technology!
Message: 60 of 102 (In response to 1937hd45)
Sent: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 19:35:24 -0700
Hi eBay-ers,
It's the pink-liner again! Thanks for all of the feedback on this thread so far. From the posts on this board, it sounds like we are not doing a very good job in sending you personalized suggestions
We recognize that we are still a long way from introducing truly personalized recommendations to you. Based on your initial feedback, we are re-naming the technology to "search-by-example" instead of "personalization" to more appropriately refer to its primary benefit, which is to search for you related items based on your bid history.
Please know that we are still in the development and concepting phase with this new technology. We are constantly trying to improve the technology, and your feedback helps us to enhance the overall logic and quality. So, please be patient with us! We're still trying
_____________________________________________
This sure looks to me like a way for the buyer to bypass the regular search engine. How can this possibly be good for the sellers?
posted on August 12, 2000 10:00:05 AM new
Good Morning Blanche,
I too believe that some of the "non functionality" had something to do with these guys tweaking and screwing around with this program. It is going to be on My eBay and My eBay was one of the problems.
I really liked his last post where he says, Gee whiz, why so many complaints? We are only asking for your help and feedback. We haven't made any final decisions. If everyone hates it so much it won't be introduced. However, please go and sign up for the Beta and test it so we can get it to work a little better, (before we roll it out).
I hope it doesn't work and no one will use it. It would be a disaster for sellers. Theoretically a buyer could log on and do all of their searching and bidding from My eBay and never go to another part of the site, least of all browse around the auctions. This is a win, win, win, for eBay. eBay can gather info about buyers interests and buying habits, sellers can be charged to have their auctions served up to bidders, and it will save eBay bandwidth to have a buyer stay on one page. I don't think they should call it Search by Example. I think it should be named Hal 2000.
macandjan: This was one of the complaints. One woman wrote that she bought something as gift that she doesn't usually buy. This search whatever served up about 50 auctions of the same thing. She asked if she was expected to buy this item for the whole neighborhood.
I think it only searches for similar stuff to what you have already bought. Another complaint was that it served up completed auctions where the searcher was the winning bidder. One person wrote, I know what I have won. I don't need to see it again on search. It may be ok if you consistantly buy one type of item.
posted on August 12, 2000 11:10:12 AM new
Well .... that sucked!
What do I get? I know there are several dozen items that could theoretically be "of interest" to me based on past purchases of books about missionaries, lurid victorian crimes and a brass bowl ...
TWO items:
A reference book for HAVILAND CHINA from 1950 (I have never bought or sold any china!)
A book about a missionary ... exactly like one I already have.
Here's the problem: they are trying to predict FUTURE wants based on PAST actions. For most people, except for purchases at a grocery store where brands and likes are actually predictive because next week we still gotts EAT, this will not work.
posted on August 12, 2000 11:29:14 AM new
>>>Here's the problem: they are trying to predict FUTURE wants based on PAST actions. For most people, except for purchases at a
grocery store where brands and likes are actually predictive because next week we still gotts EAT, this will not work.>>>>>
Yes, and artificial intelligence cannot comprehend a individuals desires and passions.
posted on August 12, 2000 05:22:09 PM new
Well, it looks like another useless feature that we don't need or want. I'm not real crazy about keeping the buyer on his MY EBAY page. I thought I was paying fees in order to have my auctions receive exposure. What AM I paying these fees for?
When is the last time eBay did anything to benefit the seller? I can't think of one enhancement since they went public that has helped me, as a seller. Most of them have actually been detrimental. EBay needs to focus more on keeping their paying customers happy ( the sellers) because without them they won't have any buyers to track.
posted on August 28, 2000 04:22:07 PM new
It took awhile for me to get to seeing this thread, but it was finally pointed out to me. (There were a couple of one-week stretches that I wasn't in AW, so the thread came and scrolled. )
Does anyone know how eBay, after the beta sign-up phase, was planning to phase the Dynaptics stuff in?
1) Currently, if you have to sign in, that is opt-in, and I actually respect opt-in -- as long as it is clear what you are opting into. If they do this (clear notice, explicit opt-in) after rollout, I wouldn't have any problem with it as a buyer, though I wouldn't personally use it (I know what I want/need, when I want/need it, and when it's something I look for frequently, I tailor an exacting search that I save -- no program will ever better all of that).
