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

[Alskling]

WAGGLEPOP TRAFFIC FALLS FOR 7th STRAIGHT MONTH

WAGGLEPOP owner still a BOINKTARD for 30th straight month 

[sneakymagenta]

AndRay emerges from the hole he crawled into in August........

SmartSell Enterprise Merchants - Wagglepop Membership Update

wagglepopCC2   08 Oct 2008 19:23      


Hello Wagglepop Members,

I thought I would take some time today to update membership on some recently discussed or announced projects, as well as add some interesting bits for discussion regarding the Wagglepop Marketplace.

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1. Since its introduction in June of SmartSell Enterprise it continues to represent the very best of what an online selling opportunity can be. Unlimited included listings, NO Final Vaue Fees and the the incredible suite of advanced selling tools in BusinessBuilder all for just $29.95 per month we feel is absolutely unbeatable and we look forward to others joining the Marketplace using it.

2. Wagglepop Marketshare at this time has been temporarily tabled due to multiple emails to Customer Care from a variety of members with concerns about 'competing' with the offering of Wagglepop Marketshare.

While we feel implementation of Marketshare would strengthen the Marketplace, there are simply too many members against the project to give us a comfort level to implement it. I expect that we will review this again in the future, perhaps restructured and reconsidered.

3. The new Search & Browse display for items and products have been well received and will continue now the the default display, with Grid view optionally available as a user-based setting.

4. We expect to introduce the designated repesentatives of the Leadership Council for We The People shortly, along with a new portal for membership and council members to interact on all subjects related to buying and selling on Wagglepop.

5. The following we have identified as other subjects considered to be at the forefront of our future as a community and company:

a) Feedback

Changes to the Feedback system are being investigated, with an eye on structuring the system to better reflect actual sales rather than those just ranked by trading partners.

b) eBay Listing Importing

While still in the early stages, the idea of enabling a simpler and better way for new members to import listings from eBay is under discussion internally. The recently retired InventoryDirect, while effective was unwieldy at best and confusing at worst. We'll update everyone should this get to the more advanced stages towards testing.

c) Promotion

Wagglepop is we feel a terrific place to buy and sell - but more people need to know about it. With the assistance of a donated consultation, we are discussing the start of scheduled promotions designed to expand the membership base gradually, while remaining within operational budgets.

d) Expansion

Based on what we feel is the most featured-packed and best performing online auction site around, much of our infrastructure can be duplicated to offer other selling opportunities.

We are considering several different options for expansion, based perhaps on locale, price, focus, or format as well as the possibility of making some or all of these potential sites "membership owned" under some sort of profit-sharing or referral system.

It's an exciting opportunity, and one that I look forward to updating membership about should it come safely through the next phase of internal discussion.

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On behalf of everyone here at Wagglepop I would like to thank membership for your continued support as we make our little corner of the internet a fun, safe, and friendly place to shop and sell.

wagglepopCC2   10 Oct 2008 12:00      


WP Members,

We thank membership for the extended input on the subject of Marketshare.

It's simply being tabled for the immediate future, but scheduled for periodic review based on how the site performs each quarter.

Anything that we add to Wagglepop we do with a cautious eye - Marketshare will almost certainly appear at some point, but we need to reconsider how it will change the dynamic to ensure that change is a positive one for all members.

EDIT:

a new portal for membership and council members to interact on all subjects related to buying and selling on Wagglepop.

translation: I've grown so accustomed to SMF while lurking 24/7 on TT over the past 2 1/2 years that I've decided to switch the forum software from PHPBB to SMF.

[Alskling]

d) Expansion

Based on what we feel is the most featured-packed and best performing online auction site around, much of our infrastructure can be duplicated to offer other selling opportunities.

We are considering several different options for expansion, based perhaps on locale, price, focus, or format as well as the possibility of making some or all of these potential sites "membership owned" under some sort of profit-sharing or referral system.

See http://www.wagglepop.com/stores/Homes-Gardens_Apparel

[regic]

[quote author=Designers Bargains link=topic=3775.msg72893#msg72893 date=1223926414]
See http://www.wagglepop.com/stores/Homes-Gardens_Apparel


[/quote]

If anyone would like to add sparkly confetti graphics to their store like the graphics in that Wagglepop store, you can get them for free at webfetti.smileycentral.com

P.S.  after adding the webfetti graphics to your store be sure to PM me and let me know so I can ban you for stupidity and bad taste.

[bargainbloodhound]

[quote author=regic link=topic=3775.msg72894#msg72894 date=1223927173]
[quote author=Designers Bargains link=topic=3775.msg72893#msg72893 date=1223926414]
See http://www.wagglepop.com/stores/Homes-Gardens_Apparel


[/quote]

If anyone would like to add sparkly confetti graphics to their store like the graphics in that Wagglepop store, you can get them for free at webfetti.smileycentral.com

P.S.  after adding the webfetti graphics to your store be sure to PM me and let me know so I can ban you for stupidity and bad taste.
[/quote]

I know I've said this before but this seems like an appropriate time to say it again. 

If you're designing a store you should look at, and study, the websites of the market leaders in your category to see what has been proven to work in your category. Do not, I repeat, do not, get your design inspiration from the stores linked to in your fellow boardies signature because 9 times out of 10 they're just as clueless as you and their stores suck so badly that buyers hit the back button within seconds of having the misfortune of visiting them (this applies even if your fellow boardie is a "Senior member" of PSU with "9,xxx posts").

If you're selling shoes (even if it's on Waggleslop) look at Zappos and Endless.  Do you see any glittery graphics? Nooooooooo.  Do you see any sea sickness inducing rolling "categories on left" graphics? Nooooo.  Is half of the area above the fold taken up by an empty white speckled pink space? Noooooooooo.  Do you see any frickin' link referral garbage traffic buttons? Noooooo.

