AuctionBytes-Update Number 40 - June 17, 2001 - ISSN 1528-6703

AuctionBytes-Update is a free newsletter for online auction buyers and sellers. Read reviews of online-auction products and services, tips on being more efficient, and information about antiques and collectibles. AuctionBytes-Update is published by email twice a month. (Print it out for easier reading.)

***************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) From the Editor
2) Wireless Auctions for Road Warriors
3) This & That
4) The Book Site Shuffle - Two Used-Book Portals Launch
5) COLLECTOR'S CORNER
6) Newsflash
7) Letters to the Editor
***************************************

1) FROM THE EDITOR

David held down the fort last week while I traveled to San Antonio on business. Needless to say, I visited the antiques/collectibles part of town on Broadway and Houston streets near the historic Alamo. There was an excellent selection of goods, and I picked up an Encylopedia of Collectibles from the 1970s in one of the shops.

The Menger Hotel, next to the Alamo, is a real "Wild West" hotel. There were display cases in the lobby with antiques and some ephemera from the 1800s, including ledgers that guests had signed! Some famous guests that stayed at the Menger include Robert E. Lee, Teddy Roosevelt, Mae West, Roy Rogers, and John Wayne.

It was a long plane trip, so I brought a book with me. "Sotheby's - Bidding for Class" by Robert Lacey outlines the history of auctions going back to the 1700s. I highly recommend this book. It reminded me that the true "auctioneers" of the electronic age are the online auction sellers, not the auction sites themselves.

Before going to San Antonio, David and I were guests on the Collecting Channel's "Ask the Experts" on June 6th. A transcript of the live chat can be found at < http://beta.collectingchannel.com/?page=real/chatTrans2>. We enjoyed the chance to chat about auctions and thank our host Ron McCoy and his excellent support team.

Newsflash, our daily email newsletter (also free), has been breaking some interesting stories lately. We were the first to report on the TIAS pricing study that showed that their sellers were realizing lower prices on eBay in the antiques and collectibles areas.

We were also the first to report that the Eppraisals service run by auctioneer Leslie Hindman had stopped operating. If you don't already subscribe to Newsflash, you can sign up by sending a blank email to: auctionflash-subscribe@topica.com

I received several interesting letters from readers in the past two weeks. They raise some excellent points. Be sure and read them at the end of the newsletter.

Thanks for reading!

Ina Steiner, Editor
email: ina@auctionbytes.com

=======================================
"Who could say no to increased sales every month?"

Find success with advanced Auction tools
coupled with affordable Storefronts-
Unlimited auction posting and closing, automatic
relisting and fee retrieval, image hosting, counters, and more!

Click for details: http://www.zoovy.com/track.cgi?P=auctionbyt
================================Advertisement=======

***************************************
***************************************
2) Wireless Auctions for Road Warriors
by David Steiner

We all have stories about passing up items that could have netted us hundreds of dollars in profit. Most of us who get our inventory from estate sales, yard sales and auctions have occasions when we get a 'feeling' about an item. If only we had a little more information before handing over our money for the item! Well, how about checking prices online, on location?

The Wireless Web is beginning to creep into the online auction world, slowly, but surely. Although it's not yet commonplace, some rumblings can be heard in auction forums about wireless modems, laptops and PDAs that may become as much a part of the Saturday morning yard sale artillery as road maps, classified sections and coffee.

So, what are your options for plugging into the Wireless Web, what are the costs associated with it, what's available for you on the Wireless Web, and most importantly, is it worthwhile? The answers, in order: lots; depends; not much, and we'll see.

PDAs
If you're familiar with Palm Pilots, Handspring Visors, or any of the other Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) that Wall-Street-types have their noses buried in, you may wonder why anyone would be so intent on ruining their eyesight staring at a little 3" x 2-1/2" screen. The answer: mobility. Not only can you keep track of inventory, addresses and appointments using a PDA, you can also attach a wireless modem to some models and have access to your email and the Internet on the go.

The "Wireless Web" is essentially a stripped down version of the Internet. Images are almost non-existent; text rules the day. Some PDAs require you to learn a new language called Graffiti unless you invest in a folding keyboard. Connections are slow as well.

