What I wanted to buy on ebid - but could not

[adruml]

What Balderdash.

How so?

[tonyreddevil]

How so?

MPS is being silly

[adruml]

MPS is being silly

I can tell but why.

[madelaine]

How can it be up to eBid to fill gaps in what is available to buy here? They provide the platform - the sellers provide the stuff.

[adruml]

How can it be up to eBid to fill gaps in what is available to buy here? They provide the platform - the sellers provide the stuff.

How is it a coffee mug holder sellers or any other sellers responsibility to fill the gaps in listings due to a lack of variety?

Brick and Mortar stores do not look to the shelf full of car tires and determine the seller of those tires needs to fill the sanitary napkin aisle. The owner of the store contacts the Sanitary Napkin sellers and has them fill the shelves.
At least that is how I realize it.

[squern]

I think we're talking about diversification.

Supermarkets sell food and household supplies.

They also sell lots of other things:
Phones
TVs
Electrical appliances
Books
Music
Photo processing
Clothes
Bedding and linen
Car accessories
Tools
Newspapers
Greetings cards
Cigarettes and Tobacco
Beer, wines & Spirits
Flowers,

Etc.
And that's just one that I can think of.

The have seen a selling opportunity and tried to exploit it.

Julie could sell anything else she chose, if she thought it worthwhile, she's not locked into one product for life.

Welcome back, Julie, by the way. I've missed your posts about improving the site. They generated a lot of interest.

[adruml]

I think we're talking about diversification.

Supermarkets sell food and household supplies.

They also sell lots of other things:
Phones
TVs
Electrical appliances
Books
Music
Photo processing
Clothes
Bedding and linen
Car accessories
Tools
Newspapers
Greetings cards
Cigarettes and Tobacco
Beer, wines & Spirits
Flowers,

Etc.
And that's just one that I can think of.

The have seen a selling opportunity and tried to exploit it.

Julie could sell anything else she chose, if she thought it worthwhile, she's not locked into one product for life.

Welcome back, Julie, by the way. I've missed your posts about improving the site. They generated a lot of interest.

Diversification/ stocking the shelves is what we are talking about. Supermarkets fill their shelves via suppliers through consignment.
The supermarket being the "site" fills their shelves through suppliers aka sellers.
Would the supermarket ask the beer supplier to fill their empty shelves in the soup aisle? No they would find a soup supplier.
Now I do agree if one is listing obsolete items then it would be wise to change.

[melodies]

Well i'm no expert on this site,but the answer is pretty simple in my opinion.

Ebid need to advertise

Surely an ad cap on say local radio stations would help the lack of through traffic on this site, more through traffic brings more sellers which brings more through traffic.

A really isn't good enough to say we don't advertise, it would seem it is begging for just that, considering the frustration felt by huge amounts of buyers and sellers on jokebay

[Gill]

If you have spotted a gap in the inventory for sale on eBid, why not get some Germin GPS accessories stock yourself and start selling on eBid.

Instead of complaining, do something about it.

Turn a negative around to a positive.

Be entrepreneurial.

Too many posts on this Forum creating a negative vibe about eBid.

Julie is not complaining she is just stating a fact as many have done on this forum before. I have searched for many items on eBid first before going elsewhere. In the last few days - DVD player, lime green kettle for gas hob, a complete set of Morse DVD's to name but a few. Nothing was found on eBid so I went elsewhere and purchased.

............................................

This belonged on the wanted board.

Why?

.............................................

Trade Me?

I have items which are good sellers in Aus / NZ and looked into setting up on there, but the terms state that you have to be a NZ resident to be a seller. How much do they enforce that and do you get international sellers on there anyway?

This needs to be in PM.

..............................................

I have hand knitted covers, phone socks etc listed. knitted to order in the size you want. i admit i dont specifically have sat nav in the title but maybe i should add it

It's best to state that handmade items will fit the items in question before adding the wording to a title/description.

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Wouldn't that be nice if we could do that.

I just noticed a gap in 1955 Mercedes Benz listings. Maybe an extreme example but could any of us fill that particular gap? Not really so the sellers of this particular item eBid has a gap in should be here listing not elsewhere.
Would/should we expect a Postcard seller to start selling iphones because they are a hot item? No, they are Postcard sellers, Julie sells coffee cup holders I sell/list cymbals why would anyone even think of suggesting a seller lists items they may not know anything about?

It is eBid's duty to fill the gaps and not up to individual sellers to change to fit eBid's needs. I would have to agree however if for some reason Zildjian was no longer the cymbal of choice for drummers I would and should switch to what is popular but still would be what I know.

It's not up to eBid to fill the gaps Al. It's up to eBid to promote the site, to get in the sellers that sell 'everything' which buyers are looking for and finding on other sites where they are purchasing.

[adruml]

It's not up to eBid to fill the gaps Al. It's up to eBid to promote the site, to get in the sellers that sell 'everything' which buyers are looking for and finding on other sites where they are purchasing.

Bottom line we are saying the same thing. Of course eBid will not themselves fill the gaps but they need to bring in the sellers to fill the gaps. Some say (as I have in the past) Advertising will bring them in. Lately I'm not sure that is true. I have watched seller upon seller come to eBid and leave within a short time period. Are they looking for immediate gratification with low fees? Yes, I believe they are but they don't get that here. Years ago on the other side all you had to do was list and your items flew out the door. I really believe folks are looking for the same. How can that be accomplished? I have no clue. If I did I would definately have my own site.

eBid has been around a long time, just as long as ebay. With the low fees and the site itself why won't it take off as ebay did? I am baffled and really don't understand.

Will eBid remain a collectable site where sellers can park their goods and bring in their own buyers?

Does eBid want to become the Premier auction site?

After 15 years do the cheerleaders really believe their own BS when it comes to list more, Google Shopping etc or are they just interested in listing thousands of items for free and not care about anything other then themsleves? For every example I see eBid's "Major" sellers point out sellers are doing wrong I look into the seller and notice the majority of what they are doing is right and pretty much up to par with all the wonderful advice shared in the forums.

I must say one of the bigger turn offs I have had recently is when I viewed an eBid Blog and read a blog from what is considered one of eBid's major sellers. I immediately turned to the feedback and wondered if this is the best eBid really has to offer? I also watch the sales on a daily basis. One of eBid's top sellers lists with no gallery pictures therefore when a sale is made there is no FVF for eBid.

I must say the absolutely free listings must go, there are too many parked items on eBid. Folks talk they know how to sell well then list items which will sell, give eBid a cut and list some more. Instead listings are stale but who cares? If they don't sell for years it won't cost the seller a dime.

Sorry for the rant just a few observations. I scratch my head when I realize after 15 years eBid is still under 4 million listings and the folks who cheer eBid on are the ones who park their items without regard of cost to eBid.