Recently I have been spending a considerable amount of time looking at the various different online market places, auction websites and other portals. I am surprised at just how many people are launching website with a single minded focus to wipe out eBay and take its place.

Most of the websites are bad copies of ebay in look and features. Only a few have innovated anything new and even if they have innovated something new, there are so much obsessed with Ebay and to take over eBay that they are not looking at the real market.

Another trend which I am noticing at almost all the website is the effort to attract sellers (read as eBay Power Sellers) to their website to get business. Some even offer zero fees. I never believe in a business model in which revenue comes from advertisement only. Others are most concerned about lowering the fees than adding value to attract buyers. All these only to get the sellers from ebay to their website.

I personally believe that the market trend has changed a lot since the launch of eBay with time and experience. Initially it was a seller’s market place, where the sellers were selling the stuff to the buyers and they did not have much of choice. However, now it is a buyer’s market place.

The power sellers think if they are not selling on eBay and move to different website, they would bring their customers with them as well. They cannot be more wrong. There might be a temporary impact on eBay and some customers might move with them but not for long. Very soon the buyers on eBay forget the seller and some other seller quickly takes their place and business goes on as normal.

Today I was going through another online market place launched on 29 April, 2008, Wigix. I must admit, I am impressed at their innovative ideas and features. However, they are also too much obsessed on wiping out eBay. I just happened to go through all the blog coverage they had managed (which tells me a great marketing rollout and contacts). Baring a small number of articles, all the others have mentioned the word eBay and Wigix attempt to kill eBay.

I would be very sad if Wigix fails in their attempt as some very good innovation will go down the drain. Agreed, they have got the press coverage, the blog coverage and all. Still I have one question. What benefit does the buyer get over eBay? Why will they shift their loyalty from eBay to wigix? I could not find any answer for that.

Common, the online market place is a big enough place for eBay and you to co-exist. And to beat eBay one does not necessarily try to bring down eBay. They can beat eBay by going ahead of them as well.

Disclaimer: I have interest in the online market place and planning a venture named Zaakii.

P.S.: However, I am open for collaboration and would be glad if I could collaborate with Wigix (for their great innovative ideas). However, I would be collaborating with them or for that matter any one, if they are not obsessed on killing eBay and are venturing out in the segment to offer something completely new and unseen to the users.