purple_reading_giraffe wrote (View Post): › they have abandoned the business model that made them successful in the first place

That business model was based on a fad, a hot trend, and ebay had to know that it would not, could not, grow beyond its 2006 peak. Why does no one understand this. It was obvious as the pet rocks and bell bottoms that preceded it.

They had 2 choices, either consciously to decide to shrink along with their market, or opt to make changes that emphasized Fixed Price where there would be growth.

CS

@cohiba,
Speaking from a Wall Street point of view that makes sense. As you pointed out earlier, most of the small sellers are not interested in stock prices, etc. because it does not effect them. All they want is a place to sell their stuff at a decent price, with a decent customer base, and a decent customer service department.

Although this venture may never make it to Wall Street, I guarantee you MAIN STREET will find this venue an attractive opportunity. That's if it really happens. Of course there's always the outside chance that I am wrong. JMO

dlrane wrote (View Post): › @cohiba, Speaking from a Wall Street point of view that makes sense. As you pointed out earlier, most of the small sellers are not interested in stock prices, etc. because it does not effect them. All they want is a place to sell their stuff at a decent price, with a decent customer base, and a decent customer service department. Although this venture may never make it to Wall Street, I guarantee you MAIN STREET will find this venue an attractive opportunity. That's if it really happens. Of course there's always the outside chance that I am wrong. JMO

Don't put words in my mouth, I never said auctions were not a viable way to sell certain types of products. I said the initial rush and peak to buy on ebay was a fad.

It's indisputable that once buyers got over the excitement of buying via auction, and realized walmart and target and amazon had most of the goods they wanted at a fixed price that was often equal to or lower and required less hassle than messing with auctions, it's pretty clear it will never be that big again.

CS

@BG,
I understand your frustration as I have several family members and friends in your similar situation. I am sure if you give it your best shot, you will find an alternative site that at least meets your basic needs.

As for the lawsuit! Well, that is a matterr of a different color. Win or Lose, you will starve to death while waiting on a verdict. I am sure there are plenty of members here who would be more than willing to help as much as possible to get you going somewhere else. The fact that you are selling and maintaining a business in your condition, speaks volumes about your character and your ability to carry on. As all things are cyclical, you will come out on top again somewhere, with a valuable lesson learned like the rest of us.
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Thank you dlrane. That is very inspirational and good of you to say.

trust me B.G. - blocking cohibastore will keep you from seeing a LOT of very good information he provides. You could well regret missing out on it. He is one of the few who provides solid eBay info.

I'm sorry if you feel we hijacked your thread with this philosophical discussion. We just really enjoy the debate sometimes.

To answer your question, though, ignore works only for you, and effects no one else.

@cohiba - I would think there would always be a market for the unusual. It might not get bigger every single year, but it seems a solid business platform to me. Of course, I could also be wrong.

I agree with PRG,
It is hard to block everyone that you don't always agree with. Believe it or not, cohiba and I have actually agreed on things from time to time. He doesn't block me, even though I would think, sometimes he may want to, and vice versa. We all have bright times and dim times. I know when I say something everyone doesn't always agree with, they just ignore me at the time and carry on like I never said a thing. I think that is a good way to handle forums. Take the good with the bad and weed it out for yourself, but of course, it is ultimately your decision.

I try to keep in mind that it takes a lot of different people to make up a community or forum, and together, the end result is most usually, at the end of the day, you walk away with some good information or a new perspective on a certain subject. JMO

eBay had a good thing going for the first 4-5 years.
And cohiba is right... it was a fad and as with all fads, they fissile out over time.

Diversity has always been the key
and it's sad so many never figured
that out until it was too late.

Hate to admit it but you are absolutetly correct about diversifying xppman.

ebay is down another 99 cents to $16.90.

I am a buyer at $12.

I don't know what you'd specifically sue them for, but I do know that California law provides for triple damages for a disabled person when it's a tort (not a contract case).

If you feel you have been seriously wronged by a company and your lawyer agrees, and dealing directly with the company hasn't resolved it, you have a constitutional right to address it in court. I wouldn't discourage anyone from exercising that right especially since it's one of the few brakes we have left on abusive corporate behavior these days.

The only advice I can give on a decision to sue a powerful company is this. If you decide to, just don't depend on it and don't dwell on it.

I have a thought.

DON'T sue them.

Just leave and take YOUR $$$ and customers with you.

Money talks and eBay can only BS
the 'walk part' for so long.

I would really like to hear more of your thinking on why you believe moving the discontinued, the unusual, the nostalgic, the one-of-a-kind, the collectible, the still-useful-but-not-currently-wanted, etc. items from where they are to where they are wanted is a fad. I truly see it as a never-ending market. While it is possible that that market may reach a certain size and stay about the same, I don't see it as ever becoming obsolete. Certain collectibles may be fads, but my desire for things I once loved and can no longer find will not diminish, but will increase with time. There must be some thinking or observations I am not seeing. I might grant you that getting rich on this model might be difficult unless you are the platform, but I'm talking about the platform, actually. And I see this as a solid foundation on which to build the retail items, especially the ones that Wal-Mart won't stock - such as cigar cutters or designer lingerie.