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We know that including photos in auction descriptions usually boosts sales, but rolling out soon is something that just might vault us to the next level of seller credibility: videos.
Inspired by a longtime interest in video technologies, Greg Ellis, founder and CEO of Auction Video Inc., perceived a need for eBay and Yahoo online auction sellers: the ability to demonstrate their products to potential buyers.
He and Kunio Toma, an experienced and successful Asian-market telecommunications developer, brainstormed and created the technology for videos that can be used within online auction descriptions. Ellis said, "We wanted to ensure that it would work well and be easy to use, so our beta testers were people who didn't like computers." According to Ellis, the beta testers loved it. Another criterion: "The auction video product had to be super cool."
A visit to http://www.auctionvideo.com shows just how super cool. Here you can watch a demo video in the same format being developed for online auctions. Locate the small but wholly practical video box, click on the blue "play" button, and, unfettered by clumpy downloads or annoying dialog boxes, watch a 60-second sample video.
Auction Video was created in 2003 and launched at eBay Live this past June. Auction Video has launched several partnerships, among them being Kompolt http://www.kompolt.com, an online auction agency. Kompolt worked with Auction Video during the Grammys in February, hoping to gauge the response from using an auction video.
"We contracted to present the Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay, and exceeded their projected price point for the N'Sync Experience," says Ellis. "Using one of our auction videos, we ran a one-minute auction for the high bidder to spend a couple hours with singer JC Chasez. The Grammys projected a $5,000 winning bid. The listing far surpassed this, closing at nearly $14,000 with 17,000 views."
So, what about online auction sellers? Auction Video plans to offer three consumer-based products.
Auction Video is their flagship product, which allows an online auction seller with a Web camera and basic microphone to be able to record, from his or her browser, a one-minute voice and video clip and with one click, transport it seamlessly into an eBay or Yahoo auction. By watching the video, a buyer can actually see the product work; for example, watch a laptop boot up before bidding on it. The videos can also be used on an eBay About Me page.
The Show & Tell service allows online auction sellers using a Mac or PC to upload from 30 to 60 digital photos into their own recording studio environment. Using a built-in or external microphone, they can record a voice narration for each picture. Then, with one click, they can upload the whole presentation to eBay or Yahoo auctions. A potential bidder can click on a little video image to play a browser-based slideshow, with no software to download or install. Customers with low bandwidth connection will appreciate this feature: the service scales down large images to maintain the high resolution.
Live Auction Video is brand new, launching in next few weeks. Since the most active part of auction is usually during the last hour, Auction Video created a product that allows the buyers to log in to the seller's live auction video via a little box image included in an auction description. Once connected, they can see and hear the seller. The potential bidder can type in questions, and the seller can monitor and answer questions in real-time. The goal, according to Ellis, is to empower the seller and reassure the buyer.
Online auction fraud control is a definite plus here. "We hope to help get rid of the fraud factor with this, so we collaborated with Escrow.com," says Ellis. "Generally speaking, criminals don't like being photographed or put on video, so as a legitimate seller you can show the eBay community that you're willing to put yourself out there and stand behind what you sell. This lends tons of credibility to the seller."
How ready are these products for eBay sellers? Auction Video is currently working with eBay in an initial rollout of their consumer-based products for Powersellers who list auctions in eBay's Coin & Collectibles and eBay Motors departments. According to Ellis, Auction Video will consult with eBay Powersellers about their individual needs, and then provide a variety of video solutions that will meet the seller's budget and expectations. Auction Video will provide professional on-site consultation and actual film shooting, if needed, to target a seller's objective.
Auction Video hopes to help online auction sellers earn the trust of their buyers, and this could translate into higher amounts paid for the items sold. I've got a dancing figurine Christmas display ready to list that I can't do justice to with a still photo. I just might take Ellis up on his trial offer to show 'em the motion.
Video Services for eBay Auctions
We found three services offering videos for eBay auctions. Here's their basic pricing, but they all offer a variety of plans.
Auction Video
http://www.auctionvideo.com
Basic Package: $9.95 a month for 1 unlimited recording room. Allows you to record as many 1 minute video clips as you need, and post them to 1 current Ebay Item, at a time. Unlimited views.
i2iAuction Videos
http://www.i2iauction.com
One sixty second streaming video to be placed in one auction for a maximum of 10 days costs $2.99, a 30-second video costs $1.99.
Video Snap from Logitech
http://videosnap.logitech.com
One video up to 60 seconds in length: $2.49 per video auction.
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