posted on May 18, 2001 12:58:56 AM new
Perhaps "Ebay alternative" would have been a better title...
I came across a soon-to-be cancelled Nazi item auction that was actually just a spiteful jab at Ebay by the user in question.
All the description said was "F**K You, Ebay!
It then had a link, that's right--a link, to a different site: www.epier.com.
I went to check them out and was actually shocked to see that they are very much like Ebay in design--just like Gold's used to be, BUT unlike Gold's, the "search" function operates exactly like Ebay's, (Gold's search function was quite poor) and at epier there are a lot of items being auctioned!
Could this be the big alternative everyone's been hoping for?????
posted on May 18, 2001 04:56:32 AM new
I did a search for a keyword that I both buy and sell IT brought 54 items NOT ONE had a bid.
the same keyword search on ebay brought 3300 items lots of bidding activity.
posted on May 18, 2001 05:31:38 AM new
ROME wasn't built in a day.
I also like the look etc. of ePier.
I've shopped around and tried out some other sites:
www.bidville.com
www.321Gone.com
www.carnaby.com
and there's a new Vintage MarketPlace Co-Op.
But I hafta say that my favorite "look and feel" for an alternative site IS ePier.
(Just having problems with TRUSTING that it will remain there in 6 months or a year or two down the road).
In my "test run" at ePier, I listed 2 items and SOLD one of them. I also completed a trade as a BUYER on the site just the other day. ePier has community boards too... and I think that's important.
Either way, if enough folks begin listing LEGITIMATE GOODS on ePier and offer LINKS to ePier in their End Of Auction notices to their winning bidders from other sites, perhaps some more bidding traffic WILL find it's way onto the site.
One of the things that Gold's Auction had going for it was that the transition between eBay and Gold's was EASY. It was easy for the sellers and it was easy for the Bidders. Folks were COMFORTABLE.
I would list a bunch of items on ePier in a heartbeat if others would also commit to giving it a try. come to think of it... I might list a bunch of items over there regardless!!
posted on May 18, 2001 05:42:13 AM new
"... offer LINKS to ePier in their End Of Auction notices to their winning bidders from other sites"
A great suggestion! As sellers, it is in our interest to promote a competitor to ebay so that we'll have a choice in the future. And it wouldn't hurt to post even just a few items on ePier now.
BTW I just registered there, and they give you a $5 credit for doing that!
[ edited by capotasto on May 18, 2001 06:00 AM ]
posted on May 18, 2001 06:13:14 AM new
I'm not convinced.
With over 5000 listings in apparel, there were less than a dozen with bids.
Mostly YAHOO type freebie listings, doesn't seem like a place to shop, either.
only ZOOMIN here
added: Almost 600 Barbie listings ~ not one with a bid!
[ edited by zoomin on May 18, 2001 06:21 AM ]
posted on May 18, 2001 06:32:06 AM new
Okay, well, I went and looked from a buyer's perspective...and yes, it's going to take a lot of commitment from you sellers before I'm going to start returning there on a regular basis
Sample search for DVD's on eBay: 36,067 returns
Same search run on ePier: 41 returns...and a good hunk of those were for DVD players, since I couldn't narrow down the search based on category like I can on eBay.
In a nutshell, that's nearly an 880:1 ratio for listings. All things considered, until ePier starts getting a lot more listings, I'm sticking where I can find the most stuff.
Good, bad, or ugly doesn't matter...it's a lot like Microsoft's market share, folks. Everybody hates 'em, but I still can't seem to find anyone's office staff running Linux desktops at this time
posted on May 18, 2001 06:40:53 AM new
ladyfargo---I just went over and checked it out also. It does look like a clone off of ebay in lots of ways, which makes it easy to navigate. Thanks for passing this along......I'll be doing some checking into this myself and may list a few things to try it out. Good idea to send link along with your email coorespondance. Thanks for passing along this site.
posted on May 18, 2001 07:16:16 AM new
Over on Epier, I've managed to come up with 40 feedbacks, I think I have sold perhaps 55-60 items there, and even bought a few items too.
No cost to me at all for any of those sales.
While its true that my sales at ePier have not broken any records - I find it to be a friendly site, way less cencorship and silly rules than ebay. Its kinda like a breath of fresh air.
Bidville with its 600,000 items has done far less well for me, only 3 items sold so far.
The number of items offered on a site is no guarentee of good sales.
posted on May 18, 2001 07:32:56 AM new
Ok........I took the plunge.....I listed my first auction on Epier auction. If anyone would care to look it up and give me a critic, my title is "2 Vintage Chalkware Character Head Placques"...........I like the look of this site alot.....I think others should check it out too, what does it hurt to list....no listing fee's, no final value fee's.......no reserve auction fee's..........I'll be putting links in my emails from now on!
posted on May 18, 2001 07:36:08 AM new
I'd love to see at least one of these alternative sites take off, but they don't I have listed on many of them the same items I sell at ebay and at lower prices because of the savings in fees. Since Yahoo started charging fees (was it in January) I sold exactly one item at epier. Nothing at any of the others.
posted on May 18, 2001 07:49:28 AM new
Hmmmmmm....
Just checked out the "Collectibles: Clocks, Watches, & Other Timepieces" category. Four pages of listings, not a single bid. And, with the exception of a handful of broken pocket watches being sold by one person, it mostly seems to be brand new retail junk.
I realize Rome wasn't built in a day, and I'm not even concerned that there is a single category for clocks, pocket watches, wristwatches, etc. But as long as they allow people to list new retail merchandise [in bulk quantities, no less!] in the same category as legitimate antiques and collectibles, I think I'll pass. That's one of the main reasons I gave up on eBay, doncha know...
