Basically yes, but since eBay made its name as an auction site, most new sellers think of it that way.
And since eBay is one of very very few generalist auction sites, they are probably going to keep them just to differentiate themselves.
In a few categories it may even make sense for a seller, but they would have to be things like Prince memorabilia. A short hot spate of collecting by unsophisticated buyers then a dead category.
Get in, make your money, get out, don'tlook back
Going against auctions?
- Short timespan- usually only seven days to be found by potential customer
- Long timespan- does not appeal to impulse phone shopper
- Long timespan - bidders may move on, bid on more than one auction, or just forget they bid.
- Fury when the high bidder wins- we really see this most when the high bidder was sniping.
- Misunderstanding of the automatic bidding process.
Auctions can be useful though.
The last one I held was in a category where longtime collectors will have a Search enabled. I got multiple bids and sold for five times what I would have been content with.
Knowing what the customer would be like made all those negatives above unimportant since none would affect that kind of bidder.
