Ex PESA n's R US: Internet Merchants Association formed by ex PeSA members

[BellisimaJ.]

From TRS:

sho****
10/17/06 03:54 PM (#401)








"It doesn't make any sense to be arguing amongst ourselves as to what the BOD will say. Why don't we back off, give them a chance to meet, develop an answer and respond?"

I don't see arguing amongst ourselves. I see serious questions being asked and ignored. I see members criticizing other members for asking questions. Yes this makes members angry. No one likes to be ignored. I started getting really irritated with the BOD's lack of communication right after the meeting with the BOD and eBay. Does anyone really believes the BOD will become more transparent after dues are paid. I for one don't.

Ra*******






biggbill
10/17/06 03:55 PM (#402)








"Again sounds to me like EMCTA is set up to be a for profit company where its owners would personally profit, and they are using PESA members to leverage our success for EMCTA success upon rollout."

This has a bad smell to it.

If any other Unknown entity wanted to swoon the BOD and Take any portion of PESA'a members for any reason, there was a time that JC himself would have put an immediate stop to it, Pitched a fit, and that would be it.

We sponsored a Pesa summit and pitched in 10k. We were sent a spreadsheet of members information. It cost 10k

What is it worth now?

Other members from third party services simply post or answer a question and they get blasted and called a spammer.

This place has never been a level playing field either. Just look at the pics posted. They look like advertisements to me, espescially the New Orleans bash.

I got blasted a few times here for saying things and alluding to things about a former colleague of mine. Everything that I said and posted anywhere was true. Some of the BOD knew it to be.

At the same time, he was hidden away working with Pesa'a Ethics committee.


Perhaps they thought they still had a sponsor.

Trust them? We don't even know who "them" is.

Name for me anyone that could come in and get the PESA info like this new "Partner" is.

Follow the money.....Someones getting rich.

Answers will never come.






go**********
10/17/06 05:25 PM (#403)








I, for one, think that there are more questions to be answered.

What, for example, is this group to do?

- Network? Well, that's good, but how good will it be with a majority of the members gone?

- Access to eBay? OK, I'll agree with that, but that's only valuable in context with the next one...

- Ability to change things? We're batting .000 on important issues. Heck, we can't even take a STAND on important issues. We're facing an increasingly deteriorating marketplace, both in terms of buyer interest and seller costs, and what changes (or stands) have we helped bring about?

- Summits? OK, another agreement, but as with #1, how valuable will these be with a much smaller membership - can we still draw the big names?

Another question is whether anyone can unify the group. United we stand, divided we fall. I don't see much unity, and without that, much value.






spo***********
10/17/06 06:29 PM (#404 of 769)








Bi*******:

I agree to an extent.

1) Network - well under 200 of us contribute regularly to conversations in this forum.

2) Access to eBay - a smaller number will hurt us here. Being a vocal group will mitigate it somewhat, not enough to make up for the loss of members.

3) Ability to change things - we were batting .000, can that only improve?

4) Summits - The 200 that regularly post are the same that attend summits. I think the BOD has positioned us to have an ear.

5) Unifying the group - It is tough. I don't have any answers. Bruce stepped up on my hothead thread regarding store fees. He agreed that ALL fee increases should be opposed even though he didn't benefit. Actually, he would be harmed because his competitors benefited. I believe you did the same.

Everyone in this group that I have had personal contact has always been willing to share.

T********






go**********
10/17/06 07:28 PM (#405)








T*****, not all the active people may be in the new post-dues PeSA. Br***** and St***** may not be. The jury is still out for many more.

You sound like the optimist who says "hey, I haven't gotten a hit against this pitcher all year - I'm due for one!" I'm more in the "once a doormat, always a doormat" mindset. The site is going in the terlit, and what do we do? Work on an exit strategy. OK, not bad, but I'm of the mind that I'd like to take a stand in my hood, and if it doesn't work, then there's always plan B. (Did that make sense?)



spo*******
10/17/06 08:04 PM (#406)








Bi********:

It seems that there are significant issues for some of our vocal group. Historically, they have been there, and a mutiny occurred once.. You are right to be more skeptical than me as you have been through it.

I am willing to wait and see what occurs. I would hate to think that we would lose this group through a profit motive from the very few. I know, pollyanish. I don't have the history, and am not going to invest the hours to learn quibbling when I have product to move. To me, it plays out how it does.

T*******






en*****
10/17/06 08:43 PM (#407)








T*****:

You are absolutely correct; history has given folks reason to be skeptical.

A couple of recent posts and some soul searching on my part leads me to believe that the right thing to do is give the board the time they are asking for. Jonathan has promised weekly updates and we didn't even give him 1 week! I am as much to blame as anyone in that regard. What if the BOD has been working on something truly great for PeSA members? What if there is a "for profit" vehicle but we as members will be offered the opportunity to invest in it?

