eBay

hcslots · ‎10-07-2017

I know who my customers are: they buy my stuff. They give me money, I ship them items. If I do not pay attention to my customers, they will buy from other sellers.

So... what is eBay's product and service? Who is paying ebay money for them? Who should eBay be listening to in terms of their own performance?

Here's a hint: my buyers are not eBay's customers.

plumbingspecials · ‎10-07-2017

Sellers are eBay's customers. We use the service, the selling platform, and we pay fees to list and to sell.

thenobletuckylife · ‎10-07-2017

@z50com wrote:
OMG! Look what the cat dragged in!

It's been a while. . .

Are you in Ohio or Kentucky these days?

Hey Z....my long lost Posting Nemesis!

Still here in Noble County S.E. Ohio...living like we are in West Virginia (cause I can almost see it from here) and actin like I am from Cantucky just down the river an hour or so...no matter what...this be awesome backwoods brewin country...loaded with critters and a lot less folks.

Mr C

mistwomandancing · ‎10-07-2017

Many big venues consider all MEMBERS to be their customers because they are USING the site, either to buy.. or to sell.

On eBay (and others) a buyer becomes a secondary level of customer because while they don't pay DIRECTLY, they are users of the site, and start the financial balls rolling because they bring the money!

In instances like eBay and venues and sites that work in this manner, all who use the venue/site to transact business are considered the site's CUSTOMERS.

odditiesandantiquities1 · ‎10-07-2017

@mistwomandancing wrote:
Many big venues consider all MEMBERS to be their customers because they are USING the site, either to buy.. or to sell.

On eBay (and others) a buyer becomes a secondary level of customer because while they don't pay DIRECTLY, they are users of the site, and start the financial balls rolling because they bring the money!

In instances like eBay and venues and sites that work in this manner, all who use the venue/site to transact business are considered the site's CUSTOMERS.

No need for shouting, however everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. They are personal after all, just as yours is.

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎10-07-2017

In marketing the sellers would be considered direct customers and buyers indirect customers. They both use the service of eBay. If ebay did not recognize and protect their indirect customers then sellers would have no customers

mistwomandancing · ‎10-07-2017

odditiesandantiquities1 wrote:
mistwomandancing wrote:
Many big venues consider all MEMBERS to be their customers because they are USING the site, either to buy.. or to sell.

On eBay (and others) a buyer becomes a secondary level of customer because while they don't pay DIRECTLY, they are users of the site, and start the financial balls rolling because they bring the money!

In instances like eBay and venues and sites that work in this manner, all who use the venue/site to transact business are considered the site's CUSTOMERS.
No need for shouting, however everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. They are personal after all.

I wasn't shouting, or didn't intend to be. I wanted to highlight a point, but don't know how it got so BIG. (Maybe one of those cases where the cat actually DID make the purchase. lol lol)

*madison · ‎10-07-2017

Sellers.

As a buyer I've never purchased anything from ebay, I purchase my items from ebay's customers, the sellers.

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎10-07-2017

That is a narrow and dare I say layperson's perspective. Given that ebay markets directly to buyers, provides the means for them to shop and protects buyers, they are indeed providing a service and therefore buyers are also their customers.

odditiesandantiquities1 · ‎10-07-2017

@mistwomandancing wrote:
@odditiesandantiquities1 wrote:
@mistwomandancing wrote:
Many big venues consider all MEMBERS to be their customers because they are USING the site, either to buy.. or to sell.

On eBay (and others) a buyer becomes a secondary level of customer because while they don't pay DIRECTLY, they are users of the site, and start the financial balls rolling because they bring the money!

In instances like eBay and venues and sites that work in this manner, all who use the venue/site to transact business are considered the site's CUSTOMERS.
No need for shouting, however everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. They are personal after all.

I wasn't shouting, or didn't intend to be. I wanted to highlight a point, but don't know how it got so BIG. (Maybe one of those cases where the cat actually DID make the purchase. lol lol)

Think of how many oopsies I could have with 7 cats. hahaha.

*madison · ‎10-07-2017

I knew someone wouldn't agree with me and take me to task.

Well it ain't happening.

I said sellers, and I won't change my mind.

keziak · ‎10-07-2017

@dhbookds wrote:
@hcslots wrote:
I know who my customers are: they buy my stuff. They give me money, I ship them items. If I do not pay attention to my customers, they will buy from other sellers.

So... what is eBay's product and service? Who is paying ebay money for them? Who should eBay be listening to in terms of their own performance?

Here's a hint: my buyers are not eBay's customers.
Would they have bought from you without ebay? Would they have found you on another site......or on your own website?

Similar to a mall.........ebay attracts a wide variety of customers who are shopping for "something"........like a mall, ebay requires things of their "renters".....in order to preserve/enhance the integrity/ reputation of the "mall" for the benefit of all who sell there. When someone signs a lease, they are agreeing to those rules/regulations in a mall, likewise when they list on ebay....

Taking the mall analogy further, it's a known thing that people shop at stores (like Best Buy) then go order the stuff on Amazon. I wonder how often ebay listings "sell" a product which the customer actually buys on Amazon using their Prime membership to get free shipping?

lloydsteventaylor · ‎10-07-2017

I would add that there is a third population: those that buy and sell. Called the community. Ebay started as mostly this group. But over time this group is getting smaller as Ebay has priortized the buyer population. This population was what made Ebay grow to what it is now. But as this group continues to decline Ebay will too because this group is what made Ebay unique. As Amazon, Walmart, Target, and even Toys R Us and many others advance so will Ebay decline. Big corps that sell here will move away. Ebay is constantly changing and this year the changes they are making are oppressive to the small seller. But have you noticed that every change they make is already being done by one of the other online companies. Ebay is just hurrying to match what the other companies are aleady doing. Ebay does not have any original ideas, well except for the population that both buy and sell and Ebay determined a long time ago to dump that idea.

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎10-07-2017

I answered you because yours was the last. I don't care if you change your mind or not.

goddess-bastet-1910 · ‎10-07-2017

The buyer is the customer, the seller is an associate of Ebay, trading on Ebay's reputation and good will.
Just like a franchise restaurant, the associate must not damage Ebay's reputation and good will.
If they do, the company sanctions them.