However, an Internet-enabled PDA can be a real boon at an auction where a well-written auction catalog can give you enough search terms to pull up specific closed auctions on eBay. Checking the selling history of an item can give you a good idea of what your spending limit should be. The biggest disadvantage to using a wireless PDA to check prices on eBay (besides the cost) is that there are no images associated with auctions. You can call up a list of current or completed auctions using your PDA, but you'll be trying to identify a "mystery item" by going on auction descriptions alone.

One way to get around that problem is to get a HandSpring Visor PDA, a modem module ($300) and camera module ($99-$199). You could then take a picture of the item in question (granted it might come across a little strange at a yard sale or auction); attach it to an email using a $15 software package such as Eyemodule (available for purchase at http://www.handango.com ); and send the picture to someone who can either identify it for you or look it up online. Pain in the neck? You bet! Worth the hassle? Probably not.

Web Accessible Cellular Phones
Think of WAP mobile phones as smaller versions of a Palm Pilot. Instead of using a stylus to write graffiti for navigation, you three-tap the phone pad to type in URL names. It takes a LOT of tapping. Mobile-phone users should probably expect to have TMI (Text Messaging Injury) in their thumbs within 5 years. Phone users access the same wireless Web pages as PDAs. The big advantage to using a Web-accessible phone is that they are inconspicuous and travel well. The biggest disadvantages are the screen size, which only allows you to see a few lines of text at a time, and the poor input system.

Wireless Laptops
If you already own a laptop computer and a cell phone, you may be two-thirds of the way there already. If your service is digital and you own a cellular phone that accepts a wireless modem, you may get away with spending as little as $70 for a modem to hook your laptop up to your cell phone. This option has some benefits as well as a few drawbacks.

The big benefit to a wireless laptop is that you are able to access Web Sites in their entirety. You aren't limited by the "stripped down" version of the Web that you encounter on wireless devices. Not only can you see closed auctions on a wireless laptop, you can see the images of auction items as well. This is great when you're not quite sure what it is that you're trying to identify. The drawback is that you're carrying around a fairly large piece of equipment that might draw attention if you're running back to your vehicle to check prices every 5 minutes.

Costs of Wireless Web Access
Costs vary depending on many factors. A PDA can cost you $200-300 on up, depending on manufacturer. Wireless modems are close to $300 as well, but there may be discounts if you sign up with a wireless service at the same time you purchase your modem. A wireless service such as Omnisky will run about $40/month.

A Web-enabled phone can be as little as $49 (or even less) when you sign a 1 or 2 year contract with a service provider such as Verizon or Cingular. Most service providers have outlet stores where you can try out Web-enabled phones to see if they're right for you and get more pricing information. You might also ask if the phone you're interested in accepts a wireless modem that you can attach to a laptop. Verizon sells a wireless modem for $70, so if you find that accessing the Web on a cell phone is not for you, you still have the option of hooking up your laptop to the Web using your cell phone.

Wireless Auction Sites
Now that you're outfitted like Terminator II and you can take your artillery out in the field, is there anything worthwhile to see? Yahoo Auctions has a wireless-enabled site <http://mobile.yahoo.com/auctions> that looks just like their regular auction site when viewed on a desktop browser. eBay has a stripped down version of their Site at <http://mmm.ebay.com >. The eBay site will give you a better idea of what your wireless display will look like when you access it wirelessly. Both sites allow you to view the status of your auctions, search closed auctions by title, and bid. Yahoo even offers access to PayDirect so that you can bid on an auction and pay for it before you hit your driveway.

Other sites are also planning wireless sites. Bidville and BidBay plan to launch theirs later this year, and ePier is targeting the second quarter of next year to have a wireless-accessible site in operation.

Conclusions
Now that I've thoroughly confused you by telling you what's available and how much it will cost to make you a Wireless Road Warrior, is it worthwhile? If you're a computer geek, like I am, it's as much an issue of staying current with technology as it is a matter of practicality. It may also be a tax deduction if you use it for your business.

