Here is the article:
http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/08/28/ebay-sellers-try-out-alternative-shopping-sites/?mod=yahoo_hs
August 28, 2008, 10:49 am
EBay Sellers Try Out Alternative Shopping Sites
Posted by Kelly Spors
We’ve covered all the eBay seller complaints, and how some recent changes in eBay’s fee structure and credit-card payment requirements are sure to make sellers even more disgruntled. But what are the alternatives?
A recent WSJ story mentioned that some irked eBay sellers are turning to more niche sites like Etsy.com, Silkfair.com or Oodle.com. Others are heading to Amazon.com’s Marketplace. Sellers feel these sites offer more customization of their listings and a better seller experience. An extra bonus: They don’t have to deal with eBay’s ever-changing policies.
But there are risks to ditching eBay, the story notes. EBay still has a critical mass of online shoppers and offers more buyer protections than many other shopping sites.
EBay sellers: Have you looked at other online sales channels? Which ones do you like, and which pale in comparison?
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ebay is by far the best site-but worst managed company ]] especially from a sellers’ point of view. Alternative sites exist–but are unproductive.
Comment by jpb - August 28, 2008 at 10:58 am
well, being European (ebay powerseller), i can not list on amazon.com. And since i’m begian, i can’t use amazon.co.uk or .de either. So less alternatives for me. I recently went to discover local marketplaces where fees are none, and rules seems less hassle than ebay. In holland, there is marktplaats.nl, in belgium kapaza.be seems to have the lead. Looking for similar sites in France, Germany & UK: will have to pull some strings with customers in these countries I learned through ebay. Make them fees i paid work little for me
I also have my own website, but althought my url gets listed very high in google search result, sale is only 35% of my ebay turn around.
As much as i hate the fees, & ever changing ebay rules, i must admit they still drive lots of people to my (ebay)shop so opting out not realy into focus right now.
vlas
Comment by vlas - August 28, 2008 at 11:05 am
I was an eBay gold-power seller for years — selling fine art from estates of artists’ heirs. When ebay began raising their fees, with big fees for reserves, I kept plugging, although the choice was to reserve low (with a low fee, and risk a low price) or reserve high(with ebay’s high fee and risk that the item would not sell, and eBay would just keep its fee, and my consignor would get nothing but my bill).
I finally gave up. Now I don’t sell on eBay or any other site, (but for my website), using a customer list that I gathered from years of selling on eBay.
Ebay almost fines its sellers, and they lost me. They do not have a “level playing field” as they advertise.
Comment by Lyn - August 28, 2008 at 11:09 am
Lyn, Could you add the name of your website business. Thanks.
Comment by Follow Up Question - August 28, 2008 at 11:16 am
comment to vlas - marktplaats.nl is owned by eBay
Comment by interesting irony - August 28, 2008 at 11:35 am
I had enough of eBay’s “changes” long ago after selling on the site for over 7 years. I’ve moved to several alternative sites to no avail and was discouraged for so long. I recently joined flippid.com which seems quite promising (no listing fees or selling fees). I have no idea how they make their money but since its free I figure its was worth a try because as I just made my first sale.
Does anyone else know of any other good alternatives? The only way for us to change eBay is to vote with our feet or just all move to a new marketplace. Best of luck to everyone.
Comment by Dave - August 28, 2008 at 11:46 am
I sell on ebay more as a hobby than anything else, and really have not tried any alternatives. But rather than look for little versions of ebay, I think the future lies with creating your own website and using search sites like Google to get noticed. The small ebay-wannabe auction sites will never get the critical mass needed to be good marketplaces. Many ebay sellers are nostalgic for the old ebay, but nothing like that will ever exist again.
Comment by HG - August 28, 2008 at 11:48 am
I was only a small seller on eBay, but I stopped selling and buying a few months after the changes started. Currently, I am not selling anything, but I would like to try out OLA (Online Auctions) or perhaps etsy if I start doing artwork again.
Like untold numbers of sellers, now I am too angry to go back to eBay for any reason.
Comment by Linda Ward - August 28, 2008 at 11:49 am
As a buyer, the few problems I’ve had over the years on eBay have all been sorted out (although in a very long winded way), as a seller it seems more trouble than it’s worth.
