Top Sites Like eBay for Sellers and Buyers in 2023

In recent times, more online marketplaces have emerged due to the increase in the number of Internet users who prefer to shop online.

And with each Ecommerce business offering its services to a unique target market and a promise of high revenue potential, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs.

One popular Ecommerce market for selling and buying almost anything is eBay.

However, there are others that offer similar and even cheaper services.

So, whether you want to shop for the best deals or looking to start an ecommerce business and earn thousands of dollars in ecommerce sales, keep reading to discover sites like eBay for sellers and buyers in 2023.

What is eBay and How Does it Work?

eBay is an online marketplace that facilitates the sales of goods to merchants and consumers globally.

Although the Ecommerce platform doesn’t sell its own products, it enables online sellers to auction a wide range of products to potential buyers, including antique items.

Buyers can search for what they want and bid for it based on what they think it’s worth.

However, some product listings have fixed prices, and in-demand items like handmade products, appliance parts, pre-owned or discontinued products, collectibles, and vintage items have higher prices.

Because you can find a wide variety of rare items on eBay, it’s the go-to Ecommerce platform for vintage enthusiasts and collectible buyers.

You can check out our comprehensive guide on how to start an eBay business.

Let’s take a look at how this online marketplace works for both buyers and sellers:

Free Accounts

eBay allows you to shop for items as a guest, but there are limitations.

For instance, you won’t be allowed to message members, and you can’t resell items that you don’t want.

However, it’s mandatory to register if you want to bid for or sell items on the online selling platform.

The account is free, and you can choose between a personal or a business account.

It requires only your email address, username, and password.

A personal account is suitable for small sellers as it allows them to list a few items, while a business account is ideal for people who want to sell a wide range of products.

Afterward, you can input your payment details.

Before now, eBay upheld PayPal as its preferred payment method.

However, users can now pay for products using other payment methods like Google Pay, Apple Pay, debit cards, and credit cards.

And sellers receive their commission fee from the Ecommerce marketplace directly into their bank account.

The Product Listing Process

On eBay, sellers can list items with photos, product descriptions, product conditions, preferred payment methods, and shipping costs.

You’ll also choose between the Buy it Now and the auction-only options. 

Buy it Now implies that you’ll set a fixed sale price and the number of items available. The buyer who pays first owns the product.

On the other hand, the auction only allows sellers to list items for a specific time while buyers bid for them.

By the end of the bidding period, the highest bidders pay for the items.

It’s important to note that eBay charges a listing fee per item, also known as an insertion fee. It’s non-refundable and charged per product category.

However, if you have an eBay store, you can get up to 250 listings or more without paying a listing fee.

Receiving Payouts

When you sell items on the online selling platform, your payout will become available after two days.

However, it’ll take an additional 1 to 3 business days for your bank to send funds to your checking account or 30 minutes if you’re eligible for Mastercard or Visa debit card payouts.

eBay automatically deducts selling fees and other fees before sending the proceeds from your sales.

Is There a Good Alternative to eBay?

Although eBay is a popular online marketplace, there are a variety of marketplaces that offer similar items for sale, lower seller fees, and branding tools, among others.

They include Facebook Marketplace, Walmart, Amazon, Ruby Lane, Etsy, eBid, and Bonanza.

Who is eBay’s Biggest Competitor?

The three biggest competitors that eBay has are:

1. Amazon

Amazon is a large Ecommerce marketplace that dominates up to half of the industry with its huge consumer base and wide range of products.

From handmade items, t-shirts, gaming consoles, tech products, and pet supplies to consumer electronics, Amazon has it all.

Unlike eBay, you don’t have to pay a listing fee, which reduces the cost for active sellers.

Also, while eBay pays more attention to sellers, Amazon is customer-centric as it provides features like free product testing for active customers and excellent customer service.

The international marketplace offers a membership program known as Amazon Prime, which provides perks like 24 to 48 hours shipping, deals, and discounts.

Small sellers or drop shippers can also take advantage of Amazon’s fulfillment service to deliver products to customers in various locations, as Amazon has warehouses across the globe.

Amazon is highly competitive for sellers due to its large number of site visitors per month, catalog of products, and other useful features.

So, you may want to reduce your price or deploy other marketing strategies to succeed on the online selling platform.

You can also read our how to sell on Amazon for Beginners guide.

2. Walmart

Walmart is one of the biggest brick-and-mortar retail corporations in the United States.

But with its entry into the online marketplace, it could be a knockout for eBay and a speculative competition for Amazon.

