You need to solve the "bootstrapping" problem. That's what locks everybody else out of the auction space. You need a critical mass.
Some ideas:
- Perhaps a partnership with some sort of overstock dealers?
- Focus on one city at first? Hit up every pawn shop in town and offer to send an intern over to index their stuff?
- Some sort of trade system where people could list stuff they want to get rid of and stuff they'd like to get?
- Offer services for eBay / Craigslist with some sort of incentive to move over to your platform?
(Also, please break or remove the long preformatted lines in the article submission. They break the layout.)