Could you live without eBay?

Let's say you wake one morning to see on the news that eBay has gone bankrupt and is no longer operating.

Would this have a large effect on your collection needs?

If so, where would you turn to?

 

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+1 for Blaubart in lgl's game.

The only effect it would have on me is the loss of my $25+ in FeeBay Bucks. Other than that, I'd be celebrating because I know it would be a great opportunity for someone else to fill the void left behind and hopefully do a better job than FeeBay has done. (i.e. Lower fees, less prohibited items, better customer service, etc)

 

Never have used eBay, so I'd say yes.

 

I collected for many years before Ebay, or the internet and computers for that matter. But, before all that, finding variety was a major issue. You'd have had to visit a thousand dealers to find the available variety of coins and currancy that 30 minutes on Ebay can bring you.
Guy

 

The main thing I would miss from ebay is checking the going rate for items whether coins, antiques or other collectables. I believe for many items, what you see on ebay would be the market value for items and what they are really worth, especially collectables. I don't buy coins on ebay because for the most part people over pay for coins on the site in my opinion, especially on bullion and junk silver.

 

well i would be screwed. my only current source of income is ebay auctions. so i would none to happy

 

I'd kind a miss it. I've only bought one coin through eBay (and it was a smooth transaction) but look at all the interesting threads about ripoffs and scams we'd be missing out on if eBay went away.

 

If ebay faulted, I would clearly die within days.

 

Just Ebay? It would suck a little for certain collections I have, but for other areas of my collecting I would be unaffected.

Plus, I would imagine another dominant internet auction site would emerge and we would start hating on them constantly.

Now, tell me that "the internet" has gone away, and I am a very PO'ed collector. I collect very esoteric things, and without the internet it would be VERY difficult to collect them.

 

If Ebay down, huh?

Selling, I'd miss it.
Buying, see ya.

I'd buy from the auction houses for classics and the Mint for a few moderns.

Chief

 

Um I could live just fine. Ebay isn't my grocery store, water fountain, toilet, roof, or any other necessity.

 

I collected coins for many years before E-bay existed, and bought and sold 4 collections during the pre-Ebay days. It makes it easier, but far from essential to have its services.

 

I don't use ebay for anything. I usually go to auction sites or, when I'm in Boston, a store with which I am very familiar. So, no, I would not miss ebay at all if it went under.

 

Are you sure its not a toilet?

 

Of course. Coins are coins. What I couldn't live without is food, water, and shelter.

 

Would old-fashioned LCS thrive again? Then maybe it wouldn't be so bad. As things stand, my LCS is at least a 30 min drive and has a limited selection. eBay makes collecting much easier. In the non-coin world, eBay makes buying many other items easier too, and selling items convenient as well. I'd miss it, even with it's many flaws.

 

+1 for lgl - nice to see you playing Blaubart.

To answer the op's question: yes, but it would be difficult.

I agree with some others that if ebay went away, something else would take its place. It's just the way the world has moved on.

I will say, I preferred the ebay of its pioneering days when everyone was on equal grounds and it seemed more like a combination of a yard sale and an auction.

 

They thrive . . . so long as they sell on ebay.

 

When paying all those fees toliet related thoughts have crossed my mind.....:kewl:

 

Assuming what you actually mean is would the absence of an online auction site affect my collecting habits, most definitely. I probably bid on close to 100 coins a month or so, and it would be very difficult to collect without them. Since I collect foreign coins, most coin shops have limited selection and little interest, and without eBay I would most likely never finish any set I'm working on or make much progress in my collection. All things being equal I'd rather buy coins at a coin shop or a show, but all things are not equal and eBay makes it so much easier.