I initially became very emotional due to my passion for this organization and wanted immediate answers, darn it!!(Patience is not my virtue.) With reflection I see that a few weeks really isn't going to change anything. There's still plenty of time before the cut-off for dues and even then, $99 is not a huge risk.

I'm going to give the BOD the benefit of the doubt on this one (for now).

Da********






lar*********
10/17/06 08:49 PM (#408)








Da****** said "I initially became very emotional due to my passion for this organization and wanted immediate answers, darn it!!(Patience is not my virtue.) With reflection I see that a few weeks really isn't going to change anything. There's still plenty of time before the cut-off for dues and even then, $99 is not a huge risk.

I'm going to give the BOD the benefit of the doubt on this one (for now)."

Da******, thank you for that post! As a new member, it is easy to get lost in all of this. Your approach feels like a reasonable approach. I intend to take a similar stance, and thank you for the posts you've made over the past several days.

Ha*******






en*********
10/17/06 08:58 PM (#409)








Ha*****:

Even the most vocal members of PeSA that, at times, may come across as trouble makers are actually extremely decent individuals. The PeSA membership is almost entirely made up of leaders, and no leader wants to wait for information.

Thanks for your post and I'm glad you are taking a similar stance.

Da******






spo*******
10/17/06 09:07 PM (#410)








Da*******:

I am passionate about this outcome as well as our group. Thanks for your post.

Best,
T*******

http://therossshow.com/showthread.php?t=6129&page=6

[BellisimaJ.]

[quote author=sneakymagenta link=topic=5799.msg31619#msg31619 date=1163182093]
[quote author=xppman link=topic=5799.msg31562#msg31562 date=1163128769]
I WILL say THIS.
Can any of you at least give any other "group" a try and QUIT BASHING EVERYONE?
[/quote]

I saw CAPP today.  You don't think creating an ID with a TT member's name and adding a "bigbutt" to it is bashing?  :

nonprofit

Hmm conflicting answers.


[/quote]

Xppman,

See the Brixton Brawlers Club. 

[BellisimaJ.]

From TRS:

lar*********
10/17/06 09:21 PM (#411)








David, just to clarify, I have the utmost respect for PeSA members as a whole.

This has been a highly charged week here. Myself being more emotionally based than "rational", at least initially, have gotten a bit lost in it. But the variety of posts and insites have been helpful.

It was good to find words that fit more with where I would like to stand in regards to this issue.

However, I have valued the words exchanged by EVERY member that has posted. An amazing group of business people. All strong minded and willed, which makes for some interesting and direct conversations.

Ha********






bo*********
10/17/06 09:21 PM (#412)








I have reread post 165 and see it as a reasonable response.

I never understood how there was not some sort of dues structure and $99 certainly is more than reasonable. I would hope everyone would continue their membership for the first year to give the Board the benefit of the doubt and also support the efforts of EMCTA. If you feel you have not received $99 worth of value from this organization than you already know what you should do.

I have no problems with Board Members not actively engaging in debates in the forums. That being said, I would hope that they continue to share best practices etc. in our forums as many of them do. Certain issues should be discussed at the Board meetings which certainly should be open to the membership and minutes posted. Again, I hope at the next summit we have an open forum for our selling members to pose questions.

I realize some are frustrated and perhaps there is some history here that some are not aware of. Many of us just came off of a great summit where we learned so much and forged friendships and business relationships that we would not have had the opportunity if it were not for this Board and the many volunteers.

Let's move forward and focus on the positives. This organization and EMCTA have a lot of potential and I would hate to see some of the members who are considering not moving forward with us not be a part of our future.

An********






spo*******
10/17/06 09:23 PM (#413)








Well-stated, An******. I concur.

T******






sho***********
10/17/06 09:42 PM (#414)








"This organization and EMCTA have a lot of potential"

Maybe you have been given info that others have not. I have no idea what the future is for PeSA or EMCTA. This is because the BOD tells us members nothing. You really think we should fork over $100,000 the first year as a group and expect no answers, no forward looking plans nothing in return?

Ra********






sho********
10/17/06 09:46 PM (#415)








"I never understood how there was not some sort of dues structure and $99 certainly is more than reasonable. I would hope everyone would continue their membership for the first year to give the Board the benefit of the doubt and also support the efforts of EMCTA."

Why should we have to support EMCTA. Shouldn't the owners of EMCTA support this whoever they are?

Ra********






bo*************
10/17/06 10:02 PM (#416)








I am a negative person and I am good at it for I spent 8 years traveling the country being critical of banks, their management teams, and their Board of Directors. I smell no rat here.

