So you're in a funk with eBay, or maybe you're just looking out into the big wide world of selling platforms to see what opportunities lay yonder. Either way, you've ended up here, and you wonder about the top alternatives to eBay and which ones will suit you most.
No one can deny the power of eBay: Since 1995, eBay has held its place as one of the largest marketplaces in the world. It has turned thousands of hobbyists into PowerSellers and allowed thousands more to run profitable, at-home businesses. However, the eBay marketplace has evolved significantly in recent years, and various policy changes have prompted an exodus from eBay, as sellers look for other, more lucrative online marketplaces.
Where there's a will there's a way, and this rise in need for other platforms has produced more options than you can shake the proverbial stick at. So what are these eBay alternatives?
Below you'll find a description of each site, some information about who that marketplace is best suited to and a direct comparison to eBay.
Top online selling sites like eBay include:
It's almost hard to believe that once upon a time Amazon was simply an online bookstore that dropshipped much of its inventory. The world's largest online book store, sure, but it only sold books. It has since exploded into one of the world's most visited websites, which offers millions of products across a range of product categories.
Amazon is similar to eBay in that you're opting into a very large marketplace that a lot of buyers trust, but the massive customer base comes at the price of higher fees and more competition.
In saying that, the large number of people looking to buy is a definite plus. With larger platforms like these, you need to think of it as getting a smaller slice of a larger pie. The slice may be a smaller in proportion to the whole pie, but the size of the pie means that you're still getting a decent amount. This huge traffic volume is probably the main reason that Amazon's Sellers Choice profitability rating was similar to eBay's.
Amazon also uses a built-in algorithm that will recommend your products to people who might be interested in them based on their search histories. The vast majority of purchases are made through the Amazon buy box.
Want to know exactly what you'll get with Amazon that you haven't had with eBay? Here's the list:
Almost anyone, selling almost anything, will be able to run a business on Amazon. The sheer diversity of prospects is a powerful enticement. You just have to make sure that your prices are competitive enough to be a contender without sacrificing too much of your profit margins. If you're a small seller, this can be a bit more of a challenge, as there will be others selling in large quantities making pricing very competitive. That's where you need to make sure you're selling the right products.
One of the best ways to get ahead in a competitive space like this is to do a little market research into what you want to sell before you commit time, energy, and capital to actually selling it.
You can get an idea of how well a product will perform with the SaleHoo Labs. You can simply select a category (or select "all" categories), filter your products to see the ones with the highest success rate for the lowest competition, and you'll see some top options for you.
This way, you'll be able to sniff out some great product options for you to sell. You'll also get a smattering of additional information, like the average sale price or how many listings there are for that product. It's well worth checking out, especially if you plan to sell on Amazon.
If you'd like to see the most recent market research that we're done for you, you can always see our Market of the Week posts here. Some example ones you could look at are:
These are just a few options that we've already looked into. Whatever you'd like to sell on Amazon, you can research it easily for yourself in the lab.
Etsy is doing very well as an online selling platform. It started in 2005 as an online community for crafters, artists and vintage enthusiasts, based in an apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Now it has 1.6 million active sellers, and 26.1 million active buyers. Not bad! It came out on top as the Sellers' Choice for ease of use, and it was the top pick for profitability after giants Amazon and eBay.
Etsy specializes in handmade and vintage goods, as well as craft supplies. Yes, this does limit what you can list on the network, and you might find that this rather niche-specific market isn't for you.
If, however, you are looking for the best home decor products to sell, you make geeky things, like costumes, jewelry, fashion accessories, cool gifts, and any number of other crafty items (or you know how to source quality vintage items or wholesale craft supplies), this is definitely the place to sell it all.
Want to know exactly what you'll get with Etsy that you haven't had with eBay? Here's the list:
Etsy is clearly best suited to any merchants with handmade items, vintage items, or craft-related resources. If you are an online seller who either produces your own unique product, or you source items that suit this market, then this selling platform is exactly what you're looking for.
If you create your own products, then by all means go ahead and list them and see how you go. If you'd rather give Etsy a go with some wholesale products, you have to be careful what you sell. You should read Etsy's Seller Guidelines before selling on this network.
Basically, Etsy is a place for unique goods or the supplies for making them. So if you're not making your own unique goods, stock up on the supplies instead by searching in the SaleHoo directory for "craft supplies," or search for specific types of supplies such as "fabrics" or "beads" or "clasps."
Some examples of items (and links to trusted supplier pages) that could provide what you need are:
There are many others you could look into, the above are just a few of the trusted suppliers available to you in the SaleHoo directory.
I thought it worth mentioning that there are a few other sites like this one now, claiming to have more unique goods than websites like eBay and Amazon. Two in particular are doing very well. If you are interested in tapping into this market, then it could be worth trying your luck with:
Look around these marketplaces to get an idea of the types of products people are selling, and then find suppliers for those types of items to start selling on these networks.
Bonanza is headquartered in Seattle and, though it's relatively new to the e-commerce scene, it's doing incredibly well. The Bonanza marketplace encompasses more than 22 million items ranging from Godzilla garden gnomes to taxidermy alligators.
A lot of sellers are making good money on Bonanza. The site has merchants and shoppers in nearly every country around the world. More than 40,000 sellers have already created businesses here.
Bonanza is one of the easiest selling platforms to use, and its popularity is on the rise amongst sellers. In the Sellers' Choice awards, Bonanza has taken out the top rating for communication again, and were voted the most recommended selling venue. They were also recognised in Entrepreneur's 360 best companies list.
Want to know exactly what you'll get with Bonanza that you haven't had with eBay? Here's the list:
Bonanza is best suited to any merchants who have something to sell online. Although Bonanza specializes in unique items and one-of-a-kind finds, it is not without its Justin Bieber perfume or Michael Kors handbags.
Bonanza actually provides a really helpful guide for making sales on its platform, so that's definitely worth checking out. You could make a profit in any of its categories, but some of the top-selling ones currently include:
These are all categories in the SaleHoo directory, so you'll find a wide variety of trusted wholesale suppliers there for sourcing these types of products.
Over the years, Bonanza has put emphasis on building platform-specific tools to make selling online much easier for entrepreneurs. They offer automatic eBay, Amazon, and Shopify importing, multi-item editing, and a marketing tool that allows sellers to provide targeted discounts to their buyers. You can learn more about these tools here, and use them to boost your profits on Bonanza.