Don't assume that you'll be cruising around the Internet at light-speed, either. If you're used to a cable or DSL connection, waiting for a page to load on a wireless device can be excruciating. There are definitely times, however, when accessing eBay from the road has made a decision about a buying opportunity much easier.

There is one other, more mobile, much lighter and FREE piece of equipment that I haven't mentioned yet. Your brain. The more knowledgeable you become about this business, the more instinct you develop about the market value of items, and the less need you'll have to carry peripheral equipment around.

***************************************
***************************************
3) THIS & THAT

Infopia Releases Marketplace Manager 3.0 with Artificial Intelligence

Infopia released version 3.0 of Marketplace Manager, an inventory management software program for online marketplaces. The new version uses artificial intelligence (AI) to "learn" where and when to sell inventory. The program helps merchants by determining which products should be listed and in which marketplaces. A company spokesman said that 60% of Infopia merchants' sales come from marketplaces other than eBay, Yahoo, and Amazon, and that its merchants are seeing 150% more sales than merchants who sell exclusively on the big three. Pricing is outlined on the Web site at <http://www.infopia.com/pricing.html >

******
PayPal Revises Privacy Policy

PayPal announced that it will institute a new privacy policy for its online payment service. The new policy states that the company will disclose to other PayPal customers the number of payments a user has received from Verified PayPal customers, or "other aggregate measures that provide an indication of that user's reputation with other PayPal customers."
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/privacy-outside

***************************************
***************************************
4) The Book Site Shuffle - Two Used-Book Portals Launch
by Edith Reynolds

Amidst the merging, closings, and reconfigurations within the online used book market, two new used book portals have launched. Tomfolio.com and Usedbookcentral.com are going toe to toe with giants like Amazon.com and B&N.com, as well as the independently owned granddaddy site Abe.com.

TOMFOLIO.COM
Tomfolio.com is a co-op site in which members can buy a share for $500. The parent site, ABookCoOp holds the shares, and the monthly fees paid by members for listing books covers the costs, with the potential to offer owners discounts when and if the site acquires surplus revenue.

Among the benefits offered by this site, other than ownership, is online credit card processing, the ability to list paper items, and the promise of no middleman making a decision to sell the site to larger companies.

Current President of the Co-Op, Jerry Parma, sells used books from San Diego, CA, and was enthusiastic about the site, as was publicity chairman Steve Erickson. "The site is growing quickly," beams Parma. "We are approaching a million books and have over 100 members."

ELandis.com developed this site for founding members Barbara E. Lightner, JoAnn Lewis, Bill Lewis, Edward Y. Hopkins, and the Co-Op's treasurer Anton Martinich. The Co-Op itself was formed in Wisconsin, a state friendly to this business model.

Tomfolio.com plans a rigorous advertising campaign in FIRSTS magazine and have themselves included in the listings for Addall. (They currently are included in the listings for bookfinder.com.)

USEDBOOKCENTRAL.COM
Not surprisingly, a good idea usually doesn't happen in a vacuum. Robert Moore, who owns an independent bookstore The Book Depot and < http://www.oregonbooks.com>, longed for the simplicity and efficiency of a site like his favorite, Bibliofind.com. His solution was to turn to Dick Harte to collaborate on Usedbookcentral.com.

Harte is a good friend of Bibliofind's creator, Michael Seltzer, and developed Booksite.com, a click 'n mortar commerce site for independent bookstores selling new books. Booksite.com differs from Bibliofind in that it targets sellers of new books and allows members to link and advertise their own particular sites. Bibliofind was a portal that matched buyers and sellers of books and then stepped aside.

"Amazon.com had become my biggest competitor," Moore complained. With his locale being a rural territory along the Oregon/California border, online sales meant making or breaking his company. And while Harte's Booksite.com addressed one facet of his business, new books, Bibliofind assisted the used-book portion. "There are two reasons why I pursued this idea. One was that Bibliofind, a site I used for researching and selling, was going away, and, two, Abe.com was getting into a direction I didn't like, adding additional stuff and becoming a middleman."

"I decided I had to come up with something simple and fast." While Bibliofind was purchased by Amazon.com some time ago, it was being liquidated in favor of Amazon's zShops. The costs for listing, the commissions, and the restrictions on shipping costs made the next phase of the former Bibliofind unpalatable.

