kolonel22
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posted on September 23, 2001 12:36:25 PM new
I’M CONVINCED eBAY'S AUCTIONS FOR AMERICA IS COMPETING WITH MY AUCTIONS
Not that my little experiment is scientific by any means but I am now convinced that eBay’s Auctions for America is competing with regular sales.
I listed three identical items under eBay’s Auctions for America . I started the bidding at $19.95, which is $10.00 more than I normally sell this particular item for. I included a Buy It Now on all three auctions for $24.95 which if sold under BIN would make the sale $15.00 more than it normally sells for. A fourth identical item was listed without participating in eBay’s Auctions for America program. It started out with the $19.95 starting bid as the other three and includes a BIN for $24.95.
The first of these three Auctions For America items was listed September 20th. It was purchased under Buy It Now for $24.95 that same day. The second Auctions For America item was listed shortly after the first one sold. It was listed with a starting bid of $19.95 and a Buy It Now of $24.95 just like the first one. It also closed shortly after it was listed. The third Auctions For America item was listed as soon as I was notified the second item sold and it almost immediately received a bid. In fact it has since received three bids and is now up to $20.50
I decided to list a forth time but this time not under the Auctions for America program. I listed it with the same starting bid of $19.95 and BIN for $24.95
The forth item hasn’t received a single bid, not one. Three of the same items listed under Auctions for America sold almost immediately after each listing. Selling at $15.00 more than I normally sell them for. The forth hasn’t had a bite and it has been listed for three days now.
I am convinced people are looking at these Auctions for America listings first. Probably to help the cause and get a “bargain” without paying shipping. Well my three auctions weren’t a bargain for anyone. Not with the higher than normal starting bids they were listed at and the higher than normal BIN prices that two of these auctions brought. I am convinced now that these auction will and are interfering with sellers and if this type of buyer mentality continues a lot of us sellers are going to be in trouble.
I for one am not going to list any additional items under Auctions for America. They have received enough from me plus I have given to several other charities since the 11th to the point where I have given enough until sales start getting better since my income is derived from eBay and Half.com.
What do you think? Think eBay’s Auctions for America is competition? Is it hurting your sales any? Or is this totally unprofessional, unscientific experiment way out of line and not showing what is really going on?
Health & Happiness
“The Colonel
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tomwiii
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posted on September 23, 2001 02:22:28 PM new
You is RIGHT ON!!
I have 45 auctions running now:
38 regular = 3 (count dem! 3 lousey bids!)
7 AFA = 6 (!!) have bids!
I'm fearing a wipe-out! Ah well! I just hit 1000 total pos FB sans NEG nor NEUT and after this batch ends in 10 days, I'm out of feeBay for at least a month!
Thank goodness this is just fun for me -- if I depended on this moola like a lot of yowse folks, I'd be VERY WORRIED right now! 
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Coonr
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posted on September 23, 2001 02:32:02 PM new
Take a look at eBays home page and you may find part of the answer..... a newbie is much more likely to wind up seeing ONLY AFA auctions.
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CAgrrl
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posted on September 23, 2001 02:42:51 PM new
There is no doubt in my mind that AFA is serious competition for regular auctions. Ebay is really putting the spotlight on the AFA effort. I don't plan to participate in AFA and would prefer to make straightforward donations to charities of my own choosing, so this whole thing is leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
It's back to yahoo auctions for me this month and next. I may still list a little on ebay too but I'm definitely planning to be diversified in my venues of choice for the holidays this year.
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cariad
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:13:53 PM new
In my opinion you haven't made a reasonable comparison, since you inflated the starting bid of your regular auction. Start it at the price you normally do, with a buy it now of what it normally sells for, then if it doesn't sell, assuming it is always a sure sell, you might suspect that AFA has affected it.
cariad
comma queen
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krazykeri
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:17:09 PM new
Well I had 11 auctions end today with one sale for $3.00. I lost money- I have never lost money before. First time in over 2000 transaction and 2 years of selling. If it isn't the A4A competing I don't know what it is! I had Baby Gaps, Gymboree outfits etc up for sale- all best sellers. AMAZING!!!
Keri's still crazy- but now she's getting mad.....
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:45:08 PM new
tomwiii. I agree with your comments, as I am also a fun seller. But as I cannot list in A4A, will keep to low key selling.
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Triggerfish
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:48:29 PM new
Well, all you have to do is run a search for anything...pick something and do a search on ebay. You will see the AFA ones have zillions of bids on them and many are selling for WAY above retail while the same items have little or no bids with lower starting bids. I've been noticing that for days now.
