OT: Alternative to ebay?

[RichNKatHolly]

Does anyone have another auction site that gets near as much business as Ebay. Just had a major problem with ebay and refuse to open another account with them (cancelled my auctions that took me about 5 hours to prep ). BUT, I need vacation $$ and am sitting on over $1000 worth of children's outfits. Where can I sell them? My local ebay drop place won't take these items. They will take my larger stuff, but I hate to give up 32% plus listing fees - YIKES!

I've heard that yahoo has auctions.

Thanks for any help!

 

[kilee]

With the kids clothing you can check for local consignment shops. I actually take my clothing I can't sell on ebay to them. In most cases you'll be giving up 1/2 the profit.

As for other auctions sites, there are some alternatives. I haven't used any other, because the bottom line is none are going to give you the traffic ebay is.

I know you're upset, but did ebay have just cause to cancel the auction? I've had that happen to me once or twice when I clearly broke the guidelines. I've seen others do it, and sometimes they get away with it. So, I was at fault. Did they give you a reason why they cancelled your auctions?

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the consignment shop near me has really horrible stuff and doesn't get much traffic. I know they will try to sell my designer kids stuff for like $5.

My problem with ebay goes further than just cancelling the auctions, but that is another whole story. They are on my "you know what" list right under paypal!

anyway, I will try to find another auction source or try one of the trading assistants. Most of them by me don't seem to be so great. It's hard to farm the work out when I feel I was doing great at it on my own.

 

[kilee]

I agree about the selling assistants. It's hard to see so much of a profit go when you knew you could get the whole thing previously.

As for consignment shops. I'd look around. However, I owned one for quite awhile. We just recently closed (large in part to ebay I believe). Anyhow, we were in an middle class income town. We couldn't sell designer clothing for children for much more than $5-6 a piece and it had to be the top of the top at that price. People just didn't want to pay it. Women's clothing a whole other ball game. They'd pay near new prices. On the kids clothing though to move it we had to go rock bottom for some reason.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I guess that is my only solution aside from using a friend's account for the last of my merchandise. Unfortunately, you just can't come near the prices that ebay can bring for kid's clothing. The consignment shops are great for buying though - I got my son a whole Burberry outfit once for about $10! sorry you had to close - that stinks.

 

[blondimom]

If you're in Staten Island, then why don't you check out some of the consignment shops in Bay Ridge? I know there is on on 3rd ave areound 87th street that resells high end items-I'm not sure if they take kids' clothes, though. Also, there's always "Once Upon a Child", although they are not exactly "designer resellers". Good luck!!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Thanks - I will try Brooklyn.

Once upon a child gives $1 a piece. That's where I got the Burberry outfit. They think Gap is designer and price those at $10 and up. But the Burberry, Oilily, and some French names are $2-$5! Works for me though!

 

[momm2four]

You might try to google for twice per year consignment sales around your area. We have one that sets up shop every six months and they give you 70% of the selling price. Not too bad. You still won't get what you could have gotten from Ebay, but it's better than a reg. consign. shop.

Lori P.

 

[foolishmortal]

overstock.com does auctions. Not the same traffic, but more than other sites. I think Yahoo stopped their auctions a long time ago.

Also try craigslist (yourcitynamehere.craigslist.org) you can list under baby & kids should get alot of hits there.

 

[branv]

Amazon.com has auctions. I haven't used their Auction section, but I did just use their regular marketplace to sell some used textbooks. I can't believe how quickly they sold. Rules and fees are a little different, but I was overall fairly pleased.

 

[DMRick]

Yahoo is back in business and they are free. But like overstock, even if you get a bid, the chances someone will actually pay you are nil to next to nothing.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Yahoo is back in business and they are free. But like overstock, even if you get a bid, the chances someone will actually pay you are nil to next to nothing.

Really - they don't pay? That is terrible - what a waste of time.

I will look into Craigs list as stated above. I totally forgot about them. I don't have much stuff to list, but what I have is valuable so I may just use a friend's account to finish up. Frankly, the whole ebay thing has been just exhausting. It is great to make the extra $$, but what a pain. So many people pay late, don't pay, or don't ask for deliv conf or insurance and claim non-receipt. Also, I've had a rash of partial refund complaints too. I tell them to return the item and never hear from them again. Too many scams for my taste.

Thanks all for the resources! I'll give them all a look!

 

[DMRick]

So many people pay late, don't pay, or don't ask for deliv conf or insurance and claim non-receipt. Also, I've had a rash of partial refund complaints too. I tell them to return the item and never hear from them again. Too many scams for my taste.

It must be the buyers for the type of item you sell. We haven't run into that at all. eBay is still my preferred method of auction.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

It must be the buyers for the type of item you sell. We haven't run into that at all. eBay is still my preferred method of auction.

Well, I should have been more clear. I have recently completed hundreds of auctions, so maybe that is why it seemed like so many problems. Probably percentage wise it was not quite that bad.

What do you sell? We do mostly designer clothing for children and some woman's stuff. I think some of these moms bid on a bit too much and have trouble paying for it all. Lots of excuses (sick kids, car broke down, no stamps, etc.)

Best of luck! It seems that as of right now there is no clear alternative to ebay. Wish I thought of it!!!$$$$

 

[DMRick]

Clothing does seem to be the most problematic, according to the ebay boards. We sell mostly personalized items and some old stuff from our grandparents homes.
It's very rare to have a problem with what we sell.