With Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) plodding along in much of the same business as eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) these days, one has to wonder if Amazon can ever steal the "used goods" auction crown from the online auction leader. But then again, eBay is seen as an auction house but is just as much a new product retailer (in some ways) as Amazon. Do you think the companies are direct competitors? By many measurements, they are.But in 2006, Sheldon and I wrote several blistering pieces on eBay here in the pages of BloggingStocks which prompted a large display of vitriol and disgusted hatred of eBay. After reading some of these comments, it was amazing eBay was still doing good business. Clearly, there are thousands (if not millions) of eBay sellers that are completely disgusted with the auction leader. And that was last year.
Is eBay down for the count? Of course not, since it continues to be a hub for online auctions even with Amazon.com as a main competitor. It's Skype purchase didn't exactly work out as planned, and eBay CEO Meg Whitman is seeing harsh criticism from that decision now. Still, if Amazon.com were to try and purchase even a controlling stake in the online auction house, the sheer amount of fraud, displeased (and defected) sellers and all the other nonsense would have to be addressed.
According to many, eBay's execs sure may not be addressing the problems. Could eBay be eclipsed in the near future by a company that governs the seller-buyer transaction better? Perhaps. But eBay is just like any flea market: full of goods at excellent prices but also filled with fraud, dishonest sellers, cheaply-made commodity junk and a reputation to go with all that. I'm quite sure Whitman would like to shave the latter away forever. Or, let another company try and save it from itself -- although Amazon.com may not ever be interested.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-22-2007 @ 12:21PM
Mozelle said...
Amazon.com in my opinion should stay away from eBay, and their selling format period. It will only take them down. ( meaning, do not copy, or buy a loser)
The only guarantee you have shopping on eBay is the feedback system. And it appears to be nothing more than a sham. If a buyer tells the truth about a shabby product, (not wishing to spend the money to send it back) and rates the product a negative, the seller retaliates against the buyer, and gives him a negative. Making it easier than ever to sell crap, and get good feedback, for fear of reprisal, lol...
In the real world, a buyer would complain to the better B.B. about false advertising, and shabby product.
eBay over the years has turned out to be nothing more but a mere sham.
No real business formula when you think of it. Anyone can sell their wares without any real consequences.
Why do I say that? Because Amazon BACKS their merchandise regardless of the seller. You can call an actual phone number and a customer rep will take care of it for you.
eBay has NONE of that.
Many people no longer feel confident shopping on eBay...Their SELLERS seem to LURE and PRY on innocent buyers, without consequences...
Not a good business formula makes. Not in this day and age, where people shop on line more and more. It is no longer a hobby for some.
Even an Auction Format like eBay, must eventually stand by the products they let sellers auction or sell.
eBay is on the way out.
In five years they will be dead in the water unless they change.
Their format is no longer feasable....
They must either stand behind each transaction like AMAZON or be defeated by AMAZON in years to come.
Why would AMAZON even think of buying eBAY?
And if I were eBay, I would become more and more like AMAZON.com ...
12-23-2007 @ 7:09PM
yawn said...
Mozelle you need to go on an anger management program :)
How can anyone take your seriously with third grade commentary?
12-23-2007 @ 11:55PM
Thomas Jowers said...
If you don't like ebay, you could always try out Mega-Bids.com they are needing members, sellers and buyers! every account is hand approved by a REAL person!
12-24-2007 @ 12:57AM
Cleo said...
Yes, to some extent, I agree with Mozelle. My experience of shipping on eBay is not happy. I took a fancy to a sweater on eBay, its image looked warm and decent, and the price was good. I orderer it, and waited, but only to find that the arrival item dispointed me deeply, the quality was poor. I was so angry that I untreated it right away. eBay indeed has many retailer with thousands of products to select, which seems pretty good with good price. But it seems that they don't pay enough attention to merchandise's quality. Some eBay's retailer toast its prestige. Some false advertising, and shabby products masquerades to be good and authentic. While amazon emphasizes parter's prestige very much. It can be proved by every day traffic, and customers' high review. Take dealstudio.com for example. dealstudio.com list amazon's products with some discount, they are objective and keen on to the real good things, and responsible to customers, never put prestige at stake. Many customers here find right deals with saving a lot of money. So, personally, amazon should, yes, stay away from eBay.
12-24-2007 @ 1:07AM
Cleo said...
Yes, to some extent, I agree with Mozelle. My experience of shipping on eBay is not happy. I took a fancy to a sweater on eBay, its image looked warm and decent, and the price was good. I orderer it, and waited, but only to find that the arrival item dispointed me deeply, the quality was poor. I was so angry that I untreated it right away. eBay indeed has many retailer with thousands of products to select, which seems pretty good with good price. But it seems that they don't pay enough attention to merchandise's quality. Some eBay's retailer toast its prestige. Some false advertising, and shabby products masquerades to be good and authentic. While amazon emphasizes parter's prestige very much. It can be proved by every day traffic, and customers' high review. Take dealstudio.com for example. It lists amazon's products with some discount, they are objective and keen on to the real good things, and responsible to customers, never put prestige at stake. Many customers here find right deals with saving a lot of money. So, personally, amazon should, yes, stay away from eBay.
12-27-2007 @ 3:38PM
Mozelle said...
Thank you Cleo for grasping what I was trying to say.
For those that think I have a third grade education, the answer is hardly, quite the contrary.
I am not a seller or buyer on eBay or any other auction site. Never have, nor will I ever be.
I am a stock holder period. And as such, I listen to people and what they say about a company.
eBay has many disgruntled buyers and sellers. They need to change if they wish to survive.