Bitcoin's killer app: Online Auctions and Escrow Service?

[amspir]

It seems to me that a bitcoin-based auction site would be a killer app for bitcoin.

Obviously, eBay/PalPal currently has this market locked down.   However, I think that the eBay/PayPal system is designed to be over-protective of the consumer, I think it is ludicrous that a buyer can claw back a payment from a seller a year later.   With a payment system that soft, it's a wonder that any seller sells at eBay.

How hard would it be for a bitcoin-based auction site to start eating into eBay's business?  Such a site would not be able to compete with eBay/PayPal's level of consumer protection,  but could provide an escrow service and build a sterling reputation of being a fair arbiter of disputes - but ends with All Sales Final when escrow is released.

Would sellers be attracted to such a site, and would buyers follow?

[master-P]

There actually used to be an auction site with escrow called bitmit.net, but it shut down abruptly. A google search gave me https://cryptothrift.com/. Never tried this one though, so I can't really vouch for it.

Sellers and buyers would definitely be attracted to good crypto auction site. Expecially if it doesn't gouge people the way Ebay does

[mel2000]

Auctions need a healthy population of bidders to succeed, and that won't happen if the rules tilt too favorably toward sellers.