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EcommerceBytes-Update, Number 42 - July 14, 2001 - ISSN 1528-6703
This & That
1) Invenna to Cease Operations September 1st
By David Steiner
Auction management software company Invenna, creators of AuctionAmigo, announced that it will cease most operations on September 1, 2001. According to Invenna, several reasons combined to force the decision: an unforeseen revenue drop, continued losses, increasing amount of resources required to keep up with eBay changes, the resulting support, and an inability to retain unpaid employees. In a statement to its users, Invenna stated "Email support for AuctionAmigo paid users will continue through August 1st, 2001. We will strive to keep updating to eBay's ongoing changes until September 1st."
Invenna has made special arrangements with ChannelFusion and Auctiva to provide a deep discount or extended trial of their auction management systems for all paid users of Auction Amigo Pro. For more information on the shutdown, visit: http://www.invenna.com/support/transition_faq.htm.
2) New England Guide to Shows & Auctions
By Ina Steiner
Here's Maine Antique Digest's online calendar of shows and auctions.
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/other/shoauc.htm
3) Half.com Glitch for Hotmail Users
By Ina Steiner
Some Hotmail email users have not been receiving email messages from Half.com. Half.com has determined that the "Inbox Protector" in Hotmail may be the cause of the problem. The "Inbox Protector" is an option within Hotmail that filters incoming messages and is filtering out Half.com's automated email messages.
Half.com's recommmended fix:
From your Hotmail account, click "Options" and then click "Inbox Protector" under "Mail Handling". There is a safe list option at the bottom of the Inbox Protector Option. In the left window, under Safe List, type Half.com and click "Add". Then, click OK to save the changes.
In the meantime, you may want to check your "Bulk Mail" folder.
4) An Artist's Plea to eBay
By Ina Steiner
AuctionBytes reader John Seed is an artist and art professor. He created a consortium of artists who sell their work on eBay. The "ebsq" group sells in excess of $50,000 worth of art monthly on eBay. John wrote me and asked if I would publish his opinion piece about eBay. We decided it would be easier to post it to his Web site and provide a link.
John has written a thoughtful and intelligent essay on what he thinks eBay is doing wrong and how they can correct it.
eBay's Mistakes
1) eBay has forgotten its roots
2) Who is most important to eBay's success? It's the Sellers, Stupid!
3) eBay is guilty of excessive hubris (arrogance)
What eBay Should Do to Fix those Mistakes
1) eBay needs to cajole, support, and nurture communities of sellers who present unique, handmade, and collectible items.
2) eBay needs to allow linking from auction listings.
3) eBay needs to listen to sellers.
This is an interesting read if you care about the future of the online auction industry. And if you have any friends at eBay, be sure and send it to them!
You can find the essay here: http://www.johnseed.com/ebay.html
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