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EcommerceBytes-Update, Number 98 - July 13, 2003 - ISSN 1528-6703

This & That: Online Auction Roundup
1) eBay Introduces New Item Page
By Ina Steiner

Reminder: AuctionBytes does not endorse the products and services featured in the "This & That" column, which often features new companies. Fraud is becoming widespread in the online auction world, and you should think twice before giving private information or User IDs and passwords to any third party.

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As previously announced, eBay introduced a new design on the Item Page (the listing page, which you see if you click on an auction title) http://pages.ebay.com/viewitem/preview. Many sellers dislike the new format and cited several concerns: the page is too wide, and there is too much blank space. On some users' printers, the item number does not print out fully when printing in portrait mode, something eBay said it would fix in the coming weeks.

In addition, sellers were upset that the space available at the top of the page for photos (called Photo Preview) could only be used for eBay's Picture Services photos. Sellers hosting their own photos could not use the spot, which remains a large blank space if sellers choose not to use the eBay photo service. To compound the problem, sellers using software to automate their auctions could not automatically use the new Photo Preview feature; it is not yet compatible with the eBay API. Software vendors faced angry customers who are forced to go in and manually add photos using the eBay service if they want to take advantage of the "above the fold" placement.

Two days after launching the new design, eBay said it will enhance the Photo Preview feature to allow self-hosted images, but it may take several months.

We're interested in what you think of eBay's new Item Page design, and are taking an informal poll at http://tinyurl.com/gsrk

2) New Auction Site Launches for Model Railroad Enthusiasts
By Ina Steiner

Model Railroad Auctions is a new auction site dedicated exclusively to the Model Railroad enthusiast. Russell Cox of Cox Technology Associates (CTA) founded the site and said he has "no illusions about Model Railroad Auctions competing head on with the "Big" auction sites, however we have identified an area of specific interest that will benefit from features related to Model Railroading exclusively." The site offers free basic listings and free relists; has categories specific to the Model Railroad community; and sniping is eliminated with a dynamic auction ending time. Auctions are extended for 5 minutes each time a bid is placed in the closing 5 minutes of an auction. "Volume Sellers who will help us build a portfolio of auctions to attract new members should contact us about custom flat-fee billing plans," said Cox. http://www.mrrauctions.com

3) How Vulnerable are You to Fraud?
By Ina Steiner

Do you have a credit-card merchant account? Take a quiz to see how vulnerable you are to fraud. http://www.merchantriskcouncil.org/fraud.php

4) Post a Whacky Item Pic; Win a Free Online Appraisal!
By Ina Steiner

This week, we are running a contest in our forums. Post a picture and short description in our forums of the whackiest thing you've ever bought or sold online, and you'll have a chance to win a free appraisal from WhatsItWorthtoYou.com (http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com).

The deadline for posting your picture is Midnight (EST), Friday, July 25th. The winner will be announced in the next issue of AuctionBytes-Update. Post your picture at http://tinyurl.com/gsqy.

5) Possible Postal Strike in Canada
By Ina Steiner

Thanks to Franci who posted an alert in the forums that the Canadian Post may be facing a strike on July 18. "http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5381";http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5381 or http://tinyurl.com/gsl4

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All other use is prohibited.
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