posted on May 3, 2002 10:54:01 AM new
Dispite the large number of sellers still pouring in money, there seem to be fewer and fewer legitimate bidders every month.
The days of items actually being sold at auction seem to be ending, with everyone using reserve prices.
posted on May 3, 2002 11:16:47 AM new
eBay isn't dying, but it isn't exactly the end all shopping place they'd have you believe.
I was looking for a DVD of "The Good The Bad & The Ugly" I found the lowest price it has sold on eBay lately was $6.50 (no returns, $3.00 shipping). Most offers were for $9.99 or higher. I can walk into Walmart and buy the same DVD for $9.99 and pay no shipping and if their's a problem... well there won't be a problem.
I was looking for a camera case for a camera I recently purchased. On eBay they have them for $40 bucks and up, I found more than one company web site offering the exact same item for under $30.00... click, click, and my camera case arrived 3 days later.
As search engines become more efficent eBay's audience will be shopping at a lot more stores.
posted on May 3, 2002 11:23:19 AM new
uara I find the same thing also eBay used to be the lowest place for buying goods. I use google.com and they are awesome for bringing up places to buy an item
posted on May 3, 2002 11:38:09 AM newI use google.com and they are awesome for bringing up places to buy an item
I think this is one of those rare moments when I agree with you.
Yes, if you know what you are looking for it would be wise to enter that into a Google search, you may be surprised with the results.
Google is more of a threat to eBay than Amazon, Yahoo, or any other auction site in the future. When more sellers start making sales off their own web site eBay's commissions are going to look more unattractive.
posted on May 3, 2002 11:52:24 AM new
UARA I agree also I have used many search engines and NONE come up with the information google does it ROCKS. Also google does not come up with junk all the good stuff is at the start. Whatever technology they are using its light years ahead of the rest. You can type in a telephone number and 80% of the time will tell you who is calling .
I use google extensively in the office and stumbled across the benefits of shopping one time whilst looking for a hard to find item. Since then never looked back.
posted on May 3, 2002 12:31:03 PM new
shops pay plenty to google and overture to show up high on your search results.
i dont buy on ebay because people sell used,returns,shoddy merchandise,why take a chance and lose on shipping??
prices in stores are reasonable ,why take a chance and waste shipping.
posted on May 3, 2002 12:38:49 PM new
i used to buy on ebay not anymore unless its a rare item, or there are a couple of consumable items i buy 3-4 times a year thats it.....i used to buy many items every week but after getting burned a couple of times puts you off
posted on May 3, 2002 01:08:53 PM newprices in stores are reasonable ,why take a chance and waste shipping.
I wanted a DVD player that would play my MP3 files, but specifically play MP3 files with a very low sample rate. Yup, I could have bought it on eBay, but I choose Circut City for a few bucks more.
I had to take that DVD player back 3 times before I got one that worked properly. Where would I have been had I made that purchase on eBay?
posted on May 3, 2002 01:10:44 PM new
The bargins are drying up on ebay -- I am a long time powerseller and buyer. As of late, I have been finding better bargins on overstock.com for computer equipment, yahoo's stores consumables, and Yahoo auctions for US coins,when the guys do not over price them to start.
People are beginning to grow beyond Ebay and finding other VENUES.
posted on May 3, 2002 01:31:27 PM new
yep I think its dying
Maybe not for computer parts though. And for the business application machines, like the AS 400 or Sys. 36, of which my husband has bought A LOT of, they are hard to find. And that is his business, he's a systems anyalst, so he wants to be able to do some work at home.
uaru, I would never buy a DVD player, VCR, Stereo, TV or a PC computer system off of ebay. (particularily a DVD player, they are fussy machines, and we are on our third and hopefully last one for awhile! )
On the other hand, I might buy a DVD, Video, or CD on ebay.
Computer parts and accesories,yes
Antiques or collectibles that I like, and can't find in RL, yes
posted on May 3, 2002 01:33:56 PM new
I have 45 auctions closing within the next 4 days, and 35 have bids, many multiple bids. It does not seem to be dying from my perspective.
