Power Sellers Unite

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

Currently there are 13 stores listed on Bidville that have seller ID's associated with them that are invalid members (quit, suspended whatever).

What is unusual in addition to the stores still showing up on the list of stores is that some have been there for a long time with invalid ID's associated with them.

Bidville states that when you close your store, it is removed permanently from their database in 30 days. Apparently not true.

Some of the 13 stores are empty, some are fully stocked. Stocked with multiples of many items. Now obviously, those items are not really available as the seller is no longer a member there.

What IS very strange is that you CAN buy their store items, per se, actually go through the motions and 'buy' them but of course you can't complete the transaction because the seller is no longer a member.

Bidville can't collect their commission on those items and they can't charge the seller who, according to bidville, doesn't exist anymore.

Just one of many dysfunctional issues on Bidville. You can still alter your auction AFTER a bid is placed. You can change every facet, pictures, text, shipping fees, etc. That apparently has been a given on the site for a very long time according to some of the original members when bidville first came online.

angelsolutions · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 1:19 am Post subject: Re: BIDVILLE site dysfunction

I'm about to test that out Nancy. I'm closing my store. It makes me really sad to do it. But alas, I hung in for right at 6 months. Sadly, things only get worse. I'll run auctions, but use the $5.00 on something better.

best wishes
sylvia
angelsolutions

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

If your ID will still be valid, then of course you can buy from your store. The stores I'm talking about are still in the store Alpha listing, but the seller ID's associated with those stores are no longer valid members. And the stock in those stores can be 'bought' per se, but of course no seller is there to sell those items.

When I closed my store through their system, a screen popped up to say that the store would remain for 30 days then be removed. It didnt' last a week before it was cleared from the database. I had emptied it before I closed it.

So the stores I see with "no longer a valid member" associated with the seller ID on those stores makes me wonder how that could have happened.

If the seller asked that their account (ID) be removed or cancelled, you would think it would have removed the store completely, at least within 30 days. But it seems not to work that way.

I'd be interested in your results. When you go through their system and 'close' the store, how long it will show up in their database through the alpha store list before it's truly removed? 30 days is stated, but it seems to be untrue for examples of my store and those I see over and over again that have outlasted that 30 day statement.

angelsolutions · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:16 am Post subject: Re: BIDVILLE site dysfunction

Dang....that hurt....now I'm depressed...heh

It's closed. And I got the standard message.

Quote: › docWrite("quote")Your Bidville Store has been successfully deleted.

Please Note:
Your store has been closed immediately. However, the name and content information will remain in our system for 30 days, at which time it will be deleted permanently.
You may re-activate your closed store at any time during the 30 day period

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

Track it and see how long it's still available to you, just for curiosity sake, I think you'll find it doesn't either stay for the full 30 days or it will be available to you for much longer.

I know it hurt, but knowing the stats that we ARE aware of and the sell through rate of even their internal promotions not being published, it really is up to each member to determine what is or isn't working for them.

angelsolutions · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:58 am Post subject: Re: BIDVILLE site dysfunction

Yep, purely a business decision. Had great success early on, but the hits on store items are dwindling. What upsets me about their management is that they have the best working store with the best working bulk lister and they don't take advantage of that. They could have decimated eBay stores with a good effort. :( I'll never figure them out. They could have been champions.

I'll bet ya quarter it will still show up after the 30 because I left my auctions up, so my ID is active. This should confuse their criteria. LOL

sylvia
angelsolutions

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

I agree, in many respects, when ebay announced their price increase coming in January 2005, looking at existing other alternatives, Bidville could have really ramped up their attraction through advertising and making a success by letting buyers know they existed.

They are still, second only to ebay in the number of listings, but numbers don't mean a thing if buyers aren't drawn to the site as we have seen as members. There is only so much members can do, business has to be willing to spend on advertising and site functionality. It didn't happen.

