mrpotatoheadd
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posted on September 19, 2001 10:59:44 AM new
AuctionBytes has learned that AuctionWatch, an eBay Preferred Provider of auction management services, has made substantial layoffs within the past 72 hours. AuctionWatch President Rodrigo Sales confirmed the layoffs, putting the number at "fewer than 50%".
Sales said AuctionWatch will discontinue its efforts in the enterprise market. It will instead focus on the tools and services for individual sellers, power sellers and small businesses, an area that he said continues to generate strong revenues for the company.
AuctionWatch will no longer update its "News & Information" feature on its Web site. Sales said they are still evaluating whether to continue their discussion forums. He would not confirm the number of people that AuctionWatch employs, nor the exact number of people laid off.
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kiawok
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:06:27 AM new
Oh my .......
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ashlandtrader
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:09:22 AM new
That's terrible! I am very sorry to hear that.
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kolonel22
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:16:11 AM new
This is terrible news. AW has one of the best discussion forums going.
More bad news to deal with 
Health & happiness
"The Colonel"
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quickdraw29
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:35:58 AM new
I would think the discussion boards would stay because of the traffic it generates.
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RainyBear
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:43:18 AM new
Ack!!!!!
Discontinue the discussion forums? That would be a huge bummer. This is the best place on the web to discuss eBay and other online auctions, and the information I've learned here has been invaluable.
We'd have to set up our own forum somewhere else, would we not? I'd be willing to volunteer some web space. But let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Hang in there, AW!
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Meya
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:46:49 AM new
Perhaps a Fee to use the boards is in the works? Heaven forbid...
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ebaypowersellergold
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posted on September 19, 2001 11:51:12 AM new
You knew that signing up for that expensive "eBay preferred provider" program & API interface was a bad move. I'm sure they're reaping HUGE benefits from that as we speak... (LOL)
Sorry that it will affect the "good people" (& maybe discussion boards) at AW. The one that should leave is the one who agreed to pay all the $$'s to eBay (and took the eBay listings out of the search.) That was the beginning of the end! Sorry to see my prediction of a "short remaining life span" for AW coming true, but that one was a "no brainer" IMHO.
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gina50
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posted on September 19, 2001 12:00:17 PM new
Oh Nooooooooooooo
Gees, just found this message center a few months ago and I LOVE IT ........ first place I go to everyday for info ..... have learned so much without having to bother anyone.
Our news radio station says to check in 2 3 4 times a day and that is what i do here 
Pleaseeeeeeeee don't go !!
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REAMOND
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posted on September 19, 2001 12:02:29 PM new
Those companies that were "moving" towards profitability or expansion before 9-11-01 are now faced with a much worse economy than before.
I don't what else they will be able to do but lay off and shut down. If General Electric falls 30%, these weaker companies don't stand a chance for funding or expansion.
AW moving out of the "enterprise" business was probably necessary. It should also be seen as what is going on at eBay regarding the "enterprise" business and revenue growth.
AW has basically defined its business as what it has been doing, so without the prospect of high growth areas, cost cutting and contaction is the name of the game.
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jeanyu
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posted on September 19, 2001 12:13:25 PM new
AW say it ain;t so! The freedom of your boards has been a lifesaver when dealing with eBay and its problems.
Been booted off of AW, came back, been booted off AW again, came back. Why--because the opinions expressed here do not impact my eBay auctions.
There is a need for a disinterested forum where we eBay sellers and buyers can let off steam.
If you discontinue the boards, I am not too terribly surprised. Its a dog eat dog business and that great old "community" love fest was soon to go corporate. You too.
Good luck AW in the future. You were a lifeline to me 2 1/2 years ago. I would have never been able to survive the beginning bombardment of learning the computer and on line selling if not for you.
And just as an afterthought, do not forget the Web TV users that have remained true and steadfast. They use their work arounds, they pay their fees to you. They support you!
I'm not sure where you are headed, but please don't forget the past. It has been one wild ride.
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bob
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posted on September 19, 2001 12:19:24 PM new
The internet is over, folks- go home and re-engage the real world.
The only things that will survive are yahoo, amazon and ebay, at least on a grand commercial scale.
Sucks.
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REAMOND
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posted on September 19, 2001 12:41:49 PM new
Better have a look at Amazon's stock before you include them in that group.
