eSnipe is an unusual business in a lot of ways. (eSnipe is a service that places bids the last few seconds on eBay, the best way to prevent emotional overbidding and to keep prices down.) Its way of getting new customers is a paradox: eSnipe relies on word of mouth. Yet to recommend eSnipe to another person theoretically goes against your best interest. This is far different from most businesses, which tend to make your life better with increased trade. More people going to Wal-Mart? Great, Wal-Mart can exert pressure on its suppliers to lower prices. More people going to MacDonald’s? That means they can offer more $1 meals. It’s all good.
Not with eSnipe. Each person you refer to eSnipe is potentially a competitor to bid against you on an item you hoped you could score in secret. So why do people refer other users at all? An eSnipe customer with the amusing name of Dr.HopeToHelp commented
that my own little green eyed portion of self creeps out thinking “Why do I want to refer Bidding Competition to you, the Wonderful, Terrific esnipe website, that helps me get lower priced buys that make it EASY FOR ME TO RESELL and make a WHOLE LOT MORE than I would by getting referral money????”
I must confess, I tend to agree with the good doctor. My thought in recommended eSnipe to others before I actually owned the company was this: since no one I knew was bidding in my particular niche I felt reasonably safe letting others know about it. Still, I would like to get back some of the business we’ve lost to the general econonmy and eBay’s seeming insistence on erasing its reputation as America’s flea market (what’s so wrong with that, anyway?). Hence the notion of an eSnipe affiliate program, which would give you a cash or BidPoints incentive to recommend eSnipe to your pals.
At least the ones who aren’t buying Fender Performer guitars (oops, revealed my niche).
I recommend eSnipe to my friends all the time – that is, ones who are not likely to be bidding on the same things I am!
@Tim:
Don’t you know it! I confess that if I met another Fender Peformer guitar fan I might accidentally forget to mention eSnipe in the conversation….
Cheers,
Tom Campbell
Hey…did you buy the electric green fender performer I sold on eBay a few years back?!
Tell me the telltale unique modification and I’ll confirm
Mark
@Mark, I didn’t buy a modded green Performer, so I know we haven’t met. My green ones are both in mint condition. What was the mod and how could you possibly give up such an instrument? Those bad boys feel and sound incredible. Not too pretty, however… Do you still have any?
If you are still Tom, the very pleasant owner who tried to help me deal with that Pesky Green Line which appeared at the bottom of my eSnipe page, blocking the bottom entry, then it was with me that you DID give a reward for recommending you to my friends–more bid points, a wonderful way to say thank you. Eventually, I found the green line issue was AOL’s fault, so I now access eSnipe from Safari and it works wonderfully. And I STILL recommend you to my friends (even those who bid on Indian baskets, since they KNOW not to bid on those from my area!)
Mary Lou
Thank you, Mary Lou. It’s been a while and I’m glad you got the problem resolved. Are you a Mac user?
Cheers,
Tom Campbell
A friend in Germany told me about a coworker who was looking for ski equipment for her family’s vacation. Because of the time change and other factors she kept getting outbid. I told my friend about esnipe. I received a very nice email telling me she and her family were enjoying their ski vacation thanks to esnipe.
Do I tell people, you bet. I want you to be successful.
BTW I have been a user since almost the beginning. The only way to go.
Hi Tom -
I have a green Fender Performer that I’m looking to sell. Love the guitar, I just don’t have time to play anymore. Any idea what I should sell it for?
@seth, check eBay’s past auctions. They seem to be going for around $600 now; prices have dropped considerably from the peak of a year ago. The emerald mist ones usually go for more than the others, esp. if in good condition.
@anj, you rock. Thanks for spreading the word. I’m glad your friends got a good deal. (Now I need to ask my wife if I can buy a
notherguitar to celebrate!