posted on July 14, 2001 03:14:20 PM new
In the past week or so, there has been a lot of squabbling about some alternative auction sites, and one in particular.
But I don't want to address just the one.
Rather, I think it would be beneficial to discuss the characteristics that have been tagged to the site and determine if they are detriments or advantages.
First, we acknowledge that Ebay and yahoo charge listing fees, and FVF's, and therefore, many, many low dollar items,(that some refer to as junk), cannot be reasonably listed there. The same holds true with items that do not sell immediately, but often need a little time to be "discovered".
Once these items are discovered and bid on, often, the fact that the auction has a bid will attract more lookers, and possibly bidders.
Now, I, and others believe that there is a valid market for items which people do not wish to pay a lot for. Even 10¢ sport cards.
Others collect salt and pepper shakers, and wish to expand their collection not only with $50.00 - $100.00 rare sets. If collectors only were collecting "rare" items, collectors would indeed be rare themselves.
Now there are some that have espoused on these forums the idea that an auction site that allows these type of listings are not valid auction sites, and they intimate that they should not be on the net. Or that they don't know what they are doing.
There have even been opinions expressed that amount to telling some one that they should take their items off the net.
Not because these items are lewd, dangerous, illegal, or in any way offensive. Simply because some consider them "junk" not worth the time to list them and that people should not have to be burdened with these items on the net.
Now, I believe that these items and auction sites are legitimite, and do provide a service. I also believe that to be legitimite, an alternative auction site does not have to have some "master plan" to topple Ebay, or Yahoo.
This is what I would like to discuss in these threads.
What constitutes a legitimite alternative auction site? I would also like to hear from some buyers, as I know we have a lot of sellers who post here, and they are welcome to join the discussion, but the buyer's view is also important.
posted on July 14, 2001 04:54:19 PM new
Jim, I love your post! Why? Because I am one of those 'junk' or clutter sellers. Once in a while I find an item that's worth over $20 but those are few and far between. Since this is a side-line for me I don't have to concentrate on the high dollar items to bring in a little extra money.
Are the free sites VALID alternatives? You bet they are! I spent almost 1.5 years selling on the big site before I got tired of being made to feel as if I weren't important.
However, the stuff I listed there, even though it didn't always bring a high price, nearly always sold.
And now that I'm not using the big site I'm spreading the very same merchandise around to the small sites and guess what--it's selling!
A few months back I found a very small item. It's a small jade porcelain hummingbird collector plate. It's nothing fancy, but very pretty, indeed. I bought about a half-dozen of them thinking they might go over fairly well. So far I've ran four listings for those plates--and all but one has sold on its first listing. The first two sold on the big site while I was still there, and the third is selling on BidVille.
One attitude I see on the auction industry that I don't much care for is exactly what you mentioned. Am I less of a person because I don't collect highly valuable items? I don't think so. I know what I like and collect what I like. I also know I have very expensive tastes but don't have the pocketbook to match those tastes. Being able to find inexpensive items that suit my tastes on some of these auction sites has been great for me! It's allowed me to collect some very interesting pieces without breaking the bank.
I also know there are many people out there in the same boat I'm in. And I find an awful lot of those people selling on the small auction sites. They don't have the big bucks to spend on items but they like to shop, nevertheless.
The message portrayed to sellers to make them feel like they're not 'worthy' of selling their inexpensive items makes me wonder how many people would tell WalMart and Kmart they don't deserve to have a store open because all they carry is low-priced 'junk'.
posted on July 14, 2001 05:52:54 PM new
Thank you Jim and Wallypog for great posts!
I also sell "junk" (that is my husbands word when he tries to manuever around in my basement)! But this stuff sells, it really isn't junk at all, but rather stuff that may take a "few" listings to find the buyer who says that is exactly what they were looking for! I love what I do and yes, I do wish the alternative sites would have more bidders, but I know that will come in time! I have already sold more on BidVille than I did the first year, I listed on YAHOO!
Now you sell "junk"? Back on the 11th you were outraged at the idea of a garage sale site. Guess it depends on what the crowd thinks....
Jim,
I think people come to bidville looking for a bargin, both buying and selling in the form of no fees, and that is why they will stay. If I am going to buy something I ALWAYS go to bidville and see if it is listed there and is cheaper then on "the big boy". I sell on 2 sites and offer my buyers combined shipping between the 2 (to the same address).