I just bought an item for less than $40 on a regular auction from a very good seller and I see a whole bunch of the EXACT SAME THING listed under AFA that have 10 to 20 bids on each and are going for up to $250. This item is not worth anywhere near $250, but more like the price that I paid on a regular ebay auction...
Edited to add: Therefore, I will not be listing much on ebay for awhile. I'm just grateful that I don't need the money as many do. It really ticks me off, though, to know this will be going on through Christmas and I'm quite certain it will hurt most people's incomes drastically!
[ edited by Triggerfish on Sep 23, 2001 03:50 PM ]
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lifesablur
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:50:27 PM new
So when is this A4A over?? I understand the reasoning behind it, but this isn't just "giving to charity"... as has been noted above, A4A is INTERFERING with my regular auctions.
I am not participating in A4A because I already sent a sizable donation to the Red Cross.
Now I must sit and wait for A4A to end before I can get back to business.
My wife wants this stuff out of our house. Now I have to explain to her it will be a few more months.
AAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!!!
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theredcircle
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:51:35 PM new
I have never understood the belief that just because something has sold before, it will sell again, or just because something sells for a certain price once, it will reach that price again.
I've learned never to rely on anything that involves sales...unless you are selling utility services, you haven't got a guarantee that any money is coming in (and even with utilities you can never be sure).
AFA just happens to be the latest camel that people are loading their complaints onto...perhaps less time complaining and more time trying to find something else to sell?
----
TRC
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StormThinker
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posted on September 23, 2001 03:55:31 PM new
cariad,
The Colonel's comparison couldn't possibly be more reasonable. All 4 auctions were for the identical price and the identical merchandise. What is unreasonable about that?
The Colonel's statement about the previous market value of the item is not actually relevant. In theory, an item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. And 3 people were willing to pay good money for the charity auctions of this item. So it must be worth that much. If you assert that his item is *not* worth $25, then that just goes to prove that he can't compete with the charity items even if his regular auctions are significantly cheaper.
The results of his experiment are directly contrary to your assertion that AFA status has no effect on bidding. In fact, they show that people are willing to pay considerably more for the charity item than a comparable "for profit" item. And by extension, it proves that lowering your price to offset the free shipping etc is *not* sufficient to compel bidder to bid on auctions of a greedy capitalist pig who's just trying to feed his family.
It would be nice if those praising the AFA program would actually examine the facts from an objective and unbiased viewpoint -- instead of using "what about the victims" to justify each and every "good" idea, no matter how absurd. The AFA supporters support their twisted logic by saying that "1 + 1 + THE VICTIMS = 7". By this new math, any and every equation will always balance by adding THE VICTIMS to one side or the other, like so: "$1 + $1 + THE VICTIMS = $99M". The AFA supporters seem to forget that eBay sellers are victims too if their families starve and they can't pay the mortgage. And in the end, 1 + 1 still equals 2, no matter how well intentioned the person claiming that it equals 7.
It doesn't matter how "good" the charity cause is if the program puts as many people into the poor house as it helps on the other end. You are just trading the victimization of one person for the victimization of another. How any sane person can call this a "good" thing is a mystery to me.
eBay came up with this AFA program not to help the victims, but to help their stock price. Anyone who says otherwise is just blind to the facts of the situation. If eBay had truly wanted to help the victims, they would have matched the donations from their community. And do not forget that the $1M they put up did not actually come from eBay corporate, but from a separate legal corporate entity known as the eBay Foundation. eBay themselves (the for profit corporation) donated absolutely nothing other than the money in their seller's pockets.
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thewholenineyards
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posted on September 23, 2001 04:23:36 PM new
I put up 9 auctions last night in the A4A, items I had multiple relisted in my own auctions for several cycles, never had bids, nothing. FOUR of them in the A4A have bids tonight, 2 of them with multiple bids.
I'm guessing A4A gets more "views".
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tree411
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posted on September 23, 2001 04:28:43 PM new
~StormThinker~ I sure to like to read your posts. You have put into words so many times my feeling, my fears of what this is all about. I thank you again for helping me follow my heart. You have become somewhat of a guiding light to me "The Small Seller". The one that isn't in the AFA program and the one that has no bids. I have stumbled with so much as most all people in the world have. I hurt for those that lost. I wanted to go back to work just like we have been urged to, but for me the "small ebay seller". Something went dreadfully wrong. My sales went to next to nothing. My auctions were being left out from where the major e-bay trafic that I depended on was. I struggled to understand how I could help. How I could fiT the AFA auctions in. I even tried 2 days in a row but the page wouldn't allow me to move forward. I finally gave up and in this whole process I found that if I would have listed AFA it would have been me giving with my palm up. I would have tried to give the 100%+ that the program was asking to in hopes that my regular auctions would get looks and hits. I found that in the end I have great shame in this fact that I was willing to give to this charity in hopes that I should gain. My little e-bay business may crumble but I am glad that my lord helped my see in my heart that it is better my business fail then it is for me to ever hope for profit from those that have died and the families left behind. StormThinker keep the candle glowing so I have something to guide me in these dark times. Cindy !!!
