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TAGnotes Wed 9 Jan 2002 Vol 4 Number 2 Issue 384

The Auction Guild Notes for Wed 9 Jan 2002
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On 4 Jan at 18:53:52 PT users reported that their ability to view
their completed auctions from the seller list and My ebaY had
been cut off at 1 January. Nothing earlier was visible. This
prevented sellers from managing their auctions and buyers from
leaving feedback.

On 5 Jan at 06:28:23 PT sellers continued to have problems with
their sellers lists only going back to 1 Jan, and the problems
continued throughout day. ebaY did some seller list resets, but
that did not help. Many lists were restored by 21:53:24 PT. ebaY
failed to mention this problem on the announcement board. At
18:38:02 PT users reported site problems with error messages
appearing when trying to access the site. Page loads slowed to
a crawl and users received a message saying "a required
resource is unavailable". ebaY's pic.ebay.com was extremely
slow and some javascript errors were causing Netscape to
lock-up. These problems lasted until 19:25:22 PT.

On 7 Jan ebaY posted at 21:13:33 PT that they had to do
emergency maintenance in Books, Movies, and Antiques & Art
on 8 Jan from 00:00 to 00:15 PT. On 8 Jan at 00:19:54 they
announced that they had postponed the maintenance and it
would occur between 00:30 and 00:45. The maintenance
prevented sellers from listing in Books, Movies, and Antiques, &
Art categories and also affected members using Mister Lister,
Seller's Assistant and other third party listing tools. At 06:38:15
PT sellers posted that their collections sent via Mister Lister over
the previous hour had not gone through. At 07:57 PT
bryant@ebay posted on the Mister Lister board that ebaY was
aware of the problem with Mister Lister collections not appearing
and were working on it. He also said the sellers should not have
to resend their collections, as they should appear for review
once the system is back up.   The Mister Lister was back at
09:20 PT. At 09:51:36 PT ebaY announced that multiple seller
search was down. At 12:04:31 PT ebaY posted that they had
fixed the problem with multiple seller search.

On 8 Jan at 10:13:29 PT users posted that international items
were not showing up in US search results. In order to view any
international items, users had to go to
http://pages.ebay.com/search/items/search_int.html
International items reappeared on the site on 9 Jan.

One user reported Billpoint logos showing up on their auctions
even though they are opted out of Billpoint and don't have a
Billpoint account. An investigation by an ebaY CS OPS Analyst
from a section named DL-eBay-CS-Ewatch at
ewa-@ebay.com revealed that the seller had cancelled their
ebaY Billpoint payments account several months ago, but ebaY
still showed them as having an account. Once again one part of
ebaY not in touch with another part of ebaY. ebaY added the
Billpoint logos when the seller added PayPal logos to their
auctions. Sellers, even those who have cancelled their ebaY
Billpoint payments accounts, must keep an eye on their auctions
for illegal additions of Billpoint logos. If this happens, email
ewa-@ebay.com as they are familiar with the problem and
how to resolve it.

Also sellers who are opted OUT for Checkout are once again
reporting Checkout showing up on their auctions. TAG
recommends you once again check your seller preferences in
My ebaY as it appears ebaY is resetting them, again.

On 9 Jan at 07:38:56 PT ebaY announced that users trying to
access the Non Paying Bidder Alert form using Netscape 4.7
received a “document contained no data” error and users using
Internet Explorer will receive a blank page. They fixed this
problem at 13:51:45 PT. At 18:48:18 PT ebaY posted that the
ability to browse listings by Item Specific details in the Tickets
category was down.

ebaY will take their system down for scheduled maintenance
from 01:00 PT until 03:00 PT on Fri 11 Jan. ebaY Billpoint
payments will also be down during that time frame.   

