Wagglepop 2: Deja Vu as Auction Site That Left Sellers Stranded Reopens

[racedream]

I am sooo happy to know that I am not alone in the over 40 crowd. Princess you are aging me, my oldest son is 22. At least no one is calling me granny yet.  :

I'm in the over 40 crowd too. I have a grandson 

Wow, I took a long nap today (ouch, my aching back)  ;D and when I came to see thread, I have lots to catch up on. Back to reading.

[youroverheadbin]

[quote author=chiquita link=topic=3775.msg36334#msg36334 date=1165878000]
Powerseller, I would like to tell you that coming here and posting took a tremendous amount of guts. You have more in common with these wonderful TT posters than you realize. I have seen your items, they are very nice, and I wish you great success with your business.

Powerseller after reading the posts you made on Ebay, I would just like to reflect something back to you. Your angst with ebay is also shared by many sellers. There are in fact probably very few WP sellers who sell exclusively on WP. Many sellers on WP have not only an Ebay store, but may have other online venues they list at.

Your anger, disgust, and frustration that you posted about are exactly the sentiments and feelings that the folks here are expressing, except that we are addressing WP. What you have failed to acknowledge is that sellers with vast online, and/or retail business experience, with a solid marketable inventory, signed up with WP,and did not make enough profit to justify keeping their store open. These sellers lack of success has absolutely nothing to do with experience,but has everything to do with the venue itself.
Every time ebay makes a major change sellers revolt, and in a state of anger/frustration bolt to the "st. elsewhere of their choice, only to become disillusioned and disappointed. Given the array of choices available to sellers that have free sites, it is not a sound business decision to charge upfront fees on a site that is brand new, and untested. If and until that site can gain a foothold as a viable online presence, charging fees after establishing the site would make sense, but not at the beginning.

As it stands WP does not offer anything unique, different, or special. There are at least 20 or more sites that have the exact same features that WP offers. What they all unfortunately have in common is no buyers. In order to even begin to challenge ebay, you would need start-up capital, investors/partners, and a savvy team of IT people as part of the business. Many powersellers including Ray have gotten into the online auction industry by purchasing a boxed software script, and are operating without a marketing/advertising budget. It is like a vicious cycle ebay makes a major change that sends sellers running, new sites are quickly created to capitalize on the refugees, the sellers sign up, the sellers calm down and realize that they made a decision in haste and realize they are not making any money. They either return to ebay, quit selling online, or take their time and calmly make a new business plan including development and design of their own website.

What will you do when the number of stores that close on WP are not replaced by new recruits? There will be a break-even point, and then there will be a breaking point at which time Ray like many many other auction site owners have experienced close down because they are no longer profitable. If your goal is to eventually close your ebay store and rely on WP sales only, I hope that you have a back-up plan.

You state that you made a commitment of 2 years to WP? Did you make the same commitment when you started on Ebay? 2 years is in my humble opinion an eternity. You lose tremendous ground in the growth of your business. In two years you could have an established website, including building a solid customer base. Your site is under your control, no middleman like Ebay or WP. You would not have to adjust your business plan based on the changes the venue implements.
[/quote]

Hey banana, well said! 

I would like to reinforce this opinion. Your products are beautiful and deserve buyer recognition. I've looked in your store many times wishing someone I know would have a baby so I could buy from you.

In my opinion 2 years is too generous an expectation for a site to take off. When I started on eBay I reached Power Seller in 5 months. What a rush! On WP I sold 95 items in 4 months. Another rush! I left eBay with over 2100 feedbacks and WP with 70.  But in both venues, I did not see a long-term relationship as healthy. Because my obsession to make serious money, to pay bills, to live comfortably, did not excuse the improprieties or the unfair treatment I experienced on either site.  Call it morals for lack of a better excuse.

As difficult as it was I had the integrity to know when it was time to look for a new rainbow. I'm a seller looking to sell consistently. I believe you are too - so act like one.

Edited for silly sp errors.

[chiquita]

[quote author=racedream link=topic=3775.msg36345#msg36345 date=1165879982]

I am sooo happy to know that I am not alone in the over 40 crowd. Princess you are aging me, my oldest son is 22. At least no one is calling me granny yet.  :

I'm in the over 40 crowd too. I have a grandson 

Wow, I took a long nap today (ouch, my aching back)  ;D and when I came to see thread, I have lots to catch up on. Back to reading.
[/quote]

Race If I am blessed enough to one day be a grandma, it will be an honor. My son is not ready to be a daddy, he still lives at home, so one step at a time. The movie failure to launch, is my life. I laughed and then cried as I looked at my hubby and said OMG Kathy Bates is me, can we hire a girl to "launch" our son out of the house? :o

[Alskling]

Hat's off to Chiquita -- well said.  

