| Author | Content |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 19, 2008
05:34 PM Post #5573406
| The longer I am selling here on the marketplace the more I get aware of the fact that some sellers bump their items up to the first page on a regular basis. Ending the items to just list them new for the sole purpose to be shown on page one again.
This is a very unfair tactic and disadventages everyone else's listings. We all want to be on page one, right? But instead of relisting unsold items over and over again, how about just listing some new ones? I think every one should get the chance to be for some time on page one when they list something new and not getting pushed back by those who just relist old stuff.
I think, common sense should tell those sellers "same right for everyone"
|
Dutchlady1
Naples, FL
(Zone 10a)
September 19, 2008
05:40 PM Post #5573438
| mmm, then again, some of us discontinue items when we are going to be out of town, and then relist them when we are back.
I think it is unfair to assume this is always being done to gain 'unfair advantage'.
|
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 19, 2008
06:19 PM Post #5573602
| It is exactly this, Dutchlady1. How difficult would it be just to edit the items and write: Cannot ship until date x, because out of town. And then when back remove this part.
I was not talking about a one time occurance. I am talking about regularity, like every week or every other day. The honest sellers will soon be at the very end due to a few bad apples that push their items up over and over again. |
shushinggrasses
September 19, 2008
07:07 PM Post #5573788
| Is it possible something like this is happening? Say I'm selling 10 each of plants X, Y, and Z. When I've sold them all, and have more to sell, I repost the original listings, because I won't be creating a new, different listing for each plant, with another 10 more available of each one.
It would look just like my original listings, but would be new plants, and so would get posted to the most recent page.
Might that be happening here, and just look like bumping old ads?
|
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 19, 2008
07:19 PM Post #5573821
| Why are you all trying to justify this behavior? I wouldn't have mentioned it, if it was a one time occurance. But like I said, some sellers do this with EVERY item they have almost every other day.
Do you think, they sell all their items every other day? Or go out of town every other day? |
Dutchlady1
Naples, FL
(Zone 10a)
September 19, 2008
07:56 PM Post #5573901
| I think before this gets ugly, I would voice concerns to the admin.
|
june_nmexico
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7a)
September 19, 2008
08:07 PM Post #5573946
| I agree. People here are just offering possible reasons and not
trying to justify anything.
Hopefully Admin will have some input here. The Marketplace has
been a peaceful endeavor and there's always a solution to any
issues.
|
gone2seed
Milton, FL
(Zone 8a)
September 19, 2008
08:10 PM Post #5573954
| I bump mine up.I sell the same items over and over.As the items sell I add more and re-launch.This results in a bump up. |
shushinggrasses
September 19, 2008
08:15 PM Post #5573965
| I was only asking a question, Turtlegaby, not trying to justify any behavior. Someone like you, who currently shows 231 items for sale, would probably want someone in Admin. to help them with guidelines about how Marketplace space should be shared. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 19, 2008
08:24 PM Post #5573993
| I reported this already earlier and I can assure you, the Admin is not happy about this practice either and asked me to report in the future, if I see other ones doing this. And I will report everyone whom I catch.
I just ask for a fair play, that's all. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
10:07 AM Post #5575867
| I take things off the marketplace and relaunch them later, usually at a changed price too. If we cancel items and relaunch--that is the result.
But I only have 12 items on the MarketPlace--only 4 of them are seeds
I might add that we were told not to list our entire website catalog on the the marketplace either--you are listing 231 items, that's an entire catalog. |
gone2seed
Milton, FL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
10:17 AM Post #5575917
| A simple change to more categories would eliminate most of this problem.231 items in one or two categories definately creates more of a problem than the automatic bump ups of relisted items.We need many changes to the marketplace and this is just one of them.I suspect Dave has hurricane damage ahead of marketplace changes right now. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
10:30 AM Post #5575975
| might add that we were told not to list our entire website catalog on the the marketplace either--you are listing 231 items, that's an entire catalog.
Can you point that out to me please? I couldn't find anywhere a number restriction. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
10:39 AM Post #5576014
| DIRECT CUT AND PASTE FROM OPENING ADMIN EMAIL:
Dear Deborah,
Announcing a new way to sell your plants, seeds, tools and other
garden-related items!
Over the years, Dave's Garden has become the largest and most respected
go-to gardening website by providing award-winning features such as the
Garden Watchdog and PlantFiles, plus innovative marketing tools like
PlantScout. No matter how big or small your company's marketing budget is,
you already know that we have the tools to help you increase your sales and
name recognition with gardeners around the world.
We are pleased to invite you to our newest feature, the DG Marketplace,
where you can list plants, seeds, and any farm-and-garden related products
for sale, and instantly reach the largest group of gardeners on the web.
This is the perfect way to quickly clear out your end-of-season or
overstocked items.
There are no buyer fees, and any member of Dave's Garden can see and
purchase your listings. The seller fees are as follows:
* $0.20 per listing (waived for DG subscribers)
* 3% of selling price, excluding shipping costs and any taxes, etc.
Our goal is to keep the listing fees simple and reasonable; in return, we
trust our sellers to not inflate their shipping fees.
The marketplace was developed and launched with input from dozens of
experienced buyers and sellers, who guided our efforts. The result is a
simple, easy to use format and built-in traffic, which has already
generated hundreds of listings and sales.
Your listings can be as simple or sophisticated as you choose to make
them, and they are completely stand-alone; the listings are not tied into a
website unless you want to choose to link them into your site.
Please note that the intention of the Marketplace is not to be a place
where you post your whole catalog of products. The idea is to post special
offers that may not be available to your regular customers. There are
thousands of DG members who watch the Marketplace daily looking for special
deals.
Are you ready to try out the marketplace? Here's a tutorial that explains
how to set up listings and track your sales from beginning to end:
http://davesgarden.com/products/market/sell/tutorial/
Happy gardening!
Dave Whitinger
Dave's Garden
****notice next to last paragraph
I might note that EVERYTHING I have on the MarketPlace is well below the price I sell these items at on my website, with the exception of one pkt of seeds.
Debbie
|
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
10:40 AM Post #5576017
| And for all of those who think it's ok to cancel and relist the same items for the purpose to bump them up, here is the reply I got from the admin, when I reported the problem the first time I noticed it.
"Thank you for letting us know about this problem. We have created a
limit on their account that will prevent them from repeatedly
"bumping" their marketplace listings above everyone else's, and we
obviously aren't happy with a vendor trying to abuse the system.
