Rich, Actually, my technicians tell me that MPB will have no trouble handling the kind of bidding traffic Bruce would generate if he placed his regular auctions on MoviePosterBid. We won't know for sure until we try, of course -- and I emphasize Bruce has not made that decision -- but the tech specs say we can handle the load no problem. MPB uses an industrial strength database and high end servers sitting on a major internet pipe in a bunker in Kansas -- and there is plenty of capacity there which can be added as needed.
A couple of real issues are: 1) Bruce (and several other dealers) really need an off-line bulk listing program to interface with their existing in-house databases and in-house order-fulfillment systems. We recognized this from day one and have been working to get such a program in place that is easy to use and reliable -- because it won't help anyone if their listings get screwed up by it. We are now very close to having such an off-line listing program available. It is worth noting that it took eBay over 3 years to get their Turbo Lister working halfway reliably. We plan to have ours shortly and done in a little over 1 year. 2) Auction sniping programs. With the kind of bidding that happens with Bruce's auctions, and with so many items closing within minutes or seconds of each other, for someone who wants to bid on multiple items in one of Bruce's auctions it is almost a requirement that they use an auction sniping program to do so. To date, no sniping programs have supported MPB, but that may be about to change. Even though I don't like sniping programs personally, we recognize that they are a tool that many people use and like and in the case of something like Bruce's auctions are almost a necessity, so we are working to address that issue as well. All of the above can be worked on and refined over time, of course -- and Bruce knows this. He and I have been having friendly talks since MoviePosterBid was started over a year ago. The decision is Bruce's. Just like it is every other movie poster sellers to make. Listing on both MPB and eBay -- different items on each, of course -- is the only way to build up MPB and expand its audience. -- JR ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Halegua Comic Art" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 16:28 Subject: Re: [MOPO] bruce - ebay - bruce - ebay - > Sue is totally correct.. His 25,000 customers will follow him anywhere, > just as they followed him from Christies. > > Keep in mind that when Bruce, myself & many others started selling on > eBay.... we had to let our customers know about it so they could go there > and bid on our stuff.. We didn't magically have customers appear in droves > just because we listed stuff.. and that's why he gets higher prices, > because just like Sue said.... > > "They are either members of his email club, people that exclusively bid on > his auctions, or people that already have a buying history with him" > > where ever he goes, they will follow.. Bruce's only concern is that he > doesn't know if MoPoBID can handle 1000 people all at once bidding on stuff > .. and that is a big question that without a doubt, JR is trying to get > solved right at this moment because he also knows what is at stake here.. > > Rich======================== > > > At 02:18 PM 4/8/05, Susan Heim wrote: > >Hello all, > > The one thing that I think so many of the post's are overlooking is > > the fact that, while ebay is a strong force, a large continent of Bruce's > > bidders are people that already know him and bid weekly. They are either > > members of his email club, people that exclusively bid on his auctions, > > or people that already have a buying history with him. I know as I have > > many of them as framing customers of mine. I can't even count the number > > of times that a customer has said to me that they bid on Bruce's auctions > > exclusively. It's easy for them, they trust him, and they figure that > > most items they are looking for will show up in one of his auctions > > sooner or later. Of course there are people who just happen to be on ebay > > that stumble onto a Bruce auction for the first time and bid. But once > > they are in the emovieposter.com system they would probably follow > > Bruce's auction anywhere. I think Bruce will do just fine whereever he > > chooses, but I do appreciate the business he has put on movieposterbid. I > > just bought a poster. > > > >Sue Heim > ><http://www.hollywoodposterframes.com>www.hollywoodposterframes.com > >(800) 463-2994 > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Michael Greenwood > >To: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] > >Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 1:54 PM > >Subject: Re: [MOPO] bruce - ebay - bruce - ebay - > > > >I agree. > > > >I still think his best shot is to get back into ebay. No offense to > >MopoBid and I like that site but if Bruce plans to continue selling a > >large number of pieces, I think consignors will stop using him if he's > >away from the large draw that ebay holds. If he goes totally private, > >he's back to once every now and then 'big' auctions or else he'll have to > >cut staff, I would think. Most people who are giving him their things to > >sell want them exposed to the largest number of buyers and that's ebay and > >Bruce cannot draw those numbers weekly or even monthly on his own, I > >doubt. Even with the 'better titles' he's planning. There are other > >great people/organizations to consign to on ebay and some of them are > >going to be getting some new clients if Bruce stays away, I feel. > > > >All the best, > >Michael > > > >lobby card invasion wrote: > >>If Bruce starts his own on-line auction, similar Heritage, that would be > >>a private business venture and he has every right to do that. If, > >>however, Bruce is inclined to do a public service, and help our hobby in > >>addition to his business venture, by providing AN ALTERNATIVE to ebay, > >>then he must sell, together with all other movie poster > >>dealers/collectors, in an all encompassing, neutral auction similar to > >>MoPoBid. That's my opinion. Zeev > >Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > >___________________________________________________________________ > >How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > >Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > >The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > > > >Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > >___________________________________________________________________ > >How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > >Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > >The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > > Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
