eBay fee changes spark revolt
Found on CNN Money on Friday, 14 January 2005
Numerous eBay Store sellers lit up the Web auctioneer's message boards Thursday, railing against upcoming fee increases and looking for alternative ways to sell their wares online.
Among other things, the cost of a monthly subscription for a basic eBay Store will go up 60 percent to $15.95. The cost of 10-day listings will double to 40 cents, and final value fees that are assessed when a sale closes also will rise.
Sellers complained that the fee increases will take a bigger chunk of their sales take. Some said it may force them to raise their own prices amid a weak economy, and others asked for feedback on other companies, such as Overstock.com (Research), that may be alternatives to eBay.
It's easy to raise prices if there is no serious competition. Personally, I haven't heard about financial problems at eBay, so I wonder what's the reason for that. Although I only used it occasionally to buy some stuff, I think such dramatic price changes need to be justified.