posted on May 26, 2001 06:47:55 PM
After reading a great many auction-related message boards (including this one), I have come to the sad conclusion that in order for a viable alternative to Ebay to ever really get off the ground and get decent traffic:
A.) the sellers will have to become soooo tired and oppressed by ever-tightening Ebay rules, that they simply list all of their items on another site, and....
B.) the buyers subsequently follow.
There are many who, like myself, really enjoy Ebay and have prospered, yet have recognized that the tightening noose around our necks is getting tighter and tighter.
Then there are the ever present Ebay cheerleaders, who will defend Ebay to no end because they have also made money there.
Unfortunately for all of us, the cheerleaders cannot see the forest through the trees, and will want an alternative only after Ebay has made it virtually impossible to have any aspect of a transaction that isn't completely under their scrutiny and control.
It reminds me of the passengers on the SS Poseidon who wouldn't follow Gene Hackman until the water started coming in---but by then it was too late. They all tried to scramble up the Christmas tree---but to no avail.
THAT is how I see the rose-colored-glasses-wearing Ebay cheerleaders.
I'll say it again: I AM CRAZY ABOUT EBAY!!!
But I also recognize a situation that could become quite unbearable from a seller standpoint.
There simply HAS to be an alternative. Without ANY leverage, we are at their mercy, and that's a helluva way to be.
[ edited by stingray777 on May 26, 2001 06:53 PM ]
posted on May 26, 2001 07:29:08 PM
I used to sell on yahoo before they started with the fees, and all the rules. I can say I was VERY proud how the sellers stuck together and left. It seems to me that the lost auctions of yahoo are on bidville, and epier, as well as ebay. I do think the small sellers will leave, BUT this is what eBay wants. Think of it as a huge QVC type program. From reading the auction guild newsletter ebays listings arent much higher than last year, BUT meg has promised huge goals, and there is no way its going to happen with the listings almost remaining the same. I have many friends that sell on ebay, but with the noose getting tighter and tighter they are looking for greener pastures elsewhere.
posted on May 26, 2001 07:41:46 PM
You've got the right idea. Epier is a great site.
I can't wait to hear all of the shortsighted Ebay cheerleaders saying "I'm not going to epier, I'd rather sell all of my items quickly on Ebay--even though eventually, they will strangle me with their rules and mandated auction tools." Ebay is counting on these weak-kneed sellers as they continue to tighten the noose.
So sad.
It will take time to biuld up another site. Duh. But it is up to us sellers to do it. WE are the ones who will benefit most by making SURE that Ebay has real competition. Otherwise, Ebay will continue to write and rewrite the rules to suit themselves, not to mention increase the restrictions on buyer/seller communication. It will NOT get better, only worse.
Of course the cheerleaders are going to wait until the very last minute to leave Ebay and go to a new site, cashing in on the blood and sweat of hardworking sellers who had enough foresight to plan ahead.
That is what's called a lazy leech.
[ edited by stingray777 on May 26, 2001 07:59 PM ]
posted on May 26, 2001 07:58:43 PM
I wiill happily switch sites when I find one with a realistic sell through rate. I'll take tight restrictions, fees and rules while selling 90% of my items then sell on another less restrictive site and have 10% sell through rate. I have tried several other sites and yet to find one that I can come close to making any sort of money on.
posted on May 26, 2001 08:02:46 PM
julesy---I am not a lady--or girl for that matter. Why would you assume such a thing??
I am not pulling punches on this because it is frustrating to realize that many sellers won't do anything until it gets reeeeally bad.
You cannot build a site overnite. At the point that Ebay really starts to hammer us, it'll be a long time before there is any relief if we don't get something rolling NOW. Epier or whoever.
Plan ahead!!!
[ edited by stingray777 on May 26, 2001 08:06 PM ]
posted on May 26, 2001 08:34:46 PM
Most of the current auctions sites could compete with eBay if they spent money to advertise.