Related: Keen to sell perfume? Check out our article on the best perfume dropshipping items to sell today!
You can sell almost anything on Craigslist (including yourself, in the "personals" section). It's very "no-frills" in that there are no listing fees or selling fees, but it's super basic both in design and automation of the selling process.
It is, after all, just a forum. This means that you're pretty much on your own as far as selling and disputes go.
Want to know exactly what you'll get with Craigslist that you haven't had with eBay? Here's the list:
Craigslist is best suited to sellers who are selling locally, and prefer to manage their transactions personally. It can be a good option for selling items that are perhaps too big or expensive to ship, such as furniture.
Some people like it because they can meet the people they're selling to, so there's a small social element. You can get cash-in-hand and you don't have to pay a network or shipping fees. In saying that, if you're paranoid about getting scammed or don't want to be personally involved with the transaction, then Craigslist might not be for you.
Be careful with how you sell, as online transactions can be a little dodgy here, and if you get handed fake money, then it's basically your loss. Accepting payments in person can be good, but be careful (and safe!) when deciding where and how you meet people.
If you're good at spotting items that are worth a lot more than they're being sold for, or you have the skills to do up items that are a little lacklustre, you could make a neat profit here. For example, you might have an eye for valuable antiques, or you might know how to restore old wooden furniture. Or maybe you know how to sew something back to life. Pick up some workable free items or low cost items from craigslist (or browse local garage sales), work your magic, and sell the items for a higher price on Craigslist or other selling platforms. This can be a hit-and-miss strategy, so be sure to only select items that you're confident you could sell for a profit. And if items need work, make sure you have the time to do it, otherwise you may end up with a garage full of items you can't flip.
The downside of that strategy is it involves time, energy, and often a bit of luck to work. If you're a hobbyist it could be an enjoyable and profitable process, but if that's not your cup of tea, consider buying wholesale goods. List items that will sell well locally, save on listing and shipping fees, and you could make a hefty profit margin without the effort.
Some examples of items you could sell on Craigslist include:
You can find other wholesale suppliers in the SaleHoo directory. Just search for the types of products you'd like to sell and browse the trusted suppliers available to you.
eBid is another marketplace similar to eBay and Amazon in that it is a platform for selling almost anything. Still, it's not as well known, so you'd be selling to a smaller pool of buyers.
It's definitely a lower-cost option than eBay or Amazon, but the profitability rating is also lower. The absence of listing fees and low 3 percent commission charged per sale does make this a low-risk market to test out, so if you're looking for a change, you've got little to nothing to lose here.
If you'd like a thorough run-down of eBid as an alternative to eBay, check out this post: Is eBid a Viable Alternative to eBay?
Want to know exactly what you'll get with eBid that you haven't had with eBay? Here's the list:
eBid is for you if you don't want to pay to list your items (as you have to on eBay), or if you'd just like to try your luck on an alternative (but similar) network. There's extra potential here if you know a thing or two about generating your own traffic.
Basically, the lower level of traffic circulating on eBid (compared to eBay) is the only major downside. So if you promote your listings effectively elsewhere, such as social media or forums, you can enjoy your traffic as well as lower traffic.
Some examples of items you could sell on eBid are:
There's definitely potential here, but also more work required to get your shop off the ground.
Rakuten (formerly buy.com) is considered the “Amazon of Japan”. Now, Japan’s not the first company that comes to mind when you think of eCommerce, but get this: Japan’s population is more than 126 million and more than 90% of Japan’s internet users are registered on Rakuten. That’s a big market.
One benefit of Rakuten is that you’re not competing with the website itself. Unlike Amazon, which sells dozens of its own brands on its website, Rakuten does not compete with its sellers. You also have more power to customise your store within the platform - something that other major eCommerce websites don’t allow.
There are already some big name brands like Dell, Lenovo, Office Depot, Airweave, and Dyason that use Rakuten.
Rakuten is a popular, highly versatile online marketplace. It’s best suited to people who are sick of the intense competition on eBay and Amazon and are looking for a different entry point to the world of eCommerce. It’s especially good for people with experience doing business in Japan, or anyone who’s wanting to break into the Eastern market. While it is now an international marketplace, it hasn’t quite got the same reach and impact as other major marketplaces just yet.
The same principles that apply to succeeding on other eCommerce platforms also apply to Rakuten. You need to choose a niche product with sufficient demand and not too much competition.
You can utilize 20,000 characters to write high-converting product descriptions, so make the most of the opportunity to be creative with your copy and highlight the unique benefits of your products.
You can add up to 20 shipping options on Rakuten. The more flexible you are with shipping, the more likely you are to make sales. Just make sure you can fulfill those shipping options before ticking all the boxes.
Newegg is an online marketplace that claims to be the “#1 marketplace for everything tech”. That means electronics, computers and parts, entertainment, smart home and gaming products. Sellers can list products on the marketplace, which reaches up to 36 million customers. Newegg is based in California and has distribution facilities across North America and Canada. It has global reach into more than 50 countries.
Newegg is clearly best for anyone who’s selling tech products, particularly those operating mostly in the US and Canada markets. Newegg’s audience is mainly men aged from 18 to 30 and 35, so if that’s your target market, Newegg might be a good option for you.
Simply listing your items and crossing your fingers isn’t going to cut it on Newegg. You need to follow Newegg’s SEO guide to drive more traffic to your listings.
Newegg also recommends taking advantage of its merchandising vehicles, such as a daily deal emails, as well as its various seller programs.
Other than that, just make sure you’re not listing any prohibited items and providing excellent customer service.
The main appeal of eCrater is that it’s free to set up a store and it even has templates you can use to easily create an attractive store. It’s said to be easy to import your listings from eBay, which is good if you’re looking to transition entirely. There’s not a lot of information on eCrater online, but there’s said to be at least 65,000 active stores on the site. The number of customers and the amount of traffic pales in comparison to the larger eCommerce platforms, so it’s probably best used as a complementary marketplace, rather than one that you solely rely on to run your business.
eCrater is a good option for someone who’s totally over eBay, but it looking at using another marketplace, such as Amazon or Etsy, as their main platform. In our opinion, eCrater doesn’t quite have the numbers to be viable as your sole marketplace, but it could make for an excellent, low-risk and low-cost complementary option.
