[meteorite-list] eBay notices and posting quotas

From: E.L. Jones <jonee_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:29:49 2004
Message-ID: <3F52DFA7.3060406_at_epix.net>

  eBay auction notices........arrrrrggggghhhhhh!

While I once defended their posting, in my eyes they have become all too
redundant and a few are obnoxious. Since the early days of this list
the number of dealers has tripled so by shear numbers the amount of
postings have taken a hog share of traffic. There are two frequent
areas of abuse I see in them. This list is worldwide now and just like
some threads here the sun never sets on it! The notice telling me an
auction ends in an hour without telling me which date and hour you are
referring to-- is virtually worthless unless I am online the same time
you are. Someone suggested by convention you state in eBay time when the
auctions close. (BTW an hour's notice is really worthless to mose users
anyway when you think about the timing of things.)

 In large the old time dealers aren't as as insensitive as the late
comers , however, the barrage of notices make me want to place a weekly
quota on the number of posts about eBay auctions.

I propose ONE only in a seven day period. Either the start or the
approaching end of an auction series-- let the seller choose which is
more important. Serious dealers (ahem) have the savvy to set up their
own announcement lists and/or to use the meteorite sale list. Those
more interested in selling/ trading (vs. bragging and cyber-battery) use
the meteorite sale list--An underutilized resource lost time and again
on some of the most flagrant abusers--but I digress.

If you ARE going to make an announcement, make it worth my time. If you
are posting just to tell me you have some auctions on ebay...(yawn) we
both have better things to do. If you have something NOTEWORTHY tell me
what it is and be specific. Understand that if I am a typical buyer,
 I am already working through the ebay catagory on a regular basis and I
have SEEN your auctions. If I am a fan of yours, I have already gone
thru your entire list a second time.

I am not a list rule maker but I think I am expressing what others want
to say or have said time and again. Speaking of rules... the
requirement to place a SALE or AD(ADVERT?) in the subject line on any
post of that nature is probably the most abused rule list I am aware of.
Whatever is used please standardize it so mail filters can be setup that
work.

Lets choose up sides and let the replies begin.....

Elton
Received on Mon 01 Sep 2003 01:56:55 AM PDT