Look out for eBay Express

[Malcolm Cooper]

Since I arrived here I've noticed quite a few folks who want to sell online. Now I'm no big fan of eBay. With the possible exception of cars it's very hard to get a fair price for new, good quality as a business trader. It's an online car boot sale where buyers want everything for next to nothing.

eBay aren't daft though and I think they realise this so eBay Express launches very soon (Google it). This is for business sellers of new goods at fixed prices. It might just provide a low cost launch pad for new online merchants who can test the market and hopefully make some money to re-invest in their own ecommerce site later.

It's already live in the US at ebayexpress dot com so you can get a flavour of how it'll look in the UK.

I believe launch is sometime in October.

[Eagle]

Is this the result of many business sellers being 'pushed to the bottom' (of search results) by eBay?

Looks good and it should encourage the spread (and acceptance of) PayPal :)

[rockuk]

Right now Ebay Express is rubbish unless you sell specific items in very specific categories. Very few categories are active and Ebay are unable to provide any timetable for expansion.

Also, listings have to be in a very specific format and the required format items cannot be bulk edited whilst live which is rather thoughtless.

I've been talking to them about this a lot this week and have decided to not spend the time updating everything right now as it is unlikely to appear on Ebay Express anyway. WIll they get it sorted in time for christmas? Unlikely - they are going after the high value electronics market for Chistmas, so if you're in that then you could be one of the few traders who can take advantage!

[cubzworld]

I got my first ebay express sale last night - which was an item in my shop.

I think with time, ebay investment in promoting it and it's continued development it won't be such a bad thing

[rockuk]

Great! Good to hear it is working for someone already!

I agree though, in time, it should be a good thing for Ebay Shop holders, as more categories come online & could make up for their treatment of us over the past 12 months!

[Russetk]

I'm dubious of ebay express. By all accounts it hasn't been very succesful in the US. Im leaving it at least six months before i get involved with selling/marketing on there. It will be intresting to see how it does, i'll be watching with intrest.

[fastfences]

Has eBay attached a 'premium' to the listing and sales fees of this 'express' facility?

Nigel

[Arcadian]

I'd pay a premium if only they could get the post office to join in the Express part. Actually sending stuff to buyers and queuing for an hour at the post office to do so was a right PIA.

Maybe I'll go and ask about franking machines on another thread....

[robknight]

Exactly! Warehousing, packaging and dispatching your own goods in a pain in the backside! Which is why we've just launched our new "fulfilment house" service aimed and ebayers and small eccomerce sites!

If you are interested in our very competative services, please PM me!

Thanks

[Arcadian]

I expect Chrissie (russetk) will be in touch to sell you an ad on our site!