The key to making sales on eCrater is investing heavily in your store’s SEO and marketing. It’s up to you to drive traffic to your store, almost as though it’s your very own site.
Ruby Lane is a legitimate alternative to selling on eBay. It’s been designed to bring buyers and sellers of antiques, art, vintage collectibles and jewelry together - similar to marketplaces like Etsy and Bonanza. Ruby Lane has 1.1 million unique visitors per month, which is impressive for a niche marketplace. A majority of users are located in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and Germany, but it has global reach. 85% of users are women aged over 40 and almost all describe themselves as a “collecting enthusiast”, so if that’s your target market Ruby Lane might be a great option. It seems to attract more purposeful, educated buyers who might be willing to spend more money than those who are scouring eBay for bargains.
Ruby Lane is best for savvy sellers in the antique, collectibles, art and jewelry markets, especially if your target audience is women over 40.
Writing high-converting, accurate descriptions, quality photography, excellent customer service, and strategic marketing all help a lot on Ruby Lane. You need to know your audience is going to be more educated than most, so choose your products carefully and be honest in your product descriptions. Make sure your products meet all of Ruby Lane’s guidelines as they will be vetted. Ruby Lane provides a great guide to selling successfully on its website.
It’s not widely known that Walmart, one of the largest retail corporations on the planet, has entered into the eCommerce marketplace world. Walmart Marketplace is a platform where select sellers can list and sell products. It’s very similar to Amazon in that you could be competing with Walmart itself, but it’s definitely worth considering as an alternative to selling on eBay. You get to take advantage of Walmart’s massive reach and customer base and it’s free and easy to get set up. Walmart seems to be taking the eCommerce space more seriously so it’s likely to be investing heavily in this area over the coming years. Who knows, maybe in five years everyone will be saying they wish they were on Walmart from the start?
Established businesses with solid brands stand to do well on the Walmart Marketplace. If you’ve always dreamed of getting your product in Walmart stores, this might be a good way to make an impression. It could also be a good option for new sellers looking to build brand awareness and credibility from the outset, but you’d want to have a clear strategy for how you’re going to make the most of it.
Be in a position where you can still make good profit margins with competitive pricing. Make sure you provide great customer service and fast shipping, and then chase those customer reviews. They can make a big difference on this platform.
Selling on your very own website really is the ultimate option if you want to increase your profits and build a business that will become a long-term asset. If this appeals to you but you have no idea how to get started, don't worry. There's an easy way, which I'll mention a bit further down.
When selling from your own online store, you have to establish your own traffic, which can make it a little slower to get started than selling in a bigger marketplace. But once you're up and running, you don't have to compete with anyone else and your sales are all your own.
With this option, you can build up your own brand, rather than eBay's or Amazon's. When you sell on those platforms, who's really making the sale? They're spreading their brand, not yours. People say "I got it on eBay," or "I got it on Amazon," with no mention of the seller's name! It's ultimately you contributing to their marketplaces and their sales. Why not put that effort into yourself instead?
Here are the benefits of running your own online store, rather than selling on eBay:
Honestly? Pretty much anyone can get their own website and make a profit. Setting up your own store isn't nearly as hard as it used to be, and with a little time and effort, you can sell exactly what you want to, and how you want to.
You can learn about the pros and cons of owning your own website here, and decide for yourself if it's something you'd like to pursue.
Selling on your own website used to be expensive and complicated, but it doesn't have to be!
You just have to get traffic to your site to encourage sales. There are a couple of great lessons readily available to help you with this, including "Get Buyers to Your Store" and "4 Ways to Advertise Your Store." There's also a community forum where you can ask questions and get advice.
Niche-specific websites are marketplaces where people only sell one type of product. So rather than the larger category-based marketplaces like eBay or Amazon, these sites hone in on one of those options and specialize in only that.
For example, if you were specifically interested in selling clothing, you might consider selling on a site like Poshmark. Or if you wanted to sell gear for the outdoors, you might try selling on GearTrade. Heck, if you were in the car market, why not try Cardaddy?
If you're passionate about a specific niche of products, or you tend to bulk-order a small range of items, then niche-specific websites could be a great platform for you.
This will allow you to really focus on one market, and get to know the selling techniques that work best with that niche's buyer-audience.
If you haven't already, you need to really zero in on the type of product you'd like to sell and determine how much demand there is. A quick way to get a rough comparison of popularity is to do a keyword search. You can use a tool like the Keyword Research Module in AffiloTools.
Simply type in the name of the product or niche that you're interested in selling, and look at the monthly search volumes. This will show you how many people are searching for words or phrases to do with that topic, which is a strong indication of how much interest there is. If you're tossing up a few options, then try each one out to see which ones generally have more searches.
Once you've got a strong idea of what you'd like to sell, try searching in Google for "Places to sell [product type]." Look for marketplaces that cater to selling in your specific niche, like the examples we've already mentioned. Be sure to read about other people's experiences selling on them first. If these sites come across as genuine and promising, give them a go!
Finally, you need to find trusted suppliers with the best products to sell on these networks. For example, if you were looking for clothes to sell, you could try any of these:
These are just some examples of the trusted suppliers you can access in the SaleHoo directory. If you've got a niche that you'd like to sell to, then type it into the search box there and find the best suppliers.
Have we missed a marketplace that you'd like to see here? If so, let us know in the comments below and we'll add it to this list. Stand-outs will be researched and added in our next update.
Current suggestions from the comments on this post include:
As you can see, there are a lot of online selling sites like eBay, but which one is best for you? This comparison table gives you a quick overview of all the best eBay alternatives so you can make an informed decision.
| Marketplace | Operates in | Product categories | Seller fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Worldwide | All | From $39.99 a month + referral fees of between 8% and 15% per item |
| Etsy | Worldwide | Arts, crafts, jewelry, collectibles | $0.20 USD listing fee and 3.5% commission |
| Bonanza | Worldwide | All | 3.5% Final Offer Value fee |
| Craigslist | Worldwide | All | Free |
| eBid | Worldwide | All | 3% Final Value Fee, or subscriptions from $1.99 to $99.98 |
| Rakuten | Japan-based, worldwide users | All | $33 a month, 8% to 15% category fee, and $0.99 per item sold |
| Newegg | Worldwide (mostly US and Canada) | Tech and electronics | Free up to $99.95 a month and 8% to 15% commission |
| eCrater | Worldwide | All | Mostly free, but they take 2.9% of sales that they bring to you |
| Ruby Lane | Worldwide | Arts, antiques, collectibles, jewelry | $100 set-up cost, plans from $69 a month, $0.19 listing fee |
| Walmart | Worldwide (mostly United States) | All | Free to join, 8% to 20% referral fee |
There are a lot of options for you to choose from, so it depends on which of these following elements appeal to you most...
