Where Can I sell online besides eBay?

Taking a much needed break from online auction in 2007-2008, sites gave me a chance to consider what exactly I want from an eBay alternative auction site. I had time to observe a number of sites, new and established. This helped me form my criteria for what I need from an eBay alternative auction site.

I'll share these with you here, but remember that these are what I'm looking for. You may need something else. No one site fits all sellers as we all have different merchandise, selling styles, payment preferences, technical abilities and more. But you are welcome to use my list as a starting point in your search.

1. An established site; No newbie, brand new, just-opened sites. Been there, done that. I don't see myself as unsupportive of these sites, just burned out with trying them. New sites don't have enough traffic or exposure. Too many new sites are being started every day by individuals who may not have the experience or knowledge to run an online auction site, much less compete with the 900 pound gorilla in the room - eBay. As sellers, we are in business to make money, therefore we need sites that are in the best positions to help us do just that.

2. A site with a working bulk lister. There may be big fans out there of listing items one at a time, but I am not one of them. Sellers need to save time. Emphasis on the WORKING part. No workarounds, no frequent breakdowns, no "we're working on one." The bulk-lister must be working, all the time and as close to error-free as it can be made.

3. A site with demonstrated TARGETED traffic. I use my own methods for checking this, and Alexa is only one small part. Other ways to check traffic can be sites like Compete.com, MarketLeap and others. You can watch sales as they occur on the site over time. Check the feedback of BUYERS. If the buyers are other sellers, run the other way.

4. A site with multiple payment options available, because I want to be able to offer my customer choices. This does not mean that the site allows ME, the seller to pay the site their fees in different ways. This means that I, the seller can offer my customer several options for payment, such as Paypal, Google Checkout, Revolution Money Exchange, Amazon Payments and a number of other options that are out there. And they should WORK.

5. A site that markets & promotes itself OUTSIDE of its own forums and other internet forums. To me, this means the site actively searches for ways to bring BUYERS (not just more sellers) to the site. Its marketing speaks to SHOPPERS, not just sellers.

This can include social media marketing, which is for the most part--FREE except for the investment in time. Need I say that if you target shoppers, the sellers will come?

This does NOT mean just traffic exchanges, yahoo and other groups and forums. It does NOT mean pushing sellers to do all the marketing themselves.

There are a host of free marketing & promotion ideas that online auction sites could avail themselves of, but I see so few using or using well.

6. A speedy site, rarely down. All features working consistently. 'Nuff said.

7. MUST be consistently submitting item listings to Google base at the very least; ideally to as many shopping directories, RSS directories and search engines, shopping aggregators, etc. as possible. Key words - consistently and as many as possible. Want to check? Google some items in Google Shopping and see what eBay alternative auction sites are showing up. Then go to Yahoo search and Bing and do the same.

8. No listing fees, free gallery, some enhancement fees and a decent FVF. I believe in paying a site when my items sell and I believe in paying for using enchancements such as Front Page Featured. An online auction site with no fees is usually using Google AdSense for income. These ads may appear next to YOUR items and inadvertently drive buyers away from your item.

Another worse danger is that the site may not earn enough income to stay in business. Free online auction sites are NOT a good idea. Bad business model. When they can't make a go of the site, what will you do then? Move again?

A site with too many front page featured items because it's free to use that enhancement is a complete cluttered turn-off to me. Charge for Front Page Feature to reduce that clutter! Only the best of the best items should be featured on the front page!

The site should charge a FVF for items SOLD, to have some revenue coming in; 5% is fair in my book.

9. Stores should NOT be free on eBay alternative auction sites. They could bear a tiered cost; from a free store level to a premium store level; with additional features as applicable. But the days of free stores are long gone.

10. NO DRAMA!

*The site's members are not involved in putting down other auction sites;

*Listing on one site in order to send messages to other members recruiting for another site;

*Posting non-constructive criticisms of a site's sellers or of the site on forums .

*The site owner/ship is not: combative, uncommunicative, absent from the site, silent, unwilling to listen to members and ACT upon suggestions, unwilling to accept responsibility.

We're in the business of selling. The more we help each other, the better chance we have of succeeding. I guess you can tell from my list that I've been around the block. Yes, I have.

I've tried well over two dozen auction sites since 2005. Many of them aren't even around anymore. No more wasting time for me!

I hope that these criteria are helpful to you in some small way.