SneakyDave.com

As expected, Andrew Pittino (really Ray Romeo) is shutting down Wagglepop 2.0 after tripling fees to sellers a month ago.

Of course, Ray doesn’t put this information in the announcements area, which hasn’t been updated since December 2008, he only includes it in the sellers’, or more appropriately, ”listers’”, forum.

Although he still blames everyone but himself for the site’s dismal performance, the best part is that he wants to sell Wagglepop.com for $40,000 (or it could be $80,000 if you apply Romeo math). Wagglepop 1 didn’t even get out of beta, and he wanted $45,000 for that. Somebody needs to tell Ray that the dot com bubble burst almost 10 years ago.

Somebody else might have to explain to me how if a group is stupid enough to buy the domain wagglepop.com for $15,000, how Ray can keep “the LLC and the current trademarked logo”. Although Ray claims there’s a trademark on “wagglepop”, a simple search of the USPTO site tells anybody that there really isn’t. Another fabrication by Ray, I mean, Andrew.

Instead, if there isn’t a buyer,  Ray will simply replace the “revolutionary” Wagglepop with stock Amazon marketplace templates and widgets, which already exist as a lame and atrocious add-on in wagglepop’s search system.

This is the official “announcement”.
http://www.wagglepop.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=8577

Notice that even Andrew’s alter ego Ray Romeo can’t even make the announcement, it has to be the “customer care” director. Why would that be? Because only ONE PERSON owns the Rscript license and hosting account, Ray Romeo!

Hit the jump for the text of the official announcement, and the terms of “sale”.

So long Ray, hopefully it won’t be a year before you spam everybody again with your revolutionary, social-network based, new site, Wagglepop 3.0.

Please note that Wagglepop will be ceasing operations as an open marketplace and closing on June 30, 2009.

wagglepopCC2
Date Posted: Sun 05/24/09 10:41 pm
Posts: 376
Member Since: 20 Jan 2007

Hello Wagglepop Members,

After very careful consideration (and unless a serious buyer for the website as “turnkey” operation or domain becomes apparent), Wagglepop will be ceasing operations and closing on June 30, 2009 and converting to a 100% affiliate-driven marketplace through affiliate partnership agreement with Amazon.

It has been an interesting three years and I would like to personally thank all of our good-faith members both past and current for their participation. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve you. While there are a few things we may have done differently in hindsight, I feel confident that Wagglepop was a well-built good performing site and a great opportunity for those that did use it.

There will be no billing for June 2009. All merchants are welcome to use Wagglepop free of charge from now through end of business June 30th. New transactions through the Wagglepop system will end on June 24th and must be completed by end of business June 30th.

We are making Wagglepop available for sale in part or whole prior to affiliate conversion to those that desire such an opportunity. While we are not hopeful that there exists a serious and funded buyer or group for Wagglepop, we have made the individual components that make up Wagglepop as well as a complete turnkey operation available for purchase. Please click the link below if interested in purchasing part or all of Wagglepop as available.

Wagglepop Sale Details

I would like to publicly thank our staff for a truly outstanding effort. Chris and Marcus in Customer Care and Account Protection & Security have been tireless workers (as were Karen and Christine before them) and supporters and I will be forever grateful for that. They are both moving on or continuing solid careers and I have every expectation that they will continue to stand out amongst their peers.

I would also like to thank ownership publicly for the courage to conceive, create, and support the vision of Wagglepop. While we did not as a group achieve the participation goals, we did build a site together that performed at a very high level and was full of unique and useful features. For me, it will always stand out as the clear solid alternative to eBay with everything available to be exactly that and more. Ultimately, no site can do what only online sellers as a group have the power to do – band together, build together, and stick together long enough to create a marketplace buyers can truly consider an “alternative” to eBay.

I am sure that those that did find success on Wagglepop will continue to enjoy that success wherever they go.

Best of luck to everyone.

Andrew Pittino
Wagglepop