Since the announcement yesterday on http://rantsravesrenagade.blogspot.com Renagades bolg, and on http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y10/m09/i21/s01 Ina Steiner's blog, and a million other posts, forums, facebook threads, the internet e-commerce people have been a buzz with opinions, speculation, angst, and down right upset over a venue that was promoted for two years under the bonanzle name.
*sigh*..... well, I guess I am odd man out on this one. I sat back and watched the commenting the meltdowns the thunder and lightning, like a train going to crash and this, the over all reaction to a community that most have either loved or hated. Loved because it gave them a new venue, low fee's nice people, and communications with the owners. Loved because a precedent was set and an expectation that communication and ideas would be shared within the community to further the development of the site. Hated, because not everyone can be made happy.
That is the clincher. We are back to people being un-happy, and why? Because they were not informed of the name change, or the new market that was acquired. Well here is where my opinion differ's and is probably going to upset a lot of people. Bonanzle was the only site that I have sold on, up until about a year ago. I tried Ebay and a few others, but could not afford it, and stuck with my bonanzle booth. I was never a rah rah cheerleader for the site, but I never was against it either. This is where people really need to look at the bigger picture. I am hearing how the sellers should have been informed, how some had put money into advertising, how some have just bought business cards, and NOW, all this was for naught. I have to say wrong. I know it is inconvenient, but the URL will be re-directed. The business cards are still useful, and people will still shop at the site. WHY? Because they will.
I promote me. My booth, my antiques, my store, on-line and locally. I do not confer with Bill and Mark when I need to up-grade my sign, or change business cards, or for that matter, when I made a name change about a year ago. I went from GypsyTrading, to GypsyByways. Did I tell them? Did I see blog post's all over the internet hollering at me that I "owed" it to them to tell them of my intentions? No, and you know why? It is MY business, and they know that. Bonanzle is their business, and I know THAT!
Should there have been a courtesy? Maybe, possibly, probably, if we go by the precedent that was set, but there wasn't so guess what folks? Deal with it. They do not have to inform us, consult with us, or anything else with us. This is their business. As business people you people should KNOW that. Time to move on. Think about it. You are in business for you. If you don't like the site changes, then go to another site. Simple. Sorry, that is business.
My 2 cents... like it or lump it as my dad used to say. (Still does for that matter)
22 comments:
I'd say that was a little more than 2 cents' worth, but you make some good points. ;) Generally, anger is just fear. The anger that is being expressed by some sellers is probably fear that there are more big changes on the horizon that haven't been rolled out yet that will have a direct effect on their bottom line. Should they have told sellers this was going to happen? Personally, I think they should have, because a relationship, business or personal, requires a certain amount of trust. Were they obligated to? Of course not. I think we all know there would have been an uproar no matter how they did this. And it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.
As a buyer, I would much rather do business with Bonanzle/Bonanza than eBay any day. I have never been disappointed in anything I purchased through a seller at Bonanzle, and I love the extra mile everyone seems to go for customer service. A name change is not going to bother me, as long as I can still find my sellers, and continue to get the same great products and service.
Amen to that. There was no obligation. Point made, and our customers, if we have promoted OUR business the right way will know where we are. Even if we move to mars.
Yes - I agree on the over all points made ... and have been screamming for years for people to promote THEMSELVES first and fore most.
As I pointed out in my blog, it was more the reasons given for the change than the change itself.
SHOULD they have extended curtesy to THEIR customers prior to the BIG announcement- YES -
BUT BUT BUT
knowing some of the sellers .. they would have hit the social scene running at a full gallop with the 'news' .... so sorry folks, THAT is the reason we find out second and third hand.
WILL the changes help the site? Probably if you look at the whole thing.
Will it help me? Not sure. And very uneasy about how Google is reacting due to 99% of my sales come from non bonanz - le -a- users.
Any time a site, a search engine, a anything changes and those changes affect MY business and cost me time in having to change links etc upsets me. Time is something I am a little short on at the moment.
Bill, Mark need to realize like their focus is on their business, my focus is on my business and my selling on bonz is just a portion of it.
Anytime any
Like you said it's Bill's Business and he can run it the way he wants. However he did open it to what 300K plus or minus buyers and sellers. That made it their business too. I know this decision did not come overnight but it was a major change to many. Some will welcome it and still some will get mad and leave. But Bonanzle (Bonanza) is not going away. They will be there for a long time to come.
So can I come to Mars to. I hear the climate is good for old men. :)
You bet James, your welcome any time.
@Ren.. that is the point. Again, nothing we can do about this, and nothing we can do about google. Gotta go with the flow. Roll with it baby!
In most circumstances you and I agree. In this matter we have slightly a slight difference of opinion. This is my business. I have lived through the ebay changes now for the 11 years that I've been selling. It's not just this particular change that has people upset. It's what it bodes for the future. eBay has taken the approach that their sellers are unimportant, their opinions are not wanted. This is the attitude that brought many of us to Bonanzle in the first place.
