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Are you going to close your eBay Store?

I was just about to open an Ebay store when I get the email that fees are getting jacked. I know several have said they will close their stores, so here is a poll. If people do not close they will cut back on what they list especially low end. I say ebay is giving naxcom and sportslots buisness with this move.

Like P Diddy says "VOTE OR DIE"

Comments

  • xbaggypantsxbaggypants Posts: 2,185 ✭✭✭
    I have seriously considered closing my store. I try to unload mid-grade commons for a buck or two. With the new fees I feel like I can't do this anymore.

    My Guess is that they will recieve so many complaints that they will go back to the old fees in a couple of months.. kinda like what they did with listing fees fo items under $.99.

    Ryan
  • In all honesty with regard to ebay stores (with regard to basbeall cards), I have noticed that most of the items listed in stores are priced quite a bit more than the average ebay selling price. With this said, I very rarely waste my time looking at ebay stores.

    I don't have a store myself, but very rarely list items using the traditional auction style method. I'll list items with a high fixed buy it now/pay for it now price and keep lowering my price every 24 hours or so until I sell my item or I hit my minimum sell price.
    Rich
  • Man I'm thinking about close it my eBay store.

    If I want to keep my eBay store.

    Increase Shipping cost & Additional Shipping cost.

    Don't sell any cheap stuff like between .01 to around $5.00 per card.

    I'm planning selling PSA Graded Cards my eBay store.

    Use eBay Turbo Lister it FREE!!!!!

    Maybe thats helps?
  • WHO BILL COBB? PART TIME PORNO STAR??? HE HAS NO BRAIN!!!!!!!!!
    image
  • pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭


    << <i>
    Use eBay Turbo Lister it FREE!!!!!
    >>



    what does that have to do with anything? the fees are still the same..
    ·p_A·
  • bri2327bri2327 Posts: 3,178 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>
    Use eBay Turbo Lister it FREE!!!!!
    >>



    what does that have to do with anything? the fees are still the same.. >>



    Exactly image

    Oh, I will be closing my store at the end of the month. Ebay can lick me. Im not helping pay for all the lawsuits being filed against them.
    "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."
    -- Yogi Berra

    image
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    I suspect that we may look back on this series of
    events and think, "GOSH, I wish I would have opened
    an eBay store when people were bailing out."

    I have looked over all of my stores and may lower a
    few prices to move stuff out. BUT, I am not closing
    anything down, and I am back to my original plan of
    opening more stores.

    If multiples do not continue to work, I may consolidate
    into one or two. But, I can report to you that during the past
    year, the key to making money has been to have as many
    stores as you can manage.

    I looked over all of the options last night and this morning,
    and eBay is still the best deal.

    I am a bit concerned about a few things:

    1: Most sellers have multiple-IDs. If a seller goes away mad,
    that may mean that they will STOP buying on eBay with their
    alternate IDs. (A study of the weasel-words in eBay's new SEC-8K
    indicates that the 200,000,000 number does not mean 200,000,00
    INDIVIDUAL humans. It means "200,000,000 distinct user-IDs.")

    2. As the share price tanks, eBay may get more desperate. If that
    happens, they may institute ADDITIONAL fee-hikes that could
    further cut into profits.

    3. If costs get too high, I may have to start charging for shipping.
    That will not happen with this round of fee-hikes, but it could in
    the future. Free S&H is really the only thing that gives my stores
    a chance with new buyers, against the BIG GUYS. (Once somebody
    does a deal with my stores, they are mine; but, if I do not have a
    hook on the front-end, I could be in trouble.)

    ONE THING I DO NOT THINK I MENTIONED ON HERE B4:

    Some folks who would like to open a store, might want to consider
    "going partners" with a friend in another location. It WORKS !
    You both have access to the store codes. You both have access
    to the PayPal account. You each list stuff, keep track of your
    share of the expenses, and withdraw your determined PayPal share.
    You each handle your own shipping and customer service.
    This scheme allows stores to GREATLY expand the inventory they
    might otherwise have; more stuff, more visitors.

    MONEY NUMBERS: If you have one store that NETs $200 to $300
    per-month, you should NOT be afraid to open more stores. If you
    get 8 or 10 going, you will be shocked at how much money you
    can make. Folks can still make money on eBay stores, if they are
    willing to do the work required. (It still beats having to punch a
    time-clock, especially if you are old.)