2) However, if this is intended to go wide with no sign-in, that there will simply be a "search by example" on everyone's my eBay, with nary a word who is doing this, there are two possibilities:
a) eBay will buy the technology and then administer it themselves. In this case, eBay is still keeping the information they already have to themselves instead of giving it to a third party. That's not really a problem in my eyes (no third-party is actually getting the individual information).
b) However, if eBay instead partners with Dynaptics, actively giving any of their members' information to Dynaptics with little or no clear notification, this is a definite privacy issue, because it is information being given to a third party without explicit permission.
Of course, eBay could list this fact in their privacy statement, but that thing is turning into a holy terror, in my opinion, and I don't think a person clicking on a "search by example" link months later would realize what they are doing.
Unfortunately, the remarq.ebay.com thread others have cited here has expired, so the only information I have is within this AW thread. Even from that, though, I don't like some of the 'pinkliner's wording. Take this example:
We recognize that we are still a long way from introducing truly personalized recommendations to you. Based on your initial feedback, we are re-naming the technology to "search-by-example" instead of "personalization" to more appropriately refer to its primary benefit, which is to search for you related items based on your bid history.
This says a couple things. It sounds like some of the initial FB might have been concerned about the privacy aspects, so getting rid of the "personalization" term to make it the more bland "search-by-example," especially if/when this is rolled out (and particularly if eBay skips the sign-up step and so on), makes it sound like eBay wants to hide the word "personalization" for not just the stated "still a long way from introducing truly personalized" reason, but also perhaps (and maybe I'm stretching, but perhaps) because "personalization" is closer to the word "profile," which does have stronger negative connotations (though "personalization," in this day and age, should have more immediate negative connotations to more people, but that's just my opinion). "Search-by-example" is a bland, almost meaningless-sounding way of saying it.
The problem with watching past trends to make future recommendations is that the software would not know if you bid on something a few times and then lost interest or "got enough" of the item. It would keep persisting for some period of time. Where does it draw the line between a "lull" and "permanent disinterest?" Also, on the opposite side, if you buy a different item, spur of the moment, intending to only get one of that sort of thing, will it pounce on this as a possible new trend and start showing more of them? Finally, what about gift purchases? If you buy a lot of dissimilar items, will it try to find trends anyway, or "interpolate" to intermediate items?
Even more generally, this sort of thing has to use fuzzy logic or some equivalent to look for "close" or "similar" items. Problem is, even something "close" might be of no interest. Square dancers may or may not care about line dancing, even though they "seem" close. Or to pick an example I'm more familiar with, just because I like looking for DC-9 or 747 or other such stuff doesn't mean I want a kids toy 747, a book on Midlands airport, or past Boeing plant tour tickets, or whatever. It may detect my interest in airliners, but not my specific points of interest.
A lot of counter-anti-spam or "devil's advocate" arguments regarding spam is that at some (fuzzy, far-off) point, it could get good enough to recognize your interests, and wouldn't you want to see such well-targeted commercial email?
Frankly, I wouldn't, because it would still miss the point that I buy when I want/need something, and more importantly, because I question whether such attempts can succeed, if for no other reason than the changing moods/interests of a person. Plus, it's just more clutter.
However, the Dynamptics/eBay thing is not spam. It would be a link you would still have to click on. Where you could either nod, "Yeah, that looks interesting," or laugh, "What were they thinking?" so it's not really something you didn't ask for. The question then returns to whether they would give out information without it being clear that they were doing so and it being clear that you were allowing them.
If, after rollout, it is implemented totally within eBay, where eBay buys the programs/system/whatever from Dynaptics, but Dynaptics doesn't see the individual data, then this is a perhaps silly, but probably essentially harmless, option.
If data is still sent to Dynaptics, but only if the user has to explicitly sign-in or otherwise accept a very clear, immediate statement, such as this:
"click here to search-by-example (information will be sent to Dynaptics so they can formulate suggestions)"
then that's fine too.
Yet at this point, I'm not so naive as to hold out hope that eBay being that respectful with this idea, especially after the whole Hitbox/eBay vs. AdSubtract issue.
This is all as a buyer. It can go a bunch of different ways, though as I just said, I doubt eBay will do it the honorable way.
If I were a seller, I would be concerned about all the issues others mentioned. Someone builds a history, then starts using eBay/Dynaptic's suggestions, and poof, some people will let themselves get chained to this, and not browse around as much. That's probably a bit overstated, but I wouldn't be surprised if the effect is there.
Alternatively, I wouldn't be surprised if eBat sets this up as a $$ feature for the sellers to buy. There have been a lot of cases of companies buying their way higher up in search engine results -- at least we heard a number of cases in years past -- and this could be made into a similar thing: a buyer has bid on a number of things, and a seller is offering something vaguely similar, and the seller has paid the $$ for a better "search by example" placement. I don't know, that's just pure speculation on something that is barely in its beta phase.