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little500
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posted on September 23, 2001 04:31:21 PM new
<i>If eBay had truly wanted to help the victims, they would have matched the donations from their community.</i>
This statement is the actual bottom line of the entire A4A deal. I think that someone at eBay said that they should do something and by the time sales, marketing and everyone else got done we got A4A.
It is one thing to encourage your members to help, but it is different when "help" is a convoluted scheme that has helping victims be tied to some strict rules that do more to help eBay's bottom line than anything else. Making people do BillPoint and having sellers eat the shipping charges is plain unfair. I'm also waiting for Meg to get up and take credit for all the donations and give some limp-wristed thanks to the actual people who gave the money.
I learned a long time ago, that when donating to any cause, find the organization that is the closest to the actual victims. That way you know that your donation will have the greatest benefit to those in need. The thing that sucks the most is that most buyers will think: "God Bless eBay" when they should be saying "God Bless those eBay sellers"
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cariad
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posted on September 23, 2001 05:06:21 PM new
Stormthinker,
First, off topic, I agree with those who cite your posts as very relevant, and based on sound logical reasoning.
And to make my own position clear...I am no fan of AFA. In fact I fear they may be disasterous for most sellers. I don't believe ebay's motives were pure and I have no faith that they would attempt to rescue their own sellers from financial ruin. Those who would have us all----not speaking just of ebay sellers here-- give until it hurts are asking for the ruin of our economy. A one week fundraiser would have been a nice gesture..... allowing sellers and buyers to designate aportion of proceeds would have been best.
To have this publicity,er,fund drive last 100 days is equivalent to putting the weight of that 100 million on the backs of the sellers.....never mind the shady billpoint requirement and the absolute fact that the absolute most you can take tax deduction wise is the $2 you paid for that $400 widget...if the IRS will even allow that!!
But you and I both know that most people will bid sky high when they are determined to help a charity fundraiser. Only a few determined collectors will bid through the roof on a regular auction. My issue remains that you can't use an inflated asking price for a common item not being earmarked for charity as a valid reason to claim harm. It is an arguable claim that dilutes the impact of far more sound and logical arguments such as those you and others have made.
cariad
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MAH645
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posted on September 23, 2001 06:15:34 PM new
Its hurting my sales.I'm going to cut way back and post alot of my auctions somewhere else until after Christmas.Can't see throwing away money for little results.E-Bay has screwed us this year for Christmas.
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jadejim
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posted on September 23, 2001 06:31:28 PM new
My Sunday auctions just ended at the most dismal prices I've ever seen--is it A4A OR fears about the economy?
This is primarily fun for me but I do need to make my investment back and I don't mind having a few bucks profit. I lost a lot this evening and am fearful about the other auctions that I have running.
Won't be starting with the holiday listings yet I can see. And if this keeps up, I can just keep the stuff here or at the B&M until the pace returns to normal. I simply refuse to give the stuff away that I worked so hard to accumulate.
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jubilee333
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posted on September 23, 2001 06:34:36 PM new
B&M?
Sorry, probably a REALLY stupid question but I'm brand new around here... 
Jubilee
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on September 23, 2001 06:45:42 PM new
Who are the Independent Trustees for A4A?
The World Trade Center Disaster Fund is a registered charity No. 1088442. Registered office: 7th Floor, Bank Buildings, Princes Street, London, EC2R 8EU. The trustees are Lord Levene of Portsoken, Chairman of IFSL and Vice-Chairman of Deutsche Bank and former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Edward George, Governor of the Bank of England and Peter Mimpriss, a senior partner of Allen & Overy.
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jadejim
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posted on September 23, 2001 07:03:11 PM new
B&M= Brick & Mortar--in other words a store where people come to shop.
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tomwiii
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posted on September 23, 2001 07:09:39 PM new
Not only are my regular auctions NOT getting BIDS, they ain't even getting even PAGE VIEWS -- and these are all proven HOT-SELLERS, while the AFA are all THREE-TIME-LOSERS!
Folks...if ya do this for a living, I'd seriously wake up & smell the horse-pucky that feeBay just delivered to you for Xmas dinner
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packer
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posted on September 23, 2001 07:23:58 PM new
I know one thing for sure. I can't hold out for 100 DAYS of this.
