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Strategies & Market Trends : Gorilla Game Investing in the eWorld -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: StockHawk who wrote (507)	10/28/1999 1:34:00 PM
From: Bruce Brown	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1817

StockHawk, That's exactly the kind of winner take all stakes this Godzilla Game affords. eBay is it, in terms of online auction action. Pretty hard to unseat that brand and stickiness score. Even management has said they don't see any loss in business due to the competition thus far. The only thing I can see is if the 7 million + eBay customers also run over and sign up on Amazon.com's auction site and list their items. Then we have the same group listing at both sites and the same buyers buying at both sites. It could happen (although I doubt it), but then they both benefit. Regardless, this is a clear example of that first to market mania that took hold and is building (or has built) the Godzilla. Then the question becomes - if eBay is the Godzilla, what next? Does one just watch the efficient money machine continue to create cash as well as build up the Godzillaness by adding other partnerships and features or do we run and play a different game? I'm of the belief that eBay is and has won the game. Something really new and exciting would have to come along to pull those 7 million and growing customers off the site to switch their comfortable setting at this point. I'm not saying it can't happen, but the business model of the online auction is the most gorilla like of all the Internet business models - thus sayeth the authors. BB (Long my big 40 shares!)

To: StockHawk who wrote (507)	10/28/1999 1:34:00 PM
From: Poet	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1817

Hi Stock Hawk, I've just taken a very small position in EBAY based on their report (which seems to say nothing new) and my perception that this is "the mother of all auction sites". I appreciate the discussion on EBAY here.

To: StockHawk who wrote (507)	10/28/1999 8:16:00 PM
From: Teflon	Respond to of 1817

StockHawk, I have a hard time disagreeing with your points re EBAY. My perspective is simply that...my opinion. For me, I cannot get over the very thin and fragile thread, EBAY's Brand Name, that gives them their lead in the Market. For me, in the long run, this will not allow them to win the race. They will need more than that, and they may very well succeed on all fronts before their finished. I'm just not willing to invest in them based on their Brand Equity. Not my cup of tea. I completely understand your position on this, however, and would greatly enjoy additional discussions on EBAY that would help elevate my and other's level of understanding as to how EBAY will drive value for their shareholders over the long term and maintain a Godzilla like status in their market segment. Teflon