What I do see is negativity and comments that could be better served perhaps by one on one conversations with the Board - send them a direct e-mail or perhaps even give them a call and leave them a message to call you back.

Again the answer is simple, if you have made up your mind that $99 is not worth it than you already have your answer. I personally will miss many of you for you are the ones that often foster the discussions, debate, and critical thinking that goes on here for we are never going to learn as much if we all think the same way but I understand you have to do what you think is right for your particular situation.

Just please stop the posts that have no factual basis. Post 165 clearly states that PESA members receive free EMCTA membership so in affect EMCTA will be supporting any PESA members who take advantage of the opportunity that has been presented. If you have no desire to be part of an e-commerce organization such as EMCTA because your sole or main focus is eBay than obviously you can just remain active in PESA.

An*********






sho**********
10/17/06 10:13 PM (#417)








"Just please stop the posts that have no factual basis."

I see serious questions being asked and ignored. I see members criticizing other members for asking questions just like you did above. Why don't we as members have a right to ask questions without being criticized for doing so? I think your post has much less factual basis than many I have read here so far but I still think and want you to post it. I think many of us just want answers. We are tired of the BOD saying the answers will come later and never do.
JMHO,

Ra*********






spo**********
10/17/06 10:27 PM (#418)








BS An******! You are one of the most positive people I know. Calling a spade a spade

T*******






1bu*********
10/18/06 03:51 AM (#419)








" by one on one conversations with the Board - send them a direct e-mail or perhaps even give them a call and leave them a message to call you back"

As info this was attempted by me personally the day of this announcement, none of the messages left resulted in returned calls.

"Again the answer is simple, if you have made up your mind that $99 is not worth it than you already have your answer"

No this is not the case, you have step 1 of your answer. Agreed if you do not answer yes in step 1 you should not even move to step 2. But step 2 answers are still needed as to who owns PESA, who owns WMCTA and if anyone stands to personally gain from ownership in either organization. Also needed is to know if new stronger by-laws will be in place prior to dues be collected and if the BOD will be expanded.


“Just please stop the posts that have no factual basis”

Nobody was posting anything with no factual basis? What I see is members posting questions trying to obtain facts, not vice versa.

“Post 165 clearly states that PESA members receive free EMCTA membership so in affect EMCTA will be supporting any PESA members who take advantage of the opportunity that has been presented.”

Post 165 does not say if EMCTA is a for profit company and if it is who owns it and if anyone stands to make personal gain and profit. So in affect if it is EMCTA can potentially take in millions of dollars for its owners and in exchange we at PESA get to take advantage of exactly what?

“If you have no desire to be part of an e-commerce organization such as EMCTA because your sole or main focus is eBay than obviously you can just remain active in PESA.”

This is a out and out false statement. PESA was designed to focus on multi-channel from the onset with the main focus on the ebay platform early on. Not sure why Andrew would make such a statement being a member here for such a short time and not have a complete background on the history here. However early on it was discussed many times and determined that we would also explore other venues and we knew this need would grow as time went on, hence no need for EMCTA unless EMCTA is serving some sort of purpose yet to be disclosed.

In summary I too am optimistic about a bright future. I look forward to the BOD answering the tough questions so we can all move forward.

St********






1bu********
10/18/06 04:04 AM (#420)








I should add that while I cannot speak for others, I personally do hot have any distrust in our current BOD. I am very passionate about the group as is T***, An***** and almost every individual who is active on this thread.

We are all passionate folks, and all entrepreneurs with strong personalities, and hence this is why IMO some of us are asking for answers to certain questions.

We really have no clue to the real reasons why EMCTAS was started or even exists and where it is heading. There are many possible reasons why it was started, some have been speculated on already others have not.

Another reason could be that there is internal bickering going on within the BOD and eventually EMCTA would be the new PESA in a way of the old PESA will simply fade way.

But until we get some answers we will never understand the complete picture here. Minutes from BOD meetings have not been posted for years. I can understand this because we had no dues and no paid staff to do so. This hopefully will change going forward. But providing a few simple answers to how EMCTA got started and what the motives are behind it is not all that difficult.
__________________

[BellisimaJ.]

From TRS:

rach******
10/18/06 07:28 AM (#421)








Hi folks,

Jonathan's post #165 was posted on the 14th of Oct. In that post, Jonathan promised to do his best to provide weekly updates about the latest news, etc.

Many people have asked questions - certainly valid and important questions! - and are wondering why noone is answering them. Perhaps Jonathan will be able to address them in his next weekly update. If my calendar-math is correct, that would happen on or around the 21st.