Moore turned to his friend Dick Harte for help. "We became friends," he admits, "though we live 2500 miles apart and never met face to face."

Harte's response was to agree, saying it's possible that Moore may be quite ugly. "I never even saw a picture of him," he laughed. The camaraderie between the two and their agreement on the importance of business owners retaining their independence is apparent.

Harte had the programmers who developed Booksite.com modify the original program to accommodate used books. Moore was instrumental in seeing that the Bibliofind model for ease and speed was included. A couple of weeks later, Usedbookcentral.com was launched. To date there are 80 dealers and 400,000 titles listed.

Harte praised the programming team. "The technical people did marvelous things" and continue to tweak and improve. Recently Usedbookcentral was configured to accept Homebase programs, the kind many abe.com members prefer. Advertising efforts are under way, with more than 6,000 emails having been sent. An article also appeared in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

The motto of Usedbookcentral.com has been touted as "We're going to earn our market share, not buy it." Both men feel that the model to follow, again, is the one that formed Bibliofind's success - dealers liked the program. And for dealers to like a program, it had to be simple, work well, and work fast. What Harte has found in embracing the used book market was discovering another group like his independent new book sellers, a feisty accumulation of people who stood up to the changes the Internet brought and didn't run for cover.

When asked if the "big guns" have had any response to the emergence of two new sites, both groups replied no. Perhaps this is because the corporate radar hasn't yet picked them up. When asked what the difference was between the two newcomers, Harte thought a moment and answered. "People have to purchase a co-op interest in the other site and that means a fluctuating hierarchy. I wish them well, but there's room for more than one in this industry."

No one said that ecommerce development was easy. But thanks to Tomfolio and Usedbookcentral, book sellers now have a choice.

And who knows, one day perhaps Moore and Harte will meet in person.
---
Edith Reynolds is a former newspaper and magazine writer. She and her husband Dan own an antiquarian bookstore, The John Bale Book Company, in Waterbury, CT. For the past nine years, they have specialized in early Americana and rare bindings. They are members of the ABAA - Antiquarian Booksellers of America Association, ILAB - International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, IOBA - International Online Booksellers Association, and OAUA - Online Auction Users Association. Edith manages online sales. In addition to their bookstore, they sell on eBay and at book fairs. Visit Edith's Web sites, <http://www.taxter.com> and <http://www.usiana.com>. eBay IDs: TAXTER , TAXTER2 , TAXTER3 , USIANA , BALEBOOKS.

=======================================

THE PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO MAKING A LIVING ON EBAY

Tired of the so called money-making CD's and other nonsense
selling on eBay? The eBay Power Seller's Manual is a
professionally produced, printed instruction manual designed
to take eBay sellers to the Power Seller level.
Money-back guarantee.
http://www.auction-sellers-resource.com

================================Advertisement=======

***************************************
***************************************

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AUCTION FORECAST:

David's auction forecast calls for a mixed day for Sunday, June 17, 2001:
5-day auction: Fair
7-day auction: Good
10-day auction: Bad

Click here for an extended auction forecast:
<http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/calendar/calendar.ht ml>
Bookmark it!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@
Recommend AuctionBytes-Update to a friend! Forward this complete issue to
them, or go to
http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/Recommend/recomm end.html
and fill out the short form. A sample issue will automatically be sent to
your friend with a note from us (and you can add a note too).
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@

***************************************
***************************************
5) COLLECTOR'S CORNER

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
by Michele Alice

I must admit that, with the exception of Dr. Who, I really haven't given much thought to UK television sci-fi. In fact, it was not until the death of Douglas Adams on May 11th of this year that I recalled the humorously quirky "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." (Quick! What is the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything? You'll find the answer at the end.)

Adams was the author of the hugely successful book upon which the television series was based. (Actually, it was Hitchhiker's success first as a BBC radio series in 1978 that led to the novel and its four sequels.* The TV series premiered in 1981.) A prolific sci-fi humorist, Adams was also the creator, among other things, of two books about Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and of Starship Titanic, a CD-ROM game released in 1998.

