I thought I would offer my point of view regarding this comment I received on my first posting to this blog.
“EBay has become the scourge of EZ money. It has ruined brick and mortar antiquing and flea marketing in general. It has ripped off countless Americans because of its scams and buyer bewares. It has affected every transaction we as consumers make whether at Brimfield, Carlisle, Hershey, or at the local auction. Consumers lose big time in my opinion. The world was a better place before EBay. You actually had to work to make money on either side. Now any chump with an account can rip you and others off. I'd rather buy from a physical person or dealer. Anyone who supports EBay deserves what they get. EBay is for slackers.”
As long as there is competition, with smart and creative people involved in the marketplace, change is inevitable. Granted, eBay has had a huge effect on antique dealers and flea marketers. The playing field has changed in big ways for other business areas too.
A good businessperson always has an eye on the horizon. The challenge is to watch for it, and be prepared to respond. It’s your response to change that determines if you sink or swim.
Consumers don’t lose by the presence of eBay in the marketplace — they win. Big time. If you are a collector, you can shop at home, save searches, and have matching results emailed to your computer. You can research prices, make comparisons, and name your price. Plus, you’re not restricted to shops within driving distance.
Scammers and shoddy businesspeople have always been around. It’s just that today there are new ways to do it. I’ve been buying and selling regularly on eBay for almost a decade now. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had a bad experience.
If you’re shopping on the Web, educate yourself about safe online buying practices. Be aware of phish emails, look for secure Internet pages when providing payment information, and on eBay, check your seller’s feedback.
In my opinion, eBay is not a venue for easy money. It takes considerable time, effort and planning to sell successfully over the long run. There are many variables in listing options and a whole array of not-so-obvious fees and costs in doing business on eBay.
For me, online auctions have not ruined antique shopping, flea markets, or local auctions. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and it’s at the local level where I search out treasures to offer to the larger world online.
No small dealer or shop owner can know everything about all niche markets. If you buy at the local level to sell online, choose your specialties. Learn as much as you can, and maximize the opportunity to sell online. If the dealer isn’t aware of the potential value of what they sell, they will make a modest profit. You’ll make a greater one. What’s so bad about that?
“EBay has become the scourge of EZ money. It has ruined brick and mortar antiquing and flea marketing in general. It has ripped off countless Americans because of its scams and buyer bewares. It has affected every transaction we as consumers make whether at Brimfield, Carlisle, Hershey, or at the local auction. Consumers lose big time in my opinion. The world was a better place before EBay. You actually had to work to make money on either side. Now any chump with an account can rip you and others off. I'd rather buy from a physical person or dealer. Anyone who supports EBay deserves what they get. EBay is for slackers.”
As long as there is competition, with smart and creative people involved in the marketplace, change is inevitable. Granted, eBay has had a huge effect on antique dealers and flea marketers. The playing field has changed in big ways for other business areas too.
A good businessperson always has an eye on the horizon. The challenge is to watch for it, and be prepared to respond. It’s your response to change that determines if you sink or swim.
Consumers don’t lose by the presence of eBay in the marketplace — they win. Big time. If you are a collector, you can shop at home, save searches, and have matching results emailed to your computer. You can research prices, make comparisons, and name your price. Plus, you’re not restricted to shops within driving distance.
Scammers and shoddy businesspeople have always been around. It’s just that today there are new ways to do it. I’ve been buying and selling regularly on eBay for almost a decade now. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had a bad experience.
If you’re shopping on the Web, educate yourself about safe online buying practices. Be aware of phish emails, look for secure Internet pages when providing payment information, and on eBay, check your seller’s feedback.
In my opinion, eBay is not a venue for easy money. It takes considerable time, effort and planning to sell successfully over the long run. There are many variables in listing options and a whole array of not-so-obvious fees and costs in doing business on eBay.
For me, online auctions have not ruined antique shopping, flea markets, or local auctions. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and it’s at the local level where I search out treasures to offer to the larger world online.
No small dealer or shop owner can know everything about all niche markets. If you buy at the local level to sell online, choose your specialties. Learn as much as you can, and maximize the opportunity to sell online. If the dealer isn’t aware of the potential value of what they sell, they will make a modest profit. You’ll make a greater one. What’s so bad about that?
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