Many eBay sellers are looking for an eBay alternative because of the many changes to the site that some consider to be seller-unfriendly policies. eBay continues to dominate online auctions, but there are several eBay alternatives for sellers.
Overstock Auctions
Overstock Auctions is a site much like eBay. The online auctions are listed by members who post pictures and descriptions similar to the eBay auction listing model. The listing fees for Overstock auctions are slightly lower than eBay's.
The final value fees, however, are much lower. The fees are 3 percent for items that sell for less than $25 and 2 percent for items selling for $25.01 to $1,000. On eBay, final value fees are 8.75 for items up to $25 and 3.5 percent for items that sell for $25.01 to $1,000.
Amazon Auctions
Amazon has several different selling vehicles that allow members to sell items. While they are best known for their media items, it's actually possible to sell a much wider variety of items through Amazon. The most common way to sell items is through fixed price listings that show up alongside Amazon's own listings.
But, sellers can also sell through online auctions on the site. An Amazon seller can open their own Amazon store and feature their own auctions for Amazon buyers.
eBid: the eBay Alternative
Like eBay, this eBay alternative has a number of international online auction sites to choose from. Unlike eBay, the site charges no listings fees whatsoever. The only fees charged by eBid are final value fees for items that have sold.
The regular final value fee is 3 percent of each sale, but there are account upgrades that can change the fee structure. A seller who pays to upgrade their seller account does not have to pay final values fees.
Silkfair: The Fastest Growing eBay Alternative
This is a lesser-known alternative to eBay, but it is one of the fastest growing of the online auction sites. Silkfair sellers set up their own Silkfair stores and can sell as much or as little as they like through them. The stores are free to set up and like eBid, there are no listing fees. The final value fee for sales is 3 percent of the sale price.
eCrater: Fixed Price Online Stores
eCrater is a fixed priced ecommerce site that allows sellers to set up free online stores. There are no fees to sell on eCrater, and the site is large enough that it has attracted a growing audience of buyers.
Etsy: Handmade Specialists
For handmade and vintage items, Etsy is a fast-growing alternative to eBay. Etsy is not an Internet auction site, but instead allows sellers to sell vintage and handmade items with fixed price listings.
For those not yet ready for an eBay alternative Internet auction site, eBay is still available and is still commanding the largest global audience of all the online auction sites.
Lizz Shepherd - I am a freelance writer specializing, for now, in Web writing. The Web is an enormous place and I have been carving out my own little ...
