FutureShop: How the New Auction Culture Will Revolutionize the Way We Buy, Sell, and Get the Things We Really Want

by Daniel Nissanoff, John H. Mayer (Read by)

Predicts a near-future massive growth of new online auction-based stores similar to eBay that will transform the American household into an "auction culture" that will create lucrative entrepreneurial opportunities and make consumer products more accessible. Simultaneous.

Genres: Business

8 pages, Audio CD

First published January 24, 2006

Reviews

[Kevin Harms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Someone dated but gives some great ideas on how to better manage a lifestyle that is more compact and minimalistic.

[Maryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on how auctions will form the future of consumer spending habits. I do agree in many ways with Nissanoff about this as I got into the auction culture over 10 years ago with eBay in selling my used items. He discusses how you value items differently, purchasing better brands and taking better care of them while you have them because there will still be value when tire of them. I think he absolutely is correct when he says the biggest issue with the online auctions is the barrier of time and knowledge of getting your items listed - it's quite a pain. Nissanoff sees the solution as the small shops you see here and there where you can drop off your goods and they sell them for you at a percentage of the sale (often 40%). I personally have not used these shops before, but I do see the advantage. Instead of taking your nicer items to Good Will, this way you get something back for them. He was persuasive enough to convince me to try one of these out at some point soon in the future.

Nissanoff also discusses the problem of counterfeiting and especially high end brand trading of used goods. I think if you are truly interested in the deluxe brands at bargain prices this is worth listening to. I wasn't as interested in this part personally. Finally, the author goes into a lot of personal stories which made the book a lot longer than needed - though a couple of them were entertaining. Overall, an interesting book reviewing auction culture history and projected future growth of the market.

[Tania · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by his premise that we will all become temporary owners of most of our possessions in the future - selling things we no longer want or need on eBay and other such sites, but the assumptions for his theory are based on people who think of nothing to spend $2000 on a handbag, $4000 on a watch, $750 on a baby stroller, and who replace their tech toys every 6 months or so with the latest and greatest. He also is very New York centric in his thinking and his examples - only in Manhattan would somebody be able to make a living by storing other people's winter clothes. He also predicted that drop-off shops that will sell items on eBay for you will become as common as dry cleaners, and it is interesting that those businesses have come and gone - it turned out not to be a viable business model for most.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part I agree with the author's views on the auction and cart based ecommerce systems, but I think he overlooks the various of marketing methods that drive people there in the first place.

[Shishir · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so

Research: what sells
Find supplier – target 10K / mo at least
Check timing and sell – required homework and research
Pick up from garage sales
Shipping by customer (can make money on shipping too)