eBay may have once been the very first place considered for online selling and buying, but that may not be the case anymore. Perhaps you disagree with eBay’s business practices or have had too many bad deals. Or maybe you are a seller who is just fed up with having to pay so much for eBay’s services.
Regardless of your reasons, there are plenty of eBay alternatives. Many work better than eBay itself. So, without further ado, here are six of the best to consider.
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1. craigslist
Founded in 1995, Craigslist is the first entry on this list, and with good reason. Craigslist is an online classifieds site and is currently the largest community for posting classifieds. It exists for a variety of different countries and communities, so you can find a buyer anywhere, anytime.
Unlike eBay, Craigslist does not charge for listing or selling your items. Orders are processed locally and face-to-face which means unlike eBay there is no safety net if you buy something and get scammed.
Also, Craigslist’s user interface design hasn’t changed much since 1995, which can make it a little tricky to navigate at times. That being said, once you figure out how to search the entire Craigslist from any device, you’ll be able to find a plethora of possibilities.
If you prefer to sell items on site or for cash, Craigslist is a great option for that. Just don’t expect to reach an international audience like eBay.
2. gold mine
Compared to some of the other entries on this list, Bonanza is relatively new on the scene. That being said, there’s also a lot to like.
Unlike eBay, Bonanza operates on a fixed price system rather than eBay’s auction-based marketplace. This means you sell and buy items at the price they are listed at.
However, what makes Bonanza truly unique is that there is no list price. Instead, there is only a commission charged when an item is sold. This means that you can freely list a considerable range of items without fear of losing money.
In addition, Bonanza automatically sends item listings to Google and Bing as a form of included in its service. This means your chances of selling are higher than on eBay.
3. eBid
If you’re looking for a fairly direct alternative to eBay, then eBid is a pretty solid choice. Just looking at the name itself makes it pretty clear that eBid takes a lot of inspiration from its competitor.
So how is it different? eBid, like eBay, uses an auction format for its product listings, which means switching from one to the other is fairly easy. Unlike eBay, however, eBid charges significantly lower listing fees and commissions per sale.
The downside is that eBid has significantly fewer users than eBay. That means it’s harder to find a great deal than on eBay, and if you’re trying to sell something unique, you’re less likely to reach your intended audience.
4. Etsy
For those of you looking to sell something handmade or vintage, Etsy may be the best marketplace to do just that. Established in 2005, Etsy is now one of the largest online communities for selling this type of item.
Of course, this means that Etsy cannot be directly compared to eBay. If you’re trying to sell something outside of Etsy’s niche, then there are better alternatives for you on this list. However, if you’re trying to sell handmade crafts, jewelry, vintage items, and more, Etsy can certainly keep up.
But how does selling on Etsy work? The fees for listing items are significantly lower than on eBay, as is the commission, which is fixed. Etsy listings also last longer than eBay listings.
However, it is worth noting that Etsy is not an auction site but focuses on direct selling. If you have a one-off item that you want to sell or are hoping to start a bidding war, then Etsy may not be the right site for you.
5. eCRATER
If you’re looking to dip your toe into selling online but have been put off by eBay’s listing fees, then eCRATER may be the best solution for you.
Unlike eBay, eCRATER works completely free of charge. You can start a business with no overhead, and eCRATER doesn’t even charge you if you generate revenue through your own marketing. However, there is still a commission on sales made through the eCRATER service.
Traffic here will no doubt be lower than eBay, but if you’re just starting out and looking for a risk-free or free solution, then eCRATER is a great way to get started.
6. Ruby Lane
Finally we have Ruby Lane. If you are looking to buy or sell quality antiques, art or vintage collectibles, Ruby Lane may be for you.
Unlike eBay, Ruby Lane now functions as an online auction site, but more of a fixed-price marketplace. It’s filled with thousands of independent shops run by individual sellers and has an international reach.
If you’re looking to sell with Ruby Lane, it’s important to understand that the payment structure is different than eBay’s. There is no commission rate whatsoever and the price per listing is quite low. However, Ruby Lane charges a rolling fee that depends on the size of your store and an initial setup fee.
As a result, sellers function more like shops than eBay, with less risk of you being scammed. Since the items for sale are also more niche than eBay, the site is used by more committed buyers. That means you could also potentially make a bigger profit on your sales than if someone scoured eBay for a bargain.
Find the perfect marketplace for you
As you can see, there are a ton of different alternatives to eBay. If you just want to try something for free or are hoping to start a lucrative new business, there is an option for you.
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