Oztion

Oztion - A Lost Aussie Cause

The Aussie Auction site that just does not seem to be going anywhere fast

I joined Oztion as a seller (and buyer) in June 2008 and I can only report that I have yet to be impressed or rewarded for using this site. I say this with much sadness as I was part of the "free wave" that ebay bestowed on Oztion on more than one occasion.

By that I mean, each time that ebay decided to show their true selves and be "Feebay" again, a whole wave of sellers and buyers in Australia would flock over to Oztion. It was even reported each time how the numbers of Oztion members swelled. I remember the first time. There were so many new members that the Oztion servers became overloaded. But despite all these repeated freebies from Feebay, Oztion still managed not to capitalize on their repeated windfalls. After all this time, and freebies from Feebay and change in ownership and empty promises, I can only conclude that Oztion is just not going to make it.

As I said in "Goodbye Ebay", I have now finally left ebay for good. But I have been back and forth I must admit. Each time I moved my stock, through toil and many sleepless hours, over to Oztion after a Feebay-stunt, Oztion proved disappointing and the only way to survive was to move back again to Feebay albeit with much reluctance.

Oztion, despite promises to better and more actively promote their site (like after it was bought over and there was supposedly an influx of capital specifically for this purpose) has, to me, failed to deliver.

This experience, I concede, may not be a universal experience by all Oztion sellers and buyers, but it certainly is not unique to me alone. Just a few days ago, I heard of someone else closing shop at Oztion coz. there was just no business (i.e. lack of buyer which mainly stems from Oztion still remaining an unknown player in the field). Other people have also told me over time that their Oztion sale is slow slow slow.

Oztion also becoming a Feebay site? Fee Hikes

Well, it looks like if Oztion cannot emulate the success that used to be Ebay, they are certainly trying to follow in their footsteps in terms of fees. Admittedly a small attempt but it is definitely in that direction.

This is the insult to injury. How can they ask for money when they cannot even deliver on their original promise(s)?

Today (19 Oct, 2009) I received an email from Oztion that their fees are going up. Not a huge increase like Feebay's but given its lack of market power, that is insulting in this climate and can only hasten my departure. And of course there are the same old promises again of improving their "marketing activities to attract new buyers", to improve the "page layouts, streamlining current process", etc. etc. All the same old promises as before. From the time I joined in 2008 to now, I cannot honestly say that I have seen that many improved changes on Oztion; most definitely not at the administrative end.

So I ask you, is Oztion's latest move a good example of shooting themselves in the foot or not?

Closing your Oztion vshop

Oztion does not make it very easy to close your vshop.

I have just closed my oztion vshop (date: 4 Dec 09) but I had to wander around for 20 minutes, from link to link, tab to tab trying to find where I could go to close the shop. Oztion FAQ was of no help either. So if you want to close your vshop, here is how:

1. Log into your account
2. Go to this url: www.oztion.com.au/secure/vshops/close.aspx
3. The page will ask you to confirm you want to close. Just follow the instructions to do so.