Saturday, January 12, 2013

Ethics, Assets, and Transparency. Also - FUN WITH SOUND EFFECTS!


Before this latest rant gets started, let me begin by promising that my next post on here will have nothing to do with Proxibid. I don't want this blog to become nothing more than a one note song, and it's starting to lean that way. Also, I'm considering moving this blog from Blogger over to a new Tumblr account, mostly due to ease of use/convenience for myself. So that might happen.

Ethics, Assets, and Transparency.
Once again, for those of you who aren't following along in the Auctioneers group/forum on Facebook, a brief recap. There are two branches to today's rant, I'll list the two off, and then talk about them further down. Let's dig in.

1. Proxibid has launched a new sub-business, First Asset Partners. In a move that is shocking to absolutely no one who has been paying attention, First Asset Partners is going to have a focus on fulfilling the promises of Slide 4 - a topic I've already covered extensively on this blog. Here is a direct quote from their shiny new website's "About Us" page.

About First Asset Partners
First Asset Partners brings world-class technology and marketing solutions to asset owners seeking access to a proven, trusted global marketplace with deep penetration across multiple verticals.
First Asset Partners was created to address a growing need from asset owners wanting direct access to the Proxibid Marketplace. In instances where working with an auction company is not a viable option, First Asset Partners enables sellers to leverage the value-added services provided by Proxibid to secure maximum return when disposing of assets.
Powered by Proxibid, First Asset Partners is headquartered in Omaha, NE.

2. Jerrod Westfahl, CEO of Purple Wave Inc posted the following message on the Auctioneers group on Facebook, Wednesday, Jan 9th at 5:03 pm. Proxibid, in full on expansion mode, has decided to begin headhunting.

In the last few days, Proxibid sent the following unsolicited email to many of Purple Wave's territory managers and followed it up with phone calls from their recruiter:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: Corrie Klostermeyer com>
Date: Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Subject: Awesome Opportunity!
To:
Hello,
My name is Corrie Klostermeyer, I am the HR Manager for Proxibid, Inc. I wanted to share an exciting opportunity we currently have available here in our Sales Department. Proxibid is currently searching for top talent to fill full time positions as a Sales Executive, Direct Sales. These positions do not necessarily have to reside in Omaha.
Are you a highly driven, relentless, and enthused individual? Do you have a passion for sales and are able to harness that in order to achieve results? Can you support and promote a brand new, ground-breaking implementation of change to fresh audiences? If so, we are looking for someone like you! Our innovative company is opening its horizons in order to expand our marketplace and can use your help.
As the Direct Sales Executive, you would be managing and growing a portfolio of existing accounts, as well as prospecting and securing new business. Searching for high-value and specialized assets through relationship building and personal contact is one of your core duties. You would deliver world-class account management and sales operations support to clients across all direct sales programs while assisting the Senior Vice President of Sales with sales strategy formation to identify and address new market opportunities.
Proxibid is one of Omaha’s fastest growing companies. We’re hip, smart and talented, with a corporate culture to match. If you think you’re a fit, we want to hear from you.
These positions will fill fast so don't wait! If you are interested in this position, please email your resume to me at corrie.klostermeyer@proxibid.com and we will be in contact. Thank you.
Who we are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rZYRwLWhMY&feature=plcp
What we do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZIuAIK5VI4&feature=plcp
Corrie Klostermeyer
Human Resources Manager
e: Corrie.Klostermeyer@proxibid.com
p: 877-505-7770
d: 402-715-4083
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This seemed like relevant information for this audience, so I'm passing it along. I hope to see many of you at NAA's upcoming IOAC in Nashville.
Jerrod Westfahl
President/CEO
Purple Wave Auction

Okay. Engage rant.

First of all. First Asset Partners. Really? You guys named a company FAP? That is a softball. I could make a whole bunch of really obvious jokes, but think about it for a minute. What is the real purpose (in Proxibid's interests) in the creation of FAP? Stroking their own pocketbook? Beating off the competition? In all seriousness, this is a business created primarily to step between Auctioneers and assets that would have or could have been brought to market by Auctioneers...by selling it in an online auction without an actual Auctioneer. Completely self serving to Proxibid. Corporate masturbation. I take it back, FAP is the most apt business name I've ever heard. Also, look really close at the First Asset Partners logo. Use a little imagination. Seriously, I couldn't have made this up if I tried, folks - there is no way in hell this was an accident. Whoever came up with the name and the logo over there, bravo. You are the best troll I've ever seen.

fap
FAP
 
FAP!


