HiBidder.com for the seeker of goods

Here is a site to watch... Of all the viable options I personally checked out after 7/19, HB has become one to watch... The member base is growing steadily, even after some setbacks in early September... In fact, the community there is strong, vibrant, seasoned (several Powersellers grace the boards) and the most helpful I've ever seen... The only thing the site needs is more sellers, in my opinion... More product... When selling on both eBay and HiBidder, I would see my items show up in Froogle first through HB, which is important to the success of a seller... From an investment standpoint, this auction site is pulling away from the pack and is going places:

Read more articles written recently about this "Little Guy":


http://preview.tinyurl.com/tcqhk (auctionbytes.com)
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ym88p8 (associatedcontent.com)
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yfke5h (ecommerce-guide.com)

What I did not know was that there were 8 volunteers that make everything happen; this is amazing... Their forum boards are highly active and you would not know the whole site is being policed and protected by so few (See, it can be done!)... Although, being a member there is like being in a "family"... And family businesses have the drive and will to go somewhere... There is an integrity on this site that gives it a foundation to build into a major enterprise, while still focusing on it's core customer (read: seller)... Another good article, Gary, and one for bloggers to watch and see...

I'm rooting for this Little Guy, and I'll put money on that...

Gary - a great article, well written and gives insight into this site and where it's been. I look forward to follow-up as this site continues moving forward.

According to an article written this week in the Journal Gazette on 11/13 - "Forrester Research projects the U.S. online auction market will grow to $65 billion in 2010 from $28 billion in 2005.

Still, eBay’s format doesn’t work for everything and everyone. A September online survey of 1,225 people conducted by the Web site AuctionBytes.com found many who sell on eBay want to leave for other sites.

“EBay sellers vote with their pocketbooks,” says Ina Steiner, AuctionByte’s editor. “Right now they’re being squeezed on both ends – higher fees and lower prices."

So - there is room in this market for new contenders, and I'm one that hopes HiBidder is a viable contender. It's got a solid foundation, a solid committed group of customers (sellers), and is managing solid growth in all key metrics - members, auctions, items sold,pageviews, etc. - stats. available from the home page.

I'm of the opinion that ebaY selected the wrong go-forward strategy with the most recent changes in their business model. As an online buyer and shopper, when I want 'it' - I usually want 'it' now. When first joining the plethora of online shoppers, the auction platform was fun and exciting! But, this phase on e-commerce has matured and finding great deals with the ability to buy-now is more appealing to most/many.

By offering both, for free, Hibidder caters to both sellers and buyers. Buying and selling is 'fun' againon Hibidder, and affordable choices exist for both sellers and for buyers.

I've watched the ebaY culture evolve over the last several years. The small sellers, which made ebaY what it is, are often much more customer focused than the large sellers that have flooded the site. Smaller sellers rely on sales and repeat buyers, while the larger ones typically have other avenues for sales. If they ship slow, have incomplete descriptions and/or slow or no customer service for issues - it doesn't break their business model.

However, the smaller sellers that started on ebaY and don't have resources to expand significantly survive on exceeding customer expectations. These folks are the ones that have been forced 'out' of the ebaY business model, as profits have been significantly reduced or wiped out with the current fee structure and the change in the business model.

I'm excited to see alternative sites as competition in any industry is healthy and good for consumers. HiBidder.com sounds like a viable up-and-coming site within this industry, and the well-written article above gives me hope!

Gary - A wonderful article. I think the owner of HiBidder, Rich, has a true sense of what it takes to run a successful online selling site. He actually cares about the success of sellers doing business at HiBidder.

Because of that, the site attracts experienced sellers & as mentioned, a very dedicated volunteer support staff. That combination makes HiBidder attractive to new sellers also, who may need a hand getting their site up & running. They can rely on not only the unequaled support staff but also unlimited help for other sellers. In addition, Rich, the owner of HiBidder.com is actually accessible (almost unheard of in this industry).

For buyers the site is particularly attractive. Sellers are able to offer quality merchandise, at fair, reasonable & much lower prices. The dollars saved by sellers, listing at HiBidder.com is passed on to buyers and is obvious in the lower prices.

With Sellers & Buyers both winners, it's easy to see why HiBidder.com is growing daily.

Interesting read Gary. Never thought to check these guys out but I will do now.

As you say, the talent to compete with bid daddy eBay is certainly out there. But, while the competitors remain so small and fragmented, can any of them really break that dominance?

I truly like HiBidder.com and would like to see it marketed as an alternative to eBay. I am new to eBay and was turned off right away by what other, more seasoned, small sellers were telling me: That the magic was gone for eBay, that everything now is volume and pricing fees. I started doing auctions as a hobby so it was real nice to see HiBidder.com pop up as a serious (we hope) contender for the eBay crew. Keep going! (And don't sell out Rich!)