I can only comment on eBay UK, but I have read the original post. Promise.
eBay is still great for secondhand clothes and shoes. The lovely leopardskin kitten heels I am wearing RIGHT NOW cost me all of £1.25. Shipping was £3.50.
The top and skirt I am wearing are also from eBay - bought too long ago to check the exact price, but a fraction of the cost of buying it in store.
I bought my cat carriers from eBay and saved about £10 on the retail price, without having to walk to the store or carry them home. I saved about £7 on the online price too, and was able to pay using postal orders rather than a credit card (which I don't have).
The shop I work in trades on eBay. We ship a fair amount of items internationally and our postage costs are based solely on the cost to us. Our Buy It Now prices are pitched just below the retail price in order to sell, there is no point in heavily discounting items we can sell in our shop when we have to pay fees anyway. Our end of line stock is sold by auction, and customers can get amazing bargains this way - baby bedding that retailed at up to £40 can sell for £0.99 depending on whether anyone else is bidding. I groan in pain when I see beautiful designer bedding with only one bid, but that's the joy & pain of eBay.
I still love it.
(Quick advert - we're selling off our
MAM bottles at the moment)