(Forum Home)--->(System Info & Announcements)--->(New Communication Feature)
| Thread Admin: AuctionArmsCeo (3-0-0) (Last 10 Posts) | Posted: 08/07/2006 at 14:00:00 |
| Total Posts: 318 |
Thread Title: "New Communication Feature"
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| Thread Admin: AuctionArmsCeo (3-0-0) (Last 10 Posts) | Posted: 08/07/2006 at 14:00:00 |
| Total Posts: 318 |
Thread Title: "New Communication Feature"
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| Former Seller: Petesguns(228-0-0) | Post#279 - Posted: 09/21/2006 at 18:03:49 |
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278 and climbing.........is this a record number of complaints? So, seriously, if so many people out here in Members land DON'T like it, why hasn't AA done something about it? Because it is here to stay, period! I guess we gotta get used to it, kinda like gun control, only message control. Just sit right back, don't worry sir, we'll protect you................ I know that if I instituted something in my shop that generated thiks kind of s***storm, it would be changed back so fast it would make your head spin. Granted, there have been problems perceived by AA, that they sought to address with these changes. However, when doing so has upset so many customers, and so many BIG customers, one would think that it would be time to eat a little crow, put the system back the way it was, and THEN ask the customers for input as to how to fix the problems that exist. To ask the customers AFTER the "solution" has been implemented, for advice how to make it work, and saying "It is here to stay, period", is a very LARGE slap in the face of the very source of your income. I only wish I had enough clientele that I COULD tell to go take a flying leap to.......not because I would want to, but it would let me know what it is like to not have to depend on my customers for income. THAT is the attitude that it APPEARS that AA is taking, like they know what is best for us and don't care if they lose the income from disgruntled customers. All I know is that one disgruntled customer can spread ALOT of bad feelings. Just plain dosen't seem like good business sense to me, but then, I am just a little guy, what do I know? |
| Former Seller: Mars_308(18-0-0) | Post#280 - Posted: 09/21/2006 at 18:43:05 |
| (no avatar) | Simple, they are in charge. If the powers want to destroy this AA site, so be it. Even with this wrangle, this does not seem to make any effect on their stance. AA is still the better of gun auction sites, as I see it. If you have a dispute on GB forget it you are not going to get the time of day. Do you think that GB would let anything like this forum exist. H### no. I don't like the message system. Keep the Auction system simple. It's like big government. It will cost us more in the end. |
| Former Seller: Petesguns(228-0-0) | Post#281 - Posted: 09/21/2006 at 19:58:47 |
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Yes, THEY are in charge. The problem will REALLY occur when they start to look for WHAT they are in charge of, after enough customers like nhmoose go away! |
| Former Seller: Sportsmanssupply(1615-0-3) | Post#282 - Posted: 09/21/2006 at 22:02:53 |
| (no avatar) | Bob,Petesguns and Mirandavold & others: Very well expressed comments.We all have something in common and that is we are Stakeholders in AA.As has been mentioned we all care about AA for varying reasons.Its profitable,entertaining,enjoyable and various other reasons.In accounting the net worth of a business is tallied by adding the net assets after subtracting the net liablities to give you the net capital(Worth)The problem of this simple equation is when selling your business one figure often omitted from the balance sheet is GOOD WILL.Sometimes this figure can be up to 20% or more of the entire value of the business. My point is simple.In your desire to expand the net profit of your business the value of your company may have dipped cosiderably because of a loss of good will.This is merely my opinion.My business degree is only from the community college but in trying to save nickles you are losing dollars. Bob I'm not trying to win any argument.I'm not ticked off about this system.My tekkie says its not the best but its workable.I do care about the big picture and YES about me too.I've got 1,600 positive feedbacks here and don't want to see my favorite venue fold up or have to charge uncompetitive prices to make ends meet as you've intimated.The only thing that I am angry about is people I have great admiration for as pioneers in internet selling feeling disgusted and betrayed when before this system were entrenched loyal sellers.To me its a shame.I never have been a NET PROFIT ONLY guy.I like to feel good about where I'm dealing as well as make a good profit.My personal feelings are still filled with lots of loyalty to AA.As I mentioned I don't have a deadbeat bidder problem.Maybe one out of the last 200.I call people on their phone prior to listing a negative feedback and I have yet to find MY FIRST non payer who claims to have not received my notifications.Its always buyers remorse or no money.I only have my own experience to go on.Perhaps other sellers would share theirs.Hopefully some eventual good will come of this. My next statement is merely logical business and not meant as threatening.I have always kept all of my eggs in one basket here @ AA.I was happy to do so even if it may not have been the most sound business policy.As a fellow business owner I was free to make my own decisions and like doing what I want to do even if its not best.I have started sending a few of my scrap auctions to the other site.My feedback is only in the teens but I do this in case the Earthquake of lost sellers does take place.Its my own contigency plan.I hate that other site and will NOT leave AA but I don't want to be ill prepared if things go south.What I write may not be popular or well received but I do feel compelled to write what I'm thinking.Thank You,Grant Williams of Sportsmans Supply |
| Former Seller: Mars_308(18-0-0) | Post#283 - Posted: 09/22/2006 at 04:39:59 |
| (no avatar) | You don't suppose that the AA staff is saying "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up". That is a normal (under the breath) Democrat answer to a problem. I started selling here and the GB site just a month and a half ago with this message deal just starting up. Its just an extra bunch of nonsence with having to double up the time checking and responding to our auctions. Why does AA have to bill us twice a month for services. Are they on the edge with finances? NUTZ or Broke? |