If you find anyone else attempting the same thing, please let us
know. At this time, we are handling these on an individual basis;
hopefully no one else will try this maneuver."
|
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
10:44 AM Post #5576033
| To the email you received dmj, it is a personal email and not an official restriction. As long as it is nowhere mentioned, there simply is no restriction. And btw. I have over 700 items in my cataloge, and 240 items is only a small part of it. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
10:45 AM Post #5576038
| It was sent out to all the vendors; not just me. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
10:46 AM Post #5576041
| It wasn't sent out to me |
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
10:47 AM Post #5576044
| While I don't practice this, it certainly occurred to me to do so, as it would anyone with experience in sales and marketing, and a desire to grow their business. If I can give my business an advantage without breaking rules, why wouldn't I want to do so? If I were listing more, I'd probably bump them up on a weekly or bi-weekly rate, just as they are with Ebay. The marketplace checkout is too cumbersome, and manual to fit with our current order entry system, so I'm waiting until it's a smoother ride. When it is though, I'll take every edge within the rules.
While it may not be liked by many, I won't complain about it to anyone other than admin, as those that do it aren't breaking any current rules. If there's no rule against it, all you can do is push to have the rule changed, and they're the only ones that can do that. They may express to you that they're unhappy about it, but until they make a change, I'd guess its not THAT big of an issue.
Lots of "assuming" going on here, and we've all heard where that leads. Just because someone lists 231 items, doesn't mean it's "their" entire catalog. It could be double what someone else has, but 1/10th of others.
Chris |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
10:55 AM Post #5576082
| Buried treasures, when you read the reply I got from the admin, it says:
"We have created a
limit on their account that will prevent them from repeatedly
"bumping" their marketplace listings above everyone else's"
I think it is not a practice that will be tolerated, even though it is not mentioned anywhere.
I do not want to report people, all I ask for is fair play.
As long as the listings are up with an unlimited time, there is unfortunately only the chance for newer listed items to be on page one. If there was a time limit like let's say 30 day listings, You would have to relist every 30 days, but that's not the case. |
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
11:00 AM Post #5576102
| I read it, and see that they use the word "repeatedly". Is that daily? Weekly? Hourly? Monthly? They didn't say what the limit is. They may have told the individual, and may handle it on an individual basis, but now a situation has been created that restricts some sellers and not all, which is an unfair practice. Its far to ambiguous, and creates an atmosphere of discontent as is evidenced in this thread.
Chris |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
11:08 AM Post #5576140
| There would not be an unfair practice, if sellers didn't bump up their listings.
I think, everybody who lists something new should have the same chance to be for a while on page one with their items without getting pushed back by those who just relist old stuff. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
11:11 AM Post #5576149
| There will be always people who take adventage of others without braking any written rules, but that doesn't make it automatically right. |
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
11:15 AM Post #5576164
| They're not taking advantages of others, they're taking advantage of the system as its currently in place. Change the system.
Chris |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
11:20 AM Post #5576191
| Look, if you all had to pay insertion fees like anywhere else, nobody would do this.
Dave was generous enough to not charge any insertion fees for members and those who relist their old stuff over and over again are taking advantage of his generousity.
If Dave desides to change this because of those who bump up, because this is the only way to prevent sellers from doing this, then it will be an increase in fees for us all.
|
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
11:50 AM Post #5576305
| Depending on insertion fees, it wouldn't stop all. It would stop those with shallower pockets, and/or lower ROI, but definitely not those with more to invest. Would I pay an additional insertion fee per week to keep my items on the front page? For many of them, in a heart beat.
You can't take any of this personally. There are several different types of sellers in the market place, and combinations of sellers. Some are just listing a few excess items, to pay for their plant habit, others have small businesses but are also part of the social community of Dave's. There are also some that are on there strictly for the business aspect, and have no interaction on a personal level. If I were this third entity, I wouldn't hesitate to do what's allowed within the current rules, but I'm not. I'm part of the community and I know that wouldn't go over well.
Lets say I'm a sales guy at a big nursery. I discover a new sales channel in the form of the DG Marketplace, and my job is to sell plants. I create listings and then discover that by ending my listings, and re-starting them, I get better positioning. My sales go up, my boss is happy, I get a nice little bonus. I don't even know people are complaining, because again, I'm not a member of the community. I'm just a guy doing my job with all that's available to me, including the ability to position my items at the top of the listings on a regular basis. I don't know there's anything wrong with that. I read the rules, and there was no mention of it. Then I get a note from admin, saying I can't do this. Not that they've changed the rules. Nope. They just changed the rule as it pertains to me. Now I'm ticked, and instead of doing my job, I now finding myself policing the Market Place to find others that are still getting away with doing what I am no longer allowed to do.
All I'm saying is that the only way to change this is to change the system, but don't take it personally, or hold it against those that do. They're within the rules, until the rules are changed.
Chris |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
12:04 PM Post #5576351
| And is if fair to someone like myself who only list 5-10 items to get buried by someone listing 231 items? Until Dave can come up with more categories that will limit everything being piled into just a few, I will do whatever I need to do to compete. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
12:15 PM Post #5576381
| And is if fair to someone like myself who only list 5-10 items to get buried by someone listing 231 items?
It is as fair as it can be, because also I get buried with my 231 items because of those that relist permanentely. If your items are priced right, buyers will find you anyway, no need to bump things up.
Buried Treasures, I see your point, but you also could see Admin's reaction to the practice bumping things up. when they get aware of this is a common practice here, they will change the rules and probably charge insertion fees. So you guys are hurting yourself.
It doesn't matter, if some would do it though, even though they had to pay fees. It will be a choice then of each single seller to spend more money to be on the top and this is just fine. But as long as it's free, it's taking adventage of others who don't do it and abusing the system. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
12:25 PM Post #5576407
| I agree with budgie.
I think that insertion fees would hurt the hobby sellers who are just trying to support their plant hobby more than anyone else. It would also be another fee that sellers have to add into their price and pretty soon there are no "bargains" or "specials" for the customers. I know I have to consider 2.9% + .30 for PayPal plus 3% for Dave every time I price something. If I also had to add an insertion fee, prices would go up even more. Or I would simply stop listing as much and the customer loses then with less to choose from.
But I tend not to whine--it really doesn't bother me if someone adds stuff above mine; I don't take it personally.
