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EcommerceBytes-Update, Number 55 - November 17, 2001 - ISSN 1528-6703
This & That
1) eBay Changes Search Interface
By Ina Steiner
eBay launched a new Search interface on Wednesday night. "Whenever you conduct a search from anywhere on eBay, the Matching Categories box will display a list of up to three top-level categories that contain items matching your search query. Each top-level category will also show up to three sub-categories. All of these categories are ranked by the number of items found in each category."
http://pages.ebay.com/search/items/catsearch_learn.html
In the past, after searching for an item, you could click on "Search Completed Items" to view auctions that had already ended. Now you can find the same feature called "Ended Items" in the left-hand column under "Show Only."
After you do a search, here are the three main sections in the left-hand column:
BASIC SEARCH - you can further modify your search or click on "Advanced Search"
MATCHING CATEGORIES - this lists the categories that contain your search term
SHOW ONLY - "Ended Items," "Items Near Me"
While it takes some getting used to, this new search interface could be helpful. For example, if I am looking for a turkey platter, and I enter the search term "Turkey," in the left-hand column under "Matching Categories," I will see three broad categories: Collectibles, Stamps, and Pottery & Glass, with subcategories underneath.
I can click on "Housewares & Kitchenware" under Collectibles. I can definitely ignore "Stamps"!
After a few clicks on further subcategories, I can go right to "Serving Trays" and find several nice turkey platters - just what I was looking for. I was able to narrow my search to 7 items that fit my shopping needs, as opposed to scrolling through pages and pages of auctions - there were 3,902 auctions with the word "Turkey" in the headline.
This won't work for all searches, and it could backfire for some sellers who may find they need to place their auction item in multiple categories to make sure the item is found. (And eBay charges extra fees for putting items in more than one category.)
But hopefully this feature will allow buyers to find items more quickly and easily so they won't give up their search in frustration!
2) New Auction Site: AuctionSaloon.com
By Ina Steiner
From "Kountry Stores" to the "Helpin' Hands" member forum, AuctionSaloon.com provides an atmosphere of the old West to its auction site. Site owner David "Andretti" Anderson has created what he refers to as "an auction site for members, by members." The site offers free basic listings, free image hosting, free email, a free "Verified Member" program, and free chat boards.
For enhancements, the site offers various options for fees - see
http://www.auctionsaloon.com/help/fee_schedule.cfm. Users may also, at their option, purchase their own exclusive categories, Kountry stores, and their own dotcom stores. Items in all 3 options are accessible by using the site's search engine. Users are also allowed to link to their own sites, via their auctions or the site chat boards.
AuctionSaloon.com says it maintains a zero tolerance policy for deadbeat buyers & sellers, has virtually moderation-free chat boards, and has an average response time of 12 hours or less for the majority of the technical problems reported by members and staff.
3) BidBay Runs Holiday Promotion
By Ina Steiner
BidBay is giving new members 100 "BidBay Bucks" simply for registering. The special points can be used to make purchases in the "BidBay Bucks" category of the site, which lists thousands of products, ranging from toys to jewelry to sports cards. In addition to the 100 "BidBay Bucks" new users receive, all members can earn additional "Bucks" by winning online contests and through a variety of other tasks.
"We want to help those families out this holiday season that might be having a difficult time making ends meet, but they still want to give gifts to their loved ones," said BidBay CEO and Founder George Tannous. BidBay.com, founded in January 2000, says its has over 4.6 million registered users and well over one million items listings. For more information on "BidBay Bucks," visit
http://www2.bidbay.com/help/faq.cfm?id=88&rid=0.
4) OAUA Board Accepting Nominations
By Ina Steiner
The Online Auction Users Association (OAUA) Board of Directors will appoint Officers at its next meeting. All officer positions are open and consist of: Chairperson of the Board, President, Chief Operations Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President.
OAUA officers serve one-year, volunteer terms. Officers run the OAUA's dayto- day operations, under the general direction of the Board of Directors.
Nominations for officer positions will be accepted through midnight PST on November 20, 2001. Members interested in being considered for one of these positions should email secretary@auctionusers.org and include a brief description of their qualifications.
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