eBay fixes sights on fixed sales

San Jose, Calif. -- Internet auction giant eBay is lowering fees for "Buy It Now" listings to encourage fixed-price transactions, analysts said.

Growth in merchandise volume slowed to 8 percent in the California company's most recent fiscal quarter The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The auction business of eBay made up 57 percent of revenue, which reached $2.2 billion in the quarter, the Times said. But, some analysts said the novelty of online auction sales has begun to loose its luster, especially as other retailers have made online shopping easier.

"Buying online has changed. Retail sites no longer make customers choose between convenience and price," Scot Wingo, chief executive of ChannelAdvisor told the Times.

"The current system puts eBay at a disadvantage," he said.

"Clearly there's a strong buyer preference for fixed price," said Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay Marketplace, which includes the eBay site.

eBay is also changing its payment options, no longer permitting cash or check transactions in order to help curb fraud, the report said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.