    Also, if you already have some kind of a BM store/shop/office, you
    can run eBay stores while you do your regular work.

    storm
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • If someone using Blackthorne PRO that $24.99 or like a Selling Manager PRO $15.99.

    Then use eBay Turbo Lister that don't cost nonthing.
  • tennesseebankertennesseebanker Posts: 5,433 ✭✭✭
    For now I will keep it open and wait and see, If the sales do not justify the increase in fees it probably wont be long before I close it too.
    image

  • why would you want multiple stores? I never heard that before. Isn't that defeating the purpose of branding than?
    My ebay store IS CLOSED TEMPORARILY
  • GriffinsGriffins Posts: 6,076 ✭✭✭
    I"ll probably keep it open, but raise prices (especially shipping) a bit. And consider picking up the shipping on anything paid for with non paypal funds.

    Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's

  • Since my store makes up about 50% of my Ebay sales I would be stupid to close it. I make a pretty decent profit selling common magic cards through it for less than 50 cents each. I will not change this. I have crunched the numbers and even with the fee increase the total Ebay will get is still less than what it was when I took Paypal. I sell 500 to 600 of these 25 to 50 cent cards a month on average, on top of everything else I sell through my stores and auctions.

    I may move some of my action figures from my store to regular auctions. My profit margin will go down, but even on the loose figures I usually buy them in groups for less than a quarter each. Through my store the average loose figure sells for 5.00, same figures through auctions average 3.00.

    Again you have to learn to work around the new fee structure and make it work for you. The more sellers who look at it negativly just make me more positive that keeping my store upen is the right thing to do.
  • And consider picking up the shipping on anything paid for with non paypal funds

    Becareful doing that.. How you word that can make your listing not only aganst Ebay rules but against Paypal rules as well.
  • ArnyVeeArnyVee Posts: 4,245 ✭✭
    I'll do the same as others have suggested. I will be raising my shipping costs for graded cards to $4.00 instead of $3.00 for the first card. But, I'll keep all additional at 25 cents as normal. That's my initial thought, but I'll look at the costs involved a little more and what else, if anything, I will be doing.
    * '72 BASEBALL #15 100%
    * C. PASCUAL BASIC #3
    * T. PEREZ BASIC #4 100%
    * L. TIANT BASIC #1
    * DRYSDALE BASIC #4 100%
    * MAGIC MASTER #4/BASIC #3
    * PALMEIRO MASTER/BASIC #1
    * '65 DISNEYLAND #2
    * '78 ELVIS PRESLEY #6
    * '78 THREE'S COMPANY #1

    image

    WaltDisneyBoards
  • fur72fur72 Posts: 2,348 ✭✭
    I was in the same frame of mind as Allen. I was going to open a store for a short while to get rid or some of my dupes to make some room for new stuff. This is quite a jump in price and I will more than likely not be opening a store on Ebay any time soon. This is a good opportunity for places like Naxcom or Beckett to take a major stake in the sports card auction game. They would be dumb if they didnt invest some money in attracting new buyers and sellers fed up with feebay.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can someone answer a simple question for me.

    If I sell a card for 100$ - what is the TOTAL cost to complete the transaction with paypal included.

    And, if it costs 15$/mo - that means if I only sold that one card - the per diem on that card would be 50 cents.

    mike
    Mike
  • theczartheczar Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
    rich/jdcubs

    you both have the same icon. is there something we should know?
  • They would be dumb if they didnt invest some money in attracting new buyers and sellers fed up with feebay.

    I hear that exact statement every time Ebay changes fees. We will hear it next February when they do fee adjustments again. It happens every year sellers leave for "greener" pastures but within 6 months the majority of those that left are back on Ebay.

    Naxcom has a very very bad reputation with buyers. Beckett is just fixed marketplace and I know sellers there who might sell 2 or 3 cards a month. In order to be sucessful selling online you have to position yourself where the buyers are. Right now the buyers are on Ebay. There is no other means of selling that can reach as many customers as Ebay can.
  • I'll be the first to admit that I can better describe Einstein's Law of Relativity than I could suggest successful business strategy but why doesn't eBay (and maybe even PayPal, for that matter) just charge a flat monthly fee for either having a store or using PayPal and then drastically reduce per item fees? I'm willing to bet that it would only encourage store owner's to put more product on the "floor" which would increase competition, lower prices and increase sales.

    If nothing else, I'll bet the perceived cost of running a store on eBay would improve. Either way, they've got to find a better way to get store owner's product seen by the customer.

