4 ms·

I'd really like to see something replace Ebay/Paypal and be more like "the old Ebay". This is an interesting idea, but there are a number of aspects about the i

I'd really like to see something replace Ebay/Paypal and be more like "the old Ebay". This is an interesting idea, but there are a number of aspects about the initial version of Fobo that seem to fall quite short: --97 minute auctions only? This might be great for electronics that are prolific like Apple hardware or game consoles, but it doesn't seem appropriate for most electronics, of which fewer exist and which have fewer potential buyers. --Only available via a native smartphone app on a single platform? No web-based interface? It might work in San Francisco, but it probably wouldn't elsewhere, and I don't like it philosophically. --It's really expensive. Ebay is horrible these days if you're selling a single expensive item without paying for a (relatively inexpensive) merchant account. This compares unfavorably even to the full price. Maybe I'm just the opposite of the target audience.

ed 13y ago
Note we're in the ballpark of eBay fees. FOBO charges 15%, a 2% premium over eBay's total fees, which they aren't very upfront about (10% for eBay, 3% for PayPal).
- discostrings 13y ago
  I think the added transparency in Fobo's pricing is a great feature. Ebay's recent change to a flat-rate system was horrible for occasional sellers. Until late 2012 or early 2013, the fee for computers and tablets was only 4% fee, making a total of 7% after Paypal. What some don't realize is that these rates are still available--for $16/month. When selling a computer or tablet for anything over $270, it's actually less costly to pay for an Ebay Store account for a month and pay a total fee of 7% + $16 rather than 13%. It's an easy option, but it's not at all obvious to those who aren't in-the-know. I'd be curious to know how many people sell computers on Ebay for >$1000 and pay the full 10% fee--I would expect it's a small number. So if you weren't familiar with Ebay but a friend gave you the tip to sell your $1000 computer with an Ebay Store, you'd end up with $64 more dollars from your sale than you would with Fobo--$914 instead of $850. I appreciate that Fobo makes understanding costs easier, but that's not very helpful when those easy-to-understand costs are still higher than the extortionate, only-paid-by-those-who-didn't-read-their-selling-options costs from Ebay. I think a more competitive pricing strategy would reflect the true base price on eBay, plus a small premium for the convenience of not having to research it. Perhaps there's justification for that level of a premium, and Ebay's choice to horribly obfuscate pricing has made it seem even more reasonable to those who aren't familiar with Ebay's pricing. However, I still don't think that makes Fobo particularly cost-competitive or a particularly good value unless the service can bring a huge audience to the auction.

ed 13y ago

Note we're in the ballpark of eBay fees. FOBO charges 15%, a 2% premium over eBay's total fees, which they aren't very upfront about (10% for eBay, 3% for PayPal).

discostrings 13y ago
I think the added transparency in Fobo's pricing is a great feature. Ebay's recent change to a flat-rate system was horrible for occasional sellers. Until late 2012 or early 2013, the fee for computers and tablets was only 4% fee, making a total of 7% after Paypal. What some don't realize is that these rates are still available--for $16/month. When selling a computer or tablet for anything over $270, it's actually less costly to pay for an Ebay Store account for a month and pay a total fee of 7% + $16 rather than 13%. It's an easy option, but it's not at all obvious to those who aren't in-the-know. I'd be curious to know how many people sell computers on Ebay for >$1000 and pay the full 10% fee--I would expect it's a small number. So if you weren't familiar with Ebay but a friend gave you the tip to sell your $1000 computer with an Ebay Store, you'd end up with $64 more dollars from your sale than you would with Fobo--$914 instead of $850. I appreciate that Fobo makes understanding costs easier, but that's not very helpful when those easy-to-understand costs are still higher than the extortionate, only-paid-by-those-who-didn't-read-their-selling-options costs from Ebay. I think a more competitive pricing strategy would reflect the true base price on eBay, plus a small premium for the convenience of not having to research it. Perhaps there's justification for that level of a premium, and Ebay's choice to horribly obfuscate pricing has made it seem even more reasonable to those who aren't familiar with Ebay's pricing. However, I still don't think that makes Fobo particularly cost-competitive or a particularly good value unless the service can bring a huge audience to the auction.