I belong to several collectors’ discussion groups online, and the buzz lately has been about how eBay — for most of us, the primary outlet for both buying and selling collectibles — is implementing new changes.  One change, that should be relatively beneficial for sellers, is the ability to list any number of identical items for a month for only 35 cents – a big change from the old fee schedule.  This change will take place in mid to late September, and I plan to take advantage of it.

However, another change that I don’t approve of is that eBay is shifting toward prohibiting everything except online payments.  Of course, 99 percent of online payments are paid through PayPal, which is owned by eBay.  This change is angering so many people that I believe many of my fellow collectors will stop buying and selling on eBay entirely.

All of eBay’s changes can be bad news for anyone who owns an eBay drop off store.  Not only will eBay stores either have to raise their prices or absorb the higher costs themselves, but the negative publicity could hurt their business as people shy away from supporting eBay and its big corporation mentality.

Of course, eBay is so big these days that even if some people rebel, there will always be plenty others to take their places.  So don’t get too concerned yet — if you have an eBay store, chances are you will be able to enjoy the financial freedom of owning your own business for a long while to come.

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