-J*****
rach*****






go***********
10/18/06 07:40 AM (#422)








I'm a pretty quiet member, in fact, I sometimes question why I was invited. I add what I can and read what interests me. I'd like to remain a member of Pesa and I don't mind paying dues to remain.

However, I do have to point out a few things that bothered me that cause me to question whether or not I should support this group with dues.

1. I like to know what, who, and why I am paying and I would like to see the numbers. In all the organizations I have ever been involved with, there is a treasurer and a report each month with the status of the balance, payments and any income. I'd personally like see that here. I just want information, board minutes, status, goals and results. A bi-monthly report would be nice.
2. I FEEL (me only) that there is some animosity between members who feel that certain members do not belong. I've been in this group for a couple of years, I was invited by Noblespirit. If I don't belong, then I should be kicked out. If I do belong then there should not be any questions or (semi) personal attacks about whether or not I belong or not. (This hasn't happened to me, but I've seen a bit of it on this board) I keep quiet because I don't want it to happen to me.
3. I'm very concerned about the recent meeting with eBay and the board. Great that it is happening, but darn it.. for a couple of weeks we were encouraged to give input and then when the thing happened.. BAM.. the members of this group were told NOTHING.. I get that from eBay, I don't need it from here. If the board had to sign a NDA, then admit that. I suspect that happened if the meeting was initiated by eBay and was held on eBay grounds.

That's all for now. I hope it was ok for me to give my point of view. I think the dues are fair IF there is some reporting and accountability for those dues.






co*********
10/18/06 08:12 AM (#423)








go********

I fear your above approach would be far too common sense to work here. I am unaware of any previous similar action. The above would be among the first things I would announce. Simple tracking and reporting of funds. You know it will be done - but disclosed now that is another thing.

K******






noblespirit
10/18/06 09:33 AM (#424)








Jonathan has put three years of his time into bringing this group forward to where it is today.

If we were to cost out the time to someone of equal qualification, heading the organization, it would be well over $500,000.

As leader of the organization, he has attended every single event, be it Ebay live's or Summit's.

Just as for some of you it can be difficult to attend the Summits sometimes,it can also be difficult for him but you make a choice,as to attend or not. He does not consider that he has a choice.

To remind you how he represents Pesa, maybe there should be a replay of all of the talks he has had with the analyst's. , In fact I think it would be a good idea for new members to listen to them and then they could have a very clear idea of who the leadership is.

Jonathan does not need Pesa but Pesa needs Jonathan, more than any other member here. He is without a doubt Pesa's most valuble asset.

It is only 4 days since Jonathan posted. I am enclosing a portion of his post.

Please consider the fact that Pesa is priviliged to have Jonathan as spokesperson/ leader.

Please show him the respect he so rightly deserves, for his dedication and commitment to Pesa.

Give him the time he has requested and stop with the speculation and accusations.



Polly.



I hope that I have earned the trust and respect of PESA members to let me get this done. That means that I won't post as much as I may like, but you should know that its because I think there are tangible improvements I can make in PESA to address the concerns here; and I find that spending my time on those initiatives are more important than chatting. If you don't believe it, then you should not pay your dues and hope the org finds support elsewhere; if you think things will move forward, then its probably worth staying involved.

I will try to give members an update each week on initiatives. The Board is not ignoring posts, however, the days of Board members fighting with members in a discussion forum are over. This is going to be a professionally run organization, however, we need the resources to get there. I'd like to have the chance to do it.

Sincerely,

Jonathan



Bolding mine - TR






en********
10/18/06 09:53 AM (#425)








Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have a suggestion: The Board typically meets on Wednesdays which is today. I am sure that they will be discussing virtually everything that has been posted. Let's give them a few days and see if we get some responses to the questions. Maybe not all questions get answered but I'm sure many will. I would ask that nobody post unless you have a NEW question that has not already asked. I would also suggest that those members that are being critical of other members asking these questions stop posting too as it is adding very little to this thread. In fact it has just caused more friction.

Let's all take a deep breath and give our BOD through the weekend to give us an update. Let's TRY not to post anything unless it is NEW (question or information) until Monday 23rd. Sound like a plan?

Da******






all*******
10/18/06 10:02 AM (#426)








Da*****,

Well said. This thread has become a summarization over and over of the exact same words.

Z********






go********
10/18/06 10:03 AM (#427)








Amen Joe........I think many of the "non posting" members should clearly read the passion in your posting.

Jonathan is a true leader. Only those that have attended all the Summits and have seen him in action can verify what you stated. Lets give him whatever time he needs....he has clearly stated that he would regularly upgrade communications....its only 5 days ago that he posted it. Lets have some patience.






mu*******
10/18/06 10:08 AM (#428)








"Well said. This thread has become a summarization over and over of the exact same words."

