The Name 'Kijiji' Isn’t Cutting It for eBay

eBay (EBAY) is having second thoughts about how easy it will be to spread the Kijiji brand in the U.S. The company is testing out the name “eBay Classifieds” in two cities, San Antonio and Pittsburgh. A letter sent out to Kijiji members states:

We here at Kijiji thought it made a lot of sense to start using the eBay brand name. After all, we are part of the eBay family and we are a classifieds site…so “eBay Classifieds” just seemed like a good idea.

Maybe it also has something to do with the “j”s and “i”s blending together beyond recognition in “Kijiji.” It’s not just the name that needs work. The number of visitors to Kijiji sites worldwide was up only 7 percent in January to 23.2 million, while Craigslist grew six times faster and widened the gap. It ended January with 41.4 million unique visitors (comScore numbers).

In the U.S., Kijiji is experiencing much stronger growth, but its 3.7 million unique visitors in January is only a tenth of that of Craigslist (which had 39.4 million U.S. unique visitors). A year ago, Kijiji vowed to become No. 1 in the U.S. It is still far from that goal. And Oodle, which just signed a deal to power Facebook’s classifieds (in addition to MySpace’s and AOL’s), is catching up from below.

Kijiji is going to need more than a name change to challenge Craigslist.

Original post

Comments

[Eunice:]

A name change may be in order, but EBay Classifieds will clearly take in the wrong direction.
Let us not forget the uncountable hordes of former eBayers who cringe in horror at anything remotely related to eBay.
The eBay brand has been tarnished beyond repair.

Mar 01 03:14 PM

[eBay +++:]

As I think Scott WIngo has said "eBay Local" makes sense. Easy to remember and simple. ebaylocal.com

Mar 01 04:23 PM

[eBay +++:]

can you stop pumping bonbagle, the site flat-out sucks.

Mar 02 01:03 AM

[SayItAintSoJoe:]

Or just quit pumping all other sites....they all suck !
I've spent many many hours listing on other sites for NO reward....who wants to go site to site to site when ebay is a one stop.
Not an ebay cheerleader here but hey folks...ebay is where the customers flock .
I have dealt with my frustration and aggrivation with ebay also but the bottom line is that ebay is still one of the top 5 sites a new computer user visits and when someone is searching for ANYTHING it can be found on ebay.
Yes ebay needs severe help with customer service and relations, they are high priced for sellers, they make changes every week, but still that's where the customers are and where I need to be selling...not somewhere else sulking, & having a temper tantrum because ebay pissed me off.

Mar 02 08:51 AM

[Trish:]

I have to agree that I'm tired of hearing the bonanzle plug, as well. I tried doing some shopping on that site to get a feel of it before I decide to sell there. Plus, since I don't shop at ebay anymore, I thought it would be a good way to give a sale to a new bonanzle seller. Well, I have to tell you that it was the worst shopping/browsing experience I have had in a LONG time! If I can't find what I need as a buyer, why on earth would I try to peddle my wares where nobody will ever see them?

So, it's free to list there - big deal. The FVF fees are just as much, or in several cases, MORE than those on ebay, particualarly for small ticket items. But WAIT, your items won't sell there anyway, so it's just awesome that listing is free. What a savings! Plus, the fact with larger ticket items that ship at higher shipping rates have the shipping cost (minus $10 of course) calculated into you FVF amount. Now, come on, if ebay tried to base your FVF on any part of your shipping cost, you people would have a fit - but, somehow, it's okay for Bonanzle to do it, because after all, listing is free.

Currently, it's just another site for sellers with little to no buyers. Bonanzle management refuses to advertise the site in any way, because of course, the sellers are doing such a good job plugging it in every blog they can find, and that is all the advertisement they seem to need. However, I've yet to do a google search and have bonanzle items come up anywhere.

While I wish Bonanzle sellers all the luck, and do hope the buyers will soon follow, it gets tiring to see folks constantly claim that bonanzle is the new replacement site for ebay. It's not now, and never will be.

Mar 02 08:59 AM

[Adrian D:]

Kijiji does have a following, and its graphical presentation of ads and organization is better than Craigslist.

However, Craigslist allows the use of HTML freely in its ads, Kijiji restricts users from posting links unless they pay for them.

Craigslist is entirely free, Kijiji pesters the free user to use its paid services repeatedly.

Craigslist delivers more traffic from its free ads than Kijiji does through its paid ones.

Mar 02 10:14 AM

[Wake-Up!:]

Hey Erick Schonfeld,

Do you work for eBay? Your talented fingers seem to have the perfection of censorship just like an eBay pinko on the discussion and forums boards. Can't see why you would delete any postings here. This is a comment board isn't it?

Perhaps you own stock in eBay?

Mar 02 10:22 AM

[Wake-Up!:]

Hmmmmmmmm...??

Mar 02 10:22 AM

[hobo:]

I list the same things on both kijiji and craigslist. I have yet to sell anything on kijiji. I quit ebay about 4 months ago when they said I must accept paypal,which I will NEVER do. They will probably not do any better by changing the name to anything with ebay in it. They alienated a lot of sellers,and buyers. I used to love ebay and told everyone how great they were. Now I bad mouth them to anyone who will listen. How can you ruin a good thing so fast? In am enjoying watching them sink. If they go away,I for one, will be SOooooo happy. craigslist rules!!!!

Mar 02 10:36 AM

[musicman98:]

I have been without ebay for about 3 monthes now and do not miss them one bit. I don't have to worry about listing problems or my monies being held up with Paypud. Quickly becoming the "WORST" pay site out there, I cannot wait to hear about the next in court appearance, Good luck to all who don't see it coming!! because it's coming!! and they (ebay) did it all themselves.

Mar 04 10:14 PM