jlb444
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posted on October 15, 2000 04:13:24 PM new
Microsoft's web site should have at their help area a way to restore notepad. I lost mine to and if I remember correctly that's where I found the file to download.
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skyscout
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posted on October 15, 2000 04:34:40 PM new
LUCKYMONTE- What is moronic is to think that just because somebody calls something a fad, they mean that it will soon end. Ebay was a fad, but it will keep going and going indefinitely. The fad is wearing off but now Ebay will just take its proper place in the scheme of things. Remember, you can still get hula hoops and CB radios, and at least until recently there were several Rubiks products still available. Good ideas don't die after the fad is gone, but Ebay really was a fad a year or two ago. After it settles out it will be better because then folks can count on it to be steady money.
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luckymonty
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posted on October 15, 2000 04:38:24 PM new
Perhaps you don't have a grasp of the meaning of 'fad'.
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celebrityskin
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posted on October 15, 2000 04:42:04 PM new
"With over 10,000 rip-offs per day it amazes me that anybody buys on eBay anymore! "
Would love to know where this "stat" came from........
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imabrit
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posted on October 15, 2000 04:45:40 PM new
On the NOTEPAD in windows I copied the missing items from another computer and posted them into the windows directory.
So it works OK.
Is ebaY a fad,I do not think so but it does not have the appeal it used too.
I think the buyer mentality is very different it is looked more upon as a garage sale.Therefore they expect prices to reflect that even in rare and I mean rare hard to find items.For example I am going to list a 1578 Geneva Bible tonight.I have no competition for this one.Yet it will not bring the price it would have 16months ago.
I have no idea why there just seems to be a different set of buyers.
Does the stock market affect sales,you bet it does even if you are not in it.It will affect your buying ability.
I am sure you know people who do invest in the stock market and probably talk how bad it is.They may think wow we maybe headed for a recession etc.
You hear this starts you thinking better hold onto my money hard times maybe ahead.
The news media does the same thing you watch it and it does affect your thinking.It then affects your buying power.
Most people are like lemmings they follow the feelings of the masses sometimes even without realising it.
This will pass and all will be well,question is how long will it last and will it survive.
I maybe one of the casualties only time will tell.I will never not sell on ebaY it just may become a part time hobby.A good one at that generates income but not something my family can rely on to make a living.
But I may still be doing this 5 years down the road doing just fine.
I need a crystal ball,maybe I can find one on ebaY hahahahaha
Adrian
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taisha1
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posted on October 15, 2000 04:49:49 PM new
I fell into the beanie craze late so was a big beanie bidder/buyer and built a large collection, mostly on eBay. That market has declined drastically as of late, both in stores and on eBay. It is my belief that on eBay presellers who are able to get hundreds and even thousands of beanies while the shelves are bare of them have hurt that market and the hobby in general. Also gas prices. I for one cannot justify running around using gas just to look for beanies. Right now I am listing a few at a time with low opening bids to get rid of duplicates and am not continuing with the collection.
My real passion is vintage costume jewelry. In that category I am not finding the interesting listings that used to be out there. I note a decline in bid prices there also, which is to my advantage as a buyer when I can find something of interest.
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keziak
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posted on October 15, 2000 05:06:36 PM new
things are very hot for me just now. I bought a load of books at a library sale 2 weeks ago and they are closing now. Amazing prices [for me]. A lot of my current auctions have no bids, but I see most of my action in the last day or two.
Keziak
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radh
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posted on October 15, 2000 05:14:45 PM new
Adrian: I want you to take two days off from listing and ONLY research all of your repeat bidders' buying habits.
Find out what ELSE that your loyal customers like to buy, and starting listing in those areas -- and preferably with something that needs to be REPLACED frequently, like candles, LOLOL.
I think you need to diversify, and I also believe that you have SCADS of LOYAL customers who'd luv to order different types of items from you, too.
Don't thank ME --- YOU were the one who told all us out here to DIVERSIFY our products, many many many times.
Try to do some research on YOUR own customers, to see if any percentage of them are actively bidding on and buying some other type of item that would be of interest for you to sell.