Amazon is the only other network that's similar to eBay in size, with a giant range of products and massive customer base. So if that's a benefit of eBay you don't want to lose, this is an alternative to try.
Bonanza is similar to eBay in that the range of products you can sell isn't limited like it is on sites like Etsy, and they have a fantastic relationship with sellers, so it's worth trying.
Finally, if the auction-style is what you like about eBay, then eBid is the closest relative, although there's much less traffic circulating there so you'll have to do a lot more promotion to get your store off the ground.
These creative-style networks are really taking off, with Etsy coming in highest after eBay in overall Sellers Choice ratings. These networks might be totally wrong for the type of product that you're looking to sell, but if you're not tied down already, then these networks are worth the time to try out.
This network is certainly on the rise as a strong alternative to eBay. The site has fantastic communication, and your listings will only cost you if they're successful, in which case it'll be a non-issue.
Amazon is also free to list items on, but it charges higher commissions. The high volume of traffic on Amazon may make up for that though, depending on how much competition you're facing and how much demand there is for what you're selling. You can always try listing on both and seeing which gives you the best returns. After all, neither will cost you anything until your items sell so you've got nothing to lose.
If you do decide to give it a go, remember to check out this guide to selling on Bonanza.
This is a sort of cheap-and-nasty option where you're left to your own devices and often end up trading in person, but if you don't mind selling locally and being a little more hands-on in the selling process, then this is an option to consider.
If you like to sell locally consider other outlets such as local markets, especially if you enjoy this social element to selling. These environments are full of buyers and can give you an extra chance to show off your wares and add to your sales.
If you want to avoid competition, listing fees and paying commissions, then consider running your own online store. It's a little more work to get set up and to promote, but in the bigger picture it can be a hugely profitable option.
While at that, if you're looking for more profitable products to sell, you can learn more about Salehoo about how we can help you source profitable products from low cost suppliers. Be sure to also check these Salehoo reviews by our customers before you decide.
Finally, if you're an enthusiast for selling one type of product but you don't want to build your own site, it's worth looking into niche-specific marketplaces. Just do a quick Google search to see if you can find any in your area of interest.
We haven't looked into all of your suggestions yet (unlike like the other options here), but they're suggestions made by other sellers and could be worth looking into.
Have we missed one that you'd like to see here? If so, let us know in the comments below and we'll do the research and add it to the list.
Comments (705)
Success Just Ahead on 2:49 4 Feb
This is a great place to sell and buy products with very low fees www.Ordersfly.com Marketplacesellersinfo on 4:38 5 Feb
Pongia.com is another online marketplace to sell things or services, that is ACTUALLY FREE. They let you sell anything, including “products, services, vehicles and homes” and you have the ability to list products online or locally, as well as local services or virtual services like web or logo design, or home repair, tutoring, etc. Products can also be digital downloads you sell, like music or designs.James on 0:25 9 Feb
Hello I'm looking for a service similar to eBay valet where you can drop off or mail out items to sell and it will be sold for you. I don't have much time to sell items myself and I was wondering what other services are available to do the storing, selling & shipping for me. Any insightful information will be gladly appreciaed. Thank you in advance.Raymond Tumao on 3:54 15 Feb
This is the first time I entered this website and I really appreciate what I have read. I am planning to sell heirlooms (family heritage collections) located here in Manila but I do not know how I can ship items to the USA or other countries because of the import entry concern. Maybe one of your specialists may assist me in this matter.Thank you.
Erica Horne on 23:44 15 Feb
I sell on Vestiaire Collective. It's a French Company that resell high end and fashionable brand name clothing, accessories, jewelry, and home goods. They will sell brand new or pre-owned in good condition. The seller takes photos and post description. VC decide to list or not on their website. Seller ship it free when it sells to NY office. It is checked and then shipped to seller. After a few weeks money is deposited right into your bank account or you can use the money for credit to buy other items on the website.Holly on 18:30 18 Feb
I have been selling on Ebay for 11 years,I tried to sell on Amazon because I had a lot of new items. Unfortunately, they refused to let me sell there since I did not have a business licence or the items they preferred on their site. Perhaps this policy has changed to allow more smaller sellers now.The major problem I have a serious problem with Ebay that popped up a couple of years ago, but NO ONE knows why or how to stop it. The problem is, when I go to Google to search through images to find my own I click on my photo but It doesn't go to my listing, or if it does it is not there. but it goes to a different site,my description is being used too except a few words are changed around. Some of the places they turn up are Terapeak (I don't belong), Ebay India,independant selling sites selling the same things. If it does go to ebay my photo will say it is no longer available so they show a list of same type items, mine is never on that list either.My sales have been waaaaay down but I have a high rate of visits then no watchers sometimes when 150 buyers have clicked on. Ebay just says to end 3 party support and that might help. I spend a lot of time and effort for someone else to divert my listings. Sometimes they have my listing either right after I have listed it but once they were using my photos etc before Ebay even had mine up! No one can help with that either so here I am looking to find somewhere else to sell that is a level playing field. I do hope this problem will not follow me because still no idea how to stop it. If you have any idea why this is happening I would appreciate any help.
Sandi Polk on 3:51 19 Apr
OMG, I too, 11 years with eBay. Love hate relationship..They also have locked you into a year on subscriptions... I am stuck until October this year... I'm so sick of them, I have noticed a pattern over the years, besides the crazy changes they keep making. I have a niche market, and the item(s) constantly sell, then I look up and no sales...someone told me they control your search engine hits...there must be some truth to it.. because. It is crazy, I am the only seller of some specific items at the price...and suddenly this year hardly any sales.. Crazy... I seriously need to move.SHipping is insane....there is a discount on the USPS and other shipper...but EBAy turned around about 3 years ago started charging fees on your shipping fee we charge to our customer...so where di our discount go, right back to Ebay. . What a joke.
where to go
David Hattermann on 14:17 10 May
I agree with Sandi Polk.I was suspened by ebay after having to put up with abuse,scammers,an ebayer using threats and the hidden charges where extornionate.i even had an ebayer watching to compare prices and telling others what to charge to undercut me ,as if the charges werent bad enough.im now looking for a site I can trust.ebid played silly games and tried charging me,,facebook took my info then blocked me for no reason,you cant even contact them ,bonanza is wacky.amazon doesn't sell like ebay i.e bid or set price.so I am searching for a site that doesn't charge to join,doesnt just take your details,where I can sell items and know exactly what postage and fees if any.so if anyone has a good site wher I can sell in the UK only please contact.this advice above helps .
