Why It Might Be Time To Abandon Ebay
March 23, 2011eBay has for a long time been proclaimed as one of the easiest and best ways to sell anything online, and also a pretty good way of running an online business – but is this still the case? It’s true that eBay is one of the largest marketplaces for most products you might want to sell. But with all the changes and developments the world’s biggest auction site has seen, there are a growing number of reasons why those wanting to set up successful (and profitable) online shops, should probably be looking for an alternative.
You have to pay, again, and again
You might expect that if you were going to use eBay, you would have to pay for the privilege, which of course you do. After all, it seems only fair that if you’re getting access to this massive marketplace, any fee would be a small price to pay. However, these fees aren’t so small any more – and there are plenty of them. You will probably need to pay to list your item, even if it doesn’t sell, although you may get a credit to use against relisting it, but it might not sell again! If you do sell it, there will be a fee based on how much you got for it – eBay can take up to 15% of the selling price! Also, you need to accept the payment through PayPal (also owned by eBay), and they are likely to charge you around 3% to process your payment. So all in all, around 18% of the money you make might have to go to eBay, in one way or another!
eBay is for buyers, not sellers
eBay is full of people looking to buy things, which sounds like a great place for sellers to set up there online shops. But the size of eBay has actually become one of the biggest reasons why it can be so hard to make a profit in the long run. With so many sellers competing against eachother, and millions of buyers all looking for the lowest prices, often the only way businesses can get people to buy from their online shops, is to be the cheapest. This usually means lower margins, competing on price rather than value, and that these online shops have to sell a lot of items to make a decent profit.
A single mistake could ruin your business
Another important factor to bear in mind for those looking to set up online shops on eBay, will be eBay’s feedback system. Originally designed as a way for buyers and sellers to demonstrate how trustworthy they were, the system has changed quite a bit, and put a lot more pressure on the seller. If you make one mistake, or are unlucky enough to come across an unreasonable buyer, it could affect your hard-earned feedback rating, your business, and the profits you will be able to make.
With all these factors making it incredibly difficult for sellers to set up and build profitable online shops on eBay, it’s no wonder that even die hard eBayers are now turning to other platforms to help them grow their business. There are a number of alternatives to eBay that provide better, more flexible, and less expensive solutions. These allow you to build online shops that make it easier, more profitable, and more enjoyable to sell your products online, so if you’re serious about your internet business, it might be time to stop following the herd and find an alternative to eBay that will work for you.
Inspiration
- Challenges of Dropshipping on Amazon: Pitfalls, Alternatives, and Strategies for Success
- Shoppers Trust Amazon.com, Should You Sell At Amazon?
- The Future For Ebay & Online Shops
- An Online Shop Could Be A Better Alternative To Ebay
- 5 Reasons Why It’s Getting Harder To Be Successful On Ebay
- Why It Can Be Hard To Build A Business With Ebay
- Why Some Sellers Are Leaving Ebay
- Alternatives To Ebay That Could Be Better For Your Business
