The French economics magazine Capital has awarded the best e-commerce website prize to Delcampe.net. According to a survey conducted with 20,000 customers, the Belgian website’s services surpass landmarks like eBay or PriceMinister.
Delcampe.net was recently selected by collectors as the best “Quality of service” brand for the sale of second-hand products. The survey organised by the Capital magazine in collaboration with Statista Inc. made it possible to conduct an anonymous and independent online survey of thousands of internet users. They noted the quality of service provided by brands visited during the last three years.
Sebastien Delcampe (CEO) reveals that being on the top of the rankings was unexpected and that the company had not asked for registering the Capital’s survey. "We were very surprised when the magazine contacted us. There were about a hundred sites competing in our category and we finished first ahead of giants like eBay or PriceMinsiter".
1.2 million users for the website
The Delcampe’s success story began 17 years ago when its founder Sebastien Delcampe decided to combine his passion for philately and his passion for programing by creating an online sales website.
Since then the website has never stopped growing and has currently more than 1.2 million users – in more than 168 countries – who can visit the site in 6 different languages. They sell and buy collection objects in more than 20,000 categories among private individuals.
Originally the website only offered stamps at auction in order to attract a broad public, but it has gradually included postcards, coins, old books and recently vinyl, old video games and comics to meet the public's demand.
Between 150,000 and 200,000 new objects daily enrich the company’s online catalogue. Fans can purchase some items for a few cents, others costs several thousand euros, for example a collection of stamps selling at 45,000 euros, the diplomatic passport of King Baudouin, or unusual objects such as the denture of Winston Churchill which however did not find a buyer for the price set at 50,000 euros and which has since been removed from the site.
Sebastian Delcampe decided to create his own website after his application as computer programmer was refused by eBay Belgium. The recruitment consultant had considered his skills insufficient for the position.
A decisive turning point for the Delcampe’s CEO who, back home, reacted with the creation of his own website. “I started Delcamp on my kitchen table. I had to prove to myself that I could do it.” he confides.