General HotHardware Tech News

Re: Were Online Auctions Just A Fad?

Crisis Causer — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:42:28 GMT

I've never used Craiglist. So is it a local pickup thing?

I like bidding on eBay because of sniping during the last 15 seconds. But I do appreciate "Buy it Now" due to the quickness, but only if it's a good deal. Sometimes they are too high and I'd prefer they were a bid so I could try to snipe.

Re: Were Online Auctions Just A Fad?

higgamo — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:47:07 GMT

yea i post in craigslist easier to tell the scammers from real buyers on there.

Re: Were Online Auctions Just A Fad?

recoveringknowitall — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:59:32 GMT

Every item I posted on CL sold less than 24hrs. after posting... awesome!

Craigslist FTW!!!

Re: Were Online Auctions Just A Fad?

rapid1 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:48:17 GMT

Yeah, I agree the paypal thing is ebay's ace in the whole. But the worst part about ebay is all the scammers now. I auctioned a laptop on there and relisted it like 5 times. I kept getting people from nairobi (or somewhere in west africa) outbidding everyone for thousands of dollars more than anyone with a right mind would pay. So I ended up selling it to a family friend who needed a good versatile laptop instead.

RE: Were Online Auctions Just A Fad?

SqUiD267 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:41:40 GMT

eBay is over rated..Craiglist all the way! All craiglist needs is a redesign.

Were Online Auctions Just A Fad?

News — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:05:11 GMT

Many eBay users are up in arms about the changes in fee structure on the site that favor large vendors selling goods at fixed prices on a "Buy it Now" basis instead of eBay's original auction format. The little vendors who have made the site what it is today don't like it, but eBay might simply be acknowledging the obvious: Online auctions were a fad, and the fad might be over.

What happened to auctions? Not only do shoppers want convenience, they're also looking for value. And the proliferation of pricing information online has made it easier for consumers to bargain-hunt and lessened the need to risk overbidding in an auction. Hershenson recalls when a new $40 toaster could fetch $80 on eBay, thanks to a bidding frenzy. Now, a buyer can figure out the retail price with a few mouse clicks. A study earlier this year by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that 81% of Internet users research products online before buying. "People have a lot of information at their disposal and that sets a reserve price of what they are willing to pay," says John Horrigan, an associate director at Pew. "It makes sense for eBay to set prices to appeal to that."

So eBay becomes Amazon's competition, with a dash of Craigslist. The real money for the company might be in what was once an afterthought: They own PayPal, and the method of paying for things conveniently on the web might turn out to be a much bigger business than the things themselves.