23 Feb
2004
23 Feb
'04
6:07 a.m.
I agree too, also these drop-offs centers, while some are official Ebay
ones, you can set up your own independant one and you could very well do
many avenues such as put some on Ebay, others on other sites.
If you were to get into surplus computer equipment you could post it into
Vintage Marketplace or if it were videogames you could post it onto
bidiots.com
There are other sites like biz.com and bidville.com (though I've gone to
bidville and the ville is more like a ghost town, lots of stuff but like no
buying at all, at least on VCM and bidiots! I see a lot of buyers not just
sellers) I've been hearing some negative stuff about epier.com lately so
I'm steering clear of them. Yahoo auctions while a big site, their selling
system for posting items is really cumbersome and time consuming and their
presentation leaves a LOT to be desired.
I'm trying to move away from Ebay and their monopoly especially since they
really soured me with yet another rate increase on Feb 1st, and they tried
to hide it by saying "well gee, we're only charging people $39.99 to post on
our front page instead of $99.99 look at the great price cuts we're giving
everyone... meanwhile don't pay attention to the subtle price gouging we've
just put into all the other features on our site" I'm patronizing VCM
and Bidiots as much as possible and looking elsewhere for items like the
newsgroups, I don't want to give evilbay anymore of my business or $$$
anymore, enough is enough.
If anyone wants to put together a Drop-Off Center for
computers/electronics/video games/technology in the NY/CT area, contact me
as I would love to put together a business with someone on this, this is a
ground floor concept and I always hate it when stuff takes off and you just
get in when the whole market is flooded and its too late.
Curt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marvin Johnston" <marvin(a)rain.org>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: Greedy E-bay idiots!
Curt Vendel wrote:
Actually there is a new phenomenon happening now and anyone interested
in jumping onboard should move now.... Ebay is organizing all around the
country "Drop Off Centers" Where the non-technical, non-interested can
just pull up with their stuff, drop it off, give their prices and the
drop off company will photograph and post auctions/sales onto Ebay and
charge a commission for the sale of the items.
This would be a wonderful thing to do! And along those same lines, it
should be pointed out that ebay is *not* the only way to sell stuff
online. Part of the value of these "Drop Off Centers" could be knowing
when to put something on Ebay, and when to put it somewhere else. I *do
not trust* Ebay to do anything other than look out for their financial
interests. Ebay is not always the best venue to use for selling things,
but it does take work to find and develop other outlets.
FWIW, I ran across a 1997 book titled "net.gain" by Hagel and Armstrong
published by Harvard Business School Press that details the authors
thoughts and experiences with developing online communitites.
Excellent!!! If I were to guess, I would say that this book was studied
and put into practice by the people at Ebay. Basically, it makes five
points to define a virtual community:
1) Distinctive focus as to membership.
2) Integration of content and communication.
3) Emphasis on member-generated vendors.
4) Choice among competing vendors.
5) Commercially motivated community organizers.