eBay is too commercial, say critics. But are its rivals a threat?

[mandy]

...in recent years eBay has changed. The scent of success has attracted businesses - small players and international giants such as Vodafone - that are hungry to access the potentially huge customer base.

Hellen Omwando, a principal analyst at Forrester Research, believes the number of businesses using the site may deter ordinary consumers."People don't like it because it is distorting the whole notion of community," she claims...

The success enjoyed by eBay and disillusionment with the corporate world muscling on to the scene, has led to the creation of an increasing number of smaller, more specialist online auction sites.

These cater for a range of enthusiasts, for example in video games, motorsport memorabilia and radio-controlled models. While some are operated by businesses, others are run as little more than a hobby...

full article: http://money.independent.co.uk/personal_...346102.ece

[xppman]

The success enjoyed by eBay and disillusionment with the corporate world muscling on to the scene, has led to the creation of an increasing number of smaller, more specialist online auction sites.

Or independant websites.

[landofsmiles]

Ebay is its own threat. It's so filled with glitches and pitfalls that I'm scared to go back. I don't want to get double billed. I HATE their messaging system which sometimes arrives days late and has two pages of legaleze for one line of message. And it's too easy to get hijacked these days if you fill out your name and password to some sophisticated bogus message. It's truly a nightmare. I just don't know how anyone puts up with it anymore. Whenever I feel tempted, I realize there are simply too many downsides to it. ~Bob

[xppman]

Bob is a VERY wise man.