Also, don't forget that there is a FREE LISTING DAY at GoToAuctions on November 2.
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aj9800
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posted on October 15, 2000 05:29:40 PM new
The bad bids are definately related to the WATCH THIS ITEM button. People used to bid when they saw an item they liked. That kept the bids higher in the beginning. Now they hit watch the item and do a last minute snipe. The sad thing is people probably hit "watch this item" then forget to go back and bid.
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dave_michmerhuizen
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posted on October 15, 2000 05:31:41 PM new
lucky - I think Kathy's point is not if the term 'moron' was justified or not, but that it was made at all.
The mark of a gentleman is that he does not stoop to rudeness, even though rudeness might appear to be justified.
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anzco
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posted on October 15, 2000 05:36:35 PM new
I find that ever since they implemented the WATCH THIS ITEM feature, most of my 10 day auctions can go 9 days and 23.5 hours without a single bid. Then usually the item will sell in the last 30 minutes at the starting bid price or a little higher...Although sometimes I will get 2 or 3 bidders that fight over it and drive the price higher.
Because of this I have had to adjust my starting bid price higher so I don't sell everything below or at cost...This too has resulted in fewer bids...
If the auctions continue to go this way, Ebay might as well just have us set a price tag and direct sell without bids...that seems to be the direction they are heading.
Also...I used to time my auctions to end Sunday Nights...but it seems like Sunday night is ebay's favorite time to go down so I now end on a variety of nights.
I also have just started listing on YAHOO again. I am really pleased with the changes Yahoo has implemented and find it so much easier to list there (plus its free)... I notice a slight surge of bidders there but unfortunately...they just don't reach as many eyes as ebay does (when it is up!)
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LAZZJR
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:04:23 PM new
Just to add my 2 cents and I only can speak about the antique listings and collectable.
Has anyone really looked at the what is for sale at the Antique and Collectable listings.
For instance it is a bunch of junk a ton of garage sale stuff and items Dealors cannot sell at shows or in thier shops.
i feel the quality on ebay has really come down in the last 2 years.
I Was buying much more two years ago then i am now.
and buyers tell me that they are tired of looking at hundreds of pages of so called Antiques and collectables.
I think dealors should show some quality antiques and collectables
In this way the buyers may come back to Ebay
and the dealors will not kill the golden goose
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luckymonty
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:24:49 PM new
Gentlemanly or not - moronic is the correct choice of wording.
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figmente
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:32:07 PM new
Reason 1. As Dave Barry said, the net economy was based on Beanie Babies. As the bottom keeps dropping on these it drags everything with it.
Reason 2. Bush has been looking up in the polls, everyone knows that a republican administration is certain to find a way to screw up the economy.
Reason 3. Everyone is out riding their silly little scooters.
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ozwaxc
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:39:45 PM new
I just read in the most recent Fortune magazine that stock market analysts expect retail sales to be soft this Christmas for the same reasons everyone is mentioning
especially higher gas (and heating oil) prices (so people are cutting down on discretionary spending)
So, its not just ebay.
It seems maybe ebay has hit the mainstream and is now affected by the same things everything else is (instead of growing exponentially, irregardless of what happens in RL)
Karen
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imabrit
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:45:43 PM new
RADH
Diversification is the key but you can only diversify so much that you cannot see the wood for the trees.
I sell a variety of items on ebaY and always look for new and interesting items.
I sell items in at least 4 different categories all antiques.
I sell books,documents,coins,maps,prints and just about anything else on paper that at least 150 years old.
There are a lot of true antique items on ebaY.I sell them and I see others that do.
Odd thing is the items I sell get better prices at brick and mortar establishments.
Plus regular dealers at stores and in their catalogues get much higher prices that I do.
I just do not have enough stock to create a
catalogue or have a store.So the net works best.
HOWEVER IT DOES NOT HELP THAT EBAY IS DOWN 5/7 NIGHTS A WEEK.THIS IS REDICULOUS I HAD SOME ITEMS I WANTED TO LIST THRUSDAY FOR 10 DAYS TO END SUNDAY.COULD NOT DO IT AS EBAY WAS DOWN.
