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

[chiquita]

Beta means "test". The rscript program was I assume beta tested prior to distributing it for sale. So you are correct that this is BS, and again feeds the illusion that Ray is operating WP as a custom built site.

The buyer account in good standing I think has to do with Ray being paranoid about scammers. He probably wants to hand verify any international buyer in order to avoid Nigerian scams. He obsessed over this during WP1 and used this as his main justification to require members providing a credit card for registration.

[sneakymagenta]

The plans for selling locales in perpetuity will be existing (the US, the UK, Canada) or the existing and one additional locale.

Protection of the Wagglepop marketplace/seller dynamic is an absolute priority, and will continue to be.

Translation: We don't care if you get paid by buyers but we care very much if we don't get paid by sellers therefore we are limiting the selling countries to ones we deem safe..

[snugglypuppy]

Hi Everyone, I've been here since July and have made two small sales. I was wondering if some of you folks would be kind enough to have a look at my store and give me some advice on how I can increase my sales. I am feeling a little discouraged at the moment. Any advice would be appreciated.

[FineThings4U]

I think they are saying that they are now ready to let these buyers in and are leaving the back door open for when no one shows up.  This way, they can claim they didn't fully integrate because too many buyers were not acting in good faith in their trust based community.  How dynamically dumb.

[eclectica]

[quote author=FineThings4U link=topic=3775.msg40659#msg40659 date=1169128088]
I think they are saying that they are now ready to let these buyers in and are leaving the back door open for when no one shows up.  This way, they can claim they didn't fully integrate because too many buyers were not acting in good faith in their trust based community.  How dynamically dumb.


[/quote]

Morning all

Fine ~ ding, ding, ding ~ I think we have a winner! That is certainly the most plausible explanation. Besides what was already mentioned, Ray wants the appearance of actually doing something (ie. customizing site), however, he has to make sure he has someone else to blame when it doesn't work (ie. bad, bad buyers).

[princessmirandajo]

I would love to still be gun-ho, but there is such an air of un-professionalism, disorganization, arrogance and as someone mentioned in a thread at FAS, even a touch of cultism and alot of unanswered questions surrounding the whole thing at this point. I am just watching and learning from here out.

If the whole thing is on the up and up and I am just being too cautious, well I will be the first to admit that as well.

Bolding mine. This is from the OTWA thread from WP1.  Interesting, hmm?

[Alskling]

[quote author=princessmirandajo link=topic=3775.msg40664#msg40664 date=1169142518]

I would love to still be gun-ho, but there is such an air of un-professionalism, disorganization, arrogance and as someone mentioned in a thread at FAS, even a touch of cultism and alot of unanswered questions surrounding the whole thing at this point. I am just watching and learning from here out.

If the whole thing is on the up and up and I am just being too cautious, well I will be the first to admit that as well.

Bolding mine. This is from the OTWA thread from WP1.  Interesting, hmm?
[/quote]

The way Bud and the Petals have ripped me on PSU, you'd think this concept was something I'd invented purely to entertain my own sadistic pleasures and recruit others in a little hate fest. It wasn't until after going public with my observation of this WP phenomenon, that I discovered I was not alone in this observation which (to my amazement) had even been associated with WP1. Seems nothing about WP is original.

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Regarding the "expansion" of WP's buying community into other countries: I agree with Fine on this regarding the "finger pointing" explanation -- something that occured to me, as well. KaRay have a convenient scapegoat by blaming  "bad buyers" for their inadequacies, should the "expansion" fall flat, which I suspect it will. I have a suspicion whatever "involved cross-verification policies and procedures" KaRay have chosen to implement for the purposes of registering foreign buyers will be met with much resistance. If I were a foreign buyer, I would run like hell from any site requesting personal, identifying information to any foreign entity such as WP, which is a mere, virtually-indetectable blip on the auction radar screen, has a bad reputation, and operates in secrecy.

Just watch: When the foreign buyer campaign fails, what will be the explanation? The world community is just not yet ready for such a "visionary" venue as Poopland. And the solution? Sellers have to FORCE THEM TO BE READY --make a vigilant, committed, single-minded effort in "spreading the word" and getting WP known. They need to step up spamming their friends and relatives overseas, jump on the international boards and WITNESS, WITNESS, WITNESS, be better at stocking their shelves with items foreign sellers are fighting each other to buy - YEAH, WE'LL SHOW THOSE STUPID GERMAN BUYERS and RETARDED FRENCH BUYERS a thing or two about the honorable American cultist way of life.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL WP TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS OWN INEPTITUDE should this (or any other) endeavor fail. Bad buyers, bad sellers, bad world politics, too many hurricanes/earthquakes/sunamis, war in Iraq, Mars at a bad aspect to Venus, TT's subversive multi-national conspiratorial hate fest, Celtic voodoo, Ray's growing prostate problem, poo in the mail, etc. These are all the REAL reasons.

[chiquita]

Based on all of Ray's promises made that are to be implemented by February so far all he has provided are:
We the people
International buyers being allowed to shop (after jumping through multiple hoops)
Upcoming wagglestuff

What has been asked for and not implemented and a priority:
Invoice issues
Ability for a buyer to pay instantly ( to me one of the most important changes that needs addressing)
Ability to view closed auctions

Lets recap, the things that have been implemented cost no money, and do not increase seller revenue.
The important issues will require software modification and that will cost money

Let's not forget the long promised, highly anticipated advertising/marketing campaign.
WP is competing with lots and lots of other small auction venues, independent websites, retail ecommerce, and Ebay. Failure to advertise to the buyer community, and failure to make necessary upgrades to the site will be it's demise.

The sellers who have been able to sell are getting the majority of buyers through froogle or other links, which means that the buyer is bypassing the WP home page. Ebay buyers start on the home page normally and then find the seller's items. You lose leverage for attracting impulse buyers if the first place they go is only to that one seller's item. They are much less likely to explore the site and therefore don't see what other items are available.

[regic]

WP is competing with lots and lots of other small auction venues, independent websites, retail ecommerce, and Ebay.

Most small auction site owners are too obtuse to realize that the competition also includes  independent websites and retail ecommerce. 

independent websites and retail ecommerce =75% of the ecommerce market

[eclectica]

[quote author=Alskling link=topic=3775.msg40668#msg40668 date=1169147507]

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL WP TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS OWN INEPTITUDE should this (or any other) endeavor fail. Bad buyers, bad sellers, bad world politics, too many hurricanes/earthquakes/sunamis, war in Iraq, Mars at a bad aspect to Venus, TT's subversive multi-national conspiratorial hate fest, Celtic voodoo, Ray's growing prostate problem, poo in the mail, etc. These are all the REAL reasons.
[/quote]

As always, you have such a way with words. I love your reading your posts