There are a lot of glitches with the MarketPlace but they are easy to get around. Multiple dmails for multiple items a customer wants at the same time--cut and paste your response and use the same one for all of them. I often have multiple different sales from the same customer--it takes less than a minute to handle all those dmails. NPB's--I look at their feedback, if they have none, I simply go up to edit and add one more item, if they buy it can be edited down when they do--no big deal. I have to honestly say that the NPB problem isn't one for me anymore. The real sales have far outnumbered the NPB's. Orders in your Seller's area a problem? Hit the status--hitting every column and re-ordering everything across the top takes about 2 seconds.
I consider all of these things just another part of my job--whether they are handled here or on my website, it doesn't matter. The most important thing to me is that my customers are happy--and they seem to be by the Watchdog. If it takes me a little more time to deal with a problem or a glitch, I'm not going to whine about it.
Everything is never going to be perfect for everybody.
Debbie
=) |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
12:47 PM Post #5576439
| Insertion fees would hurt everyone, not only the hobby sellers. That was exactly my point. By bumping up your old listings, you are forcing Dave to charge insertion fees to make this an end. And we all will have to deal with the consequences, just because some of you want to permanentely be ahead of other ones. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
01:06 PM Post #5576498
| I think by reading this that's its obviously only a complaint of one--I've been around here a long time (since 2001) and I've never seen Dave change policy over a single complaint. So I don't think he is going to change it now. And I don't think Dave has ever been "forced" to do something he did not want to do in the first place. If he decides to charge insertion fees--and that's his choice--I don't think it will have anything to do with seller's bumping items up.
The best time to have made this complaint was during the VERY LONG discussions on how to set up the MarketPlace before it was ever set up--which I don't recall the issue being raised then (it could have been, I just don't recall it).
There are a lot of other issues with the MarketPlace like multiple catagories, etc. that are probably a lot more pressing and affect a lot more people. And issues about how to make it easier on the customer to use.
I know Dave has had hurricane issues to deal with and I know I had to retarp my entire roof for the second time yesterday--so I tend not to let the "little stuff" be an issue to me. |
Dutchlady1
Naples, FL
(Zone 10a)
September 20, 2008
01:38 PM Post #5576618
| Sigh - enough already. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
01:42 PM Post #5576629
| I am not wondering at all about some reactions here, because those of you who defend this strategy of bumping up, are the ones doing it.
You could all see that the admin doesn't appreciate this behavior, so it's on you to change it and play fair game. I will from now on report everyone, and hopefully the admin finds a solution on how to best deal with this problem.
|
shushinggrasses
September 20, 2008
01:45 PM Post #5576644
| Turtlegaby, how do you handle your own listings, how often do you bump things up, if at all? |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
01:55 PM Post #5576678
| Admin has never said anything to me at all about my MarketPlace sales; or very little else as far as that goes. I can only assume that I'm conducting myself within their acceptable limits.
Much ado about nothing
=) |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
01:55 PM Post #5576681
| I list them once and that is it, I do respect everyone who lists new items. If I want to be on page one, then I list something new. |
KatG
Port Charlotte, FL
(Zone 10a)
September 20, 2008
02:22 PM Post #5576767
| Turtlegaby...If you're worried about your listings getting buried - I think you've got yourself well covered! Actually I should re-phrase that, From the looks of things - You have too many listings to get lost in the shuffle!
If I look at your listings on the seed category alone, you make up more than 50% of all listings. There's nothing wrong with that, but if I was a seed seller, selling a small amount of my treasured seeds (like most on here), I wouldn't want to get buried when you come along and list 100 items at a time.
I can't speak for anybody else, but when I'm looking for plants or seeds and find something interesting with a Seller, I always click to see what else they have for sale.
If I was under your 220 seed listings, I think I would bump myself up too!
Kat |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
02:40 PM Post #5576836
| Kat, when I first got aware of this was when I listed appr. 100 items one day. As soon as I had listed 9 items that filled the first page, an other seller came along and relisted 9 of his old items to push me immediatly back on page 2. First I didn't realize it, but when the same thing happend that day up to 10 times and every time as soon as the first page was filled with my listings, that same seller listed his old stuff over and over again. It was like a listing war, except that my new stuff didn't get the buyer's attention like it should have to, because it didn't even stay a minute on page one. Instead the buyers saw on page one the same listings from this other seller the entire day.
It is not only unfair to sellers who list new stuff, it is also unfair to buyers who want to see new stuff and not the same old listing over and over again on page one. This results in a bad buyer experience, when they see the same stuff on page one every time they log in and sooner or later it will drive them away.
I cannot believe that there is nobody who understands my point.
Even though I have 230 listings up, they are all the way back, because I don't relist and everybody else does. If you were a new buyer and would look at the marketplace every day just to see the old listings on top of the page every day, would you come back? Certainly not. |
shushinggrasses
September 20, 2008
03:02 PM Post #5576914
| Is Dave's Garden Marketplace an appropriate place for one seller to list 100 items a day? |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
03:12 PM Post #5576944
| I don't see where it says that there is a limit in how much on can list. Dave's garden is not just a place for private gardners. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
03:24 PM Post #5576983
| As far as scaring off customers--I've sold seeds off MarketPlace this morning during this discussion, so that can't be the case. I sell niche stuff no one else is selling other than one kind of seeds. You should be very aware that your customers and potential customers are also viewing this thread. |
gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
September 20, 2008
03:27 PM Post #5576998
| I observed this and looked around. I have some thoughts to shared intended to be viewed objectively as suggestions for the DG suggestion box.
There are only 40 slots for ads on each page. That means a continual list of 100 items will end on page 3. Surely there could be a clever solution that would increase coverage for everyone?
Maybe, ya`ll could all agree to list up to 10 items a day or maybe at most 10 items in the morning and 10 items at night? That way it is sort of like taking turns or giving room for others so its sharing the free garage sale area? The money DG gets is supportive of them and I like thinking of people supporting DG for providing a space for them. Even doing this 140 items a week sounds like a lot of free adds.
Why not just have store ads where the seller only needs to put up their single first come first serve add announcing a clearance sale with brief discription or whatever is going on which goes to their see all items page? Is is possible something like that could be done?
It sounds good but I don`t know how the software works or what the limitations may be. I remember asking my husband if he could refinish our wood floors one year. He informed me it would be a lot of work. So then I had to understand His limitations. He wanted to give me my beautiful shiny floors but I needed to understand it wasn`t going to be easy.
Karen |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
03:31 PM Post #5577013
| I would support a limit on listings per day--that would be easy for me, I've never even had 40 listings in one day.