SO LETS WAIT TILL SUNDAY AND GO WEEK TOO WEEK AND THEY ARE DOWN TOO.
I ALSO HAVE AN IMPORTANT DUTCH AUCTION WITH 500 ITEMS WITH OVER 80 BIDS.THAT WAS BOTH FEATURED AND SUPER FEATURED.120.00 LISTING AND IT ENDS DURING THIS OUTAGE.
SORRY FOR SHOUTING.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
ADRIAN
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susiegirl
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:51:54 PM new
I had a surge for awhile earlier in the month, but this past week has been really slow...I think the stressing and sad news in the Middle East, the sudden drop in the stock market, the surge in oil prices and news related to price of fuel this winter...this was not a week where shopping may have been on a lot of minds...of course there is no way to know. It ebbs and flows..I post many more auctions in the ebbing period to make up the volume. No way is online shopping or auctions a fad...it is a new way of doing business that is here to stay. When my numbers are down, I try hard to offer new items, new descriptions...use it as a challenge period..and it usually works! We are no different than any other retail business..impacted by many many factors, some of which are in our control, others aren't.
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radh
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posted on October 15, 2000 06:55:15 PM new
Adrian: When I mentioned the word 'diversify' - ah, I was NOT referrring to you finding a FIFTH antique item to sell. NO!
I mean, find something like KLEEN-EX, something ALL bidders, not just collectors, not just "antique-freaks" want -- something that everybody uses & wants, including your already established customer base.
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imabrit
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posted on October 15, 2000 07:13:27 PM new
RADH.
Oddly enough I was looking at KLEENEX the other day but prices where not where they needed to be.
Believe me I do not just look at antiques I look at anything that might do well on ebaY.
I looked at telephone batteries the other day,nothing there either.I also looked at buying bulk software cheap.But not cheap enough.
We bought some Disney clothing at a Disney close out store that sends items that are old stock.
These vary from 1/4 to half below retail I looked at the items at 1/4 to 1/3 with the price tags still there.We bought 100.00 worth to try and see what happens.
So Believe me I do look at things other than antiques all the time.Plus I look at what people say they are selling here too that they are doing well with.
Well I guess I did not do too bad on the dutch 120 bids all items sold.
Adrian
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radh
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posted on October 15, 2000 07:25:52 PM new
Hi, Adrian.
I'm glad to hear that you always are on the alert for possible new items.
I do not believe that eBay is a FAD, but plenty of experts and vulture capitalists believe so -- which is a reflection of their state of ignorance about the Net, lol.
As a publically traded company, eBay is only 2 years old --- there's gonna be lots and lots and lots and lots of changes during eBay's first decade.
If you are getting really nervous, perhaps you could get a part time 3-D job, for a spell.
THAT will give you unbeatable motivation to find what works on eBay to support your family, lolol.
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jadejim
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posted on October 15, 2000 07:29:13 PM new
I have to agree that bidding has been seriously depressed but in my case it has been going on since mid September. Hits are WAY down and final prices of the things that sell are lower than I can get at the antique mall where I still sell. The buyers have discovered that they can get one tomorrow or the next day at a lower price so they aren't getting excited about many items. Truly scarce or rare items are still selling at strong prices--most of the time. Been selling at ebay since 1997 and this is the slowest I have EVER seen. Some of our surprise may have come because we all build up the pre Christmas rush. However, many sellers have just come onto or back onto the scene because of anticipated holiday sales. The market is overloaded.<p>We add that to system problems, fuel prices, the Mideast, the stock market, and an upcoming election that is too close to call and I think we need to anticipate a very slow season. Perhaps it will pick up a bit after the election.<p>For now, I am concentrating on my mall sales and only offering a few items a week at ebay. Those are carefully selected items that I am certain are very hard to find.
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imabrit
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posted on October 15, 2000 07:29:22 PM new
I am not ready to throw in the towel yet but I do have other ideas for another business not internet related in the back of my mind.
So I may give that a try,plus I know for a sure ebaY too be at worst a good 20,000 a year part time income.All I have to do is find something else to make up the difference.
Maybe my wealthy younger Bro is feel sorry for me and just support me as a new business project.
