Topic: Attitudes and Underdogs (How to Leave eBay)

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Posted at June 14, 2004, 9:16 pm:

There are those who are trying to coordinate efforts to help other sites compete with eBay. There is a group called UniteEbay@yahoogroups.com, and at http://www.ginforsodditiques.com/sites.html there is a list of alternative sites and related links. This includes a site that lists where former eBay sellers have moved to. This is not an attempt to hurt eBay, but we believe that more competition is needed, more traffic at other sites. Here is a copy of my post to the eBay pottery board:

Attitudes and Underdogs
As eBay expected, some of the people who were complaining have already
started to mutter an give in. As usual, people say that if there was
another site with as much traffic, they would switch, but they still
sit with eBay and wait for someone else to take the time and risk of
helping another site grow, part of the attitude problem.

But these latest changes and system flaws aren't the problem with eBay.
They are simply the latest in a line of actions and inactions going
back over five years, a behavior pattern that reveals disrespect for
the everyday buyer and seller, the ordinary person. This is the crucial
attitude problem. Since it's a matter of attitude, we can expect eBay
to continue creating problems, continue the disrespect.

Since the actions are generally handled so badly, they also reveal a
basic lack of understanding of business, even of computers. eBay's
growth over the last years has become more a matter of physics and
momentum than of skill or intelligence.

While it would be quite possible to build an excellent site dedicated
strictly to auctioning antiques and collectibles, I don't know anyone
who has the necessary cash lying around waiting to invest. That leaves
us the option of helping some current sites grow. I have a page of
sites on my Ginfor's Odditiques site now, and people are starting to
try these other sites and give feedback. You can find a link to the
site on our Me page or just run a search. I won't push my luck by
adding the address here.

You don't have to leave eBay. Just take a few good items, not just the
least of your stock, and list them on two or three other sites. Maybe
try those without listing fees if you want, and keep relisting. Try
bidding on a few items here and there. Help gather information and get
traffic numbers up.

Summer tends to be slow anyway. Use this time to find out which other
sites are best run. By the end of the summer, or well before, we should
know who deserves our support, and we can concentrate on backing two or
three sites to create competition and choice.

Once upon a time, eBay was the underdog, and they still take advantage
of the fairy tale start of the site, though the site itself has long
altered its real identity. Now, many of the sellers and buyers are the
underdogs, as our these other sites. So it's time for the underdogs to
unite.

With patience, we can build better markets. Some are just going to sit
safely on their collective butts and wait. We need those with some
moxie, guts, and that joy of life that sees this as an adventure. It's
your life, so why not be a particpant rather than a spectator?

Feel free to e-mail me directly, and those who have my e-mail can feel
free to share it with others. Spread the word.

Forrest D. Poston/ginfor
Underdogs Unite

Original of the message was taken from http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/

Replies:

Hoping eBay PGP Board Regulars will find this thread and continue the ...

-+I thought you were being stern! benj clark

Glad to see someone take the time to post a reply.

Quoted without comment from The Boston Globe, June 10, 2004: B...

benjclark Oh thankyou, I needed a giggle.

The actual link for that yahoo group is: http://groups.

Interesting how difficult people find mailinglists like yahoogroups.

You can write off Bidzfree.

I have been on BidVille.

http://www.

I just wanted to say that I think your "Underdogs Unite' campaign is a...

My 2 cents.

I think kjp55 has a good point.


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