[ edited by wlaschin on Jul 14, 2001 06:24 PM ]
posted on July 14, 2001 06:43:22 PM new
Wlaschin, I note that deichen used the word "junk", with the qoutation marks. Later she states, "it really isn't junk at all"
This is part of the thrust of my thread, that some would call this "junk" with a derogatory connotation surrounding in respect to both the items and the seller.
I am not trying to get into personalities here, nor make it personal. I just think that this illustrates part of what I am trying to say here.
Maybe the whole thing is in the interpretation? Do you agree?
posted on July 14, 2001 07:32:19 PM new
Jimhhow-"Maybe the whole thing is in the interpretation? Do you agree?"
I do agree fully.
And as said many many times, one persons junk is anothers treasure.
Now I have a love of lady bugs, just do, but I have yet to find anybody who goes bonkers for them like I do, so hence I had this wild assortment of ladybug items, they are treasures to me, but maybe junk to somebody else.
I think there needs to be a site for all.
And if you are a really big collector of an item, you won't worry if you are shopping at B Y OR E, as long as the search will come up with the item...you want.
I don't collect as others said the rare and expensive, heck I can't afford to, but do collect what I LIKE,and so there is room in all the auction sites for these items. Lets all collect and buy more Smilies as I like to call what evers. Something that brings a smile to the face.
posted on July 14, 2001 07:48:02 PM new
wlaschin,
Jim pointed out to you, my statement, but I may add that I said my husband says it is "junk". I personally do not feel it is. Of course, like many others have stated: "One man's junk is another man's treasures"
posted on July 14, 2001 09:20:59 PM new
Mikecol, I agree I'd never make a living on BidVille or ePier or SYI or Auctionweiser or Carnaby or any of the other sites I put listings on. In fact, I'd have a real hard time making a living with the kind of stuff I sell because it's almost all lower dollar merchandise and I'm not up to running that many auctions, LOL.
I think each one of us does what we need to do and if a seller needs to make a living at selling I think it's in their best interest to list where that money can be made.
Its all "junk" some just costs more.
True, true, true!
I NEVER said the stuff on bidville was junk. I said if you use bidville as a garage sale you would be happy since there are no fees. I had an actual garage sale today and sold $1600.00 worth of video games and new toys. deichen took "garage sale items" as junk. If people would take the time to READ a post before responding we would not have most of our "conversations". I make good money on people selling their "junk" to me for nothing and knowing who is willing to pay for that very same "junk"....
[ edited by wlaschin on Jul 14, 2001 11:03 PM ]
posted on July 15, 2001 07:45:57 AM new
Interesting topic Jim...
I believe these alternative sites are viable and do serve a purpose. I use the big sites to sell my higher value collectable books and list on small sites to move the paperback and general reading books. Why? Same reason as everyone else, these low end items are not worth listing on pay sites (at least for me), but there is a market for them. I joined BV in March, and have had 67 sales, most in the $1-$2 range no great shakes as far as income, but it IS income...and its 67 sales I wouldn't have had otherwise.
*puttin on my buyers hat* I have very eclectic tastes and I know that whatever I want is probably on ebaY, but I always check the smaller sites first. If it's listed, I can (generally) get it for less, I seem to get better, friendlier service, and it behooves me to support the smaller sites that I list on.
posted on July 15, 2001 08:39:33 AM new
I would like to explore this question from a different perspective.
Few companies can offer a site with the immediate potential of a large customer base.
YAHOO, Amazon, MSN and AOL have traffic that might be directed to an auction site.
Most stand alone venues have to hope to generate traffic by becoming popular as an auction/selling destination.
No site can expect to charge sellers unless it provides a customer base that is sufficient to justify sellers paying listings or FVF fees.
The sellers have to profit from using the site and their cost go far beyond just fees. Time spent learning and using the site, inventory turn over time, duplicate processing systems and the daily diversions of having business at two or more locations are but a few of their "costs"
Sites and sellers each give a little. Sites spend their own money to maintain the services. Sellers use the site and contribute to building the business because they are interested in long term alternatives.
Sellers may also profit in the short run because they can sell items that are not profitable or not allowed on eBay or because they can sell additional amounts of the same items they list on eBay.
Sites build traffic that one day will profit them when they are able to charge fees or receive other compensation for their traffic.
Sites likely want any listing when they open( with minor limitations regarding legal issues and adult market items). Later they attempt to impose restrictions that eliminate the less productive listings as determined by their business plan and goals.
No site can remain free unless the auction traffic provides some other revenue or serves some business purpose. I expect no site will remain completely free once it gains any traction.