| Former Seller: Mars_308(18-0-0) | Post#284 - Posted: 09/22/2006 at 05:06:44 |
| (no avatar) | Kinda like BearMedicine,the message system that wont go away. |
| Former Seller: Petesguns(228-0-0) | Post#285 - Posted: 09/22/2006 at 07:08:08 |
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Grant, EXTREMELY well stated. I, also, have the same contingency plan in place, and working. I don't have ANY degree except one from the School Of Hard Knocks, and it tells me the same thing yours does. Some things make sense, some don't, and some things are even beyond not making sense. This situation is not good. When your customers have a bad taste in their mouths from something that was force fed to them, even if they don't STOP being your customer, YET, it is not a good thing. The first commandment in business is to keep your customer happy. This is clearly not being done. Regardless of the reasons that the system was put in place, and regardless of whether it works, to make statements that it is here to stay is plain flying in the face of adversity. Just plain does not make sense. I have no other way to look at it, except as senseless! Time will tell if AA wakes up out of the Democratic funk they seem to be in BEFORE their customer base erodes to the point that it is irretrievable. Perhaps, they can stand a hit in the wallet, but, to listen to some of the statements that have been made, I think not. I also write what I think as I have been taught to NEVER hide my feelings. Sometimes that does make SOME people a bit edgy, but at least they know where I am coming from, and which side of the fence I am on. |
| Thread Admin: AuctionArmsCeo(3-0-0) | Post#286 - Posted: 09/22/2006 at 11:25:19 |
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Perhaps I'm being a little dense, but what's the problem with messaging? You're not required to use it - it's an option available to you, and all Auction Arms users. It might not have started out that way, but with your input and our flexibility, it's now virtually indistinguishable from the previous system of sending messages - unless you choose to review your messages. I can understand if there's a technical problem you have issues with - those are the things I like to know about. But we're not making you do anything. Your messages now come to you via email and the messaging system. But if you chose to ignore the messaging system, you still get the emails. I'm always open to suggestions - but if your suggestion is to chuck an entire system of communication because you don't like talking to users, then you're in the wrong business. And what's this about lack of trust of sellers? Are we supposed to open our doors and let sellers do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences to everyone else? Sorry, it doesn't work that way. It wouldn't be a fair marketplace for both buyers AND sellers if we did. We establish the rules and mechanisms for making sure everyone is treated as fairly as possible. I would think that everyone wants that.
The bottom line is that the messaging system is not going way. But it is going to improve. And if you don't like it, you don't have to use it. |
| Former Seller: Pappa Jim(9-0-0) | Post#287 - Posted: 09/22/2006 at 14:23:10 |
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AuctionArmsCeo
You are missing the point. The one and only point here is that you have unhappy customers. Again, a lot of the complaints you’re receiving stem from how this has been handled on your part. You offended allot of people. In your very first post on this thread, post 16 you state “The problem that we face is that there are folks out there using our system to conduct off-auction sales. Bad for Auction Arms as a company, and ultimately bad for all it's users.” In effect allot of people felt that this was being forced on them to prevent the off auction sales and felt you didn’t trust them so you had to enact this to protect yourselves It wasn’t until post 60 that you or anyone else from AA even mentioned that this was brought about because of problems with getting messages through by the old way. It kind of feels like this was an after thought. Almost like you realized you had offended people and then thought up a new reason to keep your new system. Then when the s**t really started to hit the fan you posted in your post number 157 “I am less worried about theft than I am about buyers and sellers not being able to contact each other - a far larger problem. The primary reason for the messaging system is to eliminate email as a problem. This keeps being brought up as if it's the only reason we brought it up, and it's really secondary to the primary problem of email not working very well.” Again here it feels like you know the people are mad about the distrust you showed and now you’re again covering your distrust up by claiming it was all really about the email. We know you worked hard to get this up and going but you need to address your unhappy customers concerns not defend the actions that made them unhappy. It’s not going to matter how well you get the system running. You went and P*s**d off your customers. They see the entire system as a big slap in the face and as long as you keep it, or any part of it they will continue to see it that way. Nhmoose have already pulled their business from here because they are unhappy. That means just one thing - your losing money and it's directly related to the new system. |
| Thread Admin: AuctionArmsCeo(3-0-0) | Post#288 - Posted: 09/22/2006 at 14:45:54 |
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So let me get this straight. We have evidence that people are abusing our system, so we implement steps to prevent this. We make the mistake of doing it clumsily, but make every attempt to address everyone's concerns, and after all is said and done - suddenly, we've lost the right to protect our own interests? By keeping our marketplace honest, we're the bad guys?
As always, we're happy to continue to take suggestions on how we can improve our new optional messaging system. If you have any suggestions on how we can do that, by all means, let us know. Thanks. |