posted on January 21, 2001 11:56:25 AM new
All it takes for an alternative auction site to succeed is for the sellers to be willing to post their auctions there. Where would ebay be without sellers? DUH ~~~ Sellers do not seem to realize the POWER they have as a GROUP.
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To those of the many of you who have posted the names and info regarding other auction sites on these boards, THANK YOU! It gave me a list of alternative sites to check out. (Coupla good ones there!) I am starting to list at two of them, but I am NOT expecting them to have ebay traffic overnight...unless a lot of you "jump ship". Then it won't take the buyers long to find the merchandise!
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~ After all is said and done, more is said than done ~~
[ edited by aramatha on Jan 21, 2001 12:20 PM ]
posted on January 21, 2001 12:03:06 PM new
That seems to be the problem. Most people expect these new sites to have all sorts of traffic (lots of sellers, buyers, items, etc.), and it's just not possible without people going to these sites, telling their friends about them, etc.
posted on January 21, 2001 01:30:24 PM new
But what is the incentive for the buyers to leave ebay? For every seller that may leave to chase a free listing offer, there are others to take their place.
As a buyer, I go to look at these sites (just as I would check out a new store in the B&M world). I can't even look at all the ebay listings I may be interested in; if another site doesn't look promising right away, I simply won't devote a great deal of time to it.
I would go back to sites when people posted messages here about how great they were or how they improved. It was usually a disappointment.
posted on January 21, 2001 01:34:32 PM new
I think that's the point aramatha is trying to make (correct me if I'm wrong). People go to these new sites expecting to see eBay-sized traffic, and it's just not possible when they first start out. As new users to the site (both buyers and sellers), we need to give these sites a chance to grow before making any rash comments about them.
posted on January 21, 2001 01:57:52 PM new
Its like when you were a little young'in, you couldn't play with teenagers.
You waste your time wishin
One will come and you will hear about it real soon.
posted on January 21, 2001 02:32:43 PM new
Yes there are a couple rising stars on the horizon. Never did like the game of monopoly.
[ edited by Mikecol on Jan 21, 2001 02:34 PM ]
posted on January 21, 2001 03:03:42 PM new
Damariscotta,
Re your question regarding the "incentive for buyers to leave ebay" (quote). It would be nice to have more successful online auction sites, giving all of us more choices. I'm sure you wouldn't like it if you were only able to shop at one store.
My point was that it is the sellers who determine the success of a site...add to that the fact that sellers are also buyers (we have to get our merchandise somewhere). 80% to 90% of my buyers are also sellers.
For the 25+ years I have been in this business it never failed that, where the sellers went, the buyers followed.
This post is not meant for those who do not wish to buy or sell anywhere but ebay. It is meant for the many (and there are many at this time) seeking alternative sites. I am not completely unhappy with ebay and I doubt I will, in the forseeable future, leave ebay completely. I am looking for alternatives in order to diversify. It is apparent that things are changing at a swift pace on the online auction scene and many do need alternatives in order to keep selling.
~ When all is said and done, more is said than done ~~
posted on January 21, 2001 03:49:46 PM new
The primary issue driving the search for an ebay alternative seems to be the fee structure. This is a big issue for sellers, but I don't think buyers see it as an issue. Note that I am not saying it does not affect them (even if only indirectly), only that it does not determine where they shop. After all, do you buy groceries according to what the store's rent is?
Buyers will certainly follow sellers, if the merchandise or price warrants it. Right now I don't see that happening. By their own admission elsewhere in this forum, there are ebay sellers who use free listing sites for slow selling stock that does not warrant paying a listing fee. This accounts for why these sites look like the lowest form of electronic flea market.
No, I wouldn't like it if I only had one store to shop at, but I won't change where I unless they do something to win my business. As for giving them a chance to grow? One of the reasons for going on-line is to take advantage of the large selection available. This makes it difficult for a newcomer to compete against ebay, but that's life.
Almost none of ebay's competitors are developing new markets, or exploiting the drawbacks to the current crop of on-line auctions. At least with free listings, they are pricing their service appropriately.
[ edited by Damariscotta on Jan 21, 2001 03:50 PM ]
~~~ Sellers do not seem to realize the POWER they have as a GROUP.