Though ebaY was relatively stable from 4 to 9 Jan, it appears to
TAG that ebaY is being kept balanced by ebaY removing
completed search for over 10 days, intermittently removing
sellers access to their completed auctions, and intermittent
removal of international items from the US site. Both ebaY users
and investors should be concerned with this tenuous stability, as
ebaY soon plans on adding the Half.Com listings to the ebaY
system.   In addition ebaY has promised its investors 50%
growth a year, and needs to increase listings drastically to
achieve these growth rates. If the infrastructure can't handle the
current load, what kind of investment will ebaY need to make to
handle larger site loads? ebaY's number of auctions has been
virtually stagnant at approx 6 million for well over a year, and
there is no sign that they will improve anytime in the near future.
Users also continued to report serious ongoing problems with
sign in/cookies, listing, relisting and revision, incompatibility
with MSIE, Netscape, AOL, and at times all browsers. There are still
difficulties with search, both for lack of ease of use and for the very
restrictive limit of 10 days on completed auctions. Though some sellers
were finding that where they had opted out of Checkout, Checkout was
not showing up on the ended auctions, other sellers reported that
though they had changed the setting on My ebaY to opt OUT of Checkout,
their options mysteriously changed back. In addition the problem with
Checkout emails not reaching their destination are still being reported
by sellers and buyers. When this occurs, Checkout is basically
non-functional.

TO REQUEST REFUNDS from ebaY go to
http://www.auctionguild.com/generic.html?pid=33
Don't take NO for an answer; keep requesting until you get them.
http://www.auctionguild.com/generic.html?pid=17
If you don't get your refunds complain to the BBB Online at
http://www.bbbsilicon.org/index.htm
And also file a complaint with the FTC
https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm

For some amusing ebaY satire go to eGad -
http://www.capnwacky.com/eGad/main.html

There is a partial workaround for the limited 10 day completed
search.   Users can search by category search at -
http://cayman.ebay.com/aw/listings/completed/index.html

If you input the category number you want and the day and page,
you can manipulate the database to extend your completed
search 30 or more days back. For example -
http://cayman.ebay.com/aw/listings/completed/category448/day1
3page3.html
By inserting the category number 448 (Franciscan pottery) -
/category448/
By changing the day12page1 you can change go back to 12 Nov
on completeds. You need to experiment with this to find your
favorite searches. It is very inconvenient, but better than nothing.

ebaY has new page formats for the 7 sub-categories under
Clothing & Accessories.
Visit the new pages by going to -
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catwomen.html    Women
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catmen.html         Men
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catgirls.html         Girls
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catboys.html        Boys
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catinfants.html     Infants
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catpersonalcare.html   Personal
Care
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catweddingapparel.html   
Wedding
Send feedback on the new arrangement to clot-@ebay.com

Starting in Jan 2002, ebaY is having Phillip Bloch provide
monthly fashion tips, “trend watches” and columns touting the
season’s latest fads. Phillip Bloch’s columns and tips will
be a part of the Designer Boutique. The first monthly column is at
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/phillipbloch/
http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/clothing.html?ssPageName=HC
A01

ebaY has added what they are calling a Fashion Outlet Mall,
which is a search that will net items with brand names. If you
have feedback on this for ebaY send email to
clot-@ebay.com Go to -
http://www.ebay.com/fashionoutletmall/?ssPageName=CatFOM
AnnBoard

In a few weeks, ebaY is going to require users to sign in, in order
to post on all the ebaY Chat Rooms.   This will enhance ebaY's
ability to track users who post on their boards. ebaY records
information users post, tracks their IP addresses and keeps
files on users. The sign in procedure also makes it easier for
ebaY to censor users they don't like, or keep that user from
participating in a certain discussion.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/basics/preview_chatroom.html

ebaY partner, Tradenable (formerly i-Escrow) is no longer
accepting new registrations or processing escrow transactions.
Tradenable will process any escrow transaction that is already in
progress and paid for, but will not accept any new escrow
transactions from ebaY users. TAG does not have any
information on whether ebaY sold its stake in Tradenable, or is
just writing it off as a loss. ebaY posted that they are planning on
introducing another escrow partner at some undisclosed time in
the future.

