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Bedford Ramblings

Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.

For those of you who care, eBay Express is closing down.

Posted Friday, August 22, 2008, at 9:38 AM

NOT eBay, just their Express division which was set up to JUST sell new items. In my opinion, it was eBay's attempt to take on the regular internet retailers and platforms like Amazon, but it never caught on.

I wish it had. Not because we sell a lot of new products, but because they might have left the rest of the platform alone and allowed the original business module of individuals selling their "finds" to continue unscathed.

I believe the lights will be turned out on September 16th. I wish I could say all else will remain the same, but the one constant in most businesses is change and eBayers have been experiencing MORE than their fair share lately.

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I did not catch that part. I agree with you that it would have better for many many sellers if they could have split off and left the main site alone. I imagine they have the same problem so many start ups do, driving the traffic. Even jumping from one ebay site to another is a change and people tend to resist. Oh well, we adapt and accept or quit and wait for something better.

I am somewhat disappointed you are not projecting your usual positive attitude.

-- Posted by memyselfi on Fri, Aug 22, 2008, at 4:59 PM
Well, I try to stay positive, but my beloved eBay is stressing me out at the moment. I don't always agree, but as you said I can adjust.

It is just that so many changes keep coming down the pike and I have to keep adjusting our listings and then adjusting back when they change their mind.

I don't like the move toward not accepting checks or money orders. Some of our very best customers do not trust the "electronic age" and especially having their financial info out there.

My meditation sessions are not working like they used to. Guess I better pay more attention to some pharmaceutical ads.

What I am still positive about is e-commerce and using eBay as a great platform to develop more. None of the up and coming sites get even close, but I am watching them and may participate in some. I keep meaning to try Etsy for Deb's photo albums.

Anyone sold or bought on there yet?

-- Posted by stevemills on Fri, Aug 22, 2008, at 5:15 PM
I just thought of another reason for my frustration right now.

I pay to keep up-to-date so I can teach eBay classes and in return I charge my students with the promise that I will teach them how to navigate and succeed on the platform.

The changes are coming so hot and heavy that I find it difficult to stay up to date and as a result, the playing field can be dramatically different than what I instruct my students.

I offer them unlimited support after the class, but I don't like the feeling of things being totally different a few weeks after they leave. I may suspend classes until they settle down, or develop more classes on alternate sales venues.

I love'm but sometimes........

-- Posted by stevemills on Fri, Aug 22, 2008, at 5:38 PM
I never really considered the effect of the changes to your business. I just have to deal with the changes themselves, but in comparison, I dont guess that is so bad. I have never used either of the sites you mentioned, but still am working some on Amazon. I have to say honestly that I prefer ebay. If Amazon were smart they would be posturing themselves to attract the disgruntled ebay sellers, and in turn the buyers. Amazon could adopt ebays old model and visa versa. I have been disappointed with their apparent lack of interest capturing some of the business. I would have started a campaign to drive as many as I could catch if I already had a viable platform.

-- Posted by memyselfi on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 3:01 PM
Steve;

I was listening to Kim Kamando on WTN77, internet radio this morning. A caller asked about the same thing you are talking about. She answered in the same way. Sept. 16th. FYI.

-- Posted by framestraight on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 6:55 PM
One of our Education Specialists was talking about Amazon today on our discussion board. She sells on both but seems to agree with you that eBay is still better.

I appreciate hearing about Kim's opinion. I have never been able to catch how she felt about eBay.

-- Posted by stevemills on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 8:32 PM

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