From Feebay to Freebay?

[Kristijntje]

eBay is moving toward a free listing-fee model. But will eBay's new CEO John Donahoe roll out such a dramatic change in one bold move, or will he roll out free-listings in stages - by category? It appears the former scenario is well within the realm of possibility, and in fact may be coming in time for the holiday shopping season. This could explain many of the changes eBay has made in 2008.

One reason eBay feels pressured to lower listing fees - or eliminate them altogether - is Amazon, whose third-party sales have increased dramatically in recent years as it has cherry-picked eBay's biggest PowerSellers...

full article: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y08/m08/i15/s01

Here are some questions that come to mind:

If eBay did eliminate listing fees and raise Final Value Fees, would that make a FVF based on the entire transaction, including shipping and handling, more palatable to you?

When will eBay roll out a more restrictive Accepted Payments policy banning checks and money orders?

Will eBay be more aggressive with contextual advertising on the site if sellers are not paying listing fees? ...

full article and comments: http://blog.auctionbytes.com/cgi-bin/blo...25529.html

[amy]

When will eBay roll out a more restrictive Accepted Payments policy banning checks and money orders?

checks?  money orders? 

I stopped accepting checks in 2002 and money orders in 2003.

[mandy]

A related article:

The days of listing fees on eBay could be numbered - a development that could result in a 20% share price correction.

In fact, there’s a growing rumor among the eBay Powerseller base that the company may well eliminate listing fees before the Christmas season.

Such a move doesn’t mean that eBay will lose the revenue from listing fees entirely; it’s more likely to shift the fees to the back end after a transaction takes place. This would align the interests of the merchant and the marketplace and improve the relationships with eBay’s Powersellers...

full article: http://seekingalpha.com/article/91330-ch...ource=feed