Gothicina.
MAHATMA GANDHI - "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated."
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Yes. I have been afflicted with the condition of being "an impossibility thinker" all my life. Probably too old to change. I do admire my more sophisticated opposites, as they do seem more reality based. However, I have seen things happen after being told they never would. So I will choose to hold to the possibility that eBid can become "top eBay Alternative" as well "the Ebay Alternative". God enjoys taking the "foolish things" of this world to confound "the wise".
A very interesting post from Hellsgrandma....
Though I agree with a lot of what you say, I do think there is an important point to make here ....
Any change - including eBid overtaking eBay IS POSSIBLE - but only if enough members AND management WANT and BELIEVE that it can be achieved.
The power in seeing such a reality is in 'believing'.
If you don't believe it's possible then it will never have a chance of happening.
But again - ONLY if there's a united effort by members AND management together.
The reality is that every member has differing 'expectations' of what they personally want eBiid to be.
Without clear direction (where members all perceive a clear objective), it can't work unitedly towards a single goal.
Only management can take hold and truly 'steer' the boat.
If all the various members want to steer, then the boat's probably not going to reach the desired destination.
So can eBid be an eBay rival? - I think Yes - but only with clear direction from the top and with such direction being clear to all so that everyone can row in the same direction, oherwise we have to be content rowing in circles, (and of course enjoying the ride as we go!)
One fundamental indicator that would be handy to know is:
Will eBid always be a 'self advertising' site or is there a view to it becoming a household name like eBay?
I don't think any member truly knows the answer to this .... Can someone say?
Interesting to hear someone still call ebay the top auction site, when they are basically killing off their auction format with every change, and even Donahoe has said he wants ebay to be looked at as something totally different. But I suppose there are always those that scream I want it now and blow the future.
I suppose I understand the Grandmas point, as if they are selling auction on ebay, then they know their time on ebay is limited, and it has to be frustrating to see what you see as your best alternative seemingly trudging along and not growing as fast as you need it to.
The answer to that is the puzzle, as I agree this is probably the best time to build growth, but it would have to be handled so carefully that I suspect you would be talking about money that is outside of most websites reach, as yes we do need buyers to come through the doors a lot more frequent but if you set up the add campaign of the century to start in the morning and every buyer in the world walked in the door later that afternoon, then in all likelihood they would look around for a bit see the gaps and walk away.
So by that point ebid are still advertising to the right people and even ebay know that, as you can see by their numbers of free listing weekends that they are having. Ebay know they can't afford to not have the product on the shelf or probably more importantly, have the product on some other sites shelf.
So say ebid would be happy with the growth, how would you suggest they advertise it, so that the right sellers came in first to fill those gaps and then the buyers follow just in time not to find empty shelves?
Internet advertising would be out, as I suspect ebay would kill off that with that anti marketing thing a lot of companies use. So it basically leaves you with sponsorship, television, radio and whatever publications would suit.
Just interested to see how people would do this, as ebay had all that money and I still think they made a mess of it.
Like you say "if you set up the add campaign of the century to start in the morning and every buyer in the world walked in the door later that afternoon, then in all likelihood they would look around for a bit see the gaps and walk away."
I tend to agree with this - people will probably use eBay as the 'benchmark', and by that standard find eBid lacking.
But if - and I mean IF - eBid management really do want to take on rapid growth there's a much cheaper solution to the problem.
Rather than outlay large amounts of advertising money, why not simply attract both Sellers and Buyers with a really good offer for advertising here on eBid.
I'm talking here of totally free advertising for a limited time frame, say 60 or 90 days.
Either free or irresistably cheap. This would need to be done right though.
It would need to be so attractive that a huge volume of members join up for this period.
They would need to feel as though they have 'nothing to lose' financially.
In reality of course, they would have to invest 'time' to set up their listings here.
That in itself could unfortunately be a deterrant in itself for some.
However IF it was done, then word of mouth could be used rather than too much expensive advertising, (though a little advertising would be helpful).
It would need to be made known well in advance to allow for prospective advertisers to prepare.
Would 60 or 90 days of free selling be attractive enough to draw in a big crowd of sellers?
Would the buyers follow?
Is it even something that management would want to do? .... or is it likely to run the risk of too much short term growth, thereby possibly stressing resources too much?
Last edited by emporiumdays; 10th June 2011 at 05:02 AM. Reason: grammar correction
Well…my men Steve…you probably can’t sleep for all about this….but that’s ok I understand…....
In the past couple months or a year many Sellers come on eBid and many items come too…without any big advertising, without this….without that…BUT not that many buyers come in same time period…why is that…??????
Why in God sake many Sellers come in here and find this site WITHOUT big advertising and why in God sake Buyers not come and find this site in same way like Sellers….?????