James on 8:29 4 Jun
I'd suggest using TrueGether - https://www.truegether.com/eBayAlternative.html as I am getting some occasional sales from this platform, The listing is totally free and you can use its multichannel selling feature too at no fee.LadyBiker on 18:42 22 Jun
Listings are free but I decided to go with the $9/mo. (send items to Google) to try and get some sales. If it doesn't work I will cancel the $9/mo. Otherwise let ride if I get sales!Karen on 20:58 19 Apr
Dwanda is similar to etsy but a small EU outfit. I find them very good as I make niche leather goods.eric b on 10:13 28 Apr
If you talk to me to some websites similar to ebay , then u lost me. Ebay is very bad. Anything similar is very bad also. Ebay has weird policies regarding buyer protection and the seller often get scammed and lose money. It happened to me a few times. They seem to let anyone return any item for any reason and dont protect the sellers much at all.ebayiscrap on 17:25 10 Feb
If a buyer is unhappy with your item or has buyer's remorse all they need to do is break the item you sent them and eBay will make you pay shipping both ways and refund all the money to the buyer. You as the Seller get back a broken item with no recourse. eBay stinksPollyG on 17:26 17 Mar
I stayed away from EBay for a long time, because it’s very time consuming and many consuming. But when I came crawling back, I noticed somenrhings that really upset me. I am not a seller, yet, but the seller fees are terrible! Y’all deserve better than that! And of course the sellers must charge exorbitant amounts for shipping. At times it’s almost laughable, until you realize that they are doing this to make back money they shouldn’t have paid.The biggest problem I see is in the feedback forum. I don’t think it’s even possible, any longer, to leave a very negative feedback. I’m not completely sure about this, but it seems that way when I was doing feedback. If there are no honest reviews, why in hell are we doing it? I place a whole lot of trust in my fellow humans and their opinions. In fact, I don’t typically buy things that have no feedback.
Etsy is an amazing place, even if you just want a little inspiration to spur your mind and body out of those terrible slumps. (Thus, my non-selling on EBay yet...) But there are some prices there that I really don’t understand. In art school, you learn a little about charging the appropriate for your time and talent. It’s hard to do. But there are lots of things that are hundreds and up for, what I see, are not a good value.
I guess we should just all be very aware and patient when researching all our options. Nothing is ever easy, I suppose.
Ron on 16:55 19 May
Before signing up with Bonanza I strongly recommend you look at their reviews - 5 Star (187)1 Star (394). source: https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/bonanza.com
Kate on 9:01 25 May
Ebay Alternativehttps://bidderface.com/
Jane Adams on 9:48 12 Jun
There are several eBay alternatives, and I do like most of them because they provide several payment options for clients, they have those options available for both merchants and buyers.but with ebay you must stick only with PayPal.
Lynne Norris on 11:55 13 Jun
I dont feel that either Ebay or Amazon are viable options for dropshippers. The TOS on both sites are written so that it makes it impossible to be a dropshipper. You have to be covert in your business. I dont know why these two are ever listed as dropshipping options.Khan on 22:42 7 Jul
You missed some cons about selling on Amazon such as how they keep your money for a minimum of 2 weeks, sometimes, months on end until the buyer has reported that they got their item. Amazon also doesn't seem to have any person that one can talk to, just voice mails that never seem to get checked. Ebay on the other hand, once you have made a few sales and they have verified you aren't a scammer, gives you your money right away. It's one of the very few pluses to selling on Ebay. I'm here looking for alternatives to both of them. I'm tired of Feebay and I can't stand how Amazon holds onto the money until they feel like releasing it.Jan Neff-Sinclair on 3:17 2 Dec
Amazon has terrible customer service now, even if you are a Prime member with an account on Amazon for twenty years. They are too big for their britches.If you have a complaint to escalate, there is one level up, that's it. If you don't get service at that level, well, I had a rep ask me snidely if I wanted Jeff Bezo's email address.
I can't even close account or I will lose access to all of the digital items I PAID FOR over the last twenty years. As far as I am concerned, Amazon now sucks!
Paul on 11:21 10 Jul
Try TrueGether, they provide free listing. very easy platform to use and manage.Alexandria Barney on 13:46 17 Jul
Hi Gina!Great article - you really know a lot about selling products online, and I think this will be very beneficial for people interested in eCommerce. I think if someone were to go the route of creating their own website, the best platform to use is AmeriCommerce. They are the leading multi-store platform, and they excel at B2B as well.
Great read!
george Devin on 10:33 27 Jul
You have shared a great list of alternative places to sell. I hope this will surely help anyone to accelerate their business.gail on 18:35 12 Aug
do i have to pay sales tax if i set up web page to sell garage items. I prefer to sell online instead of having garage sale at my home. On ssd and don't want to loose my income due to selling my personal items and family and friends items. Any help would be most helpful.Richelle Monfort on 5:53 5 Sep
Hi Gail,This guide of ours will definitely help you start off on the right foot - https://www.salehoo.com/education/starting-online
Cheers!
Cathy Posten on 13:30 17 Aug
Looking to sell Authenicated sports memorabilia. Which site would be best? Maybe a site not losted here?Richelle Monfort on 5:52 5 Sep
Hello Cathy,SaleHoo has several suppliers that can help you with that :) You can check out products/brands vs the suppliers we have using this demo if you wish: https://www.salehoo.com/find-a-supplier?cid=demo (you need to join for full details obviously but should give you some examples of what our suppliers have). Once you join you can instantly access and contact all suppliers within our directory.
Join here when ready: https://www.salehoo.com/join-now It's $67 USD for one year, unlimited use.
Cheers!
