Is Ebay Too Big For It's Own Good?

By Author: Cavegoat
Total Articles: 4
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When it comes to online auction sites, the first name that comes to mind is eBay. The success of the dot-com isn't by accident. eBay is a pioneer as an online auction site but has additionally forged a way as an evolving, expanding business. Since their inception in 1995, eBay has spread its wings to acquire other businesses that suit their interests.

Today, eBay has revenue of more than $8.5 billion a year and holds stake in a number of other web sites. In 2002, eBay bought the e-commerce pay site PayPal, which has become a widespread method of payment in online transactions. They own Half.com, a fixed price commerce site that primarily includes books, movies, and music; Rent.com, the largest apartment rental web site; Shopping.com, a price comparison service; Stubhub.com, a service that acts as an online marketplace for tickets to sporting events, concerts, and other events; and purchased Skype.com, a software application that allows users to make voice calls through the internet, though they later sold it.

In addition, eBay holds a less than 25 percent stake in Craigslist, a 18.37 percent stake in MercadoLibre, ...
... eBay's Latin American partner, as well as ownership of smaller online sales and classified marketplaces including Up4Sale.com, Internet Auction Co., iBazar, Baazee.com, CARad.com, Tradera, GittiGidiyor, and Marktplaats.nl. While these acquisitions have made eBay more widespread, critics believe that they have overstretched their bounds. Some say that eBay has lost the charm that they once had when they started.

While eBay is no doubt a large profitable business, there are still independent online classified sites available that offer similar services with a home-grown feel. Cavegoat.com is an online classifieds community where users can post classified ads. There is a full assortment of jobs available from accounting and business, legal and non-profit, as well as sales and technology jobs. Ads include housing, autos, services, pets, adult interests, and items for sale or items wanted.

Additionally, Cavegoat.com encourages interaction with an active online community forum, announcements, and lots of opportunities for connections through activities, barter, carpool and ride shares, free stuff, prayer requests, and a lost and found. There is an extensive personal ads section which includes all levels of friendship and intimacy,from pen pals to a serious relationship, dating to business lunch, as well as missing connections and casual encounters. They have a full line of housing classifieds including rental apartments and houses, houses for purchase, office and commercial rental, and storage facilities, as well as niche needs such as short term rental, roommates need, vacation rentals, and a housing wanted section. Cavegoat.com has all of the features of larger classified ads sites, but with an intimate feel of a burgeoning community on the verge of something big.