New Fees for Stores

[oldbazaar]

I'm almost certainly going to upgrade to an Anchor Store on May 1st, as it'll save me money, but can anyone tell me if there are other real advantages with regard to search hits, promotions etc. 

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

Not at this time. It is more a matter of looking in your crystal ball and seeing were the eBay changes are going. I am thinking they are developing a two caste system: store owners, non store.

Non store I think you will see fewer promotions. They are already going to higher fees. There is the dedicated user and the casual user. The casual user will pay more. They are screaming the loudest.

What is the next shot? Maybe store listings will always be ahead of non store in search?

A few years ago, store listings did not show in a search. Then they dumped store listings into search. Now they are offering perks to store owners. every now and then, they throw a bone to stores at the expense of non stores.

[bb_cool_stuff]

What do you think Pierre ? The majority of announcements eBay has made you predicted would happen.

Inuk makes some interesting points.

I have always been lousy at predicting eBay's next moves but "Law of the Jungle, or the Go Big or Go Home" mentality is creeping in.

The next two years are going to be interesting.

Oh well, I will now have an extra two days to spend on the store.

[pierrelebel]

"What do you think Pierre ?"

Do you want to know what I really think?  I would get a pinkslap so fast my head would spin. 😞

Unless eBay changes its mind about their new policy allowing anyone to buy an item already sold at fixed price until the buyer pays, I will remove ALL my fixed price listings from eBay.  Period.  That policy is, as stated previously, ill advised and plainly STUPID.  I simply cannot allow my customers to be treated that badly.  When they click "Buy-it-Now" in my opinion, that should be the end of it: the item is theirs and not available to anyone else.  Who cares if a buyer takes five minutes or five days to pay for it?  I do not.

Sellers who want immediate payment already have the tools to require immediate payment. 

That eBay wants to raise its fees is something sellers will have to analyze carefully and decide if eBay is still a viable proposition for them.  eBay has the right to charge whatever they want.  Sellers have the right to move to wherever they want to sell their "stuff".

With the exception of a few categories with lower FVFs, there is no question that the new fee structure favours low priced items (under $50).  Sellers of high priced items will see a huge increase in fees. In many cases, it will be enough to move elsewhere when the margins cannot justify the high fees.

eBay has indicated that they will continue a busy schedule of promotions.  That is a bit of a mystery.  It would not make any sense for them to promote more "free listings" to sellers without a store since they are trying very hard to have sellers commit themselves to a monthly fee with a store (advantage: one percent lower FVF in most categories).

I suspect future promotions may involved lower FVF for specific types of transactions for short period of time in specific categories.  That would be something new, untried so far on eBay.

To give store listings priority in Best Match has not been discussed.  Would eBay do that?  I doubt it very much but, with all those geniuses - with MBA paper on their office wall - in San Jose, who knows?

Unfortunately, I will most likely never know as I truly expect to be out of here within a few weeks.

[julieo459]

I am sitting patiently waiting to see if there will be any more "free listing" promos for non- store sellers. I have about 700 listings ready to go. Even with the new store pricing, the fees are still high for lower priced items.  

[bb_cool_stuff]

Still a bit of a mystery to us all.

Some have mentioned sales have really decreased, some have increased, mine are about the same.

The promo sell through rate for me was very low & not really worth the time. I'll stick with my BIN.

Three friendly competitors are still doing really well selling full time. Of couse they have a routine where they are out looking daily in TO & Montreal & do their listing in the evening.

Time to really adopt a strong Business Plan. The road could get bumpy, but other businesses go through this daily. We are a resilient bunch, we'llpull through.

The days of buying Dollar Sore items & getting big bucks on auction were over years ago but yet categories are full of dollar store items. Must be selling in volume.

[oldbazaar]

For me eBay is a cheap option. I compare my mothly fees to what I would pay for the smallest physical storefront in the quietest little backwater, and it's a no contest choice. Instead of a couple of thousand dollars in rent, and a bunch of villagers wandering by - maybe -  for a few hundred dollars, I have the whole world sitting comfortably browsing in an armchair. It works for me, everyone's situation is different. Do they charge too much? Yes. But I can't think of anywhere else that would be better. If I lived in a tourist trap with cheap market stalls, maybe, but I don't. 

[bb_cool_stuff]

Like you i remain optimistic but I'm just a lightweight.

Would i have the same mentality if i was selling full time, not sure but i know i would have to be out every day searching for items.

Friendly competitors continue to do well but they work very hard & seem to enjoy doing it.

It can be done, many on the boards have done well.

Finding your niche is now paramount.