So "free" is only a transition between when it opens and the eventual time it succeeds or fails.
"Free" is only a term that applies to whether or not the seller pays fees. The site functions have a cost and someone is paying them for some reason of their own.
Like a road leading to some destination, whether the use is free or requires a toll, the trip still has other costs and someone pays to build and maintain the highway.
How people use the "free" sites sets a tone and will be subject to the owners future regulations as they attempt to mold the site to meet their goals.
Selling fees and the value of time have eliminated many individual items from being offered on eBay although they were once sold there in the earlier days of eBay's beginning.
Yard sales, Community sales, ongoing Flea Markets, stores, shopping centers, malls and commercial districts. All part of a process but now we are doing it online.
Looking back in fifty years it will all be crystal clear. Now we all just try to figure out what works for us individually and in very fluid and ever changing groups.
Free auction sites are a valid alternative because they are one of the few alternative to "eBay Forever" which is not an acceptable alternative for many of us.
posted on July 15, 2001 08:41:18 AM new
I Believe Free and for fee AUction sites are valid alternatives.
The big difference is with Free site Advertizeing falls back on the individual sellers.
If sellers On free site would get togeather and actually advertize the free site they sell on the sites sell through would incress.
see sellers have Free listing and selling all mixed up the site offers free listings, this dont mean a free ride sellers should be putting money they are saveing or part of it in to advertizeing.
there are more ways to advertize your sales then on message boards and email sigs which are good free ways to spread the word but its not advertizeing even ebay sellers use these ways.
Seller need to stop looking at there online auction as a closed group and advertize in a broader wider area.
if say 500 bidville sellers all got togeather for about $5 each they could get there sales advertized on clear channel radio and TV stations country wide 4x or more time a day for a couple of weeks like 30 second ads during at news times.
many have put press releases in online news letters but they forget magazines and news papers have new releases too and many will publish your release free or for low cost.
When advertizeing and word of mouth becomes a closed circle,over time the circle ages and grows smaller and smaller with out outside advertizeing there is no new growth each new effort becomes less and less sucessfull.
its like one person who lives 50 miloes off the nearest main highway trying to hold a garage sale in there front yard. fact is the farther off the main highway the less sucessfull a sale will be unless you can get a village togeather and advertize the sale far and wide.
Ebay is on the freeway with many side roads and ramps leading to it and from it not only is ebay well know and in the news but many of the business you can get to on that main road are well advertized and known as well.
Bidville, epier and other free sites are well off the main road only one or two other small roads leading to them the only other businesses on the road leading to them is maybe an apple orchard, a dairy farm and miles of hay feilds, The only gas station also doubles as the post office and police station.
free site are valid alternatives but they arent a free ride and easy money the individaul businesses have to get togeather and advertise there garage sales like any sucessfull town sale.
posted on July 15, 2001 11:46:44 AM new
Great posts, very insightful.
reston_ray,
While I cannot say that I agree 100% with what you say, I do find a lot of truth in it.
If we accept that all "free" start up auction sites have a long range plan to build traffic, then start charging fees,then doesn't it also follow that there will always be a mass of items that, for one reason or another, cannot be feasibly listed on a pay to list site?
I think that if we accept that, then it shows that sellers should use the sites as learning experiences, as it is obvious there will probably come a day when it is time to move to another "new" site. Then the lessons we have learned from this experience can be applied to again building the new site.
I don't see this as a bad thing, though I am sure some will lament the need to repeatedly start over. However, the truth is you give something, you get something in return. Sellers get the use of a venue, and the venue owners get it built. I think it is workable.
dman3,
you make many valid points also. Sellers have to recognize that they are running little businesses,(or large ones as the case may be). Therefore it behooves them to learn how to draw customers to THEIR auctions, and by association, to the site they are listing on. Advertisement is a good thing, but sellers cannot depend on a "free" site to make those expenditures, and have to take the bull by the horns, so to speak.
A thought comes to mind regarding the attemts at co-ops.
Would it not be better for a group of sellers to associate in the form of a migrant co-op that would be able to work a site for one or two years,(whatever the "free" period be), and upon the site later changing to a fee based site becasue they think they can justify the fees, have the ability to go to the next new "free" site?
I hope everyone will remember that we are discussing thoughts, and exploring the pros and cons, not standing on a platform saying this is what is called for. So far I think this discussion is an interesting and thought provoking exchange. It is my hope it stays that way. Share your opinions, please, and allow others theirs. Thanks.
zapped a typo.
