25 Alternatives to eBay for Online Sellers and Buyers in 2017

25 Alternatives to eBay for Online Sellers and Buyers in 2017


By Robert Francis | 235 Comments

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Looking for some serious alternatives to eBay in order to buy or sell your goods? Below are 25 of the best and most popular eBay alternatives in 2017 for those who are fed up with the Internet giant and want to take their business elsewhere.

NOTE: Every few months I update this post to help ensure that any of the sites like eBay mentioned here are actually worth looking into. The most recent update was in March 2017.

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Who is Looking for Alternatives to eBay Anyway?

All criticism and mudslinging aside, eBay continues to dominate the Internet as a premiere online auction and marketplace. But even with hundreds of millions of registered users, over $16 billion in revenue, and consistent year-over-year growth, many are really not happy with the platform citing high seller fees, intense competition, fraudulent activity, weak markets, and poor customer service. (To see this negativity in action, just take a look at some of the comments below, or head on over to eBay’s own sellers’ forum.)

That said, here are over 20 serious (and often cheaper) alternative sites like eBay in 2017 for sellers and buyers online. Keep in mind, each one offers its own unique services and setup that may differ somewhat from eBay and that may be better suited to specific industries and business models. Though you may want to continue to maintain a presence on eBay, you should definitely give some of these other platforms a chance to increase your exposure and sales, and ultimately improve the buying experience:

1. uBID.com



With over six million active members, Ubid is a popular eCommerce site that offers a wide range of over 5 million products (brand new, used, and refurbished) in dozens of categories including: consumer electronics, computers, home and garden, and jewelry. Just like eBay, these goods are sold directly by uBid and its pool of certified third-party merchants through auction listings or fixed-price listings.







2. Artfire



Artfire is an online marketplace focused on crafts, craft supplies, vintage goods, and fine art. Unlike eBay, sellers pay no fees unless they choose to open a Pro account. In that case, they pay a monthly subscription fee. There are several helpful features to the site including: SEO tools, a coupon feature, and Google Analytics integration. Artfire also has a solid reputation for good customer service and site management.







3. Ruby Lane



Ruby Lane has a decent following among the buyers and sellers of high-end antiques, collectibles, and vintage items. Though many of the site’s users consider it to be a worthwhile and profitable venue, some users, however, may find their fee structure to be a bit expensive (and even prohibitive in some cases). It really depends on what is being sold and how much the sellers build up their storefronts.







4. Bonanza



Bonanza is a general online marketplace offering fixed price listings on general merchandise, including fashion items and collectibles. Compared to other sites, Bonanza has one of the lowest fees- which is a draw for those who need to keep their overhead costs down. However, there is no auction-style buying and selling, and the site is a virtual no-name when compared to the likes of eBay.







5. Jet.com

For a relative new comer on the block, Jet seems to be taking off (pardon the pun). Since it’s launch in 2014, Jet has quickly built up an active platform with a loyal following and a large selection of products. Regarding the pricing, the marketplace is quite similar to other eBay alternatives on this list. Jet currently charges no signup, monthly or listing fees. Instead sellers are charged a commission on any items sold.







6. Ebid



Ebid offers several merchant programs including, auctions, fixed- price transactions, and storefronts. The platform has a reasonable fee structure and is also a Google Shopping Marketplace Partner. One nice feature on the site is the “Ninja listing tool” that allows for bulk uploading.







7. iOffer



iOffer supports both an auction format as well as fixed price transactions. But, what truly makes iOffer unique is its swaps and trades platform. Sellers can automatically receive a storefront when they upgrade to a seller account. The store and all listings are free, and they will only pay a fee when items are sold.







8. Amazon Marketplace



Amazon Marketplace allows online sellers to sell new, used, collectable, and refurbished items alongside Amazon’s regular offerings. While you may get a good reach for your listings with Amazon, if you are looking for a break from seller fees, you won’t find them here. On Amazon, sellers can create either an individual or business account, each with different features. Both accounts have the option to use the “Fulfillment by Amazon” program, allowing sellers to store and ship their products from Amazon fulfillment centers. Individual accounts will incur fees only when an item sells- a feature that may work well for low sales volume. Professional accounts have a monthly charge but also have lower selling fees than individual accounts. With a professional account sellers can add their own products to Amazon.com, but individual accounts are limited to existing products.







9. Etsy



For those who make handmade items or sell vintage products or crafting supplies, Etsy is a serious alternative to eBay to consider. Etsy has its own unique culture and an exceptionally loyal following. Though setting up a storefront is free, fees are charged for listing items with an initial listing period of four months.







10. Newegg



Newegg got its beginning as an online retailer of computer hardware and software, but it has been expanding into more categories and inviting third party sellers to take part in the marketplace. Their categories now include: Apparel & Accessories, Arts and Crafts, Auto & Hardware, Baby, Beauty, Consumer Electronics, Home and Living, Toys, and Jewelry, among others. People who want to sell retail items should give this site a try. It is a lot like Amazon but with much cheaper fees and simpler fee structure.







