Why Ebay Alternatives Fail

Ebay alternatives are still popping up although the rush of new sites has begun to merely trickle. These sites want users to know that there is greener grass off the auction giant site, but for many that grass is merely Astroturf. With a great customer base waiting to be led from Ebay, it would be logical that alternatives would start booming, but as of yet no front runner has officially given Ebay a run for its money. One might question why this is possible in a world where Ebay and Paypal leave so many customers disappointed, but there are a few reasons that stand out.

Ebay is definitely still heavily seated in its position over Ebay alternatives, though related sites like Amazon are definitely thriving. There are many Ebay alternatives to choose from, as noted on popular Ebay seller stronghold powersellersunite.com. The problem is not a lack of places to go, but it is what these sites offer and how sellers use these Ebay alternatives that keep Ebay in the lead. One definite problem is the desire of many sites to simply reinvent Ebay, only to end up with a cheaper knockoff that struggles against all of the other clones out there.

Another issue is how sellers use Ebay alternatives. Many sellers choose Ebay alternatives after being fed up or to simply experiment. Ebay took a lengthy time to become rooted in the ecommerce world, and it has grown to be quite a juggernaut. Many sellers quickly vacate sites without traffic or buyers, failing to realize that establishing several satellite and one home site is imperative to business growth. Other sellers use Ebay alternatives to camp poor-selling items or to overprice items on a site with apparently fewer competitors. Sites like Bonanzle for example seem promising as they often boast high numbers of listings, but often these listings are of extremely overpriced items. For example, a strand of Amazonite chip beads found on Ebay for $2.99 is a whopping 7.95. For Veggie Tales The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything DVD, expect to pay $13.56 on Ebay, but a healthy 17.27 on similar alternative sites.

Site names can also wreck an otherwise high potential. Ebay alternative Ebid, for example, does not own the dotcom of its name, which is obviously owned by a domain squatter. Other problems with names can be names that are too close to Ebay's, names that cause a seller to question the integrity of a site, and names that are too close to sites that have disappointed or angered the ecommerce community.

Owner behavior is also an issue on many Ebay alternative sites. Whether an owner is unavailable to customers or they seem to reflect apathy, a lack of commitment can scatter potential customers and current regulars to the wind. Questionable fraudulent activity and a lack of loyalty on the part of owners and managers have made many Ebay alternatives literally flop. After Ebay alternative Plunderhere was "flipped" for profit by a seemingly unapologetic and greedy owner, the seller base felt betrayed and confused. Afterward, the situation with one of the most up and coming Ebay alternatives became first dire and then disappointing, its new owner literally drowned in the wake of sellers fleeing. For many, Plunderhere will never recover.

Unwillingness to upgrade sites or allow necessary programming like regular database uploads to Google products make some Ebay alternatives doomed to failure. Raising prices while still in fledgling status, attacking sellers or buyers on message boards, being flippant about issues, obvious censorship of user questions or concerns, and even threatening to destroy the site are all Ebay alternative killers. Some sites even enlist the help of others to defraud potential users with empty promises or inflated claims. Secretive or deceptive owners can destroy the site they are trying to build, as trust is almost impossible to reestablish after customers have been let down. Another site killer is overenthusiastic and bloated site fans who spread charming tales of a site's successes at the cost of the site's integrity.

Another problem is not taking security and information and personal privacy seriously. The latest SSL technology is a must for serious ecommerce site owners. Finally, a large issue with many Ebay alternatives is the lack of identity. With so many other ecommerce sites out there, building a brand identity is necessary for survival.

This is not to say there is no future for Ebay alternatives. Sites like Your High Bid offer a small but friendly customer base that is extremely loyal. Refreshing Atomic Mall also offers a viable alternative to those who are willing to take the time. Both of these sites, unlike many others, do not require heavy message board participation to make sales and attract buyers through regular uploads to online product databases. Yahoo auctions was one of the only alternatives that ever seemed to give Ebay a real sweat. Perhaps the latest in ecommerce is one of these current fledgling sites or a new one waiting just around the corner.