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eBay To Abandon Auctions
Acknowledging that most online shoppers cannot be bothered with auctions, eBay plans Wednesday to announce changes to its fee structure that emphasize fixed prices over bidding. The move is intended to help eBay compete more effectively with Amazon.com and other big online retailers.
The announcement, timed to increase sales during the holiday shopping season, is just one of the changes eBay has made in the last few months aimed at reducing its dependence on its auction business, which is growing more slowly than fixed-price sales. It provides yet more evidence that consumers are losing interest in auctions now that online shopping sites have become more affordable and easier to use.
“Buying online has changed,” said Scot Wingo, chief executive of the market research firm ChannelAdvisor. “Retail sites no longer make customers choose between convenience and price.”
Lower upfront fees will enable sellers to offer a bigger selection, helping eBay better compete with fixed-price retailers, Wingo said. “The current system puts eBay at a disadvantage.”
Photo by eBay.
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M.C. Nygard on August 23rd, 2008 8:20 am
Yes, going, going, gone are the days of eBay auctions! I noticed the trend three years ago and created a thriving eBay business (rose to Platinum status) on the fact that people weren’t willing to wait for auctions to close. My fixed price listings were going wonderfully until May 19, 2008 when eBay ended sellers’ rights to leave negative feedback, and they messed with the search function with their “Best Match” system. That was the death of eBay as sellers started leaving in droves out of anger and frustration of an unfair system. I don’t think eBay anticipated that sellers were also among the best buyers on eBay. For me the death of eBay was when eBay started counting neutrals on the feedback percentage as negative — in one fell swoop my rating went from 100% to 99.6%. It left a bad taste in my mouth. While eBay has since rectified that decision, I’ve actually been too scared to sell on eBay and have moved my business away towards affiliate marketing, amazon and other venues like Etsy.com and RubyLane.com. I don’t want to be held hostage by buyers, which is exactly what’s happening right now for all surviving sellers. One by one in the forums, I’ve seen top sellers close their stores. They’re fed up with eBay. Employees should leave eBay. Stockholders should reinvest elsewhere. But right now buyers should buy on eBay. There are tons of great deals as shopowners liquidate their wares.
Linda on August 25th, 2008 8:31 pm
Over the years eBay has grown and changed, and lost its appeal. These changes were not all good either, increase in fees and feedback rating changes, no wonder users are looking elsewhere. I agree with this article that there are other alternatives, http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2008/08/20/irked-by-ebay-some-sellers-trade-elsewhere/. Especially now that users are more savvy and acceptable with alternatives.
I personally like selling things online such as Craiglist and Silkfair.
cassy on August 31st, 2008 9:52 pm
If this things happened on ebay, i think ebay should find a way so that investor may not leave. They should find a way or strategies to compate with other online sellers.
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