posted on March 2, 2001 03:38:15 PM new
What is sad to me is that AW does not care about the people that brought them to this point....they are looking for the next generation of new auction sellers.
posted on March 2, 2001 04:12:00 PM new
to faithgirl - I think you hit the nail absolutely square on the head. That's the only thing that makes sense! Jackie
posted on March 2, 2001 06:32:52 PM new
What is .05 ? wow $1.00 for listing 20 auctions. that is nothing. Look how easy AW has made listing our items. How much time is saved. I dont mind. Thank you AW for making my listing items alot eaiser. Thank You.
posted on March 2, 2001 06:37:35 PM new
I took the first step, went to my server, set up a quick web page in 5 minutes. All for Free!!! Will do a real fancy website with the TRELLIX web program next. Went to ...pal.com to check out the free hosting, etc stuff, signed up. May decide to upgrade, looks like Everything AW Auction Manager does for a flat fee of $5.00 per month.
Change maybe good. Some of my listings launched thru AW still do not show up on MY EBAY selling tab. Ebay says AW has problems in their programs that's the cause. The worst thing about that is when a bidder does a seller search, not all the items will show up...because....of AW program...
posted on March 2, 2001 07:18:11 PM new
I wish to thank AW for this annoucement. Had you not done this, I would still be taking it easy and be lazy. By this annoucement you gave the incentive to many to learn basic HTML and FTP pics. I have just figured out a method of scheduling my auctions from my computer. I would never had even tried had you not annouced the 1% FVF. Now, I can be fully independent.
Where've you been? Didn't you notice the backlash when Ebay raised their fees $.05 per listing (and added a $.10 fee for ten day auctions). Now I wonder how much more people would have complained if Ebay raised their listing fees $.10 instead. People are just getting fed up with the rising cost of doing business. A fee of $.05 (not including the additional 1%) doesn't seem like that much but with with all of these different companies wanting a piece of the action and Ebay wanting a larger piece of the action, it's getting harder and harder to make it in this business. The small time sellers and some of the larger sellers are getting nickled and dimed to death......
[ edited by outoftheblue on Mar 2, 2001 07:43 PM ]
posted on March 2, 2001 07:51:36 PM new
Hey Auctionwatch!
If you cant make your money off those flashy banner adds and all those darn cookies in this site you just are not gonna make it.
But hey, it was darn good while it lasted.
Ebay is the ONLY one gonna charge me a FVF!!
( I would take their hands out of the cookie jar too, if I could! )
My Images are gone.
My auctions are off the server.
( Getting the picture? )
posted on March 2, 2001 07:56:21 PM new
AW just wombed the thread I posted on how to schedule and post auctions automatically, from a home computer. I guess I'll have to post it on another auction related board.
posted on March 2, 2001 08:12:33 PM new
I forgot one question--Is the March 14 deadline for auctions listed after that date or auctions listed before that date but still running on March 14?
posted on March 2, 2001 08:24:59 PM new
AC, I also would be very interested in your post [email protected]. I also must leave as I will not give AW a FVF. I have been reading the posts and checking out other sites. This was a terrible thing to only give us 2 weeks notice!
posted on March 2, 2001 08:49:41 PM new
You are all in for the shock of a lifetime if you think you can ride the internet "free" gravy train forever. The days of milking are gone.
If you don't like what AW wants, then don't join. But to sit here and #*!@ and moan is plain juvenile of you, particularly when it's on AW's own board. I guarantee you they have millions of wasted dollars on the books for giving you all free services. Regardless of your position in the future, why not give them the thanks and respect they deserve for years of service?
I don't get it. If you don't like the fees, then don't pay. But this type of reaction seems stupid and useless to me. I haven't joined, but I'm not sitting around here being a toad.
posted on March 2, 2001 09:56:00 PM new
I think AW is trying to see how many are gonna jump ship and it is easier for them to keep track of the numbers if they herd everyone into the same corral! They want to see how big and how long the yelling is going to go on, and guage if they should pull in their horns. Then let the 1% go by the boards to let us think we won, by just charging us a nickle an auction. They need to get someone here fromthe front office to answer some of these questions, before the mods are the only ones here talking to one another and locking each others threads! MHO
posted on March 2, 2001 10:13:08 PM new
There is almost nothing in the real or virtual world that's free.
And I'm never surprised when someone tries to figure out a way to profit share with me.
When EBAY does it, it works, because none of the other venues allow me to make enough profit for them to weasel much out of me.
