Power Sellers Unite

myddf · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 81

This is my first time posting here....i have had a store on ebay for a few months...i was quite upset when i found out that the fees were increasing on August 22

I live in canada and am now looking for an alternative

what are the top alternatives to ebay?

thanks
laura

LurkeyLou · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject:

Hi, Laura

Welcome to PSU! You're asking the million dollar question for which there is no answer.

I might recommend that you have a look at the Auction Site Count (on menu to your left) and take a look at some of the older, more established sites.

You'll discover that diversification is the key and everyone has "favorites" which shift and change every few weeks.

When you're considering sites, part of what you want to look at is how well your particular inventory does at various sites, I think some niches are starting to form.

My recommendation for those new to diversification is to get an independent store going as the core of your efforts and span out/seed as many auction venues as you can handle for additional marketing.

Best good luck to you. Members of PSU can be very helpful! We're glad to have you aboard.

myauction · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 277

these three are more like classified sites but
are great
blujay
ecrater
google base

for auctions you might click on the Auction
Site Count on the left and select one out of
the top 3 below eBay. I like BidVille as it
was just bought by UBid but others will
vary in what they like best. I personally
do list some on yahoo but will not spend
much time there since they partnered up
with ebay on advertising/search/etc.

diversification by listing on more than one
site is pretty much advisable these days so
if you can do that it might be of help to you.

So what I think a good strategy is to pick
at least one of the top 3 ones and then the
good more classified sites and then another
auction site that looks very promising based
on what people have experienced here on this
site. Others will probably list some of those.

myddf · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 81

i am not sure what you mean by an "independant store"
laura

LurkeyLou · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:37 pm Post subject:

Well, a store that doesn't run auctions. One that's independent of an auction venue. For instance, one of the options myauctions suggests, or a store here at PSU (they're $9.99 @ mo) where you can point a domain name and market your goods. The advantage is that you maintain a much higher level of control over costs.

As long as sellers base the core of their business on eBay or any other venue, they're basing a significant part of their business plan on the whims of a site that they have no control over.

Hundreds, probably thousands of stores are closing, businesses and lives changed forever because eBay made changes.

That can only be stopped by refusing to repeat the same mistake. The options myauction presents cost nothing up front, and I think BluJay is entirely free: no profit sharing ;-)

myddf · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 81

so you are suggesting i open a store on this site? what is "myauctions"
pointing a domain..does that mean i have to have my own website?

many ebay stores are probably going to close? i can't see any other outcome...i wonder if ebay even cares about what they are doing to us

sorry for all the questions...
laura

LurkeyLou · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:49 pm Post subject:

No, Laura, they don't care. The little/middle people's role is to give to those who have nothing and contribute to the wealth of the wealthy. eBay treats us no differently. The price gouging landed in the middle tiers.

Anyway, "myauction" is the PSU member who also posted in this thread, you'll see the user name in the same column as your user name.

Pointing a domain is having a domain name and pointing or forwarding it to another site. You do not have to have your own website to do this. A decent domain name seller, like GoDaddy, will allow you to forward your domain name to most any URL, including a store at any of these sites. A lot of eBay sellers point a top level domain (TLD = .com .net, etc) to their stores.

Hope that helps! I gotta' go cook dinner. But ask away, there's tons of help here!!

myauction · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 277

myddf,

not sure if LurkeyLou is still logged in but
will try to answer your questions.

LurkeyLou is just saying that having your
own website is also an option and then also
list on other (what you believe) are the best
other sites out there. So both of us are pretty
much saying the same thing that one nowadays
needs to be on more than one place to sell to
be more effective. And I agree if you can
get a website as well as doing auctions and
having stores on other of these sites too that
can be advantageous.

Yes, unfortunately eBay took a stance that has
and is going to hurt a lot of sellers.

If you want your own website, you could take a
look at the Ecommerce Details on the left.

Looks like when I was typing LurkeyLou was
as well but basically we are saying the same
thing, try to select the "best" top sites for
auctions, classified, and I agree with LurkeyLou
that having your own website in addition can
be of value.

With "myauctions" LurkeyLou was referring
to my nickname I believe so he was just
agreeing with what I had said.

myauction · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 277

looks like LurkeyLou was here and writing
when I was :)

myddf · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 81

i already have a go daddy domain....i just haven't set it up yet because i was into the ebay store thing

what i sell are sheet music arragements...if i set up a store here and "point" do i have to list all of my inventory on my website?

thanks
laura

myddf · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 81

what about yahoo auctions? i live in canada but i think someone told me american buyers can bid on my stuff too
laura

myauction · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 277

you can just list what you want on your website.

And if you choose to diversify by listing on
more sites take a look at those I mentioned
and other that may mention after mine and
select what you think is best.

I as well as a good many people do not just
list on our website, we list on a number of
different sites.

myauction · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 277

yes, yahoo is an option but if you re-read what
I had stated earlier I personally do not spend
time with it because of their too close association
with eBay now. But that is just my opinion.

It is free now so it is definitely an option.

myauction · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 277

also many of the sites listed on PSU here
offer selling internationally.

triplexotica · Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 286 Location: Ca

The best alternative to eBay is....

GOOGLE!