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Irked EBay Sellers: Going, Going, Gone
Mom and pops are sold on niche sites
By Debra Goldberg
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Posted Aug 12, 08 5:24 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Still soured by February's jacked-up fees and changed feedback policy, some sellers have left eBay for greener—and in many cases, smaller—online pastures, reports the Wall Street Journal. Alternative e-commerce sites such as Wigix, Silkfair, Etsy, and Oodle have wooed disgruntled merchants with lower fees, free how-to's and, in some cases, a niche market.
"I don't need a million people to see my things, just the right people who have hopefully good taste," says a jewelry maker who switched to Silkfair. But buyer, beware: Small auction sites may leave you unprotected against shady merchants. "Unless there are guarantees or some seller ratings like the ones eBay has accumulated over time, there will always be some bad experiences," says one analyst.