On the other hand I’ve had an enormous number of problems with sellers on Amazon’s marketplace (in stock items that were never in stock - and having to wait a month to get the money back). Also, if you have to claim through Amazon against a seller you are limited to I thin 5 claims in a lifetime, and from then on you’re stuffed. So, for now eBay is still the best, but nowhere near as good as in the ‘Good Old Days’.
Comment by Laurence - August 28, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Onlineauction.com is a very viable alternative to eBay as is Dawdle for media sellers.
Comment by Dave W - August 28, 2008 at 12:04 pm
A survey of eBay sellers in August showed that 63 percent of respondents were multi-channel sellers, and 26 percent were actively selling Amazon.com.
AuctionBytes has been publishing newsletters for small online sellers since 1999, and last week, it launched a directory of merchants at EveryPlaceISell.com for sellers to showcase all the venues on which they sell. The directory is our response to the undeniable trend of multi-channel selling we are seeing even among very small sellers.
Ina Steiner
AuctionBytes.com
Comment by Ina Steiner - August 28, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I sold on ebay for 2 years and from day 1 they raised their prices for the sellers out of pure greed.They took the fair playing field away from sellers and in my opinion is no safer than any other selling venue to shop.The customers need to shop smart in order to have safe transactions like using credit cards.My opinion is that ebay is as crooked as the day is long.We moved to Blujay.com and the the place is 100% free and growing fast.They provide Google and paypal checkouts and there are several hundred stores with about anything under the sun to buy.The forums are the friendliest you will find on the internet and everyone works together to promote and make the sales happen.This isn’t just my opinion,ask anyone at blujay.com
Comment by Melvin - August 28, 2008 at 12:56 pm
STILL WAITING FOR GOOGLE TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS!
Comment by DANNY - August 28, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I left eBay in February and now sell at onlineauction.com, where there is an ‘every man/woman’ attitude instead of an ‘almighty company’ attitude. You can promote your own personal website in your listings as well as on the chat forum. No listing fees, no final value fees, 9 listed choices for payment options, or use any payment option that YOU the seller choose to offer your customers. 4 free photos per listing, costs nothing to relist, and even more perks… all for $8 a month, whether you list 1 thing or 1 million plus things!!!
Comment by MetzyMom - August 28, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I second Melvin about Blujay - a nice friendly place. What we need to do though is to work to get our Ebay buyers over to these other venues. They are the ones stuck in a rut. If not for that, ebay would empty of sellers in a New York minute! …and none of them would bother to look back!
Ina Steiner’s post about everyplaceIsell.com should be noted because its a great new directory and should be helpful to every seller.
Ebay is busy these days…digging its own grave!
http://www.grannygoodpaint.blogspot.com/
Comment by Patricia013 - August 28, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I left eBay this past spring and I now buy and sell my auto parts on Justparts.com. They’re relatively new (sleek) and very affordable, plus their customer service is top notch! I highly recommend this site to any part sellers looking for a suitable eBay alternative. You might not get the same level of exposure that an eBay might give you now, but down the line (any good businessman should be thinking long-term anyway), it will pay off.
http://www.justparts.com
Comment by contentman - August 28, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I have been selling on eBay for 5 years. My sales collapsed on eBay since February. Now I have a website for online learning, eBay store, Amazon, Blog, eCommerce store. I am selling more than ever. The trick is to weave all the sites together. I am currently writing an book that will be released in 15 days called “Weaving With Blogs” (www.WeavingWithBlogs.com) that gives you what you need to build a blog, eCommerce site, weave them together with your eBay store and with Amazon, Etsy and more. In other words, you will have exponential sales earning by weaving. People need to get past eBay and onto running a business. Multiple sales venue is probably where we all should have been if we hadn’t been so in love with eBay. That love affair is over.
Sally Olson
www.SurvivingEbay.com
Comment by Sally Olson - August 28, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I sell almost excusively antiques.
I started on ebay in 1999. Things went reasonably well for the first 4 years except for the occasional ebay black-out when anyone who had stuff ending during the blackout basically got screwed.
In January 2005 I opened an ebay store- basic- and stuff sold right away. Like 4 hours after I opened. Within 6 months things started not showing up in search. By Fall of 2006 you could put all the words in my title in search any nothing would come up. Even using just keywprds nothing.
Closed the store. So I built a website but didn’t really stock it until this January. It has been slow but between the website and other venues I have survived. I stopped selling altogether on ebay this summer when the feedback changes occured.
I have never taken Paypal but do take google checkout on my site. Ebay really shot itself in the foot.
