Case Three –
Comparing Auction Sites
Vene T. Yates
In the $400 to $800 price range, eBay.com had about 148 clocks up for bid while Auctions.com had none. A new feature eBay has provided is the ability to list an item within a user specified price range. The link to this feature is prominently located just under the eBay official time with a text link that states “Filter by Price Range”.
Auctions.com seems to have gone to offering electronics exclusively. Therefore I did some comparisons of computer auctions. More listing options for both searching for and selling computers are offered on the eBay site. Cnets’ Auctions.com has a lower listing fee and the resulting seller’s fee would be a little less. After viewing several offerings on Cnet, I clicked the link to uBid.com on their site. This company appears to serve as a clearing house for companies. Upon returning to Cnet, I discovered a link to half.com which is associated with eBay. Guess what . . . I don’t think this is the original Auctions.com the textbook intended for the case study. I think that Cnet bought the domain name.
After a few hours of research I have come to the following conclusions:
· Auctions.com had fewer listings and they were all by builders of computers, not by individuals.
· The builders of computers are using the auction as a way of advertising their services. While this is also the case with eBay, there are also individual sellers.
· I have noticed over the last few months that some of the places I have book marked for computer information and downloads are being bought by Cnet.
· Primary function of the Cnet site is to draw visitors so they can sell advertising.
As an individual wishing to sell an item I would choose eBay even though the selling fee would be greater. Those who frequent auctions will come to the same conclusions as I (in less time) and return to eBay for the real deal.