Scott, I probably should have phrased that "I'm glad to see them doing something that will encourage auction listings again." I totally agree that their intent is to get more people to sign up for Stores (especially now that they have it set up like cell phone plans, where you're actually committing to an "annual subscription" unless you're willing to pay more to go month-to-month). I just think that there are a great many sellers out there who will only ever use the site to the extent that they can do so without up-front cost, and those sellers will gravitate toward whatever listing method is available to them for $0 up front. Unfortunately, those are often the same sellers who won't risk selling their stuff for less than high-end retail (or some multiple thereof) so that's where all their prices start.
Ebay has gotten themselves into the same rut that many retail stores do where they have been running "sale" pricing (in their case, Free listings) so frequently that very few regular users pay regular price any more, opting instead to hold out for the next Free Listing Day which is surely just around the corner. What was originally a tool to produce a spike in activity (eBay stockholders cheer, "Yay, more money!") before returning to the norm ("aww, do it again!") now has the effect of a lesser spike ("yawn, remember when this used to be exciting?") with noticeable lull in between Free Listing Days ("wait, what?")
Ideally (to me anyway), sellers could have a Store that they pay a flat fee for and get free Fixed Price listings, or anyone could list at auction for free but only if your auction starts at $0.99 or less. Everything else would be available, but at a per-listing up front fee. Otherwise, the auction listings just effectively become Fixed Price listings with an open top end in case you mis-priced something, and if it doesn't sell this time around, you can just list it again next week during the next round of Free Listing Days.
That's what I think anyway.
|