Sensis is taking on eBay directly by launching an online auction service through its Trading Post website. There will be a big difference between Trading Post and eBay: free listings.

Sensis hopes to capture a huge number of disgruntled eBay customers through the launch of their new online auction service on their Trading Post website. There will be one big difference between Trading Post and eBay: free listings.

Telstra's move follows its own studies into markets where eBay has suffered stiff competition. A common theme they have observed in those markets is that the competitor to eBay offers free listings, whereas eBay charge listing fees. The new service will have a strong local flavour, by requiring sellers to have an Australian street address and offering an Australian based support help desk.

It seems that Sensis' plan centres around capturing the mood of discontent among many eBay high volume sellers who have publicly expressed concerns about their new policy to force eBay sellers to offer only the eBay-owned Paypal or cash-on-pickup as payment options. eBay have received heavy criticism from a number of industry heavyweights, including the Reserve Bank of Australia. The ACCC is currently considering submissions about this policy and is set to make a preliminary statement about its view in mid June.