posted on September 26, 2001 12:54:35 AM new
In the past few months I've registered at or checked out almost every secondary site I could find, ePier, Bidville, LowestBids, Carnaby, CityAuction, SellYourItem, Bargain&Haggle, Ubid, B**B**, SnapRat, Lycos, eDeal, etc. etc. etc. on and on...and they *all* have one thing in common-- *no bidders*.
Page after page after page of items with no bids.
And the legacy of "no listing fees" at most of these is page after page after page of near-worthless "sportscards", recipes I can find for free all over the net, and junk that I wouldn't think twice about tossing in the trash were it mine.
This isn't just some "guesstimation" folks, each site I visited I spent at least half an hour checking out random listings--ignoring any and all "chatboards", which more often than not are filled with bickering and pedantic babble.
I think somewhere along the line I lost sight of what I signed up for eBay 3 years ago for-- to make money, as much as possible. Profit. Thats what it's really all about folks!
And I did real well for a good 2 years, I made *thousands* of US dollars, incredible amounts of money for stuff I paid next to nothing for at yard sales or had stashed away over the years. For at least 6 months I didn't even know eBay chats existed, then I got caught up in them and the politics and next thing I knew I was a disgruntled eBayer and on ePier, where posts of "I got a BID!!!!!" were followed by much rejoicing and congratulatory posts from the regulars---"you got a BID?? That's GREAT!!!!".. surreal and kinda sad, but hilarious at the same time.
No more.
As of now I'm done with these Walt Disney sites and returning to eBay, where the bidders are and always were, I don't mind the fees, (funny how everyone gripes at eBay fees (where all the action is) but nary a word is said about *Visa* or *Paypal* or *Billpoint* fees associated with online auctions)-- to me it's the cost of doing business, better 10 bidders duking it out over an item on a site with fees than 1 bidder (or, more likely, *none*) on an item that costs nothing to list and just sits there through endless relists, until the *End Of Time*
And if you've read this far I'll leave you with this---
Since I've made my decision, I really have no need now for AW and "Other Online Auctions", so I'll say a naughty word and split---
posted on September 26, 2001 01:16:11 AM new
Woo Hoo!! and ditto Relay,
I am worn out with trying to figure how to upload, download, edit, resubmit, cancel, add to description etc. etc. etc. for these ebay wanna be's! auction sites!ad finitum! Yep I will no longer post here for "other" auction sites!!! Especially ePier as they are crooks, liars and cheats and have a following right now of just Nazi and dippy items! Mostly Sellers buying from fellow Sellers and hoorah! trying to prop each other up and hang in for that ever distant "BUYER"...wow!!!! Been there done that for too long!!!
Nope back to the BIG Giant as that is where it is! Shame as I would have loved to have seen a decent alternative!!! But there isn't one as far as I can see right now!!
Good Luck to everyone and I wish you the Best!!
posted on September 26, 2001 06:03:12 AM new
I'm more glad each day that I never fully left eBay! I have also looked everywhere for a site to help take down the giant and hopefully make them be a bit more like they used to be but I can see now that isn't going to happen with all the smaller sites having nothing genuine that could possibly compete with taking away business. The only enticement was the "free" sites that (at first) seemed to have genuine business goals that would keep them fee free....as soon as that changes they are not worth the time of day. Yeah I guess people can say...well the FVF are great...if you don't sell you don't pay. That's right but it's also true...when it sells you are paying out of the very modest profit margin from having to place the item at a retail or near retail cost due to lack of interest to get good prises for the sellers. Very seldom will you ever see bidding wars going on at the small sites. It's more of a huge storefront than an auction because all the prices are way up there in hopes of getting the very scarce buyer...not really worth the wait if you want to make money! It is great however to "shelve" the items that wouldn't sell at eBay and let them auto relist over and over again till you feel like putting them back up or giving them away...lol
<P>
I do have to say though I placed a few items at bargainsandhaggle and got GREAT hits. Within 3 days I had an offer and within 30 minutes the sale was concluded and I had funds in my PayPal account! I think I am going to also list my higher dollar items there for a bit as well because that seems to have some people actually looking
posted on September 28, 2001 05:35:08 PM new
For what its worth, I'm sorry to see you sellers head back to eBay and abandon the other sites completely. Strangely enough, I've been watching some of your listings on the other sites (one in particular) and was pleased to see you there. You all have some really nice items for sale and I have you all bookmarked as favorite sellers. However, there is only so much stuff I can buy in one month, so I'm sorry you didn't give some of the alternative sites a better chance, as I'm sure others out there are looking some of the other sites over as well, and bookmarking their favorite sellers. I have nothing against eBay, as a buyer. As a seller, I am not a happy camper. But I don't sell a whole lot, so I haven't tried the other sites myself. In all fairness, I'm sure its very frustrating to see your stuff sit with no bids.
