| It is no secret that many buyers and sellers are less | | | | How realistic though is it for a new online auction site |
| than happy with eBay and its online auction site. Over | | | | to break into the market? In the past many |
| recent months there has be a growing number of | | | | companies have tried only to disappear without trace |
| complaints that the site is forsaking its traditional role | | | | after a few months. Even QXL which at on time |
| of providing a market place for individuals and small | | | | were the second largest site of its type in the UK |
| businesses to auction off unwanted items. Detractors | | | | had to eventually throw in the towel. |
| claim that eBay is now only interested in working | | | | Castoff.net I am sure will have done their market |
| with large companies and sellers offering fixed price | | | | research 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 that | | | | do not think anyone knows the answer to at the |
| market place there could be a void developing in the | | | | moment is how does the public feel now about online |
| UK. The next major player in the UK auction market | | | | auctions? |
| is CQout who have been established for over 10 | | | | At one time everyone seemed to be buying or selling |
| years. Although they are relatively well established in | | | | through eBay. Practically every national newspaper |
| the market place they have never offered serious | | | | and magazine carried stories of ordinary people |
| competition to the market leader up until now. It is | | | | building home based businesses selling through the |
| possible that they could benefit from the defections | | | | auction site. Then the stories of scams, counterfeit |
| of buyers and sellers from eBay but they will not be | | | | products combined with increased charges started to |
| unchallenged. | | | | change peoples attitudes. The overall effect of all of |
| There are already signs that there are new | | | | this was a fall off in activity. One of the first tasks |
| companies getting ready to enter the market to try | | | | that 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 site | | | | Castoff.net which is due to launch in June will never |
| which believes it can offer a fairer deal to both | | | | be 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 financed | | | | abandon online auctions to concentrate purely on |
| which has not always been the case with some | | | | retail sales. If that happens then provided Castoff.net |
| would be auction sites in the past and the | | | | lives up to it promises it could just become a major |
| management team look solid. | | | | player. Only time will tell. |