Auction Websites

This paper aims to an in-depth comparison of the two leading auction websites eBay and WebStore respectively.

eBay

The main reason, which has led to the downfall of eBay, is its fee for sellers. The sellers are required to pay an additional fee for final value based on the number of items sold, apart from the initial fee of listing the items to be sold. Both of these fees are higher considered to any other auction website. This difference exist because other auction websites do not have item listing fees; whereas, the minimum fee charged by eBay to list an item, is 10¢. If a seller wants to list an item which has a starting price of $500 or above, then, he or she must pay $4 at least. For items sold at prices below $25, the final value fee at eBay is 8.75% of the original selling price. On the other hand, the items which are sold at higher prices, the required final value fee is 8.75% of the first $25, then 3.5% for the range of $25-1000, and if the item is sold at even higher prices another 1.5% must be paid to the website (online-auction-sites.toptenreviews.com).

Selling

The selling process at eBay is divided into various steps, amongst which to list the product include, describing and naming the product, providing pricing tips and so forth. Although, the process is lengthy; however, the set-up appears to be easy and swift. Sellers on eBay are encouraged to make the website their own. A seller can customize his or her auctions, listings and stores, using the options of custom layout, cross item promotion, blocking bidders and private auctions.

At eBay, it is mandatory for all the sellers to provide a bank account number, as well as, a credit card number, so that their identities can be verified. The security policy of eBay is very comprehensive, which all users can easily access, in the help section. eBay has made tremendous efforts to provide a secure platform to sellers and buyers, as it ensures that the information provided will be kept confidential and will not be revealed to third parties in any case.

Buying

The buying at auctions is made fun, easy and safe by eBay. The details page of every item comprises of not only the product description, but also the item's bid history, payment options, information about the seller, shipping and location. While browsing through the website, a user can find many subcategories, within a general category which allows users to narrow down their search, making their browsing experience fun and easy. The listings available in the gallery are easy to investigate.

There are various applications, which are unique to eBay, and are available to assist users in their auction experience. These applications include an eBay toolbar for the user's internet browser and a downloadable application for the user's desktop (www.ebayinc.com).

Apart from the buying and selling, users can customize the website with their account. The status of the user's selling, bidding, and watching are shown under the "My eBay ...