Times, they are a changin’

As some of you know, I’ve been blessed to work for one of the leading internet companies since 1999. They changed their logo on the site yesterday, and it prompted me to think back – way back – to back when I started working with the company. It makes me feel a bit old, but also proud to watch how times have changed – and so has our homepage. I thought I’d share a few screenshots from over the years….

    1997 – Back in the Day:

A loaf of bread cost $1.22
The first book in the Harry Potter Series is published.
Mike Tyson’s bit Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Tiger Woods wins his first Masters at 21.
Princess Diana Killed in Car Crash
and our company homepage looked like this:

1997

1999 – the end of the millenium:
A loaf of bread cost $1.55
Everyone was starting to gear up to Y2K (which didn’t happen)
The Sixth Sense came out in movie theaters (I see dead people).
Lance Armstrong won his first Tour De France
I started with the company officially in December. (I’d worked there on trial basis for 3 months before this.)
This is the homepage I remember from when I first started, my first Christmas:

2001

    2001 – Infamous:

A loaf of bread cost $1.82
The first Ipod and X-box were released
Enron scandal shook the energy world
World Trade Center / Pentagon hit by airplanes and my company responded by launching Auctions for America in less than 24 hours, raising money for the victims charity.
I spent 3 days on the phones, with the Red Cross.
I bought my first house in Magna, Utah on December 17.
The color change from “blue” to “yellow” was starting to happen; we were experiementing with Live Auctions. eBay stores was about to launch. Screenshot below is pre-Auctions for America / Pre stores, but post Live Auctions.

eBay-2001

    2003 – Identity Crisis:

Price of a loaf of bread: $1.79
Elizabeth Smart was found safely, to the surprise & relief of many
Aron Ralston hacks his arm off (127 hours) after getting caught it by a boulder in a remote Utah Canyon
Madonna Kissed Brittney at the VMAs.
Angelina Jolie kissed her brother at the Oscars.
The company homepage chose yellow / blue to try to challenge another online company (guess?)

ebay-2003

    2008 Recession & Recovery:

Price of a loaf of bread: $2.20
I’ve been in Germany for 2 years.
Summer Olympics are held in Bejing. Michael Phelps wins 8 Golds.
Obama makes a speech in Berlin at the Victory monument, and I attend. He’s elected later that year.
Meg Whitman leaves eBay.
The company homepage is “green” but cleaner than before, and beginning to think about “turnaround”.

2008

    2010 – Anything but Zen:

Price of a loaf of bread: $2.35
Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics.
I move to Ireland.
Indonesia & region is hit by Tsunami killing thousands
The homepage is much cleaner, and red for Christmas again.

eBay-homepage2010

    2012 – Time for a Makeover:

Price of a loaf of bread: $2.49
Queen Elizabeth has her Diamond Jubilee (50 years) on the throne
London hosts 2012 Olympics, Michael Phelps becomes winningest Olympian of all time.
Obama v/s Romney for the 2012 Presidential elections

Company revamps logo and homepage look.

2012

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2 thoughts on “Times, they are a changin’”

  2. Holeeeeeee…. *trying to be PG here*

    I REMEMBER when the site looked like that first image. That was 1997?! I was Still. In. College! And wow. yeah. the new logo… I thought I was ok with it, but I’m sitting here and my knee is jerking all over the damn place. It just, it just…

    I mean, I GET it. I do. But. Seeing it on the site, it just doesn’t feel right to me somehow.

    Maybe it’s just that I’m living in the past. I will always think of eBay as it was when I lived and breathed it. So, here’s to shaking the dust off, to evolution & growth! Good luck, my friends!

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