Ebay historical data. RE: A Great Find & A Defense of E-Bay

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis_at_mcmanis.com>
Date: Fri Jun 16 15:35:17 2000

> > Why doesn't eBay realize the great value they have in the historical
> > database of sale prices, pictures and descriptions. They're throwing
> > away the content that has been created for them for free. They should
> > archive the picture.

Two points, one Ebay _does_ realize the value of their historical data. Try
spidering their completed listings a couple of times and their lawyers will
come talk to you.

The pictures aren't on ebay, they are on the seller's site or honesty.com
or wherever they hosted them.

>Ebay does not want keep all of the auctions as a publicly accessable
>database, simply because it is not their job. After a few months, they
>can "wash their hands" of the deal, and with it, any disputes that may
>come up afterwards (problems in the car auctions leap to mind). They don't
>want the legal hassles, basically.

I don't believe this is true. I believe Ebay doesn't want to keep its
auctions accessible because it wants to sell that information for money to
people like appraisers for big BUCK$. I've been creating an automated
process in my spare time to harvest the information I'm interested in
(average selling price of classic computer systems) but not enough time etc.

What they _should_ do, and don't, is keep the title from the auction for
which a feedback link is posted so that you can tell if this deadbeat
bidder failed to buy a Monet or a speculum, that might help you decide if
you're willing to let them bid on your stuff.

--Chuck

P.S. Side note, the price of Classic Computers on Ebay is dropping. When I
have enough data I should be able to show it quite clearly.
Received on Fri Jun 16 2000 - 15:35:17 BST