What happened to eBay?

[Lichen]

I used to buy and sell quite a few items on there. Here is what I've noticed:

Fees are crazy - figure 10% in transaction fees.

Buy it Now seems to be the norm. What happened to auctions?

Dickheads and scammers - I sold a Louis Vuitton purse for my GF and I've never had so many con artists send me emails with the craziest questions and requests. This was over the top but nearly everything I sell is a parade of dumbfucks asking to end the auction early or some other crazy plan to somehow fuck me over.

What's eBay's plan? Amazon has got such a head start that there is no way for them to catch up. Seems only a matter of time before some other upstart auction site starts up and moves most of the traffic.

[marlboroack]

Doesn't matter.. they own PayPal.
Amazon = Ebay...

Different CEO.. Different logo.. Different face. Same bank

[ottopottomouse]

I buy things from eBay on buy now.

I don't want to piss around for week trying to outbid everyone. Far too many of the bidders seem clueless as to what things cost and auctions often end higher (+ delivery!) than you could order brand new for nextday from a shop.

[EddyTheDog]

While Ebay doesn't seem to know what it wants to be people will move on - 90% of my purchases are on Amazon these days - The last time I looked at Ebay I got lost looking for what I wanted - Couldn't work out what the fuck was going on...

If I can't work out what's happening people like my mum - retired with a new card to max out every month - haven't got a chance.....

[loreen]

I still use eBay, lots of bargains if you take the time to look.

[crockett]

I still use ebay fairly often, in fact just made a order today. Amazon is good for new stuff, but it seems like I do better with ebay when it's used items. When selling, I've had the same experience when it came to people trying to get you to relist the auction. I just ignore them as there is no legit reason for me to relist if I have both a BIN and auction.

[nexcom28]

I don't know why people use auctions. I recently bought 4 robo fish for my daughter. Sharks. The BIN including postage was less than the auction end prices plus postage - and I didn't need to wait.

[RandyRandy]

Amazon + Craigslist = virtually all my annual buying and selling.

[Elli]

I skip the auctions unless it's a used item I really really must have, which is pretty rare. Buy It Now are the only listings I look at. Most of the items are the same price as Amazon though, in which case I go Amazon because I have a Prime account and I trust their buyer-seller accountability policies more.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Most of ebay is now drop ship junk from China. They have like 500 listings for the same POS 99 cent whatever it is.

It is just flooded with trash.

Around 1999 it was nothing like that. It was actual people in North America selling person to person.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Marcus Aurelius

Most of ebay is now drop ship junk from China. They have like 500 listings for the same POS 99 cent whatever it is.

It is just flooded with trash.

Around 1999 it was nothing like that. It was actual people in North America selling person to person.

Gumtree in the UK is exactly the same now, which is also owned by eBay.

Makes absolutely no sense to me why eBay allowed those type of traders to infest their listings. It must be doing much more harm than the fees they generate from them

Originally Posted by Lichen

What's eBay's plan? Amazon has got such a head start that there is no way for them to catch up. Seems only a matter of time before some other upstart auction site starts up and moves most of the traffic.

I'd have to agree

[Scott McD]

Yeah Ebay is very 'hit & miss' for me these days.

You can still get a great deal with some things, but it's very easy to get fucked over aswell.

It's hardly even worth being a seller these days...

[ladida]

Only thing i find worthwhile there is chinese stuff and electronics. Everything else ends up costing more then if i bought straight from the shop. Especially auctions, but i believe sellers have automatic bidders if they dont get the price they want (not talking about the reserve).

[ErectMedia]

I buy little shit on buy it now here and there, cell phone cases etc... haven't tried to sell anything there in years though.

[Rochard]

I've been using Amazon. Not looking to "bid", just want to buy.

[The Porn Nerd]

Start the clock on ebay.
I give them 2 years, tops.

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by Marcus Aurelius

Most of ebay is now drop ship junk from China. They have like 500 listings for the same POS 99 cent whatever it is.

It is just flooded with trash.

Around 1999 it was nothing like that. It was actual people in North America selling person to person.

Well stated !

