eBay Store Question

**CanadianTreehugger** · 03-14-2006, 07:08 AM

Hi there,

Does anyone on here have an eBay store. If so do you find that your sales justify the extra monthly fee.

I would like to start one for my fairy business as there is some appeal to some of the benefits but I want to make sure it worth it.

TIA

**madhen** · 03-14-2006, 10:28 AM

I've had one for over a year now, and it absolutely is worth it. Yes, you are paying for having a store, but your listing fees are now .03 instead of .60 or more, and they relist automatically, so you can keep your inventory current without having to check and relist every time something doesn't sell. I would definitely recommend having a few items in the normal eBay channels, because listed items in your store don't show up on the searches (although they show up below the search, but most people don't scroll down that far). So by listing one or two items at the regular cost, you not only get more viewers, but they act as potential draws to get people to look at all the other stuff you have in your store (especially if you offer discounted shipping on multiple purchases).

Even though my business is "part time," (i.e, I have a "real" job), it is a legitimate business, so I look at the cost of subscribing to the store as equivalent to cost of the rent of a brick-and-mortar store. Looking at it this way, it's a steal!

**SHOPGIRL** · 03-14-2006, 06:56 PM

I agree. I think a store is totally worth it.

**Blessed** · 03-14-2006, 08:55 PM

I third it. I have a featured store and the whole thing makes selling on ebay TONS easier. I've been at it for 3 years now, have quite a mailing list and am doing better than expected with the new items I'm listing.

Post your addy for us when you get it set up!

**tervsforme** · 03-14-2006, 09:38 PM

I fourth it, I've had my store for about 3 weeks and I've sold over 40 items in that time. I do have a full time job, I'm using my store to clear out some of the clutter in my house before I move. I usually have a couple of auctions going to draw people in my store. I love it, I would definitely recommend it!

**CanadianTreehugger** · 03-16-2006, 09:20 AM

Hi again,

Thank you to everyone who replied to my original post. I've deciced that probably sometime in the next two months I'm going to try the store. Luckily eBay has a 30-day trial so I will see how that goes. Now i'm just saving up for inventory.
Yesterday I went to my bank and opened a business chequing account so to keep my personal banking seperate from business and i'm working closely with our local YMCA(they have a business enterprise centre) in making up a business plan.
I'm pretty excited as its been my dream to have my own business. I had wanted a real storefront but rent around the area I'd like to be in is very expensive IF you can even find a spot. Our city is very old and toursty so the downtown core area is always fully rented.
But my plan is to have an online store and then have a booth twice a month at our local mall where they have a craft/flea market every Sunday evening

**tervsforme** · 03-16-2006, 10:13 AM

Good for you! It's a lot of fun. I would suggest that as you are accumulating inventory you start taking pictures of it now. Then when you start listing all of your items in your store, that would be one less step you would have to do then! I take a bunch of pictures, then list a few each week, then when those are all listed, I take a bunch more pictures. I sell a lot of clothes and the ironing, measuring and picture taking sometimes seems overwhelming for me!!

JMHO

**madhen** · 03-16-2006, 01:00 PM

Sounds like a good plan! I sell at some of the local bird marts in fall, but most of my business is on-line. Just checked in today, and I made three sales while I was feeding donkeys this morning! You can't beat that!