It's strike time for eBay. The BBC News reports that according to eBay, 100 eBay UK sellers were involved in a strike yesterday, although strike organizers say 300 participated in the action. Either way, it doesn't sound as if all that many sellers participated and it also doesn't sound as if the boycott could have had any material impact on eBay.
And yet, as I've mentioned before, eBay should pay closer attention to these voices. This article, for example, lists the different options available in the market for sellers who wish to leave eBay and compares the fees among the different services. While eBay fees might be slightl (or in some cases a lot higher, depending on item price and free features offered) than its competitors, none come close to eBay's traffic ranking.
In the meanwhile, while eBay UK sellers had their strike, eBay and eBay Canada were, and still are, holding a promotion that should encourage eBay store sellers to move listings to the regular auction format and fixed price listings -- what's been called the core listings. The promotion, running August 15-16, lets sellers move listings from storefronts for 10 cents and include a free gallery as well as a Buy It Now feature at no extra charge.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-16-2006 @ 10:21AM
Ann Lambert said...
That is less than 1/2% of sellers, what they are doing is to promote their new store on these blogs, FREE ADs. I don't kind they would find buyers on the blogs sites.
Good luck.
8-16-2006 @ 11:02AM
Tracy Riggs said...
There will always be someone unhappy with listing fee changes no matter what happens. One hundred people on strike! Lol, lol, Shut- Up already! Because of a few cents. "Three cents to be exact! Give me a break!
These people are getting the opportunity to sell their wares on eBay, one of the greatest sites in the world without having to have their own store! No overhead, no employees, etc. They can sit around in their PJ's and sell their stuff, providing it is sellable stuff people want to buy. Not dollar store items...
They should all SHUT-UP- or get off eBAY altogether. They should go open their own store, rent a building, do advertising, get their butts dressed and truck to work and see how much they sell. Or better yet, go and get a job.
I have purchased two Antique cars through eBay and I am very happy they are online. eBay will do GREAT in the comming years. It is a household name. I buy all my Christmas gifts online without leaving the house. There is no need to waste precious gas when one can shop on eBay for everything they need.
8-16-2006 @ 4:02PM
KC said...
Thse Numbers are so wrong........ there are strikes going on for the whole week in the US and some stores have already shut down. Between the US and The UK/AUS There were definetly more then 300 strikers, and ebay has def. felt the brunt!
8-16-2006 @ 5:53PM
Pat said...
Hasn't anybody in the world figured out that eBay does not care....period....they will do whatever suits them.
8-18-2006 @ 5:47AM
Bill Cobbs Ear said...
Have a look at the 'fee hike' (search on Ebay) auctions on the UK site. Look at the amount of bidders! God knows how many "watchers" there are! Ebay have seriously screwed up by playing down the scale of the protest. They claim the protest is limited to 'a small but vocal' group of around 100 UK sellers. Rubbish!!! EVERYBODY knows Ebay are panicking like anything, otherwise they wouldn't feel the need to bribe sellers with a series of cheap listing days.
8-18-2006 @ 5:52AM
Brian said...
If someone sold you a car on the basis that you knew where the garage was and servicing cost x amount then found that x amount was doubled and they moved the garage so you couldn't find it would you buy a car again!
Ebay has doubled my Fees and hidden the store they got me to open saying it would be great for my business. No wonder I along with thousands not hundreds are cheesed off.
Lots of sellers are moving to Ebid where they listen to people.
Ebay does nothing about scammers and Far East counterfeiters who list for free as well!
8-19-2006 @ 4:07AM
Junkyardjims said...
The protest is not just about the 'Fee Hike' and reduced visibility in shops. It is also directed at Ebay's complete contempt towards the the very sellers who made them what they are. Also, Ebay have been censoring forums that contain any anti-Ebay sentiment. Get a grip EBay! Should you not be clamping down on the dodgy items for sale rather than trying to censor the gripes that your members have. BOYCOTT EBAY FROM 22ND AUGUST...EBID are much nicer.
8-21-2006 @ 8:51PM
Brian lawe said...
The strikers are clearly well-intentioned, but will barely register a blip on eBay management's radar.
With the price increase, eBay is recognizing that the market has changed and that there are store shoppers and auction shoppers. eBay owns the auction space whereas the store space will never be owned by eBay. It is a commodity service available extremely cheap from dozens of storefront hosting sites and for a few more pounds -- one can build their own site.
Sellers are missing the critical point that the market has changed. eBay is essentially kicking them out of the comfort of the nest and forcing sellers with certain types of items to fly on their own. If those sellers have items that work/sell in auction format, they are welcome -- but if they want to sell more standardized store items, eBay realizes there is no future for eBay in that game.
The key is for the store sellers to figure out how to sell to buyers BOTH on eBay and off -- and move the buyers between the two sites to match the items being sold. This demands more creativity and merchandising skills for the seller. eBay has no incentive to give that to a seller -- but the writing is on the wall.