[ edited by jimhhow on Jul 15, 2001 11:48 AM ]
posted on July 15, 2001 12:08:25 PM new
Actaully a co-op wouldnt work well in the situation you decribe.
the Idea of a cooperative would be to not only promote it auction venue but to Majority rules for the Auction site .
A union of seller of some type might do well this way BUT ask your self why would a sellers want to spend there time an effort promoteing a site to bring new buyers and sellers only to have the auction onwer dicatae fees and push them out or on to the next this would be no different or better then what is happening at ebay and yahoo. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
posted on July 15, 2001 12:28:31 PM new
I'm all for the little sites opening because then I can buy all the "junk" really cheap and resell on ebay and make a ton of money.
posted on July 15, 2001 12:42:37 PM new
Jim, this is an interesting topic. After having participated in discussions for six months regarding building a new member-supported site, I have found that two questions present themselves. What are the goals of the site? How do you define success? I think the answer is different for every seller and every site.
Sellers approach alternative sites with a variety of goals. Some want a cheap way to clean out their garage. Others want to build a viable competitor to eBay. Sellers who run a business full time are willing to expend energy to build up an alternative site, but in return they expect (or hope) that their efforts will be rewarded.
Sites also may have a variety of goals. They may run for profit, seek loans, advertise, offer credits or promotions. Sellers who use those sites know that "free" means "free until we can charge fees." That is only fair, as the site does provide a real service and should be paid. At the "free-for-now" sites, sellers know there is a tradeoff between exposure and expenses. Yahoo is an example of a free-for-now site, and if they had decided to charge FVFs instead of listing fees, they would still be in the game today.
Other free sites may be run simply for fun or as a hobby. Anyone can go download a free auction script and set up their own free site. A big advertising budget is not required. Sellers can promote their own items, and while listing may be inconvenient, any sale made on the site is free and clear. SnapRat is an example of such a site. And considering they do no advertising, I think their success is remarkable.
At any rate, hopes for the success of a site should be mixed with a dose of reality. Sellers can't expect a site to invest a million bucks in advertising, and then continue to offer a free ride. On the other hand, sellers who participate in the building of a real auction site should expect greater reward than simply the right to pay fees. And this, in my opinion, is a great drawback to all the alternative sites. I disagree with the sharecropper idea discussed above. Sellers are worth far more than any site gives them credit. We are the ones who created this multi-billion dollar industry. It is our work, not eBay's servers, that make it successful. That is why unions or cooperatives of sellers are needed. No for-profit or hobby site will offer sellers the tools to become independent.
. Internet Pioneers
posted on July 15, 2001 06:36:07 PM new
I think Bidville has been doing a great job so far. If I were in charge of the company I would advertise in newspapers this fall. I used to have a don lapre kit with hundreds of newspapers listed, and it is a cheap way of advertising. Infact there are small and free papers that charges very low fees. All you need is "1,000's of items, bidville.com"
posted on July 16, 2001 03:20:46 AM new
I believe that a seller has to have two main things in order to succeed in the auction market. The first one is to be able to have a market to sell to. Now I agree with Wallypog in the fact that a seller cannot make a decent living when selling on the smaller auctions sites like auctionweiser, edeal, epier, etc. But, if a seller sells on five or ten of the smaller sites at the same time, then they could do very well. Obviously, you would have to have a small inventory of each item to sell, and to be able to bulk upload the listings on to the site. Most sites that I sell on have a bulk uploader. Personally, I like the ones on auctionweiser and fairmarket, because of their simplicity and the look and feel of them. But everyone has different tastes.
Check out some of the smaller "niche" auction sites. You never know if you'll like them, unless you try them.
posted on July 16, 2001 03:29:14 PM new
jimhhow >
Ebay and yahoo charge listing fees, and FVF's, and therefore, many, many low dollar items,(that some refer to as junk), cannot be reasonably listed there. The same holds true with items that do not sell immediately, but often need a little time to be "discovered".
Sure, eBay and Yahoo charge fees, so it is not a cost-effective for sellers of low dollar items. They are also not cost-effective for low interest items.
Rather they are inventory warehoused at free auction sites. It does not matter how long it takes for an item to get a bid. If the free auction sites implemented a listing fee of even a penny, it would not be cost-effective for sellers of low interest ten-cent, twenty-five-cent and fifty-cents items as well.
Since eBay and Yahoo are not an OPTION, they cannot be considered an ALTERNATIVE.