=) |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
03:39 PM Post #5577039
| Lol @ your woodfloors gardener.
I think those are excellent ideas, but I am afraid, we have limitations here regarding the software and what it's able to.
To operate stores and all the things requested from different members which would make selling a lot easier, is obviously something that would require special softwares and programs, also programmer that can deal with glitches, when they happen. etc.
I don't think it will be possible here. I usually don't list 100 items a day, it was just because I was new at the marketplace and wanted most of my items to get up asap. Now I only list a few each week, if at all. A major draw back is for me getting all these nonpayers. Although we don't pay fees for them, it is an incredible work to sort out checks and MOs every day, when you have 3 other stores where checks are accepted, and most buyers don't include any item or order number with their checks. So I have to go through all the nonpayers every day to see which check matches which address. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
03:45 PM Post #5577066
| Dave is the programmer for this site--and if its worthwhile for him to do, he does it.
What you are describing as far as checks coming in--that's called a normal day's work around here. Quite frankly, in this economy and with as much choice as everyone has--I'm thankful for every order I get--but I have "streamlining" tasks (making the work easier for me) handled from this end. I generate invoices for every sale so I don't need special printouts from Dave's (or anywhere else either) for my own recordkeeping. I also don't need to sell on ebay, 99% of my sales are straight off my website.
I do know that the MarketPlace was set up to be very different from ebay. And I, for one, am very happy it is.
=)
This message was edited Sep 20, 2008 2:58 PM |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
03:53 PM Post #5577100
| An other aspect is, the more features we get, the more work and costs are involved for the programmer, (in this case Dave), and the question on how to spread the costs.
I think, we don't pay a lot, because everything is pretty simple. If it was loaded with features and fancyness, we would have to pay higher fees. |
gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
September 20, 2008
04:39 PM Post #5577243
| DG marketplace looks like a place for people to list bargain price items to give people a break from bid wars on ebay. I don`t think from what I`m seeing that it is designed to be a big money maker for either Daves or the sellers. So then it only makes sense since it is small that there should be a limit on the number of ads per day each seller puts on there. We have observed that placing lots of adds at one time results in people needing to go out of their way bumping ads to try and be seen.
With limits set on numbers of free ads per day and more different sellers offering their best deals this way there is actually a more distributed variety. That sounds pretty exiting to me and has more of a community"lets do this together as one" idea rather than the disgruntled competition I don`t want to experience such as ebay is infamous for.
I`ll get off my soap box now. Again, please view my statements as suggestions only. It quit raining so I have to go plant.
Karen
|
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
04:46 PM Post #5577276
| turtlegaby wrote: [q]I am not wondering at all about some reactions here, because those of you who defend this strategy of bumping up, are the ones doing it.[/q]
I've neither defended it nor done it, and am really puzzled by you accusing all of us in this "discussion", of doing it as you have above. Nor have I attacked you, as you are above.
Since you clearly don't want to see any side of this issue other than your own, you may as well mark this thread closed, as it was never really open in the first place.
Chris |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
04:55 PM Post #5577300
| What is your point buriedtreasure?. If you didn't defend it, then my quote posted above was not meant for you.
I wrote clearly, the ones who defend it...
My post also wasn't meant to be an attack but an expression of my opinion, which is, living in the USA, my good right.
If someone feels attacked, then obviously because they feel they are doing wrong. |
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
05:05 PM Post #5577323
| No, but you did accuse anyone that defends it, of actually doing it. That's pretty clear by that part in quotes up there. That was my point. If you don't understand it I'm sorry. I really can't find a way to make it simpler.
Chris |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
05:16 PM Post #5577344
| You justified yourself by saying: I didnt' defend it...My post was to those that defend it, not to those that didn't defend it.
But I see it's going nowhere. So this is my last post.
As I said earlier, I will report those who bump their listings up and Dave's team may decide how to handle it. |
Dutchlady1
Naples, FL
(Zone 10a)
September 20, 2008
05:22 PM Post #5577367
| "So this is my last post."
AMEN |
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
05:24 PM Post #5577378
| I know. I just don't think that ALL of those that defended it are engaging in it is you were quoted as saying.
Not sure what the difference is, but you have this one listed identically twice.
TRUMPET CREEPER orange CAMPSIS RADICANS 500 seeds.
Quantity and variety appear to be the same, so I assume its the same ad.1 listed today, and you still have one running from the 11th.
Chris |
shushinggrasses
September 20, 2008
05:28 PM Post #5577394
| I think this thread has been useful in bringing up a couple issues that, while uncomfortable, do need to be addressed by Administration.
As Buried Treasures so aptly pointed out, there are several types of sellers on the Marketplace. And there are probably several types of buyers too. I'm the kind of buyer who's looking for the specialty or hobbyist grower, who has their own photos, of their own plants, and offers something unusual that they have experience with. I'm not looking for a seller who has scores of listings with photos they did not take, of plants they do not grow, for material they purchased off other websites, and then doubled or tripled the price to resell on the Marketplace. While that may be a legitimate business, I didn't think that was what the Marketplace was created to offer. But if other buyers want to buy from that type of seller, I have no reason to interfere. I am getting tired of having to scroll through a barrage of one seller's listings to find something of interest and value to me, but nobody is making me shop here.
I do think the issue of access to the fresh-listings page, and overall access to space on the Marketplace, could be solved by limiting the frequency that a given listing could be refreshed to maybe every two weeks, and by limiting the number of total listings a seller has up at one time, maybe 20 or 30. If the Marketplace thrives, and has more sellers and more buyers, then competition for fresh-listing prominence as well as overall presence among other listings will increase, and hopefully Admin. will provide limits to help everybody share the space equitably. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
05:41 PM Post #5577449
| Thank you Buried Treasures for pointing this out. I didn't relize i had it double listed. You may have seen that I greatly decreased the price on the one listed today. But you are right, it wasn't meant to be listed twice. I deleted the one for $24 and let the one for $10.
|
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
05:42 PM Post #5577451
| No problem. 231 Listings is a lot to manage.
Chris |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
05:52 PM Post #5577494
| Don't feel bad. My seeds are on page 16 behind 200+ of Turtlegaby. No doubt people will get tired of looking by the time they do get to mine. Perhaps I'll change the price and bump them up. |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
06:12 PM Post #5577553
| I have really found this thread very interesting.