    That's all I've got. I'll go back to the corner and color outside the lines. image
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    "why would you want multiple stores? I never heard that before.
    Isn't that defeating the purpose of branding than?"

    ////////////////////////////////////////////////

    I sell many more things than cards.

    Somebody wanting to buy a $300.00 card does not
    want to see $2.00 postcards in the same place.

    Raw cards are much harder to sell if you have
    a bunch of graded cards on the shelves.

    "Garage sale" items do not go well in stores that
    have mid-range collectibles.

    If you sell expensive items, you need a store for
    just the high-end stuff. Mixing cheap stuff in KILLS
    the mood.

    Clothing needs to stand-alone.

    Even the traditional concept of "stamp and coin shop"
    has been changed by eBay. Buyers want stores to
    "specialize" in one or the other.

    Like items need to be in stores with like items.

    The exception is the Mega-Store, but even those
    keep "price-points" similar.

    I did more math and it looks like eBay could raise
    the store fees A LOT more b4 they would run me
    off.

    storm
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • I'm willing to bet that it would only encourage store owner's to put more product on the "floor" which would increase competition, lower prices and increase sales

    That makes sense in a way, but quanity does not always mean quality. The main problem I have with the stores is many sellers have hundreds of items that they could not give away normally listed in their stores for very high prices. This detracts from the experience.

    If you go to a car lot and they have 500 cars on the lot, but 450 of them are Pintos you will not be buying from that lot will you?? The same thought holds true for Ebay. If you have to wade through the junk to get to the good stuff you are going to look somewhere else right??
  • phreakydancinphreakydancin Posts: 1,691 ✭✭


    << <i>rich/jdcubs

    you both have the same icon. is there something we should know? >>

    They both like Guinness? image
  • jersterjerster Posts: 828 ✭✭✭
    Just closed mine...
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Can someone answer a simple question for me.

    If I sell a card for 100$ - what is the TOTAL cost to complete the transaction with paypal included.

    And, if it costs 15$/mo - that means if I only sold that one card - the per diem on that card would be 50 cents.

    mike >>



    No one answered this question.

    What's the total cost in your store to sell a 100$ card?

    mike
    Mike
  • Hold on let me refigure all this real quick.
  • Under the upcoming changes a 100 dollar card without gallery would cost 7.85 to sell. With Gallery it will cost 7.86.

    Currently it is 5.85 without gallery and 5.86 with Gallery.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Under the upcoming changes a 100 dollar card without gallery would cost 7.85 to sell. With Gallery it will cost 7.86.

    Currently it is 5.85 without gallery and 5.86 with Gallery. >>


    Wiz

    What does the gallery part mean.

    And does that mean an extra penny with gallery?
    mike
    Mike
  • The gallery just provides the item with a gallery photo that appears on the search page when the items are pulled up. On store items gallery is 1 penny on regular auctions it is 35 cents.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The gallery just provides the item with a gallery photo that appears on the search page when the items are pulled up. On store items gallery is 1 penny on regular auctions it is 35 cents. >>


    Thanx Wiz

    Now, did ebay say WHY they were raising the rate?

    mike
    Mike
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    ..........7.86.
    ////////////////////////

    The PayPal burn bumps it up real good from there.

    storm
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • Now, did ebay say WHY they were raising the rate?

    The biggest thing I got out of the statement was they they are trying to reduce the nuber of stagnant listings. There are people who list hundreds of items that would never sell at any price list them and just let thme sit there until they sell. This creates a negative marketplace as nobody wants to go to a store that never gets anything new.

  • The PayPal burn bumps it up real good from there

    Don't take Paypal.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I had originally asked with paypal.

    So what would be the max cost? With paypal?

    mike
    Mike
  • I don't take Paypal so I would no know for sure, but I will guesstimate that to be an extra 3.00 dollars
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I don't take Paypal so I would no know for sure, but I will guesstimate that to be an extra 3.00 dollars >>


    So we're talking 11 bucks to gross 100$?

    If so - that's it?

    Then the seller has the buyer pay ship/handling and insurance.

    And the seller will pay another 50 cents for confirmation? Correct?

    So about 11.5% to do business?

    Of course, it depends what one had in the 100$ card. If pulled from a modern pack? The cost of the pack?

    Sorry guys.

    Considering the size of the audience they are offering - I'ld say it was a bargain.

