Is eBay Becoming The Newest Big Box Electronics Site?
Announced Changes Tell The Story
As I try to digest the changes to the eBay platform announced yesterday, I can’t help but notice that it truly appears to me that eBay wants to cash in on the Consumer Electronics wave. To do this eBay has inked “sweetheart deals” with such sites as Buy.com to give these huge consumer electronic sellers an unprecedented unfair advantage. These deals allow the huge sellers to list tens of thousands of items on the eBay site with no listing fees and reduced Final Value Fees (FVF).
In yesterdays announcment eBay states
” In extremely competitive e-commerce categories such as Consumer Electronics, Cameras and Computers, we’re decreasing final value fees. This means we’re giving you an even bigger incentive to list these types of items on eBay.”
In addition, eBay is also offering
a special rate of only 5 cents through the end of the year for Buy It Now™ fixed price listings in the Media categories (Books, Video Games, Music and DVDs/Movies) using pre-filled item information.
These special incentives certainly are placing those high volume sellers in these categories at a significant advantage, just in time for the busiest selling season of the year. It is very apparent to me that with the emphasis eBay is placing on these very high demand and visibilty categories, that they (eBay) wants to become the largest online source for consumer electronics. While this is great if you sell in these categories, it is terrible news for those sellers that sell in other categories like clothing or shoes or any other category not benefiting from the reduced fees.
Auction Format Listings Remain The Same
As the announcement states, there will be no reduction in fees for those selling in the Auction Format. This tells me that eBay is still moving towards a Fixed Price site. Though Lorrie Norrington says in the announcement that “Auctions will always have a place on eBay” I can not help but remember the immortal words she spoke at the PESA/ECMTA conference in New Orleans earlier this year. “You won’t recognize eBay in a year”.
The Same Old eBay-NOT
n my mind eBay already does not resemble what it was when I started selling on the site 11+ years ago. I realize that ecommerce has changed, technology has changed, and the online buyer has changed. To stay competitive, eBay had to make changes to stay competitive. My concern is what marketplace they want to be competitive in. Cetainly it appears that it is not the marketplace that they started out in, and that is OK if that is where they want to go.
In my opinion they should let their customers, who after all are the SELLERS decide what direction they should be heading to.
Silly me, I forgot, according to Pierre Omidyar we business owners don’t know what is in our own best interests.
Feds Pass and Propose New Legislation Affecting eCommerce Sellers
IRS Rule Attached to Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (Enacted)
The federal government continues to seek ways to generate income from internet sales. In an amendment attached very quietly to the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (S.2636) which President Bush recently signed into law, third party credit card or transaction processing services will be required to report to the IRS those sellers conducting over 200 transactions or those who do over $10,000 worth of transactions per year.
Providers such as PayPal, Google Checkout, and others will be required to provide a 1099 to the seller and the IRS to provide the government with the ability to tax internet sellers. This law will take effect in January 1, 2011.
Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 (Proposed)
In this proposed legislation HR.6491 would require online auction sites like eBay, Amazon, Onlineauction, Overstock.com and others to retain information about high-volume sellers and provide that information to retailers and to law enforcement officials in cases where police reports have been filed.
It is estimated by the National Retail Federation that organized retail crime costs retailers between 15 and 30 million dollars annually.
With the epidemic of shoplifting and other forms of retail theft, this measure will provide a means for law enforcement to cross check for items that may have been illeagally obtained.
What Did You Learn From the OLA Rummage Sale?
You Know this blog is supposed to be about my side of the mic, so I hope I can tell my side and not bore you to much.
The OLA Rummage Sale has come to an end. Some wonder what has the OLA Rummage Sale done for me! From my point of view a lot.
I will admit I’m not a seller and don’t claim to be one, so many may just blow this off, I hope not.
The biggest winner from the auction was the person or persons who participate in the first place.
They came and stumbled trying to list on a new platform for them, and it seemed there was just a ton of help for them when they fell down and just couldn’t seem to get it right. Wow to me that’s a plus..Getting to know each other.
Then there’s the new buyers that came or did I miss that someone sold something?
New people, and what do you do when you find something good ? You get what you can, then tell another person and so forth. Don’t you think they told others of the bargains on OLA? More exposure thats a plus.
I think some of OLA’s staff came to know all of us a little better and how strong we are…. and will be there as they have been to pick us up when we stumble.
Remember if I’m right this place is going to get big. Kinda nice to know the folks that run the place when you need to talk to them. Or even have someone to talk with.
When things are small and time is not to busy, lets build on what we have learned, not on what we don’t have.
Tomorrow is Saturday Time For ebay&Beyond at 10amET
Hello Guys and Gals,
This is the early warning system anounnceing that tomorrow is Saturday and time again for ebay&Beyond Basics to Business Radio program heard on www.basicstobusiness.com at 10amET-Noon. We will talk to callmemomo about the final days of the OLA’s Rummage Sale, Etsy.com ,Scott Pooler and so much more, so please come join in on the toll free number or the free chat this Saturday morning at www.basicstobusiness.comThanks for your support,
Sparky
OLA.COM DONATES 2 DELL LAPTOP COMPUTERS TO RUMMAGE SALE
OnlineAuction.com has donated 2 Dell Insprion 1525 laptop computers to the Rummage Sale starting May 1st with the proceeds going to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, congagulations to Onlineauction.com for there support.
May 3rd ebay & Beyond Basics to Business Program To Feature OLA.com Rummage Sale
Many ecommerce merchants are constantly looking for new maketplaces to sell their products or services. One such site is Onlineauction.com, and over 275 (could be over 300 by now) of the sellers on the site have banded together to promote the relatively young auction venue. These sellers know that they, along with the sites owners MUST work together to draw buyers to the site. OLA has begun doing their part by launching TV ads on several cable channels including Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Fox, The Speed Channel, The SciFi Channel, and VH1 that will run April 25th thru May 7th with a potential audience of 40,000,000 viewers.
The sellers for their part have begun a grassroots movement to promote the side thru what they are calling the Rummage Sale, running from May 1st thru May 7th. All items in the Rummage Sale will be in true auction format with starting prices no higher than $0.99. Those participating agree to list at least 10 items in a category that was created specifically for this event called what else??? Rummage Sale. All items in the sale must have some value according to one organizer whose user name is Callmemomo. No JUNK will be allowed. Sellers are promoting the event through emails, blogs, posters, ads in local newspapers and nearly any other way they can think of.
Chris Fain, CEO of Onlineauction.com said “Listing fees and final value fees are not necessary. All the money we need to run this site can be made by the monthly membership fees for sellers of just a flat $8.00 per month and the Verified Buyers fees which are just $4.00 per month. (Basic buyers can buy with no fee wtih some limitations) in an interview on this radio program. This concept is a good one in my mind. Why should sellers carry all the burden?
In any event, tune into our weekly live internet radio program ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business Saturday May 3rd from 10 AM to Noon ET to hear all about the items available and possibly from some of the sellers.
-
Sponsors
New Page 1 -
-
Affiliates
-
Join Me on LinkedIn
