All online auction sites are effected by the February release by eBay CEO Donahoe, as seen in FBN, where he states he has a little success in converting eBay into a “secondary market” rather than having the online auction be the center of its site. This shift was aided in March 2011 by eBay buying GSI, an online commerce company similar to Amazon. The strategy has been several years in the works, and has made many eBay sellers uncomfortable. This discomfort is going to persist, and as eBay nears its goal, will drive more sellers away from the site. In simple terms, if you are an eBay seller, it is time to diversify, sell your items on other sites as well as eBay, learn which fits your needs the most closely.
The eBay policies toward its sellers, seem similar to the policies of a bleeder landlord, in the real estate rental business. They have raised the site fees to 9% of the final value of the item –including shipping. They are demanding payment (in most categories) to be by approved electronic means; eg, PayPal, credit cards, approved minor other services. These payment means cost the seller additional expenses when selling an item. There was a large exodus when eBay first raised its rates, this is still occurring today. These costs are akin to the exorbitant rates charged by the bleeder landlord.
Those same bleeder landlords also cut back on services and support, just as eBay is doing toward its sellers. EBay has eliminated the ability to give negative feedback to any buyer for any reason. All sellers know there are problem buyers, and this feedback system is denying the ability to tell the truth about those problem buyers. Secondly eBay’s PayPal always sides with the buyer, in the instance of a dispute Some buyers have picked up on this, and are using this system as an approval process for their purchases –boy it would be nice to leave truthful feedback for these problem buyers.
EBay ‘Top-rated seller”, are you one? If so just skip this paragraph. If you are NOT, it is time to consider leaving eBay all together. Your listings are not seen by as many as eBay denies their exposure in both the mobile updates sent out and in the “best match” in its site search, and if some one is using the filter “Top-rated sellers only” your item will never be seen by that person. This reduces the number of times your item is viewed, and you get less for it. Find another auction site is the only real remedy.
All in all eBay is the reluctant leader in the online auction business, it is a very good time to establish seller accounts with eBay alternatives, who want to be the future leaders in internet auctions.
