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Auctionbytes-Update, Number 131 - November 21, 2004 - ISSN 1528-6703
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From the Editor By Ina Steiner
AuctionBytes.com November 21, 2004
We missed the announcement of a milestone in AuctionBytes history last issue. Our 130th issue also marked our 5th year of publishing AuctionBytes. In five years, we've not only published 130 issues of AuctionBytes-Update (not counting this one), but 894 issues of AuctionBytes-NewsFlash. There are nearly 8,000 articles archived on our site dating back to 1999, and they give an interesting perspective on the online auction industry over that period. If you're feeling nostalgic, you can go to http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu and scan through the issues of AB-U by year.
In today's issue, David reveals the result of our recent survey of readers on the topic of eBay's feedback system.
Feedback is always a concern for online-auction sellers. eBay set up a system for buyers and sellers to rate their trading partners to help people overcome their fear of fraud. Nine years later, fraud still exists, and the feedback system is far-from-perfect.
But it's buyers and sellers who live with the consequences, and your comments and shared experiences shed light on the problems and challenges of living with issues like retaliatory feedback and feedback extortion.
We also set up a discussion forum on our site for people to further discuss feedback (there's a link at the bottom of David's article). Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey.
We have a great issue today, with stories about iOffer, Fast Photos, Bidville Stores, as well as Letters from Readers and our auction roundup (be sure and check out the report of a new flat-rate Priority Mail box from the USPS). And today's Collector's Corner column takes a look at fountain pens. Thanks to our talented writers for doing a great job, as always!
About the author:
Ina Steiner is Editor of AuctionBytes.com and author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). She has a background in marketing and research in the high-tech and publishing fields. If you have story ideas, comments or questions, send them to ina@auctionbytes.com .
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