Alternatives to eBay?
eBay, the online auction marketplace, facilitates somewhere in the range of $50 Billion in gross sales a year. Thats $50,000,000,000 worth of commerce that takes place because of eBay.
Recently, eBay has been making some changes, including changing its rates, eliminating seller feedback, and other various changes. Many sellers, including the power sellers, are not happy with all the changes, nor are they happy with some of the bugs they’ve been seeing because of the changes. There has even been talk of a boycott of eBay and all sort of embattlement accusations between eBay and its sellers.
Which leads me to the question: if not eBay, then what? Who is directly competing with eBay as far as providing an online market place? Craig’s List and Amazon.com both provide marketplaces, but neither of them provide a sufficient online auction system. The closest competitor was Yahoo! Auctions, but that site was taken off-line last year.
Obviously for an auction site to be successful, it would need to have a critical mass of both sellers and buyers, and with eBay around, those sort of sustainable numbers would be hard to achieve. But suppose sellers and buyers decided to leave in droves from eBay to another online auction site. Who is available to take them? Or does eBay have such a monopoly that there is no other alternative. If eBay were to suddenly stop existing, what would happen to that $50B of economy?
Speaking of “…a critical mass of both sellers and buyers…”
You’re right of course. And OnlineAuction.com (OLA.com) has just installed new servers and welcomed a large influx of eBay refugees with more on the way thanks to the feedback change at eBay. OLA is “stocking the shelves” and about to launch an ad campaign. Drop by and see for yourself. http://www.onlineauction.com/
Comment by Jamie — March 20, 2008 #
Hey! Another site that’s asking the same questions we all are!
Well let me spread the word here too! =) Here’s a little known fact about “the little auction that could” & some good news for all you people who have been looking to the horizon for the cavalry. Check out that upstart auction site called OnlineAuction.com. (OLA.com) I think you’ll like what you see. They’ve got the right idea, and although they are certainly no eBay as far as household name status, they are also no eBay as far as treating their customers like dirt. This online selling veteran has found a new home & LOVES it!! Tell your friends: There IS an eBay alternative & they may not be as big (yet) or famous / infamous as the “Goliath” that they are taking on, but this “David” has the right ideas to go the distance & is growing nicely with new supporters everyday!
Comment by Randy — March 20, 2008 #
OLA.com! Tired of thE BAY? Try…onlineauction.com!!
This site is SO friendly and easy to use! If you go there, do NOT expect it to be like eBay! It ISN’T and hopefully never WILL be! But they have REAL customer service and human beings (right here in the U.S.) to answer your questions if you should give them a call!
OLA, Ya’ll!!!
Comment by MsOrchid — March 20, 2008 #
The mass would go to http://www.Onlineauction.com (OLA) as they are now! I think Ebay’s sales are way down because the “mass” is moving to OLA. So many new sellers and powersellers have moved to the site because they are friendly and very helpful-actually live people to talk to! Only $8 per month no insertion fees, no final value fees- I think everyone should check this out!
Comment by abargain4you — March 21, 2008 #