Critical โnโ Major Changes : Copy โnโ Paste from the Father : Ebay
Dear Co-Merchants,
&
Baazee
Well we r here to present our Views on Strong research โnโ analysis of the Ongoing business scenario on Baazee.com
Before we list our views โnโ discuss all the โ proposed โchanges point wise, we have some more to say.
Ideally it should be that we share the โ Best Practices โ from the International Body โnโ implement all the โ Necessary โ changes suitable for that particular regional marketplace โnโ not just COPY all the features, โnโ policies from there. The Market condition, maturity as well as the operating costs etcโฆhas to be NECESSARILY be taken into account before even thinking to implement those changes.
The key points:
1. Transaction Fees Structure : This is a Pleasant change not ONLY because it reduces the operating costs for Selling, but this is also a FARE amt. Of Transaction charge, compared to the Exorbitant % of Commission prevailing earlier, in such an environment where there is immense possible growth in the emerging E-Comm market like INDIA. The Turnover of such Transactions can shoot up substantially, inturn making money for every one. Although this might sound the bringing of the Ebay Transactional Charge Structure , but it isnโt, as this was much awaited โnโ a Necessary Change.
2. Special Listing Charges: Now, this is a Complete Contrast to the above mentioned Change, not ONLY because it is asking for Higher amount of Money to be PAID for the Special Listing, but this actually does not look like a UPWARD REVISION of Charges, or does not even reflect the International Fee Structure, but just a COVERING up of Margins in view of the Transaction Charge reduced. THIS IS VERY SAD โnโ UNACCEPTABLE, that Baazee is Going More โnโ More SHRUDE โnโ Diplomatic.
Almost Doubling ( 1.5 , 2 , 3 times ) up most of the Special Listing Charges does prove the above statements TRUEโฆ.
3. Secondary Listing: Well the treating the Auction to be listed in 2 Categories, as 2 separate auction, for the Calculation of Special Listing is Completely not fair. We say this as per the Traffic on the site โnโ itโs maturity once again. Even when the auction was appearing in 2 relevant categories, we were striving hard to get the visits as well as prospective customersโฆBut now this Calculation would actually mean that sellers should not post any secondary category listingโฆ
The only reason that we can assume is that Baazee is trying that the same product is not appearing twiceโฆ.But we feel that it is a matter of not so much importance, as well as the Promotion is VERY VERY NECESSARYโฆ..until the appropriate amt of Traffic increases on Baazeeโฆ.
4. New Special Listings Introduced : Well even these 2 listings : โ Scheduled listing โ , as well as โ Buy it now โ Auctions although having Rs.0.50 โnโ Re.1, but it still does not make much sense as sellers r already paying the Monthly Charges for Bulk Upload tool.
5. Dropping for Priority Featured Listing : This is also unfair as then sellers r left with the choices of ONLY the Featured PLUS or the Home Page listing, which means that Baazee is making it CUMPULSORY for Sellers , taking the Special Listings, to ONLY opt for the Above 2 Listingsโฆ..NOW, this also ONCE again confirms that Baazee is ONLY โnโ ONLY TRYING to cover up the Revenues from Sellers, just Because they have given the Transaction charge reduction. COMPLETELY UNFAIRโฆ.
6. Pre โ Defined Bid Increament : Didnโt really understand that WHY such a THOUGHT came to their MINDS ? Hey Baazee, we cannot simply COPY โnโ PASTE the Procedures as on Ebayโฆ.They r starting most of their things on $ 1, therefore keeping so low : Rs.50 as bid increments in our Environment is JUST NOT AT ALL JUSTIFIED. This is not GOLD Diamond Jewelry that we can have low bid increments like Rs.500 for products expecting Prices Rs.5000โฆ..or even Rs.20,000โฆโฆThe Silver Jewelry โnโ Gems do not Get so many bids in any cases, therefore such LOW BID INCREAMENTS r not JUSTIFIED.
We were given this reasoning that this would bring Standardization, but I guess our Market is not yet Ready for that. This would probably end up in Low Auction values, inturn making very very less profits, or even losses for the Sellers. Another reason was given for the International Customers, who would feel accustomed to such changes as they have experience of the International Portalsโฆbut When they donโt even know the Conversion rates, then HOW can they get accustomed. ? Plus, when the Indian Auction Portal is STILL BAAZEE.com โnโ not www.ebay.com/in.co โฆthen why canโt such customers understand the difference in the Market Placeโฆ ?
