[frossie]

Auction fees are ludicrously high, and the process is increasingly hostile (and expensive) to small time sellers.

Indeed. Isn't it ironic that eBay used to be a community of people (many of which were buying and selling at the same time) and just as social media started ascending, eBay moved in exactly the opposite direction - towards a warehouse model that pissed off the little people who were selling things to clear out their attics.

I am so annoyed at them that I have literally given stuff away rather than sell it on eBay. Right now as a retail site, they are a dead man walking, no matter what their uniques and cash-flow is. I can't see Ebay lasting another 3 years in its current model.

On the plus site, etsy.com seems to have done a great job picking at least one niche of the old eBay market (handmade goods).

[webnrrd2k]

I agree -- Craigslist is far easier, and suits me much better. generally I don't even have to mess with shipping, but can just drive over and pick something up or have them drop by.