rnrgroup
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posted on October 12, 2000 08:33:12 PM new
A little while back ebaY posted on the AB about a program they are participating in to teach seniors about cyberspace. Now on the surface this sounded like a great program, but as it turns out, it is starting to look like a way to exploit seniors to get them to sell their antiques and collectibles on ebaY and squeeze the max amount of fees out of them as possible. I wrote to ebaY on 26 Sep and asked -
Hi,
I have some questions about your program the Digital Opportunity Program for
Seniors.
You said - ebaY will incorporate classroom education and training into the
curriculum offering at SeniorNet locations nationwide, where
both basic and advanced online commerce classes will be offered.
Are you going to teach people about online auctions? Are you going to teach
them about sites
other than ebaY, and what options are available to them?
Thanks -RnRgroup
ebaY responded today -
Hi R&R Group!
We will be creating curriculum material to help people learn about eBay
primarily. We'll offer both a Basic "How To" course, as well as an advanced
"Develop your Business on eBay" type class. We don't have curriculum
materials developed that are available for review, but we do hope to begin
teaching the eBay curriculum sometime in early 2001. Please check your
local SeniorNet Learning Center in December as to when they will begin
teaching the material.
We will not focus on online auction sites other than eBay, to answer your
final question.
If you have additional questions, please email them to [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
thank you for your interest!
the eBay Seniors Team
-------------------------------------
So they are not teaching seniors to use the net, they are teaching seniors to use ebaY! Sorry, but to me it SMELLS, very very bad. -Rosalinda
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry
http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
[ edited by rnrgroup on Oct 12, 2000 08:34 PM ]
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mzalez
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posted on October 12, 2000 10:43:27 PM new
I think it's a great idea. I teach computer classes at night and there are lots of seniors enrolled. My students love working on the Internet. Many have a hard time getting around, so this is perfect for them to interact with others.
For them to do online auctions is great, too. They make extra income, and really enjoy themselves. Their whole families get involved. There are 2 sisters in one of the classes, and they sell things for the rest of the family. I wish they could work for me! Especially the packing part.
They are a pretty sharp bunch, with more wisdom and experience than most...I think it would be hard to take advantage of someone in my class.
Of course, there are the weak in every age group. I would hate to think eBay is preying on hapless victims.
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magazine_guy
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posted on October 12, 2000 10:49:00 PM new
I wouldn't really expect eBay to teach folks how to use competing sites, ya know? I don't really see any hidden agenda here- they're trying to exapand into the senior market.
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amy
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posted on October 12, 2000 10:55:17 PM new
Sounds like they are going to be teaching seniors what the seniors want to know..how to sell on ebay. The seniors will be voluntarily signing up for the course not being forced to take it.
I trust the seniors of this country to be able to decide for themselves if this course offers the information they are seeking. If it isn't what they want they won't sign up for it.
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magazine_guy
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posted on October 12, 2000 11:12:42 PM new
amy:
You gonna sign up? 
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Shoshanah
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posted on October 12, 2000 11:24:36 PM new
If Ebay botches their class the way my Senior Class was botched, they won't get far... The instructor knew NOTHING at all..I ended up going around the class teaching the other elderlies what I had been learning on my own...Then, on the third class, I WALKED OUT...
mzalez, where do you teach? Is it through a Senior Education Center? I would love to teach now, but don't know how to go about it.
********************
Shosh
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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magazine_guy
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posted on October 12, 2000 11:31:31 PM new
Shosh:
I've met you, and you aren't old enough to get into a senior class! Fudged on the application to get in for free, right? 
Steve
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krs
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posted on October 12, 2000 11:47:35 PM new
Sounds like the perfect thing for Antiquary.
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rnrgroup
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posted on October 12, 2000 11:52:38 PM new
The point is that if what they are trying to impart are computer skills, that is what they should teach. If they want to teach about online trading, then they should teach about ALL the options of online trading. If they are doing it to benefit ebaY then yes they will just teach ebaY - and that is exploitation - looks pretty clear cut to me!
When you do something altruistically, it is not to directly financially benefit the company doing it. This looks like exploitation. Remember, this is not being publicized as a senior version of ebaY U, this is a charitably funded effort to help seniors - NOT to help ebaYs bottom line.
