Hi all,
As a "new kid on the block" here I'm amazed how different and more enjoyable selling on eBid is compared to eBay. Not only is the website a joy to use, but the entire community and attitude of the staff and people behind eBid make it a place you want to do business. This is in stark contrast to eBay and many of the dubious practices which go on there. I won't go into all the problems over there sellers face as no doubt many of you are already only too aware and hence why you're on eBid!
What I wanted to say is this... as good as eBid is, it's a real shame that it just doesn't seem to have the pulling or selling power that eBay has. I've noticed that with my own products which sell incredibly well on eBay but which sadly are just not selling on eBid. I've done everything I can to promote them here. I maybe wrong here, as I am new to this site, but my feeling is that the site just lacks the level of buyer traffic that eBay has.
One thing however which did surprise and encourage me last week was making a high value sale (£350) via eBay on eBid! I listed the item on both sites and put the price slightly higher on eBay and mentioned to interested buyers that it was listed on my eBid listing cheaper. One buyer was only too happy to make the saving and I got the sale on eBid, even though the buyer initially saw the item on eBay. eBay had affectively provided me with a 40p advertisement which secured a buyer and a lot of other inquiries too!
I think this is a strategy which can work for other sellers in the same position as myself who find themselves locked into the eBay marketplace, incurring high selling costs and facing massive overseas competition, all of which squeezes tight margins and thus restricts what you can sell and prevents their business trying out new products and expanding.
I think we as auction sellers need to work together to change this and start to think long-term about eBid as a viable alternative marketplace. I've been selling on eBay for over 10 years and have I've recently decided to establish an eBay Seller Association because I think sellers need a body to represent their interests. What I would like to do sign-up as many eBay sellers as possible and use it as a vehicle to encourage them to start branching out to eBid with cross-selling.
This will bring more eBay buyers to eBid to help the marketplace grow, while at the same time helping small businesses. I'd welcome any thoughts or suggestions, or indeed any offers of help/support!
Paul
P.S. Merry Christmas everyone, and best wishes for a prosperous trading year in 2012!