I hear nothing but bad things about them from people in stores, the post office, flea markets, all over the place. Nobody wants to deal with a company that promotes/condones deadbeats and repeatedly lies- yes outright lies to it’s customer base- the sellers.
Comment by rogand-antiques - August 28, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Sold and bought on ebay since 1999 - have 4300+ feedback - all DSRs are above 4.75.
Never accepted Paypal.
With the latest changes requiring Paypal, they have forced me out.
I do not understand how ebay thinks there will be more buyers when ebay is denying the use of checks and money orders.
Comment by Franklin - August 28, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I’m a model train hobbyist, who once in a while, recognized I had acquired too much, and sold a few things, to free up money, to buy other, now more interesting items. (I sold probably 1 item, for every 10 I buy on eBay.)
I stopped selling altogether, a couple of months ago, when I was forced to accept Paypal only, (no checks).
(I have stopped buying, too.
(the bank account is much happier))
(PS, I did take a look, the other day, at the “train category” I used to use, the listings are ½, of what they were late last summer.)
Comment by Bob - August 28, 2008 at 3:06 pm
After 8 years, and 100% positive feedback I have moved my buying and selling activity to OnlineAuction.com, also known as OLA.com. For 8.00 a month I can list all I want, and there are no payment restrictions and no final value fees! I have found OLA to be very cost effective and has the same friendly “feel” eBay once had. It is also a VERY fast growing site!
Comment by curiocache - August 28, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I am a bookseller and I sell only book in lots. Its hard for me to find a site where I can sell my books other than ebay. I am actively looking to quit selling on ebay as soon as the new changes go in effect (Mid-October). I have many buyers who pay with money-order or cashiers check. The change with the shipping rate for books will kill me. If anyone can recommend a site to me that is successful with selling books in lots, please post it. Amazon only lets me list one book at a time.
I’ve been on ebay for 5 years and was very successful, but with all these changes, it is time for me to move on.
Thanks for listening.
Comment by Ruth - August 28, 2008 at 4:39 pm
try
http://www.kijiji.com/
Comment by highflyer - August 28, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I work for a new competitor in the marketplace.
www.Artfire.com will allow artisans to buy and sell up to 10 items at a time with four pictures with NO FEES. A basic user can list, sell, receive payment and transfer money to their bank account for FREE. With bandwidth costs dropping, there will be more of these small competitive pressures on ebay.
Comment by Tony Ford - August 28, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I’d like to add to this discussion by inviting readers to my new site,
www.thesocexchange.com It’s a completely new site and I’d welcome feedback. At the SOC Exchange sellers get their own website to list as many items as they want for a flat rate of $1 a month. There are no per item charges or commission fees. As a small business owner myself, I felt the complicated fee structure of other sites were taking too big a slice of the limited profits that home-based businesses operate on.
Sally - In response to your comment, you might be interested to know you can feature a blog on your SOC Exchange site.
Thanks
Franco Lagudi
Foounder of the SOC Exchange.com
Comment by Franco Lagudi - August 28, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I was a PowerSeller selling $5-$12K/month, but the current management has just lost it. They’re tryin gto become something they cannot become, and losing the core competitive differentiators they have (unique item sales, and consumer-to-consumer transactions).
I’m trying out Bonanzle, and like it — fist sale already came in. Will also probably try out ebid.net maybe OnlineAuctions.com. I’m not going back to eBay unless they fire this CEO.
Comment by C - August 28, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I was a seller and a buyer. Now I am neither and not missing it at all.
Better places have the best sellers and buyers, no longer playing games as the example set by FEEbay and affiliate PREYpal.
Many great sites out there for all:
Bonanzle, IOffer, Ecrater, Etsy, Atomicmall, and the list goes on………many of these and others can be found listed at Powersellersunite. Everybody deserves a fine shopping experience whether you are a seller or a buyer. The Good have left FEEbay, there will be only muggers, thieves, and cons left to circumvent that FEEble system come the holidays. Fair warned is fore armed.
Comment by Don't Care - August 28, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I saw the potential of OlnineAuction.com a while ago and my business has been growing along with it. No listing or
FVF, and Founding Members will have the same rate for life.
When OLA makes changes, they’re with the seller in mind.
I’ve gotten some fantastic bargains and collectables as a buyer too.