Once these items are discovered and bid on, often, the fact that the auction has a bid will attract more lookers, and possibly bidders.
Free aucutionsites are characterised by few pageviews and even fewer bidders. Since the overwhelming majority of successfully closed auctions do so with a single bid there's no evidence to support this premise.
Now, I, and others believe that there is a valid market for items which people do not wish to pay a lot for. Even 10¢ sport cards. Others collect salt and pepper shakers, and wish to expand their collection not only with $50.00 - $100.00 rare sets. If collectors only were collecting "rare" items, collectors would indeed be rare themselves.
If there were a vibrant market for "common items" they would not have to be relisted over and over again; rather it is a market that generates occasional sales.
Now there are some that have espoused on these forums the idea that an auction site that allows these type of listings are not valid auction sites, and they intimate that they should not be on the net. Or that they don't know what they are doing.
There have even been opinions expressed that amount to telling some one that they should take their items off the net.
Not because these items are lewd, dangerous, illegal, or in any way offensive. Simply because some consider them "junk" not worth the time to list them and that people should not have to be burdened with these items on the net.
My opinion was that free auctionsites should put a speedbump in the path of inventory warehousers by limiting relistings. Say, not more than five, or perhaps ten.
Now, I believe that these items and auction sites are legitimite, and do provide a service. I also believe that to be legitimite, an alternative auction site does not have to have some "master plan" to topple Ebay, or Yahoo.
As I mentioned, the free auction sites are characterized by few pageviews and even fewer bidders. Auctionsite owners only source of income is from banner advertisements and the sale of various auction features. Inventory warehoused items do not generate banner advertisement income. Inventory warehoused items do not generate auction features income.
Given that scenario, the lifetime of a free auctionsite seems rather low.
What constitutes a legitimite alternative auction site? I would also like to hear from some buyers, as I know we have a lot of sellers who post here, and they are welcome to join the discussion, but the buyer's view is also important.
An alternative auctionsite is one that will be competitive with eBay and Yahoo; the free auctionsites are best described as simply other auctionsites.
posted on July 16, 2001 03:49:06 PM new
Dimview, supposing that free auction sites are not an alternative for serious (full time) sellers, and eBay and Yahoo are not an option, then what else is left?
I get the feeling many sellers are hoping for a site that is competitive with eBay, yet charges half the fees and has user-friendly policies like links to sellers home page sales sites, etc. They are looking for another eBay, but an eBay without teeth. Is it realistic to expect that such a site can or will exist?
You have basically discredited the idea of free sites, and eBay/Yahoo, so let me ask you what do YOU hope to see in a successful auction site? (Then we can pick your ideas apart. )
. Internet Pioneers
posted on July 16, 2001 04:05:27 PM new
dimview, this thread is not about statistics, or numbers, or even anything that can be nailed down to any exactness.
I believe from your reply that you have entirely misunderstood the entire crux of what I was asking, and what I was trying to establish with my initial post in this thread.
Perhaps you'd like to reread it and maybe offer an opinion as to whether or not you think Free auction sites are valid alternatives to the pay to list sites.
But I am only asking for an opinion. That doesn't really require numbers, and/or evidence to back it up.
Are you trying to say that no free site could possibly be an alternative?
I think the relisting limit really does not come into play as it is a simple enough thing to load a bulk file and repeat it however often is needed. And for the purposes of this discussion, we are allowing that these sites may be inventory warehouses. Does that invalidate them?
@%%*@ô#%!!! keyboard!
[ edited by jimhhow on Jul 16, 2001 04:08 PM ]
posted on July 16, 2001 04:25:12 PM new
twinsoft >
Dimview, supposing that free auction sites are not an alternative for serious (full time) sellers, and eBay and Yahoo are not an option, then what else is left?
My perspective on this is that we have eBay and Yahoo are the Big Boys, but what we're talking about here are Other Auction Sites.
The Big Boys have demonstrated traffic and a high dollar value on closed auctions with bids; the Other Auction Sites have little traffic and a low dollar value on closed auctions with bids.
Other Auction Sites are recognized as offering low interest, low dollar value items and, because they have few pageviews and even fewer bidders, the sellers of these items have little success. Sellers of high interest (on eBay and Yahoo at least) and high dollar value items have even less success.
I get the feeling many sellers are hoping for a site that is competitive with eBay, yet charges half the fees and has user-friendly policies like links to sellers home page sales sites, etc. They are looking for another eBay, but an eBay without teeth. Is it realistic to expect that such a site can or will exist?
