The seller I work with (I know I keep saying this - but it is true) first discussed online selling with me a couple of years ago and, at the time, eBay was significantly more congenial for a small seller to get going.
The concept was simple - use eBay to test their market and develop a feel for the business potential, for a very affordable capital outlay (listing fees!). Then, if successful, to establish a web site for direct sales, maintaining a position on eBay for, essentially, an 'advertising' presence.
Their business started out small, as you would expect, but has developed sufficient interest to encourage further development. Along the way, the 'Paypal only' challenge rolled into town and Oztion became better known and they began to list on Oztion as well.
Initially, they would pick up sales on Oztion by returning customers following the suggestion to check out Oztion in the little newsletter they sent out with all their items.
However, starting in the last month or two, there are cases of new customers that have either bought and/or asked questions through eBay and then answered their own questions and/or bought from Oztion - before this seller had time to point them there from their eBay question.
That is an interesting change. Awareness of Oztion's presence (in its own right) is growing. Customers are becoming more familiar and comfortable in approaching Oztion on their own volition and spending money there.
About a year ago, I made a prediction that Oztion would be giving eBay a run for its money ... around mid 2010 was the timeframe I gave ... and I am curious to see how far out I'll be.
From this seller's perspective, changes eBay have made regarding a number of issues - including searches, feedback, limiting payment options, facilities offered in stores and fees - have noticeably eroded some of the value eBay had to offer. The latest round of fees changes for stores is set to force an increase on eBay pricing (risky) or a downsizing of store inventory.
Whether fair or not, it isn't hard to view the changes on eBay over the last year or so as indicative of penny-pinching paranoia. It has been said that ebay was "running on past glories" and I couldn't agree more. The trouble is, once that light has burned out, they will have no new glories to support their continued affluence. While I honestly pray that this does NOT happen, I am fearful that the possibility exists and it inevitably follows that planning for the future MUST accommodate such an event.
Riff - I will preface this by saying I am not familiar with your product range or market (if you have said - I've forgotten ... sorry), but I might suggest one reason for your lack of sales on Oztion is the fact that you were the only one selling there. It suggests to me that buyers wouldn't have gone there because Oztion wasn't known for that market (at that time) and that if they were to have gone there, that they may have seen 'just 1 seller' and not thought it was a good place to buy - because there weren't a lot of sellers. Has that situation changed? What is your competition on Oztion like now?
While eBay may be the best thing since sliced bread, it feels like they are shrinking the loaf to a point where the size of the bread will match the size of the cheese slices you buy at the supermarket these days.
Looks like a nice sandwich - but leaves you feeling hungry.