Adams' universe generated a limited number of collectibles--primarily books, tapes, and games--and these are all selling briskly on the Internet. (Of 429 completed eBay auctions on 06.14.01, over 95% had sold.) Of special interest are signed first edition hardback books (naturally) and, most surprisingly, first edition British paperbacks, with some of the latter selling for up to $50+ depending on condition!

Other sought-after items include a box of trading cards that went for $23.63, an LP that sold for $34, and a set of four Hitchhiker's audio-book CD's read by Adams himself that garnered a final bid of $91.

So, what would Adams' answer be to all of this? Why, 42, of course. It's the answer to everything!

*The sequels were The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything; So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish; and Mostly Harmless.

Related Web Sites:

GREAT sci-fi bibliographic resource!
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Lot/2976/SF2-intro.html

The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Appreciation Society. Membership, news, merchandise, more!
http://www.zz9.org

Douglas Adams' site
http://www.douglasadams.com

Official BBC Web site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide

In their report on Adams' death, ABC News mentions that a motion picture version of Hitchhiker's Guide is presently in development at Disney.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DailyNews/adams010514.html

Books:
Clute, John and Peter Nicholls. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/031213486X/auctionbyt escom >

Clute, John and John Grant. The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999.
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312198698/auctionbyte scom >

Gerani, Gary and Paul H. Schulman. Fantastic Television. New York: Harmony Books, 1977.
Out of print, but available on the secondary market.
---
Michele Alice is AuctionBytes-Update Contributing Editor and is a freelance writer in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. She collects books, science fiction memorabilia and more. Email her at makalice@adelphia.net eBay ID: Malice9

=======================================
SIMPLE SHIPPING SOLUTIONS!
Simple enough to figure out how to ship a beanie baby, but what about
that grandfather clock? Let CRATERS & FREIGHTERS be your ONE-STOP-SHOP
for specialty crating, packaging, and shipping of your auction items! We
offer full-insurance coverage, door-to-door pick up and delivery.

Get a free eQuote today:
http://www.cratersandfreighters.com/cgi-bin/gocf.cgi?ref=4MGSJ
or call toll-free: 1-800-736-3335
================================Advertisement=======

***************************************
***************************************
6) Newsflash Highlights
See Web Site for Full Details and Continuous Coverage
Go to <http://www.auctionbytes.com > and click on Newsflash.

June 15, 2001
eBay Backpedals on Pricing Stance
ePier Adds Feature, Experiences DSA
Online Fraud Continues
eBay University
FarmFrenzy.com Banner Advertises Users' Auctions

June 14, 2001
eBay Changes Requirement for New Sellers
Fake Honus Wagner Baseball Draws $20,000 in Bids
Keep Your Mouse Happy

June 13, 2001
Half.com Rolls Out Price Patrol
Auctionweiser Introduces New Link Exchange Program

June 12, 2001
Introducing: Ebay Stores
BidVille Revises Feedback System
EBay Enhances Non-Paying Bidder Program

June 11, 2001
California Man Pleads Guilty to Internet Fraud
New Kid on the Auction Block

June 8, 2001 - PayPal "Simply" Increases Fees
Eppraisals: Out of Business
Authorities Drop Auction-Fraud Charges

June 7, 2001
eBay Addresses ReturnBuy Policy Violations
Moooove Over, eBay, Yahoo and Amazon Auctions - Farm Frenzy Is Here
eWanted Announces Online Book Selling System
eBay Inks Deal withTerra Lycos

June 6, 2001
TIAS Reports 39% Drop on eBay Prices
Chat Live with AuctionBytes Founders Ina & David Steiner - TONIGHT!
BidBay Signs Deal with GoTo.com
Zoovy eCommerce Software Suite Available
Online Scammer Strikes Again

June 5, 2001
eBay Playing Field Not So Level?
AuctionWorks Announces Price Increase Effective July 1, 2001
AuctionWatch Experiences Technical Difficulties

June 4, 2001
ePier Begins Fee-Based Member Verification Process
BidVille Readying New Bulk Loader
Yahoo Says Sell-Through Has Improved on Its Auction Site
Clock Runs Out for eBay's Seller's Assistant Software
eBay Offers Seminars on Selling and Fraud Protection
eBay Sets Aside Stock for Future Acquisitions
The Falling Price of Online Collectibles

BE SURE AND VISIT OUR WEB SITE FOR COMPLETE DAILY AUCTION NEWS!
The "Newsflash" column brings you DAILY online auction news. Go to
<http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/newsflash/newsflas h.html > for the
latest online auction news and announcements.