Finally, regardless of the exact specifics, it is one more program set running on top of something (eBay's set of servers) that hasn't been the most stable to start with (and I don't think I have to ramble on for paragraphs to make this point... ).
I tell you, though, if eBay does just hand out everyone's information to Dynaptics (for "pre-rollout optimization" maybe ), I would probably write them and make a point of explicitly de-registering, because there would be no doubt that this would be the last straw.
I might have to check to if Dynaptics is involved with other companies. If they joined up with DoubleClick at some hypothetical future time, for example, we'd have the new nightmare of all profiling, because it would go way beyond eBay, and probably way beyond what DC already tried to do early this year.
Has anyone heard further details on eBay and Dynaptics? Again, the cited remarq.ebay.com thread is expired, so my note here is long on speculation on possibilities.
BTW, eBay has been the only e-commerce-like ability that I've actually used, mainly because I feel more comfortable with giving my information to a person (or, in some cases, small company) with excellent FB than some larger company with an over-long privacy statement. I still think that's true, but this so-called "venue" has suddenly become just as bad, if not worse, than the other sites I haven't bothered with, so what the sellers would or would not do is suddenly becoming more of a moot point, instead of the primary selling point of eBay.
eBay is fast putting me off even the one ecommerce exception I've been making just for them. I've about had it with my foray into e-commerce, though I will start searching Yahoo more often and maybe give them a chance before I give up. E-commerce sites look down on "brochureware" sites, but I'm quite happy with brochureware in these increasingly direct marketing-infested times, thank you!
Sorry for the length of this note, but it is an interesting situation.
Again, does anyone have more current information?
----
What's being done in the name of direct marketing nowadays is crazy.
The above are all just my opinions, except where I cite facts as such.
Oh, I am not dc9a320 anywhere except AW. Any others are not me.
Is eBay is changing from a world bazaar into a bizarre world?
posted on August 28, 2000 05:20:09 PM new
This is precisely the type of ""innovation"" that I absolutely despise, anathema, anathema, ...anathema! Worse yet, it is soooo reminescent of amazon.com-type gimmicKs -- yuck!
In other threads about marketing and/or privacy concerns, I've mentioned that EVERY single book I've purchased online has been for RE-sale to RL offline customers, and a few gifts.
I ain't bought NO books online for ME, and when I used to go to amazon.com, it reallllllly irritated me that they had a list of suggestions based upon my past selections...... Jiminy KrickeT! Amazon.com has NO idea what I like to read -- it is NONE of their biz! LOL
I hope that eBay will be POLITE with this thingee -- that it is strictly OPT-IN, and that anyone can opt-OUT easily.
posted on August 28, 2000 08:17:31 PM new
EBAY are you for real?
EBAY=big money maker on internet
AMAZON = BIG money loser on internet
Why on earth would a proven company that is making money hand of fist adopt the ways of a company that is losing its shirt? This amazes me! I thought you learn from those who are where you want to be.
Does Ebay want to be where Amazon is? GEEZE!!
DYNAPTICS must have one heluva sales person!!
Does anyone own stock in Ebay? You can get alot of info from the stock board meetings.
posted on August 28, 2000 09:05:45 PM new
Hi Blanche,
I looked at the August 14th thread. Here it is the 28th and it has 3 replies. I wonder when they will figure out that the "community" doesn't seem to be interested.
Watched stock analysts from GS and Lehman who are predicting that .com advertising revenue is going to take a big hit by the 4th quarter. If eBay takes a hit in ad revenue we can expect to see more dumb ideas like this to try to generate non ad based revenue.
Dynaptics Corporation has developed a new class of adaptive Personal E.ssistants for on-line merchants and auction/exchange sites that operate at Internet speed. The Personal E.ssistants detect and respond to buyer behavior patterns with highly relevant, real-time recommendations.
"Dynaptics is the first company to bridge the gap between analyzing a customer's shopping history and considering current Web site behavior in order to achieve real-time personalization."
April, 2000 IDC.
Personal Shopping E.ssistant
Dramatically enhances on-line shopping experience, extending visitor sessions, while boosting browse-to-buy conversions, product purchases and customer retention. It's ideal for on-line merchants and their customers.
