Today we are looking at basically three things:
1. A major strategic confrontation coming up that has the potential of reshaping the auction industry.
2. A very good source to feel the pulse of the online auction industry - a forum for power sellers
3. Some wider market competitors for eBay and where they stand (courtesy power sellers unite). And a short look at Bidville.
Angry eBay pulls Google adverts
Auction website eBay has pulled its US advertising from search engine giant and adversary Google.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6755789.stm
Meinhaj:
What is the bigger story here? The bigger story is that eBay and Google are going to fight each other out on Google Checkout vs. Paypal. Typically, we ebay sellers hate paying the high fees that goes with Paypal and sellers would happily shift to Google Checkout if they could. Google seems unable to come up with an ebay substitute but have successfully come up with a paypal substitute. What it now needs are auctions sites that are willing to let users use Google Checkout . Here is one opportunity, in the wider scheme of things for a company looking to make it in this market. A good reason why people would sell antiques at an alternative auction site rather than at ebay.
Power Sellers Unite
Meinhaj:
Here is a veritable gold mine for someone like me, and I actually grudge giving this website away to you fine folks. Fortunately most of you will have not read it, as we all tend to delete this kind of stuff (for my newsletter, but for my forum I hope I do better). PSU is the ultimate site to be on if you want to keep a pulse on the online auction community and the very latest of whats happening. The forums are a huge resource tool for everyone. It is also one of the ideal places to guerrilla market the your alternative auction site or any other site related to the peripherals of this industry.
Here is what the site says it is about:
PSU was “born” when eBay implemented rate increases that significantly impacted sellers large & small. The fee hikes affect buyers also, as most sellers have no choice but to pass on the eBay fees to buyers. Our focus has now shifted away from the eBay boycott in early 2005 to helping sellers, and buyers, find the best alternative auction site(s) for their needs.
PSU is a fast- growing group of online members – seasoned and new – with common goals. We enjoy a fun, fast-paced environment where all facets of e-Commerce are discussed and debated.
PSU offers site navigation tools, free auction tools, and multiple search options right from the home page!
http://www.powersellersunite.com/portal.php
Competitive Overview of the Wider Market
Here is a competitive overview of the landscape in the online auction industry, courtesy Power Sellers Unite. The Schumpeterian nature of the industry below eBay is incredible. Bidville and eCrater were below the radar just 12 months ago!
Which brings us to Bidville a very nicely designed website that still needs a good deal of work and someone like Will.
Auction site count (updates every hour) Site
Change /
%
As of
| 11,501,598 | 79697 | 0.69% | June 15, 2007 8:16 pm |
| 1,048,864 | -5791 | -0.55% | June 15, 2007 8:12 pm |
| 572,934 | 1417 | 0.25% | June 15, 2007 8:06 pm |
| 532,614 | 4246 | 0.8% | June 15, 2007 8:03 pm |
| 174,511 | 472 | 0.27% | June 15, 2007 8:09 pm |
| 151,021 | -126 | -0.08% | June 15, 2007 8:10 pm |
| 127,203 | 0 | 0% | June 15, 2007 8:07 pm |
| 94,461 | 15 | 0.02% | June 15, 2007 8:20 pm |
| 76,204 | -18213 | -23.9% | June 15, 2007 8:04 pm |
| 48,213 | -6637 | -13.77% | June 15, 2007 8:05 pm |
| 37,661 | 72 | 0.19% | June 15, 2007 8:19 pm |
| 30,771 | 615 | 2% | June 15, 2007 8:23 pm |
| 29,743 | 168 | 0.56% | June 15, 2007 8:22 pm |
| 23,384 | 1703 | 7.28% | June 15, 2007 8:14 pm |
| 18,397 | -5 | -0.03% | June 12, 2007 10:18 pm |
| 17,622 | 149 | 0.85% | June 15, 2007 8:08 pm |
| 11,402 | -558 | -4.89% | June 15, 2007 8:14 pm |
Jokes for the Week
The Stradivarius and Rembrandt
A man bought at an auction for what he thought a reasonable price for both a Stradivarius and a Rembrandt. He was very happy with them, since the price he paid was so low, for objects made by very famous people. He decided to go to an appraiser and have them officially valued. The appraiser said: "Well sir, indeed it's a Stradivarius and a Rembrandt, but it's only a pity that Stradivarius couldn't paint and Rembrandt couldn't build violins."
(Source Unknown)
The Battered T.V
A battered old television set was put up for sale at an auction. Although the auctioneer insinuated that he didn't think it would ever work, a man bid it up to $20. The man gave his bidder number as 45. Later, a woman bought an article and announced her bidder number as 45. Wanting to verify the number, the auctioneer asked if the man who bought the TV was her husband. "He was," she snapped, "before he bought that television set."
(Source Unknown)
The Horse Auction
Two idiots bought a bunch of horses at an auction, paying $100 apiece for the entire set. Then they drove to another auction and sold all their horses for the same price they had initially paid for them. After counting their money, they realized that they ended up with the same amount of money that they had started out with initially. "See!" said one, "I told you we should have bought more horses!"
(Source Unknown)
The Parrot
An unsavory antique dealer went to an auction sale and was intrigued by a large parrot that was housed in a golden cage. The bird was large, very healthy looking, and brightly colored. The dealer was so attracted to the parrot's appearance that he couldn't restrain himself from bidding on it. Every time he bidded another bidder countered and drove the price very high.
Eventually the dealer prevailed and was the winning bidder. While the dealer was at the check-out station he told the cashier that he was so excited about the parrot's appearance that he had neglected to ask if it could talk. The parrot spoke up and said, "Who do you think was bidding against you?"
(Source Unknown)
The Wallet
Bidding at a local auction was proceeding furiously, when the auctioneer received a note from an assistant, "A gentleman in this room has lost a wallet containing $10,000. If it is returned, he will pay a reward of $2,000." There was a moment's silence, and then from the back of the room came a cry, "Two Thousand Five Hundred!"
(Source Unknown)
Comfortable
Morris' and Lena's bull took sick and died, so they needed to go to the auction to buy a new one. Morris had to tend to the dairy and couldn't leave the farm, so Lena took the train to the city to buy a bull. If she was successful, she would take the train back to the farm, then she and Morris would go to town with the truck to pick up their newly purchased bull.
The bidding was furious at the livestock auction, and Lena found herself bidding on the last remaining bull. It took everything she had but ten cents, but she was finally the successful bidder. Unfortunately, the train home was 50 cents. "Please, Mr. Conductor, couldn't you make an exception just once?," pleaded Lena. "Sorry lady," he replied. "But you can send your husband a telegram to tell him your problem. The office is just down the street."
At the Telegraph Office, Lena asked, "Mister, how many words can I send to my husband for a dime?" "It's ten cents a word," the clerk answered. Lena pondered her dilemma, then finally said, "OK, here's da message: COMFORTABLE."
(Source Unknown)
http://www.magma.ca/~spider1/jokes.html
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