An auction site that has become too big for its boots. (ebay.co.uk)

Member Name: Jcapulet

Product:	ebay.co.uk
Date:	27/11/08 (78 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Still a bargain to be had if you look.

Disadvantages: Too many to fit here.

Ebay is the type of auction site that is the one place you can turn to if you can't find what you need to buy, if it exists and people need it then you'll probably find it on there. I'll admit that if there's a shortage of anything in the highstreet, Ebay will have some, but at a cost. However, there is still a bargain to be made if you look closely enough.

*As a seller*

I have a few gripes with Ebay at the moment, one is that the fees seem to be going up ( although they insist that they're actually going down according to Ebay :confused: ) and that since you have to offer Paypal as a method of payment, you're paying Paypal fees too. Therefore, you tend to find that the starting price is a bit higher to cover rising costs. Now Paypal may be quick and easy, you receive your money quickly and it's easier for the buyer, Paypal seem to becoming ever more lapse in their pro-buyer and anti-seller attitude. Fair enough, as a buyer I like the thought of having 45 days to file a dispute if you're left waiting and waiting for the arrival of a package, however, it seems that more and more people are taking advantage of the easy way they can be refunded their money these days if the buyer can not prove ( by a trackable, not just signable, method of delivery. The likes of Special delivery is all well and good if it's a valuable item but if you're selling items for a few pounds will the buyer be willing to pay much much more to send the item Special Delivery for example ? I think not in most cases.
My final gripe as a seller is not being able to leave negative feedback. I can see the logic in the fact that it's unfair if the seller gives the buyer very bad customer service and leaves negative feedback, therefore, it shouldn't be allowed that sellers can return the 'favour' by also leaving negative feedback, purely as a response to their negative feedback. However, there are situations in my belief that requires a seller to warn off other sellers when a buyer is lying, trying to pull a fast one, uncooperative and/or abusive etc.

*As a buyer*

As stated, it seems that packing and postage is contantly going up to cover the cost of more trackable methods of delivery or simply that buyers now state that they will not be held responsible for any lost post.. Plus the rising fees mean that you're less likely to get a bargain these days !!!

I can see why Ebay needed to change certain issues but it's becoming too expensive as a buyer or seller these days since Ebay/Paypal must be making a HUGE profit at our expense and everyone ( bar Ebay/paypal ) loses out. Shame as it once a great little community where a bargain could be had !! The bottom line is though that it's the biggest and most well known auction site that most people would automatically use to make a purchase so sellers really have little choice if they want the biggest audience and whilst the largest amount of sellers offer their goods there, then buyers will always shop.

Summary: At one time I would have given Ebay 5 stars, these days it deserves no more than 2. What a shame.