When my ISP raises their rates, it works, because where I live, there is almost no competition.
When the Post Office rasied their rates, it worked, because I have to use their services too.
I'm not that good with computers. I worked hard to learn what little I do know. My auctions are pretty basic. I don't use templates. I don't use the post-auction management tools. I don't sell big ticket items.
It's not so much that AW wants to get paid. They want to profit share. EBAY style, and they want theirs off the top too. And they gave me precious little notice to get off their server. And, darn it, they're snotty about it.
I was grateful for AW. And I probably would have been willing to pony up the cash to use the services I do. But I'm not a patsy. So, yeah. When I perceived strong-arm tactics, when I felt that AW decided to grab all that they thought the market would bear, as quickly as they possibly could, I was irritated. And offended in a personal way. Almost all the comments they've made brought back memories of the same BS EBAY foisted off on me everytime they did something self-serving, and they tried to tell me it was for EVERYBODY.
I don't understand computers that well. That doesn't mean I'm stupid.
posted on March 2, 2001 10:17:16 PM new
Without reading every post, could someone tell me...are these rates carved in stone?? If so, what's the point of this thread???
posted on March 2, 2001 10:44:27 PM new
I feel as most of you do on this thread ~ I would not grumble at a per picture fee, but the FVF is a no go with me. I will not sign up for the auction watch services under the proposed plan. And, I am willing to bet that an old lady who is drawing her social security CAN learn how to build a web page, learn html, and whatever else she needs to learn to get along without auction watch. Hey Auction Watch, Watch Me!!
posted on March 3, 2001 02:48:58 AM new
Anonymous Coward,
Could you please send me a copy of your email too? [email protected]
After joice WOMD my post last night, I will not be using AW services, no matter what they do.
-----------------------------------------
My post in the Services forum received the following replies:
Will re-lists also cost 5 cents?
1. Yes, there will be a .05 charge for relists.
What is your response to the vehement outrage over the 1% FVF?
2. Before implementing our price plan we looked into both the cost to run our services and what was a fair payment plan to our users. We chose a basic structure consisting a nominal listing fee of $.05 and a final value fee of 1% of an item only if it is sold. In reality, the total cost of our services is far greater than the revenue that we expect to generate from our users but we are able to subsidize this with partnerships fees and advertising. We felt that by spreading the charges between both an upfront fee and a final value fee that we would minimize the cost associated with items that do not sell.
[b]If we pay, will the service be more reliable?
Will there be on-call help if things break down, or will we still get email responses over 48 hours?[/b]
3. Over the past 2 years, we have scaled up and improved our service level immensely. We will continue to work very hard to provide you with the best possible service. We will also do our best to respond to you in a timely manner, both via email and on the message boards. You can normally expect a response on the message boards within 2 hours of posting, if between the hours of 8am and 8pm PST.
Is image hosting also going to be subjected to fees, now or in the near future?
4. Image hosting is currently only available if you sign up under one of the two plans (for straight image hosting, without Auction Manager, you would need to sign up under the Power Plan.) However, we are in the process of re-evaluating this and will post an update as soon as possible.
Why did you not follow business etiquette and provide a longer period of notice? (I know, I know.. it's in your terms... but it ain't exactly kosher.)
5. We have been providing AuctionWatch services free for almost 2 years, and we announced to our user base that we would begin charging for services at some point over 6 months ago. We have remained free longer than our competitors in an effort to help our users. We have even provided more notice than we commit to in our terms of service.
You will only be charged for auctions launched on or after March 14. We will provide access to our tools, including post sales management for any auction launched prior to March 14, even if it closes after March 14.
Brought to you as a public service annoucement (as AW won't reply here}.
edited to say - Do you suppose my thread was WOMD because I asked if Baypal was any better?
[ edited by mivona on Mar 3, 2001 02:50 AM ]
posted on March 3, 2001 03:08:51 AM new
AnonymousCoward,
Could you also please provide me with that info? [email protected] Thanks!
I'm outta here too. I would thank AW but I think that they should be thanking us. We are the customers!
They were able to aquire millions in VC cash due to the fact that we used their "free" service. As a matter of fact, we proved their business plan by using their "free" service. If we were not there the VC cash would not have been there to fund their paychecks either.
As soon as I find any auction related venue or service that bothers to ask the advise of it's customers before making major changes -- I will be loyal to them for life.
