While dot com companies scrambled for a place within the online auction market, Mybiz http://www.mybiz.com quietly plugged the overlooked area of customer service. J.T. Fenn, director of business development for Mybiz, points out that the realm of auction management has been addressed by companies like eBud, Auctionwatch, Invenna, and the like, but creating a customer friendly ad was a gap needing to be addressed. That is why, he explains, "customer service and customer relations is our focus, our main function."
Mybiz accomplishes this through an unobtrusive four-portion toolbar inserted into auction ads or on individual Web sites that allows customers to ask questions, view the FAQs, track auctions, and become part of a seller's mailing list. (You can see a real auction listing utilizing MyBiz tools: eBay Auction Item #1107145618. Look under "description.")
The company, under the leadership of CEO John Gengarella, officially launched last November in time for the Christmas retail rush. According to Fenn, their several hundred registered users have expressed satisfaction with the product. But, one wonders, how do other facets of the online auction industry respond, namely eBay?
So far no complaints, J.T. avers, despite eBay's recent defining of their fee avoidance policies. When asked if it was possible that sellers would use Mybiz to compile mailing lists for offline business with eBay customers, Fenn responded, "Our primary concern regarding the mailing list pertains to spam mail." He added that a seller doesn't necessarily need Mybiz to compile a mailing list, and Mybiz doesn't promote anything more than making the eBay experience more enjoyable for buyers and easier for sellers. "Our target market is the powerseller," he explains, making it clear that Mybiz isn't interested in catering to the seller who wants to use a mailing list to bombard buyers with unsolicited offers.
One question on Auctionwatch's bulletin board was about the cost for using the Mybiz template. "It's free for now," Fenn answered, "and we'll always offer a free trial period, but there are plans for a modest subscription fee somewhere down the line." The cost hasn't been determined and, until it is, sellers have the opportunity to test the value of the toolbar for free. (At press time, Mybiz reported that the service would be free for at least another month.)
With so many companies aiming at the auction management market, Mybiz maintains a clear field among sellers. This foresight isn't surprising since they're part of a successful incubation network called Idealabs in which good Internet ideas are fostered, funded, and promoted. Among Idealabs successes are well-known Internet entities such as eToys.com, Netzero.com, Goto, Cooking.com, Tickets.com, PETsMART.com...well, you get the picture. There is a complete list on their Web site. "Mybiz is a separate company and is physically located in several cities including Silicon Valley," Fenn says. His own office is housed in Palo Alto, California, and he's been in the job since the company officially went online.
The overall premise of what Mybiz hopes to accomplish is nicely defined in the simple statement, "The customer is always right." Providing ways for customers to feel this way and for sellers to develop a more professional persona is their dual goal. "Sellers, like powersellers, are really small businesses," Fenn claims. The Mybiz toolbar helps facilitate ways for a small business to carry out customer service in the most expedient way possible. So far, no one seems to disagree.
Mybiz seems to have an opportunity to find a place in the powerseller business structure, and as of now it's free. With a deal like that, you can't lose if you sample it. Who knows, you might make some customers happy!
NOTE: To leave a rating or to review MyBiz in the Online Yellow Pages directory, go to http://www.auctionbytes.com/bin/bizdirectory/biz-dir-search.pl?query=978296492
