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

[let the truth be told]

Alexa rank, new numbers.

WP 38,956 pulls back slightly from last # based on the recent trend expect this number to drop back again on Sunday.

TT 48,500 continues to outpace the market moving up slightly to I believe a new high.

PSU 19,551 what can I say remains steady as a great source of info.

side note:
the u1it4less website had the same reach as WP for the 19th on December however we had more page views per user at 4 as opposed to 3 for WP. Both numbers were an alltime high for us!


let the truth be told
u1it4less - "it's all in the name.."
X-POP NATION, A real seller's network

[bargainbloodhound]

Add the argument that "95% of buyers don't leave feedback" is so bogus for reasons any moron could figure:

(1) Most of the sellers came from eBay, and since the sellers are mostly the buyers, they know to leave feedback.

If you're talking about Amazon, then yes under 5% of buyers leave feedback because there is no incentive for them to leave it.  If you're talking about Overstock where most of the buyers come from Overstock's retail store and very few are current/former eBayers then under 20% leave feedback.

If you're talking about an eBay refugee site like Wagglepop, then no frickin' way do only 5% of buyers leave feedback.  The buyers and sellers on "refugee" sites tend to be obsessed with feedback and the percentage who leave feedback is usually the same or higher than the percentage who leave feedback on eBay.

[toyfads]

Hi, I have been kind of reading over this thread for a few days I find it very disturbing that so much time is wasted bashing WP.  I have no disillusions about the site, I know the past and I know exactly what I got myself into.  I needed to find away to have a store without e-bay.  The price of doing business there is too costly, customer service sucks, and stores do not get enough exposure.  I do not have the time, energy or know how to start my own website right now; I had to find an alternative.  After testing several sites, WP was my best alternative.  So far so good.  I have about as many sales as I did when I owned an e-bay store.  When I have a problem, they are answered quickly by customer service.  I still sell on e-bay to make enough money on items that do not have a strong customer base yet on WP.  I just wanted to reply about the feedback.  It is true that feedback is not left very often.  I for one am not going to "bug" buyers for it; I think that is very tacky.  Trust me, if I was not making money, I would not be there.  As far as the censorship on the boards, I feel they or "ray" whatever you choose to believe is just trying to keep a positive atmosphere on the boards so we don’t have all the nonsense that goes on, on other sites.  I for one am glad that they keep the boards from being hostile.  It’s his site and if I want to do business there I need to go with it or move.  I just do not understand why people waste so much time and energy bashing WP, the energy could be better spend being more constructive.  If you think you can do it better then Ray, then by all means go ahead and try it, actions speak louder than words.  I for one commend him for having the guts to come back and give it another go.  People are human and make mistakes and learn by them, hopefully.  I support anyone who had the guts to even try to be in the same ring as e-bay.  I think it benefits us all if someday someone will can give e-bay a run for their money.  Will it be WP?  Who knows, but as long as I am making money and my customer service needs are met I am a happy seller.  To all the ex-poppers sorry it did not work out for you and I wish you all the best of luck!

[eclectica]

Been really busy the last couple days and haven't had much time to 'hang out' with y'all!

First of all,  Terry! You are very talented and exceptionally kind and generous - you will go far no matter where you ultimately 'land'. Best wishes for you with your new eBay store!

And  Toyfads! We're honestly glad to see current Poppers stop in and tell us what they think! It sounds like you have the impression that we sit here all day just devising new ways to bash WP and Ray. That really isn't the case. All of us here have businesses to take care of. I really look at TT as my coffee break, so to speak. The people here have a common thread in that we left WP. We joke around, share information and basically just enjoy hanging out with others in the same boat.

I wouldn't consider the talk here WP bashing. None of us have anything against any of the sellers there. As a matter of fact, the purpose of our discussions is with the hope that if sellers at WP read this and choose to stay there, that they have at least made a balanced, informed decision. I started reading here a couple of months before I left WP. I began to see for myself that many of the things said here were true. Ultimately, my decision wasn't based solely on lack of traffic/sales, in fact, I was doing just fine with one of my stores. The kicker for me was that I was lining the pockets of someone that I feel has no integrity. Ray is an egotistical hothead that has only one interest: his bank account. To me, the 'trust-based' community thing is a true oxymoron. If it were true, you wouldn't see the levels of censorship and the clear disregard for sellers (read back a few pages about the seller advised to open a secondary PP account when his first one was limited).

If you're doing well on WP, I honestly think that's great and wish you the best. If Ray's behavior and actions (past/present) don't bother you, then that's your choice and I respect that. I do hope you continue to come visit us and please jump into the conversation when you have time! I promise we welcome everyone and like I said, its like one big water cooler/coffee break for the most part.

Gotta run still MORE to ship (I can't believe I've already had emails this morning - Can you get this to me by Christmas? Why do people wait so long??) 