If there were a true ALTERNATIVE auction site, eBay would be forced to implement competitive fees or lose market share.
You have basically discredited the idea of free sites, and eBay/Yahoo, so let me ask you what do YOU hope to see in a successful auction site? (Then we can pick your ideas apart)
Not so much discredited, but pointed out that their survival rate is low. Unless one is being funded by a philantropist.
jimhhow >
dimview, this thread is not about statistics, or numbers, or even anything that can be nailed down to any exactness.
And that's why you didn't find any statistics or numbers in my follow-up.
[ edited by dimview on Jul 16, 2001 04:26 PM ]
[ edited by dimview on Jul 16, 2001 04:31 PM ]
posted on July 16, 2001 07:13:41 PM new
Dimview, so your point is ... what, exactly?
Not so much discredited, but pointed out that their survival rate is low. Unless one is being funded by a philantropist.
Well, that was my point - it is unrealistic to expect that any "philanthropist" will offer such a site at his own expense. And BTW, you avoided answering my question.
Now, if a seller has determined that they will make online auction sales a full-time occupation, then probably the seller must sell on eBay. And maybe other sites as well, trying to build up a competitor. Because there does need to be a check on eBay's power.
But for other sellers, who do this as a hobby, or for those who can't afford to sell inexpensive items, free sites might be a viable alternative. Any sale made is free and clear, there is no risk, and the profits all go back in the seller's pocket. There is nothing immoral about selling $10 items. Just because it doesn't suit eBay or Yahoo, that still doesn't make it wrong.
Fact is, eBay was built on the "virtual flea market" model. I believe the buyers are still there. It's just a matter of hooking up customers with sellers. Sellers are already looking for any venue to compete with eBay. Next year, the buyers will be begging for alternative sites. Because eBay has abandoned the platform that both sellers AND BUYERS love.
. Internet Pioneers
---------------
If there were a vibrant market for "common items" they would not have to be relisted over and over again; rather it is a market that generates occasional sales.
---------------
Is it that there isn't a market pulsating with life, vigor, or activity OR is it that the seller is gouged into not being able to sell in that market because of being nickel and dimed to death?
Are these "common items" relisted time and again because of the lack of a vibrant market OR because the "common items" are readily available to the seller?
Where does a buyer go to get their "common items" at a less than retail cost if sellers close the door on "common item" sales?
posted on July 16, 2001 09:47:09 PM new
jimhhow I think this is a very informative thread, and thanks for starting it.
TO me there HAS to be Valid Alternatives and free sites are one of them.
We all can't sell the rare one of a kind items, we all want to have the fun or opportunity to sell things, or we wouldn't be here. There is room for all and all things.
We see that just in the offerings in life.
To be able to go to a store that sells 99 cent items or a big department store and buy a fancy item.Drive the biggest and best or the old beat up broke in car.
To each his own. And to have just a Y or E as auction sites, it sounds like a monopoly.
We need all these little ? free sites to give us all a change to sell as we see fit and not be forced to do it only one way.
I would give up if there was only one way I could sell my goods and with rules coming out of the ears. Too each his own, and lets hope the sites will keep working for all.
posted on July 17, 2001 01:23:49 AM new
Here's my take on the alternative and free auction sites that are currently running. Within the next few months, you will see that the so called "free" auction sites will either go out of business, or change to a fee structure that is compatible to eBay's or yahoo's. Now, from previous experience, the sites that choose to change to a fee structure from free will also end up into ultimate demise. As most of you already know, sites that switch from free to fee; will lose most if not a majority of their membership due to this move. Also, sites that balloon up to gigantic site size (---bay, BidVille, and a few others), will also suffer in the long run. Now for Gegy, Sell Your Item, auction saloon, and a few others have entered an arena that is already to big for niche or alternative sites. The ones that have a slow, steady, and projected growth will succeed in the end.
I know that this is not the popular opinion, but it’s the truth. It takes time, patience, money, and experience in order to become a successful company. Just because a site has 500,000 or so listings, doesn't mean they are successful. Everything comes back to the bottom line.
posted on July 17, 2001 04:08:53 AM new
I think the difference between free and pay sites is that the Seller either pays for advertising with money (fees) OR the Seller pays nothing and promotes the site on a more personal level.
It's sort of like when you decide to shop at a store where you pay less if you bag your own groceries. Even though it's a little more work... you save money.
Free sites are a viable option for Sellers who don't want to pay, and pay, and pay.
