posted on October 24, 2001 04:32:44 PM new
With the supposed changes coming about in listing fees at Yahoo! I thought this might be a good time to list an idea I've had about fee structures at an auction site and see what others may think.
I know there are sellers at Yahoo that very much like the present structure and don't want to see a change. Others would like to go to a FVF system only and eliminate listing fees. The opposition to this is that a flood of low-priced, slow-moving items may take over the site if this were to happen.
Trying to take all this into account, along with the fact that any auction site needs to generate adequate funds to survive and prosper, I offer this idea:
How about a site that gives the seller a choice of different fee plans, and let the seller decide which works best for him/her??
I have thought of three different scenarios that I think each offer something beneficial to both seller and auction site.
1) Option to continue fees as they are. You'd still pay listing fees as they are, and not pay any FVFs.
2) FVF only fee that includes a minimum per auction. This allows those of us that have middle-tiered items to list an item knowing it may take a few re-lists to sell it, but that you won't choke on listing fees in the meantime. I think a fair minimum for this would be 25 cents.
3) A subscription based service along with a FVF smaller than that of option #2. Amazon has this now - up to 40,000 items at a time for $39.99. Now I know the first concern this raises - doesn't this open the door to the low-end stuff? It would at that many items. I know another site that has set up a service that allows 2,500 items per month for $19.99, and each re-list counts against your total. I think this would be a fair quantity per month at a fair price. This would also have to include a FVF. So if that FVF in #2 was 5%, this may only be in the 2.5% range.
A seller could have the choice of which plan they wish to sell within, and would then pay fees accordingly.
I know that this may be trying to cater to all sellers, but I also feel any site trying to accomplish any type of growth right now needs to offer something different that works both for them and the seller. I believe that this in conjunction with the upcoming fixed price venue would really give Yahoo a major boost (and finally give eBay a serious competitor).
I'm really curious of others' thoughts on this. Feel free to change scenarios.
posted on October 24, 2001 08:46:14 PM new
I agree that a postive change would be well-timed right now. There is going to be a lot of confusion over at ebay very soon with all the checkout changes.
Nice idea! Wish firms would start thinking outside the box like that! The more options you give a seller the better. It's tough to cater to everybody but your idea comes pretty darn close! What would it hurt?
posted on October 25, 2001 08:12:43 AM new
When selling on eBay a item that sells for $9.95 costs $.80 cents in fees. 30 insertion, and 50 FVF. I would be more than happy to pay yahoo $.80 FVF for each $9.95 item I sell. The economy is going sour and I dont know one seller personally that is doing good. If they want to really compete with eBay now is their chance. With the lack of sellers on yahoo now it isnt worth paying insertion fees at this time. I am hoping they change to a FVF.
What would it hurt?