Daryle Lambert: eBay Changes Will Bring on New Opportunities in Online Auctions

Before eBay, I had the idea for an online auction. But with no technical experience or people that were knowledgeable, this thought soon vanished from my head. This may sound like an Al Gore story, but it isn't. Why couldn't this work, I kept asking myself?

Then, along came eBay, and it answered most of the questions I had about the possibility of doing sales on the net. Even though they struggled through their first few years, they were able to capture the largest part of the Internet market. Their fees were rather reasonable at first, and the risk of using their services compared favorably with the conventional auction houses. Knowing what I had learned being in the Securities Brokerage business, I thought this was too good to true. And it was. Once eBay got to the place that their business was stable, they began to raise their fees. Today, they are in competition with the auction houses to see who can charge their customer the most.

This came as no surprise to me, because I knew these companies have to please their stockholders, and know very little about pleasing their customers. Can you imagine what the decline in the value of eBay stock has meant to their top stockholders like Meg Whitman? Yes, she knew it was time to go, because the customers were beginning to rebel over the excessive fees. Checking her stock transactions just in 2007, she was able to pull hundreds of millions of dollars into her bank account by selling off a percentage of her holdings. Why should she stay with the sinking ship any longer? The stock has been as high as $40.73 this year, but today it sits at $28.02. With her options, this might mean a loss of a billion dollars or more to her. In my opinion, the future for the customers of eBay will be no brighter than it is now. The company will have to continue to raise their fees, and possibly even more than usual if the stock market doesn't begin to smile on the company more favorably.

Why am I writing about this market and the trends that are developing in it? I have shared with members of the 31 Club, since last year, that competition is coming to eBay's dominance in this market. Now my prophecy is coming true with companies like Online Auction, that we have featured, and a new developing company being organized that will have direct online auctions, where you will be able to raise your paddle just like if you were at the auction house but with far less cost. I will be bringing you this information as soon as it becomes available, as well as any other news that will tend to make your business more profitable.

This country boy says, get ready. The tides are changing, and there's power in changing tides. I believe this competition is going to be very favorable to the sellers who have often been forgotten in these markets today.

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Daryle Lambert - Ebay Changes. You Heard Them Here First.

Photo From T&J Powersellers on Ebay

Yes, there are many people writing about the up coming changes at eBay, but you heard them first in our blogs and press release on October the 4, 2007. In my opinion, the changes are going to be good for the customers and should strengthen eBay's position in the market.

It was no surprise to me that Meg Whitman decided to step aside. Why shouldn't she? What a ten year run! She took the company from one, that at times, didn't know if it could keep its doors open to a company that is known around the world as one of the most profitable enterprises on earth.

The timing is right for her departure, and I suppose becoming a billionaire might have given her an incentive to depart. Why risk her legacy on the changes that are about to take place?


She is a very smart lady and knew that the growth the company has experienced over the last ten years can't be sustained without dramatic changes. And these changes come with no guarantee that they will produce the desired results. So, yes, it's time to turn it over to someone else.

What does this mean for the company and it's competitors? First, as I wrote in October, if eBay does away with the listing fees, it will be a disaster to its competitors. They have been testing this plan for several months now, while at the same time raising other fees to see if that would offset the loss in listing fees. To the customer, this scenario could be a great bonus. They could list more items and not worry about having to pay fees if their item doesn't sell. I personally think that by eliminating competition and keeping more of their sellers listing more items would be a wise move.


There are a couple of things that can wreck the ship for Ebay. First, are the lawsuits that continue to come. Second, the possibility of foreign governments wanting to get involved, wanting part of the action. The road might become rocky for eBay, but I think the long term outlook for this company is very favorable.

Ebay will always play a very important part in the future of the 31 Club, in the Antique & Collectible business, as well as the Fine Arts business. In the last few months I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of some of the most knowledgeable people in the use of Ebay and other online auctions around the world. I'll be introducing them to you so your auction experience can be tremendously enhanced by their expert guidance. We've already featured the OnlineAuction.com and will continue to tell our members that presently, this company offers some great advantages if you are a seller.

The secret in this business is balance, and that means knowing our markets and where your items fit best. The Internet is just one component in the future success that you will achieve, but it is also a very important one.

The 31 Club aims to keep you ahead of the curve, both in information and in trends. Knowing when to buy items, such as Lotton Glass, and also when to sell items, such as prints, will prove to be invaluable to you. and this is the service that we will be providing our members.

Your destiny is in no one else's hands but your own. Go for the golden ring.

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Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Need to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.