posted on September 28, 2001 05:45:50 PM new
Good luck with eBay. Over the last 2 years the competition has grown and the number of bidding wars have ebbed. Look at the 'completed auctions' section of your favorite category and see the large percentage of items that close without bids and look at the ones that did sell and see their low closing prices and bid counts. I have to admit even those dismal results are a million times better than free sites but they are not Nirvana by any stretch of the imagination.
posted on September 28, 2001 07:08:06 PM new
Relay,
Good Luck at Ebay. If I ever got multiple bids on my items, I would feel it was worth it also. Oh well, I will just piddle with the free ones, until there aren't any more around!
posted on September 28, 2001 08:05:29 PM new
Hello bogalucy,
None of us are happy to head back to eBay.
I do not not know which of us Sellers you were referring to when you said that you liked our merchandise, and bookmarked...however I Thank you anyway (even if it was not me), as both Relay and Goldenpony have wonderful items...none of us have abandoned the Free Sites (although I will NEVER list on ePier again as I have stated before that they are Liars and deceptive)....but if we want to sell, we go where there are Buyers..which is eBay! As you said I think we all get tired of our stuff just "sitting" with no bids!
Good Luck and Thank You!
posted on September 28, 2001 08:16:22 PM new
Hello bidsbids,
In the Categories that I sell.......I always get multiple bids on ebay..in fact I am constantly relisting....I hate paying the ebay fees but it sure beats listing on Fee Free sites (where I have to mark up NOT down as there are no bids).....so I will pay ebay fees, at least I have "moving" items! They would sit forever on these "other" sites...and then of course if I were a stupid ePier folk, and it did sell, I would pay a FVF.........DUH!!!! I don't think so!
I do post items that I hand make (beeswax candles) on the fee free sites (excluding ePier)....but they just turn over and over and over...and NO this is NOT tacky items....just NO Buyers there!
posted on September 28, 2001 08:20:01 PM new
Hey deichen,
Hang in there.........you say you do not get multiple bids...hang in bud/budette and I hope it gets better for you. Just don't pay any money out...and avoid ePier! I hope things get better for ya dude/dudette!
Best Wishes
posted on September 28, 2001 09:13:05 PM new
You people are amazing. Ok, I can understand everyone's point on ePier and even Bidville, but to count out all of the other second tier auctions sites is flat our ridiculous. eDeal, Auctionweiser, Bargain & Haggle, and lowest bids have all tried to offer a service, or services that are affordable, yet practical in many different ways. Each site is different, but each one has their unique value.
ePier, Bidville, Carnaby, SYI, BB, and a few others might or might not make it though the holiday season, but what do you expect when a site refuses to advertise their services.
I have seen already many different advertising efforts by eDeal, Auctionweiser, Bargain & Haggle, and lowest bids. Maybe some of the upset ePier, SYI, BB, Bidville, etc., customers/sellers should stop supporting their services, and actually help promote auction sites that actually advertise.
The choice is up to all of you. Go back to eBay completely, and get lost in the crowd, or support sites that can actually support themselves. It is absurd that people continue to support sites that refuse to use their "funds" to advertise. Without advertising, a site cannot exist.
))