Well... yes. But unfortunatly there are folks in this group who don't understand that a question does not become more important just because it is asked over and over again.

Al*********






emo*********
10/18/06 10:13 AM (#429)








"unfortunatly there are folks in this group who don't understand that a question does not become more important just because it is asked over and over again"

It also is unfortunate that there are folks in this group who don't understand that a question does not LOSS ITS IMPORTANCE just because it is asked over and over again".

If the ownership of these groups is secret and must remain so forever (or for the time being), then please explain why that is.

Br*******






all*********
10/18/06 10:28 AM (#430)








Br******,

I agree the questions should be answered and I am hesistant to be part of a "secret society." I don't think however, the answers will come any quicker with the constant badgering, the name calling and the huge assumptions and conspiracy theories.

Z********
__________________

http://therossshow.com/showthread.php?t=6129&page=6

[BellisimaJ.]

From TRS:

1bu*******
10/18/06 10:43 AM (#431)








Polly's post does make a lot of sense. Taking a step back for a minute there is obviously a lot of stuff happening and all the details are probably not completely baked yet.

Jonathan has obviously worked his butt of to get us where we are today, He has earned everyone’s respect I believe and if he has not he damn well should have. I do not think anyone will question that. In fact I am not sure if anyone other then Jonathan could have pulled this off.

I am hopeful and do expect Jonathan to answer all the questions that have been raised here prior to opening the pocketbook up for dues. There is no doubt Jonathan and the other BOD members read the threads, they know our concerns and at this pivotal point in our future I am certain they will answer all those concerns so members can make informative decisions moving forward.

I for one will refrain from posting on this thread any longer and give Jonathan the time he requested.

I also ask those of you who chose to make personal attacks, step back and think if by making personal attacks you are doing anything to advance your views or this organization. Personal attacks do not belong here or anywhere in PESA. We are not here to make friends or enemies, we are all here to make money and advance our businesses. The personal attacks must stop. Those guilty of this know who you are.

Thanks for listening

St******






lau*******
10/18/06 11:48 AM (#432)








Thank you for posts #421, #425, #431 and similar posts. With all due respect, its about time, as the horse is quite dead.

Just some observation from someone trying to stay unbiased as possible...The majority of us here are Type "A" and CAN'T STAND to not be in control. While that makes us driven and successful, it can also serve to undermine those who do have perceived power and authority over us. When those that lead us are treated as guilty before proven innocent, nobody WINS. As an OUTSIDER to the drama, this appears to be more of battle of egos where someone (not pointing fingers) needs to win for the sake of winning. When I have been "boss" in my professional life, having Type A's henpeck (pardon my french) the crap out of me accomplished nothing for the business - in the end. There also seem to be too many cooks in the kitchen (or cooks who believe they need to be head chef).






emo*********
10/18/06 12:16 PM (#433)








Then why not just lock the thread. To leave it open to those who praise the wonderful BODs, but to criticize those who point out their flaws seems hypocritical at best.

Is this a discussion (or an entire board) solely for those who only have nice this things to say about the BOD? If so, that's fine, but let's make that a clearly stated rule.

Br********






tig*********
10/18/06 01:10 PM (#434)








I think we're all looking forward to the new lines of open communication that Joe and Jonathon have promised next week. I for one am pleased that they've apparently agreed to disclose the information requested.

--B********






ac**************
10/18/06 01:11 PM (#435)








La********,

Thanks for the post. I see where you are coming from and don't think your analogy is quite accurate.

I agree there are a lot of 'Type A' members here with powerful egos.

Even though I was on the BOD two years ago and lost in my campaign for the BOD a little over a year ago, I am glad I am not on the BOD. I think we have five excellent members of the BOD and hope they are treated equally. They all seem to have Pesa's best interests at heart and are very generous with their time.

Why don't we look at the situation from a different angle and use a different analogy? Let's assume the BOD are the cooks and the members are the customers. Let's also assume that all the customers have been invited to a $99 dinner.

Historically, the meals have been fine, but free. Customers have asked about menus and ownership, and received no adequate reply. Since the food was free, the customers reluctantly accepted it.

So, since the cooks have their hand out for $99, the customers are increasing the level of their requests concerning what's on the menu, what's the type of restaurant and who will be making the profit (or loss). The cooks continue to avoid the actual questions and, for some reason, are reluctant to answer.

Is it a five star restaurant? Is it an elementary school cafeteria? Is it a fast food chain? Who's cooking the main course? Etc. etc.

Many of the prior candidates' platforms included improving transparency. This was true in my platform as well as some of the current BODs . Even though transparency has improved a little, it has one hell of a way to go before it reaches an acceptable level in the eyes of many Pesa members.

