Have You Guys Heard of eBid?

I recently heard of eBid auctions? I recently heard of it and registered for an account. There selling fees are only 2% compared to eBay's 10%+. And you're allowed to ask for payment methods that aren't exclusively limited to Paypal.

So far I've sold a few coins there and find it to be a good site. If you guys want to check it out just go to http://us.ebid.net/

Edited: and buy/sell/trade info must be in classified area. I also sell US coins in general.

 

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I looked at eBid and I'm mildly impressed. Will try some stamp lots next week. Paying $50 for zero selling fees (for life) is an interesting twist. One thing I don't like is some folks' outrageous fees for postage, but the answer to that problem is, never buy from them. They are obviously rank amateurs. Thanks for the tip!

 

You can list for free just by giving them your CC info. But you'll be charged a 2% fee for gallery listings. The $50 for zero selling fees for life doesn't apply to gallery listings. Meaning your listing won't have a photo in the search results. I just use gallery listings, you pay no insertion fees and only a 2% Final Value fee. So far I have sold a few coins and have had no problems with people paying me. Most buyers there prefer to use Paypal. But you also have the option of having other payment options. So far one guy has paid me with check. Which I'm fine with. eBay was a better place before they made it mandatory that you had to use Paypal because they bought Paypal to push yahoo auctions out of business by pulling Paypal as a payment option from yahoo auctions eBay dealt a death blow to it's competition. As a monopoly eBay fees it can charge 10% Final Value fees and then another 3% on Paypal.

 

All that is good to know. I'll pay 2% all day long, and I'll probably structure postage on low-end items, like:
1 to 3 items - 50c total postage
4 to 6 items - 25c total postage
7 or more items - free postage

Not sure what forms of payment I'd accept.

Remember I'm selling lightweight stamps, not coins, and I'm shipping only to the U.S., for the time being. I can send a lot of stamps for 93 cents (that's 2 ounces non-machineable) plus a 7c mailer. I might structure my lots, too, all of them could cost $3. Sounds like fun.

Small purchases (1 to 3 items) can go in a regular envelope for 49c,
between two pieces of file folder. Might register as "The$3Man," LOL.
Thanks again, I've been looking for a cheap low-end outlet. Hold the applause, however, until I see if anything sells.

Way back when Yahoo had auctions, I bought a lot of stuff from a guy in Minnesota. When Yahoo shut down, he went to bidStart, and by shipping carefully and adding random bonus items, and undercutting the competition, he's now selling over 80 lots a day; I don't know when he eats or sleeps.

 

http://mysite.reviews/stats/bidstart.com

According to that website bidstart.com receives 7,000 unique visitors a day. While eBid receives 60,000 unique visitors a day. While eBay receives 1.5 Million visitors per day. The Ironic thing is I have sold my coins for higher prices on eBid than eBay! Even though eBid has less visitors and a lower final value fee!

If your prices are fair you will have no trouble selling on eBid. At least with coins. I'm not sure about stamps. You can give it a try. I offer my coins at 99 cents with no Reserve and so far I have been able to sell them at a decent price.

 

Just curious how many stamps are in 80 lots and how much money do you think he is making?

 

I don't buy* from him now, and the numbers are all over the place, with lots from 1 good to 100 common stamps, sounds about right. No idea how much money he makes. When I sell something that pre-dates my move to Florida in 1988, I don't even think about what it cost.

Those are easy to spot, as they are in little envelopes showing a 1987 Scott catalog value, last big hobby project before I moved. I have not updated them since, but now check each before setting opening bids. I did buy a 2013 U.S. catalog, close enough.

*He's been "discovered" for several years now, too much competition, no particular bargains, but fair pricing via the marketplace.

 

I wish people actually bought of these other auction sites but I have had little luck. Seems like everyone buys off Ebay. There is also HA and Great Collections but these are for higher priced coins. I am not even comfortable selling higher priced coins online even if I wanted to.

 

eBay has the advantage of the HUGE seller and buyer base.

 

FWIW, you can accept any form of payment that you want to on ebay. You are NOT mandated to accepting paypal. Just include in your listing that the winning bidder MUST contact you (or wait for you to contact him) before making payment. Then settle directly with him how to pay, mark the auction as payment received and you're good to go. You can accept chickens or beets for payment if you want.

 

Yes this has to do with early entry and viral issues. Many buyers and sellers attract more buyers and sellers. We all know they go overboard with the fees because they can. If more people switched to other sites, they would have to adjust. Right now they just decreased free listings to get more money from sellers by having them purchase stores. They do have free listing promos.

 

Yeah I suppose but your not allowed to mention other payment methods in the description or list them like eBid allows you to. You can actually list checks, money orders, cashier's checks, ect as payment forms on ebid. You use to be able to do that on eBay until those bastards bought Paypal and made everyone transact through Paypal.

 

Back in 2002 when I was a seller on eBay their FVF were only 3%. In 2005 it was 5% now since they've run Yahoo auctions out of business by buying Paypal and making Paypal not let Yahoo auctions use them as a payment source they charge 10%+ and another 3% for Paypal. eBay is a de facto Monopoly and they say Monopolies are illegal in this country. Yeah right!

 

There is also Amazon but there fees are high too. A lot of people still think of Amazon about books and auctions aren't really much of a thing there. It appears Ebay does have a monopoly going on as far as online auctions and is taking full advantage of it. When you think the fees are too high they try to increase revenue buy lowering free listing amounts in a big way.

 

I use ebay and somewhat unwillingly pay their fees with the understanding that if I had a brick and mortar store I wouldn't have to pay fees to sell, but I would have to pay taxes, overhead, utilities, payroll, etc which are quite a bit more than the fees that ebay/paypal charge. Ask any store owner what his profit margin is; I think you'll see that ebay isn't really so bad. Anyway, I think most sellers adjust their prices to account for the fees.

 

Certainly correct, plus the "unknown" fact that eBay is the cheapest advertising in the WORLD. Where else can you advertise, with unlimited text and multiple high-quality photos/scans, a large number of high-end items (free, or close to it), and whether you get any bids or not, a lot of serious collectors (again, worldwide) take note of what you have, for future reference. This is where using "About Me" and long and accurate descriptions really pays off, especially for covers.

 

IMO, 3-5% is OK, but 10% + 3% PP is ridiculous.

 

Well if any of you want to give ebid a try. Just click on my signature. I have 100% positive feedback and I take Paypal as well as checks, money orders, and cashier's checks.

 

But that only applies to those buyers who don't mind paying according to the seller's terms.

What if they WANT to pay via PayPal, and not cash, check, or chickens? I wonder who Ebay would side with there? The seller? Oh, I don't think so...

 

As a seller, I could see listing on both, but not listing solely on eBid despite the lower fees.

Thanks for the post - I may check it out...and if eBay sees a competitor and the need to lower their fees, well then capitalism is alive and well.