What did you learn from OLA?

#1

Currently I am a member of OLA. I paid $196 for some very valuable lessons.

MY Lessons:

1) Do your research - Always make sure a site has FEEDS. No feeds = no traffic.

2) Does the site install promised upgrades in a timely Manner? Read the chats in most cases the chats will always answer that question.

3) Is the site friendly. I consider heavy censorship as unfriendly.

4) No timely communication from site owners = frustrated sellers

5) Buyer fees - Buyers should be able to buy without paying a fee. Verified auctions only have to pay a fee at OLA

6) I would rather join a site that has FVF, why because my success equals more money for the site and gives them a reason to promote the site.

I would never recommend to anyone that they join OLA in its current state. I would not even suggest that try it for a few month. My lesson have taught me look for the basics first.

If they don't have the basics then look somewhere else. Research what a valuable tools. Its to bad it cost me $196 to learn this.

#2

Very nice post - simple and to the point.

#3

i learned that ebay might not be so bad after all!

#4

I am also in that club of learning from my $196 mistake. Wanted to back an up-and-comer but did it too soon.

One of the greatest values of a venue/site is not only how nice they are to sellers and buyers - it's how well they get the items we want to sell in front of sufficient numbers of eyes to actually find the buyers.

#5

This is not a rant, rave or bash, merely my own personal experience at OLA as a founding member. I too paid out A LOT of $$ and even though I sold several items over a long period of time, I never really made my $$ back on THAT particular investment. Crying or Very sad

OLA is not the only bad investment in my lifetime and I got over the fact I made the bad dicision (IMHO) and moved on rather quickly. It was MY DECISION as a business owner to invest in that online auction site's FM program. It works for some while it doesn't for others.

I've moved onto promoting my own online store and still testing the waters at about 10 other online selling venues yet to date? My own online store still out performs them all.

Good or bad we as online business owners appear to be searching for THAT ONE online selling venue which works for ALL OF US.

#6

OLA is not the only bad investment in my lifetime and I got over the fact I made the bad dicision (IMHO) and moved on rather quickly. It was MY DECISION as a business owner to invest in that online auction site's FM program. It works for some while it doesn't for others.

And then there's the kind of situation where the people are deliberately misled and may feel a strong need to warn others. No offense, but who are we to judge their posts?

#7

I've learned that not all sites can be everything to everyone. I've learned that building a site and a personal business takes more than 'want to', it takes determination, time, and tons of patience.

At OLA, I've learned that I CAN run my own business, from the ground up, and that I alone determine my own success.

At OLA, I've learned that it's important to find my own way and a selling venue that 'fits' me, on my own terms, whether it be at OLA or somewhere else or a combination of venues. Only I can choose what venue fits ME best.

At OLA, I've learned basic html, I've learned how to advertise and market my own goods and my own store, something I should've learned long, long ago.

#8

I learned that OLA is a big mistake and waste of time with unethical and unpleasant people owning and running their "business". I learned to look before I leap and that there really are nice, caring owners of venues out there -- just do your homework before getting in bed with an unknown. I am speaking from my own personal experiences and am entitled to these opinions. I do not want to be bashed -- I think people really need to know what goes on there before they get involved. OLA makes eBay look like paradise and that is not easy!