tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post8683596387832079855..comments2008-06-23T14:00:33.727-07:00Randy Smythehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271958472975660101rksmythe@yahoo.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-28576447951729705812008-06-23T14:00:33.727-07:002008-06-23T14:00:33.727-07:00ebay.com<BR/>ebuy.com<BR/>estores.com<BR/><BR/><BR/>And don't go telling me how the domain is already registered elsewhere! Money bought Skype, less money can buy whatever is needed.<BR/><BR/>Also, you didn't ask for it, but here's my opinion about the one thing that ebay would STILL need even if they broke-out the divisions:<BR/><BR/>contract out to Google to design a search engine for the sites. It would be awesome! and if it sucked, we'd be no worse off than we are today.Tony P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-47395746947417775532008-06-23T13:46:26.066-07:002008-06-23T13:46:26.066-07:00Why can't it be split up but still under one roof....like Overstock?ms.pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09605816120834631344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-5466130079586484762008-06-23T10:02:31.477-07:002008-06-23T10:02:31.477-07:00Remember the 1995 Microsoft campaign, "Where do you want to Go?"<BR/><BR/>Why not have a splash page at ebay login, asking exactly the same thing.<BR/><BR/>Or, do like Google's "Im feeling lucky"... two 'Go' buttons next to one search box- one for retail, one for auctions.<BR/><BR/>Then the Johns AND Randys can both be happy.<BR/><BR/>"<I>If pressed</I>" I opt for the Randy perception of eBay. Nobody ever said "I'm gonna eBay this" and then put it up fixed price at retail. To 'ebay' means, to Auction!permacrisisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-45813114738446985832008-06-23T06:40:45.861-07:002008-06-23T06:40:45.861-07:00John,<BR/><BR/>One more thing about the new Fixed Price Marketplace. The choice they have made now will just end up marginalizing the whole eBay marketplace.<BR/><BR/>There are ways to make this work, but first they need to be willing to consider them.<BR/><BR/>eBay's brand is and always will be about the unique, hard-to-find, collectible, or vintage item. They are fighting a losing battle trying to morph it into something else.Randy Smythehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271958472975660101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-29031916270968978652008-06-23T06:13:01.117-07:002008-06-23T06:13:01.117-07:00John, the eBay brand is the problem. Buyers hear eBay and they think of fraud, collectibles and garage sale product. How are you going to really grow a retail site with the name eBay attached to it.<BR/><BR/>I think they would be better off buying an existing site like Buy.com and turning it into their Fixed price platform.<BR/><BR/>Roo, eBay mangers don't believe you can separate the elements without killing some business. They are of the same belief as John that it is a dumb idea.Randy Smythehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271958472975660101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-15979507025061145512008-06-23T02:24:35.257-07:002008-06-23T02:24:35.257-07:00Randy, <BR/><BR/>I agree with you, but you left out some of the other ill-fitted stuff like Motors, classifieds, and real estate. Frankenbay needs to be divided up into it's logical parts.<BR/><BR/>There was a time when the single platform strategy had synergy. You came to the site for a car part, but found something for your kitty - and then toyed with a time share in Mexico.<BR/><BR/>But, the one-platform issues are having a strangling effect on Stores and Fixed Price in the face of competition. What is ironic about this is that despite the superior buyer experience on Amazon, the seller experience on Amazon is certainly not advanced or optimal. Amazon is winning the Indy 500 on a tricycle!<BR/><BR/>Did anyone from eBay respond favorably to the idea of breaking up the site when you spoke to them?<BR/><BR/>rooroonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-10568886581906227732008-06-22T22:08:02.749-07:002008-06-22T22:08:02.749-07:00Your suggestion is to separate the fixed price format entirely, and give up the 10+ years of branding behind the eBay name and set this up on a new site?<BR/><BR/>That would be trying to "out-amazon Amazon". That's a terrible idea.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-71237005395032519522008-06-22T21:04:56.347-07:002008-06-22T21:04:56.347-07:00Aaron,<BR/><BR/>You don't have to worry about them offering me a job. I just hope they take my suggestion for the sake of the sellers who are left.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous, I am resistant to the Dark Side!Randy Smythehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271958472975660101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-6756779524179978992008-06-22T18:26:21.130-07:002008-06-22T18:26:21.130-07:00I have to agree. I deal only in the arts category and that category begs to be auctioned - but in the right way. Sales will slump there when ebay beats the arts listings into its new dead and dry catalog listings. Its already causing the category harm and lost sales with stupid best match...how in the world one can apply it to a group of paintings is kind of beyond me. Result is a few of the big powerseller artists are doing better than ever - but they never needed the push they get from best match. Each has a following they can't completely serve now. The small fry - as with other categories - are pushed to the back. I should get a nickel for each time a buyer has said "I stumbled over your listing - do you list regularly?" No...only every day for the past 10 years :-( So, yes, I agree some auctions are needed....but levi jeans T-shirts, etc. can all be fixed price far as I'm concerned.<BR/><BR/>www.ACEOart.netms.pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09605816120834631344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-67206292358216862782008-06-22T17:56:17.617-07:002008-06-22T17:56:17.617-07:00OMG they would Griff-ify that boy so fast youd think he was Richard Brewer Hay. No one can resist the power of the dark side.<BR/><BR/>Plus the $120K don't hurt, either...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35530817.post-8045543351107114762008-06-22T11:36:37.659-07:002008-06-22T11:36:37.659-07:00And if eBay was really smart, they would hire YOU as an independent consultant.<BR/><BR/>Not likely perhaps, but if they did, don't take the job. After all, the only thing less steady than having an eBay business these days would be working for them!Aaronnoreply@blogger.com