    If one competitively prices items and keeps the stuff fresh - that's a great way to sell - far better than any alternative - ads in newspapers have been climbing like crazy!

    mike
    Mike
  • I agree 11.5% is great businesses when most B&M stores run on much more than that. What it is is most sellers on EBay have never operated or seen the P&L statements of a B&M business and think that there is nothing to it. In reality most businesses run closer to 70 to 80% in operation costs. Now I know some will say you cannot compare a B&M store to an online store, but numbers do not lie.

    Actually if you take that 11.50 and subtract 3.00 from that since that is the average S&H charge on Ebay. you only run about 8.5% You don't pay fees on the 3.00 through Ebay, but you do with Paypal, but on 3.00 you are looking at about 10 cents more.
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    "Considering the size of the audience they are offering -
    I'ld say it was a bargain."

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////

    It is the best deal EVER.

    BUT, that does not mean we should "make it ez" for the
    venue to keep raising fees. The more they fear complaining
    voices, the less often they will want to endure them.

    When I look at the big picture, it never costs me more than
    20% of the gross-sale to sell/collect/ship. (I pay the freight
    on all store sales, and about half of the auctions.)

    A lot of the stuff I sell - not collectibles - costs me almost nothing
    at thrift-shops and garage sales. It is hard to make sports-cards
    a "primary profit-center" unless you can buy them REAL cheap
    from "the public."

    storm
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • Have you guys been to an actual card store lately? The prices are generally outrageous and I have blessed Ebay's stock certs for helping defeat inflation in the market I am interested in. As they raise prices, my devotion and loyalty fade. Inflationary pressure is rarely good and those of you that feel inflation is good, my sympathies. My disappointment with this decision is purely selfish, but I have never faulted rational self interest in people.

    Brent
    Collecting:
    Bo Jackson Basic(#1) and Master(#1)
    Bob Feller Basic(#4)
    Sam McDowell Basic(#1)
    2004 Cracker Jack Master

    My Ebay Store
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I agree 11.5% is great businesses when most B&M stores run on much more than that. What it is is most sellers on EBay have never operated or seen the P&L statements of a B&M business and think that there is nothing to it. In reality most businesses run closer to 70 to 80% in operation costs. Now I know some will say you cannot compare a B&M store to an online store, but numbers do not lie.

    Actually if you take that 11.50 and subtract 3.00 from that since that is the average S&H charge on Ebay. you only run about 8.5% You don't pay fees on the 3.00 through Ebay, but you do with Paypal, but on 3.00 you are looking at about 10 cents more. >>


    Wiz

    Understatement of the year - next to Custer pointing and saying - "I think they're friendly indians!"

    My office has to gross over 30K per month just to break even. My Hartford fire/theft/liability went up to 4K/yr.

    Every time I turn around, another agency of the govt. is coming up with an annual permit that is required.
    It's like having the mafia at your doorstep every month.

    Guys - it's simple.
    Ebay's the best game in town.

    This is trite but: if ya can't fight'em - join'em.
    thanx
    mike
    Mike
  • SDavidSDavid Posts: 1,584 ✭✭
    The reason that a lot of small "ebay business" owners are complaining despite the still relatively low overhead is that a lot of goods regularly sell on ebay at or below wholesale costs. I know a few retailers who occasionally buy their stock on ebay, but never sell there because it's strictly a "lowballer's market" for what they sell. So, basically, you have a ton of sellers who weren't making jack to begin with who are now asked to increase their overhead.

    Now the obvious reaction is that no one should be selling those goods on ebay anyway...and actually I agree with that...and now a lot of those sellers probably won't. I think ebay will eventually become a mixture of large sellers, collectibles traders, and the people who list used stuff here and there that they have lying around their house. But I think the number of people trying to make a PT income from ebay will deteriorate substantially as it becomes more obvious that there are regular PT jobs that are more lucrative and less frustrating. This is especially true if the job market continues to improve (if it's really improving).
  • earlycalguyearlycalguy Posts: 1,247 ✭✭
    I use my ebay store more to make deals outside of ebay. I will gladly take paypal for a payment and not go thru ebay. if the buyer can not use a debit or credit card for paypal then my personal paypal account comes in handy and the transaction is totally fee free....I normally share the savings with the buyer or offer free shipping or something so we both win. ebay still gets plenty of my money each month.
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    earlycalguy- If eBay finds out about that they will cut your hands off and toss you in the dungeon.
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