Even eBay's PeSA Lap Dogs Are Shunning Skype As A Sales Tool

[mandy]

Big eBay Users Shun Skype

Whitman is due to address investors Thursday morning... With Wall Street already concerned about eBay's growth, the CEO now faces criticism from a group of big eBay users who are miffed over Whitman's latest strategic stroke.

In October, eBay acquired closely held Internet phone company Skype...

Skype doesn't give me a capability that I already don't have," says Jonathan Garriss, executive director of the Professional eBay Sellers Alliance...

Garriss...says many high-volume eBay users won't sign up for Skype because they prefer to communicate with customers via email...

full article: http://www.thestreet.com/_htmlbtb/tech/j...55122.html

But an article this morning on investment site TheStreet.com casts some serious doubt about how some very influential members of the eBay community are looking at Skype as a bid and sales facilitator.

Actually, they aren't. At least many members of the Professional eBay Sellers Alliance, which is a group of about 900 high-volume eBay merchants.

full article: http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?m=200512

[amy]

I have no desire to talk to people who can't read and ask typical eBay questions like:

Q. How much is shipping?  A. Try reading the listing boinktard
Q. Do you take PayPal? A. Try reading the listing boinktard!

I'd have a very hard time biting my tongue  :twistedevil: with some of the questions eBay (and only eBay) buyers ask. 

I guess on the Skype thing I agree with the PeSA Lap Dogs.

[Anita]

Lap dogs.  ROTFL!
If I was still selling on eBay, I wouldn't use it either.  Corresponding through e-mail gives me time to THINK about my answer.  It is best when I am unable to say the first thing that comes to mind. 

[mandy]

Another article on sellers' plans to use Skype

EBay spokesman Hani Durzy acknowledged that Skype is not for every seller on eBay, particularly those peddling low-cost items that make for uncomplicated transactions. But sellers of big-ticket items have expressed enthusiasm about using Skype as a customer service tool, he said.

"We think a number of power sellers see the potential of this, even without having seen any integration or implementation of it," he said.

full article: http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/08/technology/ebay_skype/

[Anita]

peddling low-cost items

Nice choice of words!