posted on January 18, 2005 04:07:14 PM new
I've heard figures as high as 8,000,000 are registered on eBay. If let's say half is accurate and not all are sellers, than the 17,000 votes on the protest site are less than 1%.
I'm not happy with the increase in fees but I also know that protests haven't worked in the past, although this one has some momentum. What if eBay said who cares and decided to NARU anyone who protested? It's a private site; they could. 1% would be nothing. Sorta like the $10K fine for Randy Moss was nothing (he said).
I wonder if a protest would work, some day, in which those 17000+ protesters were to each launch 50 auctions with good titles but minimal description. Then launch the same auctions, but complete, on an agreed new auction site. (of course, logistics would still have to be worked out for this to have a chance). You'd need a site ready and that has server capabilities, etc.
The eBay auction would say, "see the rest of my description and bid on this item at
www.------.com". The real auction would be on the other site. If you aren't shut down then delete the auction before it ends. Now I know most of those protesting have had to have lost money on insertion fees on 50 auctions with no bids before.
Now this would require eBay to act rather than just read a protest. They would have to shut down almost 1,000,000 auctions that are asking sellers to go to another website (17000+ protesters x 50 auctions).
But, then those sellers would have to be ready to be NARU from eBay and I don't think as loud as every one is complaining that anyone is ready to leave without an alternative in place.
posted on January 18, 2005 04:40:32 PM new
E-Bay couldn't care less about a few sellers protesting. As long as the bottom line looks good they have it made. Anyway I would say they picked up more new sellers that the amount protesting. As far as I'm concerned the best thing to do is if you are one who uses their stores increase your items to 300 or 400 items that way the 8% increase won't hurt you at all.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on January 18, 2005 06:47:13 PM new
Your numbers are probably way off
First, Even if there are 8 million accounts, many people have multiple accounts (I have 5) and then there are many dead accounts, opened, forgotten, but still counted by ebay. I don't know the ratio of buyers to sellers, but it has to be a lot more than 2 to 1. Finally, this "protest" site allows people to post more than once, from what I've heard. I don't know, I didn't waste my time sending a protest letter. If ebay's fees knock you out of your business plan, then it is probably more productive to come up with a new strategy instead of wasting time on a silly protest.
posted on January 18, 2005 06:58:39 PM new
No, The best thing to do is to close your store and stop posting. If those of us that don't need to list on eBay ,did that, then eBay would suffer. Unfortunately,I realise that most won't, but I did and will continue to not post. I hope they call me and ask me why. You know my answer.
posted on January 18, 2005 08:41:12 PM new
Once again, turn to the numbers. eBay raised fees from 30%-%50. Do you really think losing 1% or 2% of their stores matter?
They could lose 30% of their store sellers and still come out ahead.
posted on January 19, 2005 08:54:50 AM new
I think eBay is moving away from us small-time sellers (who list 15-20 auctions a week)toward the big guys. Business being what it is, though, I'll adjust the costs that are in my control accordingly and carry on.
posted on January 20, 2005 06:16:08 AM new
Deversify! Explore new marketing ideas. I have been marketing direct to past Customers with some small success, will try to improve on this method.
WOW!! Over 18,000 signatures on the protest petition. This is Pitifull when you consider the "Stop Ashley Simpson" Petition has over 100,000 signatures