By posting this, I am not trying to be argumentative or trying to add additional pressure on the BOD. I'm just trying to present a better analogy more reflective of this situation. It is not a matter of getting a $99 value or criticizing the accomplishments or devotion of any member of the BOD. It's just a matter of the members receiving proper, timely information.

But, hopefully that's coming in the BOD's next post.

regards,
Jo********



lo***********
10/18/06 04:19 PM (#436)








I am assuming the next communication that we will hear from the BOD will be asking for a $99 payment for membership. (That is fine. I will be glad to pay it).

Also this request for $99 must be accompanied with a sales pitch (just like any offer anywhere does).

I am willing to wait for such a sales pitch before commenting any further (which seems to be the prudent thing to do).

-Ch*********






har*************
10/18/06 04:48 PM (#437)








Whew.... for a minute I was scared someone was going to ask me if I wanted fries with my MceBay.






oh**********
10/18/06 10:17 PM (#438)








Jeeze you guys! Where do you find the time . . .

J*********






gothamcityonline
10/20/06 03:12 PM (#439)








Hopefully the upcoming holiday shopping season proves a fruitful one for PeSA members. I know the past few months have been challenging ones for many of you and I’m hoping the work that I and the Board have been doing since the Summit will make a contribution to your business. I know we haven’t shared much until now and my absence from the discussion forum has allowed me to focus my time on working with the Board to get a number of exciting things setup. I will also try to answer a lot of the questions that have been posted, such as the details on member dues which were pre-announced last week in advance of going live.

PeSA is moving forward with a major push to help members grow revenue and decrease expenses. It’s a huge undertaking and one, I know, that can’t come soon enough for many members. Starting next week, we will begin rolling out new programs and exclusive offers (what we’re calling Benefits) for PeSA members! The process will be a controlled one to make sure everyone is able to get up to speed and implement/integrate as necessary.

I’d like to give you a brief look at some initial Benefits, but since they officially launch next week, the first action item will be to update your member profile - see the section below. New benefits and access to the chat boards will only be available to members in “good standing” - members who have logged in to update their PeSA Profile at gopesa.org and have paid their dues (through a link in your PeSA Profile).

During the past couple of weeks, we have upgraded the capabilities of our member support system. It means that new additions to the PESA discussion forum in eBay will only happen with the approval of the Membership Committee. Historically, we were not as disciplined as I would have liked, but the process is now formalized and it will ensure the integrity of our discussion forum moving forward. We do have plans to migrate our discussion forum to a self-hosted solution, but we’re not ready for that yet. We are also monitoring member performance so we can identify any issues in the group as well as monitor the health of our eBay activity.

The first Benefits are:

1. Professional Graphics Design services through our Partnership with ECMTA. This offer is first-come, first-served to members in good standing.
2. Deeply discounted insurance for your packages from U-Pic.
3. A special product sourcing offer from Doba.
4. PESA’s own Prosper funding group.
5. Discounted printing services from Vista Print.

Details on Benefits 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be available next week. The Graphics Design benefit is live now at: http://www.ecmta.org/ecmgraphics.cfm

The first step in using PeSA Benefits is to update your PeSA Profile. Visit the Member Login section at gopesa.org and make sure you have access. If you don’t please use the contact us link for help. We’ve been testing it for the past few days, but there may still be a bug hiding somewhere. If you never completed the PeSA member application, you won’t have access and you’ll need to complete that application now which the Membership Committee will review.

Once you login you’ll see a number of new and updated features. They include:

1. The ability to add multiple eBay user ID’s to your profile. PeSA wants to have the user IDs that you use so we can best address the category needs of members. It will tie in to some interesting marketing programs we are developing.
2. A Member Benefits section where information on new Benefits will begin appearing next week. Please note this will probably involve accessing the ECMTA website – which will be free to all PeSA Charter Members (members who joined PeSA prior to October 1, 2006).
3. The Member Benefits section will ask you to review the PeSA Code of Conduct and then give you the ability to send a PayPal payment.
4. The updated PeSA Member Icon code. The new icon has an updated look, a searchable eBay link (PeSAMember) and great looking validation page. This will give us more flexibility in promoting PeSA member listings.


Hopefully you can spend some time to get the new Member Icon into your auctions. Gotham City Online launched the new icon last night and it looks great: http://search-desc.ebay.com/search/s...&fsop=1&fsoo=1



Now to organizational business.

