Where are Marty's pompoms?

[Anita]

Marty says: So what to do? I am going to send a better version of everything I wrote here to people I know in eBay.

The people he "knows" didn't seem to give much thought to his attempt to get all items back into general search.

[FiberGuy]

For the life of me I can still NOT understand why so many waited so long
before deciding to do something "positive" for their own businesses sake
other than that they foolishly listened to these people who keep holding
them back from making that important move of diversification.

Let's not forget that for many, MANY ebay sellers, it is still just a hobby... they consider it "fun".  I can't begin to count how many SB posters have said statements like, "My ebay store is breaking even", or "The store is paying for itself".   

'Scuse me?  :blinkie:  PAYING FOR ITSELF? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  :blinkie:  That is NOT a business, no matter what Marty may tell you  ... they may see some income, but without a 2nd or 3rd income source they would be hung out in the wind.  They have no desire to branch out, because that may require some WORK, which is NOT fun.

And of course, this fact has a huge down side to those online sellers who ARE in business.  The hobby sellers can afford to GIVE away their product, just to make a sale. 

Two examples (bear in mind I have no malice toward these sellers):

1)  Steph just bought a lot of aprons from an ebay seller.  It was a BIN auction that had been relisted.  Here's the original auction:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20657&item=280028750287

No bids - $10.99 and shipping of $8.50

Here's the relisted auction Steph won:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&item=280031527502&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

BIN for $9.99 plus shipping of $6.50

It cost the seller $8.95 to ship these.  Profit before ebay/paypal fees:  $7.54

OK... not a great example, but it demonstrates how desperate some ebay sellers are just to move their product.

Here's the epitome of an ebay hobby seller:

Steph has been "tracking" a gravy boat listed by an ebay seller.  The most recent auction is here:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300033194016&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D300033194016%26fvi%3D1

Now look at the UNSOLD listings:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2774&item=300023195899

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2774&item=300025719223

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2774&item=300028060913

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2774&item=300030596369

HOLY CRAP!  :o

This "No sale, relist" thing has been going on since at least July  :o  :o  :o ... all for a $6.99 item.  There so far in the hole they'd be better off chucking this into the fireplace.  Also, if you're up to it, check out the sellers sell-through... It can't be more than 5-10%, and they run quite a few auctions. 
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&since=30&userid=hopechest04&include=0&rows=200&sort=3&completed=1

Like I said... I have no malice towards these sellers, but they are good examples of how LOSING money on ebay seems ever more common.

As long as there are scores of sellers like these... and there are... ebay will continue to be in hog-heaven... or semi-hog-heaven! 

Cheers

... and for those with web sites... Get back to work, dammit! 

[BellisimaJ.]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=5294.msg25554#msg25554 date=1159625371]
Marty says: So what to do? I am going to send a better version of everything I wrote here to people I know in eBay.

The people he "knows" didn't seem to give much thought to his attempt to get all items back into general search.
[/quote]

They never do. :

Marty is either the eternal dumb optimist or the eternal self-agrandizing phony. Not sure which, but he is getting really boring. 8)


Fg, great post.

... and for those with web sites... Get back to work, dammit!

I'm too sick and Cranky is too busy buying more stuff.

[Anita]

"Where are Marty's pompoms?"

I can not tell you how mannnnnny times I have had to tell myself, "Do not respond, do not respond, do not resond...

I try soooo hard not slam people publicly that aren't outright turds themselves.  Really.  I think it just isn't nice.  Okay, no, I am not perfect... but I do try. 

Titles like this make it soooooo difficult to behave.

[BellisimaJ.]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=5294.msg25594#msg25594 date=1159648354]
"Where are Marty's pompoms?"

I can not tell you how mannnnnny times I have had to tell myself, "Do not respond, do not respond, do not resond...

I try soooo hard not slam people publicly that aren't outright turds themselves.  Really.  I think it just isn't nice.  Okay, no, I am not perfect... but I do try. 

Titles like this make it soooooo difficult to behave.
[/quote]

Come on, Anita, think of all the people Marty has convinced to stand on their heads for ebay, all against their own best interests.  :


He IS an  mileyazwipe:

Okay, see, it's easy. Now go for it!

[cranky_hippie]

Titles like this make it soooooo difficult to behave.

Sorry, Anita. I may be slightly evil. 

And you are right. Marty is not a total turd but he does have his head in the sand and just once I'd like to see what he looks like if he should ever pull it out.

[Anita]

I wasn't pointing fingers or trying to force my personal views onto anyone else.  REALLY.  It is just something I try to live up to for myself. 

I learned a lesson when I stood up for Vital when I thought Mr. O was going for the throat.  PLEASE don't let the above example re-open THAT can of worms. 

[landofsmiles]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=5294.msg25600#msg25600 date=1159649102]
I learned a lesson when I stood up for Vital when I thought Mr. O was going for the throat.  PLEASE don't let the above example re-open THAT can of worms. 
[/quote]

Oh, yeah? What was that all about?

[Anita]

"Marty is not a total turd but he does have his head in the sand and just once I'd like to see what he looks like if he should ever pull it out."

I agree and I would say that.   

[quote author=landofsmiles link=topic=5294.msg25604#msg25604 date=1159649204]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=5294.msg25600#msg25600 date=1159649102]
I learned a lesson when I stood up for Vital when I thought Mr. O was going for the throat.  PLEASE don't let the above example re-open THAT can of worms. 
[/quote]

Oh, yeah? What was that all about?
[/quote]

Bob is the exception to my rule... ASPHOLE!

[cranky_hippie]

to the above.