It may be a reflection of the harsh economic times. eBay is falling in step with Starbucks and giving the customer some financial incentive:

“SAN FRANCISCO - EBay Inc. said Tuesday it will cut by up to 50 per cent the fees it charges sellers to list their goods online, in an effort to boost listings and keep pace with other burgeoning e-commerce sites.”

link: EBay lowers listing fees to boost number of items for sale; commissions rise

With the economic downturn, there may be a steady decline in buyers. With the lower listing fees and increased commissions, eBay hopes to maintain sales volume. It seems that the auction giant is willing to take a bit less and hope that this is reflective in the item pricing. Such moves by corporations like eBay and Starbucks may be the best indicator of the grim economic difficulties in the near future.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Tags: ebay, starbucks, fees, commissions, economy