my pal, the peerless Derek Willburn wrote:
Why would the seller care about sniping? The seller just wants to get rid of a product. If they want it to go for a specific amount then they can put a reserve on it -simple. I love ebay, where else do we have access to so many different things of interest especially vintage bike stuff? And it's from around the world! I just found NOS 27" rims for my friend's Carlton -Ebay is my friend. Cheers, Derek Willburn Long Beach, CA USA
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As a seller, I can say I'd be *thrilled* if ebay instituted the same software as Yahoo Japan. Auctions to continue indefinitely until the last bid really is in. You could even create some interesting additional complications along this line to drive up the price further.
This particular option has been available to ebay for years. I'm sure numerous sellers have suggested it over and over. Ebay has never adopted it. And the reason is not far to seek: ebay wants buyers. It's their basic business model. More buyers, more profit. I'm sure they focus-group tested the continuing-action option on new users, and got a resounding NO WAY from the assembled buyers.
I doubt ebay will *ever* institute this obvious improvement. Because they're terrified of scaring away new buyers. Better to keep raising rates on sellers, who now depend on ebay for their livelihoods. Ebay has a captive seller-base, and they're going to milk that base as hard as they can. Buyers are more flighty, and have to be handled with kid-gloves at all times.
This is typical monopolistic behavior. Sellers just have to be smart enough to buy cheap enough to be able to add their ebay costs to the cost of an item.
What is rather desperately needed by sellers now is a new auction site to compete with ebay. These distortions are caused by the intense monopoly ebay possesses.
As for the Sultan-of-Schwag...a POX on him for parting out that beautiful Pogliaghi. He's so greedy he didn't realize he could make more selling it whole..because he could have. It really frosts me when these guys who have been at this for years haven't learned the most basic things about their product.
Charles "grumpy" Andrews
Los Angeles