But that goes back to the history of management. If you look at the history of all businesses that have been run by the same group who run bidville, they have yet to have a 'success' story. I don't believe their intent was to truly succeed but to create a haven for moving other businesses through purchase in and out the door and create a loss for purposes only beneficial to them through claiming such losses. The trend is disturbing, but it's there.

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

The following is the actual current list of stores showing on Bidville that are tied to invalid seller ID's.

Some of these stores are empty, some are not. Each store's link is shown under the name of the store.

To view the message stating that the seller ID is no long valid:
Click on the link under the store name shown below
Click on "feedback"
Click on the feedback number located behind the seller ID
Click on the "View my About Me Page"
You will see the Error message page

Each of these stores and their invalid seller ID status has been present for over 30 days minimum, some have been present with invalid Seller ID's for over 80 days since I began to track the stores with this peculiar issue.

Now, in the past, many months ago, I had published the list of empty stores here in another thread. That thread has scrolled off the front page here because it had to be locked. But within a day of publishing that list of empty stores, those stores were suddenly removed from the Bidville site. I suspect that this list will also be altered once it is known to Bidville that it is published.

BklynNubian electronics&things
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11272

BeasDiscountSportsCard&Memor.
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=10571

Bert's Place
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=10718

DVD Bliss
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11609

Hawleywood Vintage
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11183

hall of fame fashion
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11563

Johnston Enterprises
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=10311

KC Jewels
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11071

Mystique Lady's Treasures
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11511

Martin's Mountain
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11174

Miscellaneous
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=10152

nycwholesaleclothing.com
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=11352

SanAntonioAuctions
http://stores.bidville.com/shop/?storeid=10925

freebirdcomputers · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: East Central Iowa

Hmmmm, looks like there is a lot of concern with members on BV. The CS is not responding and listings are disappearing on them. Could this be a sign of their dismise. :?:

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

It has come to my attention recently that someone did BUY from a store on that list above, even though the seller's ID was invalid.

they received a Bidville notice for their store purchase (the canned one) and three days later got an email from the invalid seller to complete the deal.

I guess that's how Bidville manages their site. Strange, isn't it?

freebirdcomputers · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: East Central Iowa

Yes, it is, I never got a notice or anything when something sold, store or auction. Usually the buyer contacted me if I didn't already see it when I checked my trackpal daily.

Can't post on the boards til 9/14. Weren't too happy with want I did.

BTW, what's up with the stock, noticed it was going up again. Is someone pumping it up and I'm missing it. LOL.

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

Stock? Well, it's staying afloat and I do believe when the insider trading catches up and is available for viewing, we'll see the manipulation of the stock. It's got a pretty good track record in that regard looking to the facts available in the past fluctuations. :roll:

freebirdcomputers · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: East Central Iowa

Look at Bidville today, seems they haven't been answering inquiries for the last 5 to 7 days and listings are going wacky, some of the CL are starting to get a little panicky. In a way it's sad, because there are those that really wanted to make it work, except for a few who I see have it coming. Wonder if the end is need. :roll:

nancybusinraleigh · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 219 Location: North Carolina

I had not looked at the boards in over a week, I see what you mean.

When some of them are asking questions in the help board, and noone in listening or answering their complaints since the 7th it does not bode well.

Although I don't see anything new in the complaints they have, they are getting more severe. 120 auctions missing? Not auto relisting? That's not good.

And the longtime users are taking their complaints to the regular boards is not a good sign either.

One thread in the Member to Member help board is a long list of people ready to leave, some in fact have already pulled their auctions.

Just checked, the stock is artificially inflated up to 20 cents a share, major buys I see. Setting up to sell off? We'll see. The roller coaster ride never stops there! When the site is at it's worst, the stock goes UP? Right. :lol:

freebirdcomputers · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: East Central Iowa

That would seem to be the case, I have all the transactions for last week on the stock. Was interesting to say the least.

It seems strange to see the CL squirming and they ARE squirming. This may be it and I pick 9/30/05 at MC, LOL.