It's the mother of all record deals, and it has nothing to do with Madonna inking a contract last year with Live Nation
In one of the largest transactions ever on eBay
One could argue that a better strategy would have been to dispense with what the seller dubbed the "World's Largest Music Collection" in smaller lots. The record collector could have set up a Web page, paying pennies a click to generate leads through Google
eBay should be shouting about this transcation from its Web-rendered rooftop, because it's a reminder that eBay works. The company has gone through a revolving door of marketing campaigns to help grow its domestic listings lately, but few things could as emotionally effective as seeing someone securing a retirement nest egg through using the service.
I already had one nasty brush with eBay's marketing arm, so I'm hesitant to even look in that direction again, but why isn't eBay riding this success? I have mixed feelings about the current "Shop Victoriously" ad campaign, which features ads such as an awards-show setting with a young lady winning some rickety telescope. Even if the items are largely unattainable, eBay would be better served by showing the exotic cars, Gulfstream jets, and this $3 million record collection in its ads to position itself as an aspirational experience. Imagine:
- "eBay, it can happen to you."
- "eBay. It works."
- "Dream an eBay dream."
Why not? eBay has tried to position itself as a fun place to shop, and it hasn't panned out. It has tried to position itself as a practical place to shop, and that hasn't panned out, either. Aim higher, eBay. There are records to be broken. Roughly 3 million of them, if this particular deal incurs a bumpy shipment.
Bid on this Foolishness: