Claude,
C'mon... you know no one is saying that eBay wasn't a great thing went it
started... and for many years after that. But ever since they grew out of
control, went public and started issuing stock they have been implementing
a *lot* of bad policy while at the same time aiding and abetting fraud just to
keep those fees rollin' in. They complain that people are putting too
much in their eBay stores and not doing enough regular auctions -- well, nobody
put a gun to their head and forced them to create eBay stores in the first
place, did they? It's their own fault this has happened and it is exactly what
myself and many others predicted would happen when they introduced the stores
concept. We all know that today's eBay is not the eBay of even 5 years ago
-- and that's what people are complaining about.
I disagree that specialty sites don't bring in new buyers -- they not only
can and do, but they are more likely to bring in quality buyers. Yeah, eBay
brings new buyers into movie posters... and most of them expect to get $50
posters.
Sure, people have made good money on eBay and continue to do so, but that
doesn't mean they are above criticism.
-- JR
----- Original Message -----
From: Claude Litton
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 15:35
Subject: Re: [MOPO] stop eBay Bashi ng and CQout ways to use it for
your benefit This is another ebay bashi ng session which is nothing but nonsense
carping without proper perspective. Why can't you get it through your
heads that ebay was a brilliant conception that changed the way we obtain movie
posters. It has allowed collectors like myself to amass an amazing
collection, something totally unattainable in the past with only MCW, shows and
auctions. It has shown us what posters are truly rare and which ones are
out there in large quantities. It has given us a true picture of what
posters are worth and not what people say they are worth.
For dealers, it has also been fabulous. If it really is so
bad why are all the major dealers on ebay? Why are all the auction houses
using "live" ebay in lieu of their little live auction in a small place?
Bruce, Heritage, Morrie, etc. never had it as good. They are selling more
than ever. Bruce just stated on the back cover of MCW that his consignments are
tremendous.
There are more collectors than ever before and it is because of
people searching for items on ebay and finding movie posters and getting
hooked.
I can go on and on but the point is basically that ebay has been
very good for the hobby and will continue to get more people into the
hobby. A specialized site will never displace ebay because it does not
develop new collectors. Ebay is a business and a company which must
satisfy stockholders. They are always striving to improve the business
model and you should also strive to improve your way of doing business.
Isn't this why you signed on to ebay to begin with? If ebay does not want
you to inflate shipping charges by including insurance, then make
insurance an extra mandatory charge. If the store prices are too high then
hold auctions. Stop blaming ebay for your inability to sell $5 posters for
$50 like you used to do in the old days. While I do not care for some of
ebay's policies I search each day for posters and am very happy ebay came on the
scene.
Claude Litton
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