Looking back, I really should have kept a log of all those 'greedbay' wannabes I tried. One does stick in my mind as it is (or was, I don't know I have lost track of it) UK based, which since I am a Brit, at the time, it appealed to me.
It is ebid. Right, sounds good I thought, (hope springs eternal), I tried to register. That did not work, it rejected my address at least ten times in all formats, and did not seem set up to accept my type of address at all. Frustration piled upon frustration. I tried everything. Then I sent an email to their support desk. Experience told me not to expect a quick reply, but they did reply eventually.
Saying that even though I was a Brit, I could not Register with ebid. Their system simply was not set up to deal with expats. I was stunned. I do not know the current number of British expats living overseas but it is surely in the millions by now. Needless to say, this one was crossed off the list too. Anyone short-sighted enough to rule out millions of potential clients with one stupid rule does not deserve my business.
Ok fast forward through the list of also rans : craigslist, bonanzle, adflyer, mystore, dealtent, altectrader, bidville, treasuresales, bidville, overstock, ioffer (particularly hopeless - they deserve a medal for ineptitude), wagglepop (pathetic), auction quest, blujay, plunderhere, qxl, ecrater, auction addict, auction-warehouse, vintagevalue, ukbidsaway et al.
Then I brain-stormed with my husband. We sat down and thought about it. We both had sold on ebay in the early days, and tried to remember what it was that was so compelling. We figured it out. But then we realised that was fine for then, but for now, even if we found an online auction/selling venue which was as good as greedbay was in the past, that would simply not cut it now, in todays internet environment.
So - we decided what we wanted was something SUPERIOR to ebay in the early days. So the hunt just got even harder. I can't count the times I almost gave up and just decided to take to the Auction Fairs and Flea Markets circuits yet again. But the hunt continued...............................................if you dont want to follow the torturous journey which led me to Specialist Auctions, then just go there now and check them out. They truly are better than ebay was even in the beginning.
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You are right, most of the alternatives to feebay are in the US. It would be great to have one respected, well run and affordable online selling place which is not in the US but allows access to the US citizins as buyers.
ReplyDeleteYou have really done your research and your blog is better than many articles I have read in newspapers and online magazines (such as Fool).
I hope you are going to tell us all about specializm auctions soon, I'm going to take a look anyhow.
Thank you.
PS Nice to read something without foul language and with correct spelling and grammer.
Beattie
I am sick and tired of ebay kicking sellers who made them what they are today in the teeth with ever higher fees, and more stupid rules.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, no-one can afford to spend months trying out all the wannnaaabeees, and there are hundreds over here.
So it is real nice to see someone who did what so many of us power sellers have been trying to bring ourselves to do for so long.
Keep it up and keep telling it how it is sister.
We all heer ya !
There must be a ton of folk looking for alternatives to ebay right now. They seem to be trying to get rid of the people who made them what they are today.
ReplyDeleteI've tried almost all of those you have, but not yet Specialist Auctions.
Thanks for helping us all out by telling your story.
Stacey
Hi Erica,
ReplyDeleteYes i too tried them all, Ebid may be free to list, but it doesnt include free images! lots of hidden charges there! Tazbar well that deserves to be where it is!
3 cheers for specialistauctions!!!
I live in Holland. pheebay here is pathetic now, their fees are ridiculously high, their rules seem pointless and aimed at the wrong people.
ReplyDeleteMany of the collectables markets are completely flooded with fakes from the Far East which are getting better and better these days. Sometimes even as a dealer it is difficult to tell the difference.
The Specialist Moderators on Specialist Auctions seems to me to be the top selling point. Buyers can go there and not get ripped off by buying a fake Guchi bag or other kind of rip off.
That in itself makes it head and shoulders above greedbay even as it was in the beginning.
I look forward to investigating Specialist Auctions, and thank you for your valueable insite to your research.
Helga
Specialistauctions is definitely the online market place to be, both for buyers and sellers. It is very clear and easy to use. I have an online store with them selling collectable aviation items and it is extremely easy and fast to add new items. Check it out soon if you haven't already!
ReplyDeleteI second your disapproval of Ebid. I live in France and am English, but they wont let me register. How stupid is that.
ReplyDeleteThere are literally MILLIONS of Brits living overseas (and who can blame them) and to cut us out of even being able to join is ridiculous.
Even if they did now, I would not join. Going to check out Specialist Auctions.
Josie