Does it worth to open an eBay store?

[itrecovery]

Hi Gang!

Thinking about trying e-bay store option...

Any world of wisdom from PS who did try it? What is pros and cons here? Does it really drive enough business to justify time for managing it?

Anatoly

[treasure-pot]

Hi Anatoly;

I have a store and it is great for repeat items that you sell day-in and day-out.

Not really a practical solution if your are selling a lot of "one-ofs". IMHO

Cheers!

Bill

[deltone]

Hello Anatoly
I opened one and got only a few sales from it. It was for a lot of day-in day-out stuff, BUT I think the problem was I didn't hold enough auctions to bring in the traffic. You need to hold auctions for same or similar stuff, and you need to cross market them. Keep in mind that store items do not show up in searches. GOOD LUCK!!

deb

[itrecovery]

Thanks! Truly appreciate all opinions.

Anatoly

[ospreylinks]

Same here.... I had a one a while ago, but found it didn't generate enough stand alone business.....so dropped it.

Jeff

[treasure-pot]

On the other hand I run about 200 auctions and fixed price items a week with about an additional 50 items in my store. The auctions and FP drive business to my store where I get orders for multiples and add-ons.

For me it is a very small price to pay in addition to what my fees already are. It gives me added presence that auctions alone don't offer. When you consider the cost of a store listing ($.06 with gallery for 30 days) versus auction or fixed price listings (with gallery starting at $.55 for only 7 days max) it's good value and only requires a few sales each month to pay for itself.

From my "Store" sales report I'm averaging about an additional $600 a month from my store alone. May not seem like a lot but then it doesn't cost me much compared to my auction listings cost.

Cheers!

Bill

[deltone]

Oh, definately, if you're holding auctions of same or similar stuff, and cross marketing them, it's MORE than worth it for sure. Otherwise, it's pointless.

[ospreylinks]

I agree, but I just wasn't doing enough listings at the time..

Jeff

PS - May revisit it again, now that the golf course is closed and I have time to put a little more effort into my Ebay stuff!

[muminlaw]

Jeff, I just went have a look at your auctions -- Christmas shopping, and I see that while your gallery photos are showing up, the pix on your auction page are not.

By the way, do you give the measurements for glove size anywhere? I don't know if DH's hand is small or medium! Thanks.

Glenda

PS -- we've been thinking of opening a store so some of the insights here have been helpful!

[ragsbybags]

Is it true that final value fees are higher for store listed items? Thanx

[coastwindchimes]

Hi all, I don't agree with deltone and treasure-pot. All my items are unique, one of a kind (I make everything myself), and at this point on average over 50% of my sales are through my store, and the price I get is on average 20% higher than my auction listings.

I put higher prices on my store listings (price does not matter for the store, since everything cost US 3 cents to list, and also enjoy being able to let things sit for as long as it takes to sell them. For me, my store is very important for income. My customers appreciatge it too, especially when they are in a hurry (like gift shopping), or some of them seem to be quite wealthy, and just don't want to mess around bidding.

[dreamcoll]

Ragsbybags...Final Value fees are higher. 8% up to $25, plus 5% of anything over $25.

Sandra

[juliatrops]

I think a store is invaluable. I do get the odd sale - but when someone buys, they really buy. Which is the point isnt it?

another store q: perhaps it has been addressed and my eyes just can not see it...

I have a store on the .ca site, and am wondering if the .com site would be better.... do you think there is a difference?

[zarzuella]

I think its all integrated now, but it used to be .ca store=less traffic.
Can't say for sure, though, as I've been on .com since before there was a .ca and my store automatically opened on .com.

Agree with you about the store sales though - 80% of my business comes from the store.

Ann

[juliatrops]

Hi Ann, thank you. I wrote a guide..

http://reviews.ebay.com/About-purchasing-original-art_W0QQugidZ10000000000008512

and it will show up on the .com site, but wont appear in my .ca store. My understanding is that the guides show up in the store... maybe I am wrong? Thought there was some way to connect the guides with the author's store. Any ideas?

[zarzuella]

Is the review/guide thing fully launched now or is it still in beta testing? Maybe that could have something to do with it.

[zarzuella]

Excellent guide, by the way!

[juliatrops]

Hi there zarzuella, thank you!
I went back to the info about guides and it is still in beta. Apparently there will be an icon thingey beside the name - that was the piece I was missing - to connect the two - auctions/store and guides.

[garevon239]

Store is great for hosting many items, if you can get the store referral credit which gives you back about 75% of the final value fee, it's really helpful.

[ab-sol-canada]

After paying minimum 8% on ebay store sales better get cheap hosting solution and few page website will cost you less than 10$ a month and divert your customers to your site .... just add paypal link or if busy add indipendent CC processor and save on high store fee plus your own and indipendent business. thats what I, am going to in few days