Comment by Jamie Rothschild - August 28, 2008 at 5:46 pm
eBay’s latest tactic: suspending sellers whose DSRs (detailed seller ratings) fall below 4.5, while telling buyers that a rating of 4.0 is “satisfactory”. The latest change - no paper payments - is but the latest in a series of eBay’s pogram against sellers, who are helpless, outraged, and leaving in droves. Buyers are having a field day, and sellers, desperate to retain some control over businesses which, for many, are supplements for the table or their entire livelihood, are trying to adapt,with little success. Read the forums - every day a new outrage. And a few buyers, relishing their empowerment, are not only taking every advantage (and more!) that eBay offers them, but have found ways to rub salt in the wounds by gloating and cheering for themselves. It is an ugly environment for all, and eBay is either blind to it or is actively fostering it.
Comment by Gonefergood - August 28, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I was a powerseller on ebay but left at the beginning of the year. I tried OLA (Online Auction) but had no success so I went back to ebay three weeks ago with my tail between my legs. I also joined ecrater and blujay at that time where I am selling pretty regularly.
OLA could be good still too many problems such as google search and no completed auction searces. But my biggest complaint was that the categories. Been working on them for over two weeks and things are still a mess. Some upgrades have taken place but I had items that I relisted 23 times and sold them on ebay and ecrater within a week.
Right now I really don’t think there is a good alternative site. Having a website is great but it is not for everyone.
Comment by MMS - August 28, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Before moving from eBay, I researched other sites. Then I decided on Onlineauction.com (OLA.com) because I thought it had the most potential. It’s only $8 per month with unlimited listings and no final value fees, plus free automatic relists and up to 4 photos for free. I became a Founding Member to lock in my fees, and got a store (called an OLA House) in the bargain. And $200.00 worth of free upgrades! I’m very happy with OLA, and the site is growing.
Comment by VR - August 28, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I too tried some other sites including OLA, but they don’t have it set up so I could use my google checkout buttons, so I temporarily downgraded to the “free” option. I would be willing to try it again when they get the site up to speed.
http://www.rogand-antiques.com
Comment by rogand-antiques - August 28, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I was a seller on ebay but when they went stupid I left and will never go back, even if they changed everything back. I don’t like being cheated & lied to. I have gone to OLA.COM. This site is not perfect but OLA is working everyday to improve this site, I joined in February and there has already been a great many improvements. I think that the buyer has the misconception that they must pay $4.00 a month to buy that is not true, they are only required to pay the fee if they want to be a verified buyer or if they purchase a high doller item(I think $1000.00 or more)they must be verified. I think OLA will the top online auction place.
Rome was not built in a day, neither was Ebay. All I can say is OLA.Com is the place to be.
Comment by W - August 28, 2008 at 7:10 pm
After almost 10years selling on ebay as a gold power seller I can honestly say that ebay has made it impossible for me to make money. The fees are not the biggest problem. It is like paying rent. The higher rent is usually the best location. For now there is no alternative to ebay. So if you cant make money on ebay then it has no value to many sellers. The biggest problem I have with ebay is the changes made regarding search standing. I have over 31,000 positive feedbacks in almost 10 years. My feedback percentage is 99.2% , yet as of now my search standing is “lowered” because I received 2 negative feedbacks against almost 200 positives in the last 30 days. What does “lowered” do to my sales. Well it cuts them in half. My listing fees stay the same therefore I can at best break even. In the last 2 1/2 months we have worked only to pay ebay fees. With all the sellers who are in the same situation we are and all the seller complaints it is beyond comprehension that ebay doesn’t see the the “buyer experience” is killing the “selling experience”. With almost 100k in fess paid to ebay last year we can no longer make a profit. We will give it a few more months and if things dont change we will throw in the towel. It is a shame because ebay will lose 100k in fees, we will lose what was a profitable business. Just because of a tiny percentage of buyers who posted unwarranted feedback.
Comment by BCIPOLLA - August 28, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I think for many of the sellers that have left, there is no going back. Ebay has proved itself untrustworthy and anything they do from here on out will be suspect. Not a good environment to work in. Too bad. It was fun and profitable before the dunderheads got control. I hope the stockholders realize they are walking on eggshells and the only reason ebay stays afloat is bloated and contrived sales figures and Paypal ripoffs.
http://www.rogand-antiques.com/
Comment by rogand-antiques - August 28, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I Too Am Researching Other Alternatives To “Greed Bay” As They No Longer Seem to Care About The Sellers. “Greed Bay Is Digging It’s Own Grave..