Yellowpixy on 12:15 26 Sep
What about Facebook Market!?Rhea Bontol on 6:32 1 Oct
Hi Yellowpixy! You can actually promote your products on Facebook - promoting through social media is a must these days. Here's another blog dedicated to getting more engagement on your Facebook posts: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/how-to-get-more-engagement-on-your-facebook-postsAngela of AJ's Now and Then Antiques and Collectables on 20:21 29 Sep
I have owned an Antique shop in the past and I did not like selling that way, because there is alot of effort for very little profit. While a shop owner, I used Ebay several times to auction off high end items. But again, I didn't like selling this way because I seldom could get the true and honest value for my items and antiques sales can have a very limited customer base. I have also had a business as a picker for all semi local antique shops. I really enjoyed doing this and it helped greatly in building my reputation as an antique dealer, appraiser and restorationist! I enjoyed doing that a great deal, but my profit margin was limited greatly and my ability to make purchases was limited to the profits made from the last few sales. I stopped doing antique business completely when I found out I had cancer and focused on the fight of my life!Now having won that battle and facing massive medical bills, I am back in the business and determined to make it pay off!
I was very shocked and happy when I found that I still had a great reputation in the antiques world. I had began posting some of my personal items on Craigslist and on Letgo. I sold them really fast and I got a fair price for all of them! Then I posted on Craiglist and Letgo, a few items that I had bought at auction and had restored myself. The very next day I was doing some research online and I found that "Chrome" or "Google" had placed my "Craigslist" post on their front page, fourth down from the top under the heading of Antique News! "Google-Chrome" was advertising my return to the business of antiques! I was very shocked to say the least! There it was on their front page, they had reposted my Craigslist post to sell an antique, arched top, beveled, leaded glass, mirror! They reprinted the entire post and then they printed out 27 of my reviews from buyers I had done business with on both, Craigslist and Letgo! I still have no clue as to why, Google Chrome felt that I was News to the world of antiques, but I am very pleased that they do! I guess that I owe my thanks to the fact that I am selling my antiques on both Craigslist and Letgo. I also should mention that I had thought that I would prefer to have my own online store, but I had not yet pursued that route because I thought it would require alot more effort and I did not realize that my talent in restorations was really a marketable thing! I guess that I should also say, Thank you! I now know that it is due to the efforts of sites like this, "SALEHOO" that I am most grateful! Your insight to the best ways to sell goods online, is why I was consider to be News, in the world of antiques. I also owe a, Thank you! to, "Pinterest" and "Etsy", because they also contributed to my, News worthiness. So I am taking this opportunity to say a heart felt,
"I THANK YOU ALL SINCERELY!"
Rhea Bontol on 4:38 12 Oct
Hi Angela! We're glad that you're back on track with selling antiques online. Your resilience and spirit for life is truly an inspiration. If you put much thought and effort into your endeavors, the rewards are surely promising.Joe on 23:47 6 Apr
Great story! thanks for sharing!!! :)Vick on 5:46 3 Oct
Don't know why he did not mention TrueGether here.But I find it more useful than eBay as it allowed me to sell for free.
Susan on 18:46 6 Oct
You make a big deal about the listing fees on eBay when in reality, most sellers don't pay any listing fees at all! With a basic store, you get 500 free listings a month; with a premium store, you get 1,000 free listings. With the premium store, if you go over 1,000 your listings still cost only 9 cents each. (I think it's 25 cents for a basic store - not sure. But if you're listing over 500/mo, you shouldn't be using basic, anyway.) Amazon charges a much higher commission fee, then adds another 99 cents, making low-priced products cost-prohibitive.So on Amazon, you pay 15% plus 99 cents on every sale. Or you pay 15% plus $40 a month for Pro. Then there's the referral fee on TOP of the commission, and the explanation for that one totally escapes me. (I won't even go into the FBA fees; needless to say, az is cleaning up.) Anyway, according to the research, eBay sellers keep an average of 5.13% more of their profit than if they sold the same item on Amazon. And that figure includes the PayPal fee.
Yes, you do have to pay for your store on eBay, but having a store enables you to brand yourself, organize your inventory, and easily create an inviting storefront, all things you can't do on Amazon at any price.
Despite all of the eBay rules, and I'd never begin to defend them all, selling on eBay still teaches you how to run a business and allows you to work for yourself within the eBay framework. With Amazon, you're basically working for Amazon, not for yourself.
As for eBay not offering services like amazon because eBay itself isn't a seller: First, it's a huge plus not to have to compete with your own venue for sales. Second, eBay offers an extensive app center that provides just about any outside service you could ever need to help you run your business, from accounting to multi-channel integration to page design and image hosting.
Is selling on eBay flawless? Nope. Does it have any issues? TONS!!! But what site doesn't? In the final analysis, I find it the easiest - and cheapest - place to sell with significant traffic. It seems like the ones who yell the loudest against eBay are those who weren't very successful, and I get that. Not everyone is going to make a fortune. Is that eBay's fault? Maybe . . . But the fact is, we pay fees for the traffic; what we do with that traffic is entirely up to us.
William on 8:19 8 Oct
Come on, putting "Amazon" as alternative to ebay is a bit questionable, you need to be a huge player nowdays to be selling on Amazon where they take a 25% cut of your sales price + other fees.The best deal I've seen is TradePongo at 2% transaction fee https://www.tradepongo.com
I like Bonanza but their fees are higher plus add fees on shipping... it used to be good though but got greedy like everyone else.
Tradepongo is the place
sarah on 19:01 11 Oct
Has anyone tried Retrophoria? ( https://retrophoria.com ) It's for vintage items only.I just opened a sellers account. It looks promising and the price is right (free! :) ). Haven't made a sale yet but i am hopefull.
Michael Simcik on 18:44 15 Oct
At one time I sold on ebay. No one needs to tell me about the problems with them and now political too.For decades I have wanted to see a niche specific internet site that has people worldwide looking at only for things they are interested in specifically. And this is done without being intimidated, badgered, browbeaten, asked to donate to something I don't care about, or being politically favored or discriminated against. I personally was on ebay for two decades and I've seen it all!
What I'm talking about is "Everything sporting goods" but to exclude any firearms of course. What I'm referring to is vintage to current sporting goods from duck decoys to water skis, fishing rods to hunting vests. There are truly multi-millions of anything outdoor sports to be traded, purchased, or crafted from gun racks to archery, boats, and motors to waders and choke tubes. I see a lot of small very pricy sites on the net and some for just old rods, some for old lures, some for golf clubs, bags, etc, but if you put them all together on one site it would be very lucrative and ongoing for decades. Sporting people are always wearing things out and people are always having kids that don't stop growing into new stuff.