-Rosalinda
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry
http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
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magazine_guy
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posted on October 13, 2000 12:11:46 AM new
R-
That's the first you've said about "charitably funded." What's that about? Funded by whom?
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amy
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posted on October 13, 2000 12:26:44 AM new
Steve..i'm hurt! You've met me too..so you think i'm old enough to sign up for a senior class? 
Roz..you quoted ebay as saying both basic and advanced online commerce classes will be offered...that doesn't sound like computer skills to me...sounds more like "how to sell on the internet".
Again...seniors aren't mindless ninnies who can't make a decision for themselves. If they are interested in more than ebay they should be the ones to decide if the course meets their needs or not. And considering how many times a senior has "been round the block", I think it is more than likely they will expect that a course offered by ebay will be about ebay and not other online commerce sites. Those who are interested in sites other than ebay may take the ebay course to gain a basic understanding of how internet commerce works and then will go on to apply the basics to other online commerce sites.
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shaani
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posted on October 13, 2000 12:56:57 AM new
My father who is 82 had a stroke a couple of years ago and he lost his ability to drive but he has not lost his zest for learning. When I visited him last weekend he said that he is interested in getting a computer and there is a lady in his area that teaches seniors how to use them. I have met several seniors who buy and sell on ebay and they are enjoying what they do.
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magazine_guy
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posted on October 13, 2000 01:20:38 AM new
Sharron:
I suspect that either you or Shosh could TEACH such a class in your sleep. And neither of you is old enough to get the Senior discount at Sizzler. Heck, didn't they card you when we had lunch?
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heavnsqt
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posted on October 13, 2000 08:03:54 AM new
I think it is wonderful of ebay to help seniors...they need a little extra money just selling things they dont need any more..
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amy
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posted on October 13, 2000 08:18:16 AM new
Steve...you are a true gentleman
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macandjan
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posted on October 13, 2000 08:41:49 AM new
People who think that all the seniors are drooling idiots needing protecting can get a rude awakening. My Dad started telling me early on to watch out for the old boys - they have been around a time or two. My Step Father was an armed guard well into his eighties and sudden silent death on wheels if you messed with him. Didn't get that old by daydreaming while the world went around him.
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amalgamated2000
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posted on October 13, 2000 09:14:39 AM new
I would hope that it's spelled out in advance that the classes are sponsored by eBay, or based on the eBay curriculum, or whatever the case may be.
But given that, I think this is a fantastic idea. Just because eBay is marketing to seniors, I hardly think that means they are trying to take advantage of them. On the contrary, perhaps they believe that there are a lot of retired people who are very savy and would have an enjoyable and profitable experience with eBay, given a little assistance getting started.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All rights reserved. All wrongs reversed.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on October 13, 2000 09:37:54 AM new
Even if eBay expects to get something out of the deal (more listings), I don't see why that is necessarily a bad thing. It's not like they're dragging people in off the street and forcing them into the program (at least, I assume they're not), and I'd think that anybody intelligent enough to learn how to sell online would be able to decide for themselves whether or not the information they're being provided with is worthwhile.
Of course, if eBay has developed some sort of brainwashing technique to accomplish their goals, that would change the whole situation, but I'd be surprised to find that to be the case.
edited to add...
A little while back ebaY posted on the AB about a program they are participating in to teach seniors about cyberspace. Now on the surface this sounded like a great program, but as it turns out, it is starting to look like a way to exploit seniors to get them to sell their antiques and collectibles on ebaY and squeeze the max amount of fees out of them as possible.
Suppose you look at it from another angle:
A little while back ebaY posted on the AB about a program they are participating in to teach seniors about cyberspace. Now on the surface this sounded like a great program, but as it turns out, it is starting to look like a way for seniors to exploit eBay by getting them to teach them how to sell their antiques and collectibles on ebaY and then using that information to sell their items at alternate auction sites, thereby avoiding paying any eBay fees.
