Like any dot-com entrepanuer (sp?) these days, it's mostly a bunch of hype. At best it's like an ATM. Not revolutionary, but maybe somewhat useful. I like to dream about hoverboards, levitating backpacks, and women as much as the next guy, but let's face it. I don't think IT is going to be any of those.
I cannot blame Ebay for 'errors' with their system, which sounds pretty bogus to me from the way the email was written, but I can blame them for poor customer service.
But who can blame them. Most of the tech stock market and the brand new corporate websites are taking a severe beating on The Street. Now is the time for desperate measures, because most of the dot-coms out there won't last through the end of 2001. So what Ebay did is completely typical of the current dot-com struggle to stay alive.
So what do we do as consumers? Well, like Smith&Wesson (who thought trying to implement an unpopular, at least with their customers, child safety lock on all new handguns they made) would solve their problems with both the pro-guns and anti-guns groups, they instead ended up hurting themselves by doing so. They disregarded what their paying customer's really wanted and needed from their company. Their sales this year were down (15% or more, I think), and it was because most of their customers didn't agree with their actions.
So in regards to Ebay, we don't have to go marching around Washington all day and night to get the point out that spam is bad. Just quietly sign off of Ebay and go elsewhere. They'll get the picture soon enough, or they'll lose profits quickly. (And in this dot-com survival game right now, not getting the picture soon enough results in no more company).
Well, for one, I agree that tobacco lawsuits didn't make the deficit totally balanced, but it did help. That's why I included more than just that point. Putting it first was just coincidence. I'm 24 years old, BTW, and do not listen to AM radio. (Too many far left and far right idealists running around on AM). But a bunch of states and the Feds sueing the tobacco companies for hundreds upon hundreds of billions (I think it was $500 billion+, but could be wrong about that) of dollars does make a pretty big difference in the budget. And that certainly will make a difference when we don't have lawsuit settlements being used in the future to balance the federal budget.
As for the arguement on war generating economic growth, while unfortunate, I think most economists will agree that a war that is won, will generate more money for the winners, and more poverty for the losers. Even Sun Tzu's writings indicate that winning a war involved having more resources and aqcuiring more resources than the opponent, where as tactics were more important for individual battles.
It's unfortunate that I got modded down to 0 even though I've apparently gotten people talking on this subject.:(
Naahhh. I doubt there's that many intelligent people in the world. I'm sure there's plenty of people who like following the bandwagon media because it doesn't take much effort on their part. Just plop down in front of the boob-tube and listen. No thinking involved. I for one have quit watching the evening news altogether. There's so much more info and differing opinions on sites like this and WorldNetDaily.com that to blindly accept what mass media tells me would be irresponsible of me. Sure it takes more work, time, and effort to read all the different sources, but I feel much more confident in what I read from multiple sources than what I hear from one person.
A person is usually quite intelligent, but people are dumb.
I think you're right, a correction was in order. In fact, it's great for my investing strategy right now because I am getting all of the high risk stocks (technology, and growth stocks) at great discounts. VerticalNet (VERT) is only $6 right now! Down a LOT from it's high of in the 100's. And, from what I've read about the company, they have a decent business plan, but they are a dot-com, so they've gotten slammed recently. I just wish I could buy a bunch of it, but I don't have that much money;).
To discuss more on the subject of the 'tech-slump', I think it's good. Those who didn't belong in the space are getting forced out. I for one, have never bought anything through E-Bay or Amazon. I'd rather have a look at those types of products up close to see what they've got. However, I have purchased computer supplies from specialized suppliers that are net only businesses because they cater to a specific audience (in my case, PC modification and enhancement). The net is made up of people searching for specific and detailed info, and 'net stores' where specific wares are sold. It is not there to sell books which take 3 days to arrive at your door, when you could just drive over to the local Barnes & Noble, read the first chapter, decide that you like it, and buy it that day.
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Like any dot-com entrepanuer (sp?) these days, it's mostly a bunch of hype. At best it's like an ATM. Not revolutionary, but maybe somewhat useful. I like to dream about hoverboards, levitating backpacks, and women as much as the next guy, but let's face it. I don't think IT is going to be any of those.
But who can blame them. Most of the tech stock market and the brand new corporate websites are taking a severe beating on The Street. Now is the time for desperate measures, because most of the dot-coms out there won't last through the end of 2001. So what Ebay did is completely typical of the current dot-com struggle to stay alive.
So what do we do as consumers? Well, like Smith&Wesson (who thought trying to implement an unpopular, at least with their customers, child safety lock on all new handguns they made) would solve their problems with both the pro-guns and anti-guns groups, they instead ended up hurting themselves by doing so. They disregarded what their paying customer's really wanted and needed from their company. Their sales this year were down (15% or more, I think), and it was because most of their customers didn't agree with their actions.
So in regards to Ebay, we don't have to go marching around Washington all day and night to get the point out that spam is bad. Just quietly sign off of Ebay and go elsewhere. They'll get the picture soon enough, or they'll lose profits quickly. (And in this dot-com survival game right now, not getting the picture soon enough results in no more company).
As for the arguement on war generating economic growth, while unfortunate, I think most economists will agree that a war that is won, will generate more money for the winners, and more poverty for the losers. Even Sun Tzu's writings indicate that winning a war involved having more resources and aqcuiring more resources than the opponent, where as tactics were more important for individual battles.
It's unfortunate that I got modded down to 0 even though I've apparently gotten people talking on this subject. :(
A person is usually quite intelligent, but people are dumb.
To discuss more on the subject of the 'tech-slump', I think it's good. Those who didn't belong in the space are getting forced out. I for one, have never bought anything through E-Bay or Amazon. I'd rather have a look at those types of products up close to see what they've got. However, I have purchased computer supplies from specialized suppliers that are net only businesses because they cater to a specific audience (in my case, PC modification and enhancement). The net is made up of people searching for specific and detailed info, and 'net stores' where specific wares are sold. It is not there to sell books which take 3 days to arrive at your door, when you could just drive over to the local Barnes & Noble, read the first chapter, decide that you like it, and buy it that day.