Yahoo, Bidville, Epier, etc. are all easier to use but will continue to stagnate without advertising.
posted on May 26, 2001 08:50:53 PM
They should learn a lesson from Don lapre and place tiny ads in newspapers nationwide. A friend of mine sells sports cards, and last week at a show there were several vendors handing out cards saying they are on bidville. Another thing that will hurt ebay is banning items. Now I think sellers should be able to sell anything not illegal. There are many collectors that buy kkk, serial murderer stuff, and I dont see anything wrong with that. Collectors are not going to stop collecting because eBay bans items. I wish ebay sellers would stick together like yahoo sellers did.
posted on May 26, 2001 09:22:37 PM
Hummm... Lets see, Banning firearms didn't keep sellers from ebay.
Remember that famous qoute "its only a dollar?" That didn't keep sellers from ebay.
Banner Ads didn't keep anyone away.
Obnixious VERO programs? Did that stop any major number of sellers from using ebay?
Ebay Motors created a bit of an uproar, but sellers still list anyway.
Burdensome NPB forms to deal with? did that keep any sellers away from ebay?
Raising prices, and adding fees for every little feature? No one left because of that.
Restricting email communication between buyers and sellers, nope - that didn't do it either.
Banning Nazi memorabilia? HA who needs those sellers and bidders anyway?
Preventing sellers from linking to their web sites from their listings? Why would that keep anyone away?
Did I miss anything? I'm sure I did... but it doesnt matter, we all just complain a bit on this boad and others then we get right back to listing.
Nope, if there were ever a bunch of sheep, its ebay users.
Myself included (Baaaaaaaa)- but I do list on other sites. I promote them when I can and have even had (over the years) hundreds of trouble free sales at several other sites.
posted on May 26, 2001 09:32:48 PM
eBay sellers LOVE to be abused, taken for granted, ground up and spit out in the dirt pile!
The more poop eBay dishes out the better they like it as it gives them ever-so-much more to complain about! And sites like Auction Watch provide such a lovely (not to mention FREE) place to 'itch and complain to their hearts content, so on and on it goes. (ad naseum!)
Who in their right mind would want to move to a site that didn't abuse it's sellers????
posted on May 27, 2001 12:12:09 AM
some excellent points in here.
I've been listing over at www.sellyouritem.com this past week. Although it's a new site, I've received over 100 combined page view hits on my listings and 2 bids (the last time I checked).
I also like the look of ePier and Biddville.
The main thing I worry about with some of these smaller sites is if they will still be around in 6 months or a year or two.
It's difficult to find out any real information about some of these sites. ePier has a telephone number right on their home page... ( I called it the other day... very interesting...) and although I have not attempted to find out much regarding the New owners of the SellYourItem.com site, a quick look around the site offers NO INFORMATION about who owns it or what the long term plan is.
321Gone.com has some information of the site... and from what I could remember, it's a tight-knit bunch of younger folks, with a few "name drops" they've managed to align themselves with enough to mention within their site text about the company.
I can't remember what I found on Bidville... other than a few months ago, I did send an eMail to their support inquiring if they will have a community chat forum. The answer I received at that time was that they did indeed plan to have a Community Forum for that auction site. I've not been over there in a couple of months... keep meaning to check'em out. Perhaps over the weekend.
I'm not wild about Amazon or Yahoo, but if that is where the majority of folks will be growing the listings... then I would participate in that effort in addition to my eBay listings. (really like to have items on eBay so that I can notify them in my personal EOAs about other venues while we still can).
posted on May 27, 2001 03:19:30 AM
Rustybore--I don't think you realize the numbers who have left ebay either totally or partially since the "it's only a dollar" fiasco. It may not be noticeable because there are always hundreds to replace them. You will also notice most of the ebay cheerleaders were never here before all the restrictions started so they have no comparison to make.
I sat down finally and decided to make a new marketing plan. There are still some things best sold on ebay. Then we're also branching out to our new B&M for those things I see have dropped to nothing on ebay. Fleas may be in the future too for easily transported items.