The internet offers (for the first time ever) the opportunity for companies like AW to actually find out what their customers really want. It irks me when they build their business on the good graces of ther customer but then discard that same customer to serve their corporate good. Any auction service that intends to be viable needs to support the Auction sellers that are trying to eek out a modest profit.
AW and the sellers (customers) of AW should be rowing together in the same boat, heading in the same direction. This is a shame as I do not think this was necessary at all.
Sadly, AW could have "earned" a good and reasonable fee, AND kept all of their customers, AND maintained their brand loyalty if not for the FVF. I am going to willingly pay a monthly fee to a service that i have never used (I am very happy with the services of AW) just because it is a flat fee and not a % of my sales. (MY sales not Ebays, not AW's)
Oh well, one more opinion that really dosen't matter here. Or does it? I KNOW THAT THE VCs AT MY PRIMARY COMPANY (J.O.B.) WOULD BE PAYING VERY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO A THREAD LIKE THIS IF THEY HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED. Good bye AW. Hello ...Pal. 1/2 my pictures are already gone. All will be by the end of my current auctions (48 hours) -zippoholic
posted on March 3, 2001 04:31:16 AM new
Anonymous Coward, I too would like an email of your post. Thanks for your help!
Kathy ----my email [email protected]
posted on March 3, 2001 05:42:27 AM newkraftdinner
This thread is the only "AW fee" discussion allowed by Mark of AW in this forum.
Its purpose is to corral all the negative comments into one useless thread.
All of the advertisements placed into our auctions bring casual viewers, and prospective customers to AW.
Mark wants to make it difficult for these new customers to be able to find fault with his fees. That's why his moderators diligently erase any other "fee" threads, making it looks as if we all voluntarily came to this one. And I said erase, not just lock. I'll wager more threads have been erased than locked. They diligently erase any discussion of alternatives, making it easier for the new customers to think that AW may be a bargain. These erasures make it appear that all the other "members" of AW approve of the new fees, since there's no discussion which looks otherwise.
And when we've all let off some steam, this thread will likely vanish too.
posted on March 3, 2001 06:24:38 AM new
For 2 years AW has been so generous by allowing me to host my pictures on eBay auctions.
AW, eBay, & I have come a long way in the past two years. AuctionWatch has been my backbone and for the most part & a very reliable one. Image hosting is detrimental for success on eBay, without AW, I would still been plugging away at a 9 to 5.
I want to thank the staff for all of the long hours, commitment, and help. You have my sincerest gratitude for everything and I feel it is just for AW to now require funds for patrons to take advantage of the services offered. I know it will only improve with time as it has in the past.
It's about time AW started charging!!
I always wondered if the ads on AW's pages really paid for everything...
However, It was extremely RUDE not to inform me about this complete change of usage, I stumbled on to this information and I wonder why this change was introduced in the manner it was... Geez... Was every current employee at AW previously a used car salesman in a bad neighborhood? What gives? Why not a notice or a hint, WHY WASN'T AuctionWatch FORTHCOMING/UP FRONT/INFORMING...HONEST?
My hat's off to the staff on AW's payroll who agree with me - I know some employee's (personally) and even from the inside they feel this was a crappie way to do business and are embarrassed, I would be too.
I currently have several pictures loaded which I intended to use later this month... I guess I have to bust my ass or pay out of it - huh?
An informing eMail would have been appropriate and respectable, after all, you send me one every month anyway... I could have excepted paying for the image hosting (which is the only thing I use) BUT- AW's top poopyheads apparently got VERY greedy with the fee concept... EVERYBODY AGREES WITH ME ON THAT POINT!
I plan to make plenty of income through hard work and dedication on eBay, and I would gladly pay a reasonable fee for AW's services, but I am so offended by AW's complete lack of tact and absence of respect! I couldn't feel more betrayed and the confidence I once had in AW is now abandoned because of the blatant lack of integrity and breech of commitment of members like myself who have been treated so badly & so quickly.
This short notice was so unanticipated, and the greedy final auction fee's is so horrible.
MODERATOR:
Please make sure your CEO reads this - print it out and tape it on his monitor before you lock this thread OKAY?
SHAME on AW - I thought there was far more ethical standards & you guys could have been far more personable to the individuals who have faithfully patronized your service. The majority would stick around and contribute, but you pushed this way too far with the GREED.
I intend to pay for image hosting service, but not through AW.
It was nice, we could have gone somewhere, I would have paid - but now you can forget it.
-Poof-
Did I type that out loud???
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