[Spunky]

I buy all my exotic skin boots and tools,vintage items on EBay,can't find the deals anywhere else

[dyna mo]

been doing well flipping gits on ebay. peeps have no idea how to sell shit on there, they post 1-2 blurry mobile phone pics and c&p the manufacturer's blurb on it and don't even take the time to clean it up, then to top it off, they list it for too much. after 2-3 cycles of listing it lower and lower, i swoop in and snag it, clean it up, take some schnazzy pics and include a little story about how this was my lucky/favorite git and do a real auction starting at .01c and watch the frenzy. even after ebay fees, i come out ahead.

[Seth Manson]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

been doing well flipping gits on ebay. peeps have no idea how to sell shit on there, they post 1-2 blurry mobile phone pics and c&p the manufacturer's blurb on it and don't even take the time to clean it up, then to top it off, they list it for too much. after 2-3 cycles of listing it lower and lower, i swoop in and snag it, clean it up, take some schnazzy pics and include a little story about how this was my lucky/favorite git and do a real auction starting at .01c and watch the frenzy. even after ebay fees, i come out ahead.

what is a git?

[whOaKemosabe]

What happened to eBay?

[EddyTheDog]

Originally Posted by Seth Manson

what is a git?

Ironically, it could be someone who picked up on other peoples typos to make themselves look clever...

"Stupid git" is a well used phrase here in the UK.....

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Seth Manson

what is a git?

guitar......

[lagcam]

I thought somebody had bumped a thread from 2007.

[InfoGuy]

Originally Posted by ladida

Only thing i find worthwhile there is chinese stuff and electronics. Everything else ends up costing more then if i bought straight from the shop. Especially auctions, but i believe sellers have automatic bidders if they dont get the price they want (not talking about the reserve).

Since fleabay masked all the usernames (i.e. g********f), it's now nearly impossible to tell if sellers are shilling their auctions. Less transparency means buyers get fucked.

[Stephen]

I've bought classic cars from ebay, wouldn't want to wast time on Chinese junk

[anthonyb5615]

Originally Posted by Marcus Aurelius

Most of ebay is now drop ship junk from China. They have like 500 listings for the same POS 99 cent whatever it is.

It is just flooded with trash.

Around 1999 it was nothing like that. It was actual people in North America selling person to person.

There is still some bargains to be found, but I don't know why or how, but just like Marcus mentioned there are so many sellers from China. If us Americans can't afford the fee's how is it that the Chinese are able to pay it? I like ebay, but its got to change. Ebay has a lot of good deals on domain names. I bought a adult domain name on ebay for $10, that is worth $700. I can't wait for there next ebay convention because I think there will be a lot of unhappy people speaking there minds.

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by EddyTheDog

While Ebay doesn't seem to know what it wants to be people will move on - 90% of my purchases are on Amazon these days - The last time I looked at Ebay I got lost looking for what I wanted - Couldn't work out what the fuck was going on...

If I can't work out what's happening people like my mum - retired with a new card to max out every month - haven't got a chance.....

I also now buy more on amazon .... even took their credit card ...

[jimmycooper]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/ma...ewanted=1&_r=0

[sojproductions]

I still use it occassionally for motorcycles parts and accessories but most of it is utter tat, takes ages to sift through.

[pamon]

people got sick of getting sniped during auctions, and the buy it now makes it more of a mall experience than an auction site.

[mopek1]

I'm getting fed up with ebay.

I don't have time to sift through the results only to click on one auction I like to find the shipping is 200% of the cost of the item. Then I have to keep reading for any fine print etc...

At the end of the day it is a waste of my time.

[iSpyCams]

Ebay has become flooded with Chinese sellers. It's been a pretty long time since there were auctions by actual people selling their own used stuff. I mean there are still a few but craigslist is where most of those people are now, who are fed up with the fees and the bullshit. Ebay is mostly people who cant or don't want to deal locally.

I mostly use it for guitar parts to use in my tinkering, and for a price check once in awhile. Other than that its useless.

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by mopek1

I'm getting fed up with ebay.

I don't have time to sift through the results only to click on one auction I like to find the shipping is 200% of the cost of the item. Then I have to keep reading for any fine print etc...

At the end of the day it is a waste of my time.

there lies the real problem... no regulation on shipping so people tack on stupid rates for shipping small items. Sellers that bid on their own crap with clone accounts until the prices are what they feel it should be, people bidding out of nowhere beating your bids by a dollar. Who wants to bother with that shit today?

silent auctions for borderline junk is an idiotic concept anyway. buy it now is the only thing keeping them relevant in todays market. craigslist is even more direct.

