Is it just my imagination or is eBay dropping in popularity? A few years ago, eBay was on the tip of everyone’s tongues the way Twitter is today. As reported in an MSN Money article from last summer, customers are losing interest in eBay. That may be why changes are being announced to entice you back to selling on eBay. The new changes for eBay sellers won’t officially take place until June 15, 2009.
The changes are too numerous and involved to completely list them here. However, Chris Crum from WebProNews has done a good job of outlining the eBay changes in the article eBay Unleashes Changes Galore For Sellers. It’s uncertain what effect these changes will have. For me, nothing on this list would tempt me enough to give selling on eBay another try. My main gripe has always been the high seller fees and I don’t see those dropping any time soon.
Amanda:
Good points. It seems as if eBay is doing everything possible not to address the “elephant in the room” — significant seller costs. They seem to be attemptin to divert attention from that one bugaboo, but if the comments on the link you provided are any indication, it’s to little avail.
Julie
Maybe they will sell Skype @ eBay and get some cash…
Why need a mediator when you can do it yourself? Budgets are tight so I think it would be best for now to do our best on our own. There are a lot of ways we can get found and connect to different people in different parts of the world. I think we can sell our products without eBay, dear! Just my humble opinion….
Arthur,
How do you guarantee the security and that the transaction will be conducted in correct manner? Our company Blue Chip Café & Business Center was a checkpoint station for Spidexa Technologies for some time. I think that a new way of approving the goods at the delivery will improve the whole supply chain.
We can always learn how to do it right, Martin. What I was really concerned all about is the high reseller fees which can already be used to improve your business.
Its a strange thing . . .but take Wendy’s for example. At first, their prices were rather high compared to other fast food chains. But then they came up with the $.99 menu. . and what happened? They practically doubled their profits and the company was saved from possible peril.
Get it yet, eBay? They way they continue to nickel and dime everyone is a turnoff and there isn’t much value in their services anymore when the cut is so high.
Arthur & Chris: I get your point. The thing is if you want to have it very “cheap,” you could end up doing a big part of the job in the supply chain by yourself… Personally, I haven’t used eBay, but I like the idea of an exchange and that you facilitate a meeting place for buyers and sellers. Of course the exchange itself has to be financed in some way.
Hmmm,
I don’t understand why my comment is signed “Arthur Blend”… Sorry, Arthur!
Arthur & Chris: I get your point. The thing is if you want to have it very “cheap,” you could end up doing a big part of the job in the supply chain… Personally, I haven’t used eBay, but I like the idea of an exchange and that you facilitate a meeting place for buyers and sellers. Of course the exchange itself has to be financed in some way.
Oh it’s alright Arthur. I think Amanda got it fixed already.
I also understand your point regarding eBay but I think for now I believe I should take care of my cash and will not spend it to eBay unless they offer a quiet reasonable price.
I have tried the ebay route to sell and buy stuff… I do find their costs too high , which is why I opted for kijiji. I have had way better results for local products and there is no cost.
I also find that the popularity of kijiji in the last year has dramatically increased… maybe they are all ex-ebayers ?