posted on November 21, 2002 05:15:09 AM new
This is an update to my earlier post asking for everyone's thoughts on becoming a powerseller (now on page 2 here)...Ebay had offered it in several emails over 2 months.
I got 36 replies with a whole spectrum of attitudes. Well, I finally decided to give it a try and see what happens.....so....
I went to the sign-up page at Ebay, filled it all out, hit submit, and, Surprise!....I was informed that I had just wasted my time because Ebay had already made me a Powerseller (without my knowledge). And sure enough, there was that icon next to my id.
What does one make of this....What's happened to free will? Are they desperate for Powersellers?
posted on November 21, 2002 08:34:59 AM new
They're desperate for Power Sellers, but that's besides the point, it's a way to get you hooked on ebay so you don't run off to another site because chances are you will be proud to have earned Power Seller status and won't want to lose it.
posted on November 21, 2002 09:37:40 AM new
As I stated in the other thread. Ebay banks on the Power Sellers rather than just your everyday one. Not that they make more money off of them but being a Power Seller you have to keep your sales up to the degree of your Power Seller status. They aren't guaranteed that from me. I have not got that much energy to be one. They would probably like everyone to be a powerseller. Maybe they have some kind of software that keeps track of your sales and when you do the required amount then you are automatically given that status.
posted on November 21, 2002 05:31:35 PM new
>>They're desperate for Power Sellers, but that's besides the point, it's a way to get you hooked on ebay so you don't run off to another site because chances are you will be proud to have earned Power Seller status and won't want to lose it.
<<
Why would they be desperate for power sellers? If you're meeting the standards and don't have the Icon next to your name, as a business, why do they care all that much?
Secondly, is there some other auction site where one can do as much business as you do on eBay? If there is, let me know.
Not to be an eBay cheerleader or anything, but all this talk of running to a better site is hot air until someone builds a site with as much traffic as "the bay".
Quite frankly, I hope someone does -- the sooner eBay gets some legitamate competition the better.
posted on November 21, 2002 05:57:46 PM new
"Why would they be desperate for power sellers?"
Strange question! Power Sellers have to maintain a set amount of dollar amount per month to maintain that status. The more Power Sellers ebay can sign up, the more money ebay makes.
Ebay has to obtain a annual 50% growth rate to satisfy its investors. Since Power Sellers represent 80% of ebay's income, doesn't it make sense ebay is desperate for more Power Sellers? They can't do it with Weekend Joe.
Is there an alternative to ebay? Yes. Many volume sellers currently use Yahoo and Amazon. They may be able to have their own site which many Power Sellers already have.
Some Power Sellers can sell a few item on ebay to draw customers to their site or to another auction site for them to bid on.
Not everyone has heard of ebay. Some will come across other auction sites and if there's something there for them they will stay there. I have seen some very small, and successful auction sites that most have never heard of, and one of them ebay bought out because it was too successful. You're saying it won't happen again?
posted on November 21, 2002 08:49:27 PM new
I really don't think ebay will take away anyone's Power Seller status for not hitting their monthly quota. I constantly look at what things many Power Sellers sell and often find they must only sell a few hundred dollars a month at best.
One reason for that may be that ebay probably wants as many Power Sellers as possible for the upcoming insurance benefit to get the best volume discount they can.
posted on November 21, 2002 09:08:17 PM newInsurance..Sure and that's another way for them to keep the power sellers. I will bet that not everyone will be able to get their insurance, that is if they ever get it. They will probably have a certain limit that you will have to achieve to get the insurance and keep that limit all the time or you will be dropped and if it is like any other insurance you cannot not rejoin unless it is an open enrollment.
