From rsmythe's (Randy Smythe/GlacierBayDVD) blog:
Quote:Well, it looks like Overstock Auctions has begun to die a slow death (of course that is just my opinion, they believe they are making the correct moves)...
Stormy Simon the new VP of Auctions at Overstock has made a tough decision on the future of Auctions and I think it is the wrong choice. You cannot grow Auctions organically.
The only way to compete in the Auctions space is to make Auctions part of the main Overstock search rather than a tab on the home page. Let's look at some history. Yahoo auctions failed, Amazon auctions failed and both of these sites have unbelievable traffic. What is the common thread between the two marketplaces? Auctions are just a tab on the home page or an afterthought in their overall site plans...
full article:
http://rksmythe.blogspot.com/2006/11/ove...their.html
Maybe it might be easier if they just post a list of non-exempt sellers. >
I'm curious as to why Stormy thinks removing MIM as a viable option for the non-exempt sellers is going to somehow *grow* the auction side when eBay relies so heavily on FPL, BIN, Stores, and its beloved eXpress (OK, maybe that last one isn't the best example)?
A true auction type listing does work for some widgets - but only with enough buyers around to complete the experience. But for the most part, folks shopping online want to actually buy stuff, not bid.
Overstock doesn't have to let any third party sellers sell on their site - and they are certainly welcome to pick and choose those they do allow.
But don't insult my freakin' intelligence by telling me what a great change this is if 1) it's dumb and 2) it's so dumb you have to expempt all of your favorite folks. If this was the best thing since sliced bread, all of the big boys would be begging to play and not getting exemptions. (This last paragraph was directed to Stormy. I doubt he/she will read it since he/she has been unable to master the O board and has to have Byron post on his/her behalf, but I don't care. :o)
Quote:A true auction type listing does work for some widgets
Those widgets aren't popular with Overstock's buyers.
Quote:Another area of concern is the decision to remove seller IDs from search results pages. One Overstock.com auction seller said of the change, "Sellers fear that buyers will not want to open each item to see who the seller is."...
Does this mean our seller IDs aren't going to be showing on the auction listings at all?
It seems like a love fest after Patrick's letter.
Maybe I'm just a bitch but I don't get it.
Yes, of course, we'll make exceptions - just call us. (But there's no phone support for regular sellers.)
And how "organic" will this growth be - how much difference will there be - if every large seller is exempted?
If he wants a true auction site, do away with MIM for everyone.
Didn't Overstock discontinue phone support for mere mortal sellers a few months back? Am I wrong/dreaming that? I feel like the invisible poster over there - no one will answer, much less acknowledge my question. They're all too busy in the group hug.
[quote author=iron_chick link=topic=6112.msg34373#msg34373 date=1164900706]
Didn't Overstock discontinue phone support for mere mortal sellers a few months back? Am I wrong/dreaming that? I feel like the invisible poster over there - no one will answer, much less acknowledge my question. They're all too busy in the group hug.
[/quote]
December 2005. Phone support was replaced by live chat.
http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...751.0.html
[quote author=regic link=topic=6112.msg34375#msg34375 date=1164902670]
[quote author=iron_chick link=topic=6112.msg34373#msg34373 date=1164900706]
Didn't Overstock discontinue phone support for mere mortal sellers a few months back? Am I wrong/dreaming that? I feel like the invisible poster over there - no one will answer, much less acknowledge my question. They're all too busy in the group hug.
[/quote]
December 2005. Phone support was replaced by live chat.
http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...751.0.html
[/quote]
Yep, live chat.
I think they might have kept phone support for TM's because I called them earlier in the year a few times. :-[