eBay vs. Bonanzle
Which One is Right for You?
One fairly new website is beginning to offer ways to sell our items without spending a lot of money out of our pockets. Bonanzle, allows you to sell your unwanted items plus handmade craft items. This new website allows sellers to speak with possible buyers through online instant messengers. Also, it will transfer any old eBay feedback from a previous account and place it into your new Bonanzle account.
While eBay has seller fees for posting items, and then fees for when an item sells-Bonzanzle only charges the seller when the item does actually sell. Posting an item for sale on Bonzanzle is free. For instance, if your item sells for less than ten dollars, you will only owe $0.50 ! The highest price you will ever pay for selling on Bonzanzle is if you have an item that sells for over $1,000. If you have an item that sells for that much, then you owe only $10. The positive about eBay compared with those figures, is that eBay allows you to post five regular items for free each month.
As for traffic, Bonanzle is still fairly new, as it was launched in 2008. It's users and buyers are increasing, and sales are being made-but it still doesn't beat the traffic that eBay has knocking at its doors every day. If you do decide to begin listing at Bonanzle, you may need to market your items by sending out emails to friends, co-workers and family or placing links on your blog or website.
So what items are currently selling on Bonanzle? Currently, there is a market for handmade items such as jewelry, woodworking, and craft supplies. Antiques are slowly on the rise, but eBay still has much to offer for buyers looking to purchase. There is also a large listing for women's clothing and children's apparel.
One plus that Bonanzle offers that eBay may not, is the welcome wagon that Bonanzle seems to offer new sellers and buyers. With all of the available forums, and the availability of instant messenger on the booth pages, it gives the feeling of a tight knit group. There are forums available on eBay, but sometimes these can be bombarded with spam as well. Most of the groups on Bonanzle are small, but still large enough to meet a variety of sellers and buyers.
The question is though: "Will Bonanzle ever be as large as eBay or be able to compete?" It could take some years before it has the available traffic that eBay currently has, but it does have its promise. Sellers are looking for the best possible way to make money without losing too much up front. We all do realize that sometimes we must spend money to make it-but we don't want to lose half of our earnings either.
If you are looking for a good second website to list your items at, perhaps you could give Bonanzle a test drive, and decide if it is right for you. Bonanzle offers a community feel and outreach, while eBay offers possible sales and large quantities of traffic.
Published by Ariana R. Cherry-Shearer
Ariana Cherry-Shearer began writing for the Web in 2006. Her first love is poetry & she has published 2 collections.She has written for: Examiner, Demand Media, Need an Article and Textbroker. Ariana writes... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentWell, it appears on the surface that Ebay is still the place to be for buyers, I have been with Bonazle (Bonanza) now for over 6 months and well the traffic isn't there, sellers are there but traffic isn't and yes I have promoted promoted promoted. I think it is the trust factor for buyers, Ebay well known, Bonanza not so well known. I wish it would take off but I just don't know at this point.
I was just contemplating about Ebay and where else to sell my used books.
Great information as usual Ariana!!
I'll look into this!
Only heard of Ebay but I will look into it, sounds interesting Thanks.
I sell on both Ebay and Bonanzle. Your article rings true for statements on both. I would just like to add that as a seller on Bonanzle, I am truly a team member there. Although I do have to work harder to get sales on the Bonanzle site through advertising and such, it is well worth the effort. The profitability is high and lets me offer my customer's better pricing and the support I receive from Bonanzle is exceptional. It is absolutely the friendliest place to do business. Bonanzle is growing by leaps and bounds and the categories of new in-demand items is growing everyday. Yes, it is a good place to sell crafts and used goods. But, it is an even better place to buy and sell top in demand new items.
Ebay is simply a necessary evil for all online sellers big and small. Their costs are high to do business and their support is minimal. They enjoy great name recognition and everyone looks there for items online. For this reason and this reason alone they keep sellers and b
Just one error. Nothing is free on Ebay, while they wave the "listing fee" for five items a month they still incur a "final value fee" which is 8% and then another percentage from you when you get paid through paypal. And as Ebay owns paypal that's a double whammy. AND you have no choice. Ebay allows no other form of payment acceptance.
Bonanzle has it ALL! Closing in on 200,000 members at this time and continually growing. Soon Ebay will lose it's appeal as it grows into the online Walmart store of cheap goods that it desires to be and Bonanzle will be the place to shop for fine collectibles, antiques, and everything else at great bargains.
Thank you for the article.
Great article on Bonanzle! No, Bonanzle does not have the traffic of ebay ... I think Amazon is the only one in that bracket, but Bonanzle is a solid site with good support team. The owner is the main tech guy and truly cares about the site.
Sellers do have to take control of their own business and drive the customers to their goods, this is true, But with all items going to Google, Bonanzle is seeing more traffic and sales every day.
It is a 'new' site, but most of the sellers are oldhands at online sales. Many came from eBay and many of them still sell there as well.