Comment by Pc - August 28, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I’m sure glad I found MilBid, an awesome alternative to eBay.
Comment by PVH - August 28, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I had just started selling on Ebay in January of this year and in the short time I was there they had some many changes to fees and feedback etc. That I only lasted 6 months. After doing a lot of research I found MilBid. It is a free selling venue and the owner is very responsive to the members. It also has a secondary purpose of supporting our troops in the field. There a stores where the profits are used for care packages and also auctions for items to be added to the care packages. It is an incredible site with a great membership. It is worth checking out..
Comment by Mommyto3 - August 28, 2008 at 9:19 pm
The next best site as I can see is going to onlineauction.com. I sold on ebay for over 8 years and it was fun back then.
Now ebay is way too expensive, the seller cannot have any say in the end of the auction as to leaving negative feedback for a buyer who has not paid, the dsr ratings that buyers leave sellers is totally unfair and now if they will not let sellers accept a personal check or money order, is just over the top.
Alot of people don’t want their banking info online and would rather pay by mo or check and now ebay is going to say they can’t do that. By doing that, ebay is going to drive away buyers as well as sellers.
Ebay is going to be a mass produced item type site without all the unique “flea market” sellers as ebay calls them. That is what made ebay and now if the sellers aren’t there that sell those type of items, the buyers will leave also, going to another site who offers those types of item.
Ebay will be a ghost town.
I’m trying OLA - onlineauction.com. It’s rapidly building everyday from ebay refugees. Ebay wasn’t built overnight, but look out, there is a new auction site in town that caters to the people!
Sometimes a business just gets too big and forgets who made them and that’s what happened to ebay!
Comment by diane, NorthEastern, Pa - August 28, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Yesterday morning I went on line to find that most of my books had their descriptions changed from like new and very good to acceptable (a book that’s in barely decent condition). I also noticed that the books that were changed had mailing costs of $5.50/$5.95 and eBay wanted them to be no more $4.95. This in spite of the fact that Priority Mail, Delivery Confirmation and postal hikes (not including handling and gas) is making postage more expensive then ever. I have over 700 books on line and in a blink of an eye, many were downgraded to the lowest possible place. It will take hours (days) to change all the books’ descriptions back to what they were. eBay told me it was a ‘mistake’ but I think it was done deliberately to show who’s boss. They continues to harrass me with the fear of unwarranted feedback—going into my account and changing my descriptions is the last straw. They have shown their absolute disregard of me and my store. I’m looking for an alternate—I’m not working in an environment of intimidation. The ‘new’ eBay is a copy of the old USSR!
Comment by Irish Lass - August 28, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I too have sold things on ebay for many years, done quite well as a part-time moneymaker, then I opened a retail store to sell my own items and items on consignment, however this killed my eBay venue- Due to my huge decrease in listings and a couple negative feedbacks for slow shipping in a short period eBay suspended me stating I did not meet there requirements– overall I have a 98% rating, however in a short term it looked bad so I was shown the door!!! I was frustrated with the rules, rates, changes, but this flat out pisses me off. I have paid hundreds of dollars in fees every month, now they will get nothing! I don’t understand why a business would force sellers out due to some complaints- I have never EVER seen any business always satisfy everyone all the time. Overall I had a realistic fair history, never ripped anyone off- when I tried to appeal they stated there has not been a significant improvement- how do you improve if you cannot sell????? I hope another co. takes the marketshare.
Comment by consignit - August 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I found MilBid.com and as soon as I got involved, the community grabbed a hold of me and helped be get started listing and selling. The site has gone through transitions but each time it’s a better site. I tried the others but they were really all the same with no end result but putting money into the owners pockets. At least this site has real results and I am not feeding the machine like I was at eBay.
Comment by countryguy - August 28, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I have recently left eBay also after selling since 1999. I tried a few of the alternative sites and found that Overstock is probably the best I’ve seen yet. They’re very friendly and have great customer service! I was tired of waking up everyday being paranoid about crazy stars and unfair negs. It wasn’t worth it.
Comment by Gia, Dressforsuccess4less - August 28, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I bought and sold on the Bay for 8 years. It had very few negatives in the beginning, but has gradually added so many that I just couldn’t stay there any longer.
I searched around and found OnlineAuction.com. I love it there and can think of nothing negative to say about them, except that they don’t have the traffic the Bay did - YET. But they will have! They’re growing daily.
