eBay Reviewer's Comments

The “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award” winning online auction service is the largest in the world and has everything from the new iPod mini for Jr. to the vintage Paddington bear for grandma. eBay’s long time experience, exposure and membership gives them the clout they deserve.

We found eBay’s large selection of categories, detailed buyer information, custom selling options and user management features to stand far above the competition. eBay also has an exceptional internal messaging system and feedback program which encourages buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and make the best of their auction experience.

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Ease of Navigation/Layout:  

eBay is easy to use and simple to navigate. Everything is clearly labeled and easy to find. The standard category list is located in the left sidebar. There are also six specialty sites including eBay Express, Half.com and Rent.com conveniently located in the upper left corner. They also include a feature for non-profit organizations to sell products and raise money.

Standard Categories:  

There are more than 30 standard categories and hundreds of subcategories to choose from. These include the usual books, art and collectables as well as the unusual real estate and “Everything Else” selections. “Everything Else” includes items like funeral supplies, religious materials and mystery auctions.

Each major category has several subcategories to help you refine your searches. For example, DVD & Movies not only includes home DVDs but also includes options for laserdisk, Blu-ray and Non US VHS tapes. Often each subcategory will have additional subcategories to refine your search even farther.

Buying:  

eBay makes buying at auction safe and easy. Each item details page includes a description of the product as well as information about the seller, the items bid history, location, shipping and payment options.

eBay suggests buyers do their homework about products and sellers. They provide a review and guide resource to inform buyers about the quality of particular products. They also rely heavily on user’s feedback. All feedback information is located next to the seller’s name in the top right corner of the page. They also provide the option to ask the seller a question through the internal message system.

All buyers and sellers are encouraged to have Pay Pal accounts. Although many sellers accept cashier’s checks and credit cards, Pay Pal is the most common and preferred form of payment used through eBay. This method avoids strangers having access to your bank accounts and allows for third party security.

Unlike some of the lower ranked services eBay does not have a sniping policy. This means people can snip in with a higher bid, in the last second, and steal the auction. According to eBay this is all part of the experience.

eBay also does not include a live countdown clock on the buyer’s page. In order to see time go by on the clock provided you must refresh your page every few moments.

Selling:  

eBay will take you through a step–by–step process to list your product including naming, describing and pricing tips. Although this is a lengthy process and there are many steps, we found the set–up quick and easy.

eBay encourages sellers to make eBay their own. You can customize your listings, auctions and stores with custom layout options, private auctions, blocking bidders and cross item promotion.

Online stores are a good way for sellers to place all of their items in one location. Sellers can customize their store design, layout and marketing techniques. Sellers can create up to 300 categories and subcategories for their products. eBay charges a monthly subscription fee for store owners. Many people have made their eBay store their only job.

All sellers are required to enter a credit card number and bank account number to verify their identities. They have an extensive security policy located in the help section. However, all seller fees will be charged to that credit card. eBay strives to be secure and will not give out this information to third parties.

eBay charges an insertion and final value fee for each item listed and sold. Insertion fees range from 20 cents to $4.80 depending on the starting price of your item. Additionally, when your product sells there is at least a 5.25 percent final value charge. This commission goes up depending how much your product sells for. If your item does not sell, there is no final value charge; however, the insertion fee is non–refundable. There are also additional fees for extra listing options like reserve, buy it now and listing upgrades.

User Options:  

In addition to selling and buying, you can customize eBay with your user account. My eBay shows the status on all items you are watching, bidding and selling. Your bid history gives you a summary of all auctions you have won and lost. You can also save and frequently return to your favorite searches, categories and sellers. In addition, you can customize your communication, notification and selling preferences.

Communication is key for online auctions. eBay has an internal messaging system which allows members and eBay personnel to contact you about news and merchandise. They also encourage all buyers and sellers to use the feedback program. Feedback helps members build reputations within the online auction community. eBay, unlike many other online auction services, allows you to respond to feedback.

The online community also includes blogs, discussion boards and chat rooms.

Browsing/Searching:  

Browsing through eBay is a breeze. Within each general category there are several subcategories allowing you to narrow your search and makes your browsing experience easier.

You can look for a particular item using the search feature with a simple keyword search or the advanced search. The advanced search allows you to refine your product search by seller, bidder, item number, store, price (lowest to highest), time or location. However, eBay does not provide the option to search by price range.

Help/Support:  

Compared to all the other online auction services we reviewed, eBay has the largest and easiest to use help and support center. Topics and resources can be found in a variety of ways including the search box, general topics, glossary and A-Z index. They also provide additional email contacts and a live chat feature.

Summary:  

We found eBay to be the largest, most well known, organized and comprehensive online auction service available. Often it is the first place people go when shopping for auction products. There wasn’t anything we couldn’t find on eBay. Although eBay may be the highest priced auction we reviewed, we also found it has the highest exposure and membership. You’re getting more bang for your buck.