Gander Mt. is out of business, MC Sporting is out. Dicks Sporting is in trouble, Sports Authority is gone, etc, etc, and this is prime time for All Sports New and Old to be on the internet.
Bernie Kern on 6:57 22 Oct
What are your thoughts about Shopify??Rhea Bontol on 6:32 23 Oct
You can checkout an unbiased comparison here: https://www.salehoo.com/salehoo-vs-shopifyShelly on 22:47 23 Oct
Bonanza is $25 per month to set up a store. When I search Handmade, I find Etsy 10x more than I find anything on Bonanza and Etsy doesn't charge a "monthly" fee for an online shop.Rhea Bontol on 6:23 29 Oct
You can also checkout alternative places to sell online, here: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/top-6-places-to-sell-onlineNancy Owens on 4:24 6 Nov
I would like to know how long Tradsey can keep your money made from sells? Legally how long can they? They have kept mine for 4 weeks and finally let me transfer it, but told me the transfer will take another 7 business days. That will be over 5 weeks.Rhea Bontol on 6:26 12 Nov
Not sure on that though. PayPal however, can hold payments of up to 21 days (specially for new sellers) so it's nothing new for payment processors to hold. You can find out more about it: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/coping-with-paypal-payment-holdsTerryll Rex on 18:57 11 Nov
There's a place I sold years ago ig it is still in business. I intend to go look when I am done here and that is ioffer.com. You could sign up for your own store and I can't remember the fees, it was too many years ago.Rhea Bontol on 6:23 12 Nov
Although popular, I'm seeing a lot of mixed (more like negative) reviews about them on TrustPilot and Scam Adviser:www.ioffer.com">https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.ioffer.com
https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/ioffer.com
So I guess if you're a seller, you also have to put weight on verified online marketplaces to keep a good standing record, specially if you use the same handler when selling at multiple selling sites.
Sandi Polk on 21:47 24 Nov
I am truly surprised that no one has mentioned Ecrater. I post here. it is MUCH better than eBay, with some pros and cons of course. Once you get the hang of how to post your items. it is great. there are no variation options at this time and you have to really figure out your shipping options and there is no way to ship through this platform. You will have to use PPal or some other source. They are linked to PayPal and one other payment source. The customer support is awesome. Replies are really fast. They really try to help you use the attributes to make sure your items are in google searches. All eligible products are submitted to Google Shopping. There are NO FEES to LIST and if your buyer comes direct there are NO fees to the seller. If the buyers come via a google search then your fees are like 2-3%. This gives you a better option on your selling prices. I send people to buy from me there quite often.There are no feedback concerns. There are still guidelines. No outrageous restrictions like eBay. You can import your ebay items, however, if you have a variation listing, don't waste your time, because you will have to recreate the listing all over again in Ecrater.
There is no email conversation database. Your conversation with your buyers will be in your email that you set up to link to the site. They keep it really simple but very user-friendly. You get about 6- 10 pics, FAQ section, and some other options. GO and check it out.
I am still new with it and I have not used it as yet for my custom order. can't wait to try that and see how it works. So my tip of the day is to go and check out Ecrater. they have been around for about since 2004. I think they have an awesome concept going and will expand their platform soon. They only have facebook sharing at this time.
Rhea Bontol on 6:27 26 Nov
eCrater indeed makes a good addition. We have a dedicated article for that here: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/need-more-buyersJudith A Perkins on 2:33 13 Oct
I think ecrater is horrible, they have zero customer service support, I started a store with them and found it to be suspended with no sign, the items I am selling are not on their "banned" list, I have tried to contact them on several occasions with absolutely zero response, I had to find out from members of the community that my store was suspended which was met with some help but also some bitchyness, I could actually go to my storefront add items to my cart and even make it to Paypal when everyone else said when they clicked on my items they got an oops message.Pam on 20:15 31 Jan
Thanks for all the information. I just need to decide if this for me and how to do it.Rhea Bontol on 4:37 1 Feb
Our Seller Training Center will help guide you with setting up an eCommerce business.psycho on 7:28 7 Feb
thanx guys, i think i ffound more useful info thru comments...i too used to sell on ebay, still have a perfect 1500 score there..there policies and business procedures are or were not up to par on both sides selling and buying...last thing i sold was in 2015 ...a ps4 that a friend owing me $300 gave me.i did sell it for a decent price and i shined it up and seen there was less than 40 hrs of playtime used on it and nearly flawless...i was asked to have it shipped overnight for $45 more than the one i had and told he was paying for it. 4 days later it came back to me half destroyed... i remembered i forget a disc in it and it wasnt in there and when i took it to the shop it was a $200 fix and the hd was taken and the guy said there was no way it was the one i shipped by looking at the pics i had for ebay...i tried telling ebay it wasnt mine, mine had no problems and the other guy won the case without ever replying again or anything, he only had a 10 rating and i think the account was dropped but the worst part was ebay not only charged me both shipping to and from an extra$90 but also charged me for a sell at $300 and some extra fee to where i was supposed to pay ebay around $200 for having some scmuck send me a bad ps4 back while running off with mine....the buying side i was always messaging sellors in china for thing i bought and needed by the end of their supposed shipping frame and id constantly get messages saying it b there soon til it was too late to actually do anything about it,and the worst ones are the ones u get a real bargain on and they keep saying its on its way then wait til last day to say theyll send your money back because its probly cheaper to give a refund then send u what u won at an awesome price but will act as though they shipped it to you and it must have gotten lost then they want u to give good feedback and make up stories about starving kids or dying spouses....but...ive stayed away from ebay since 2016 and found offer up, let go,5 miles, mercari, and different craigslist apps the best for me.ive found the craigslist apps are different between 3 or 4 of the top cl apps in the selling departments local ads and each of these apps have some bad qualities and good qualities along w bad and goodd people u meetRaj Mathur on 13:08 7 Feb
I want to open my own store with SaleHoo platform. Please get me started.Rhea Bontol on 4:04 11 Feb
Hi Raj! You can download the SaleHoo Stores User Manual and contact SaleHoo Support for technical assistance.Graham Carter on 7:45 19 Feb
Anyone know good sites for selling roasted and green coffee beans - we have our own coffee trees and are just getting started - we have arabica and robustaRhea Bontol on 6:05 22 Feb
Best to create your own web store to foster community, and make your site known. Lately, there have been a lot of interest for Arabica and green coffee but sadly, consumers don't know where or how to purchase it - that's where your site comes in.You might find this link helpful of top eCommerce sites: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/ecommerce-platforms
Artūrs Skripts on 20:15 22 Feb
Was thinking about finding the cheapest used item selling platform with the highest exposure, with low volume of entery.So basically running eBay store along with Facebook marketplace or my own site with ETH payment support (0.009 usd transaction fee) would be most cost-effective option.