Comment by Pat (OldTurtleHeart) - August 29, 2008 at 12:00 am
I am a ebay power seller and i will say ebay has done nothing but attack the sellers and piled on stacks of new changes designed to improve the ” buyer experence ” which in turn ruins the seller experience !! Now we cannot accept checks or money orders !! Now we must maintain a 4.3 average rating or we are off ebay !! My non paying bidders has tripled since ebay did away with our ability to give the buyer a negitive feedback !! Its now basically almost imposible to comply with everythin ebay wants the seller to do..they want us to give free shipping - sell internationally - take paypal only - mantain a 4.3 seller average - why not just give our merchadise away for free !! Sellers are leaving ebay by the truck load !!
Comment by John Hollendar - August 29, 2008 at 12:00 am
I have sold occasionally on eBay for several years and was planning to open a store and begin selling handpainted items this spring. The changes they made scared me off so I began putting my things in a local
B&M and have been waiting for onlineauction.com (OLA.com) to finish upgrades on their site before trying to sell there.
Comment by Millies_Shoppe - August 29, 2008 at 1:03 am
We sell on EBAY for over 9 years. Our fees this year approx. $5000 a month. We don’t feel any appreciating from EBAY. The worst customer service that can be. Very strange policies that kill our business and their business too. We start selling on Amazon. It’s kind of slow but that is how we started on EBAY . We gladly will pay any other site and leave EBAY as soon as
possible. The new CEO should step down and admit mistakes.
Comment by bb - August 29, 2008 at 1:20 am
Been selling odd and ordinary items from tools to electronics for 11 years. Ebay/Paypal is a new kind of monopoly with their lock on buyer convenience for most items. They are the biggest store in the center of town and dont give a hoot about us concessionaires. The free enterprise system is all theirs and they are taking advantage of everyone. They are power and money hungry and it is completely disgusting. ioffer, OLA, and other sites need ID and transaction security as well. ebay is big enough to handle the massive changes needed for a secure system, but dont care enough to implement it.
Transaction data. All of it. For those who value their reputation.
some day there will be a reunion..
transactionreportsystem
Comment by froliky - August 29, 2008 at 3:21 am
Multi channel, never again will I allow my business to become dependent on one venue. eBay is no longer viable, I have 100%
FB and will not do business with the new empowered eBay buyer. It is my business and my choice what forms of payment I accept. I have a website which is ticking along, not as high volume as eBay was before ‘best match’ but what I make is all mine.
Bonanzle is the closest thing to an ideal site I have found, still in beta but less glitch ridden than eBay, and there is customer service (gasp!) how amazing. I can take PP, GC, cash, ck, MO, because Bonanzle respects its sellers.
Henrietta of redinkdiary.com
Comment by Henrietta - August 29, 2008 at 4:43 am
If you are not Buy.com or simmilar you are not welcomed on ebay. We need a site that caters to one of a kind. Not mass produced crap from china. And anysite that opens and does’nt allow this repro stuff will do very well. IMO
Comment by David - August 29, 2008 at 6:31 am
I invite anyone to google Bonanzle…In my 6th month search for eBay alternatives this is the best hope I have found…Hurry and check though as if you join in Aug. you can sell for FREE for 6 months…Just peek and you will see what many of us are so excited about and jumping in to see this be THE ONE….
Comment by Bonanzle - August 29, 2008 at 7:25 am
Bonanzle is the place to be!
We believe any selling venue can grow with promotion. Even the giant that we all know took years to get established. Given all the reasons that sellers seek alternative selling sites, Bonanzle is the one that will definitely emerge. We sold on the giant for almost ten years, and decided to help other selling venues grow. After six months of learning how to promote our own stores, we found Bonanzle to be the easiest to navigate. They are not kidding when they talk about setting up a site with simplicity in mind! Setting up was quick, and removed any intimidation of trying to navigate a cumbersome site. Were able to get setup within an hour, when others took us a week or more. Easy listing, picture loading, and has most features that all selling venues offer. Attractive home page with easy navigation. Community forums, with friendly sellers and the ability to text another seller online. Buyers can text the seller about an item, if they are online. A seller management page that is simple and at one’s fingertips. Stellar sellers with much online selling experience!
After trying a few other venues without the flexibility and simplicity that Bonanzle has, we recommend that buyers and sellers check this marketplace out!