I have not bought or sold on the Marketplace as yet but do plan on being a customer at some point. Turtlegaby's posts sound very defensive, as though she thinks someone is going to sell more than her company because of ad "bumping". It's not like someone can erase someone else's ads. I think most customers will do as I do and scan different pages to see if something interests them.
I was a bit surprised when I saw many businesses (who also have their own websites) selling on the Marketplace. I didn't even realize there would be businesses listing items for sale.
Even though I have not made purchases yet, I still quite often visit the Marketplace and I go back though many pages just to see what is listed. So, bumping doesn't make any difference to me whatsoever. If I see something that catches my eye and it's listed at what I consider a reasonable price, with reasonable shipping, I will purchase it. It doesn't matter to me what page it happens to be listed on!
I don't visit e-bay so I have no idea how things are done on there. I love the way Dave & Company run this Garden. I don't think Admin. needs the headaches of someone "tattling" on others because they think they have been wronged or that they are losing out on sales because their ads have been pushed back a page or two.
|
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
06:13 PM Post #5577560
| shushinggrasses, I fully respect your attitude against sellers who resell.
But it is my understanding, that Dave's garden is a place for both, hobby gardeners and resellers, as they also display online retailer's listings and stores in the Plantscout.
I am not only a reseller, I am also a passionate hobby gardener, growing many plants (seeds) in my own yard. My listings are a mix of both. I do this for a living and my own yard doesn't produce enough to pay all my bills. So I am always searching for sources of rare and hard to find seeds that nobody else sells in the USA. Fortunately I was able to find a reliable source for those very rare and unusual seeds and many buyers appreciate it very much to find a huge variety of those seeds in one store (place) to which they otherwise never would have access, because of import permissions and restrictions.
You mentioned the prices and I would like to explain what all is required to import those rare seeds. They come from South Africa and a phytosanity certificate must be purchased for every order. Beside that I need to have an import permission from the USDA in order to get the seeds into the country. This also isn't free and a lot of paper work. Add high postage fees and a long waiting time to receive the seeds, then you may understand, why my seeds are higher priced than the ones from a hobby gardener.
What makes the marketplace so unique is a mix of extremely rare seeds and of all the private grown plants and seeds from hobby gardeners. There is something for everyone's taste and desire. While it bothers you to wade through hundreds of listings from resellers, an other buyer who is after the rare seeds I sell, may be happy to find this great selection here.
So there is no one answer to who should list here and how much, because everything finds it's one buyer who was just searching for that special listing.
|
sibhskylvr
(Mike) Batesville, AR
(Zone 7a)
September 20, 2008
06:25 PM Post #5577586
| I have to agree with plantladylin! :) I scan the marketplace a couple of times a week. If there's something that interests me - I check it out! If not - I keep going! Quite simple! However - I would like to see new items listed as they appear. It would help to see what's 'newly' listed on a daily basis. I feel if someone's looking for something they need (or want) - they'll find it, no matter what page it's on!
Mike
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
06:32 PM Post #5577614
| Wow--that's interesting information to me. I am a professional bulb grower and I grow everything from seed--not including LA Iris and a couple of "heirloom" bulbs. I don't sell imported seed--its what I use to grow my own stock. I import seeds from probably the largest South African native seed exporter there is (might have heard of them, SilverHill seeds). The phyto to get them in here has never been more than $5.00 for me (they combine orders and ship to a friend in Illinois--the total is $65.00 for all their combined orders) and there is no USDA requirements on my end. I have been doing this for years. Shipping is negligible, maybe $5 on a $250.00 seed order.
I also export Zephyranthes and Habranthus seeds to nearly every country on the globe with no problems either; and import them too.
Golly-gee, maybe I better bump my bulb prices up a bit on my website. My species glad and Freesia bulbs already sell out so fast I don't have time to even list them on the website...
|
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
06:44 PM Post #5577668
| I am also an Ebay seller and my experience is that 80% of the buyers don't read anything and don't look beyond page one. While longtime Dave garden members like you both Plantladylyn and sibhskylvr are used to how it works here and enjoy browsing through older listings, most of the newer members don't. They look at page one and if they see the same listings there on a daily basis, they don't bother to browse deeper. And that was all I wanted to point out. Not every buyer is the same and there may be some who look deeper, but the majority of buyers only look at page one. And the sellers who are bumping know about it, that's why they bump.
dmj, some sources charge more than $50 for a phyto, depending on how much you buy. And yes you need an import permission, if you do it without, then you are doing something very illegal. |
shushinggrasses
September 20, 2008
06:44 PM Post #5577672
| Turtlegaby, I don't know which of your seeds you actually had to import from South Africa and pay a phyto fee. I think a lot of what you offer can be purchased by anyone from Banana Tree Seeds for one half to one quarter of the prices you charge. You charge almost a dollar a seed for your Protea, five times what you'd pay at Banana Tree. Seed diversity is wonderful, it's great to have selections from all over the world, but when I can already find them online, I feel that seeing them again, for a higher price on the Marketplace, is not an advantage to me as a plant shopper. I'm also turned off by empty assertions about something being "rare and hard to find seeds that nobody else sells in the USA". I don't know about which of your seeds you are making that claim, but to me that's sales fluff, and makes me say, no way will I buy from that seller.
Just my preferences, clearly, I am not one of your customers. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
06:55 PM Post #5577724
| Well, I did not list everything here. As I said, my catalog is a lot more than what I have listed here. You buy wherever you can find your seeds cheaper, that's your choice Shushing. I know that I have seeds that aren't sold by anyone else and I do have my customers for those, and not just in the USA. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
06:56 PM Post #5577726
| read carefully, they are going thru someone in Illinois--I'm not doing anything illegal. I really doubt seeds for resell have phyto paid on them either--esp. when the identical seeds and identical pictures are listed with a dozen different vendors on ebay.
I would never personally sell seeds I had not grown myself--you can't guarantee they are as they claim to be if not. That means a lot to me and my business. |
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 20, 2008
07:03 PM Post #5577760
| Brokers often take on the task of having the import permit, and purchasing through them is 100% legal. As a matter of fact, purchasing without an import permit, is not illegal at all. The import permit facilitates customs clearance. Without it, items can be delayed in customs indefinitely until certain conditions are met. It is not however "illegal". For it to be illegal, there would have to be a law. Please don't confuse rules, policies, and procedures with laws. If you break a law, you can be fined, jailed, etc. Importing without a permit, they just take your plants. There are no fines involved.
Prior to BT I worked in the Horticultural brokering end of the business for the last 15 years, and have been around it since I could walk.