The creation of FAP goes completely against the messages previously put out by those in charge at Proxibid. Specifically in this rant, I'm going to talk about some things that Tim Kryszak, Proxibid's Executive VP of Operations has stated publicly.

"It's our responsibility to bring those assets to our partners" Tim Kryszak, May 27th, 2012, 9:02 AM (Facebook post). When the original mess related to Slide 4 went down, Proxibid's short term response, was to create a badging system, in the vein of eBay's seller rating system - the eventual goal being that if you made the grade as a "preferred partner", when Proxibid sourced pools of assets that were not currently in the hands of Auctioneers (read: when they competed directly with the people who previously had sold items using their service for those very same items to sell them directly and cut their former clients out of the loop), those "preferred partners" would be graced with items to sell using Proxibid's platform.

*FAP* - Oops! Looks like you weren't "preferred" enough to get that tractor we just sold on Proxibid.com for Farmer Joe down the road. Better luck next time.

*FAP* *FAP* - Whoops! Looks like that Dodge Ram we were gonna have you sell just got listed by us instead! But don't worry, here - have another badge!

*FAP* *FAP* FAP* - Phew! That was an expensive collection of Antiques we just sold on Proxibid! "We" in this case are Proxibid employees. Oh, but don't frown - we promise the very next time we get some assets in, you'll get first crack at them, "partner"!

Currently, First Asset Partners looks to only be seeking vehicles and equipment (rolling iron). If you are somehow under the impression that this will end with those two pools of unsold assets, and not grow from here to include all other types of items currently listed and sold on Proxibid.com by real Auctioneers, you need your head examined.

Now that we've covered the Assets portion of today's rant...on to the Ethics section!

The NAA's code of Ethics has VERY clear terminology relating to the practice of corporate headhunting. Under the "Standards of Practice" on the National Auctioneer's Association's Code of Ethics page, it reads:

Members shall not directly or indirectly solicit the affiliation of an employee or independent contractor in the organization of other Members without the prior notice to said Member.  

That right there is open and shut. Having your Human Resources manager send out emails and place phone calls to multiple employees at a competitor's auction firm (and if you want to debate me about whether or not Proxibid and FAP are competitors for Purple Wave and other auction firms who are comprised of NAA members, BRING IT) is about as clear a violation of the standards of practice detailing solicitation as I can think of. 


Finally, a note on Transparency.
To begin with, if you didn't watch the video clip at the beginning, go watch it. I'll wait.

Funny, right? Ahhh, the 90's. Also, germane to the topic!

Okay. Back on track. Quick, another incoming quote from Kryszak!

We've been transparent about our mission to bring unexpected assets to our partners. We field a multitude of calls every day from individuals with comic books to coins...every thing in between- wishing us to point them to a professional qualified auctioneer. And, we do. For those in our network, they're well aware of this. - Tim Kryszak, January 9th, 2013, 11:48pm (Facebook post)


Real quick, just so we are all on the same page, here is the what the actual meaning of the word "Transparency" is.
1
a (1) : having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clearly : pellucid (2) : allowing the passage of a specified form of radiation (as X-rays or ultraviolet light)
b : fine or sheer enough to be seen through : diaphanous
2
a : free from pretense or deceit : frank
b : easily detected or seen through : obvious
c : readily understood
d : characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices
 
I don't think that any of these definitions allow for behavior such as dodging questions related to Slide 4, shifting business focus away from working together with client Auctioneers to sell assets in order to undercut them and sell those very same assets yourself, all the while giving lip service to passing these newly acquired pools of assets to "preferred partners" who have "badges" while setting up another company whose SOLE FOCUS is the ACQUISITION of new assets and the SALE at PUBLIC INTERNET AUCTION of those assets WITHOUT the inclusion of even YOUR OWN PREFERRED PARTNERS, let alone the original client Auctioneers, whose customer base you will now be directly marketing to in order to sell.

This isn't transparency, its unethical, in direct opposition to the best interests of the NAA and its members, and to pretend at being honest and open when we can look back at things you and other employees at Proxibid have publicly stated, and compare them to reality and see that they don't match up, is either brazenly cocksure, or pure idiocy. Maybe both.


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