[toyfads]

Thank you for the warm welcome eclectica.  I love this time of year, this is when I really love selling Toys  I had a customer yesterday who purchased a Toy for $16.99 and was willing to pay $18.80 for express mail, she was happy to pay it because Toys R US online cancelled her order on monday for a gift for her grandson and she did not want to disappoint him.  I for one am cheap and would never pay that much for shipping, glad there are some who are though. 

[Alskling]

Toy,

I have about as many sales as I did when I owned an e-bay store.

Few former eBay sellers now on WP can make that claim. And for those who DO have sales, few can say they are actually making money, as they have to sell far below their eBay prices for the same item.  If it costs $1000 to sell an item for $2000, you end up with $1000 in your pocket. If it costs $10 to sell the same item for $20, you've doubled your money either way, but only have $10 gain on the second scenario. BTW, what do you think's going to happy after the "toy season" is over?

When I have a problem, they are answered quickly by customer service.  

Try asking CC how to close a store, why your post was pulled, why you received an invoice and harassing collection threats when you owe nothing, why CC contacts your clients without yours or their knowledge or consent -- and see how responsive CC is.

I still sell on e-bay to make enough money on items that do not have a strong customer base yet on WP.

As do most WP sellers, BECAUSE THERE IS NO CUSTOMER BASE.

It is true that feedback is not left very often.  I for one am not going to "bug" buyers for it; I think that is very tacky.

We all think it's tacky, too. Why do you suppose few buyers leave you feedback? This makes no sense whatsoever.

Trust me, if I was not making money, I would not be there.  

What do you call "making money?" Covering your fees? "Making money" is not the same as "making a living." If it costs a penny to get back two pennies, you're doubling your investment, but still only have one cent to live on. Why not just keep your initial penny and sell on a free site? Then you've tripled your money?

As far as the censorship on the boards, I feel they or "ray" whatever you choose to believe is just trying to keep a positive atmosphere on the boards so we don’t have all the nonsense that goes on, on other sites.  

Ray is the owner. This is not something we "choose" to believe. It is a fact. He censors -- always has, always will.

And, what do you think forums are for? If you need prayers, go to church. If you wants friends, join a bridge club. If you want to chit-chat and have cyber-breakfasts, there's lots of sites that offer that FOR FREE. And I guess you have no problem with a guy who pulls posts and cancels accounts for little or no reason (e.g. just for asking why someone else's post was pulled, for example), yet gets on the eBay boards calling eBay staff B*ST*ARDS, M*TH*R*UCK*RS, LAZY BUMS and more and calls the site "screwUbay". It's OK, then, to NOT practice what you preach?

It’s his site and if I want to do business there I need to go with it or move.

As Ray himself said, "it's my business and I can do what I want, and if you don't like it you can hit the bricks." And because it's his business and he can do whatever he wants, it's OK for him to tell users to put their credit ratings in jeopardy and risk account cancellation from PayPal by opening new accounts (against PayPal rules) solely for the purpose of paying an outstanding invoice to WP. It's also OK to engage in business interference and invasion of privacy by censoring personal messages and contacting sellers' clients without permission.

I just do not understand why people waste so much time and energy bashing WP

We're trying to educate and help others avoid making the same mistakes we made. We want people to think!

If you think you can do it better then Ray, then by all means go ahead and try it, actions speak louder than words.

You gotta be kidding. We could never do better than Ray. None of us are crooks and narcisistic egomaniacs who take delight in figuring ways to get fools to part with their money.

I for one commend him for having the guts to come back and give it another go.  

After he unqequivically stated he would NEVER, EVER open another auction site. He'd learned his lesson and that was that. He'd completely destroyed the data base (including email addresses and credit cards numbers) for WP1. Yet just months later he was (surprise) opening another auction site -- same name -- and sending spam invitations to most of the former members. He further claims to have cut all ties with eBay, yet still has an eBay store. Does that not make Ray a liar?

People are human and make mistakes and learn by them, hopefully.

Exactly, which is why the X-Poppers here will NEVER deal with Ray and WP ever again and want to warn others of it.

I support anyone who had the guts to even try to be in the same ring as e-bay.  

Same ring? WP's not even in the same universe. This site has more verifiable activity than WP and we have nothing to sell.

I think it benefits us all if someday someone will can give e-bay a run for their money.  Will it be WP?

Not a snowball's chance in hell. If anything gives eBay a run it will be sellers starting their own web sites, Google and established B&M retailers setting up e-commerce venues.

as long as I am making money and my customer service needs are met I am a happy seller.  

Good for you. I hope your customer needs are few and your financial needs minimal to none.


Edited because I messed up the [] signs.

[FineThings4U]

ToyFads

Thanks for sharing your personal experience.  That is what this thread is all about.  For the sellers who actually make money and enjoy the "goings on" at WP, I wish you well.  I have gained fabulous insight by reading the boards here at TT.

We are not out to bash WP.  There are some wonderful sellers and great products there.  We share our insight as former sellers. 

I, for one, do much more business and have much more traffic on other free sites than I ever did at WP.  It has been my experience that many people will not buy at WP due to the closing of WP1 and the horrible reputation that Ray has established on the internet.