Rhea Bontol on 5:51 25 Feb
You can find more alternative selling sites here. In the meantime, the Labs will help you find products that are selling well based on sell rate, average selling price, and competition.Selma on 7:31 17 May
I use Etsy but I'm not happy. They say the rates are 5% but they steal 20% for all sales including shipping.Laura on 23:16 11 Jun
I sell on Poshmark and love it! It is a resale app for a wide variety of clothing and accessories for children and adults. The platform is incredibly simple and I've been able to buy sell and print prepaid shipping labels from my phone. For everything else I've been selling on eBay but I'm really looking to expand my options.Judith A Perkins on 2:40 13 Oct
I use to sell on poshmark and then a new member stole a diamond engagement ring from me, when I contacted Poshmark about it, they told me my business practices were suspicious and ended up banning me from the app, it wasn't until I filed a complaint with the attorney general, the BBB and the post office that I actually got my money back from the sale, I had a 99% customer satisfaction rating was considered a 5star seller and had sold on that platform for 3 years prior to this happening, the girl who stole my ring had been a user of the app for less then a month, they still allow her to sell on the app also, and she usually tries to send people to mercari since their fees are lower, their authentication process is a joke, Poshmark is a toxic selling environment unless you have no issue possibly losing the item you sold with no recourse to the seller, I use Mercari now, and I find it a lot more friendlier of a selling platform, you can sell just about anything on Mercari, as far as I know Poshmark is limited to Women's clothing and accessories.Melissa Dawn on 5:01 13 Jun
Here recently I have had excellent success selling on Facebook Marketplace and collector groups that allow buying and selling. Some groups are only for sharing or information, but it is easy to find the ones who permit selling. For example I found a vintage Christmas group with over 100k members that I sold many items to. I also found groups to sell vintage toys, mid-century decor, glass, and jewelry. And I have had a lot of success with marketplace. I live in Kansas and have sold to collectors all the way in Houston. No listing or selling fees but u do have to do all the invoices and figure your shipping out yourself. I received payments on PayPal with no problems.Rhea Bontol on 5:52 8 Jul
Thanks for sharing, Melissa. Targeting deeper market segment indeed helps in differentiating your products to serve what this particular market needs.Robert Kroning on 2:57 9 Jul
Where to sell a collection of collectibles - books, stamps, etc. - related to a specific theme, like Lewis & Clark, or Columbus?Rhea Bontol on 6:23 22 Jul
Apart from eBay, try Bonanza or Ruby Lane for collectibles.Frances Horton on 13:57 11 Jul
"Then, you just have to get traffic to your site to encourage sales". And there's the big fly in the ointment. I haven't found a service yet, including Salehoo, that focuses on getting traffic for their customers. I don't care if you have a website or sell through some of the websites listed in this article. If you have your own website, you're up against millions, yes MILLIONS, of online selling websites. And what they don't tell you is that it costs money - lots of money to advertise and get in front of the public. Success in online retailing is finished for new people. Even if you have the most unique product on the planet, you better be loaded with cash to get it off the ground.Rhea Bontol on 6:26 22 Jul
You can apply the tips from these articles to generate traffic on your site:https://www.salehoo.com/blog/3-simple-ways-to-get-more-buyers-to-your-ecommerce-website
https://www.salehoo.com/education/ebay-selling/7-tips-for-getting-more-traffic-to-your-listings
Hope this helps.
Melissa GG Legaspi on 6:48 4 Aug
nice article... thanks for sharing your knowledge.Andy M on 7:12 10 Aug
I am also a disgruntled eBay seller. However, I would caution anybody against using EBID. Avoid like the plague. They charge a monthly subscription fee, but do absolutely nothing to help promote you or your products. In the six months I was with them I listed over 500 items and sold precisely NONE. Furthermore, when I aired my concerns on their forums, my comments were removed and I was 'warned' about my behaviour! They are most certainly not a user-friendly lot...Lori on 15:28 16 Aug
Thank you for the great resources!Chelle on 3:33 24 Aug
Your fees re Etsy are incorrect. They also take a fee from shipping now and I'm pretty sure there is another fee related to sales. They recently told all sellers that if they don't offer 'free' shipping, their items won't come up as in the search before others that do. Total bullying on their part when we, as the sellers, are the ones providing them with income (from sales).These are huge changes and the 'free' shipping' stance is ruining people's businesses, especially people who choose to sell internationally, as we can't use blanket costings as each place has a different postage price.
Very unfair and sometime to be aware of.
Rhea Bontol on 2:44 18 Feb
Thanks for the updated info! Yes, Etsy's community manager opened up a forum about this so they can properly handle their seller's concerns, specially those selling internationally.Nora Chavez on 22:28 5 Oct
Thank you for the helpful information.Abdul fataw on 14:07 14 Jan
It's great IdeaRhea Bontol on 2:03 18 Feb
Hi Abdul! There are a lot more options for you to decide the best alternative selling sites here. Enjoy!noureddine kiche on 14:29 15 Apr
Very interesting article, I have a question, is there a possibility to do the drop-shipping worldwide on these mentioned platforms ?Thank you
Rhea Bontol on 23:52 13 May
Yes, you can do dropshipping on these platforms. Their dropshipping terms and conditions are independent of each other so it's best to familiarize or contact their customer support for more info.Nompumelelo Monareng on 0:39 29 Apr
This was very insightful! Looking forward to have some of these marketplaces in South Africa. So far we have Localizedrsa which is quite good.Rhea Bontol on 23:54 13 May
You can checkout more alternative selling sites herestephen verhille on 16:31 5 Jun
Ebay is horrible. Customer service is the worst.Louise Scott on 12:12 20 Jun
What about MercariRhea Bontol on 22:46 25 Jun
Although not on our list here, Mercari is also a good marketplace.View more comments...