Patricia013

Should eBay Go Retail?

Yep - I just got:

"We were unable to run the search you entered. Please try again in a few minutes."

Search is down and seller pages are also down.

Should eBay Go Retail?

John, I value your opinion. You're a seller down in the trenches with the rest of us. Long ago Ebay gave up on trying to give sellers what they need in order to make sales. Instead, they took up the opinion that sellers are dispensible - a dime a dozen. Well, now looks like they're running out of the good sellers...the bad ones will stick around until they're thown out and all the fancy diamond sellers are looking to get their hands on buyers who frequent Ebay so they can direct them to their own sites LOL

Should eBay Go Retail?

Tony is absolutely correct - which is what I mean when I say Donahoe is blowing smoke up your skirt! Its all smoke and mirrors - it is NOT solid growth! Ebay has been stagnant and slightly declining every quarter for the past year. In fairness to people looking to invest - I think the analysts need to be more careful about what they say about this company!

Should eBay Go Retail?

User is right. The difference between Amazon and Ebay is almost laughable. Amazon has spent years on its business model and has become a well-oiled selling machine. It puts restrictions on its sellers but they are focused on making sales - not on hindering sales. Amazon knows full well what it takes to make sales and to make buyers keep coming back. Amazon knows the value of good customer service! Ebay on the other hand bumbles around - one year seller is king...next year buyer is king.... As for a business model let's try retail...no liquidation...no a mix of both...no....call in the Chinese and flood the site with junk!!! Nobody is happy and customers are beginning to stay away...in fact LOTS of customers are beginning to stay away! They've had it with a site that is cluttered with ads and puts them thru hoops in order to find what they want! Ebay does not sell anything and does not know what it takes to sell on a daily basis - they prefer to beat their sellers into stupid policies that merely throw obstacles in the path of what counts...SALES. They put other projects in front of sales when sales need to be utmost on their priority list - then they try to make up the decline in sales with fee raised or gimmicks (like the present two week half price listings for collectibles) - or ads to other listings on the sellers' paid up listing space!!!

A sad fact is that even if Donahoe admitted he's on the wrong path and tried to turn the ship around he would still fail. Sellers AND buyers have lost interest and lost faith in Ebay. Ebay has become a crazy, confusing place to both buyers and sellers! Ebay needs new management - a fresh start - one in which both seller and buyer are king - equally. Since Ebay doesn't sell anything but space, it needs to become "only a venue" once again. Selling space to sellers and mildly regulating transactions....nothing else could possibly save this company.

Should eBay Go Retail?

Hey Scot - wait till after the holiday season so you can report on Ebay's dismal failure along with their ......success??? ;-)

Should eBay Go Retail?

@Bhash - don't know what site you're talking about but for some time now Ebay is about the only online sales place where a seller can lose his item and his money to unscrupulous buyers - all with Ebay's help too! Buyers can now hold sellers hostage - ask for free items, for reduction in items cost, etc. because one bad negative from a buyer can restrict a small seller from selling on Ebay! You best read up on the new outrageous policies before you speak. This is a major reason why good small sellers are leaving with their hard-earned reputations in tact. Right now the buyers have ALL the power and the sellers are being treated like criminals.

Should eBay Go Retail?

"Should Ebay go Retail" - well....what do you think Scot? Have they been successful so far? Everything Donahoe has tried in almost two years has either failed or just been flat! In the meantime they are leaking sellers AND buyers like an old boat headed for the bottom of the sea! So, in all common sense and logic and putting all the hocus-pocus numbers aside...what do YOU think?

This company needs to sweep out the present management - ALL of it and start with a fresh team....a team who understands online selling and understands Ebay's roots and how to stimulate those roots once again. Its Ebay's ONLY chance for survival! Yeah, they're a big wealthy company but they can't simply rest on Paypal now - nor can they keep sitting on the cash they've accumulated from the "good days".

The writing is already on the wall - Ebay starts putting ads on paid for listings today! That shows a tremendous crack in Ebay's armor. They are now desperate and trying whatever they can to have a passable 4th quarter holiday season. They are doomed! Donahoe needs to go! His disruptive methods killed a solid business model and put a weak floundering one in its place! No more talk about retail - Ebay was not meant for retail and both buyers and sellers are showing their displeasure by LEAVING!