Turtlegaby, you probably should have stuck by your guns when you said it was your last post.
Chris |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
07:06 PM Post #5577769
| I only purchase from very reliable growers, not from distributors. That way I can be sure I get what I ordered. You are lucky enough to live in a zone where you can grow most tropicals, I cannot. That's why I need to be sure, my source is reliable. |
phicks
Lakeland, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
07:23 PM Post #5577836
| Better Stop All This Paul |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 20, 2008
07:25 PM Post #5577849
| See Chris, I don't go over a broker as I don't trust 3rd parties. I buy directly with my own permission. When you have a business there is no room for uncertainness and possible delays or possible destruction of the seeds through the custom when you don't have the required paperwork.
Brokers charge extra money for their service, which I would have to load on my customers shoulders. I am going the cheapest and safest way I can.
Regarding your last comment, you may exercise a little bit more tolerance for people who have an other opinion than yourself.
You all have a great weekend, I have more important things to do now. |
Terry
Murfreesboro, TN
(Zone 7a)
 September 20, 2008
08:24 PM Post #5578068
| I am going to assume that Dave is dealing with post-hurricane damage, plus it's a weekend. Those two factors will probably keep him from posting here until Monday.
Until then, let's table this matter. As anyone can see from our previous note to turtlegaby, there was an incident with a seller. (one incident, one seller.) We handled it with that seller.
We also asked that if she noticed anyone else doing the same thing, to please let us know. This is not the place to do that. DG is not a "court of public opinion" and we can't make good decisions on issues like this by trying to get consensus from a large group of diverse interests.
So if there are any other specific examples of sellers who are daily/hourly updating their listings to keep them bumped to the top, please send us a note through the "Contact Us" link and we will review it and take appropriate action. |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
08:28 PM Post #5578090
|
This message was edited Sep 20, 2008 8:29 PM |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
08:31 PM Post #5578111
| Terry,
Are you aware of any future plans to expand the categories into more specific headings.
I.E. There are those who specialize and post multiple plants of say daylilies and brugs that could well go into variety specific categories which would reduce the postings in the general plant listings. The same for seeds. (annuals, perienniels, etc) |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
08:33 PM Post #5578119
| And, hopefully a category for Houseplants? |
Terry
Murfreesboro, TN
(Zone 7a)
September 20, 2008
09:41 PM Post #5578462
| I think we need to give Dave a chance to review the allegations made here, and then determine what he feels is the best solution to that problem. I have no idea if that might include adding more categories, setting limits on the number of listings (either daily or total active listings), or other measures to ensure the Marketplace works smoothly and fairly for all. |
gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
September 20, 2008
09:42 PM Post #5578469
| I totally agree and understand not letting people bump old adds every couple days.
But there needs to be instructions and guidelines given to sellers especially about what happens after they cancel a add due to running out of supplies and how long should they wait to relist the same item after they get more to sell.
Also it would be nice to have a way to make the listings more integrated so everyone has a chance at being seen. Why bother if you are going to get buried and your listings entombed only to be discoved in another time period? Also, as a buyer I like variety and I agree about the catogories idea. The plants and seeds category is getting too large for just "plants" and "seeds". That would help give sellers better visibility too. jmho
Karen |
gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
September 20, 2008
09:48 PM Post #5578490
| I mean you want to have the item immediately available if it is for sale to avoid disappointed buyers. It is possible a item may sell like hotcakes so you run out and then you need to wait a few weeks for more to be ready to sell. A seller would have to cancel after running out of plants or seeds. But what if they have more of that variety of seeds or plants just getting ready two weeks after the first add was canceled? How much longer should they wait before relisting?
Karen |
Terry
Murfreesboro, TN
(Zone 7a)
September 20, 2008
09:55 PM Post #5578523
| Let's table the discussion for the present time.
Everyone's points and viewpoints have been duly noted. I can't make any decisions for Dave, and I am pretty sure we're not going to resolve this issue tonight ;o) |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
10:32 PM Post #5578681
| Thanks Terry,
We all know Daves must be swamped with Texas problems right now. I hope we can eventually set up a donation list of plants, housegoods, etc, for DG members when things settle down. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 24, 2008
02:12 PM Post #5593861
| I think the best solution would be if there was a listing time frame like either 7 days, 10 days or 30 days like it is at other selling channels. That way everybody who hasn't sold yet, would have to renew after the initial time and it would be a fair solution for all.
Beside that, I've browsed throug the marketplace a few days ago and found some plant listings from early May which have never been updated. Those ads state the size of the plants and the appropriate shipping costs and I am really wondering, if the plants with the stated size are still available. I doubt it, because they must have been grown over the summer.
A limited listing time would also prevent that sellers forget about their items and somebody comes along and buys something that doesn't exist any more.
|
BuriedTreasures
Valrico, FL
(Zone 9a)
September 24, 2008
03:58 PM Post #5594261
| Some nurseries have rolling stock, as is the case with our Euphorbia. The plants do get bigger, but for the most part we always have the small ones in stock, as we're constantly getting new shipments. The larger sizes are hit and miss, because many varieties aren't around long enough to obtain a larger size.
Some sort of zero reminder would be nice, or at least have the item moved to cancelled when it hits zero. U had the Agave listed, and who knows how long it's been showing as 0 available. I didn't realize that many had sold.
chris |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 24, 2008
04:19 PM Post #5594336
| I believe Admin asked that this discussion be tabled for now. |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
September 24, 2008
04:41 PM Post #5594434
| {I believe Admin asked that this discussion be tabled for now}
How the admin decides to handle it, is one thing, but that shouldn't prevent us from offering ideas. |
LiliMerci
North of Atlanta, GA
(Zone 8a)
October 05, 2008
01:15 AM Post #5634733
| WOW! This is HOT! I know they've asked this discussion be tabled for now and I didn't read through everything on the bottom - but I just want to make a suggestion...
How about showing only 1 item of each seller on the first page? So even if the seller have 100 items, only 1 of his latest posting will show on the front page. Dave would have to query the listing and do some kind of control break and write the last record to the front page. |
pixie62560
South China, ME
(Zone 5a)
October 17, 2008
11:10 AM Post #5683219
| As a browser, not a seller...if I look at one of your ads because you have something that interest me than I ALWAYS click on the link that says "View other products by _____". |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
October 17, 2008
11:33 AM Post #5683315
| In the meantime I have figured, that it is not necessarily a benefit to be on page one. Most of the Newbies jump on the first page listings, buy and never pay. Almost every time, when I have something new listed, I get bunches of Nonpayers, while 'older' Davegarden members browse through older listings or use keywords to find what they want and pay for it. |
David_Paul
Clinton, CT
(Zone 6b)
October 18, 2008
10:52 PM Post #5689052
| There have been comments on this thread about brokers and distributors to which I must take exception. I post this not in reply to anyone but in case someone is lurking who is considering going into business.
