or ... eBay Coma ... eBay Dead ... eBay Wake...?
(...these are all terms I've read from people who attended)
First off, let me start by saying that I have only been to one eBay Live and that was in Orlando in 2003. I remember it was crazy crowded, standing room only at many of the classes, lots of exhibitors, sellers, buyers and eBay employees. It was exciting, entertaining, informative, educational, exhausting and fun.
I've tried to find statistics for each year, but I've been able to come up with solid numbers to share with you. There were 10,000 people there in 2003. From what I understand, each year those numbers have declined. However, from what I can tell from all accounts of this years eBay Live as well as previous years, the numbers were considerably lower. I've read the number of vendors was about half and the number of attendees was at least down about 25-30% (maybe more).
Although I didn't attend the conference, I have been reading all the blog entries, watching the videos, reading the tweets and news articles from everyone from eBay employees, pro-eBayers as well as those who are terribly upset with eBay.... trying to get a feel of what it was like this year.
The truth is, pretty much everything I read has expressed some disappointment in eBay Live 08. Some of what I have read was nothing but negative. Photos and videos showed nearly empty classes, few people on the exhibition floor, reported no lines for registration, etc. When I went in '03, as I said, it was crazy crowded and there were long lines for everything. The vendor floor was always busy and it was hard to get to most of the popular counters. This apparently was not the case this year.
Next years eBay Live 09 was already canceled and it makes me wonder if eBay Live 10 will happen or not.
To be fair, I have included several links below if you care to read or watch some of what is out there about eBay Live 08, so if you didn't go, you can form your own opinion.
- First, you can watch eBay Live 08 videos on YouTube. This includes some negative footage from angry sellers during sessions as well as some positive footage:
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=ebay+live+08
- Want to read what eBay has blogged and see videos from them visit eBay Chatter at:
http://www.ebaychatter.com/the_chatter/ebay_live_2008/index.html
- If you'd like to watch a video of the Keynote presentation at eBay Live 08 or listen to the audio, visit:
http://www.mapdigital.com/eBayLive!_keynote_june_2008/ondemand.html
I would love to hear from any of you who went to eBay Live 08 (or previous years) who would like to express your opinions.... positive or negative.
- Do you think eBay is on the decline and will some day lose it's status as the #1 online auction site because of all the changes they keep implementing?
- Do you feel eBay is unfair and catering to certain sellers and businesses?
- Do you feel no matter what, eBay is still a viable place to make good money online?
Thanks,
Robbin
15 comments:
I think the masses have spoken…yes ebay is done. Give it a year or so. Hopefully something better arises from this. Isn’t that kind of the “way of the internet”?
I am beginning to think that Ebay is another Enron it's just a matter of time before it all comes tumbling down. Too many good sellers have quit too many looser's are still selling. And, where is ebay when this is going on? Hum!
I have to agree, Ebay has alienated the small seller completely, just happens that the small time seller is also a big Ebay buyer so they have killed two birds with one stone. Other sites are popping up but no winners yet. Maybe Ebay will come to their senses soon and reverse some bad decisions.
Hello ! i d like to say Ebay is dead for many of us. I was a power seller for 6 years and new Trust & Safety team pissed me off !! I feel eBay is unfair and catering to certain sellers and businesses. Trust & Safety run idiots !! they policy will lead Ebay to crash. I lost 35 k when i deal with Ebay. now i never come to sell anything on this site. I tried to close my account permanently but they dont want to let me do it. Stupid, dishonest, ambisious, soulless people who run Trust & Safety department. the problem is Trust and safety department. its black mark on EBAY!! Regards Anatoliy
I think eBay will crash if they stay on the course they have been on. I have not found it to be very useful to the small-time, casual seller. All the drop shipping I have tried to do in the last 3 years is impossible to make ANY money with because of yahoos undercutting all the prices. I cannot sell my eBooks for download anymore either. It's not all ebay's fault, it's the marketplace too. But eBay's policies have made a significant impact as well. It's no longer a good virtual Garage sale. It's too specialized now.
Look for a hostile takeover by Microsoft or Amazon in the next year or three. I'm almost completely done with eBay. I'll see where it end up.
If there was to emerge a viable alternative.. I would jump ship in a nano-second.. for now, there is no better alternative..
A_D_J_U_S_T you whiners....!!!
Ebay hit the self destruct button a while back, a previous comment about them reversing some decisions is wishful thinking, even if they did, the damage has already been done people are leaving in droves for places like www.eBid.net The forums on there are awash with ex eBayers who have finally woken up to the fact that you can sell on alternative venues. What is more, those who have quit selling on ebay are now buying eleswhere, so eBay is now very much in decline as can be seen by the falling sell through rates.
Yes, I pretty much agree with the
above posts. I am a ex powerseller
who was really sold on Ebay till they started putting more and more
rules that seemed to only limit the
smaller seller like myself, the iceing on the cake was when they
changed the feedback guidelines.
I am off Ebay and taking a hard
look at ebid.net which is set up
very much like Ebay but is so much
more seller friendly.
Can anyone tell me how to make a good income from home online? I have a special needs son and I can't work outside the home. Thanks and God bless and keep you!
I was small ebook seller on ebay, suspended indefinitely and apparently withour appeal. On poster said they are idiots... I agree.
Yes, I agree that eBay is not what it once was, and it's certainly no longer for me. In the beginning it was quite wonderful and I sold all kinds of stuff. But excessive rule changes and lack of interest in small sellers have made the difference and are sending me off to eBid.
I have not attended eBay Live, however, I am very dissapointed with them. Changes in the ratings system have me confused and irritated. I have 100% positive feedback, yet they tell me I need to improve in the area of customer service or I may not get the exposure other sellers would get. That is very unfair since I pay the same fees. I hope eBay is reading all these comments.
I like the Mr. "anonymous" telling us to ADJUST and that we are whiners. Post your name next time 'friend' if you are giving out unsolicited advice. :-)
I guess the monitor surpresses post she doesn't like.....makes you wonder what kind of agenda she has. I wonder if the whole article about the SCAM was a fluke to get the people on the list to buy more of her stuff.....Hmmmmm
Dear Mr. Anonymous - It's hard to respond to you when you choose to remark anonymously. The blog post you are referring to has nothing to do with this blog post that you commented on. That's one of the problems and why you're not finding your post.
I'm assuming you're referring to the other anonymous comment made to this post today... which had nothing to do with this post? If so, I put that where it belonged... on the post it referred to. So - perhaps you should take a look there.
Also, if you want to be taken seriously, don't post anonymously.
Regards,
Robbin
FYI: The original post he was referring to is here.
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