Not that this should be of any surprise to anyone, but a recent survey shows just how dominant eBay really is compared to other players. Adotas.com, a site covering interactive advertising issues, reported this week that while other auction sites are attracting new users, they can't hold a candle to the lure of eBay.
"comScore Media Metrix has release data on online auction web sites demonstrating that although eBay dominates the auction category, other auction sites are gaining more users. While 68.4 million people visited auction sites in February 2006, eBay drew 66.6 million of those users to its site alone.
The two top competitors behind eBay, BIDZ.com and UBID.com, have seen significant traffic growth in the last year. BIDZ.com's unique visitors have grown 102 percent to 2.2 million, while UBID.com has grown 100 percent to 1.5 million visitors.
The data also found that people between ages 35 and 44 make up 20.9 percent of online auction site users. Users with household incomes of $100,000 or more are more likely to visit auction sites."
Cha-ching!
Want to win $1,000? So do we. Instead of wasting a ton of cash on lottery tickets, head on over to eBay's contest page for a shot to fatten your wallet.
Starting on Saturday, April 1, eBay will be giving away $1,000 in eBay Gift Certificates to a winner per week for 10 weeks - just for writing a good user guide.
"Each week, we'll select a winning guide based on its originality, thoroughness and visual appeal, and the author will receive $1,000 in eBay Gift Certificates to spend like cash on eBay purchases. To enter, all you need to do is write and submit your guide at Reviews & Guides http://reviews.ebay.com/ between April 1 and June 9, 2006. Your entry is automatically entered into the contest for that week. There is no limit to the number of times you can win," says a posting on eBay's Announcement page.
So, all you know-it-alls, fire up that keyboard and get to work.
Order. Order!
In case you missed it, InternetNews.com (our sister site) posted an update on eBay's copyright battle with MercExchange, which is now being fought in the Supreme Court.
"Online auction giant eBay told the Supreme Court today that a permanent injunction against its Buy It Now feature is unnecessary and unwarranted, contending that money damages alone could atone for the company's proven patent infringement.
The San Jose, Calif.-based eBay is already on the hook for financial damages to Falls Church, Va.-based MercExchange after a district court in 2003 found it infringed on the company's online process for buying goods at a fixed price.
The district court did not order a permanent injunction, but a federal appeals judge ruled that eBay should be enjoined from continuing to use its Buy It Now feature until it settles infringement issues with MercExchange."
You can read the full article here.
To the Great Wall
eBay continues to seek inroads into the potentially massive Chinese market, striking up a new partnership in hopes of boosting its business in a market it hasn't quite cracked yet.
IT Week UK reports, "Online auction site eBay has formed an alliance with one of China's largest retailers in a bid to boost confidence in internet shopping in the country. Under the terms of the deal, China Paradise Electronics Retail (CPER) will set up a shop on eBay to sell mobile phones, with further products being added at a later date. CPER is one of China's biggest sellers of consumer electronics, and has a strong brand presence."
eBay has had a difficult time breaking into the Chinese market thanks to a hefty competitor there called Alibaba — a Yahoo partner.
Devin Comiskey is the Managing Editor of ECommerce-Guide.com.
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