The eBay Economy: Online auction bids to continue growth in changing marketplace

[mandy]

...even as it has become an economic driver, eBay - which had $5.6 billion in revenue over the past 12 months - is enduring growth pains. Wall Street has hit the stock, which has dropped about one-third in the past two years. Sales are slowing, and rivals abound. Sellers gripe about fee increases and lower selling prices. And analysts question eBay's recent purchase of Internet phone company Skype for as much as $4.1 billion, wondering if the price was too steep, and why eBay would want to buy a phone company.

Fast-forward to today. Tens of millions more people have flocked to eBay...

The result: lower prices for items sold. Numerous eBay-engineered fee increases also have cut into sellers' bottom lines. And frequent changes in eBay's sales policies have forced people such as Burns to bob and weave to stay in sync with eBay corporate in Silicon Valley.

"EBay has been much more difficult as they have grown," says Burns. "From 1997 through 2000, we would put up 30 to 50 items a week and bring in a minimum of $2,000 a week. Now, I put up hundreds of items a week to make the same amount of money." ...

full article: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/te...19,00.html

There are 5 other eBay related articles:

    Sellers' aim: Make my eDay
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/te...48,00.html
    She visits garage sales in search of treasures
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/te...21,00.html
    EBay proves virtual gold mine for Postal Service
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/te...92,00.html
    Got stuff? Drop-off centers do the job but take their cut
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/te...93,00.html
    Selling an item? IRS is waiting
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/te...60,00.html

[sneakymagenta]

"From 1997 through 2000, we would put up 30 to 50 items a week and bring in a minimum of $2,000 a week. Now, I put up hundreds of items a week to make the same amount of money." ...

So true.