eBay Search Tools (Vivisimo & GoHook)

Ina · Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Posts: 452 Location: Massachusetts, USA

AuctionBytes will be writing about two search tools, Vivisimo and GoHook, in Sunday's issue (2/22/04).

After reading the article:

What do you think about these tools? Do you think you will use them? How could they be better?

kjp55 · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies

Well, Ina......

I just did a basic search using GoHook for Elvis. Looks like this is nothing more than a glorified eBay search engine to me. Out of 17 pages of results returned, all items found were eBay items.

Unless they're going to include all online auctions, I see no point in using it. Also, there are no advanced features set up yet, like comparison shopping tables. Also looks like the ads in the right-hand column have most likely been given away for free to eBay Power Sellers (for now anyway).

This site looks just like another Google site. Is it backed by Google? If not, the logo is sure to cause some controversy. And they state searches are free until Jan 2005. They'd better add some more features before I would ever think of paying for it.

The only good thing I found is that they archive the completed results for several years. I guess this could be a good factor but one year would probably suffice in this biz.

Last comment. Search engine states it was Searching 147,176 completed auctions when I did my search. There are millions of completed auctions in a given month. This figure really confuses me.

Ina · Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Posts: 452 Location: Massachusetts, USA

Great comments. GoHook is trying to attract sellers on all auction sites, so far they've gotten some eBay powersellers. And no, the owner said they are not affiliated with Google.

I'll add a link when the article about GoHook goes live tomorrow (Sunday).

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kjp55 · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies

OK, now for Vivisimo.

I love the layout and ease of use. The cluster feature is cool, as well. But....... they are only allowing up to 500 returned results in a search for the word 'elvis' ? Now, we know that just ain't (excuse my French) so. I'm assuming this is just a beta test compilation?

Also, they have included the phantom 'search by number of bids' option. Great tool!

Downfalls I see. Another glorified eBay-only search tool. No comparison tables. No completed auction search that I could find.

Would I use this service to search eBay. Probably. Would I pay for the service? Probably not. Same info, except for the number of bids thing, is available for free on eBay searches.

I know what will happen next!

eBay will see all of these pay-per-view search engines and start charging us for the use of their search engine. I can see it now. They've already made it so you have to enter your username and password before you can view a 'completed auctions' search. Now, why would they go and do a thing like that? Hmmmmm?

Ina · Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Posts: 452 Location: Massachusetts, USA

Here are links to the articles:

Vivisimo
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y204/m02/abu0113/s02

GoHook
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y204/m02/abu0113/s03

BTW, anyone who likes these articles and doesn't already subscribe to AuctionBytes newsletters might want to sign up on the home page http://www.auctionbytes.com

Okay, what do you think of these search tools, do they have all the features you need?
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Ina Steiner, AuctionBytes.com

auctionetics · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Omaha, NE

The Vivísimo eBay search was nothing usefull in my opinion. Yes it does allow you to search by category or search by auctions with 33 bids, but what good does that really do you? You can already rank auctions by price or by category on eBay.

The problem with Vivísimo that I think needs to be fixed is the fact that you can only que one search category at a time. Like you said in the newsletter, to be able to search by number of bids highest to lowest in the XYZ categoy at this price.

-Gene

quiltsnbeyond · Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: San Carlos, CA

I did a basic search on vivisimo and I found it very useful for me. I will definitely use it for imnproving my ebay auctions.

One thing I would want to be included is along with Clustered Results, there sould be Category wise selction for searchers to see the search result category wise. Right now you have to chose category while you type your keyword.

Time, Price as well as Bid option are great addition.

Loved it.!!!!
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Ina · Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Posts: 452 Location: Massachusetts, USA

I've invited Robert Keller of GoHook to this forum to answer questions, since it's a brand-new model.
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Ina Steiner, AuctionBytes.com

quiltsnbeyond · Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: San Carlos, CA

Thanks.

It is a welcome gesture from your side Ina.

Thanks again.
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"An honest individual is satisfied with himself as much as others are satisfied with him."
My eBay Store -QuiltsnBeyond

sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

Hi Ina, thank you for letting us know about the Vivisimo tool. I find Vivisimo to be an amazing tool. It is the closest approximation to how an eBay user handles a search. How many eBay buyers understand what the syntax for a Boolean search is? Most times the buyer enters one or two words for the item they are looking for. By having the left column, buyers are given the most likely suggestions to refining their search. This, to me, is the most intuitive way for non-technology users to find the items they want to buy on eBay. 2000+ results for one keyword is too many listings. But if you can reach the "sweet spot", of say 10 to 25 listings, buyers have a manageable list to browse. This brings the buyer closer to a final decision, increasing sell-through for sellers and more fees for eBay.

kwshoes · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Seacoast NH

I've been using Vivisimo as a backup to Google for about nine months. The clustering feature is very useful in narrowing down a search that might take several iterations in Google. I tried a couple of eBay searches and can see where it will be quite useful when looking for something specific. I expect to use it a lot.

I noted your mention that Vivisimo has no plans to charge for its use by searchers -- which I think is the right model.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention via AuctionBytes (I'm a couple of issues behind in reading AB).
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sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

LOL - GoHook is out of business.

dsh872 · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 27

there is nothing funny about less competition and less innovation.

mbright1 · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:29 am Post subject:

RE: GOHOOK

And... they're back... in business...

I signed up even!

I thought of this idea several years ago... and wish them the best with their venture and hopefully they'll gain momentum, which I think they will.

Watch out Google.
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sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

I hope they don't I post this - I'll omit their contact information:

Dear GoHook Seller,

Our site is changing.

As a result of recent, friendly discussions with the licensing folks at eBay, we can no longer host auctions. In October, when we first started our site, we believed that, with sellers express permission, http://www.gohook.com could download and store/host completed auctions. While it’s true you—the seller—maintain the copyright to the description sub-section of your auction, all other auction features such as price, start date, end date, number of bids, etc. belong to eBay, who sell them to third parties. GoHook was downloading the auctions, with no fees to eBay.

In other words, the typical auction is about 50,000 bytes of HTML, Javascript and text. Of that 50K of data, about 75% (37,500 bytes) belongs to eBay, according to eBay.

GoHook is a small, entrepreneurial company in Southern California. We’ve neither the resources nor inclination to challenge eBay’s licensing claims. We cooked-up the idea of GoHook over coffee in mid-September 2003 and hosted our first auction on Halloween. We thought then, and still do, believe that storing completed auctions has value to eBay buyers and sellers. http://www.pga.com/valueguide

What does this mean to you, the seller who joined us?

If you signed-up after 22 February 2004, we downloaded none of your auctions. Feel free to search, but we stopped at noon, Sunday, 22 February 2004.
We’ll download no more auctions, effective 22 February 2004.
Your existing auctions will no longer be available on-line as of midnight 07 March 2004. Feel free to download them from our site. They’re (partially) yours.
Please take with you our sincere thanks. You trusted us to accurately host and present your completed auctions and images. Without you, GoHook would have no data and we’d not have gotten this far.

What’s next?

We think a completed-auction service is in demand, and we’re still talking to eBay. Stay tuned.

If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to write or call.

Again, thank you.

Robert Keller
Paul Smietan
GoHook

Our new FAQs http://www.gohook.com/LICENSE/March2004.html