Boy is his an ever interesting one,talk about being in the right place at the right time.
Adrian
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heavnsqt
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posted on October 15, 2000 09:23:34 PM new
I am not getting the number of bids like I did. Nor the hits My clothing is all brand name. Just sold a jacket Ellen Tracy new. I made a small profit. The number of bids were just not that many. It was a surprise
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skyscout
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posted on October 15, 2000 10:10:36 PM new
I have had up to 49 bids on a single item in the past week, my personal record. However, this is because I came into a load of Sonys/Canons/Nikons at a catalog liquidation auction! Now my problem is dealing with the kind of folks you get when you sell that stuff. Bids are slow on "yard-sale" type items but at least you don't get the con men.I only get money for 1/3 of electronics-type auctions. The rest have stolen credit cards (Indonesians) or were just having fun bidding.Horrors-I have been thining about advertising in the local "Bulletin Board" trader paper!
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reddeer
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posted on October 15, 2000 11:32:00 PM new
I wish I had a dollar for every thread like this one that's been posted over the past year.
Is eBay a "fad", not likely. I've been selling on eBay since 1997, and in the antiques & collectibles area, the bids & prices are stronger than ever.
The trick is not only finding items that are unique, but also items that have a strong following when you list them. IMO, "timing" is everything on eBay. What might fetch $50 one week, can fetch $150 the next.
Sometimes the bidders just aren't there, sometimes there's 10-50 of the same thing listed on that week. The result is low bidding, or no bidding at all.
Every month I'm surprised at how high some of my items finish. Some of these items go for 3-4 times what the regular going rate is on eBay. At the same time, sometimes the items I felt would do well, fizzled with little or no action. eBay has always been somewhat of a crap shoot, even back in the "good ol days".
I try & stock up on unique items & then list them when I see that bidders in that area are in a feeding frenzy. Sometimes that means waiting a few weeks until some new bidders start surfacing.
I know a few long time buyers [since 96] that are "buyers" only & the reason their bidding has died down is that they've completed most of their collections. I would assume this is the same with most long time buyers? Unless they start a new collection, or add a new wing onto their homes, there's only so much they can buy.
Every month I see scores of new {0} feedback bidders on my auctions so there certainly doesn't seem to be a lack of new users coming aboard?
Selling on eBay certainly isn't the easiest way to earn a living, but I can think of far worse ways to make a buck.
"A thing is worth whatever the buyer will pay for it." --Publilius Syrus: "Sententiae" ca. 50 B.C.
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reddeer
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posted on October 15, 2000 11:43:53 PM new
I just received an email from one of the long time bidders I mentioned in the post above.
He sent me an eBay auction on a radio [being sold "as-is"] that has 18 bids & is over $17,000 with 19 hours to go. The high bidder has (0) feedback, and the runner up has 385.
My friend has decided to pass on this one. 
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bunnicula
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posted on October 15, 2000 11:51:20 PM new
Totally OT...but why do I suddenly have to scroll left & right to read this thread? Page one is normal, but on this page I have to scroll.
Back to the original subject: yes sales stink right now, but that is a normal cyclical thing with eBay--sales go up & down. And yes, eBay is a "fad" but no, I don't think it will fade away. Cars were considered a "fad" in the beginning & they're still here. So are skateboards, yo-yos, frisbees, Barbie dolls, GI Joes, etc.
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cdnbooks
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posted on October 16, 2000 12:53:15 AM new
you have to scroll because of Adrian's HHHHHHHH's
Bill
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raygomez
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posted on October 16, 2000 04:43:11 AM new
Here is just an example of folks who make it their hobby to let bidders know that eBay is rife with fraud:
http://freedombyfaith.com/MARKET/Sabotaged.html
http://uweb.superlink.net/jason/ebay/
ABC News:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/business/DailyNews/ebay_investigation990127.html
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reddeer
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posted on October 16, 2000 07:10:40 AM new
And here's an example of at least 2 Power Buyers that have never been ripped off in over 700 transactions involving well over $200,000.
Make sure to note the comments by Tiptie & Northernfrontier.
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=248921&id=248921
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