[Rebel D]

For me its the outrageous shipping costs. I collect 80's action figures. i can buy 1 figure for $5-$50 and shipping for it is like $35. thats just coming from Michigan to ontario.

[Shap]

I never use ebay. It's a pain. I usually buy everything from Amazon

[Shap]

Originally Posted by Lichen

I used to buy and sell quite a few items on there. Here is what I've noticed:

Fees are crazy - figure 10% in transaction fees.

Buy it Now seems to be the norm. What happened to auctions?

Dickheads and scammers - I sold a Louis Vuitton purse for my GF and I've never had so many con artists send me emails with the craziest questions and requests. This was over the top but nearly everything I sell is a parade of dumbfucks asking to end the auction early or some other crazy plan to somehow fuck me over.

What's eBay's plan? Amazon has got such a head start that there is no way for them to catch up. Seems only a matter of time before some other upstart auction site starts up and moves most of the traffic.

I was researching a startup last week that is raising money that has taken an interesting approach. It's called Shelf.com they seem to be trying to go after the market of people selling their unused items.

[dyna mo]

I too find stupid shipping costs. guitars for $103 shipping kinda shit. I've contacted the sellers in those cases and said I would like to bid but you have to charge fair shipping.

Many have said they will and then refund the difference. I've had a couple who promised to do so, then did not. I started a case against both of those and used the contact communications as proof, ebay sided with me.

Don't hesitate to open a case, ebay is very buyer-centric.

[x-rate]

I'm using it to buy cellphone case, cables and car parts... I like the buy it now option!

[BFT3K]

Here's how it goes on eBay...

1) Look, I'm selling something that's making me some money on eBay!

2) Look, 100 people here in the US noticed, and they're undercutting me, so now I am making less profit.

3) Look, the Chinese have noticed, and are now selling my product on eBay for less than it costs me to make it!

YIPPPY!

[PornHustler]

Anyone here selling on Amazon or selling under Amazon Prime? How are the costs compared to Ebay?

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

Start the clock on ebay.
I give them 2 years, tops.

for what?? so they dont make money?? im a powerseller money is flowing

[Supz]

I sell a lot on ebay. The key is finding a product that has a good markup.

[djroof]

Still using ebay for difficult "search things" like a damn Filofax organizer A5 zip Logic...

[fuzebox]

Ebay will phase out auctions entirely soon

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

there lies the real problem... , people bidding out of nowhere beating your bids by a dollar.

Ebay does suck, but that doesn't happens if you put in your absolute max bid.

[iSpyCams]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Ebay does suck, but that doesn't happens if you put in your absolute max bid.

I use a sniping service and put in my max bid in the last 3 seconds. If I am outbid fine. But at least I know it wasn't he seller himself trying to squeeze and extra dollar out of me.

[Penny24Seven]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

Start the clock on ebay.
I give them 2 years, tops.

post like this that make me wonder lol.

[izombie]

I used to make good money from Ebay back in its heyday, my roommate was big into antiques and showed me how to look for things of value. We would both hit garage sales on the weekends and buy stuff for cheap and then hock them on ebay, I made several thousand extra for a few years doing this. Then shows like Antiques Roadshow appeared and people became more aware of the value of their old toys and stuff, and it became harder to find a bargain. I made tons of money just selling CD's, records, and sporting goods. If I went to a sale and someone had a decent CD collection they were selling for like $3 a piece, I'd make an offer to buy all the CD's and slap them all on Ebay. Charge $5 a piece plus $3 shipping when it only cost me $1.25 to mail them, I made some bank on that plus it shot my feedback rating through the roof selling so many individual items. I quit doing it when I start working on my masters degree in 2006 and it took over all my free time. Ebay sucks now I'd like to sell my comic book collection and other goodies I have on there but don't know if its worth the hassle.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by pompousjohn

I use a sniping service and put in my max bid in the last 3 seconds. If I am outbid fine. But at least I know it wasn't he seller himself trying to squeeze and extra dollar out of me.

I never used a sniper but I would beat them because I only bought stuff from ebay that I really needed or couldn't find somewhere else and so I might bid $300 but end up getting it for $90.

Of course, if you were mad at me then you could have easily ran all my bids up to $300.