Oh my God, I thought you were joking, and went to Google, and tried it for the heck of it, and sure enough, it does give out the name and ADDRESS of the persons phone number you put in. So I call someone I know, and they said put this number in, and it came up with a name, and the city and state, and they all come up with a link to Yahoo maps or mapquest. Well that number was unlisted, and sure enough you can click on the map, if you get it detailed enough, you have that unlisted numbers address, well you have the name first from Google... Geeeeeez!
posted on May 3, 2002 02:18:28 PM new
There's a new book coming out that some of us may want to read: CNN or some such cable news program this morning had a little thing about the hot new books, from the National Booksellers Convention going on, and at the top of their list was one called "The Perfect Store: Ebay something or other" (can't remember that part of the title). Sort of a history of ebay and where it is now. They said it's going to be a hot read.
posted on May 3, 2002 03:14:18 PM new
Well, I tried to do my Christmas shopping on other sites, and no site came even remotely close in comparison to ebay in price or selection. Amazon was out of what I wanted to buy; others didn't even carry what I wanted; many sites are difficult to navigate or find what you're loking for, and the prices on ebay are greatly lower. I bought a slightly used item on ebay for myself and saved over $275. I build the risk of receiving no warranty, or return gaurantee into the price I pay, and I always come out ahead buying off ebay.
A book I bought, costs $25 at Barnes and Noble; $16 off Amazon; $3 from my wholesaler; and only $1 on ebay. Also the cheapest shipping deal included.
Cell phone booster on ebay, around $4 including shipping. $20 at Shopko.
I don't know what you guys buy, but the wholesalers I check are often more expensive than ebay. Major Book stores pay more than what ebay customers pay.
Major electronic dealers pay more than what you find on ebay.
I can't even compete with retailers on buying wholesale because my markup, to compete on ebay, would be tiny. So you're all probably wasting time searching around the web looking for that great deal.
Damaged electronics? Warranties? I've had many items break down after the 10 day or 30 Waranmties offered by major stores. Won't do you much good paying full retail hoping the warranty will bail you out if something goes wrong, if it expires. Yes, Best Buy sells costly extended Warranties, so you end up paying one way or the other.
Unemployment hit some high levels, that may account for some loss sales; lots of people buying homes are saddled with debt, another possible reason for less ebay sales. However, online sales are expected to keep growing like a weed, a recent article in BW says it takes a while for newbies of the online world to become comfortable enough to buy online, and those newbies are just entering the period when they start shopping on the net.
I had stellar sales in February and March, with a drop off around Tax Day, but it's picking back up.
Actually, ebay offers way more than any other store, online or off, could ever provide: Price, selection, and convenience.
I believe auctions could grow at a gradual pace. Let's think of it, offline practically nobody does their regular shopping at auctions, so offline it is only a niche. However, online auctions, since we all can find plenty to buy, due to great selection and good prices, more people will become familar with auctions and do regular shopping at ebay auctions.
posted on May 3, 2002 09:02:36 PM new
Is there good deals to be had on Ebay?
Lets see, This week I sold a brand new, with tags, $400 Jacket on Ebay for $29. I sold a new $500 pair of leather pants for $42. I sold a new $320 leather skirt for $49, just to name a few.
IMO, these people got great deals. They sure as heck would get them for that price at the mall....
posted on May 3, 2002 10:20:36 PM new
Good topic and interesting observation. I buy most all my computer junk from eBay sellers but not much else. Of course, I don't really buy a whole lot of things from anywhere, mostly books and computer stuff. Most of the software I buy is so specific and uncommon that the only place to get it is at the makers anyway.
My particular concern is that ebay will eventually implode from the shear weight of all the stuff on it. There is such a thing as having too much. Ebay is definitely not what it once was.
posted on May 3, 2002 11:44:16 PM new
As I predicted a few months ago, I am giving eBay 1 year, and their auction counts will be half of what they are now.
posted on May 4, 2002 05:53:05 AM new
While some categories seem over-loaded and therefor possibly too competitive, many other categories are flying high. I sell coins, dolls, mid-century collectibles; mostly one-of-a-kind or hard to find. In my little corner of ebay, business and serious buyers seem to be improving. jmho
posted on May 4, 2002 09:18:07 AM newIn my little corner of ebay, business and serious buyers seem to be improving.
