Online Auction Sites Compared
eBay is synonymous with online auctions. It is the largest and most recognizable auction site, but it is not the only one. There are several other good online auction sites where you can buy and sell all sorts of products. Here are the highlights of the biggest players in the game:
eBay
eBay boasts many millions of users, as well as sites based in dozens of countries. The company has established itself as the leader in online auctions, and it offers tons of useful features, an extensive help section, and an easy-to-use interface.
eBay offers several ways to promote your listings, such as highlighting and featured placement. They allow sellers to set reserves and offer buyers the opportunity to purchase on the spot. Sellers can also set up stores onsite, and they can take advantage of cross-promotional opportunities. They also have lots of great community features in which you can network with other eBay users and promote your offerings.
Although fees are a little higher on eBay than on most other auction sites, most sellers feel that they are worth it for the added exposure. The site does not offer monthly subscription packages, much to the dismay of high-volume sellers. However, many feel that they could not achieve the sales volume they get on eBay anywhere else.
Overstock
Although not quite as popular as eBay, Overstock has a very good auction service with lots of features. Overstock’s selling fees are a bit lower than eBay’s. They also offer subscription plans for frequent sellers.
Overstock users can open stores and cross-promote items. The site also has a feedback system similar to eBay’s, with full histories of each buyer and seller available. Overstock’s support includes a large FAQ section and contact options that include live chat.
Amazon
Amazon’s auction service doesn’t have as many features as eBay or Overstock, but it is well worth looking into. The site offers low fees and a subscription option for high-volume sellers. Although you can’t cross-promote items between your auctions, you can have your items featured on pages with new items offered by Amazon that are related to them.
Amazon does not offer as many categories as some other auction sites, so navigation can be a little tricky for buyers. But its search function works well, so buyers who are looking for something specific can usually find it. The site also receives lots of traffic, allowing for a substantial amount of exposure for your items.
Other Auction Sites
There are also many other auction sites that sellers can use to find buyers for their products. Fees, features, and traffic vary. There are even some sites on which you can list for free, but most of these do not offer the traffic and options that the major sites do.
When considering any auction site, it is very important to do your homework. A visit to the BBBOnline.com will alert you to any formal complaints filed against the site. And a bit of browsing on the site itself should give a good indication of its ease of use and how much success you can expect as a seller. If you’re hard pressed to find an item that has received any bids, you might want to consider going elsewhere.
Selling through online auctions is a great way to make money from home. While eBay is the top auction site, there are others that sellers do well on, too. With low per-listing fees on most sites, it’s easy to try them out before you commit. Just remember that it’s important to make sure a site is reputable before giving out your personal information.
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Here is a great Microsoft Excel sheet that helps Amazon sellers price their products including Amazon’s Fees for their Marketplace – It basically is a fee calculator in reverse, take your cost and margin dollars or percentage and it will calculate the lowest price to sell at without losing money – simple to use – did I mention it was free. Plus a few other cool tools that you can use, like a Paypal Calculator.