7. Multiple Quantity Auctions : This once again comes as a surprise to us, โnโ all our Co-merchants as this would then end up making more โnโ more losses for us. These multiple qty auctions, actually help us cover our Average Prices โnโ also some more Volumes, then why to make it the LOWEST bid as the Winning bids for all. Each individual is at least this mush intelligent to actually decide for himself that what is the Price he / she is willing to spend for the Product. If a particular auction closes with some low Prices as well, we havenโt had a SINGLE UNSATISFIED customer for the Lower Prices, as all know that they r anyway winning things at a very less Prices. THE WORST : if there r qty ending up in Re.1 โnโ the rest of them r in the Upper Bid Increments, what it means is that all QTY will be declared WON in Re.1 , what sense does this MAKE ????
8. SURCHARGE on CREDIT CARD as well as OBT : This also DOES NOT MAKE SENCEโฆโฆ.FIRST off all this is not a HIDDEN CHAREG., A Hidden charge means that the CUSTOMER comes to know of such charges ONLY when the Transaction is OVER โnโ then it appears in the Total BILL, whearas, on Baazee, while Placing an Order, customer is already displayed the Surcharge as well as the Percentage + the Message of the Seller. WE HAVENโT recd any Customer Queries for reasons of such SURCHARGEโฆ.
To quote more example, if one fine day a CUSTOMER Turns on Baazee, that he was charged some charges for Making a DD from a BANK, then what would Baazee replyโฆ.Do u ppl. Plan to speak to the Banking sector for Actually deducting such Charges from the receiver of such DD ??? Oh, come on, every one Knows that there r some little charge that one has to incur to actually make a PAYMENT ? WHATโs the BIG DEAL. +_ We r only charging 3 %, for the CC, just as per the INTERNATIONAL STANDARD.
Yes, we do agree that all Sellers can actually COMPULSARILY mention such charges in their Auctionsโฆ..no Probs, but restricting sellers to add such Surchare is again NOT ACCEPTABLEโฆโฆโฆThis would any ways, add the Burden on every transaction, the same way, as the Transaction chargeโฆSO, even BAAZEE makes it to 5 %, then also the additional 4 or 2 % respectively added uponโฆmaking the DEAL BACK TOI SQUARE ONEโฆ..???
9. Dropping Prompts: Would actually make selling the RINGS Auction NOT AT ALL POSSIBLE, โnโ the same way for Sellers of GARMENTS , whear sizes r required, not POSSIBLE โฆโฆWe do mention the Ring sizes available in our Auctions, but also provide the Drop Down list of the SIZES so that the Customer can select their Sizeโฆ.+ we also have the Additional โ Elsewhere Extra Charge โ of just Rs.10, for all our REMOTE DELIVERY LOCATION Customersโฆinturn keeping the Shipping More cheaper for the Regular customersโฆโฆ
We guess that all the Research data for Baazeeโs Analysis is the Entire SITE, or even if the Categories Specifically, then they r not taken in Proper Cases / Categorizations.. For ex. We believe that if Talking of the Jewellery Category, then the Gold Diamond Jewellery : DATE should be separately taken into consideration, to compared to the Silver Jewellery โnโthe Loose Gemsโฆ.separatelyโฆ
The individual HEADS for such Date ANALYSIS, under each SUB category of each major Category, would help more closer look of the Market Scenario, so that better โnโ more suited changes can be Implemented from the Father : Ebay.
Dear Co-Merchants, Well this is Tarun Khandelwal from Anmol Kreations, โnโ we wanted to invite u all in our recent Cafรฉ posting to discuss the Major โnโ Critical Changes that Baazee has proposed. We would appreciate if u all could spare a bit of ur Precious Time to help us โ Sellers โ convey our serious concerns of the After come of such changes, not only in the short run but also the Long run. We have deeply analyzed the situation โnโ would want u to share ur views.
The link is: http://forums.baazee.com/thread.jspa?threadID=100000386&tstart=0
Awaiting for ur earliest reply
The Cyberwiz
Tarun Khandelwal
Anmol Kreations