Although the Walmart marketplace displays products from its physical stores, sellers will have access to Walmart’s shoppers.

This presents a great opportunity for new sellers that are still building their customer base.

However, you’ll need approval to become eligible for registration on the online platform because the company wants to ensure that your business is legit and your products are high-quality.

When compared to eBay, Walmart marketplace doesn’t charge a setup or monthly maintenance fee.

But sellers will pay between 3 to 20% as a referral fee after a successful sale.

You may qualify for lower fees if your products are in the baby, health and personal care, groceries, beauty, and electronics accessories categories.

The Walmart marketplace offers fulfillment services with low shipping costs. It enables sellers to deliver products within 2 to 3 days.

Sellers can also optimize their listings to drive more sales using Walmart’s listing quality dashboard.

Overall, Walmart’s online marketplace is for people who already have experience in the Ecommerce business and looking to expand their reach using the free tools the platform offers.

If you have the registration requirements, which are basically your business registration and tax details, you’re welcome to join as a seller.

You may want to check out our how to sell on Walmart guide to start your Ecommerce business on the right foot.

3. Etsy

Etsy is one of the popular niche markets for handcrafted products and vintage items.

It’s also an online community for crafters; you can expect to find all sorts of craft supplies.

Over the years, Etsy has advanced into an online marketplace with millions of active sellers and active buyers.

And upon registration, you can start listing products.

The Ecommerce marketplace charges a flat rate of $0.20 per product listing, whether the item is sold or not.

But Etsy provides a 4-month duration, which is enough time to make sales.

There’s also a commission rate of 6.5%, which is cheaper compared to eBay’s 13.25% selling fees on most categories.

Etsy is the perfect Ecommerce market if you sell vintage collectibles or produce handmade items.

And with the tools the platform provides, it’s easy to build a profitable brand.

If you’re still at a loss on where to begin, here’s how to start an Etsy business.

What is eBay’s Weakness

eBay has two distinct weaknesses, which are:

High Fees

eBay’s selling fees are exorbitant compared to other major marketplaces.

The final value fees, which include the cost of the product, sales tax, and shipping fees, could go as low as 5% and as high as 15%, depending on the category.

There’s also an additional charge of $0.30 per order, and sellers can only pay 2.35% as commission on sales if they sell over $7500, which may not favor a small Ecommerce business owner.

Even for more established businesses, the fees associated with setting up an eBay store, listing more than 250 products, and advertising quickly add up, leaving sellers with little to zero profits.

No Growth Strategy

Although eBay launched its first mobile app in 2008, it has rebranded and added new features to suit modern-day sellers and buyers.

However, it hasn’t considered selling its own products like Amazon, which leaves its sustainability in doubt.

And with the high number of sites like eBay available today with more juicy offers like a low commission fee and a modern user interface, sellers and active buyers may as well ditch eBay.

Sites Like eBay

Here are other sites like eBay based on multiple categories:

Sites Like eBay for Clothes

If you’re looking to make money from selling clothes, below is our list of top sites like eBay for clothes.

1. Poshmark

Poshmark is a platform for selling pre-owned, new, and vintage clothes, including luxury items, wedding dresses, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children.

It features popular brands like Nike, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, and Under Armour.

The registration and product listing on the platform is free, but sellers pay a commission fee of C$3.95 for all listings below C$20 and 20% of the sale price for orders above C$20.

But can you make money on Poshmark?

The company offers a prepaid shipping label, which means you don’t have to pay shipping costs.

And you’ll receive payment when the buyer has confirmed the delivery of the product.

Poshmark has a social network where active users can follow each other as well as like, share, and comment on listings.

It also holds a virtual buying and selling event on its app, featuring a huge range of brands and themes.

Such events present opportunities for buyers to get their products in the faces of hundreds of thousands of potential customers.

You may also want to check out how to start a clothing business by buying wholesale so you can become your own boss!

2. The RealReal

The RealReal is an online marketplace for reselling women’s, men’s, and kiddies’ luxury clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, watches, and other accessories.

It accepts items from a long list of fashion brands, including Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Valentino, and Burberry.

You’ll select the brands you want to sell when creating an account.

For bulky items, you qualify for the company’s white glove service, which means an agent will pick up the items from your home.

Otherwise, you’ll ship them through a prepaid label or drop them off at a consignment store for valuation.

Once the company ascertains the authenticity of the clothes, they’ll be listed for sale.