I'm neither a broker nor a distributor now but I've been importer, a wholesaler and a retailer, I've used brokers and distributors extensively and I've dealt factory direct.
I've seen people try to import without using an import broker. None of my competitors who did that lasted long. Posting a bond for the duty and knowing the changing laws and regulations is impratical. I imported over half a ton of merchandise at a pop so perhaps seeds are different. Maybe they sail through customs. Now and then I did import items which required a Dept of Ag inspection. That held up shipments so often, I stopped doing it (sitting in an motel at LAX waiting for clearance is neither fun nor inexpensive). But anyone thinking of going into any import business should check it out in depth and ponder if saving a small fee is saving anything at all.
Far as distributors: It all depends if they "add on" costs which are not justified. Anything can be brought direct if you have the money. But sometimes the cost is prohibitive. For years I dealt in a product made in Austria. 15 years ago, the distributor had to sign a contract to buy half a million dollars a year of the product. Friends of mine had gone to the factory in Austria with 40K and been turned down. Took me months to convince the American distributor that I was not someone who would go bust and dump the product on the market. When he finally did sell to me, I bought at 30% under the wholesale price in America.
When I wholesaled I priced the goods at a level that made it uneconomical for my customers to got to Kathmandu and buy the products themselves. All my store accounts wanted to go to Nepal and it made my life easier to be able to tell them...sure...go ahead...here's the best way to get there, here is a safe but cheap place to stay...be sure to watch out for this and so on. Two or three went, came back with stuff and then continued to buy from me.
Bottom line is brokers and distributors provide a service. Everyone has to decide, as they do with anything else, if that service is worth the price and if doing away with them will, in fact, lower your costs. |
fleurone
Brooksville, FL
(Zone 9a)
October 19, 2008
11:23 PM Post #5693158
| This is pretty sad when Dave has gone to the effort of providing this 'extra' selling scenario on his site for everyone. He didn't have to do it. It is in it's infancy. Deal with it or go back to ebay, whatever.
State in your listings your selling criteria.
Give the consumers credit for looking at only what they wan't to look at ,the top of the page index states categories.Stop the bs about bumping up , does it matter?. If I wan't to see books I click on books, If I wan't to see seeds I click on seeds etc the order doesn't matter It is what the consumer want's!.
turtlegaby I have seen your multiple threads on the ebay boards always bitching about something or other , now you have chosen to come here , accept it or go to one of the other auction sites
To sell or not to sell that is the question ...reduced fees or ebay fees... not shakespear! |
KatG
Port Charlotte, FL
(Zone 10a)
October 19, 2008
11:41 PM Post #5693222
| Well said! I second that one fleurone! |
fleurone
Brooksville, FL
(Zone 9a)
October 19, 2008
11:54 PM Post #5693260
| Thanks Kat |
Turtlegaby
Decatur, AL
(Zone 8a)
October 20, 2008
09:50 AM Post #5694156
| Fleurone, before you make a 'smart' comment and attack people, you should take the time to read the entire thread. If you did so, you could have seen that I changed my mind in the meantime and don't think any more, that bumping up benefits the seller.
However, you are not the one to tell me, where to list my items, and I also don't see any special privilegs that entitle you to tell me, what I can post and what I can't.
Oh and btw, it's Shakespeare, not Shakespear!
|
gardener2005
Baton Rouge area, LA
(Zone 8b)
October 20, 2008
03:27 PM Post #5695558
| I`m sure the solutions spoken of last month are coming soon. It does look to me like DGers are a adaptable bunch and have been working at their own solutions to cope individually and even have made efforts to be supportive in suggestions for how to work things as is for the time being.
Karen |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
March 14, 2009
08:34 AM Post #6264907
| I hope this issue is being revisited in the proposed changes. I've noticed, that on the main area I sell on, that the EBAY vendor's are the one's cont. re-listing. This buries my less than 10 offerings of only a few items, deep down on the list. But of course, being a small vendor I can't pay huge advertising fee's either. When the MarketPlace was first created, it was suggested to use it for odds and ends type of things that weren't selling on your website. But when you are offering 50-100 of something, is it an "odds and ends" kinda thing? I realize that's relative, but still. |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
March 14, 2009
09:40 AM Post #6265084
| I do agree that commercial vendors can bury the other ads as they can make all their listings and put off posting the until they are done and then launch them all at one time. It would be nice if each as was automatically "launched as it was created so other ads could get in between. Another solution would be to limit the amount of ads to say 5 per day.
One other change I would like to see is a separate forum for international vendors. |
dmj1218
west Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
March 14, 2009
09:59 AM Post #6265154
| and maybe a separate forum for the small time sellers like us--I'm getting some international seed orders so they are finding the unusual seeds, somehow. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
March 15, 2009
02:35 PM Post #6271144
| Isn't there supposed to be a per-listing fee eventually? That probably would solve the problem with "bumping" en masse. |
lakesidecallas
Dandridge, TN
(Zone 6a)
July 07, 2009
09:43 AM Post #6788467
| I think separating the search items down further would help. "Live Plants" needs to be separated out more- perhaps by alphabet, like Live plants, botanical names A-C. Or Live plants, common names A-C.
It's the same thing with people's trade list. When I am invited to look at a trade list and see something like 300 items, I don't even look.
When you go to the live plant section and have to look through 14 pages to find something, that's just not workable. People are too busy for that type of thing.
Oh, I know there is a search engine- I just typed in Lily and among everything else was sweet pea fragrance oil and amaranth. No offense to those sellers but the search engine needs to be more specific also, perhaps only searching titles.