Those that have been through this see what Bonanzle has done recently and are concerned that this will be the trend for how they will deal with things in the future.
So the general feeling is "Here we go again." Whether the changes are good, bad, or indifferent it is less about the changes and more about the communication. Whenever you get that many negative responses there has been a communication failure.
Name change? No big deal. The feeling that sellers will be considered irrelevant along the lines of eBay doctrine? People will feel that that's what's coming.
The bottom line of this is simple. Yes, it's fear. Fear of the unknown based on past experience.
And two weeks from now most people won't remember that it happened anyway.
I could not agree more. The change that has been handed to us, I believe will have benefits that far outweigh any detriment caused by edits we may have to make, or loss of promotional materials. Unfortunately, those who are criticizing this move are not seeing the big picture, and because of it, are promoting fear and spreading it amongst those members who are already unsure of where there business stands.
At a time when we should be applauding improvements and a positive move towards future earnings and goals, some are giving our new members, who had no choice or say, by the way, a bad impression of our community, which is the saddest result of all of this.
Bonanzlers, as we were previously known, can overcome change because of the community, which bands together to help others maintain their footing on shaky ground from a venue that is still trying to find it's footing. And at the same time, it is those who are complaining that they have a right to their opinions, so much so, that they feel they have to sign on with numerous ID's to express their unhappiness, that are making the road rocky and unstable.
It's really too bad. It's not so easy to eat crow, and your words, when down the road you realize you spoke too soon. This can be nothing but beneficial for BONANZA if it's members choose to realize that. Those who dwell on the what if's and the losses they've suffered short term will have little to gain in the long term.
Nothing has changed but the name. Sales are still coming in. At least for me they are.
Nah woofie, love ya man. I do agree, and my opinion on that is I think that like a puppy getting hit with a news paper over and over, it is going to flinch because it is now expected. When a change happens that is unexpected, then it leaves us leery. Leaves the puppy whimpering and wondering. I empathize, I do. The bigger picture remains, there is nothing we can do about it. Should they have set the precedent they did? Who knows? Are things changing? Yup.. and we have to roll with it, or make a decision for our own business that will affect us positively. Only time will tell on this one.
Ren's opinion is the same as Donna's. The comments would have been as bad or worse had they released this info beforehand. There are a lot of people who just want to be angry over something.
Marianna. I see the recurring theme of fear in this and I believe that is what it comes down to. This big of a change in our economic times, is huge. Positives? I see a lot of positives. Thank you for posting.
Woofie.. I agree on that one to. You should see the forum postings happening, and I am getting hate mails as we speak. Does not matter if we had been informed or not, still would have caused the same ruckus.
I have to agree with Renegade. If they had told us in advance, people would have been unable to keep it under their hat and the news would have spread like wildfire, which would have blunted any "splash" of publicity I'm sure Bill & Co were trying to accomplish with the announcement. As for people who just spent money on cards, etc., that would be true no matter when they let us know. If they had told sellers 2 weeks ago this was coming, it would have been the same complaint.
I just have to trust that the boyz have a gameplan and it will all work out in the end.
I agree, this is a positive move for the site. People fear change and look only at the negative.
Many of the ill preceived fears are unjustified; such as we will loose business, have been left out in the cold etc. all will be rerouted for a good deal of time. Bonanza didn't owe an explanation nor did they have the time to do so as explained in the owners blog. Folks need to deal with it and prepare for the seasons sales. Good Blog
Right now I'm on Facebook scheduling appointments for people who want to kick my tail.........
Amen Donna. Mark is a Savvy business man, and has been known in the greater Seattle area for 20+ years. I can't see him making rash decisions.
Better get me on that appointment book to there Roy. LOL......be right over.
After reading your post, I was mad as @*&%! Then I realized you said "Bonanza... Odd Man Out", not "Old Man Out"! Man I thought I got the boot or something...
Great post as usual Kat ;)
LOL... never "old man".
I know they are them and I am me..I promote my booth..but my pooint was like you said it would kept them in the bright light with some of that maybe acted irrationally at first..I admit I was one of them for all the reasons you mentioned..i didnt want to act that way or feel that way ...I just did...but I feel like they wouldnt be them without us and we wouldnt be us without them...I love them still but the light is a little dimmer cause I have a mistrust somewhere in the corner of my big toe somewhere..I invest in this company and just want the respect...is all I'm saying...I am dealing with and moving on...but it was my right to voice my opinion,,,whether popular or not..thanks for the post...
Hey Brenda,
Your comments and opinions are very much appreciated. I think we all went through an emotional "what?" period prior to responding to this. Thank you for posting!
Kat
Love your blog. Some fun and serious blogs here. I'd like to express myself more about some stuff you have on here but lately my fingers have been getting me in trouble...LOL Keep up the good stuff Katrina. Your the Best!
Roger
http://www.bonanza.com/booths/Rogersstuff
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