eBay ‘Collectibles’ Prices Slide 11%, according to AuctionBytes Study

May 8, 2002, Natick, Mass. – Sellers of collectibles are making 11% less on eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) than they were a year ago, and are completing fewer successful auctions this year than 2 years ago, according to AuctionBytes.com.  

AuctionBytes released its second annual Collectibles Price Index, which showed that typical consumer collectibles are selling for 11% less than they were one year ago. Last year's study showed that collectibles prices on eBay were down 25% from 2000. 

"The decline in prices on eBay is not surprising given its popularity. Instead of throwing away old stuff, people are listing it on eBay," said David Steiner, President of AuctionBytes.com. "The drop in prices is less dramatic than last year, and we think they will begin to plateau in the coming year."  

Sellers are having a harder time selling items, however. "The average sell-through rate on eBay in 2000 for items in the AuctionBytes Collectibles Price Index was 72%. In 2002, however, it fell to 55%," according to Steiner. This is a drop of 24%. 

The sell-through rate is determined by how many items listed on eBay actually receive winning bids. In 2002, 55% of the items studied actually sold, compared to 72% in 2000. The other auctions either received no bids or, in the case of "reserve price" auctions, failed to meet the minimum required price.  

The bottom line, according to Steiner: "Collectibles dealers are working harder, for less money in the online marketplace." 

ABOUT AUCTIONBYTES

               AuctionBytes.com publishes two free email newsletters for the online auction community. AuctionBytes-Update (ISSN: 1528-6703) shows readers how to become more efficient buying and selling online, with product reviews and advice. AuctionBytes Newsflash (ISSN:1539-5065) contains daily news about the online auction and collecting world.

               Steiner Associates, which publishes AuctionBytes.com, is the only research and publishing firm that focuses exclusively on the Online Auction Industry. Steiner Associates deliver high-quality research, analysis and consulting about auction distribution strategy and deployment to a wide range of vendors, retailers, manufacturers and distributors. Steiner Associates released a report in March on Auction Management Solutions (AMS) for enterprises (http://www.auctionbytes.com/amsreport/amsreport.html). Auction Management Solutions: A guide to tools for managing online auctions will help companies select tools to automate the auction selling process on auction sites including eBay, Amazon Auctions, Yahoo! Auctions and uBid.

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