Unlike other platforms, this Ecommerce marketplace places a price tag on your items and takes care of your online sales, making it easy for you to sell at a faster rate.

And the company also charges between 20 to 70%, depending on the sale price of your consignment.

On average, items for sale on The RealReal are purchased within 30 days.

But if yours doesn’t sell, the company will return them to you at no cost, or you can donate them to charity. 

3. Vestiaire Collective

Vestiaire Collective is an international marketplace for reselling luxury clothes.

It accepts items from over 12,000 fashion and designer brands, which gives you an opportunity to list a huge range of luxury items.

The platform requires you to take original photos of the list items and input a short description that will appeal to potential customers.

It also provides a free and insured prepaid label, so you can send the items for authentication. 

Vestiaire also allows sellers to set their own prices and get paid up to 85% of sales.

And there’s a chat feature that allows sellers to interact with buyers, which means you can negotiate for better deals.

Unlike other platforms that use algorithms to feature only fast-selling products, this Ecommerce market showcases items that are relevant to individual buyers.

The platform helps you to find potential buyers by sending notifications to shoppers about items they’re likely to purchase.

And you don’t have to worry about your items coming back because there are no returns.

If you’re attracted to fashion, you should consider how to start up a boutique business and become an independent business owner.

Sites Like eBay But Cheaper

1. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is incorporated into its social network, allowing users to list items for free while targeting their locality.

Because Facebook has an estimated 2.9 billion monthly users, you can list your items on its marketplace, and millions of people in your target market will see them.

The platform allows you to sell both new and refurbished items, including vehicles and homes.

As such, you can read our guide on how to start a rental property business.

The United States version of Facebook Marketplace has extra features, such as the ability to set up checkout for your Facebook shop and Shopify store, allowing sellers to reach more potential buyers.

However, the platform charges a selling fee of 5% on your first shipment and a flat rate of $0.40 on subsequent shipments costing $8 or less. 

You may also be interested in Facebook marketplace shipping, so you’re armed with the right info before you start doing business on the platform.

2. Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane is an online community for vintage enthusiasts and sellers of fashion items, art, jewelry, and other high-quality items.

The platform has a stringent product vetting process to ensure that shoppers get an unforgettable shopping experience. 

Although Ruby Lane has a global audience, its active customers come from Canada, the United States, Germany, Australia, and the UK.

The selling process is easy, and you can expect to find savvy customers who’re willing to spend more money.

There are no setup or listing fees for sellers, but you’ll pay a monthly maintenance fee of $25.

However, you’ll get a rebate if you list a minimum of 15 items in a month. 

3. Craigslist

Craigslist is among the oldest advertising sites where you can buy and sell almost anything.

Some things you can sell on the platform are vintage items, musical instruments, clothing, toys, and video games.

You can even sell yourself in terms of the skills you offer and land a gig work with ease.

Listing items on Craigslist is free, and there are no selling fees either.

However, the platform may charge between $3 to $5 for real estate, vehicle, and job listings.

When it comes to shipping fees, payment for goods, and disputes, Craigslist doesn’t play any role.

They connote that payment should be made in person with a personal check or cash.

Therefore, it’s up to you to figure out how to make money on Craigslist without getting scammed. 

Another thing about this platform is that it doesn’t have an international reach.

So, if your goal is to sell to a local target market, Craigslist is your best bet.

You may want to check out Facebook Marketplace vs Craigslist to find out which one suits your buying or selling needs.

4. Wish

Wish is the one-stop shop for Gen Zs, offering a variety of products.

From consumer electronics, cosmetics, drinking and smoking accessories, and TikTok leggings to mobile phones and accessories, the platform has a huge consumer base. 

Previously, Wish had several counterfeit products, which resulted in poor customer reviews.

After its rebranding, it featured a stringent product vetting process, and you can’t become a seller unless you’re invited to join.

Listing products on the Ecommerce market is free.

However, you’ll pay between 13 to 18% on total sales as commission and a transaction fee of $0.30, depending on whether you’re shipping orders to the European Union or non-EU destinations.

Although the fees seem expensive, you’ll earn incremental revenue from selling low-ticket products in high volumes.

You’ll also save money on ads as Wish displays specific products to its massive customer base using visitor demographics and wishlists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

Our top list of sites like eBay features an array of marketplaces for collectible buyers, vintage items, luxury clothes, jewelry, accessories, tech products, and much more.

Whether you’re buying or selling, ensure to check whether the platform has a massive customer base, excellent customer service, and, more importantly, lower fees.