Comment by Cleo - August 29, 2008 at 8:50 am
Why not drop by Pheebay.com and get the scoop on MilBid, OLA, Bonanzle and all the alternatives to eBay. You DO NOT have to settle for what eBay dishes out.
www.pheebay.com
Comment by PVH - August 29, 2008 at 10:06 am
I am a platinum powerseller, selling over $40K a month on ebay. As of this morning I am calling it quits once I sell through my inventory. The new feedback system has created a monster in the whackjob unreasonable buyers. This morning I had 6 demanding “adjustments” or they would leave negative feedback - one wanted me to price match polo.com’s website. I say what the ??? to that! It used to be fun to sell on ebay and I am now actively looking for another company that will treat me well for the over $5K in fees I am paying monthly. Ebay is actively killing the golden goose (we sellers who PAY the fees). We will all be gone and happy elsewhere once they realize it and attempt to woo us back - business 101. They should read the writing on the wall if it isn’t too late for them!
amy.c.adler@comcast.net
Comment by amy ambrose - August 29, 2008 at 10:57 am
I had planned to sell on Ebay, until the policy change announcements. There was just too much potential risk to the seller, with no viable means to address potential problems.
I did wind up joining Etsy after researching all th elinks that were available when the policy shifts occured.
I began selling in the beginning of July and am very happy with the site. They have very reasonable rates. I feel that they offer the best package deal on the market. If you sell handcrafted items, vintage or supplies check out Etsy.
If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer,
http://www.uknowuneedanother.etsy.com
Comment by uknowuneedanother - August 29, 2008 at 11:02 am
eBays implementation of Best Match as a default search trashed my sales to the point that I pulled out of eBay the end of March.
Like many other sellers I have tried smaller sites that unlike eBay are really a ‘venue’.
I have found the best results thus far on Blujay.com.
Creating my ads was as easy as copying the contents of the HTML page on my eBay listing and pasting to my new ad page on Blujay. Fill in a few other details, and my ads were up and running in no time.
Blujays advantages:
1) No Listing Fees, 2) No Final Value Fees, 3)Allows the less expensive Google Checkout, Checks, Money Orders, even high priced PayPal, 4) Each seller gets a free store front with a unique URL, 5) Sellers are free to set their own Delivery methods and rates without intereferance from the ‘venue’.
Blujay has a fantastic Community Discussion Board where other sellers promptly help and assist new members with any questions that might come up.
When I first started, I found traffic was low, so I took advantage of Google Base and Oodle.com to place free ads which have significantly increased traffic on my ads.
I also used my PayPal receipts to notify my past buyers via email that I had left eBay and moved to blujay.
My sales are now better that they were on eBay.
With no fees paid to the venue, and lower fees using Google Checkout, my profits have increased significantly over what eBay and PayPal’s triple dipping fee structure.
Sellers fed up with the ever increasing fees, account holds, rule changes, listing policy changes and restrictions now a part of daily life on eBay would be wise to sign up for a free Blujay storefront.
eBay’s constant policy changes, ever increasing fee structure, abominable customer service, payment restrictions, general greed and dishonesty pushed me to make a move that has resulted in better business and higher profits.
Comment by ricroe - August 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
Ebay is out of control. Why do the stockholders not see what is going on? This new CEO is ridiculous and this Lorrie Norrington who is getting promoted needs to be strung up in downtown San Jose. The absolute lies that have come out of that womans mouth in the last few months is unbelievable. What a terrible image she potrays for someone in her position and it carries over to other management within this joke of a company. It all goes back to this new CEO who has absolutelt no respect for anybody else but himself. Stockholders wise up and get rid of this clown before its too late.
Comment by Dave J - August 29, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Yes it’s so sad to watch the management ruin what took years to establish. The have drove all the hard working sellers out of business, not just the small ones, but big ones like i was. My sales were $50,000 a month avg. And my fees were taking all the profit then they push these policys on us that are not reality for success on ebay. they know this, and thats why they are doing it. The truth will be revealed in due time
Comment by FEEBAY - August 29, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Does anyone know when Bonanzle is going live? It certainly looks like a viable alternative to eBay.
Comment by PVH - August 29, 2008 at 12:52 pm
MilBid is my auction site of choice now! No fees whatsoever, great “hands-on” administrator, terrific members…great in every way. It’s a relatively new auction site but is growing fast.
Comment by noodles886 - August 29, 2008 at 1:38 pm
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