To Ebay or Not to Ebay, that is the question.

[loveit]

I have been reading for days all over the net about the new prices and rules on Ebay for sellers and about sellers pulling out of Ebay, going to other sites (Tias, Rubylane, etc.). I haven't sold anything on Ebay (have bought a few things in the past). Now that I've built up an inventory of vintage items and want to sell them, as I was reading up on HOW to sell on Ebay, I came across blogs from bitter sellers and now I'm totally confused about where to sell. Most of my items would be $25 or less, so by the time Ebay and Pay Pal take their cuts, it doesn't seem worth it.

What do my fellow thrifters think about the "new" Ebay? Will you continue to sell there or go elsewhere?

[Big Daddy Audio]

I haven't sold anything on eBay since late last year.  I've pretty much given it up.  Initially, my source for inexpensive shipping supplies disappeared (the store closed) and it became harder to find good stuff that I knew about (stereos and electronics).  Now with eBay giving minor sellers "the high, hard one," it's three strikes, and

I AM OUT!

See you next time
bye for now

[foutchie]

I agree - I do make and sell tiny doll clothing, and as long as they are 9.99 and under per piece (usually are), I come out .03 ahead because of free gallery.   However, once over $10, I start losing money in fees compared to the old formula.  But on the occasion that a piece I think will sell for $6 goes for $12 to $20, I guess I still come out ahead!

[Jay2TheRescue]

I have been reading for days all over the net about the new prices and rules on Ebay for sellers and about sellers pulling out of Ebay, going to other sites (Tias, Rubylane, etc.). I haven't sold anything on Ebay (have bought a few things in the past). Now that I've built up an inventory of vintage items and want to sell them, as I was reading up on HOW to sell on Ebay, I came across blogs from bitter sellers and now I'm totally confused about where to sell. Most of my items would be $25 or less, so by the time Ebay and Pay Pal take their cuts, it doesn't seem worth it.

What do my fellow thrifters think about the "new" Ebay? Will you continue to sell there or go elsewhere?

As a buyer I think I would like it more, because the sellers can't leave neg feedback you can leave a true assessment of the transaction without being afraid of a negative.  I only have one neg, and it was from a less than scrupulous dealer.  I bought an item which when it arrived, was grossly misrepresented.  I emailed the seller to try and work something out, but he didn't reply.  2 weeks later I started a mediation process through Paypal, and then he left me with a negative...   

As a seller, there are some buyers out there that really deserve negatives, but now you can't do anything but file an unpaid item report.  As a matter of fact, I think I have issued more negatives to non-paying bidders than I have issued to sellers.  I think I have only issued negatives to 1 or 2 sellers, but I have 3 or 4 that went out to non-paying bidders. 

Overall you are right.  There is no money in items under $10 by the time you factor in your time, Ebay and PayPal fees.  I haven't sold on Ebay in ages, and have been thinking about it again as I have boxes of $#!+ piled up in my bedroom, I can't even walk on the left side of the bed, there's boxes piled from there to the wall, and about 5 feet tall.  I figure if I started selling I might be able to walk around the bed again within a few weeks.

Ebay and PayPal used to not give discounts to larger sellers, that way the little guy had just as much chance to compete with the large dealers.  Now they are forcing the little dealers out, the people who built their site, and made it something worthwhile.  I have considered selling on Yahoo and Amazon auctions before, but there was so little traffic on those sites, that I felt my items would not get the exposure to drive the prices up. 

-Jay

[ChrisMiss]

I too have sold on ebay and I'm not sure if I'm going to sell on there again.  I worked hard to get my feedback and it will all disappear because of their new rules.  They do seem to have it set up more for the large sellers and less for the little guys who want to sell.  Maybe they think they'll have less work mediating if only the large professional sellers are left.  But it's the little guys who find the great stuff at thrift stores, yard sales, etc.

I do have some stuff though that I will sell online somewhere.  Maybe by fall ebay will change again or the other auctions will have more action to make it worth moving over there.

[Tammy]

If anybody has some money to get a new auction site started, I think it'd take off BIG time.

People are so tired of Ebay.  I really can't seem to find any other sites that look good.  Now in the past few years I've bought stuff but haven't been intersted in selling.  And as far as books, dvds and such, I'll buy from Half.com more because they have the set shipping prices.  That's one thing about Ebay anymore that I detest - the sellers that try to make their profits off shipping.  I refuse to buy from someone that is doing that. 

[Other People s Junk]

I have given up selling stuff on eBay and almost have given up buying on there.  The new rules just pushed me over the top!  It used to be a fun experience, but now it's just a headache.  If you offer PayPal as an option, you have to accept credit cards- that will take your profits down even more since they charge a fee.  And you have to pay for the "better" account that gives you the right to accept credit cards.  What with fees and the high price of shipping, the item you are selling better be worth alot.  Another point is eBay is fickle... you can have a general idea of what an item is worth and yet sometimes the thing will be bid out the roof and other times it won't get any bids and other auctions that have worse items are getting better bids.  You just don't know!  That was part of the fun of it to begin with, but it makes it more of an aggravation now.

[foutchie]

I also buy alot on half.com - books, video games, dvds - and I too refuse to buy from someone making their money on shipping - even if the item is listed as .99!    It's just not playing by the rules.

[aGentlerTime]

I think Craigslist is a valuable alternative to EBAY with its Free listings and it allows up to four pictures per post.  It nice if you want to sell something at a "buy it now" price. I am not too crazy about losing the anonymonity that EBAY offers though.  Just My Humble Opinion.

[Femme1]

I just heard a little news item about e-Bay on NPR news this morning (actually on Marketplace, a business-oriented show). The major gist of if was about the CEO being replaced, but they focused on the lax security on e-Bay, and how people's information can be easily procured by scammers. But they also mentioned sellers' and buyers' frustrations with e-Bay. Apparently Google may be thinking of starting a rival site. Some real competition might be a good thing.