Personal Information E.ssistant
The fast, easy-to-use, "item finder" designed for rapid-content-change Web sites and their visitors. It's ideal for auctions and exchange sites as well as personals and classifieds.
posted on August 28, 2000 09:33:50 PM new
Hello smw. I don't think eBay cares if the buyers aren't interested in this program which leads me to believe there must be something in it for them. I wonder how much money some of their MBA's get paid to think up these useless ideas. Sometimes I honestly can't keep my mouth from hanging open in amazement when I read this stuff. What are they thinking? I have an idea - why doesn't eBay just try to run an online auction venue?
posted on August 28, 2000 09:48:31 PM new
Blanche,
This may be of interest. I read most of the Wharton speak on the Dynaptic site.
It seems that this technology also has the capability to "direct users" to information and route support questions. "As an added benefit, the company realizes a cost-savings anytime a customer can be assisted without human intervention."
It is also of note that Dynaptics today announced it has acquired a new company who is a leader in "data mining".
This search by example, (which by the way is a what Dynaptics calls the feature), is the tip of the iceberg.
I will admit that in my silly youth I took courses at Wharton. What these MBA's are doing is following models they were taught generate revenue. The fact that people are involved is irrelavant to them.
posted on August 30, 2000 10:18:31 AM new
I checked out the Dynaptics site, and it said very little. I still can't determine if this is some software eBay would from Dynaptics and then administer themselves (so eBayers' information is not given to an additional third party), or if it is something like a distributed server setup.
I'm still suspicious of this whole thing, and not happy that eBay is pursuing stuff like this that buyers may bother little with and which might hurt sellers if buyers do bother -- rather than fix other problems.
USA Today, on Tuesday (08/29/00) had "Online auctions top list of Internet fraud" as its top-of-front-page headline, and eBay figured right into the article, starting in the fourth paragraph.
I find it ironic that eBay is toying with all this extra garbage, which is of little use in helping the core point of eBay (online auctions), instead of trying to figure out a way of fixing its existing problems.
One helpful feature that just occurred to me (or maybe I read it somewhere else awhile back and forgot until now) is to have a feature that would allow a seller to "block" a bidder that has been trouble to them (the seller) personally. This would save all this "problem buyer keeps bidding on my auctions!" threads I've seen around here lately. I'm not even a seller, and I think this is an obvious thing that maybe wouldn't help the most major problems, but would take a large chunk out of the secondary issues.
If eBay is going to add all these new layers of complexity to their servers, it should at least be to give features that are actually of direct use to the auction process itself, not non-essential "extras" (I don't care whether eBay argues ads are essential) that may not even be used much.
If eBay is suffering more downtime, partial or total, because of all the ads, bugs, possible attempts to block AdSubtract from its purpose, and other needless not-really-auction-process stuff -- and I want to state that I have no way of knowing -- this would be quite annoying, to say the least.
Then again, maybe I'm just blowing hot air.
Yes indeed, what happened to the straightforward, auction-focused eBay I used to enjoy?
BTW, smw, what is "Wharton speak" -- the power-talk that uses lots of fancy phrases, says little unless you try analyzing it, in which case it has a 50-50 chance of meaning even less? I read some of Dynaptics site, and it was among the more vague sites I've read.
Blanche: Thanks for the more recent link. The amount of response to this is pathetic. Either eBay is keeping it in some quiet corner, as someone suggested, or people just aren't interested in the Dynaptics idea. Those who are seem mostly unimpressed with the results. If rolled out, I'm guessing this would get some minimal use, and probably no more. That's just a guess.
----
What's being done in the name of direct marketing nowadays is crazy.
The above are all just my opinions, except where I cite facts as such.
Oh, I am not dc9a320 anywhere except AW. Any others are not me.
Is eBay is changing from a world bazaar into a bizarre world?
[ edited by dc9a320 on Aug 30, 2000 10:21 AM ]
posted on August 30, 2000 10:41:49 AM new
Hello dc9a320 Apparently there are two ways to go with the software from Dynaptics and I'm not sure which plan eBay has chosen. Here is a good article you might want to read: http://www.findarticles.com/m0EIN/2000_June_19/62792514/p1/article.jhtml
I really do think this "SEARCH-BY-EXAMPLE" personalized shopping is going to be harmful to the sellers. The more I look at it the more I see this program diluting the bidding pool by limiting the search parameters.
I did a search on GOOGLE for Dynamics and found quite a few articles that explained their Personal Information E.ssistant program better than they do on their home page. I think the idea is to help create a "sticky" site which is not a bad idea but in this case I see some fallout.
Blanche
I just wanted to add that the program is "click" driven.
