EBAY v DEALERS

[Tynie Topics]

I’m interested on people’s thoughts on what the long-term effect ebay will be on established dealers who do little or no business via ebay?

We can see from the pages of Programme Monthly the effect it’s having on the casual seller who, if computer literate, finds it easier and quicker to list their items on ebay – and presumably it reaches a far wider audience to boot.

Will dealers who continue to refuse to list items on ebay be gradually squeezed out of the market? I cannot foresee a time when on-line auctions decline and we all go back to trawling through catalogues/offers lists (whether online or in paper form) as our only option.

Over the years ebay has sniffed out rare and valuable programmes that may otherwise have ended up in the bin or on a dealers offers list, it’s also brought a “realistic” price to many rarer items which perhaps were not as rare as dealers would have liked us to think.

I think I have submitted three offers at most through PM in the last five years, and as for buying from catalogues, again it’s few and far between.

Will ebay eventually kill off the non-ebay dealer?
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/footballprogrammes/albums

[goonerboy]

i think the biggest thing that ebay has done is drive down prices and i think dealers can survive but only if they open their eyes to the competition. Also if we want to attract younger collectors we have to be up with the 21st century so although I have no issue with dealers not selling on ebay I do expect their catalogue to be available electronically.

I still do like looking through offers lists and regularly buy items from Sports Programmes. Beyond that there are two antiquated practices which put me off others. One is the lack of an email option as i really can't be bothered with posting written offers anymore. The other is that offers lists only available as paper option. I don't want to pay money, wait a week to receive a catalogue and offers list just to find there is nothing of interest.

[Senior82]

goonerboy wrote:

i think the biggest thing that ebay has done is drive down prices and i think dealers can survive but only if they open their eyes to the competition. Also if we want to attract younger collectors we have to be up with the 21st century so although I have no issue with dealers not selling on ebay I do expect their catalogue to be available electronically. I still do like looking through offers lists and regularly buy items from Sports Programmes. Beyond that there are two antiquated practices which put me off others. One is the lack of an email option as i really can't be bothered with posting written offers anymore. The other is that offers lists only available as paper option. I don't want to pay money, wait a week to receive a catalogue and offers list just to find there is nothing of interest.

I said the same last week, the amount of dealers that do not have an electronic format of their catalogue is astounding.

[sharrowblade]

Basically, yes

I think the effect e-bay has already had is obvious, and as a collector i think e-bay's been great. I wouldn't have had the time and probably the inclination to amass my current collection without it. Even if you're don't buy, there is information aplenty to be garnered from on-line auctions.

However, some dealers I suspect may have mixed feelings, and I think e-bay need to look at a whole bunch of stuff. Some of their recent ideas have not gone down too well and appear to be somewhat restrictive . i.e limiting the number of sales per month. The shop idea needs rethinking and restructuring, and don't even start me on paypal fees.

Whether they like it or not, ultimately technology has to be embraced, or you get left behind.

[Tynie Topics]

With regards to ebays practices, they hold an almost unchallenged position on the internet which isn't healthy, illustrated by their increasing fees and insistence on Paypal in many cases.

We need a big player to come onto the market with an alternative.

I know a few dealers who use ebay to move on unusual items that they're not too sure about, as well as rarer programmes that are not shifting through their catalogue.

On the other hand I know dealers who dont do anything like that and there's not a lot of turnover in their catalogues, those are the ones who are just not adapting (or cannot....)
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/footballprogrammes/albums

[Footybits]

The problem is Ebay has a massive footfall of customers and if you want to reach a large number of people you HAVE to utilise Ebay in some way.

I hate Ebays extortinate fees (and Paypals of course) but for the reason above its a pill youve got to swallow.

Although I dont concentrate on programmes its the same principle and I have about 1200 general items of football memorabilia up on Ebay and use them as an "advert" if you like for my own site where I try to coax customers onto.

Ebay will eventually become a less powerful force as new alternatives come out but till then its a cross we have to bear Im afraid.
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Footybits Football Memorabilia & Souvenirs - http://www.footybits.co.uk

[gang-warily]

Honestly, I know people here moan about eBay but I think it's an absolute godsend to collectors. I rarely but off dealers anymore, they generally charge four times the price that an item will fetch on eBay. If a programme (starting at zero) sells on eBay for £5, you'll find it on a dealer's site for £20. if it sells for £30 on eBay then dealers will be selling it for £150. After all where do you think the easiest place is for them to buy from these days? Off eBay of course. I have a friend who has been selling on eBay for a few years (medals and coins) and he says that he now makes more money, but by selling more items. So whereas he used to sell one item a week for a £50 profit he now sells six items a week making £10 on each item.

[efcbluenose]

yes i think ebay will kill off dealers without doubt in the end unless they adapt and survive like that or are competitive and cheap and offer good deals michael hewitt fine example of that one he doesnt do ebay and always seems to be making a nice turn over and he's got a damn good reputation amongst collectors who buy from him.other exapmples of stupid prices and over used quote of ''rare'' is probably dave allan at programme promotions down south.hes not the worst but hes not the best at it either.in the end dealers will have to adapt to survive in the current econmonic climate.its unfortunate i hate ebay and i dont trust them or paypal or everyone on there as i think they always trying to scam people left right and centre.i prefer to buy or do deals face to face if possible with people.my latest one is with mark barrett on saturday and im made up with what i got from him.i think he was more than happy with the arranged deal we did also.
regards

[tcno10]

The main concern for most dealers I imagine is not the cost but the competition.
Thousands of private sellers taking their regular customers away,
I know the recent eBay reduction in free listings is a pain but this will only drop down further to perhaps 20 free a month.
Ebay are only interested in outlets / big companies subscribing to their site.
Private listers will be shrunk to 10% of site business in the next 2 years sadly.

[pastpirate]

I think that as long as dealers issue electronic lists or have websites they will be ok.
As for ebay, it has been great but!
With people like Manori and his keyword spamming I for one never use ebay any more for buying or selling.
Places like this are a lot better.
As ebay grows I think many more will move away from it so dealers will slowly regain some of the ground they have lost over the last few years.
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I am not gas, I am a Pirate.

www.bristolroversmemorabilia.weebly.com The definitive list of Bristol Rovers programmes

[Tynie Topics]

pastpirate wrote:

With people like Manori and his keyword spamming I for one never use ebay any more for buying or selling.

A bit drastic? I have to say I rarely encounter keyboard spamming or sharp practices, maybe us Scottish collectors are immune
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/footballprogrammes/albums

[Tynie Topics]

Looking at this months Programme Monthly, there is a big reduction in private ads over previous months. Not sure if it's the time of year or whatever, but I guess thats a large chunk of income disappearing from PM's budget over the last 12/18 months and going instead to ebay.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/footballprogrammes/albums

[oldbolt]

I thought the Market Place in the current PM is the weakest it's ever been but i'd personally buy the mag if there weren't any ads in it.I think ebay has also declined sharply this year.
There has certainly been much less antique Bolton stuff on ebay in recent months.I can't remember seeing one pre war Bolton home this year and there haven't even been any of the 10 51/52 homes I need to bid on either.
Looking at my ebay feedback I have bought only 1 Bolton first team home programme this year (48/49 v Sunderland) and i need roughly half the programmes from 45 -55.
That is not down to me being skint or mean but because they aren't appearing on ebay.

The best Bolton stuff on ebay this year was a quality collection of friendlies abroad in the 1950s.This seller who i bought dozens of reserves progs off looks to be one of those who has given up on ebay due to the fee hike.

[Wullie]

i may have some early 50s at Roker v Bolton if you're interested...