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Technology Stocks : eBay - Superb Internet Business Model -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Zena who wrote (23)	8/24/1998 1:13:00 AM
From: Doug Fowler	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7772

I also find eBay to be unlike any other place for antiques. In fact, I have bought and sold many pieces of Roseville and other pottery on eBay. I happen to live in an area where there is very little Roseville for sale at the antique shops. I have bought three pieces locally and more than 100 on eBay. Right now, there are more than 8000 auctions in the antique category, more than 45,000 in the pottery and glass category, and more than 220,000 in the collectibles category. eBay has opened up the market nationwide (and world-wide, but international sales are a big pain). Of course, if all the dealers try to come online too quickly, there won't be enough buyers. Also, many dealers are finding that they cannot get top dollar on eBay. (Then again, their marketing costs on eBay are SO MUCH lower, but some dealers seem to take the attitude that they won't sell for any less on eBay than they will in their local shops. I am finding that dealers who are willing to price closer to wholesale are much more successful on eBay than the top-dollar seekers.) The appeal of eBay is that you are going to get a good deal. eBay will never be a place for getting retail prices. There is too much risk involved in dealing with a stranger over an expensive piece that you can't touch, and that has to be compensated by offering a lower price. I do wish that eBay would offer one-day and instant auctions. I hate having to wait seven days to only get outbid in the final seconds. If nothing else, eBay could offer the option of setting a single price and having the first person who is willing to pay the price be the "winner". (The computing overhead for eBay would be much lower here, because many items would sell in a few hours.) I also used to buy my computers off of OnSale (actually about $10,000 worth during 1997), but I now buy them from eBay where the deals are better, and the selection is much greater. --Doug