AND NOW YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWSFLASH VIA EMAIL!
Send a blank email to: auctionflash-subscribe@topica.com

***************************************
***************************************
7) Letters to the Editor

CLARIFICATION ON EBAY'S COMPLETED SEARCH POLICY

Dear Ina,
FYI, I just wanted to inform AuctionBytes about EBay's new Completed Items Search policy. I believe their new policy represents a disservice to Ebay users who wish to research past completed data, whether it is to help a buyer determine how much to bid on an auction item, or a seller to determine how much to set a beginning bid on an item. I received the following explanation today to my inquiry:
"Thank you for asking about the completed items search feature. There has been no change in the completed item search feature. Though it may be possible to view a specific ended item by item number for up to 90 days the completed item search indexing process is still limited to 16 days.
"The reason you were not able to find this item is because the records for auctions that have closed more than 20 days ago are no longer available. These records are removed from the Completed Search database in order to conserve system resources."
I hope Ebay will reconsider their policy.
Sincerely,
W.

Dear W.,
I asked eBay for clarification on their Completed Items Search policy. Here's what they said:
"The change in the completed items search function dates back to the early 1999. A statement was posted on the announcements board at the time. The changes were made to accommodate member usage patterns and storage. As the site grew, eBay members were utilizing the search resources more for the open listings and proportionately less for closed listings. As transactions increased, the storage demands for closed listings increased ("...conserve system resources...")
"Closed items may be retrieved for up to 90 days if a user has the item number of the listing. Otherwise, the search function will be limited to 20 days."

Completed searches show whether items sold and the prices at which buyers were willing to pay for items. This is valuable information for auction buyers and sellers, and I hope that eBay will invest in technology that will allow them to make this information available.

I've asked eBay in the past whether they plan to make available (or sell) the completed search data. An eBay spokesperson told me that they recognize the value of the data, but they have to focus on their top priorities.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Ina
**********
SELLER DISTRESSED OVER EBAY STOREFRONTS

Dear Ina,
I do not know if others write you, please no share my name or email. My money depends on eBay and I fear they kick me off then I have no sales. I am sending this letter to you and others in hope you will share with others.

I am not from USA please excuse my bad english. I am eBay seller, I sell on eBay for many 4 years. I see many changes happen to eBay service. I remember when no one have feedback over 100 but that is low now most have 1000 I have many more 2137. I hear eBay stop many users who fight with them, I am scared.

In June eBay made new rule to stop link to website which sold things that eBay did not get paid. eBay told sellers it help by make higher bid prices, but we all knew it would only make us pay eBay more money. I used to sell other things I buy from my website, but I stop link to my website and did what eBay ask so we all play by rules.

eBay today in forum announced it start selling stores. It is unfair, I already have website and learn build webpage why do I need to buy from eBay? My current website is good, it always work, and it free!!! EBay always broke, my website even work on Friday mornings when eBay broke every week but I do not get many sale then, but my website works!!! eBay has many problem, I do not want eBay problem in my store. I do not make much money and I can not afford to keep my website and pay eBay and eBay probably have new rules that say no same product in both stores. eBay is try to make me pay them too much.

I talk to a friend of mine who is judge, she tell me I need to write the Federal Trade Comission. She say eBay not play fair to her. I am citizen but never talk to, I go to website www.ftc.gov and call phone this morning but they said they would do nothing unless they got many other calls. So I ask you to share the word about what eBay is doing is wrong. It is bad for sellers it is bad for buyers because sellers will have to sell eBay way only. All sellers must please call 877-382-4357 please call now!!!

thank you.
S.


Dear S.,
First, many people fear using their names in fear of retaliation by eBay. I have no reason to think that eBay is vindictive in any way. In fact, I welcome a response from eBay to your letter.