Right now I'm selling rather common books. After looking over the sites and the 100top auction list, I chose epier. When the unsold books come off ebay they go to epier at a slightly lower price in most cases. Those that get sold on ebay get my thank you for bidding notice and "won't you go to epier to see our other bargain books" letter. When they come off off epier they will go to sellyouritem.com. High priced antique furniture will go to Lycos or bargain and haggle for free exposure if not sales!
Yes, it's all more work but not too bad with cut and paste. I've just finally started so I can't give you any results yet but I know you have to adapt, adapt, adapt! If you sell baseball cards you might find a good specialty site for them. Depends on your product. If you sell new widgets you have in quantity you could have them on 20 free sites as well as ebay.
Think beyond ebay, because for many of us ebay won't be feasible for much in another year or 2! Think outside the loop!
posted on May 27, 2001 04:44:08 AM
I really think Auction Watch should get into hosting auctions, if they can branch into storefronts why not auctions, they already have a large audience and give E-bay some decent competion. Also maybe if there is a concerted effort by everyone to have Yahoo change their listing fees to be closer to E-bays structure, it might make this site viable again, there still seems to be a decent amount of bidders in many categories.
posted on May 27, 2001 06:22:38 AM
deco100: I don't know if you realize this or not, but SellYourItem.Com has an AUCTION IMPORT tool that really makes it EASY to transfer listings from other sites!
I was even able to go into my eBay feedback forum and find auctions from up to 90 days ago that either I never received payment for or I have duplicates of and list them on SellYourItem with a few simple clicks of my mouse button. It really made it easy to get a nice selection of items up.
I'm so relieved!!!! - NO MORE RELISTING FEES!!! *big huge smile*
I can transport items over to SellYourItem for FREE and choose the FREE AUTO RELIST (which will automatically relist my items for me up to THREE TIMES free in the event it doesn't sell)... it's SO Low Maintenance, that I can't believe it!!
posted on May 27, 2001 06:58:26 AM
I'm anything BUT an eBay cheerleader, BUT, I've tried numerous other sites over the years, and I ended up selling DICK ALL. Sorry, but a handful of sales here & there isn't going to pay the bills.
I've also been on eBay since 97, so I'm well aware of all the B.S. that's been thrown our way.
Lazy Leech, not likely, more like a realist.
The items that I sell, get far more bids [compared to NO BIDS on other sites], and end for far higher prices, on eBay.
posted on May 27, 2001 07:22:14 AM
get a life Stingray...read my post.
Quit complaining...You don't like it...Don't use the service...It's been great for me!
posted on May 27, 2001 07:32:40 AM
Here's an idea: How about sellers posting messages in their End of Auction emails. Saying you can get better deals for my items on Amazon, Epier, Yahoo or what ever. Maybe we as sellers have to advertise these other sites where WE CAN DO IT.
You asked "What on God's earth did people do to pay their bills BEFORE EBay???"
They did lots of things. They will do just as many, if not more, if there is no ebay left for them and they will be wiser for the experience.
Do not assume that all sellers are dumb little clones only doing the ebay thing. Many of them are pretty smart and they are staying with ebay while they are making the money. If it all crashed for them tomorrow I am sure they would find something else to do and many are prepared to roll with the punches. That's life.
posted on May 27, 2001 07:50:24 AM
I agree with shaani... folks shouldn't feel "forced" to work other venues if eBay is all they need.
It's an OPTIONAL thing.
By the same token, I have a problem with folks that come into the threads and tell folks to quit their - ahem, complaining - Folks who are attempting to communicate their dissatisfaction and be organized in their own plans for finding some alternatives IF one venue is not satifying their online sales requirements!
Sellers are attempting to INFORM eachother, and I don't view that as complaining.
Some of us think it's important to get the word out there NOW, that there ARE other venues available in addition to www.ebay.com and it's nice to know it!
posted on May 27, 2001 07:59:42 AM
Dottie .... I agree, but when people start calling fellow sellers things like lazy leech, I get a strong urge to tell them to go pizz up a rope.
