Comments on: Auction vs Fixed Price – eBay vs Bonanzle – Test Flawed

By: Michael J

Michael J — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:05:03 +0000

Hmmm. Very interesting indeed.

I would like to see a better study of the “Bonanzle just happens to be a site that is optimized to take advantage of Google search algorithms, it is clean and fast and quick to index” statement.

I have sold on ebay 10 years. I am interested in Bonanzle but have yet to use it. When I google an item, to see what price points for the item I am listing, I have NEVER seen an item show up from Bonanzle. I have seen many items show up from ebay.

I look forward to trying Bananzle in the future when I have the time to do so. And I do hope its as great as I read.

I do use google-base for my ebay items and would LOVE a better way to have my products be seen in the google searches. I think ebay is missing that point. They should definitely realize that sellers are more interested in getting traffic than “looking and acting” like the Amazon.

But then I forgot. Ebay is less interested in their sellers as they are their stock holders.

By: Chelle

Chelle — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:47:51 +0000

Scott, what Chris and Just A Thought, are saying is they are both incapable of growing their own business and too lazy to attempt. They prefer to sit on the side lines and then come get fat on the work of everyone else. I don’t find it selfish I think it is simple incompetence. Many people have rode the backs of people who did all the work on eBay- including me. However there is a difference in coming to the party late and intentionally hiding in the car until everything is set up.

It is a rather sad picture, but I am just dandy with the freeloaders staying on eBay. Good for them, continued success to them (however it is they define success). I personally want money and a descent quality of life can’t have both on eBay, but I am well on my way on Bonanzle.

By: Scott Pooler

Scott Pooler — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:27:44 +0000

@Chris

Re: If it does not work for you, the test costs you nothing.

Yes it does – it costs time and time is money. All the time I’m listing on an alternative site that isn’t generating the same return on (time) invested as eBay I’m actually losing money

I guess you have not tried the import to Bonanzle yet, because if you had you would know it only takes about 5 minutes of your valuable time to import all of your listings from eBay. Setting up payment processing via PayPal is less than a moment – Google checkout, if you dont already have an account with take a little longer.

The entire process for an eBay seller to set up a test on Bonanzle will take less than an hour of your time.

Later, if you like Bonanzle, you may want to clean up the extraneous stuff that came along for the ride from your eBay listings, but this is not necessary.

To tell you the truth, I am honored that you have made comments on the TAJ, but I am a bit confused by your choice of issues to come out against. What does it hurt for anyone to try using Bonanzle as an alternative to eBay? I tried it and I liked it. When I sell something via Bonanzle I save on average about 70% – 90% of my costs of selling on eBay. More with higher priced items.

I am still on eBay with several seller names, and I have a Bonanzle presence because it is the only alternative I have tried that has sold anything for me. In fact in the last three months I have had more sales derived from Bonanzle than eBay.

Is this because I blog about it?

Maybe… But that’s what I do, and what you do, and what a lot of merchants should do…

Really Chris, What is the harm? And when will you know that it works a lot, if you never give it a chance to work a little?

By: Just A Thought

Just A Thought — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:32:09 +0000

My own experience with Bonanzle must be the exception then — I have the same items listed there that I have/had listed on eBay. But my sales consistantly come from eBay.

I’ve even listed some of my Craigslist items on Bonanzle (heck, that’s what a freebie import process is for, right?) — and again, the sales were from Craigslist, not Bonanzle.

I’m more with Chris on this one — I’m glad there’s competition, and I’m all for those who are willing to help the site build traffic… but I need to sell, and I do that by listing where I get sales. By using what time I have the most profitable way I can. Right now, that means eBay – even with all the rules and fees and what not. Because right now, today, for me, eBay delivers what other sites do not — buyers.

By: Phaedra

Phaedra — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:00:22 +0000

Pretty simple actually. Which road of thinking do you subscribe too? If you control your business, which includes marketing, then you can build your business and sell on just about any venue. If you expect the venue to sell for you, then perhaps not.

Personally, I prefer to control my own business i.e. which payments to accept, what to sell, shipping charges, etc. Therefore a purely business decision takes me away from selling on ebay.

Full disclosure: I sell on Bonanzle, I do not sell on Ebay any longer.

It is a venue, a tool. And in deciding my business path, Bonanzle provides me with the tools I need and the sales I need. I use it as a retail portal, and a wholesale shopping cart solution, meaning I no longer need more than one website, without exposing my wholesale prices to retail clients.

Google search is definitely “evening out the odds” for all of us. It is one more tool that allows me to build my business where I choose that the available tools, policies, fees etc. fit my business best.

Ecommerce is evolving and as business owners, we must be able to evolve with it.

Phaedra

By: renagade

renagade — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:03:43 +0000

Absolute great little market test Scott!
I for one HAVE seen more hits on my Bonanzle site in the four short months there than I have on any of the other sites I have been on, including eBay. And have made more sales also.
Could it be due to my own efforts in promoting my booth and my items? ….I certainly hope my efforts are paying off, but I know that Bonanzle’s Google Base tool is really helping, along with the Bonanzle name and the other sellers there all working hard to get the word out.

I for one am proud to be a part of getting Bonanzle “up and out there” into the marketplace. It is exciting to see this baby grow. And as I help Bonanzle grow its customerbase, I am growing my own and Bonanzle is helping me do just that.

Its a win-win realationship that Yes, Chris has involved time and I too believe my time is worth every penny, but I know for me this investment will pay off.
When you discover that Bonanzle is worth your time Chris, Look me up. I will want to be the first to say WELCOME!
Looking forward to hearing from you!

Keep up the good work Scott…hope to see more little tests like this!

Susan
http://www.bonanzle.com/renagade

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:31:48 +0000

Not so sure about your conclusions here….

* If it does not work for you, the test costs you nothing.

Yes it does – it costs time and time is money. All the time I’m listing on an alternative site that isn’t generating the same return on (time) invested as eBay I’m actually losing money

* If it works a little, then you are a little better off.

I’m interested when it works a lot. If it works a little I’ll look for an alternative that works a lot – again time is money.

* If the site, that has grown faster than any other in eCommerce venue in history, continues on this path then, will you will kick yourself for not having tried it sooner?

Absolutely not! eBay worked well for years before I started using it and I’ve never regretted making my living on the site. If an alternative becomes that good then jumping onboard *once* they’re good will save me a lot of effort while they grow. If Bonanzle or any other site becomes a viable place to generate serious income then I’ll use it but there’ll be no regrets I wasn’t one of those trail blazers on ANY alternative site (and lets face it there’s been a few). More than happy to live off the fat that others have created (selfish maybe, but realistic)