All of us here on the boards know what were up against and I think hoping for it to fizzle out and get back to normal is not going to happen.
As there are Millions who don't HAVE A CLUE about eBays motives and probably could care less. They are the type that will give till it hurts and feel good about it.
AND...You know the buyers sure in the heck don't care as they are looking for the best deal. Another thing that bugs me is that eBay is not even making it clear to the Buyer that the Seller pays the shipping cost.
Heck...they probably think that its included in their bid.
Nope.....We are in for a 100 DAYS OF HELL.
With winter coming just the thought of having to get out in the below zero whether to a RL job just bugs the sh*t outta me.
DEEP HEAVY SIGH
packer
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MAH645
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posted on September 23, 2001 07:32:46 PM new
Packer I agree with you. I got the funny feeling after this A4A crap is over with that E-Bay will never be the same again.Pass me the Help Wanted ads when ya get done with it.
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kolonel22
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posted on September 23, 2001 07:46:37 PM new
Are these people out of their minds? To get an example of how people are almost hypnotically attracted to bidding on Auctions for America type in WTC and search on either current or completed auctions. You will see bids for POSTCARDS with a picture of the WTC on them that went as high as $150.00+ dollars.
I sure wish eBay could have come up with a marketing tool like this to help their sellers. It would put us all in a position of wealth and success beyond our dreams.
Health & happiness
"The Colonel"
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Triggerfish
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posted on September 23, 2001 08:05:20 PM new
It's a sad state of affairs that ebay is perfectly willing to put many sellers out of business in the name of PR throughout the season that would be most profitable.
I had some great things I was looking forward to listing this season. Some things that wouldn't otherwise be found and I am reduced to just keeping them til next season.
BUT STILL, my heart goes out to those who needed the income and I will support all of them/us any way possible.
This is B.S. what ebay is doing and I hope it comes back to bite them in the butt!
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on September 23, 2001 08:48:19 PM new
Sorry to repeat my question, but I have not had a reply.
Who are the Independent Trustees for A4A?
The World Trade Center Disaster Fund is a registered charity No. 1088442. Registered office: 7th Floor, Bank Buildings, Princes Street, London, EC2R 8EU. The trustees are Lord Levene of Portsoken, Chairman of IFSL and Vice-Chairman of Deutsche Bank and former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Edward George, Governor of the Bank of England and Peter Mimpriss, a senior partner of Allen & Overy.
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kolonel22
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posted on September 24, 2001 11:24:23 AM new
bump
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llama_lady
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posted on September 24, 2001 11:53:33 AM new
I wasn't going to respond to this, but I have been thinking a lot about all of the collections going on. I realize the people (and I am assuming all the money is going to the victim's families) need help. Some of the people were single parents, some left very large families (5-7 children) and perhaps their life insurance will not be enough or they had none. There has been approximately 350 Million dollars collected at this point in time. That is a lot of money. My question is - who is going to make sure it goes to the right people and not to the overhead? I donated, but am not comfortable with a few having free rein with that amount (and more) of money. Now to my point. Is this collection of money beginning to be detrimental to other people who need to making a living like those who sell on ebay? I truly believe it is. I believe in giving of both my time and money, but when it begins to hurt my family that is the time when I have to stop. My heart goes out to the families, but I have to think of my own family too. For those who depend on ebay as a living, will there be someone to help you out if you fail to meet your obligations?- give your children free college education? a large amount of money to subsist? I bet not. Some of you may think I am horrible, but I am being realistic. Oh yes, the A4A has affected my auctions very much, but I am fortunate I am not dependent upon the earnings of ebay to meet my bills. When this is all said and done, I would like to think that everyone who donated items to sell would have their name mentioned on the check that ebay will be forwarding. Sadly, though they probably will be long forgotten.
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myonecent
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posted on September 24, 2001 01:40:56 PM new
there is a post over on ebay A4A board----
EBAY JUST DONATED MY LIVELIHOOD !
Couldn't have said it better myself!
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kolonel22
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posted on September 24, 2001 02:18:52 PM new
If things weren't bad enough now the United States Postal Service is advertising ebay's Auction for America on their front page of their web site.
Check this out. Go to: www.usps.com click on - Find a Way to Help eBay's Auction for America.
I can understand the U.S. Postal Service promoting this. It means more packages being mailed, more money orders ect. but I don't really feel out tax money shoul dbe used in this way to promote a business that will do nothing but profit from all this in the end.
health & happiness
"The Colonel"
[ edited by kolonel22 on Sep 24, 2001 02:26 PM ]
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