Fortunately for us sellers, Overstock, Yahoo and Amazon are stepping up the pressure on eBay which has been a monopoly for so long that it has gotten rather arrogant. Google is also causing eBay to squirm by working on an online payment service and whose paid search listing and advertising services are a big draw for Web merchants.

Sellers complained about:

* Fee increases - feelings ran very high this past February when eBay raised their fees without an increase in services. This was a great boost for Overstock, in particular, as many sellers moved to or added other sales venues besides eBay.

* Some eBay sellers state there are fewer buyers and eBay has pledged to step up its TV and other media advertising.

* Is there anything you can do about the huge quantity of fake porcelain and pottery coming out of China?" asked an irate power seller?

* Another power seller asked why eBay didn't allow auctions to be extended until bidders stopped bidding, the way Overstock does.

Extending auctions would put eBay at risk of being defined, and thus regulated, as an auctioneer, and eBay would not be able to comply with all the auctioneer laws stated a spokesman. (Makes you wonder how Overstock is doing it, huh?)

Still, overall the feeling is positive and grateful. As one attendee said, "Thanks eBay for letting me live a dream I had a long time ago."