That’s an interesting point. I wonder if it’s because services have too variable a sales funnel (sometimes just making a contact online, not directly purchasing…)?

Even though I usually report some of the stats here so we’ll all remember how the other more-than-half lives, those folks at Pew Internet never fail to blow my mind with these stats. Good stuff there!

Until later,

Kelly

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post…Beating the Odds: The Bloggess Interview

Last, first—yes, I’m rather fond of truth… yet when Glenmorangie (insert whatever product…) tells me their whisky is smooth drinking and honeyed, I don’t wonder (or care) whether the person who wrote that has drunk it… is it the homey nature of the ebay auction? Hm, hm.

Re: the cachet of the product—sure. Samba blog said something related about picking the right business this week (*digs for link* —How to Start a Business That Works), but I think the important thing to remember is that the exact same item, same (potential) cachet, sold for virtually nothing to them the week before.

And whether it was organic or not? I’d love to see a behind-the-scenes look at this behind-the-scenes look at creativity to know more about that. I suspect semi-organic (they lit the matches, other folks fanned the flames)… which is a big part of what we in business are supposed to be using blogs and other social media for.

Lots of good lessons in a tiny, funny video. Glad it made you think as much as it did me!

Regards,

Kelly

I noticed one of the comments say something like “Ha, let’s see you sell a broom for $80″ and it occurred to me that what you are selling is just as important. Not “what it does” necessarily, but “what it is”.

For example, this wasn’t a bike they were selling, it was a BMX bike. You’re going to get a lot of cachet right there with the right group. I’ll bet that using the exact same verbage for a red Schwinn wouldn’t get you the same bidding war.

Of course you could say that’s not the point, you’d use different verbage, and you’d be right. I’m just saying some things are easier to sell (BMX bikes, the Slap Chop, Save the Whales) than others (Schwinns, $20 garlic press, Save Britney’s Career).

And that’s part of the creativity — knowing what to sell.

BTW, how “organic” do you think all this was? Seems they were pretty linked in and likely generated their own buzz. Which is great in itself — that’s what they do and that’s why they are around — but I have a feeling that the whole “viral” aspect is a little harder to achieve for the average ebayer…

You also have to take some points off for the whole lying thing too. I’m not talking about the “girls got pregnant watching me” schtick, but the whole illusion that they actually used this bike and now were selling it. Sure, create a story. Shouldn’t there be some lick of truth to it though?

(Huh, I seem to be talking myself out of this whole concept. Loved it at first…)

~Graham