ProactiveNet has been hired by ebaY to provide a performance
console for the ebaY system operations team that evaluates site
performance and presents the analysis in real time. ebaY
operations staff should be able to see when a problem is
developing anywhere on the system, and correct the problem.   
The advertising press release can be read at
http://www.proactivenet.com/news/press_view.asp?pr=10702

Users who have earned over 10 feedback are eligible to
purchase overpriced ebaY merchandise under ebaY's user
recognition program. For example you can get an ebaY T shirt
for $9.95 from the ebaY gear store, or pay $12.95 for the special
recognition one. The difference in price is that shipping is
allegedly "free" on the recognition items, but ebaY just included
shipping in the inflated price. TAG sees this program as ebaY
showing what it recognizes its users as - commodities to be
exploited and taken advantage of. For more info on the
recognition program go to -
http://pages.ebay.com/community/recognition/index.html

Ongoing Issues and Information
-------------------------------------------------
Anti and No Checkout logos are available on the TAG site at -
http://www.auctionguild.com/generic.html?pid=58
For those still getting the Checkout logo on their auctions, TAG
has a Checkout disable script you can add to your auction
description on the website at -
http://www.auctionguild.com/generic.html?pid=73
Make sure you keep an eye on your Checkout options, as ebaY
has a tendency to change your "opt out" selection to "opt in",
despite your wishes.

Is Checkout interfering with your online business? Is the new
search slowing down your sales? Tired of the scam
Chargebacks form Billpoint? You pay ebaY for services, so file a
complaint against ebaY with the Better Business Bureau, the
FTC and or The Consumer Trouble Shooter.
http://www.troubleshooter.com/data/access.html
BBB Online - http://www.bbbsilicon.org
FTC - https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm

Since ebaY is no longer fully compatible with Microsoft IE, TAG
recommends you have IE, Netscape AND the Opera browsers
on your computer, so you can alternate between them as
required. Better yet use another auction site, where the depth of
problems you find on ebaY does not exist. Opera can be found
at http://www.opera.com
For WebTV users, some users have had some limited success
by unplugging their WebTV unit after each ebaY session for
sufficient time to let the unit. Some other WebTV links that might
be useful -
http://www.collierad.com/coolebaytools/webtvstory.htm
http://www.geocities.com/glynne2/index2.html
Also see the site called The Web TV Zone

To move an item to another category go to -
http://cgi5.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ChangeCategoryShow
ebaY categories with the category number
http://listings.ebay.com/aw/plistings/list/categories.html
An off ebaY category number locator page
http://www.kinem.com/files/cat.htm

TAG no longer reports ebaY numbers because we don't believe
ebaY is providing accurate numbers in their categories anymore.
We believe they are lying about and inflating their numbers to
prevent stockholders from knowing the true state of listing on
ebaY. Even with ebaY's various means of inflating these
numbers, the inclusion of a multitude of foreign sites and the
proliferation of corporate sellers and stores listings, the listing
numbers on ebaY continue to be stagnant for well over a year.
To see the trends on ebaY go to the MedVed site to view their
long term records.
http://www.medved.net/cgi-bin/cal.exe?EIND

ebaY CONTACT for ebaY, ebaY UK, Billpoint, Half.Com,
information including analog mail and email addresses, phone
numbers, regular and toll free, refund info, close account info,
and insider trading info etc can be found at
http://www.auctionguild.com/generic.html?pid=17

ebaY Community boards
http://pages.ebay.com/community/index.html
ebaY news board
http://pages.ebay.com/community/news/index.html
ebaY status announcement board (SAB)
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml
* * * * *
Ubid.com CMGI owned Ubid is providing football fans with the
chance to bid on ten, five-day/four-night packages that include
tickets to Super Bowl XXXVI for one, the bidding for which starts
at $1.00. Beginning today, January 7, and continuing through
Monday, January 21, consumers may bid on the packages at
Ubid, www.ubid.com - searching under "Travel and Events"
category.
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/020107/11036499_1.html
Denise Mancini 773-272-4562 deni-@ubid.com
http://www.ubid.com
* * * * *
Amazon Auctions, zShops and Marketplace
Friday sales, where many sellers pick up great bargains for
resale -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/548166/ref=outl
et_nav_fs/103-1162116-7199055
Find links to all events on the Outlet tab.
http://www.amazon.com

Amazon Announcement Board
http://prospero.amazon.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=am-sellan
nounce&nav=start&ctx=0

Amazon chat boards -
http://prospero.amazon.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=am-sellcon
nect&nav=start&ctx=0

Amazon live telephone customer service 16 hours a day
Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: (800)201-7575
Auction Pro phone number 1-877-251-0696
http://auctions.amazon.com
* * * * *
Yahoo Auction/ Warehouse has added a much requested Seller
Search button to the front page of auctions. They will also be
making Movies & TV and Music top level categories starting Fri
11 Jan. They are working on several other user requested
programs in the areas of fraud, deadbeat bidders and category
changes.

