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.

Microcap & Penny Stocks : Bid.com International (BIDS) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Muwamba who wrote (22135)	4/19/1999 10:18:00 AM
From: lib	Respond to of 37507

An interesting article to pass the time... eBay mulls fixed-price auctions By Kora McNaughton Staff Writer, CNET News.com April 16, 1999, 5:30 p.m. PT eBay has been surveying user reaction to sales of fixed-price items on its site, in a further indication that the leading auction site is looking to move beyond its core business of person-to-person auctions. If eBay were to add fixed-price auctions--in which the seller sets a minimum price and the first bidder to top it wins--it would follow the lead of AuctionUniverse, a smaller competitor. Last month, AuctionUniverse launched a new type of listing known as "FirstBid Wins" for those who want to sell quickly at a specific price rather than wait for an auction to close. Often, those sellers are businesses who want the exposure that a popular site brings but aren't willing to auction items below retail prices. Although eBay has registered more than 2 million users on the strength of its person-to-person auction format, new competitors like Amazon.com are making a bigger play for the business-to-consumer market, where consumers bid on items from retailers rather than individuals. According to Forrester Research, within a few years business-to-consumer transactions will dwarf the person-to-person auction market. Earlier this week, eBay sent out a survey to certain users about fixed-price auctions, and also asked if they would be in favor of adding retailers to the site and allowing them, as well as individual sellers, to set up storefronts that would pull together multiple listings. eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove said the company has no plans yet to add fixed-price auctions. The survey "just gives us a sense of how users feel about the issue," he said. The profitable auction site certainly has the capital to expand into new lines of business, and is looking around for new opportunities. Earlier this week, eBay completed a $1.1 billion secondary offering, the largest Internet stock offering ever. Earlier this week, eBay and San Francisco auction house Butterfield & Butterfield announced a plan to create a new category for high-level art and antique auctions on the eBay site. eBay's most formidable competitor, Amazon Auctions doesn't list fixed-price auctions, the site has aggressively courted merchants who want to sell some of their merchandise in an auction format. The site was launched with more than 100 charter merchants, whose listings are mixed in individuals' listings.