Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : OnSale Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Apache Indian who wrote (2336)	12/4/1998 9:47:00 PM
From: Doug Fowler	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4903

>>EBAY????? ONSL already tied up with YHOO for person to person auctions, If I wanted to sell my camcorder would I go to EBAY and pay 5% on my sale, or go to Yahoo for free ? Chances are I've not even heard of EBAY, unless I'm a stock market addict.<< I'll tell you EXACTLY where you'll go if you are a smart seller. You will go to eBay. First, on something like a camcorder, eBay only takes about 3 percent IF it reaches your desired price. The 5 percent is only on the first $25. Example: $2 listing fee, 5 percent of the first $25 and 2.5 percent after that. Let's say your camcorder brings $500. Your total eBay fees are $15.12, or about 3 percent. (On Yahoo, you probably wouldn't sell it because there are SO FEW BIDDERS. They've got the sellers, but not the buyers.) eBay BRINGS in the traffic, so that you get a good chance at a decent price for your camcorder. As far as the OnSale/Yahoo person to person auctions. Let's see, there are 90,000 of them running right now, compared to 1.1M for eBay. eBay makes money when an item sells, and gets a listing fee even if it doesn't. eBay stock is overvalued, in my opinion, but they have the superb business model. No contest whatsoever. As far as people not having heard of eBay: well, 1.1M auctions doesn't seem to back it up, but if you believe that, imagine how far eBay has to go before they get close to saturation....

To: Apache Indian who wrote (2336)	12/5/1998 11:48:00 AM
From: D.J.Smyth	Respond to of 4903

Apache <<1 out of 2 PCs sold in US are sold by small manufacturers who resort to agencies, dealers or gray markets for their supply... And whats up with this obsession with the term 'AUCTION'>> People connect the term "auction" with a guy in a white cowboy hat, utilizing a hand held microphone, and saying "who'll give me one, I've got..." Actually nearly every commodity in the world utilizes "spot markets" which is nothing more than an "auction" of commodities. ONSL is proposing that these "spot markets" utilize one main site to list their prices, wares. The recent power shortage in the Northwest is an example of a Spot Market in extreme need of more centralizing. Some utilities in Chicago were forced to call up to 20 "power brokers" to get enough to keep things running. A couple utilities paid up to 200 times the normal rate. The utilities complained that power brokers were purposefully colluding to bid the price up. A site like ONSLs would, in certain ways help (1) centralize spot market bidding thus lessen time to market and cost, (2) better qualify the sellers and buyers (Chicago was EXTREMELY burned when promised power from a brokerage which didn't deliver - ended up in court), (3) create a more competitive environment relative to spot market pricing (help decrease collusion). Such is the site which Vertical Net is helping create.