Sellers of collectibles are making 11% less on eBay than they were a year ago, and are completing fewer successful auctions this year than 2 years ago, according to AuctionBytes.com, publisher of the AuctionBytes Newsflash newsletter.

The AuctionBytes Collectibles Price Index, released yesterday, showed that typical consumer collectibles are selling for 11% less than they were one year ago. Last year's study showed that collectibles prices on eBay were down 25% from 2000.

In addition, sell-through rates dropped 24% from two years ago. The average sell-through rate on eBay in 2000 for items in the AuctionBytes Collectibles Price Index was 72%. In 2002, however, it fell to 55%.

The sell-through rate is determined by how many items listed on eBay actually receive winning bids. In 2002, only 55% of the items studied actually sold, compared to 72% in 2000. The other auctions either received no bids or, in the case of "reserve price" auctions, failed to meet the minimum required price.

"The decline in prices on eBay is not surprising given the Site's popularity. Virtually all of the items we studied had far more listed on eBay this year than in the previous 2 years." said David Steiner, President of AuctionBytes.com. "The bottom line is that collectibles dealers are working harder, for less money in the online marketplace."

The 2nd annual Collectibles Price Index is compiled by tracking a cross-section of typical consumer collectibles on eBay. AuctionBytes used HammerTap tools in some of the data collection. Yesterday's report comes one day after eBay announced a deal with Accenture to provide large businesses with auction-management services for sales of "practical," as opposed to "collectible," items.