BellaOnline Forums Computers Online Services eBay - love it or leaving it?

This is a question for both buyers and sellers.

eBay has generated a lot of debate over the past year with all of it's changes. Just wondering how many people are jumping ship for another site or giving up completely?

Anyone still love it and would never think of leaving?

I don't love it. I am REALLY annoyed by it and some of their changes. But that being said, I am in a massive house-cleaning effort and I always put things on ebay. I figure they have the largest market and have my best chance of getting rid of these things. I don't see there's a real option yet to go to.

As a buyer so many things don't feel right and the new, "improved" search makes things difficult to find. I always compare prices and because eBay is pushing fixed price over auctions, prices are often higher on eBay than other marketplaces.

Personally I preferred auctions over fixed price. Auctions allowed sellers to offer items at a low opening bid and if an item was desirable the market would tell. For buyers auctions offered the opportunity to get a great deal on items that didn't generate a lot of interest. Everyone had fun, made connections and your auctions, were really your auctions. You could set your own payment options, shipping charges, etc.

I definitely like the auctions better. It gives people a sense of "fighting" to get what they want and maybe getting a deal. I like participating in an auction myself. If I was just going to buy something at a fixed price I wouldn't go on ebay, I'd go to a normal store where I had better price protection and return policies.

As a previous eBay Seller, and of course Buyer the changes have been difficult.

I sold on eBay four years ago, and absolutely loved it. I was able to make a good profit, had fun getting to know my customers, and enjoyed the whole experience. At the time, I also had a great time bidding on items myself. After 18 months I gave up selling on eBay, as I was busy taking care of a sick family member.

This past fall, August to be exact, I returned to eBay to sell some antiques and other items and was quite surprised, not to mention disappointed at the changes. I did sell on there for four months, but found it very disappointing. The cost to Sellers to list and even be competitive seemed unfair. Your correct when talking about the Buy It Now's, as there is no other way to really list an item and not spend more than it's worth. The fee's are ridiculous, and the only real way to compete is to open a eBay Store, which costs more money. I did open a store, and the recurring fee's is unbelievable. Unless you cancel an item on time, they automatically relist it and charge you. If you have many items listed, like I did, you have to watch everything throughout the day to make sure you don't miss anything running off, or you get charged. Additionally, there is favortism to Buyers and not Sellers when there is a problem also. Overall a bad experience.

It's sad that eBay made the changes they did, and I understand it is due to the New Ownership. I am a believer though, "If it's not broke, don't try and fix it." rule.

Sandy I've heard others complain of the same problems. It just doesn't appear to be worthwhile for the average person to sell on eBay anymore.

What do you think about the Paypal requirement and shipping charge limitations for certain categories?

As a buyer I am disappointed also. I don't fool with it much anymore.

The paypal requirement bugs me a lot. Some people have very valid reasons for not wanting to be on paypal and I had no reason taking a check or money order from them.

Paypal, yes that is another issue. Four years ago the fee's on Paypal irritated me, but I continued to sell. When I went back on eBay last August I was shocked at how the fee's had increased and how they too are in the Buyers favor, not Sellers. Here Paypal is making money off the Seller, but went there is an "issue" they favor with the Buyer. This happened to me where Paypal just returned the money to the Buyer, but charged me. She still had the antique bracelet and my money. Does this makes sense - NO.

Another area that was really disappointing was the fact that eBay now ONLY allows Paypal. They were discontinuing all other ways of payments when I quit selling on there, and were only allowing Paypal. I am sure eBay and Paypal worked out a great financial deal between themselves, but really hurt all of Sellers and even Buyers. As a Buyer, you may not want to put your CC information on the Internet and as a Seller you may not want to pay Paypal fee's. I guess they forgot who made them so financially wealthy....sad as it is.

Blessings.

Well it's not a financial deal - ebay actually owns PayPal now