Yahoo Auctions Taiwan anoounces plans to charge FVF fees

[mandy]

At the end of Q1 2006 Yahoo Auctions Taiwan had a 57.4% market share compared to soon to close rival eBay Taiwan's 4.9% and PCHome's 3% . 

Yahoo Taiwan will begin charging 3% FVF fees.

Yahoo Taiwan Inc. plans to start charging users for successful sales on its auction site, a twist in Taiwan where such transactions are normally free.

"In order to continue to improve service, capabilities and competitiveness we need to invest more money and resources in the auction site. We hope users understand the need to start charging fees for this service," the company said in a statement to users on its Web site.
The decision to start charging users is a risky gambit for the company, but its timing is just right. Rival eBay Inc. plans to fold its Taiwan site within the next few months as it gears up a joint venture with local Internet auction operator PCHome Online Inc...

full article: http://www.techworld.nl/idgns/696/yahoo-...aiwan.html

[mandy]

Update: Yahoo Auctions Taiwan has delayed plans to charge FVF fees

Yahoo Taiwan has delayed a plan to start charging transaction fees on its auction site, a victory for users and auctioneers who had rallied against the move.

The company said it will delay until Sept. 1 a transaction fee on successful sales on its auction website, which dominates Internet auctions in Taiwan with more than half of all such traffic.

The move comes just weeks after announcing the new fees, which run as high as 3 percent on each item sold. Originally, Yahoo planned to start charging on Aug. 10, but a backlash appears to have unsettled the company. Last week, auctioneers denounced the proposed fees at a protest in the center of Taipei that was aired on local news stations. They also moved to organize a trade group...

full article: http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=23693

[stardust]

The decision to start charging is a risky gambit for Yahoo Taiwan because rivals on the island charge no fees. They make money from advertising. One of the company’s main auction rivals, eBay, is teaming up with local operator PCHome Online to try to win market share from Yahoo. A website to woo Yahoo auction users was set up, promising it would remain fee free.

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Hoooooo boy.

Remember the "FREE is not a business plan" quote from Meg?