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on May 18, 2001 08:02:25 AM new
Epier is the closest site to eBay there is. Everything on Epier mimics eBay almost to the letter. It’s a wonderful site compared to many that are out there and so darn easy to negotiate. The problem is they have been around for some time now and while growing they just don’t have enough activity to make listing there worthwhile. Don’t get me wrong I love the site but I have tried numerous times listing auctions only to have little (very little) or no results at all. Mostly no results. Where the same items sold no problem on eBay.
When everyone was talking about a co-op here a while ago I couldn’t help but to think if everyone just migrated to Epier maybe their site could become a viable competitor to eBay.
posted on May 18, 2001 08:49:09 AM new
I don't see anyway to search Closed auctions, which makes the site very difficult to evaluate.
I went to look at Bidville today. Usual sea of no bids, but I found more items in Closed and some of them had respectible hits. On BV they seem to close with one bid, maybe due to a buy-now feature, but if that's your game, all you need is one paying buyer.
I wonder what epier is hiding by not allowing a Closed Search?
posted on May 18, 2001 08:57:53 AM new
kesiak: Perhaps a different approach to curtailing off site trades due to interested buyers contacting the sellers AFTER the auction closes??
(I'm only guessing)
ANY site could elect to do that, ya know... even eBay. The benefit of allowing for searches in completed items on eBay is the ability to get an idea of the current "value" based on recent ending bid amounts. Searching completed auctions helps eBay to remain a sticky site. Folks spend time there researching before bidding or researching before listing... it behooves eBay for the time being, I suspect.
Perhaps in the future, some of these venues will offer searches within completed listings FOR A FEE. (it could happen) *shrug*
I doubt ePier is "hiding" anything that other auctions sites wouldn't want to make unavailable too (or at least CHARGE for)... if they really thought they could get away with it.
posted on May 18, 2001 09:07:07 AM new
You can do a completed items search on ePier. Just click on "search" at the top of any page. Then you will see the option of "past auctions only". So no, they're not hiding that.
Jonathan
www.elitegrafx.com - Website design
posted on May 18, 2001 12:15:42 PM new
>>>what does it hurt to list<<<
>>>I don't see how listing on other sites in ADDITION to eBay would compromise the enjoyment of "ROME".<<<
It's called "opportunity cost".
How can you sell the widget on eBay when you've got it listed at a dead auction site?
A free site is no good unless it provides income.
I may pay eBay a couple hundred bucks a month in fees, but, bottom line, they make me money.
From a bidding standpoint, there was not one single solitary thing that this shop-a-holic could find to bid on .
*sigh*
Personally, Rome doesn't have to be built, but I'll wait until it has some construction under way
posted on May 18, 2001 01:13:32 PM new
zoomin
My point exactly ....When I used to do antique shows I would once a month Pack up the old Truck and drive 500 miles, pay $250.00 to set up for 3 days at a 'national Class" show
On the way out of town I Passed the drive in theatre where you could set up free on weekends
Of course If I was lucky I might gross 150.00 For two days at the drive in while a bad show in atlanta would gross 10 to 20 times that
You gotta sell where the buyers are.
posted on May 18, 2001 01:53:05 PM new
What's the point? Went to epier looked at almost 700 item's in 5 cat's that I would be selling in.Found 1 item with 1 bid!
posted on May 18, 2001 02:32:12 PM new
THIS IS A GREAT SITE! Believe me these people KEEP THEIR WORD,they also believe in our freedom as business people
1.No fees except a Special photo gallery & featured..AS PROMISED they are planning on using the money for advertising
2.chat boards no moderator!(click on coffee cup on home page,check it out,,also link from there to live chat..great group of ex-ebayers & new people helping each other
3.NO CENSORSHIP & NEVER A PULLED THREAD!
4.SURE LINK TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS & EMAIL YOUR BUYER WITH INFO ARE YOU KIDDING?
5.LINKS...OH MY YES,RIGHT,IN YOUR DESCRIPTION
YOUR WEBSITE,even OTHER AUCTION SITES BANNERS,AFFILIATE BANNERS,FEEDBACKSITE,AUTIVA WHATEVER this is epier it's ALLOWED! of course
4.see home page for growth compared to EBAY
more people coming DAILY!
remember sellers are also buyers..
5.GREAT DEALS
6.THEIR PHONE # RIGHT ON HOME PAGE
7.INEXPENSIVE LINK ADVERTISING PROGRAM FOR YOUR AUCTIONS
8.FREE IMAGE HOSTING INC FREE GALLERY
9.COUNTERS,END OF AUCTIONS EMAILS TO YOU
AUTOMATICALLY
good luck,check it out if everyone just would list a few items & BE "UNITED" i think this is the site we are looking for.
oh yes,HONEST ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD,THEY POST IF THEY ARE EVEN DOWN FOR 10 MINUTES..VERY STABLE!!
posted on May 18, 2001 02:34:22 PM new
ps. fee for bold,but they give you 5.00 to try it,also a referral program credits towards enhancements for each one.
GO EPIER growing every day...
NO CENSORSHIP!!
posted on May 18, 2001 07:03:47 PM new
I applaud the sellers who stick it out on epier. THEY are what will ultimately build the Ebay alternative! While the selection in various catagories is limited, it is certainly a good start.
To the critics: What exactly can they do to please you? DO NOT say "get me bids" --that's obvious. WHAT do you think they could do to have a bigger impact?
I think if they continue to allow free listings, sellers will maybe leave items up for a long time--or until they're asking price is at least met, and then you WILL see an increase in action!
I hate to use a worn out phrase, but it's true: If you build it, (and it's any good) they will come!
.
