In issue #17, we wrote about targeted banner ads on eBay's search pages ("Not a Banner Day for eBay" - http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/17/17.html#banner). An example of a targeted banner ad: If you search for "drill" on eBay, a banner ad comes up advertising OurHouse.com, a partner of Ace Hardware. eBay sellers felt these targeted ads were in direct competition with their auctions. Well, it seems like this issue is back in the spotlight.
One of our astute readers wrote to us that if you do a search for Ken Griffey Jr. on eBay, an ad banner comes up with Junior's image and a link to Athletesdirect.com, which sells collectibles in its store. We discovered the same thing happens when you type in the name of Red Sox Player Nomar Garciaparra (but with the Nomar's image).
We discovered on Broadband Sports Web site (owners of AthletesDirect.com), the following: "AthletesDirect's partnership with eBay, the world's largest online trading community, gives athletes a valuable platform to provide one-of-a-kind memorabilia items in an auction format to the online world at large. AthletesDirect retains a continuous placement on the front of eBay's sports collectibles page with links to the various pages featuring AthletesDirect's athletes and sports personalities."
This is still a hot topic and we'll be following it closely. You can also log onto http://www.millionauctionmarch.com, a newly formed organization that closely follows these kinds of issues.
You can also vote in our survey at http://www.auctionbytes.com and leave a message in our chat forum to register your opinion.
