Why I Keep Returning to eBid – My Take on Lifetime Membership

Selling online has been part of my life for over a decade. Like many people, I started with eBay but quickly discovered how much the fees eat into your earnings. Listing costs, final value fees, and PayPal charges all stacked up and by the time I shipped an item, I was often left wondering if it was even worth the hassle.

That’s when I first came across eBid.net. The difference? I paid once for a lifetime membership right from the start, so I knew exactly where I stood. No recurring costs, no monthly pressure — just the freedom to sell when I wanted and only a small final value fee when you sell a product.

That decision still pays off today.

Notes: I’m writing this post now as I reactivate my stores once again, and I thought it might be useful to share my experience for anyone considering giving eBid a try.

This post contains an affiliate link at the end — if you sign up, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you.

👉 You might also be interested in a related post: The Madness & Freedom of Working for Yourself — where I share why I continue to be self-employed.

Why Lifetime Membership Works for Me

One of the biggest benefits is freedom. With eBid, I don’t feel under pressure to sell constantly just to cover monthly fees. Life gets busy — I’ve stepped away from selling a few times over the years — but I can always come back when I’m ready. My account is there, my shops are still set up, and I can pick things up where I left off.

The membership also gives me the ability to run up to five shops. Right now, I have two stores soon to be reactivated once again, which is plenty, but it’s nice knowing I can expand if I decide to scale up.

eBid’s Global Reach

eBid isn’t just a niche site — it currently operates in 23 countries worldwide, including Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and many across Europe. This global presence means sellers can reach buyers well beyond their local market while still keeping costs low. The platform continues to grow steadily, supported by an active community forum and a reputation as one of the longest-standing eBay alternatives.

The Challenges Along the Way

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. A few realities worth mentioning:

Brexit made things harder. Shipping from Ireland to the UK is trickier now, and that used to be one of my strongest markets.
Traffic is lower than eBay. You won’t get a flood of sales overnight, so patience is required.
Self-promotion required. Most sales come from your own effort — advertising and social shares are key to getting traction.

What Keeps Me Coming Back

Despite the challenges, eBid continues to offer something I don’t get elsewhere: control and flexibility without constant overheads.

I keep more of what I earn.
I can take breaks without losing money.
I don’t feel drowned in competition or swallowed by a corporate machine.
The forums and support are refreshingly human compared to automated ticket systems on bigger sites.

For me, it’s a calmer way to sell online.

Tips to Get You started

Success on eBid doesn’t happen overnight. Many new sellers moving over from eBay give up before they’ve even got going, but with a few simple steps you can give yourself the best possible start:

Build a base of listings – Get a good number of items live, with clear photos, accurate descriptions, and realistic shipping costs.
Earn early feedback – Buy a few small items first so you pick up some Feedback scores. Most buyers avoid sellers with a 0 rating.
Join the community – The eBid forums are full of seasoned members happy to help. Introduce yourself, share what you sell, and join in. Remember, sellers are buyers too.
Promote your store – Share your listings on social media and spread the word. Many people still don’t know eBid exists.
Use the right listing format – Auctions are always placed higher in search results than Run Until Sold, so consider using this format and renewing regularly for visibility. Just remember to set a realistic price and don’t expect a bidding war.
Keep it enjoyable – Approach it as something to enjoy as well as a side hustle. If you like a challenge, eBid is for you. That mindset makes the effort worthwhile.

Why I Still Come Back to eBid

If you’re the kind of person who wants to sell without being chained to ongoing fees, a lifetime membership with eBid can be a smart move. It lets you dip in and out as life allows, without pressure to “make your money back” every month. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a business or a private seller — the principle is the same

I’ve left and come back more than once, and each time I return, I’m reminded why that one-time payment was worth it. Two shops up and running, options for three more — and the freedom to sell when it suits me.

Conclusion

Is eBid going to be the answer to all your prayers? Probably not — like any platform, it takes effort to see results, and you’ll need to push your own sales. Many sellers say the same in the forums: lower fees come with the trade-off that you have to put the work in.

What eBid does give you, though, is another bookmark online — an extra place for your business to be found. For a one-time lifetime fee (currently discounted to €50), you get advertising that never expires. If you already have listings elsewhere, it’s easy to copy and paste them across, and with a little effort you’ve suddenly got a new online store working for you.

If you sign up, let me know how you got on.

Thanks for Reading,

David

Affiliate link below – I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no cost to you.

👉 You can browse my listings here: Visit my eBid DVD store

👉 Curious? You may sign up to ebid directly from my Buddy link here today for free, it's completely up to you.

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a small business owner and blog writer based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Most of my working life is tied to woodcraft and teaching woodturning, but I’ve also spent years dabbling in the world of online selling. From shifting DVDs and Blu-rays to running multiple eBid shops, I’ve learned first-hand the ups and downs of selling as a side hustle and as a way to support my main craft business.

I’ve bought lifetime membership on eBid, come and gone a few times when life got busy, and now find myself returning once again — proof that flexibility really matters when you’re juggling different passions and responsibilities.

This blog is where I share those experiences honestly: the wins, the frustrations, and the little discoveries that make selling online worthwhile. If you’d like to know more, follow the link in the Note from the Author section below.

💬 Note from the Author
This post was written specially for David Condon Finds. If you enjoyed it, you might also like my other projects:

Phoenix DVD Blog – where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and life as a collector
David Condon Woodcraft – my main site focused on woodturning and handmade Irish pieces

If you’d like to support my writing, you can do so through the Buy Me a Coffee button below. It helps keep these side projects going — thank you!

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