[sneakymagenta]

I thank you for taking the time to create this list of our founding members. These founding members truly deserve the outmost respect for believing in Wagglepop, for taking a business risk to help Wagglepop establish itself as a major player in online selling.

Wagglepop is a major player in online selling?

tolensmiley: tolensmiley: tolensmiley: tolensmiley: tolensmiley: tolensmiley: tolensmiley:

[Alskling]

I thank you for taking the time to create this list of our founding members. These founding members truly deserve the outmost respect for believing in Wagglepop, for taking a business risk to help Wagglepop establish itself as a major player in online selling.

(bolding mine)

Yep. P.T. Barnum is alive and well -- living in Poopville.

[mandy]

AndRay's monthly deadbeat seller announcements have returned after a 2-month hiatus 

 
Hello Wagglepop Members,

Wagglepop Marketplace seller invoices for October are now overdue.

We urge any member with an outstanding balance to bring their Wagglepop seller accounts current at this time - and prior to final processing for October - to avoid late penalties and/or removal from the Marketplace and referral for collection.

Starting November we will be adopting a Zero Tolerance Policy for sellers who cannot make payment of monthly seller invoices within the allowed 9 days timeframe.

...and all is not kool-aid and sunshine in popperville this month

I would really like to recieve an invoice that is correct just once as since I have been selling on wagglepop my invoice is always wrong. My account will have the right info if I go into my wp and look but the invoice is never right.
I think you all have some work on the coding and such and what is sent out before you start throwing people off for nonpayment that are confused by mixed upinvoices and different due dates. I don't mind paying extra ( even though I am not thrilled about it because I do not see anymore exposure than before) but I do expect for paying more that somethings be right without blaming the sellers who pay the fees for the problems.

I also now I am risking alot by saying anything as I have been keeping my nose down and just listing and ignoring the problems but I do not feel that is fair to anyone here to keep ignoring the problems with things...

Some of my friends that use to sell on here voiced there opinion and no longer are here so it makes me fearful to open my mouth.
Hopefully they will make changes instead of canning me and go on as business as usual.

This thread has some general misconceptions posted. Some general clarifications are in order:.....
..................
..................
.................
Specific clarifications:

1. Seller invoices were re-issued this month during our changeover to a new reminder system for November. Those re-issued emails would have due dates 9 days later, as is customary (though incorrectly), of the 22nd or 23rd. We will hold processing until those dates.

Starting with November invoicing, we'll be simplifying the bottom line process: payment is due within the 9 days allowed. No exceptions. 9 days is more than enough time to make a "fixed date frame" scheduled payment.

I hope these clarifications clear up any concerns or questions from membership. Our concerns continue to focus on our ridiculously high delinquency rate even in an environment of a single simple due date - the same date and process for all sellers each month.

[Alskling]

Popper

I would really like to recieve an invoice that is correct just once as since I have been selling on wagglepop my invoice is always wrong. My account will have the right info if I go into my wp and look but the invoice is never right.

AndRay

Starting with November invoicing, we'll be simplifying the bottom line process: payment is due within the 9 days allowed. No exceptions. 9 days is more than enough time to make a "fixed date frame" scheduled payment.

I hope these clarifications clear up any concerns or questions from membership. Our concerns continue to focus on our ridiculously high delinquency rate even in an environment of a single simple due date - the same date and process for all sellers each month.

WTF! What is so difficult about sending about 80 invoices, mostly for the same amount, mostly to the same "customers" every month at the same time of the month each month? This is not rocket science. 

I send a couple hundreds invoices EVERY MONTH, all to UNIQUE individuals, all with COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS, at DIFFERENT and non-predetermined times of the month -- and NEVER have I miscomputed an invoice in my 10 years of selling on-line. And I'm extremely small potatoes in the e-commerce world. I'm even small potatoes compared to many on this thread. BTW: My "deliquency" rate is less than 1/2%.   

Oh, yah, WP is a real "major player". 

Edit: Only two "showcase" stores left. That's two gone in one month. Last to downgrade to a basic store was "Rick K's Vintage Plus." Can't understand why he decided to stop feeding the WP hamster at $69 to get a big 99 cent sale. (insert sarcasm) 

2nd Edit: Check out seller Lindalee (I thought this was funny, because her name is the same as mine and she registered the same day as my birthdate). 65 sales since registering, all to "buyers" within the SAME STATE AND COUNTY (and a small one, at that), except three. Hmm, what are the odds? ANd the most popular FB comment? "Very fast service". DUH!   

[amy]

WTF! What is so difficult about sending about 80 invoices

Ray has to dig up store owner Clenendon's grave every month to place the invoice in the dead baseball player's coffin.  I imagine that's fairly time consuming and difficult. :twistedevil:

edit: The Allthingswagglepop blog has 2 "Christmas selling season tips" articles but nary a mention of "Holiday selling season" tips.  The poppers have apparently forgotten that the 50 million plus Americans in the following groups also buy online during the holiday season (whether it is for Hanukkah, Ramadan, or non-religious seasonal/holiday gift giving)

Nonreligious/Secular 38,865,604 13.2%
Judaism 3,995,371 1.3%
Islam 1,558,068 0.5%
Buddhism 1,527,019 0.5%
Agnostic 1,398,592 0.5%
Atheist   1,272,986 0.4%
Hinduism 1,081,051 0.4%
Unitarian Universalist 887,703 0.3%
Wiccan/Pagan/Druid 433,267 0.1%

source: http://adherents.com/rel_USA.html

'tis the season to stir up the old "Christmas vs. Holiday" debate, fa la la la la la