Skyecraft - I agree 100% that if ebaY is working for you and others, they should not leave. I have always felt that ebaY works well for many - it did not for me. It may even be 'my fault' - when I was there, I was very green, didn't understand good content, good titles, etc.

So - if it works, use it. If it works with others, use that. The bottom line is this is business. You are also 'spot on' that sellers are divided - some logically and some emotionally; but again, if business is the key driver - there is real data that suggests sites work better for some than others.

Knapp's (Carol) was on Yahoo about the same time as I. I sold items on a regular basis, pretty steady flow of sales, not making a living - but moving product. She never sold a thing. Finally, I think she had a sale/two - and they were NPBs. So - we had very different results; we have very different products.

I just posted in another thread - I do not think I'll ever put all my items in one place again. Been there and done that - having 'variety' may be more work, but you've always got a plan B or a site B, if one of them fails you!

gregdavidson wrote (View Post): › Professionalism is the key and something like "Webidz.com" that is run on pre-made software is not going to have a fighting chance. MightyBids.com had a nice design but was a little too simple and I don't feel the name was right either. Come out with an awesome website, with a catchy name, and that is backed by a "real" company and sellers will start coming in.

No, it ain't professionalism. You won't outcompete an established business like ebay with professionalism alone. What you need is NEW IDEAS. Remember Google or Fedex?
Let's see what it would take to build a highly successful auctionsite.

1) Who can build that? SELLERS.
2) What sellers want? Respect, some control and hopefully a share in the auction business, like stock options.
3) Who can give it to them? An auctionsite that offers them some control and PROFIT-SHARING like stock options.
4) Why would ebay sellers want to join new auction? Because they're fed up with ebay.

Like I said, an auction that offers sellers these things would be set for RAPID GROWTH because in return for the profit-sharing it'd get loyalty of the sellers. They wouldn't join bunch of different auctions because why would they support their competitors?

In other words, loyalty of selllers is the key if you want to build a large auctionsite that could even compete with ebay. And funny thing is, that a smart site owner should be EAGER to offer it, because he'd get a lot of loyal sellers build up his site at no upfront cost. You hear that, Mo?

Ok, Who wants to deal with canned responses, bot customer service, and other customer NO Service, while paying higher and higher fees for mods and perks that may or not work?

Or do you want to know that there are real people behind the site?

You're not suggesting that big must necessary mean unfriendly, are you? I like it when people have loyalty and sense of community where they work, and that is best accomplished by sharing future profits with them.

If you're a part owner which stock options would make you, you'll obviously enjoy working for a company much more than if you were a mere employee. And it'd be the same with auctions. People love to work for companies where they have some kind of part ownership like that.

starraider25 wrote (View Post): › People love to work for companies where they have some kind of part ownership like that.

Well, you've got this inspiration and idea on how to create the more
efficient mouse trap and are obviously convinced it's a winner.....

....so why don't you build it?

Hi All,

There is no need for anyone else to build it, it already exists!

http://kaqoo.com/index.html

If you really want to own your piece of the cake then you probably need to read this thread from 2 years ago.

http://www.powersellersunite.com/viewtopic.php?t=3420&highlight=

Just a feeling but I think the market is now ready for Kaqoo.................

starraider25 wrote (View Post): › You're not suggesting that big must necessary mean unfriendly, are you? I like it when people have loyalty and sense of community where they work, and that is best accomplished by sharing future profits with them. If you're a part owner which stock options would make you, you'll obviously enjoy working for a company much more than if you were a mere employee. And it'd be the same with auctions. People love to work for companies where they have some kind of part ownership like that.

What I am suggesting is look at these large companies like ebay, Y! msn... do you get REAL customer service? No its all automated.

And I agree with Gael... why not start your own... and take a look at Kenzy's list www.kenzy.com, especially the defunct sites.. Then look at the active sites and see what the competition is.

Then spend the countless WO/man hours building and designing, SEO, servers, techs, mods, customer service... And even tho I bought a site that was already more or less established, I still spend several hours answering emails, instructing, and performing countless customer service tasks... I have a volunteer staff... who want to see the site succeed, who are making sales, who want other sellers to be successful also and will guide others... THOSE are the ones who will first share in any profits. They have an investment. And they are doing so very selflessly.

So pardon me, when I get a bit testy when someone comes along and says I want profit sharing, who isn't walking their talk.

But do you get happy sellers at companies like ebay? You did until fairly recently when ebay went for maximizing profits. But if they had profit-sharing, the sellers would still be happy because they'd keep control.

And obviously at a small auctionsite, the sellers can't be very happy because most of them struggle. So your sellers would be much happier at a larger site where they make more money. Putting up with computerized CS is a minor inconvenience if your sales are good.

And the reason why I don't start an auction like that, is because it takes more than good ideas to start a business like that, it takes some capital also which I don't have. It's a lot easier to convert an existing auction to a profit-sharing design.