Many auction sellers feel that eBay is putting them in between "a rock and a hard place," to use an American expression. You may be interested in a recent article that appeared in eCommerce Times that brings up the issue of eBay and censorship. "The problem is that when censorship starts, it always starts at the fringe. No one believes that their own speech will be curtailed -- until it is." ("Imagine a Web with No Links" <http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/?id=9868>)

eBay's claims that off-site transactions hurt their bottom line are absurd. Selling on auction sites is extremely time-consuming, and sellers hit a wall where they can't possibly sell any more items on auction sites. If sellers worked hard to build a business and a good reputation, why shouldn't they sell off-site? It may be the only way they can survive. It doesn't make sense to choke your own customers out of business.

There's plenty of business to go around, and it works both ways. eBay didn't become number one from its advertising efforts; word of mouth and links from member sites made and continues to make eBay popular. In addition, the eBay community stuck by eBay when it had continual disruptive (and well-documented) technical problems.

If eBay is simply an "auction hall," then why shouldn't sellers be allowed to have businesses outside of eBay? Real life auctioneers act independently of the auction hall they rent, and the auction catalogs I read have the auctioneer's contact information plastered on the cover. Auction sellers pay eBay "rent" and they should not have the doors locked from the outside.

There are REAL PEOPLE who count on eBay sales to make a living or supplement their income. I hope eBay and ALL other auction sites will remember that and will treat sellers as important customers.

Ina

**********

SELLER SHARES SOME MARKETING TIPS

Dear Ina,
I do something that has made a difference in return traffic to my auctions. Once a week I send a thank you note to every person who sent me positive feedback during the previous week. I use the signature function on my email (for all my automatic correspondence) to click through the feedback I don't use a subject, just this:

"Thank you for the great feedback........I hope we meet again on eBay......best wishes, Franci at ---"

And the other thing I do that people really like is I use old wallpaper to wrap my packages.....I get them at garage sales for nickels and dimes and not only do my customers like it, my postal clerk is charmed.....
You are welcome to pass these on......

Best wishes,
Franci

Dear Franci,
Thanks for sharing those valuable tips!
Ina

***************************************
***************************************
AUCTIONBYTES.COM SPONSORS

Craters & Freighters
http://www.cratersandfreighters.com/cgi-bin/gocf.cgi?ref=4MGSJ

BidBay.com
http://www2.bidbay.com/registration/index.cfm?reg=985479528

Zoovy.com
http://www.zoovy.com/track.cgi?P=auctionbyt

Channel Fusion
http://auctions.goto.com/AM/Default.asp?gnjse=2

Vision-0ne
http://www.123wholesaleresources.com

****************************************************** ************************
Please use the AuctionBytes Yellow Pages when you are shopping for supplies and
services for online auctions and collectibles!
< http://www.online-auction-directory.com>
****************************************************** ************************

AuctionBytes-Update ISSN 1528-6703
AUCTIONBYTES.COM CONTACT INFORMATION
Editorial: ina@auctionbytes.com
Advertising: advert@auctionbytes.com or 508-655-5697
Letters, Comments, Suggestions: feedback@auctionbytes.com
Want to Write for AuctionBytes-Update? Go to http://www.auctionbytes.com and
click on "write for us" to view author guidelines. If you are interested, send
email to ina@auctionbytes.com.

Ina Steiner, Editor, Publisher and Co-founder: ina@auctionbytes.com
David Steiner, Webmaster, Technical Editor, President and Co-founder:
dsteiner@auctionbytes.com
Michele Alice, Contributing Editor
AuctionBytes.com
c/o Steiner Associates
PO Box 668
Natick, MA 01760
508-655-5697
-----------------
Thank you for subscribing to AuctionBytes-Update. AuctionBytes-Update email newsletter may be freely distributed in its entirety, so please pass it on. (Individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or distributed without written permission of the publisher.)

The Fine Print:
No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Steiner Associates makes diligent efforts to obtain accurate and timely information. However, Steiner Associates disclaims any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in AuctionBytes-Update, whether or not such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. Scratch scratch.