I just wish I had come here before I ever opened a store there at all.

[toyfads]

Few former eBay sellers now on WP can make that claim. And for those who DO have sales, few can say they are actually making money, as they have to sell far below their eBay prices for the same item.  If it costs $1000 to sell an item for $2000, you end up with $1000 in your pocket. If it costs $10 to sell the same item for $20, you've doubled your money either way, but only have $10 gain on the second scenario. BTW, what do you think's going to happy after the "toy season" is over?

I guess I am one of the few then.  I average a few sales a week.  I set my prices just a buck or 2 under what I sell the same item on e-bay for.  The fee's are cheeper so I can afford to do so.  "I always do well selling because of what I sell, there are collectors all year long.  I was doing fine with sales before x-mas season and will do fine after.  I am not comparing my e-bay auction/BIN sales to WP, just what my store sales were before I closed up my store.  The items in my store take longer to sell, most are items I have convinced my husband to part with.  I mix in newer items too when I have the money to let them sit for awhile.  It works for me.  I was looking for a cheap alternative for my e-bay store and I have found that.

As do most WP sellers, BECAUSE THERE IS NO CUSTOMER BASE.

It takes time to build a customer base, you can not expect that to happen overnight.

We all think it's tacky, too. Why do you suppose few buyers leave you feedback? This makes no sense whatsoever.

I think it is the way the set up is.  There is no area that says leave feedback, not much to remind people to do so.  I also do not leave feedback until it is given to me, learned the hardway on feebay about doing that 

What do you call "making money?" Covering your fees? "Making money" is not the same as "making a living." If it costs a penny to get back two pennies, you're doubling your investment, but still only have one cent to live on. Why not just keep your initial penny and sell on a free site? Then you've tripled your money?

I am not a moron, of course it is more than just covering fee's.  I would say a few hundred a month give or take a few bucks.  Again, my store on WP was to replace my store on fee-bay.  Most of my money is still made with auctions or BIN.

After he unqequivically stated he would NEVER, EVER open another auction site. He'd learned his lesson and that was that. He'd completely destroyed the data base (including email addresses and credit cards numbers) for WP1. Yet just months later he was (surprise) opening another auction site -- same name -- and sending spam invitations to most of the former members. He further claims to have cut all ties with eBay, yet still has an eBay store. Does that not make Ray a liar?

Have you ever said anything when you have been stressed out or pissed off and said one thing and then done another.  I can admit I have.  As far as his e-bay store goes, he says its for research.  I can not comment on that further because I list on feebay too.  I deal in reality, everyone lies about one thing or another no one can say they are perfect or without lies, the difference is some people get called out on it more than others.


Bottom line for me is I am in the business to make money, I do not care about the discussion boards.  WP is helping me make money and helping me to diversify, it works for me.  Ray is out to make money too, I will help him line his pockets as long as mine are being lined as well.  I do not know him personally, so I can not comment on someone based on what is written about him online. 

[Sweet Girl 70]

ToyFads!!

Congrats on having sales and doing well on WP.  You have apparently worked very hard to bring traffic to your store.

Eclectica pretty much summed up my feelings about WP.  I have no issue with store owners, just WP itself.

I was threatened with collection, received nasty emails and banned from the site when I closed my store.  I didn't have sales, no traffic and found the boards to be cliquey <-----spelling?  I asked about the home page, advertising and other normal business questions and my posts were either pulled or I was sent emails and asked to stop posting as I was being "disrespectful". 

So as you can see, I am mad at how I was treated. 

This wonderful forum is my therapy.  :blinkie:

[Kaboing]

We have more poppers not sharing in the sales on WP.

anyone getting any sale here,I'm about to get discourage

A cheerful reply.

ABSOLUTELY! check out the SALES REPORT we are POPPIN!

Upset popper replies. 

I'm glad to hear that,but why am I not popping,am I doing something wrong here,I sell on two othe venus and I've been doing ok

I just hope the other poppers don't jump in and criticize the seller for what they sell, how many items are in the store or not promoting enough.  If the seller is making sales on other venues doing the same thing, then the problem is likely WP not the seller.

Edited to add Karen's reply

At the top of the Community home page is a link for Sales Reports.

Sales Reports can give you an idea of overall site activity, but all sellers should always address the "basics" such offering items and products that are in demand, fairly priced, with top-notch service and fast shipping.

Network with your existing online customer base by sending emails about your new selling venue here on Wagglepop, and use every opportunity possible to promote yourself and your Store.

Try different "things" until you find the right combination.

Selling online is more competitive than ever, but by using solid selling and promotion strategies, you'll be able to stand out among the crowd.

Building any business takes time, and likely the two most valuable attributes any businessperson can have are patience and perseverance.

Believe in your company and your products and allow time for your customer base to grow, and you are sure to succeed

Karen - WP Customer Care

Once again a message about faith and patience that is blaming the seller for their slow sales.