Poll: Who is to blame for sellers leaving Wagglepop en masse?

Sweet Girl 70 · 01-24-2007, 11:29 PM,

***regic*** · 01-24-2007, 11:30 PM,

Quote:How do you like it so far? www.randasresale.com

I like it. :turkey1:

youroverheadbin · 01-24-2007, 11:33 PM,

I need some help here from my fellow TTers. A store registered May 16th (the day WP2 opened) has been dormant since August with zero listings. I know because I've been documenting this type of trend and the stores that peak in and out. Today this one 'popped' up with one item for sale. 5.99 with a 12.99 BIN. Has this store been paying 9.95 per month since it's inception? Is your understanding of the WP policy the same as mine? A store, whether it has listings visible or not, must pay monthly for it to remain open?

If you all agree with my interpretation of the policy for SmartPro then this one has been paying to remain a part of this trust based community for months. Moving to the next point, can someone explain why they have been inactive but throwing their 9.95 away monthly for no viable reason? And this seller has been blessed with the founding member icon!! Confirmation that they are up-to-date in their monthly payments and regarded in good standing. Here the one I'm currently talking about.

http://www.wagglepop.com/stores/kays-vintage-books

I have quite a list bookmarked of stores similar to this one. I'd be happy to share it with anyone interested. Dormant established stores with zero inventory that pop up once in a while with an item or two newly listed. They seem to appear/reappear faithfully when the store count declines.

:lies2n: :wtf: :yeahright2:

youroverheadbin · 01-24-2007, 11:35 PM,

[quote author=Sweet Girl 70 link=topic=3775.msg41179#msg41179 date=1169681384]
Crybaby2

[/quote]

Sweet my friend, why??

chiquita · 01-25-2007, 12:28 AM,

YOHB,
What insightful, wise words you have posted. You have so many talents, and a way with words that will resonate with anyone who reads them. I am sending you karma for taking the time to share your personal experience and viewpoints.

YOU ROCK
Notworthy

Alskling · 01-25-2007, 01:02 AM,

Quote:The serious "I'm running a business" sellers depending on a source of sole income from WP have flown the coop. The few left are either too new to have seen the light yet or are not being honest and must have an alternate source of income.

Eloquently put, and true, YOHB. Notworthy

Sellers who are relying on their on-line sales to feed their faces have blown the Koolaid stand, and the rest are just hanging around waiting for Godot. I wonder how much longer they'll cough up their monthly fees before they stop feeding the dead horse.

Yes, there are stores that come and go like the tide. At first I thought maybe they were friends of Ray's and were having their store fees waived in exchange for some service they are providing to Ray, e.g. "third party partners" for example, who are contributing email lists to Ray in exchange for having a storefront. I do believe one seller simply there to hang his address, phone and hours of business out front in the store description, in which case he's writing his fees off as advertising for his REAL business. Knowing Ray, there's probably all kinds of deals on the side. Again, think like a greedy, cultish, control freak and you can probably come up with some reasonable explanation why store sellers who do no business on WP would want to have a presence.

Gotta love that totally meaningless "Founding Member" icon. As a buyer, that would really impress me. (not) One seller got on the boards and thanked staff for giving her one, and then asked what she can do to make a sale, since so far she's has none.

thentavius · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2007, 01:16 AM by thentavius.)

Quote:If you all agree with my interpretation of the policy for SmartPro then this one has been paying to remain a part of this trust based community for months. Moving to the next point, can someone explain why they have been inactive but throwing their 9.95 away monthly for no viable reason? And this seller has been blessed with the founding member icon!! Confirmation that they are up-to-date in their monthly payments and regarded in good standing.

A few possible solutions:

1.) They forgot they were registered over there and the $9.95 per month is pocket change to them, or being pulled off a card they don't check often (!)

2.) It's one of Ray's / Karen's test stores or placeholder stores

3.) The seller kept meaning to add products, but life got in the way and they didn't have the chance to--but didn't want to cancel it for fear of losing their preferred seller ID

4.) They sell as a hobby and have lots of extra cash, so spending $10 a month doesn't bother them. They can get around to listing when they have time or want to.

5.) They didn't want to lose their preferred seller ID name, so they kept it registered anyway.

6.) They're not actually paying Ray $9.95 a month because they have a special deal with him, they're a friend, a relative, or someone he cut a break for, who just hasn't filled the free store yet.

I'm sure there are a bunch of other possibilities.

chiquita · 01-25-2007, 01:24 AM,

Regarding the article on WP on ecommerceguide.com
This statement by Ray caught my eye

Quote:The secure registration process includes both a geolocation component as well as a telephone verification process so that we may build and support Wagglepop as a community of people that appreciate and respect each other and the User Agreement.

Notice how he fails to say that phone verification is utilized to prevent fraud. He doesn't even refer to it as a feature implemented to enhance site security.

This just reinforces what river and others pointed out. It is so Ray can further control so called "outsiders", infiltrators, and all other life forms who fail to submit to the will of Ray.

His other responses look like they were a cut and paste of Karen's posts on the forum.
Happy001

youroverheadbin · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2007, 02:30 AM by youroverheadbin.)

[quote author=chiquita link=topic=3775.msg41186#msg41186 date=1169684939]
YOHB,
What insightful, wise words you have posted. You have so many talents, and a way with words that will resonate with anyone who reads them. I am sending you karma for taking the time to share your personal experience and viewpoints.

YOU ROCK
Notworthy

[/quote]

So do you - rock that is and Karma to you my favorite banana.

youroverheadbin · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2007, 02:30 AM by youroverheadbin.)

[quote author=thentavius link=topic=3775.msg41190#msg41190 date=1169687617]

Quote:If you all agree with my interpretation of the policy for SmartPro then this one has been paying to remain a part of this trust based community for months. Moving to the next point, can someone explain why they have been inactive but throwing their 9.95 away monthly for no viable reason? And this seller has been blessed with the founding member icon!! Confirmation that they are up-to-date in their monthly payments and regarded in good standing.

A few possible solutions:

1.) They forgot they were registered over there and the $9.95 per month is pocket change to them, or being pulled off a card they don't check often (!)

2.) It's one of Ray's / Karen's test stores or placeholder stores

3.) The seller kept meaning to add products, but life got in the way and they didn't have the chance to--but didn't want to cancel it for fear of losing their preferred seller ID

4.) They sell as a hobby and have lots of extra cash, so spending $10 a month doesn't bother them. They can get around to listing when they have time or want to.

5.) They didn't want to lose their preferred seller ID name, so they kept it registered anyway.

6.) They're not actually paying Ray $9.95 a month because they have a special deal with him, they're a friend, a relative, or someone he cut a break for, who just hasn't filled the free store yet.

I'm sure there are a bunch of other possibilities.
[/quote]

And your first pick would be?