I believe there were one or two questions about the PESA and ECMTA structure. As I said last week, PESA was setup with the intention of going ‘non-profit’; we even filed the corporate paperwork as a non-profit, however, we were never able to institute the controls and hence provide the assurance that we were not going to violate the rules of a non-profit. A big part of that was because we didn’t have any money to spend on staffing and ongoing operational audits. I posted some of those details in my post last week. That means that PESA has been a ‘for profit’ entity since its inception. As a for-profit entity, PESA has been an awful performer. Sponsors have helped us pay for everything we have, but there were still shortfalls that Joe and I, as well as a number of other volunteers have covered. Even though I don’t have any recent financials to share yet (we plan to work on them), the shortfalls have been in excess of $30,000. It’s true that PESA has collected a decent amount of money, but we’ve also spent quite a bit. The Events Committee can share how much it costs to hold 7 events in 6 cities over the past 3 years.

PESA’s ongoing activities have only happened because of its volunteers. As with any volunteer organization, things don’t happen as quickly or expertly as we’d like; whether it’s on the Board or in a Committee. Many members have suggested that they would be glad to pay dues to make things run better. The Board finally agreed to implement a modest dues structure to provide some resources for PESA to improve the way it operates. The Board knows that it can do a much better job of communicating with members, reporting on activities, and building its place as a resource for members. We have proven that zero resources don’t go very far in helping those functions, but we believe that with dues, PESA will have some money to make those things happen. We are focused on developing solutions for the problems; we’ve all spent a lot of energy listing what is wrong. We also hope to have resources to respond to member inquiries such as chat board access issues or integration questions for some features/benefits.

If you don’t feel that you are getting any value from your participation in PESA, you shouldn’t stay. I know that we will cut down our membership number by quite a bit, but I think it will be a healthier membership base from which to grow. If PESA becomes a 300 member organization, the dues for the next year will be approximately $30,000. It’s about enough for a full/part time person plus some extras to reward volunteers that fill important positions. That doesn’t really leave a lot of money to make anyone rich. PESA was founded by Joe C and as such, he owns it. As of this past week, Joe has agreed to distribute ownership and maintain a minority position in PESA. Aside from starting the process, there are no further details to share except that the shares will be granted to a lot of members in PESA that have been involved in the building of PESA. It’s a type of thank you from the founder of PESA, but for the reasons I’ve mentioned earlier, it shouldn’t be viewed as a financial windfall because PESA isn’t expected to show any profits. The share distribution will be decided by the Board. I will share more details on this as they become finalized.

ECMTA is a totally separate entity that was setup by me and is an extension of the consulting I’ve been doing for years. It is focused on developing programs to help merchants involved in e-commerce. I know it’s a broad subject, but it is a compliment to the mission of PESA that focuses on the eBay channel. PESA is committed to working with eBay and its sellers to improve how the marketplace works. If there was any conflict, I would excuse myself. I appreciate the friends I’ve made within PESA which is why I was glad to give all PESA members free access to whatever resources come out of ECMTA. I am not asking for any money from PESA members. If you don’t want to be part of ECMTA, please don’t sign-up. Any people that join ECMTA will not gain access to PESA unless they complete a separate application and are approved by the PESA Membership Committee.

The posts in the discussion forum clearly show that there is a lot of passion in this Group. From the conversations I’ve had with many members, I know that business is more challenging than ever. I am committed to making PESA/ECMTA a resource for members to improve and grow their businesses. In the past year, I’ve seen 80 PESA members fold up their businesses. I am concerned that this January, we are going to lose a bunch more; and it won’t be because of dues.

The PESA Board did meet with eBay staff last month in Salt Lake. We had a very candid dialog of the issues facing sellers, and for the first time, there was serious conversation about what could be done. In my mind, that is a breakthrough. In the past, eBay would say that seller problems are caused by the sellers. The work and consistent messaging by PESA is paying off. Some of the changes eBay will be implementing in Q1 will have PESA fingerprints on them. Even though we can’t share all the details, you will recognize the changes when they roll out. Hopefully they don’t lose too much in translation. PESA is a resource to eBay and we need to continue to prove that we are serious business people interested in finding solutions rather than just voicing complaints. The input on the PESA threads ahead of our meetings was very helpful in developing a clear and concise message: the eBay marketplace has structural problems that eBay needs to fix. The Board of PESA will continue to send that message.

I hope I’ve answered your questions. Some of the answers may not be what you wanted, but I am being truthful and telling you what I know. As I mentioned before, I will try to provide weekly updates and I believe things will come together.


Sincerely,


Jonathan






gr**********
10/20/06 03:23 PM (#440)








Wow. That changes everything.
__________________

http://therossshow.com/showthread.php?t=6129&page=6

[BellisimaJ.]

From TRS:

aa*********
10/20/06 03:24 PM (#441)








Outstanding, Jonathan... thank you!

