While antiques and collectibles merchants posted more items to TIAS.com's fixed-price marketplace in 2002, they ported fewer items to eBay compared to the previous year. The total number of items listed on TIAS.com rose 75%, but TIAS items listed on eBay decreased 5.5%. TIAS attributes the decline in eBay listings to a lower average selling price achieved by its merchants on the online auction site.

TIAS.com is the Web's largest antique and collectible mall. Launched in 1995, it is also the oldest. The TIAS system allows merchants to build their own online store as well as list items for sale on eBay auctions. The average price per TIAS item sold on eBay was $39.97, down 17% from 2001's average price of $48.15. The average sell-through rate on eBay for TIAS items was 34.7%, down slightly from 35.7% in 2001.

TIAS.com released a list of best selling categories for TIAS inventory sold on eBay. Some of the items that did the best in 2002 were pottery & china, glass, advertising collectibles, costume jewelry and dolls.

TIAS.com also said 41% more items were sold on the TIAS marketplace in 2002 over the previous year. The average price per order for the month of December was down 5% from December 2001. Phillip Davies, President of TIAS.com, said people shopped more online, but bought less expensive items. http://www.tias.com