Can anybody answer me why…???
In the end without big advertising many Sellers come, so who can guarantee me if eBid make much more advertising and spend much more money (which we going to pay for that, because if eBay can’t advertise all around and not use own money just use sellers fees for that I think eBid can’t do that too without raising fees for everything)…who can guarantee me many buyers will come…!!!!
AMEN……...
P.S. In the World History of business no company ever advertise or make comercials with own money is always use Customers money with raising prices all the time......
No one can guarrantee that buyers will follow (in my opinion).
Many have said before that if you get the Sellers on board, the buyers will follow.
So there's a good chance that'll happen - but ultimately - no guarrantees...
Dzambo:".......... not that many buyers come in same time period…why is that…??????
Why in God sake many Sellers come in here and find this site WITHOUT big advertising and why in God sake Buyers not come and find this site in same way like Sellers….?????
Can anybody answer me why…???......"
Now that's a good question Dzambo - a very good question .....
Last edited by emporiumdays; 10th June 2011 at 07:49 AM.
@Hells Grandma
Putting the fact that you have not sold anything here on ebid in 5 months in your About Me page is hardly going to inspire any buyers to buy from you !
Imho - if a person has not sold anything here on ebid in 5 months, then they have to look at how they are selling, and if they area really trying to sell here.
I am the opposite to you, I get more views on ebid than ever I did / do on ebay. And I am not on ebid's GPS!
If you do not want to keep being screwed by ebay with increased fees, rules, and the possibility of being thrown off their site due to bad DSR's or too many sales, or not enough sales, then you needed to support sites like ebid.
We all realise that ebid is nowhere near ebay, none of us have ever said that.
But many of us believe that ebid is the best alt site in terms of layout and features - eg of the top 3 alt sites it is the only one with auction facility.
Oh deary me .. you are devoted to ebid and do not like a single word said againt it that is clear but the fact remains that I and MANY MANY others come here because of the hype about it being like ebay and it is NOTHING like ebay at all so should not be compared with it to lure sellers to sign up.
Ebid lacks buyers plain and simple and that is why people list here then leave.
I have said I see ebid as nothing more than a holding pen because it has no buyers.. well okay a few but not on the level it needs to be viable to people who want to sell more than the odd few items.What is on my 'about me' page doesnt matter because you have next to no buyers to read it.
As to my not having sold on here in 5 months .. get real deary .. some folks have not sold on here for donkeys years .. its ebid itself NOT HAVING ENOUGH BUYERS that is the problem...is that clear enough.
All the snide remarks from long timers about it being free to list so not selling doesnt matter is ridiculous those who say it have absolutely no understanding of business.
There is no such thing as a free lunch or free carrier bag both are sweeteners.. the free lunch is to gain someones business and is a business expense offset against the custom and revenue the person lunching will bring... the free carrier bag part is so people will buy from that store, if the free carrier is not any good people discard it. BUT ebids offer of free listing does not bring in sales so its not free..there is nothing to offset the outgoing against ..well if you want to wait years and years to recoup it yes it will . if you go out for the free lunch and only get the taster then you dont invest more.. if the shop offering the free carrier bag doesnt offer anything to warrant the free bag in return you dont shop there again.
Its time ebid took a very serious look at itsself and worked out how to ettract BUYERS.. what seller who doesnt sell and can see no viable influx of buyers is going to promote this site... what does ebid want them to promote to others ..hey come and join up, pay the lifetime fee but dont expect to sell much if anything at all in the first months, years.
I sell on ebay .. yes they charge fees but the sales are there also and as any business knows you temper your incoming to be inline with your outgoings. .. no one that rents premises would not expect rent rises, council tax rises . my account on ebay is not in danger, why should it be, I can afford the fees, my dsr rating is good and i have a very high compliance rating,of course many jump ship to be on here because they have been banned, restricted or removed from ebay that much can easily be read on ebay forums.
I also use my own websites but i will not promote ebid as a vialble alternative until it shows it is one and at present it is not.. its the site owners who need to be sorting their own advertising out ..in effect its not my problem its theirs which is why i can put what i have done on my about me page.
Keep wearing your pretty rose tinted spectacles.. i applaud you for your devotion even if it is misplaced...YOU may NEED to support places like ebid but i do not .. my support goes to places that show business accumen and ebid is in serious danger of getting over taken and left floundering in the water being an also ran that dithered when the time was right to make a move.
Now play nicely boys and girls and dont forget to masage one anothers ego and buy from each other to prove ebid is real !!!If that fails try stepping away from your keyboard and venture into the outside world, yeah its big and scarey but it may help to show you what real life is all about.
~Ghurka~
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