To Ebay or not to Ebay...

[FiNiPa]

this is the question... I couldn't find any answer for searching through the threads :)

After some time (for me) of development I am very close at finishing my App. Let's say 99%, documentation and Website not included ;) I have already signed up with ShareIt!, created a keygen and all this stuff, probably going to use PayPal later on, but I have heard of many of my friends buying through Ebay.
What is your opinion in using Ebay as selling plattform? Pros and Cons?

Thank you for your opinions.

FiNiPa

Edit: Hey oh wow, just noticed this is my FIRST post here, can't believe it, I read here every day, my oh my...this is really a nice place here.

[soniCron]

Considering the number of problems developers face with pirates on eBay, I can only assume it's a lucrative market. But don't limit yourself to eBay. Try other auction sites, such as Amazon auctions. I'd really like to experiment with this as well. A problem I can forsee is the process isn't automatic, (or can it be?,) so the time investment may not be worth it.

[FiNiPa]

True, but as I have no idea of how much I will be selling?? I have seen several guys providing a link to their website for more information AND of course the choice of buying through other systems like ShareIt!
Isn't it also a great marketing option, even when nothing is bought?

[JoKa]

For me, Ebay was a waste of time. People expect low prices and for a few bucks you can already get a full price game in a shiny box. Ebayers won't expect a license key. Of course, I only tried Ebay Germany, it may be better in other countrys, but I doubt it.

[FiNiPa]

Well I'm from germany, too :) Tach auch :D Yes, this Geiz ist geil mentality is fatal, but if it's not selling then could it be marketing for low-budget??

[soniCron]

Of course. Nobody goes to eBay to buy things full price. By attracting users at a reduced price point, you stand to capture a wider market: people who otherwise wouldn't buy the game. This is done all the time in other fields ("Contact us for a quote!") and is valuable at expanding markets. I recommend you read Joel Spolsky's article, Camels and Rubber Duckies (http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/CamelsandRubberDuckies.html) for more information.

[FiNiPa]

just finished reading it :) Now I know that I know nothing now. :eek:

[ManuelMarino]

A very good site for digital contents is www.plimus.com , I think far better than ebay or paypal.

Let me know.

[FiNiPa]

A very good site for digital contents is www.plimus.com , I think far better than ebay or paypal.

Let me know.

Well 'm not entirely sure ;)

HTTP Server Error 503

No available server to handle this request

[soniCron]

Well 'm not entirely sure ;) WHOA! :mad: Thanks for pointing this out, FiNiPa!

[FiNiPa]

WHOA! :mad: Thanks for pointing this out, FiNiPa!

Ups!, yeah that's pretty Bulls**t for Plimus users, hope it will work very soon again, sorry to be the transmitter of bad news :( , hope I won't have to hang for it like in the good ol' days ;)

[Promaginy]

eBay is not just about garage sales and used items. There are lots of companies that use the Buy It Now function to sell full retail games or even key unlocks for new games to users. I just purchased an access key to Guild Wars - he emailed me the key and it was seamless to get everything working.

I was toying with the idea of selling some of my titles through this method to at least generate some traffic and sales. Not to mention is appears to help with SEO since eBay is referenced so frequently!

[papillon]

There are lots of companies that use the Buy It Now function to sell full retail games or even key unlocks for new games to users. I just purchased an access key to Guild Wars - he emailed me the key and it was seamless to get everything working.


... Of course, there are also lots of pirates selling keys on ebay... :)

Not saying that your seller was, though.

[S2P]

Selling your games on auction sites may be a waste of your time and money, until at least you have a game worth buying and the reputation of buying your game increases. From experience we have found that new popular releases of games that are out on the market today, tend to sell well, but the high volumes you would need to make any sort of money out of it other than sell the stock you have been unable to shift through your online store or game shop in town, is a sure way of shifting unwanted stock.