I guess the big question is: Will your business still be thriving AFTER all the sellers whose businesses aren't thriving go away? That is when eBay will be forced to raise fees so terribly high that noone will be able to sell there profitably.
Remember: When the sellers go away, the fees will go up...... But then again, with record numbers of sellers on eBay right now, fees are still going up.....
That would lead me to believe one of two things:
1. eBay is lying about the need to raise fees, and are just doing it to pad their pockets.
2. Items are not selling on eBay like they used to, and therefore eBay is collecting less in FVF's, forcing them to raise fees.
posted on May 4, 2002 11:07:46 AM new
We buy most of our computer parts/upgrade stuff off eBay. I used to hate driving all over looking for that "ONE" part. We probably spent $30 in gas and $60 in meals looking for a deal on one stupid part (new or used)!!!!! My dh can spend 2 hours standing in one spot in Radio Shack (the size of a closet) deciding between 2 wires. Do I sound bored out of my mind! YES! Come on eBay, luv ya.
I buy hard-to-find things, gifts, clothing (used and new). All of these cost more elsewhere. My hubby loves for me to buy our stuff off eBay because of the $ he doesn't shell out like he would at the store.
My sales have continued to do great. My stuff appeals to families, to the working class, every-day needs.
I hope eBay doesn't die - it helps us afford things, and helps me EARN MONEY!!!! In light of what others have said about drops in sales, I am extremely careful not to put out much for resale so I can make the biggest profit possible and still offer it at a low price to my buyers.
I've heard this same ole song and dance for a long time now. Ebay is dying, online auctions are dying, Ebay will have to raise fees so high that sellers won't be able to make any money, the sky is falling, the world is ending.
Yes I've seen the fee increases. I dropped most of the extras I was using to compensate. I rarely list in two categories, I use less gallery images (about 1 out of 10 items), I attempt to purchase items for lower prices so I can list them for less. My Ebay fees are now less than they used to be, not more...
My sales are as strong as they ever were some days and not others. The economy could have a little bit to do with it. People are more careful what they buy and they want to get the best prices they can. There has been a lot of layoffs lately and People who are out of work probably won't be bidding on Ebay.
Also I'm seeing people who say that the items that were selling strong 2 years ago aren't selling any more. Duh, look for items that are selling. You can easily look through the closed items and see what is selling well.
>>"Computer parts can't support eBay forever....">>
That statement is just silly. There's a lot of categories that are doing quite well besides computer parts.
posted on May 4, 2002 04:39:08 PM new
The fees I pay ebay have also dropped because I combine items a lot more in one listing, and I use BIN less often.
Just because it is stormy weather today doesn't mean there will be stormy weather tomorrow. If that were the case it'd be stormy all year!
posted on May 4, 2002 04:52:15 PM new
>>"Remember: When the sellers go away, the fees will go up">>
I don't believe that's the way it works.
When business is good, prices go up. When buisness is bad, prices go down. If the majority of sellers were to leave, Ebay would lower their fees in an attempt to attract more sellers. Rasing fees like you are saying would be suicidal.
posted on May 4, 2002 06:49:02 PM new
I said computer parts because someone said it earlier. I wasn't insinuating that computer parts kept eBay afloat. (we all know it is the glass X-men chess sets, after all )
posted on May 4, 2002 06:56:45 PM new
Shoot if feebay is going to make the 5 zillion bucks by 2005 they will have to raise fees again, that's just math.
I feel the future of auctions will go to the niche sites popping up everywhere now.
Look at clutterville.com, niche sites are everywhere and being niche they can compete with feebay for search engine placement, and
that's what it takes to have a site that works.
No ebay's not going to die off but they are about to finally feel some computation as soon as enough sellers get tired of thier
rules and new fees.
)