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Business Proposition

gregm13gregm13 Posts: 5,798 ✭✭✭
in PSA Set Registry Forum
Is anyone on this board a web design "expert"? I have a business idea that I would need some to partner with me on - but the person would be primarily responsible for designing the web site and has to be knowledgeable about our wonderful hobby/obsession. I would provide the idea, accounting, tax and finance background (I'm a CPA) and industry knowledge (sports cards). I have no idea who will provide the $ image

Regards,

Greg M.

Collecting vintage auto'd fb cards and Dan Marino cards!!

References:
Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
E-Bay id: greg_n_meg

Comments

  • jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭
    Let me guess, you want to create a site devoted to selling only sportscards. You want to steer people away from Ebay with your exemplary customer service regarding our hobby--something that Ebay can't do because they are spread thin with all the other categories of things sold on their site. Your site will be free from fraud as you will have a team devoted solely to moderating each auction.

    You believe you can be successful, and I think you can, too. However, it will be an uphill battle and require a great deal of time and money. You'll need to create a top-notch experience RIGHT FROM THE START because you can't afford to have people try you out and find you more difficult to use than Ebay, otherwise they will never use you again. The ether of the world wide web is littered with the carcassas of web sites who have tried and failed to one-up Ebay--all due to poor execution.

    However, all things are possible, and if you do become a serious threat to Ebay then they will buy you out for an enormous sum of money. In the end, the market for online sportscard selling will be better because of you--and you'll be rich to boot!

    You know, I had the same idea myself!
  • gregm13gregm13 Posts: 5,798 ✭✭✭
    You're jumping the gun - my idea doesn't have to do with card selling - but trading. I have several ideas that, in my opinion, would revolutionize how collectors can meet & trade cards. I have looked at many trading sites, and not one comes even CLOSE to what I have in mind.

    Regards,

    Greg M.
    Collecting vintage auto'd fb cards and Dan Marino cards!!

    References:
    Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
    E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
  • onlychildonlychild Posts: 312 ✭
    As one of my many hobbies I also do web design. It's been awhile and it is time consuming. I still have two active sites, The Child Punishment Site it gets plenty of action. Plus an Art Site.

    Not sure I would want to do the work and upkeep on another site again.

    Kevin
  • gregm13gregm13 Posts: 5,798 ✭✭✭
    Kevin,

    Nice site - I envision this "project" being a lot of work. There would be a lot of work involved for everyone.

    Regards,

    Greg M.
    Collecting vintage auto'd fb cards and Dan Marino cards!!

    References:
    Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
    E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
  • jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭
    Can money be made on a trading site? You wouldn't want to rely on advertisers, and since trading implies no exchange of money, commissions would be hard to justify. Selling access to the site would also turn a great number of people off.

    But just because I can't think of a way to make money in a trading-only site doesn't mean that you can't. If you've got that part figured out then I wish you all the best--you'll certainly get it.
  • gregm13gregm13 Posts: 5,798 ✭✭✭
    That's really the toughest question. Would you pay 25 cents a trade with an annual membership of $10?

    Regards,

    Greg M.
    Collecting vintage auto'd fb cards and Dan Marino cards!!

    References:
    Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
    E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
  • onlychildonlychild Posts: 312 ✭
    You can start with a simple message board to establish your base. Then build up from there once an interest is started.

    Message Boards

    Kevin
  • jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭


    << <i>That's really the toughest question. Would you pay 25 cents a trade with an annual membership of $10?

    Regards,

    Greg M. >>



    That doesn't seem like much, but I would say "no". First, I don't do much trading, so I don't know how much time I'd spend on your site. HOWEVER, if you offered buying and selling, ala Ebay, then I might venture over to any trading area you might have just to check things out. But I wouldn't pay to trade. What you can do is consider offering the trading section for free as a way to bring people to your site, but the money you make would come from commissions on sales.

    But, of course, this is how I would do things, and this isn't ME we're talking about. Good luck with whatever you do. I'd love to be proved wrong.
  • SoFLPhillyFanSoFLPhillyFan Posts: 3,931 ✭✭
    How about something along the lines of how amazon.com handles book sales?

    When you call up a new copy of a book, they also provide links to used copies.

    So, if someone calls up a listing for a card for sale or auction, the site may also cross reference and give links to the same cards offered for trade, and visa versa.

    Good luck with your idea. We could use a successful card-only site.

    Keith
  • carew4mecarew4me Posts: 3,470 ✭✭✭✭
    Simple web sites are cute but a serious trading site would have to be dynamic.

    Developer must have working knowledge of Java, SQL, DHTML, .NET & XML to make the site flexible and intelligent.

    R

    Loves me some shiny!
  • gregm13gregm13 Posts: 5,798 ✭✭✭
    The biggest challenge is how to make the site safe for collectors. With rampant fraud becoming commonplace on E-Bay, an alternate site offering card sales and trading would draw many of the serious collectors (in my opinion). Plus, I'd like to revieve an aspect of our hobby that has been dying off - due to inadequate mediums to exchange cards over.

    Regards,

    Greg M.
    Collecting vintage auto'd fb cards and Dan Marino cards!!

    References:
    Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
    E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,406 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Greg
    I have a fundamental question for you. People who get to know each other on the CU forum may trade with each other because they get to know each other and a bond of trust is developed.

    "Would anyone take a card valued in the hundreds and up, place it in a bubble wrap and send it to a perfect stranger under the provision that they are receiving something in kind?"

    Just curious because I have never thought about it that way. Thanx

    Mike
    Mike
  • JasP24JasP24 Posts: 4,645 ✭✭✭
    Stone,

    Isn't that how ebay works? Except you are trading money for merchandise with a complete stranger. I think Greg's idea is to make the trade a "binding" transaction like ebay does.

    Just my thoughts of course,
    Jason
    I'm here to question, not to inspire or build up. To live how I want, as I see fit,
    according to my values and my needs. Nothing holds dominion over me, I stand alone as the ruler of my life.
  • gregm13gregm13 Posts: 5,798 ✭✭✭
    Jason,

    That is exactly my point - to

    1. Allow the flexibility to trade or sell,
    2. To create a binding contract b/t trading and buy/sell partners, and
    3. To eliminate the scum that prowl E-Bay.

    Regards,

    Greg M.
    Collecting vintage auto'd fb cards and Dan Marino cards!!

    References:
    Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
    E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,406 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Except you are trading money for merchandise with a complete stranger >>


    Jason
    Good point. But I can control the money by bidding in such a way that I can 'reverse' the transaction. I reversed a transaction after the 30 day paypal window by both paypal and my credit card company. That's just what I was trying to do here is get a discussion. How do you make this 'binding'? Unless people are willing to put up their credit cards as part of the transaction - I can't speak for everyone but this appears riskier than an ebay transaction unless somehow the people are 'bonded' to protect each other. I was not trying to dampen the spirit - this is a GREAT idea - just curious about the pitfalls.
    Another thing - if you allow any selling, you run the risk of flooding the board with spammers that had no intention of trading and just want to infiltrate another area for their business. Again, these are just thoughts and I was not trying to blow this out of the water.
    Thanx
    Mike
    image
    Mike
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