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	URLwire for Thursday, September 9, 1999
	Online Auction Users Association Has Big First Week

The Online Auction Users Association (OAUA) publicly launched on September 1, 1999, marking the beginning of an unprecedented effort to give a voice to the online auction community. The OAUA, located at http://www.auctionusers.org/ a non-profit volunteer based organization for online auction sellers and buyers, has received commitments from major auction sites to listen and respond to member issues.  Through surveys and participation in the OAUA online forums, members will have an opportunity to express their concerns regarding issues facing the online auction community With close to 500 members in the first week, some issues that have emerged immediately are auction users' desire for sites to limit feedback (the system whereby users rate on another on the quality of a transaction, sometimes used to reward friends creating an artificially high number of positive feedback) to transaction only, as well as their interest in avoiding changes to the current system governing reserve auctions.  Members also hope that sites will put in place better systems to prevent outages, enhance customer service, and provide more detailed and equitable business processes to avoid confusion. In addition to advocating member issues to auction sites, the OAUA provides education, mentoring for new users, and discounted auction-related services to members.  Longer-term plans range from web-based training to live seminars and trade show events. "The very positive early response to the OAUA's launch is gratifying," says Diana Jump, OAUA President, "in that this is the culmination of a long held vision that auction users should and will have a voice in this industry.  We expect membership to increase rapidly, and we are especially pleased that major auction sites have agreed to work cooperatively with us.  Our role will be collaborative versus combative, such that we can provide real added value to the sites as well as they seek to enhance their service to the online trading community." The Online Auction Users Association Web site can be found at http://www.auctionusers.org/  and queries can be directed to info@auctionusers.org Do you know a member of the online media who would enjoy this news/story? Email it to them. Enter Email Address below.

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