EBay, The Internet's Wal-Mart
Published April 09, 2008
July 13th 2000. My first eBay purchase. I remember I had decided to build my first computer around 8 years ago. I had just gotten married a few months before, had no kids, and could remember my 21st birthday as though it were the year before… because it was. Wow… I feel old.
The item was a CD-R drive; black to match the black computer case I bought. The seller was kind, saw that I was new, and walked me through the process of sending in a Money Order as PayPal was merely a year or two old at this point, and not owned by eBay, so I was wary. In any case, it was long ago enough that sellers expected money orders now and then.
Back then, sellers emailed you personally, they were kind, and for the most part, they packed their items nicely and were trustworthy. Sure, you had the handful of horror stories, most of which you could avoid by using common sense, but in my 8 years of buying and selling on eBay, I have yet to get "scammed". Sellers also left positive feedback when your money order arrived, before they even shipped the item.
Buyers were quite different back then too. It seemed that when a buyer won on eBay, they almost immediately emailed you, offering you a time when they could get the money to you, an address so you could prepare a label, and maybe a note about shipping methods, among other things. Buyers also paid on time, generally.
But two things, I feel, drew people to eBay: One, the rarity of the items available. Sure, eBay had pretty much anything you could find at a department store, but a Dukes of Hazard lunchbox isn’t something you find in the toy section of Toys R Us anymore. Two, the prices. It seemed that everything on eBay was at a low price. It may have been because people used eBay as their online garage sale. Few items were "Brand New!" but many were like new, and that was perfectly okay with me. I was looking for a deal, not a new item in most cases.
Today, the difference between eBay now and then is like the difference in a Sit ‘n Spin and an Astronaut Training Centrifuge. There are many Sellers who are "Career eBayers" on eBay now. Without a doubt there are some good ones. But I still cringe when I see a feedback score of 339,943. One thing you can count on with that much eBay activity: Zero customer service. In most cases, these are a one man operation. All emails are automated, shipping is typically slow, and the likelihood of them replying to an email is almost non-existent. They almost always rip you off on shipping bycharging twice, if not more, than the actual shipping costs, and rarely ship with reliable carriers like FedEx or UPS. The post office is cheap, so that’s how they ship.
- EBay, The Internet's Wal-Mart
- Published: April 09, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Culture: Business and Economics, Sci/Tech: Internet
- Writer: Jamison Braly
- Jamison Braly's BC Writer page
- Jamison Braly's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
We too sell on eBay, but in a very narrow market. Our customers pay lightning quick, and we ship just as fast. Our emails are semi-personal at this point... No need to type the same words over and over again.
There are still great people on eBay, and folks just might get lucky and do business with one of us.
You made lots of good points in your article, eBay isn't what it used to be. But if you want to buy what WE sell, it's either eBay or direct from our web site.
We use eBay as a way of advertising, and end up with most of our sales direct (and no ebay fees). In that way, eBay is a BIG advertising bargain.
Cheers!
You're so right about eBay. Before, it had a community feel. Back in the day, I actually bought items and sometimes met the sellers to pick up my purchase. I'd be afraid to do that now. And you're also right about the customer service. I bought something from a big eBay seller, and it took me six weeks before I received my item. It only came after I had emailed them many times and finally had to file a complaint. Now, I only buy or sell there as a last resort.
I must say that up here in Northern Vermont, it's impossible to find clothing for our 2 year old boy. LOTS of cute dresses in the stores, but nothing for our lad.
On eBay you find clothing for a tenth to a half of the price of the same items via retail (if it were available here).
That works for us.
Hey Bennett you are so right.
eBay is really good for clothes (for a pair of True Religion jeans for $80. Retail for $250.) and BOOKS! My wife and I love to read and I can get books for a penny (with $5 shipping of course).
We just had a boy this year, and we have hardly bought a thread of clothes for him. We know so many people in town and we go to a large church, so EVERYONE is giving us clothes all the time :)
But, yes, ebay is a great place to buy clothes. Bad place to sell them though for the same reason that it's a great place to buy them.
Ebay is really an interesting cultural phenomena. As a former seller and random buyer, I now check things out and find that one thing that you can't sell one month-- wait a few and then it would sell for something a couple months later.
I do find that you have to ask a lot of questions, People don't read auction listings completely.
It's definitely about smart marketing to get your product sold. ACCURATE photos are a must and clear, concise descriptions are important.
we've been successfully selling on ebay for 9 years. we're not rich, but we love what we do. No one likes change. If you are in any business and want to grow and make money you HAVE to constantly learn and adapt.
If people are buying from you and not bothering to answer your emails then there is no excitement in what you are selling. or you aren't targeting your product to the correct audience. the problem is not the buyer, it is the seller.
For those who want to know how to sell on ebay, here are a couple of tips: two sales have to be made. one is to get enough visitors to your listing so that the odds are working in your favor. that is all about the title of the listing. you must test and then test and then test some more. try different wording. just like a newspaper ad, it has to catch peoples' attention. use counters to see what heading works best. the 2nd sale is the actual wording of your listing. again test and test more.
I look at listings and people just have no energy in what they are selling. they just state the facts and expect people to buy. you have to tell people how your product will benefit them. use testimonials. in other words 'sell'. it's not a dirty word. nothing happens until someone sells something. everything in your life has been sold one way or another. even your spouse(or you) had to be sold on the other.
if people aren't checking their mail box every day after you shipped your product and asking you when you shipped it then it's time to sell something else. find a product that helps people solve a problem or something you are excited about.
The opportunities are enormous, I wish you the best!
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Another example of how eBay buyers are getting dumber.
Look for gift cards on eBay.
You will find a $50 gift card (as an example) to a famous resturant chain selling for over $50...
HUH???
Then the buyer has to pay shipping...