Ebay FEE SHOCK

[rod@plasterbrok]

Hi for anyone who buys or sells on EBAY.

Just like to register my dissapointment for having to wind back my ebay store due to an anoucement of a 500% increase in store listing fees and 50% increace in their commission. To 10% of final sale price.

We have gone to a new aution site that is Australian oztion.com.au This site does not have the traffic yet, that ebay has. But Ebay store holders have had to jump ship in droves. Ozition listing is free and only take 3%, allowing low margin, or slow moving products, like plasterboard to be sold online. Impossible to sell at ebay after the fee increase.

[Bodgy]

Don't worry about it Rod, the free market is magic. Everyone will have the same response as you did, and the Epay prunes will realise 'bad decision' and be back grovelling as only one whose job is on the line can.

Wouldn't hold out too much hope for OzAction, might be wrong but most generic wanabees don't make it.

[rod@plasterbrok]

Yes I must agree that most dont succeed.

But If they ever were going to, now is the time!

I guess I would prefer to sell less often than not at all.

The listing proceedure at oztion is much easier than ebay.

I don't think they will grovel back for at least 12 months. Meanwhile most will be gone to other options (I hope).

[martrix]

I have been buzzing around Oztion (http://www.oztion) for a little bit and have jumped in to test the waters..
Go here for a look at some figured veneer (http://www.oztion.com.au/OA/browse/oa_browse.aspx?type5=iveneer).

Greedbay http://www.ubeaut.biz/finger2.gifare gonna get a shock...watch the media in the coming weekshttp://www.ubeaut.biz/nono.gif

right now there is a mass exodus of sellers from Feepay..

[echnidna]

Geez I 'm glad you posted that Rod, I didn't read the increases announcement properly.

I no longer have an ebay store - stuffem

[echnidna]

Has oztion got an equivalent to turbo lister?

[Stuart]

Is it just stores, or have all fees increased?

[echnidna]

I might set up an aussiebid store as well as an oztion store.

[martrix]

Has oztion got an equivalent to turbo lister?

Yup.... Oztion Express Lister (http://www.oztion.com.au/services/sellingtools/expresslister.aspx)

[rod@plasterbrok]

Its only the store listings.

Most people (who were encouraged by ebay) have stores.

Oztion and aussiebid are flat out getting the stores option going.

Stores are better for the consumer as well as the sellers. I honestly cant figgure out why ebay went this way.

Anyway we will know sooner rather than later if it was the right move.

Cheers

Rod

[echnidna]

So many people have pulled outa ebay they'll feel it.
Its worldwide too not just oz.
Everywhere except Hong Kong which is free.

[Ianab]

I dont know if it's too late for another online auction to take off in Aussie - it could if E-bay alienate enough sellers :rolleyes:

But in NZ Ebay hardly makes a ripple unless people are dealing overseas. 99% of the local online auction business goes through the Trade-me web site.

The original owners of the site have sold out to an Aussie media company (Fairfax I think) (for $100mil+) so I wonder if you are going to see an Aussie version of Trade-me operating soon?

Fairfax obvioulsy have the $$ to set it up, the means to promote if through their other media interests and own a full working version in NZ to model it after :rolleyes:

Ian

[rod@plasterbrok]

It is possible, I really don't know how many auction sites could survive in Australia.

With the free listing sites, (and auto re-list), It is no problem to load up your store and set and forget type of thing, until you make a sale.

It really is up to them to promote their site. Oztion seems to be promoting the most therefore should rise to the top.

Providing there is no listing fees I think I will have a presence on all of them.

Except ebay.

Cheers

[Stuart]

It's possible - Google was not widely heard of in 2000, before that, Yahoo ruled the roost, and noone thought it was going to be toppled.

However, there is the marketing factor - it is one thing to change search engines, but another when you are choosing where to sell product- like any business, you need to find out where your client shops, and sell/advertise there. If they are all on eBay, then, bugger.

However, if you are selling a unique product, and people are finding it on your website, then going to eBay to buy, then you can host the store wherever is convenient.

[namtrak]

Its only the store listings..........Stores are better for the consumer as well as the sellers.........

Not necessarily, I much prefer to buy off private sellers, as I think I can find bargains there moreso than with stores. I actually go out of my way to avoid all those turbo listings and buy it now listings, to look for the backyarder. I look at it the same way I do as garage sales versus $2 shops. At the end of the day, if I am prepared to put in the time I will always find the better deal at the garage sale. Works for me :)

[martrix]

Not necessarily, I much prefer to buy off private sellers, as I think I can find bargains there moreso than with stores. I actually go out of my way to avoid all those turbo listings and buy it now listings, to look for the backyarder. I look at it the same way I do as garage sales versus $2 shops. At the end of the day, if I am prepared to put in the time I will always find the better deal at the garage sale. Works for me :)

I actually find more bargains in stores because you have to search harder to find them, and because it used to be cheaper to list them in store, the prices were generally lower.

I scored a set of 10 Japanese 'Yasuki' steel chisels (3mm - 42mm) in a store for AU$310 Express delivered to Aus from Japan. See if you can beat that price anywhere on the net!..............:o I hope i scored

[Sir Stinkalot]

It is possible, I really don't know how many auction sites could survive in Australia.

Sold.com was rather large when Ebay was just starting out in Australia, it wasn't long until it went under the weight of Ebay.

[BrisBen]

That's just how tech companies work, get you in at low price/free, develop the product until it is dependable, then up the price in the hope that you have no choice but to comply.

At least at this stage the Buyer doesn't seem to suffer, just the seller who wishes to profit from the "phenomenom" that seems to be online trading

The auction aspect of these sites poses a paralell with gaming/pokies, you can't judge your bidding oppositions intent on an interpersonal level, especially with the automatic bidding function.

Standing on the floor at the auction house most people will observe between bids and assess the situation. Generated bids encourage out of range bidding.

Imagine the scenario if sometime in the future the taxation department decides to get a little more interested....

[zathras]

Just a gentle warning that this could be construed as a "collective boycott", which is illegal and can carry large fines under the Restrictive Trade Practices law.

By all means complain about the fee hikes, but to incite others to rise up against EBay and leave is dangerous ground, especially for business owners.

Sorry, but having just completed an online course on the RTP law this really stood out as a dodgy discussion.

[rod@plasterbrok]

I disagree with you Zathras,

I Just re read the entire thread. There has been no incitement in any way. People here have just told the facts. They have indicated what they intend to to as a reaction to ebay jacking up fees. Then the discussion revolved around the alternatives available and thier viability.

I can't see anywhere where people are calling for a "collective boycott".

Sorry Ray I can't see anything wrong with this thread.

Regards

Rod Dyson

[echnidna]

I agree with Rod, there is no discussion on this forum of boycott.

Ebay increased their prices so much that sellers are leaving in droves.

It would be unlawful for ebay to attempt to stifle discussion by FORMER ebay sellers as to their reasonable alternatives

Oh btw in another thread I stated that Yahoo auctions are totally free of cost. So there is another big player in the field who may capitalise on ebay's greed.