Unprofitable dot coms, no matter how large are going under.
The chance for competing companies to buy these profitless companies is low too, as their own stocks are taking a beating, even ebay.
Speculation for future growth in revenues and profits are gone no matter what the business is.
We are on a precipice of economic contraction most people have never seen before.
Some of the stock analysts are blaming "rumor mongers" for the market falling. What did they call them when they were spreading rumors for the market going up - "Market Analysts".
[ edited by REAMOND on Sep 19, 2001 12:42 PM ]
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Eventer
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posted on September 19, 2001 12:59:42 PM new
OUCH! While I didn't use the AW services because I already had my own setup, I would sincerely miss many of the members of the AW discussion boards.
There's nothing to compare to it anywhere.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on September 19, 2001 01:02:12 PM new
Yes- where else can you find shipping and feedback discussions with as much regularity? 
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Eventer
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posted on September 19, 2001 01:18:24 PM new
Really and at NO additional cost or handling either!
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petertdavis
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posted on September 19, 2001 01:37:22 PM new
I was trying to think of some reason that AW should keep the Message Center, but couldn't. I'm trained to think of businesses in a financial sense, as in "where's the revenue". Well, the revenue ain't here, that's for sure.
Even if a couple of hundred people that regularly participate were willing to pay, it wouldn't be worth it. Ten bucks a month, times two hundred, wouldn't even pay for a single employee, let alone the hardware and bandwidth that it takes to keep this up and running. And let's face it, would YOU really be willing to pay ten bucks a month for a message board? Even one as good as this one?
So, if I was the financial advisor to AW, I'd definately have the boards on the chopping block.
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robnzak
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posted on September 19, 2001 01:41:10 PM new
I'll be in sad shape if we lose the forums...where else can one get such minty information?
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MurphyBird
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posted on September 19, 2001 01:42:36 PM new
ok, I have to ask... What do they mean by "enterprise" business?
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nefish
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posted on September 19, 2001 01:48:23 PM new
where else can one get such minty information?
LOLOLOLOL!
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Eventer
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:10:45 PM new
Nah, the information here is more antique-like.
Then again, maybe I'm just thinking about pattaylor. 
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gs4
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:20:01 PM new
Now for only 49.99 per month, this can be yours.
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pattaylor
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:23:43 PM new
Then again, maybe I'm just thinking about pattaylor.
Me, antique? Never!
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Eventer
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:27:43 PM new
Well, gosh, pattaylor. I'm just reporting what the OTHER moderators tell me.
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dman3
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:31:46 PM new
Some of the doom saters I seen inthis thread are the rumor mungers.
as far as the day of computers being over that is big miss imformation that person must be liveing on a different planet because long long before wall street had any interest in the web it stood on its own with out big investors.
yahoo and ebay both started on there way with out any IPO and many others as well.
The sad part of all of this is that this attack and war thirty days from now will seem like a distant memoryand before January the market will be kicking big time again anyone who bails now will just be makeing room for the new shift in the wealth in this country.
The markets right now are such a buyer market that I see a whole new group of day traders poping up in the days and weeks to come.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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jeanyu
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:50:08 PM new
Dear dman3--hope you are right. And this is so much fluff.
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CoolTom-07
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:52:41 PM new
Maybe they can sell ads in that big blank space under our names (the more longwinded of us would rake in the commissions)...
Although one drawback would be that --juxtaposed to my usual well thought out, brilliant and erudite epistle -- could be an advert for a penis enlargement creme...
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icyu
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:53:54 PM new
doom saters and rumor mungers??
Thanks for the best laugh I've had all week
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Meya
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posted on September 19, 2001 02:56:33 PM new
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on September 19, 2001 03:24:24 PM new
I agree. It would be quite a shame to loose the discussion boards here. However, there are other great discussion boards out there.
You just need to know where to look! (wish I could say more.... but due to the community guidelines I can not). As far as the seller services go... it could actually be a good thing. It looks as if they are cutting back on other departments so that they
can improve their service & development of the tools & services for sellers.
I was one of the many who took the leap and signed up for the $200.00 yearly
plan. I have not been disapointed so far... and am fairly confident that
Auctionwatch will strive to do the best they can for their community. They
have always had some of the nicest, helpful, and honest people working for
them. It will be very sad to see some of them go.
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