It could happen.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Oct 13, 2000 09:51 AM ]
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buyhigh
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posted on October 13, 2000 09:55:03 AM new
Seniors who have learned to use a computer are not going to be exploited by e-Bay I can assure you. I am an advanced age senior and I live in a vast retirement community. I learned how to use this machine with Dummie books mostly plus tips on this board and I had to teach myself to find my way around e-Bay the hard way which actually was not so hard come to think of it. I do not think I was exploited when I was able to get rid of a lot of stuff I really had no use for anymore and at prices that were far better than I would have gotten sitting under the hot sun at a flea market I think some of you underate our judgement Actually, I was far far more naive 50 yrs ago than I am now
buyhigh
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Shoshanah
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posted on October 13, 2000 11:04:38 AM new
Steve... You rascal...I kew there was more about you to like besides your good looks...
As to the "senior" thingy, let's check with my 41 year old daughter and my grand'kids...
[i]where
both basic and advanced online commerce classes will be offered.[/i]..
I don't get that! This implies that the Senior will need a basic computer knowledge.
Most people with a basic computer knowledge automatically (and instinctively) seem to learn to "surf", and end-up on Ebay or another auction site, because the words "online Auctions" are nearly household words now. We've all been there, younger crowd and old biddies alike... and taught ourselves. So, is Ebay planning on charging the elderly to learn how to do Ebay?
Shosh waves at amy...  and everyone...
********************
Shosh
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
[ edited by Shoshanah on Oct 13, 2000 11:06 AM ]
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buyhigh
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posted on October 13, 2000 03:33:20 PM new
I think it would be more advisable and farsighted to offer the course for free.I doubt that seniors would pay for it anyway. I guess e-bay figures that there are many many retireees with time on their hands and gobs of stuff in their attics and basements and this would be one means of replacing those sellers lost from attrition. They might even use some of those seller dollars for bidding for things more pertinent to their present lifestyle.
buyhigh
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radh
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:12:42 PM new
rnrgroup: I agree with all the others who disagree with you, and frankly, your use of the, IMO, SENSATIONALISTIC term, "exploitation" makes it look to me like you are a very bitter unhappy miserable individual simply pathetically scratching at the very bottom of the barrel for yet another way to go *b-o-n-k-e-r-s* and bash eBay.
I find your bitter attitude becoming very tedious & boring, your assertions getting really off-the-wall, and simultaneously it is all very worrisome, as I do like you and hope that you are oKay.
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millicent_roberts
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:22:47 PM new
Is this the same as eBay U?
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twinsoft
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:23:04 PM new
Roz, maybe you should take a vacation from eBay.
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tuition44years
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:24:12 PM new
rnrgroup .. if the point you were making relates to "honesty in advertising/intent/whatever" I definately agree with you!
In my opinion, whatever they do for seniors (or anyone else) is great, PROVIDING that what they present it to be IS what it really is!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have a memory like a steel trap .. unfortunately it's rusted shut!
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pattaylor
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:27:47 PM new
Everyone,
Please remember that while AW encourages spirited debate, the Community Guidelines require that your posts be guided by basic etiquette, and that you address the topic, not the individual.
Radh, your last post comes very near the line. Please keep the requirements of the CGs in mind as you post.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Pat
[email protected]
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terinodean
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:28:54 PM new
not to change the subject.......but can someone tell me how to make these faces? Mine don't come out like that!!
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dman3
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posted on October 13, 2000 04:29:00 PM new
I think these classes sound great and as to learning the computer well with the outages ebay has these days 80% of the time they will have nothing more to do then learn how the computer works.
How ever if these classes can teach how to launch auctions and get bids during down time I might paint my head grey and take a class or two
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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radh
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posted on October 13, 2000 05:06:46 PM new
I've had plenty of criticisms about eBay in my time, but eBay giving a million dollars to assist SeniorNet ain't one of 'em.
"SeniorNet is proud to be the cornerstone Program Sponsor of eBay's Digital Opportunity for Seniors initiative aimed at bringing a million seniors online over the next five years. Learn more about this exciting project..."
http://www.seniornet.com
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buyhigh
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posted on October 13, 2000 05:42:24 PM new
If it is ok for Charles Schwab and Annunity Scout.com ( annuities by the way are BIG commission items) etc to participate why should e-Bay not get in on it? They probably have more to offer at less cost than what I saw listed. Business is business.
buyhigh
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