Castoff - Can They Really Take on eBay?

It is no secret that many buyers and sellers are lessHow realistic though is it for a new online auction site
than happy with eBay and its online auction site. Overto break into the market? In the past many
recent months there has be a growing number ofcompanies have tried only to disappear without trace
complaints that the site is forsaking its traditional roleafter a few months. Even QXL which at on time
of providing a market place for individuals and smallwere the second largest site of its type in the UK
businesses to auction off unwanted items. Detractorshad to eventually throw in the towel.
claim that eBay is now only interested in workingCastoff.net I am sure will have done their market
with large companies and sellers offering fixed priceresearch and from what I have seen have planned
retail goods.their launch well. However, the big question which I
Whilst eBay attempts to take on Amazon in thatdo not think anyone knows the answer to at the
market place there could be a void developing in themoment is how does the public feel now about online
UK. The next major player in the UK auction marketauctions?
is CQout who have been established for over 10At one time everyone seemed to be buying or selling
years. Although they are relatively well established inthrough eBay. Practically every national newspaper
the market place they have never offered seriousand magazine carried stories of ordinary people
competition to the market leader up until now. It isbuilding home based businesses selling through the
possible that they could benefit from the defectionsauction site. Then the stories of scams, counterfeit
of buyers and sellers from eBay but they will not beproducts combined with increased charges started to
unchallenged.change peoples attitudes. The overall effect of all of
There are already signs that there are newthis was a fall off in activity. One of the first tasks
companies getting ready to enter the market to trythat sites such as Castoff.net will have to face is to
and grab a piece of the UK online auction market.regenerate the public's enthusiasm for online auctions.
One of the most interesting is Castoff.net a siteCastoff.net which is due to launch in June will never
which believes it can offer a fairer deal to bothbe as big as eBay in the UK. However, it would not
buyers and sellers.surprise me if within the next five years or so eBay
The new enterprise appears to be well financedabandon online auctions to concentrate purely on
which has not always been the case with someretail sales. If that happens then provided Castoff.net
would be auction sites in the past and thelives up to it promises it could just become a major
management team look solid.player. Only time will tell.