|
|
Posted by misirens on 10/31/06 01:40
------------
"Ebay is getting to be like an MLM
MLM = Multi-Level Marketing. Examples are Amway, Vector Marketing and
Herbalife. None of those companies make money off of selling actual
products. They make money off of recruiting people to [allegedly]
resell their products.
These "independent salespeople" must first purchase the products from
Amway etc., and then try to push them on others. Almost none of them
ever make their original "investment" back, let alone sell any of those
crap products.
Ebay is getting to be very similiar to these companies in that Ebay is
moving toward not making money off of products being sold, but off of
"independent sellers" paying fees in the HOPE of selling products.
And just like notorious MLM'ers, Ebay runs infomercials and holds
scam-inars.
Way to go, Ebay! And way to go to anyone stupid or naive enough to
support this ultra-corrupt company."
------------
"No, Ebay is not an actual MLM. If Ebay were an actual MLM, it would
order us to recruit other sellers and promise a commission for every
target recruited.
But, Ebay is beginning to resemble an MLM in that Ebay is, I theorize,
no longer earning the bulk of its money off of completed transactions
(FVF's), but off fees for listing products ."
In the meantime, Ebay aggressively markets itself as a classic "get
rich quick" scheme via infomercials and scam-inars set up to recruit
new sellers. They are promised an opportunity to build a bona fide
business, but that opportunity is not there. They'll simply end up
paying Ebay fees to list products that will never sell...Not
necessarily because the products themselves are junk, but due to the
myriad of technical problems on the site that Ebay refuses to fix, such
as problems with search and BIN's, and the fact that Ebay's Stores
product's listings are, by their own words, "disadvantaged" both on
Ebay.com and Express.
Then there's the matter of buyers fleeing Ebay in droves, for a
multitude of reasons that include rampant fraud.
So no, Ebay's modus operandi is not exactly like that of Herbalife et.
al., but comparisons can be drawn. Ebay doesn't need to make money off
of people coming to this site and buying - that is not, I believe,
Ebay's intent. I believe their intent is to make money off of sellers
listing products, not off people buying them. "
-------------
"MLM's true constituency is not the consuming public but hopeful
investors.
I'm not sure if Ebay is there yet, but that is where it's headed: The
goal is not to make money off of consumers (buyers) purchasing
products, but off of sellers paying to list them.
My theory would explain why Ebay cares not about the problems with
search or buyers getting kicked out when they click BIN. They don't
care if transactions get completed, because they feel they can make A
LOT MORE off hawking false hope to sellers."
--------------
"I see eBay as a Pavlovian science experiment. We are conditioned to go
to eBay to make money because that is what we did before. We once made
good money, with much lower fees and even though there have been many
changes, we still go there looking for the money. eBay knows this and
that is why there is so little reward for us now.
I can see OP's point. We are recruited, in a way, to keep investing in
the "eBay" marketplace because we "have an opportunity" to make some
money. But, the only one really making the money is eBay and the
scammers.
Ebay is getting to be very similiar to these companies in that Ebay is
moving toward not making money off of products being sold, but off of
"independent sellers" paying fees in the HOPE of selling products.
I agree 100%."
-------------
"This has been escalating for the past 5 years. Ebay makes the majority
of their money off listing fees, not ending value.
Ebay's overall sale rate is around 40% and that does not include non
paying bidders / sellers not getting paid.
Ebay WANTS buyers because that is the only reason the sellers will
stay...but ebay knows who pays."
-------------
"Ebay makes billions off UNSOLD items. Ebay is a joke"
-------------
"The MLM is not a correct way to describe ebay but they are going after
the same people as customers.
The way it is going around here only a sucker would plan staying here
very long. I'm now moving into stage 3 of my liquidation plan. 1 week
listings and if it doesn't sell I am disposing those items."
-------------
Navigation:
[Reply to this message]
|