So until I find someone who'd be willing to put up some $$$ for such venture, my best bet to join such auction is to try convince some existing auction to do that.

BTW, here's another idea I had about promoting an auctionsite. You may wanna offer new sellers on your site $20 a month for listing at least 50 items a month. If you do it right and concentrate mostly on bigger sellers, you'll most likely get those $20 back from them in selling fees so it'll cost you nothing, and could bring 100's of new sellers to your auction.

Now is especially good time for something like that because there are lot of unhappy ebay sellers.

Oh, and your self-less volunteer staff reminds me of all the ebay sellers who also worked hard to make ebay successful in the early days, but when ebay went public they got T-shirts and Pierre got $billions. Why? Because they didn't have the foresight to negotiate some profit-sharing deal with him before they worked hard to build up his company.

So, if your auction makes it big in a few years, you'll be rich like Pierre, and your volunteer staff will get T-shirts, right? LOL History repeats itself until people wise up and stop making the same mistake all over again.

Paying sellers to list, that's new

Maybe some site credit? But it must be complicated to add & with the relists, some might take advantage.

We usually have a listing contest which should be coming up soon.

Angela-BijouxBoutik wrote (View Post): › Paying sellers to list, that's new Maybe some site credit? But it must be complicated to add & with the relists, some might take advantage. We usually have a listing contest which should be coming up soon.

New is good, don't you think? Usually it's the original ideas that pay off best, as opposed to doing what everyone else is doing. Paypal built their company by giving $5 for each new member you brought to them, and this is a version of that promotion.

Here's my 2 cents.....after fees - LoL!!!

I was once (and were others here) 'enthused' about one site that did offer seller $.xx per listing. So, we made our bottoms numb and listed tons and ... no payment. We never got paid. So - that will NOT make me jump, unless payment is automatic at the end of each listing/day or something.

My experience with profit-sharing and stock options is this:

Those eligible for any return have first invested.
The investment is typical capital - tangent; not time, energy - intangible.
If the project is successful - there's a return.
If the project is successful - there's a loss.
Some work better than others; some made some famous and rich, but many, many more were not successful.

My current investment for any site I list on/participate in is:

- My time
- My fees
- My knowledge/help when I can

My current return for that investment is:

- Hosting of my listings/photos
- An avenue for hosting
- An alternative to ebaY
- Opportunity to move merchandise

My point, I guess, I am getting a return on my investment. I personally would only expect a larger return if I kicked in a portion of capital (CASH) that is needed for the many operational expenses that exist prior to the profits rolling in.

Again, my 2 cents, after fees....

2BOYSandTOYS wrote (View Post): › Here's my 2 cents.....after fees - LoL!!! I was once (and were others here) 'enthused' about one site that did offer seller $.xx per listing. So, we made our bottoms numb and listed tons and ... no payment. We never got paid. So - that will NOT make me jump, unless payment is automatic at the end of each listing/day or something.My point, I guess, I am getting a return on my investment. I personally would only expect a larger return if I kicked in a portion of capital (CASH) that is needed for the many operational expenses that exist prior to the profits rolling in. Again, my 2 cents, after fees....

You mean you wouldn't trust Mo until the end of the month? Oh c'mon man, that sweet girl ain't no barracuda, LOL.

starraider25 wrote (View Post): › And the reason why I don't start an auction like that, is because it takes more than good ideas to start a business like that, it takes some capital also which I don't have.

Ah, the common lament of the idea man -- dreams but no cash -- I
know it well.

starraider25 wrote (View Post): › It's a lot easier to convert an existing auction to a profit-sharing design.

You *obviously* aren't real familiar with the heads of a lot of these
alternate sites.....LOL. It would be easier getting milk from a bull than
talking one of them into this scheme.

But I tell you what -- what don't you hit Ray up at Wagglepop......

and if that fails approach Chris over at Online Auction......

I'd love to hear what they'd have to say about your idea

ok, ok, I'll admit I'm being evil -- but I would *love* to hear what
either one of those guys would say to handing back out some cash
to those they've suckered --- errrr --- convinced to join their sites.

starraider25 - you crack me up! My statement was 'general' in nature, and Mo's too darn smart to offer $$ for listings. Listings help a site grow, but sales, customer service, return customers and variety keep a site growing.

My point was....paying for listings isn't a great strategy - many will plop on 'dropship' stuff where photos and content are readily available and there's no variety - only 25 same listings - same title, same photo....

There is no 'quick fix' or 'get rich fast' scheme in this industry.

Gael....that suggestion - priceless!!!!

Yes, new ideas will help out but you DON'T have to reinvent the entire wheel. Just think of how Google came out of nowhere and is now the #1 search engine! A LOT of ebay sellers are looking for an alternative to ebay. If nobody is going to come up with a solution what is the purpose of starting a forum for digruntled ebay sellers?