A couple questions...Why would i buy more points when i can re-register and get points for free? And what if i made referrals to myself to accumulate points?
Now that's a clever way to support and promote Listia!
I guess books would be the things I would list most frequently if I were to sign up. I always try to get rid of some books when I move to a new flat (which I seem to do every (second) year or so). I'm not sure my books would get as many bids as this little gem though :)
1. Is there a way to sell your credits back? If not, won't black market deals just be created? e.g. creating an auction for a useless item?
2. If a new user signs up after viewing a listing for MY item, shouldn't I get the credit for the referral? Why not cookie them after they view my listing?
I don't quite get the black market thing though. If they can't trade the points for dollars, what's the motivation for creating useless auctions? Doesn't seem like a way to launder money.
1) Nokia cell phone is up for bids. Winning bid will be 1000 points.
2) I want to buy it. You don't.
3) The Nokia cell phone is worth $90 to me. It's worth $60 to you.
4) You have 1000 credits, from selling random stuff.
5) I could either buy $100 of credits and receive 1000 points, or I could give you $60 and receive 1000 points, making your life more convenient (you don't have to buy the phone, and then ebay it (credits->item->ebay->dollars ==> credits->dollars)
6) The best way to get 1000 points off of you is to have me PayPal you $60, and then for me to create an auction for some obscure useless good, and have you bid 1000 points for it. This strategy would require you to have a confederate to bid 999 points, although this is trivial if a black market is already established.
7) Alternatively, Listia could price its currency near to its sell price. This makes it unappealing to execute laundering schemes for small margins.
Listia is extremely fun. Just paging through some of the auctions, you see the goofiest stuff. Ex: PG's dracula cape (I think worth at least 10 credits...). http://www.listia.com/auction/197
The "I Made Something People Want" t-shirts are actually for purchase. You have to be Google,etc. and armed with 7-8 figures :-D. Shipping is free at least.