Amazon: Be Fearful While Others Are Greedy

Every time I buy off Amazon I am amazed! They have done their homework well and it shows in their attitude, the wide range of items and the super fast delivery and service! Right now, they are unparalled. With top notch service Donahoe has failed to beat and bludgeon his sellers into providing! This coming holiday season will see Amazon crush ALL competition and sales will soar! Good hard work is NOT a bubble...it is what it is!

I agree that the author doesn't really know what he's talking about. I buy enough on Amazon to have a credit card on file with them...something I wouldn't do with any other site.

Amazon Leads the Pack in October Same Store Sales

Hey - thanks arlin - sometimes I feel nobody is listening. Your post is pretty encouraging.

The eBay Ad Campaign Has Begun: Will It Help?

Hey Ebay ++++ remember Baghdad Bob? You remind me of him LOL

Amazon Leads the Pack in October Same Store Sales

"eBay (EBAY) had a slight tick down to 4.73% from Septembers 5.1% - that's small enough that I don't think it's cause for any concern."

When you're sitting on a couple of listings and those listings have only had one or two hits for the week - then its cause for great concern! Where are the buyers? If they are all frequenting diamond sellers then Ebay had no need for my fees - in fact I would say they're taking my fees under false pretenses. For the next two weeks Ebay is giving collectible sellers a break.....or is it simply for some fast cash from the suckers who just won't stop listing? I'm thinking its the latter! Ebay deserves to go DOWN and I'll continue making "noise."

Skype's Legal Drama Ends: It's Time to Start Innovating

I agree - I think they'll eventually be forced to bring in new management. The buyers are fleeing from the site. Too much confusion, they can't find what they want and good sellers of collectibles and vintage are getting scarcer and scarcer. I am starting a new art project and went to ebay to look for supplies. I ended up on Etsy buying the things I need. My Ebay buying "experience" was certainly NO FUN! I'm sure this is common now and I also feel sure that Donahoe and his team do not know how to get around this. They're clearly in way over their heads! Its plain to me that Donahoe expect to turn Ebay into a retail site on its name alone! I still cannot imagine what qualifications he had that allowed the board to hand over a multi-billion dollar company into the hands of the village idiot! He must have been very convincing LOL

Skype's Legal Drama Ends: It's Time to Start Innovating

Yep - good article. Amazing that with all Ebay's lawyers they managed to buy only part of Skype and then were left wide open for the Skype founders to come in and milk them like this. I'd think it sad if it weren't so funny! They deserve what they got.

As for Ebay - seems they finally realized that if they don't placate the antiques and collectibles crowd....at least a bit....they're going to lose them ALL! About time but perhaps already too late.

Wish you'd write on that.

The eBay Ad Campaign Has Begun: Will It Help?

@Ebay +++
"Patricia, 5.35B to 12.2B in Q3.... enough said. "
Out of over 40 million items...what do you suppose the sell thru rate is compared to Amazon's ;-) The proof of success or failure is in those numbers!

Scot

Good answer but you said it all:
"* women don't care for these ads and I believe they drive 60%+ of household $$"

I believe its a lot more than 60% ;-)

Ebay is also fighting one more thing they refuse to believe...their reputation is tarnished. People who do not shop on Ebay think fraud or mass amounts of chinese junk or its impossible to find things. these are things Ebay should have been working on for the past two years. Instead, Donahoe pushes his large sellers and expects people to flood to the site...that just ain't happening. So....he comes out with ads saying the same thing and impressing almost no one! His ads should be highlighting that Ebay is a fun and SAFE place to shop where folks can find new or vintage items. He shouldn't be wasting the company's money on the baloney he's trying to force on people. The man definiately does NOT have his finger on the proper pulse!.....and so I see a dismal holiday season for Ebay.

The eBay Ad Campaign Has Begun: Will It Help?

Ebay +++ LOL its all uphill to the top for Amazon. Smart management, good solid business model that they've worked on for years. Their success didn't happen overnight and they didn't cut corners to get where they are. They didn't try to bully their small sellers into being what they can't be - they also didn't try to get ahead simply by their name alone. There is no substitute for brains and right now Ebay is seriously lacking in that commodity ;-)