2007-06-27 00:22:47 - Several online antique dealers have turned their attention away from online auction site Ebay.com and are focusing on other online outlets to sell their goods.

As part of the 'SS2BM- (Summer Solstice to Blue Moon) promotion organised by members of Pheebay.com, online sellers are exploring alternative means to market their goods due to increasing unease over the uncertainty of Ebay as a economically viable and stable trading platform.

An Ebay seller using the handle ‘Rainbowseeker' has recently begun to list on alternative

online auction sites and marketplaces to Ebay, as she explains:

'I have begun to use other trading platforms due to ever increasing commission fees on Ebay. Also, Ebay have recently made changes to the feedback system, which seems to have polarised and alienated the relationship between the buyer and seller. At the moment, I am still listing on Ebay, but am spreading my wings to other venues such as Ebid.net and ECrater.com."

Also many traders are starting to create their own websites. Sharron Mirikitani is a veteran of online trading platforms and sells on a variety of auction sites as well as having her own website at www.collectibletreasuresemporium.com. Other antique traders, such as the-antique-store.com and outoftheattic4u.com have developed their own sites, as well as listing on auction and marketplace sites such as Ebid.net, Hibidder.com, Zolanta.com, Tazbar.com, Plunderhere.com, and Blujay.com

The 'SS2BM' promotion is intended to highlight to online traders that alternative means to Ebay are available. However, the organisers of 'SS2BM' are also keen to emphasise to sellers that a significant amount of groundwork needs to be undertaken if any success is to be achieved on the smaller alternatives to Ebay, as one member of Pheebay.com commented:

'Too many "sellers" think all they have to do is list their products then sit back and watch the money roll in. Wake up this is the real world! There is no such thing as a free lunch! It is your business'promote it!"

Members of Pheebay.com advocate other means in which sellers can promote their listings, namely by using blogs and social networking sites such as Myspace, Bebo and Squidoo. Furthermore, Pheebay.com also encourage that sellers ‘divert' their Ebay buyers to their independent websites and other auction sites by including promotional leaflets in any Ebay orders, as well as including links in any confirmation emails."

As part of the 'SS2BM- promotion, many participating antique traders are offering generous discounts in an attempt to lure buyers away from Ebay. Such discounted items can be found by entering "SS2BM" in the various sales site's search engines. Details of 'SS2BM- can be found in the forums at Pheebay.com, and sellers taking part in "SS2BM" can be located at www.culturaltransmission.com/pages/b2bsellers.html