Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Marketplace => Topic started by: neofree on February 06, 2003, 11:21:41 PM
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After the close of AmiBench.com... I was thinking of starting a new classifieds..
But then I thought of something else...
What about an Amiga Auctions website?
Well, sure eBay already exists. But what if the prices where much lower? Not intended to be a "money making" business, but more of a service to the community, and charging for posting only to keep quality of service.
Then I thought of different ways to charge...
1. A *one time* membership fee.
2. A *small* monthly fee.
3. A *small* listing fee.
4. A *small* percentage of auction closing.
Well, I definately wouldn't do all four. Infact, I would probably only do one or at most two of the above.
What are peoples opinions? I think I can have this site up in less then a week as I am arleady testing auction software.
Also, the site would have "fixed price" auctions too, giving it the functionality to work as a classifieds system too.
Like to hear your thoughts...
Neofree
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Aint it abit soon to discuss this already ....
Its his birthday remember ...
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Well, I'm sorry he got harrased. And hope he has a happy birthday... But I'm not sure what I would be "waiting" for...
Neofree
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I agree, at least let the dust settle first. And its not set in stone yet that AmiBench is gone, I very much hope it hasnt. I dont think any other attempt at making an amiga oriented classified, auction site would work out anyhow, too long enough for AmiBench to become recognisable, just look at all the new news sites springing up, they aint exactly growing in popularity are they? I think it would be the same with a new auction/whatever site.
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Well AmiBench gone or not, there is no Amiga Auction website that I know of... I am pondering the issue and will have a better idea of what I will do tommorow.
Thanks,
Neofree
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Also, I dont really want to scare people away with the idea of charging on the site. Infact I may even just make it 100% free. I just thought it would keep the quality up a little. Maybe only a listing fee, or only a very small percentage if item sells.
Thanks,
Neofree
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doubt your site will be anywhere near as good as amibench this site has been round for years and is one of the best . :-(
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Amibench was by an amiga user for amiga users and was free too AS IS ebay I might add, so charging people is a no-no for starters.
Hell, everyone send mark an email and let him know how the REAL community feels, not just a few sad losers.
If you want amibench to survive you HAVE to let him know! :-( :-(
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There is already an Amiga Auction Website:
http://www.amibid.ukbe.com/
Nobody ever uses it though. Been around for ages.
Ciao,
Skippy
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@Skippy
Whoa! You been working out or something? Nice avatar...
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artman wrote:
@Skippy
Whoa! You been working out or something? Nice avatar...
HAHA... Just wait till you see Calen's avatar :-o .
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Well the negative comments are less then encouraging. As a relatively new user to Amiga.org, I am beginning to see why people gripe so much here. Everyone is so negative. I was sad to see Amibench go, but at the same time, we need a site like it. I'm offering to do so, and I know there is work envolved. If anything I think people would think this is positive.
Anyway, I didn't get the impression that Mark would change his mind about Amibench. He had already posted strong notices in the past that indicated his frustration with his site.
All I want to do is try and offer something where there is now a gap. Amibench was a sight I visited often in trying to find stuff for my Amiga, and with it gone I really only know to go to eBay and comp.sys.amiga.marketplace now. I know other sites exist, but they do not have the usage that makes them work.
I've decided against the idea of charging. I think this would limit it's use too much. I am thinking of doing a site that is both classifieds and auctions. Use wichever you want.
As far as getting users, it takes work to get users for *any* site. This is not something I plan to go short on.
Anyone have anything good to say about this?
Neofree
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HAHA... Just wait till you see Calen's avatar
She is nice huh, even better when i added the boing touch ;-)
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Hmmm, maybe I need to make me a Kiki Stockhammer avatar ;^)
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Neofree:
I do not see any need for such thing. Seriously.
I have been using eBay and local Swedish online
bidding sites for years now..
I know what I am talking about with these words..
Here is how it works today:
If you live in a large country (DE, FR, UK, US etc)
you have your local eBay-division which has
monopoly of the market, more or less, and
therefore has a huge activity. There you find
whatever you want in your own country.
If you live in a smaller country like SE you may
have a local eBay-divison, however it is usually
administered through some large division
(ebaysweden is under ebay.uk for instance)
which means you have your support and you
xfer the money to some country where you may
not have any idea at all what happens to them.
In your own country you could pay the HQ a visit..
Therefore in smaller countries we have real
local online bidding sites with huge traffic where
you can buy your goods. Of course the selection
is not as huge as eBay International but if you
are looking for something special you simply
pay the extra shipping fees. I got a huge towered
A4000D/040 the other day from eBay.de..
Online auctions only work for the bidders and
sellers when the activity is huge, when you find
tens-of-thousands of objects. Not if you have
a traffic of perhaps 100 uniques/day and maybe
3 auctions with 1, maybe 2 bids.
For the seller small online bidding sites are the
worst possible. Since (in your case Neofree)
the shipping is international anyway it is much
better to sell it on eBay. The fees on eBay are not
that extreme.
For the bidder less bidders is of course a great
opportunity to get cheap goods, however, with
less bidders you will get less sellers and less
objects. The Amiga community is way too small
to have a site like this. It could work on the PC-
market though.
Neofree, I strongly encourage you to not
start this site since you will get very dissapointed
when you see you have no activity on it. Which
means less money for you (if that is your
intension).
But hey, I may be wrong. Launch a site and
see if you get any activity. Just don't get too
involved in it or you will be torn to pieces if/when
noone wants it.
These opinions are based on my experience
with international aswell national bidding and
selling and is in no way intended as flaming.
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Hey man, do what you want to do. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. They can't actually stop you. If designing an Amiga auction site is something you'd enjoy, go for it. I've had my website up in one form or another for almost 7 years now, and I think the only regular users are Jack and Squat, but I don't care. I enjoy doing it.
If you build it, maybe no one will come, but at least you will have built it.
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@LordSteven
i like the look of your site ill have a better look later. :-D
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I say go for it! Make the site. I for one hate E-bay for amiga items simply because half the stuff on there is being sold by people that have no clue what an amiga is and charge way to much for the items. I say a CSPPC go for $980USD the other day!!! It was even a DCE made one! thats just insane for a card that was over five years old and selling for more then new.
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@neofree
Honestly? I say "go for it". Understand however that it's not going to change the world. Amiga.org put up free classifieds and we currently see only 20 or so on average.
Most people go to eBay. Rightfully so.
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Amiga.org put up free classifieds and we currently see only 20 or so on average.
Well, I like the free classifieds, and if I get the time this weekend, I'm going to make use of them. eBay charges fees for selling stuff. Let's see.... fees versus free? No contest. Got a few items I wanna sell, so I'm going to do it here!! :-)
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Well taking everything into consideration. I think I am going to go ahead and give it a try...
eBay seems to be a big response by users, but I've never actually bought any Amiga items from eBay because they're overpriced. Part of this because eBay has a strong USA userbase and Amiga is much more rare in the USA. So, people bid on it taking that in consideration. Amibench prices where always lower then eBay.
And just incase some people don't realize the "ways of eBay", many people wait till the last hour or even the last minute to bid, so if you think prices are low, try looking at "Completed items".
I know it will be tough getting people to use it, but it's worth a try, because there is infact a void to fill.
Thanks,
Neofree
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So, people bid on it taking that in consideration. Amibench prices where always lower then eBay.
Conversely, people who have hardware/software to sell will ALWAYS take their business to the one place they can get the higher price.
"Something is worth only what other people are willing to pay for it". I know that if I feel I can get 30% more by selling something on eBay, I would definitely go there first.