11. TIAS



TIAS is one of the oldest marketplaces in the lot, offering fixed price transactions in antiques, collectibles, arts and crafts, and jewelry. The platform also provides sellers with various store formats as several levels of customer support. TIAS does have a minimum fee requirement, but if a seller’s TIAS commissions are higher than the minimum fee, then only the commission is paid. Other notable services include the submission of auctions automatically to eBay and sending selling listings to over 2000 classified ad networks.










12. Delcampe



Delcampe is an online auction specializing in antiques and collectibles. Major categories include stamps, coins, and postcards, though other items can also be found there. Like Ealtbay above, the fees at Delcampe are pretty reasonable, and there are a variety of payment options to choose from.







13. eCRATER



eCRATER offers a free web store builder and an online marketplace. There are currently millions of products listed there, and in addition to the free, easy-to-use store builder, sellers can use Google Wallet at checkout. Other notable features include that listed items are also submitted to Google Product Search, and sellers can import their products from eBay.







14. Hip eCommerce



Formly known as “Bidstart.” Hip eCommerce is a collection of three online market places specializing in collectibles: stamps, comic books, and post cards. The fees on this platform are about half that of eBay’s, so if you are dealing in these products it is definitely worth checking out.



15. Storenvy



Storenvy is an online platform that hosts about 20,000 creative entrepreneurs and small businesses, offering a total of over 350,000 different products. The best part of using Storenvy is that the service is totally free for both buyers and sellers.







16. Webstore

Webstore is a totally free online marketplace for buyers and sellers. They make their money via banner ads, so there are no fees. The platform offers both auction-style transactions as well as fixed price purchases. Another plus mentioned by one of our readers below, is that you can create a shorten, custom URL for advertising purposes.







17. Swap

Swap.com is a niche online marketplace like eBay that specializes in baby, kids, and maternity products, including a wide range of clothes, toys, books, decor, and movies. According to Swap.com, there are more than 10,000 unique products listed on the site at any time. Users can buy, sell, and even directly swap items through their website.






eBay Alternatives for New and Pre-Owned Fashion

18. Tradesy

Tradesy is a pretty active online market place for new and pre-owned clothing. They take a 9% commission, and you can transfer your earnings directly to Paypal. It’s a breeze to list new items; they even have a dedicated mobile app for the task. Their customer service is also pretty quick and responsive which is a big plus if you run into issues along the way. Another benefit that can come in handy is that they provide sellers with a shipping kit that includes instructions, tissue paper, a Tradesy sticker, and a prepaid mailing bag.







19. Asos Marketplace



At Asos Marketplace, fashion minded people from around the world can buy and sell new, pre-owned, and vintage fashion from a wide range of popular and independent designers. The site is easy to navigate, and all of the photos on the site feature regular people in regular conditions, so you get a better idea of what the clothes will look like out on the street. People on the site can set their own prices, so the savings can be really great, and the platform has a good reputation for its customer service and return policies.






Sites Like eBay for Buyers Only

20.Quibids



Quibids is a serious option for online buyers or business owners looking to update their equipment, furnishings, or other inventory. This is a fast moving penny auction site. You have to pay a small fee to place a bid (currently it’s less than a dollar), but the savings (as much as 95% off the retail price on a brand new item) can be shocking. But, it will take a little time getting used to the site and learning how it works. Once you get the hang of it, though, you can get some amazing deals. Just beware, it can get addictive!







21. Liquidation.com



The last of the alternatives to eBay, Liquidation.com is a marketplace where professional buyers can source commercial surplus inventory and government surplus assets in an online environment. Bulk products are sold by the truckload, pallet, or small package, and conditions range from new in a box to customer returns and used. Product categories include: apparel, computers, electronics, housewares, industrial equipment, and even vehicles.







22. Overstock

As the name suggest, Overstock got its start in 1999 selling surplus stock at less than wholesale prices. Lately, however, they added their own merchandise. Though users can’t currently sell their own products on the platform, it’s a great place for buyers to secure items at bargain prices.







23. GovernmentAuctions.org

GovernmentAuctions.org provides a wide range of items from government and police auctions including federal, state, and even local goods that are surplus, seized, or abandoned. If you are located in US or Canada, and you are looking for bargains on a wide range of valuable items either for personal use or for resale, then this is definitely a site to check out.







24. Aliexpress

AliExpress is part of Alibaba.com. It offers a wide range of products at wholesale prices complete with buyer protection and express delivery with full tracking. According to AliExpress, there are currently more than 5,900 different types of products from over 44 different industries listed on the site.







25. DHGate.com

DHgate.com is one of the top online wholesale marketplaces for goods made in China, connecting international business and consumer buyers with Chinese wholesale factories and sellers. DHgate currently lists over 30 million products in a wide range of categories. DHGate also promises to protect the quality of products you receive by carefully reviewing sellers and withholding your payments to them until you’re happy with your product.

So, there you have it, 25 good alternatives to eBay for online sellers and buyers. Have you had any experiences using these platforms? Know of any others that I may have missed? Please let us know in the comments below.





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Filed in: Business Tips Tags: Alternatives to eBay, eBay Alternatives for online sellers, Ecommerce, Online Storefront