(This is all my own personal morning rant, y'all, no reflections on any of you, just changes I'd like to see.) |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 07, 2009
12:34 PM Post #6789139
| I agree with you about the search, or even a way to drill down through categories more easily. It is overwhelming when there is a large number of listings or trades. |
DanKistner
Winter Haven, FL
(Zone 9b)
July 13, 2009
10:51 AM Post #6813834
| I am no business expert and I am sure many won't agree with me when I say that it is simply "business". It is a dog-eat-dog world out there and you have to work to come out on top. If these people re-list their items to be on page one, then other sellers need to re-list their items to be number one. Fight for your customers. I worked 7 days a week getting websites to positions on page one of search engines. It takes time and money but to market your products it has to be done. As long as sellers aren't taking advantage or causing pains to buyers, it is good business to me. Like I said, many may not agree with me but I have a "survival of the fittest" mind set. I don't believe that I should get a hand out because someone is doing better than myself. It just means I have to work harder to achieve my goals. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
August 26, 2009
09:27 PM Post #6992413
| I can't sell on DG anymore. My ads stay there for less than 24 hours and are wiped out by big vendors. I don't care to live in a dog-eat-dog world even if the outside world is this way. I seriously doubt that DG was created to encourage this type of behavior. There are many of us who just like to propagate for the sheer joy of growing and have no desire to be a 'good business person'. When I am called home, I certainly don't want it said that I was a hard nosed business lady!
I just yearn for a selling place on DG where the ads can always be found easily just like searching on ebay. Propagating is my passion in life and I have no where to sell them as I resent ebay taking such large fees on small items. If you don't have a store and you aren't a 'power vendor', you get double dipped by both ebay and paypal on a 3.00 item.
Wish I could say that the Markeplace has been successful for our subscribers who post daily but it simply has not happened. Since I never want to leave DG I am just waiting and hoping for a better more updated system for the marketplace to benefit active subscribers who really participate in the daily life of DG.
********edited to say that after 4 days I just cancelled mine as people started dmailing me saying that they had just heard I was selling items and they couldn't find them. Newbies know very little about finding anything on the Marketplace (as well as the older members, too) I didn't want to sell by dmail...
This message was edited Aug 26, 2009 8:31 PM |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
August 26, 2009
09:32 PM Post #6992436
| It would be nice if everyone was limited to say 5 listings a day or at least make it where you had to launch every time one was completed instead of being able to enter them all and then launch them all in a row. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
August 26, 2009
10:03 PM Post #6992578
| Unless something can be done to make it easier for buyers to find items, you get a thumbs up on this idea, budgielover!!!
At least I won't go down to the 4th page in two days...(and others too)
I also think that someone should at least have to wait over a week to 'bump' their items up...that isn't a game to me...that is just flat rude and selfish I think. |
buggycrazy
Lebanon, OR
(Zone 7b)
August 27, 2009
01:22 AM Post #6993124
| Don't quit gessiegail! Some bad stuff got cleaned up today, so maybe it will be better. Part of the problem is anytime a listing is edited it results in a relaunch, perhaps it can be made so that editing doesn't change the launch date. People just have to learn to search that is one reason why feebay is so successful, people cannot or will not search. Eventually the less than honest ones will be found out on this site since there is no time limit for feedback - just check the watchdog pages for some of those highly rated (on feebay) sellers.
Don't quit, if you do it just means more of those bad sellers will win. A listing fee may be the only way to stop this sort of thing. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
August 27, 2009
07:53 AM Post #6993480
| You are so nice, buggy! I might try again but I do wish people would not dmail me because they can't find my ads...it is so hard to keep up doing it that way plus hard for DG to keep up with a fee. I , too, would gladly be willing to pay a fee for listing on DG. |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
August 27, 2009
08:07 AM Post #6993501
| Gessie
Have you tried the DG Classifieds. It's working well for me. |
Elizabethtown
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
August 27, 2009
09:03 PM Post #6996046
| I too felt like people couldn't find me on the marketplace (although I did have results, it was just too time consuming with all the individual emails) so I moved over to the classifieds and have had better results there.
I didn't know that editing an ad on the marketplace would result in a "relaunch" of my ad, that's good to know for making sure I have all the details right the first time.
Roni |
blugld
Fort Mill, SC
(Zone 7b)
September 15, 2009
09:36 AM Post #7066420
| What happens when you have bought items from two different vendors and they have all died---one because I didn't get it till the end of May when my other plants like it were blooming and it was awfully hot for it to just get started and the others died right after I got them. I emailed the vendors and never heard from them. |
budgielover
Pinellas Park, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 15, 2009
10:07 AM Post #7066536
| Well, personally, I live in Florida and the end of May is not too hot to get new plants if you aclimate them properly. It also depends on the type of plant. When did you order them? |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 15, 2009
10:34 AM Post #7066620
| For the ones that died right after you got them, you can leave negative feedback for the seller--you can always change it later if they come through and refund your money or replace the plants. If it's not too late, you could also try disputing the charges with Paypal or your credit card if you paid using one of those methods.
On the plants that didn't arrive until May, maybe if you ordered them a really long time before May and made an effort to contact the seller and cancel your order when you realized they were going to come late then you might have a case for leaving negative feedback, but May is not an unreasonable time of year to ship plants (pretty much all the mail order nurseries are still shipping then) and if the plants arrived healthy then you can't really hold the seller responsible for the plants dying later on. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 15, 2009
10:46 AM Post #7066671
| Anything going in the ground where I live has to go in by the first of March or either in the late fall...
The reason I can't order bare root plants is they ship too late. (especially roses or any perennials) |
buggycrazy
Lebanon, OR
(Zone 7b)
September 15, 2009
02:37 PM Post #7067443
| Well I am a seller and my common plant dormant season ends in March or April, some things like certain natives are only dormant in the summer, planting in late spring here means death. Since the nursery industry as a whole has brainwashed the public into the "spring is for planting" idea and since I don't seem to be able to find those buyers in the south that keep complaining about late shipping I have mostly just let the plants die out now and it is more economical than having to store them for later shipping. I am also deleting most of the plants, esp. the native wildflowers from my website and my workload, so much more economical than growing them for nothing now that so many of our supplies are double what they used to cost, and I don't have to be outside suffering the noise and heat so much.
gessiegail - As far as being concerned about sellers bumping up their items, from the looks of how well they are selling on Feebay they probably won't stick around here for long. I don't mind at all selling my stuff at my retail prices and having them sold for 3-4X as much on feebay, better someone else pays those feebay taxes than me! |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 15, 2009
04:29 PM Post #7067824
| I don't even know what you are talking about. You, as a vendor, certainly pay the fees on ebay, not the buyer. |
buggycrazy
Lebanon, OR
(Zone 7b)
September 16, 2009
08:18 PM Post #7072146
| Yes, the seller does, I won't sell there again. |
