At first, the cause sounds like it might be a write-off; just one angry person's crusade against eBay.
It's not, though - the awkwardly named group "Google We Need An Auction Site" has 416 members.
They're upset with eBay's rate hikes, and want Google to launch a competitor.
"We are ebay store owners who have been dismissed' by ebay . . . " the group description begins. "We are searching everywhere for a new home' and google is the ONLY name on the internet which we feel would be totally trustworthy and woud [sic] actually get auction traffic and get it quickly. Let google know!!"
The first post on the site (which is available through Google Groups, as might seem logical) is dated August 3. Since then, 161 other "topics" have been created.
The group is focused in the UK, but it has reached other countries, as well. "The Boycott," which "Dixie" described as a coordinated strike lasting through August 21, is "being participated in by UK, Australia, Canada and [the] US," and "is our attempt to call the attention of the media to what is happening."
It's working. The BBC, the Guardian Unlimited, and "the Today Show on Radio 4" all appear to listening.
Google We Need An Auction Site is unlikely to cause any radical changes in Google's business plans, but it could definitely give the company a nudge.
And who knows - gBay could already be in the offing. Yet with all the attention they're getting, the writer in me has to beg the group to proofread their manifesto.
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Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.
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Comments
We Need To Gather Our Force Against Ebay Monster
I am a buyer and seller on Ebay, my wife is the same. Everyday we use Ebay, but also everyday we wish we had a different auction site, like Google or some famous, trustworthy company, to sell and buy products. Ebay is totally greedy and unfair.
It is true that Ebay is a big company and has been in business long enough to know about the business. But the fact that it is a monopoly makes it vunerable. It draws a lot of buyers and sellers. It tries to please buyers, but at the same time it makes sellers angry by treating them unfair and charging sellers with ridiculous fees. Sellers are almost forced to use Ebay since it is almost the only choice. If there is a second choice, I bet most, if not all, sellers will jump ship and abandon Ebay for good.
Some of you mentioned other auction sites and encourage people to go there. It is a good start, but not enough. We need a total boycott from Ebay sellers. Once the majority of sellers start using other site, buyers from Ebay have to leave Ebay as well.
We need to organize a plan or a campaign if you will, communicate that plan to anyone and everyone, preferably all sellers on Ebay, so that everyone is on the same page, then we strike with full force. People, we need some sellers association, something similar to labor union, to rally people, gather our force, and teach Ebay a good lesson. We need to unite, if we are just staying like individual sellers, Ebay will exploit us, take advantage from us, just pretty much like Communist.
New selling site
Ebay needs some competition, why not start another auction site, it would be good for all concerned even Ebay.
We need a competitor
I don't care if it's google or someone else who starts an online auction site (2 years ago there was a petition to get Richard Branson to start one), there MUST be a competitor to ebay in order for ebay to change it's policies.
This is why people don't like monopolies (it's written in the US constitution that you can't have one), because the monopoly becomes lethargic and money driven - forgetting that it's the customer that pays the fees, but while there is no competition the customer has no choice but to pay.
Go Shop N Chat is AWESOME!!
Many people have been waiting around for Google to start an online auction. The sad part is Google doesn't intend on starting an online auction. We done our research on them and they are working on buying into telecommunication.
We are a cell phone company in Missouri called BGC Telecom. We know what route Google is taking and it's not an online auction. So many people really wish they would open an online auction but they are just not interested.
True Google and Ebay are worth Billions of dollars and are able to do anything they want. With their net worth anyone could do anything they want. Why keep forking more business and money into companies that are already billionaires and not try a smaller company that would treat you right and know how hard it is to make a business grow rather than one that is already BIG and successful?
The reason why most American's want Google to open an auction is because they can dump millions of dollars into advertisment and gain millions of people's attention. The sad thing is because of the millions that they would dump into advertisment would only cause fee's to become high.
The more you dump into advertisment the more the fee's are going to be. They have to make the money back some where. So you are not really gaining anything by dumping millions of dollars into advertisment and then stuck right back with high fee's like Ebay.
People do not stop and think about that though. Would you buy a brand new BMW and let everyone drive the crap out of it without them paying you anything? Doubtful.
We are spreading the word about the all new way to sale and buy online. Everyone wanted an online auction to where buyers and sellers can communicate so we have brought it to them. Go Shop N Chat
So if Google would have came up with the idea and started Go Shop N Chat would it have made people jump any faster. YES if Google dumped millions of dollars into advertisment.
Everyone should check us out and tell all of your friends and family about us. That's how a business becomes known. Word of mouth helps to keep the fee's low and gets the word out.
David Ogden
www.goshopnchat.com
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