Has eBay's Allure Abated with Bargain Hunters
Monday, November 17, 2008
One web site says "yes!"
With the holidays now upon us, and the world economic crisis diluting the buying power of most consumers, online auctions are being suggested in some circles as a way to get the most bang for the beleaguered buck. And when you talk about online auctions you have to talk eBay. Yet eBay's growth from folksy, egalitarian trading post to global mega-marketplace has come with a steep price, one many of its critics have carped on for years.
Gone are the days when a spirited mom-and-pop seller could stake a nice claim to the eBay buyer. Institutional sellers, big retailers and established power sellers are the bread and butter of the San Jose-based auctioneer - meaning "the little guy" is at an acute disadvantage; so much so that many of them defected to other sites back in February in response to new fees and feedback changes they claimed favored big sellers.
In an article called "eBay's Allure is Going, Going, Gone" for Smart Money, Stacy L. Bradford today notes that everyday consumer items, like DVDs, are readily available on eBay and, of course, can be supplied by wholesalers and distributors who can use volume discounting to squeeze out smaller sellers.
"But experts and veteran eBay shoppers say that when it comes to items like collectibles typically offered by smaller merchants, the deals often aren't there," Bradford writes. She points out that many buyers feel the "need to go elsewhere to find the best deals, namely other marketplace sites like eCrater, which is free, and Bonanzle
which charges lower fees."
The entire piece is worth a read and your consideration, but we couldn't help noticing Bradford's mention of eCrater. In one of our podcasts this winter - right about the time of the fee and feedback changes at eBay - we strongly recommended eCrater as an alternate site for disgruntled eBayers.
If you are looking for online auction vehicles as an alternate to eBay, please click on our Resources Page for a bunch of them. And, if you know of a great site you've used - one that helped you net a few bucks as a seller or saved you a few as a buyer - pass it along to us and we'll spread the word.
With the holidays now upon us, and the world economic crisis diluting the buying power of most consumers, online auctions are being suggested in some circles as a way to get the most bang for the beleaguered buck. And when you talk about online auctions you have to talk eBay. Yet eBay's growth from folksy, egalitarian trading post to global mega-marketplace has come with a steep price, one many of its critics have carped on for years.
Gone are the days when a spirited mom-and-pop seller could stake a nice claim to the eBay buyer. Institutional sellers, big retailers and established power sellers are the bread and butter of the San Jose-based auctioneer - meaning "the little guy" is at an acute disadvantage; so much so that many of them defected to other sites back in February in response to new fees and feedback changes they claimed favored big sellers.
In an article called "eBay's Allure is Going, Going, Gone" for Smart Money, Stacy L. Bradford today notes that everyday consumer items, like DVDs, are readily available on eBay and, of course, can be supplied by wholesalers and distributors who can use volume discounting to squeeze out smaller sellers.
"But experts and veteran eBay shoppers say that when it comes to items like collectibles typically offered by smaller merchants, the deals often aren't there," Bradford writes. She points out that many buyers feel the "need to go elsewhere to find the best deals, namely other marketplace sites like eCrater, which is free, and Bonanzle
which charges lower fees."
The entire piece is worth a read and your consideration, but we couldn't help noticing Bradford's mention of eCrater. In one of our podcasts this winter - right about the time of the fee and feedback changes at eBay - we strongly recommended eCrater as an alternate site for disgruntled eBayers.
If you are looking for online auction vehicles as an alternate to eBay, please click on our Resources Page for a bunch of them. And, if you know of a great site you've used - one that helped you net a few bucks as a seller or saved you a few as a buyer - pass it along to us and we'll spread the word.
posted by Chris and Frank at 9:29 PM
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