eBay Goes To Texas

The Dallas eBaybes & eMales eBay Group, founded by well-known eBay Super Seller and Education Specialist, Stephanie Inge (stephintexas), invited a few eBay staff members to their regular in-person get-together in Richmond, TX on Thursday night, May 29th. Over 100 members of the eBaybes & eMales came to the get-together. In attendance from eBay were Brian Burke, Directory of Global Feedback Policy, Rishikesh Tembe from Trust and Safety and myself, Stacy Stella and Garnor Morantes from Community Development.

Even the hospitality is bigger in Texas!
The event started at 6:30 pm at the bucolic Canyon Creek Country Club. From the moment we walked into the lobby, Stephanie & company greeted us with heaping helpings of Texas hospitality. As I do every time I travel to Texas, I immediately felt welcomed and at home. From introductions and greetings we moved into the dining area of the club and its 100 foot stretch of enormous picture window that provided the event with a eye-watering backdrop of verdant rolling hills in the late afternoon sun.Our hosts provided us mounds of great barbecued chicken, corn on the cob and apple pie, and lots of libations (I lost count of the G&T's set before me courtesy of Melinda (texasdiner2004). Thank you Melinda!).

What's eBay's long-term strategy for "super sellers"?
After dinner it was time for Q&A. A range of questions and comments came our way -- about the recent launch of Feedback 2.0, Finding 2.0, and eBay's long term strategy for "super sellers" (the impromptu but apt term that the Group members came up with to describe themselves). The group is made up of sellers, a majority of who are also buyers (the perfect demographic) so we had the privilege of hearing many diverse viewpoints and suggestions.

After the Q&A, Brian, Rishi and I helped as "runners" distributing the raffle door prizes, all of which were donated by Group members. There were some really great prizes and few (the rare, branded eBay Austria Thong - MWMT and definitely brand new - donated by eBetsy and John Monjott was the definite hit of the evening).

At 9:00pm, the official close of the event, we assembled for a group photo.

I say "official close" because Brian and I stayed on another two and a half hours talking with many eBaybes and eMales sharing stories, concerns and views for the future. I kept thinking it was only about 10:00 pm when I realized that my watch was still set to Pacific time. It was nearly midnight! And all of us had early flights to catch back to San Jose the next morning.

Ask Stephanie about how to form a local Group in your area
If you live in the Dallas, Fort Worth area, you should definitely consider joining Stephanie's eBay Group. The heady mix of entrepreneurial spirit, bonhomie, and hospitality of their in-person events made for one of the most memorable and exciting evenings I can remember. It reminded all of us who participated exactly what sets eBay apart from any other marketplace -- you, our Community.

If you live in another state and are interested in forming a local eBay group that meets up on a regular basis, I strongly encourage you to seek out Stephanie. She is definitely eager to provide advice and tips to anyone interested in creating a similar group.

Thanks again to Stephanie, Malinda, Theresa, Susan and everyone in the eBaybes & eMales eBay Group for your extraordinary generosity, good humor and good will. It was an honor and a delight to meet and talk with you, share stories and most importantly, to listen to your concerns and questions.