Trading Post launch online auction service

Sensis has launched an online auction service on its www.tradingpost.com.au website in the hopes of attracting disgruntled eBay users.

Sensis has launched an online auction service on its www.tradingpost.com.au website in the hopes of attracting disgruntled eBay users.

The activation of the online auction service is just one feature of a major overhaul of the trading post website that has been some 18 months in development. The move comes after a strong upward swing on the site’s stats – which has increased its visitors by some 33% over the last three years, reaching a high of 2 million uniques per month in March.

Sensis chief executive Bruce Akhurst commented: “We’ve recognised for some time that there’s a huge growth area in online.”

The competition for the market share of the online auction service is fierce – recently second hand retailer Cash Converters launched an online auction site, joining conventional auction sites such as Grays Online in the fight for the top slot.

Currently Ebay has an estimated two-thirds or more of the market, with other players, including Grays Online and Oztion.com.au, sharing the remainder.

Ebay spokesman Daniel Feiler said more than 5 million Australians used eBay every month.