None of us here love eBay, including me.   I hate being captive of the big "E" and will try my own web site after the holidays. And like you PS, I wouldn't have a clue where to start, but many here have offered to help. The difference with folks here IS THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN except the satisfaction of knowing we are helping each other to SUCCEED.

Powerseller -- THINK ABOUT IT. Maybe you've had a few sales at WP, but YOU ARE NOT MAKING A LIVING THERE -- NOBODY IS, BUT ONE PERSON -- and we all know who. Business is not a game. It's not warm fuzzies, cyber breakfasts, pity sales, selling items for 6 cents just to get feedback (yes, PS, we know about that -- you can't hide). It's about MAKING A LIVING.

Take off those fuzzy slippers, put on some running shoes and RUN from WP. Ray and his con game will only bring you down in the end. It's like a slot machine -- every now and then there's a payoff, but the house will always have the advantage -- a BIG ONE. Don't commit two years of your life to Ray -- commit it to yourself. I SERIOUSLY doubt Ray will be around in two years -- for many more reasons than I care to mention.

Let's both make a promise to each other to get our own sites up and running for 2007. There is tons of talent here and we can do it. IS IT A DEAL?

[Sweet Girl 70]

Oh, the sales on Wagglepop are frightful,
But customer care is so delightful,
And since I can't close down 'til I pay,
Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay.

There isn't any signs of shopping,
Need koolaid and spam for popping;
Got Lots of time to play
Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay

When I finally get a sale,
How will I find out if they pay?
Karen says I'll get an email
Never happens to my dismay

The stores are slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you don't go astray.
You can stay, you can stay, you can stay!!

:hoxmasn9: :hoxmasn9: :chicken3: :chicken3: :hoxmasn9: :hoxmasn9: :hoxmasn29: :hoxmasn27: :hoxmasn30:

[racedream]

chiquita, I love being a grandma. There is no other feeling in the world like the one when you hold your first grandchild in your arms for the first time. Another great thing about having a grandchild is that you can spoil them rotten, and when they start getting on your nerves, you get to send them home 

[RiverRat]

[quote author=Sweet Girl 70 link=topic=3775.msg36349#msg36349 date=1165880745]
Oh, the sales on Wagglepop are frightful,
But customer care is so delightful,
And since I can't close down 'til I pay,
Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay.

There isn't any signs of shopping,
Need koolaid and spam for popping;
Got Lots of time to play
Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay, Guess I'll stay

When I finally get a sale,
How will I find out if they pay?
Karen says I'll get an email
Never happens to my dismay

The stores are slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you don't go astray.
You can stay, you can stay, you can stay!!

:hoxmasn9: :hoxmasn9: :chicken3: :chicken3: :hoxmasn9: :hoxmasn9: :hoxmasn29: :hoxmasn27: :hoxmasn30:

[/quote]


OMG!  That may be the best one yet! 

[Sweet Girl 70]

[quote author=racedream link=topic=3775.msg36350#msg36350 date=1165880762]
chiquita, I love being a grandma. There is no other feeling in the world like the one when you hold your first grandchild in your arms for the first time. Another great thing about having a grandchild is that you can spoil them rotten, and when they start getting on your nerves, you get to send them home 


[/quote]

Can I pretend that I am my son's grandmother on occasion and send him home somewhere?? 

[racedream]

Sweet, that was awesome!  :hoxmas3:

:hoxmas7: :hoxmas7: :hoxmas7: :hoxmas7:

[racedream]

[quote author=Sweet Girl 70 link=topic=3775.msg36353#msg36353 date=1165881000]
[quote author=racedream link=topic=3775.msg36350#msg36350 date=1165880762]
chiquita, I love being a grandma. There is no other feeling in the world like the one when you hold your first grandchild in your arms for the first time. Another great thing about having a grandchild is that you can spoil them rotten, and when they start getting on your nerves, you get to send them home 


[/quote]

Can I pretend that I am my son's grandmother on occasion and send him home somewhere?? 
[/quote]

I have those feelings about my daughter sometimes