I may just be paranoid

#1

I really don't know how to put this. Put I will let you know this is not my OLA user id. I am one of those "people" who tend to be a little loud about OLA and some of the shortcomings and have voiced those on their boards. When I posted in the "Whats for Sale on OLA" forum I would get a good response from the members. But since I made some constructive criticism and posted new post, I am lucky if I get 4 or 5 people who read it. I have to respond to my own post to bump it back up, but no luck. I can't help but think that my opinion has caused me to be on a black ball list. I may just be paranoid, but I just may have a reason to be.

Crying or Very sad

#2

Stand by your convictions Wink

#3

Blackballed - I'm sorry you feel like you've been "blacklisted". All threads don't get replies, and lots of us have been really busy listing!! Confused

I don't know what your thread is or what your ID is. Maybe the title of your post wasn't clear? I've posted some threads that never got replies or many folks looking. Sometimes it's random. Rolling Eyes

Sadly, we do have a few people who are quick to jump on what they see as something negative. Sad

Don't take "constructive criticism" well either. They usually type first, think later. I think their comments need to be taken with a grain of salt; many of them are sort of "twitchy" about the success of OLA...many have all their eggs in the OLA basket (not smart move anymore even though the Google feeds have really increased hits!!)

Sometimes, what we see as 'constructive' isn't seen that way by others. But there are enough folks on OLA now, that even if you piss a few off, there should be plenty others to take their places. Remember, the majority of folks on OLA don't even post in the forums! and some of us only post in certain categories. Maybe you'd get better results in another category!

Good luck! I hope you don't give up on OLA because of a few people! Wink

#4

If you are who I think you are, I looked at your seller's list last night. Smile

Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that's my cup of tea, but I'm sure someone will! The thing with promoting a business is that you have to put a lot of sweat and tears into it, and sometimes the results are minimal at best. But all you need is one person every now and then, and if that one person tells a friend or two, and they tell friends... that's how businesses truly take off - word of mouth.

#5

BTW - I'm someone who will point out a site's shortcomings also. I also point out the site's good things. When statements are based on fact, there is no reason to disrepect the person making the statement. Just remember that if you are saying things based on fact, you have the right to do so.

#6

This may sound like a silly question, how do you get blackballed on an online auction site?

#7

OLA you have an identity problem and a big one, Your traffic rank is not even within the top 100,000 websites in the US, you don't show up on google, in fact the only search engine I could find that OLA showed up in was AltaVista were OLA had 60,000 plus links, you wanna know how many links you had in google? 46, thats right 46 links. According to Alexa traffic analysis Online Auction.com traffic is falling every day, week, month, dont believe me heres the link http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/onlineauction.com

There is way to much rah rah go team on this site, look people I want to see the site succeed but without traffic it isn't going to happen. Sending out flyers, business cards is not even the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Right now OLA is slowly sinking and unless management plugs the hole in the side of this ship its going to sink. For gods sake Bidville gets more traffic and they are going out of business. We pay OLA to provide a service and that service is not being met, it is OLA responsibility to advertise effectively to bring in people not the people who list there. If this rubs you the wrong way then good, maybe someone needs to light a fire under someones pants.

#8

OLA will continue to be a dead end until they
make the google feed a reality. They've been
saying this was almost ready to be implemented
for two years now. Com'on, even Wagglepoop
can manage it so why is making it a reality at
OLA so elusive? Are the folks running OLA so
enamoured with their 'Penny Over Auctions'
that they can't see it's preventing them from
getting the exposure they need to be a viable
alternative to eBay?

This horse has been beat plenty already and
still no one listens.

But, you're right.... the OLA cheerleaders will
be here soon enough to dole out their Kool-Aid
and give a big group hug to assure us all is well
in OLA land.

#9

How hard can Google Feeds be to do? I just received a quote that RSS Feeds to Google would cost me less than 600 dollars to set up for my site.

Maybe there is more involved than I am aware of?

**#10**

Lordy I hate to step into this subject BUT my ole buddy GAEL has spoken for most all of us HERE at PSU, along with the ole dog, no offense PD!!....
Yeah I know, I was one of the original FM (founding members), paid my dues and sold a few items at OLA yet like most, had to pull teeth merely to get a few sales over there among my fellow sellers, kind of like I do at most of these smaller alternative online selling venues Rolling Eyes

I've abandoned OLA due to lack of sales for MY products and placed my stuff where it receives hits/views/ and yes, SALES results WITHOUT paying upfront overhead. NOPE, not going to brag about my online sales from other venues here, BUT they're out there Cool

Attention online sellers, do as most have already done, DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK and list YOUR merchandise where it SELLS the best, no matter it may be.
Thanks for dropping by GAEL!

**#11**

How do I send a link to OLA regarding the posts above, I don't have a Email link to send them? I want them to know about the slow traffic to the site. I am selling there. because I like auctions.

**#12**

equalizer4 wrote (View Post): › I want them to know about the slow traffic to the site.

I think they know about the traffic.

**#13**

They know about the traffic and the feed. I am playing with the new beta version right ow that is going live in a month or so so we can get the Google feed. THe search is so much better as far as I can tell right now. I am still trying to find glitches.

It was dead 2 1/2 years ago but has been getting better. Especially since the Ebay going stupid. I am lucky I am doing great sales there as others are not. I still have hopes for OLA and they are trying their best. If it was still like it was before their first big over haul I would have left a long time ago.

I think anyone who just has to sell right now to make their bills really do need to find where they can get sales but jumping around from one site to another does not work either. I think OLA is great for that second site until they get up and going with the new upgrades and what other stuff they plan. But try and find that one site perfect for your items is a must but so hard to do.

**#14**

If any or the others are like me and see a new thread start that is being negative I just ignore it. I know OLA short coming and what is coming up in the new upgrades so why read something that does not mean anything to me. Almost every short coming has been posted so many times that I think people are just tired of reading about it. It will get fixed sooner or later as they can only fix things so fast.

They have a long way to go to be perfect which no site is really. Ebay took years to get to where they are. Beleive me...they hear about what I think needs to be changed or fixed. They really do listen to all of us and do have a list. But some things are more important then others and need to be done in some kind of order. Search is being worked on (love the new version so far)...google feed back....many many things coming but still many many things will come later.

If anyone jumps from site to site they will not get anywhere. Pick 2 and sit it out for at least a year. My sales on OLA have gone up so much in the last several months thanks to so many leaving Ebay. Now to just get most of those buyers to realize Ebay is not all that anymore. I can't believe there are still some sellers who are just now asking 'What's going on with Ebay?" Shocked

**#15**

i looked at OLA but to me, the number of listings on a site say alot. OLA cant touch ioffer. why do people go to walmart despite al the evil things they do? price and selection. i think if an auction site is to succeed they need to get a big chunk of the listings. OLA aint cutting it.