An********






aci*********
10/20/06 03:29 PM (#442)








Jonathan,

Thanks for the excellent post.

jo******






go**********
10/20/06 03:36 PM (#443)








Jonathan
A true leader by example. Had to be from a Tech grad.
Best wishes and anything I can do to help.
B****** Al******






joefriday2
10/20/06 03:43 PM (#444)








Jonathan,

You are always so professional. Thank you for bringing us up to date.

Ben






har*********
10/20/06 04:00 PM (#445)








Clap CLAP.... Roar of crowd, WooHA






spo**********
10/20/06 04:15 PM (#446)








Thanks, Jonathan!






bac*********
10/20/06 05:18 PM (#447)








Jonathan,

Thank you for the clear and concise update.

La******






fu******
10/20/06 05:27 PM (#448)








Thanks for the update.

I think that this should have it's own thread or email to members, rather than possibly getting lost in a 440+ post thread:

The first step in using PeSA Benefits is to update your PeSA Profile. Visit the Member Login section at gopesa.org and make sure you have access. If you don’t please use the contact us link for help. We’ve been testing it for the past few days, but there may still be a bug hiding somewhere. If you never completed the PeSA member application, you won’t have access and you’ll need to complete that application now which the Membership Committee will review.

T******






inf*******
10/20/06 06:13 PM (#449)








Jonathan, nice save.

-K






bi*********
10/20/06 06:56 PM (#450)








Thank you so much Jonathan you done good. I would like to thank you and the rest of the BOD for what looks to be a home run. I am most excited about this group having a positive effect on eBay going forward. I can't wait to see what rolls out
Gl*****
__________________

http://therossshow.com/showthread.php?t=6129&page=6

[sneakymagenta]

I see serious questions being asked and ignored. I see members criticizing other members for asking questions.

What do you expect? It is an Ebay board. 

I believe there were one or two questions about the PESA and ECMTA structure. As I said last week, PESA was setup with the intention of going ‘non-profit’; we even filed the corporate paperwork as a non-profit, however, we were never able to institute the controls and hence provide the assurance that we were not going to violate the rules of a non-profit. A big part of that was because we didn’t have any money to spend on staffing and ongoing operational audits. I posted some of those details in my post last week. That means that PESA has been a ‘for profit’ entity since its inception. As a for-profit entity, PESA has been an awful performer.

WTF!!  Why did you sign your name to a non-profit New Hampshire incorporation paper if Pesa has always been a "for profit entity"?

[cranky_hippie]

Some of the changes eBay will be implementing in Q1 will have PESA fingerprints on them. Even though we can’t share all the details, you will recognize the changes when they roll out. Hopefully they don’t lose too much in translation. PESA is a resource to eBay and we need to continue to prove that we are serious business people interested in finding solutions rather than just voicing complaints. The input on the PESA threads ahead of our meetings was very helpful in developing a clear and concise message: the eBay marketplace has structural problems that eBay needs to fix.

IMO, this does not sound like good news for the little guy. It smells like tiered fees based on listing numbers to me. 

[FiberGuy]

[quote author=cranky_hippie link=topic=5799.msg31637#msg31637 date=1163187879]

Some of the changes eBay will be implementing in Q1 will have PESA fingerprints on them. Even though we can’t share all the details, you will recognize the changes when they roll out. Hopefully they don’t lose too much in translation. PESA is a resource to eBay and we need to continue to prove that we are serious business people interested in finding solutions rather than just voicing complaints. The input on the PESA threads ahead of our meetings was very helpful in developing a clear and concise message: the eBay marketplace has structural problems that eBay needs to fix.

IMO, this does not sound like good news for the little guy. It smells like tiered fees based on listing numbers to me. 
[/quote]

I wouldn't mind that so much, Cranky... as long as it was restricted to insertion fees ONLY.  Heck, most businesses offer quantity discounts of some kind.  When I buy in quantity (say, for shipping supplies), I EXPECT a discount.

BUT, PESA sellers who break the rules, don't perform as sellers, and have a shipping-based profit system need to be looked at with scrutiny the same as any other seller.

[cranky_hippie]

I wouldn't mind that so much, Cranky... as long as it was restricted to insertion fees ONLY.  Heck, most businesses offer quantity discounts of some kind.  When I buy in quantity (say, for shipping supplies), I EXPECT a discount.

BUT, PESA sellers who break the rules, don't perform as sellers, and have a shipping-based profit system need to be looked at with scrutiny the same as any other seller.

I wouldn't mind tiered fees either except that it already is not a level playing field and the big guys ARE allowed to break the rules. So more perks for those who cheat the system with the system's help doesn't impress me. It just makes me glad I'm gone.