Ongoing Issues -
Users can attempt to seek user to user help at -
http://experts.yahoo.com/expertinbox?b_id=383051397&t_id=op
enboard
and community chat boards at
http://auctions.yahoo.com/html/community/
Live chat
http://chat.yahoo.com/?room=Chat%20Central::1600326456

Remember Yahoo allows links from auctions, and has a MUCH
more liberal and less paranoid point of view on off Yahoo sales.
Yahoo's policy can be found at -
http://auctions.yahoo.com/phtml/auc/us/legal/linking_policy.html

As of 24 Nov 01 Yahoo Auctions had 274,047 listings on the site.
As of 5 Dec 01 Yahoo Auctions had 399,258 listings on their site
As of 7 Dec01 Auctions had 504,507 listings on their site
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
* * * * *
AuctionWeiser.Com has changed its site name to
InterShopZone. InterShopZone will be adding gift services,
banking services, financial and investment services, in addition
to its marketplace in direct orders, auctions, and bartering
services.
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/020107/01036507_1.html

The site is slow, requires endless cookies and has lots of very
annoying pop up ads.
http://www.auctionweiser.com/
* * * * *
NEW AUCTION AND TRADING SITES
http://www.quickbidauction.com/
http://www.littleauction.com/ opening mid-Jan
http://www.antique-show.net/
http://www.playerauctions.com/
* * * * *
PayPal is now allowing buyers to use American Express and
Discover cards.
http://www.paypal.com
* * * * *
The Web TV Zone - Web Hosting and image hosting designed
with WebTV users in mind. 15 mb space costs $60. a year
http://www.wtv-zone.com/index.html
* * * * *
PhotoPoint has finally revealed some information about their
site. "While Pantellic has ceased operations, we are actively
working on a solution for people to get copies of their photos,"
Pantellic President Dale Gass wrote in an e-mail. "There will be
an announcement at www.photopoint.com, and members will be
notified via e-mail when this is available." Complete article at -
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8398159.html?tag=ch_
mh
* * * * *
AuctionTrends is an auction tracking and notification service for
Ubid.com. The site has set mirror sites so users can compare
using an ASP-based site against an identical Microsoft
ASP.NET-based site in a real-world scenario
AuctionTrends - 1381 Kildaire Farm Road, #232 - Cary, NC
27511 919-604-1258
Paul Rony   pa-@auctiontrends.com
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/020107/01036470_1.html
http://www.auctiontrends.com/home/
http://www.auctiontrends.net/home/
* * * * *
US Post Office is seeking a rate increase as early as 30 June
02.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/jan02/2002-01-04-posta
l-rates.htm
If you would like to protest the rate increase or comment on it you
can contact - Board of Governors USPS, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW,
Washington, D.C. 20260-1000. Phone: 202-268-4800 or fax 202-268-
http://www.USPS.com
* * * * *
Online Auction Users Association
http://www.auctionusers.org
************************************************************
PLEASE NOTE: Many long links we post in TAGnotes must be
copy/pasted into your browsers URL/Address box in pieces, with
no extra spaces, to get them to work due to HTML limitations
*************************************************************
Have any information for us? email us at
ta-@theauctionguild.com
TAG Subscribers often contribute information reported on in
TAGnotes.   Visit their auctions or websites.
TAGassist Contributors
http://mygallery.timegonebuy.com/customer/retiredcatlady/retired
catlady.html

http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/paintpower

http://www.longlocks.com

http://www.esnipe.com

http://www.antique-central.com
***********************************************************
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