Thinking about opening up a website...

tsalems1

I have a friend who said will help me build a site. I have not had a chance to talk about details and what is involved in running it.
Also, once the site is built, I guess I need to find a host? What kind of fees would I be looking at?
I would want to have something done like 4sc where cards are listed on both my website and Ebay. If a card is sold from the site, its removed from Ebay automatically.

Any advice?

Again, I have not had a chance to discuss this with my friend other than he is willing to help me build a site. I just have no idea what costs are running it

BunchOBull

An easy and free way to make a store is eCrater.com

My store: http://www.bighurthof.ecrater.com/

I like it a lot, and you can use Google Adwords to get a lot of hits for free, and pay for even more advertising if you so choose.

ldferg

<< <i>An easy and free way to make a store is eCrater.com

My store: http://www.bighurthof.ecrater.com/

I like it a lot, and you can use Google Adwords to get a lot of hits for free, and pay for even more advertising if you so choose. >>



How have your sales and traffic been on this site?

japhi

I have some experience building niche eCommerce sites and I would go with a hosted option like Volusion, Shopify, 3dCart, etc every day of the week. They are turnkey online stores with great templates and full functionality. You may want to pay someone to customize the template / build you a logo (500-1500) but for the most part they are 100% ready to go and very easy to set up. Most if not all will have Ebay store integration.

A web developer will tell you to build custom because the want to take you down a 10K path that leads to a clunky piece of garbage.

For domain names I've always used namecheap.com.

Any questions send me a PM.

MiniDuff

the key is the inventory management that integrates ebay, otherise you are looking at an either/or situation for each item.

I'm all ears myself.

japhi

I should add everyone has a friend that can build websites, very few have friends that can build websites that can move product. Any custom job worth looking at would run you well over 25K. Go hosted for sure.

Also, I can give you some advice on merchant accounts and what to look out for.

flcardtrader

As input, I have sold a standard inventory of items on Amazon and Ebay over the past 6 years and can unequivocally state that Amazon drives the most eyeballs and $$$ to the items I have for sale - its not even close. Throughout each year, for every dollar I sell on Ebay, I sell 5+ on Amazon and as the years go by, Ebay keeps losing share on that revenue breakdown.

If you are selling standard items that are graded and/or authenticated, I think Amazon is your best bet out of the gates as their turnkey will have you high in the search listings in no time.

Perhaps it is more expensive in the long run, however, I have always felt that Amazon delivers bang for the buck while Ebay is just trying to make themselves a buck.

Good luck with your endevour!

cardbender

<< <i>As input, I have sold a standard inventory of items on Amazon and Ebay over the past 6 years and can unequivocally state that Amazon drives the most eyeballs and $$$ to the items I have for sale - its not even close. Throughout each year, for every dollar I sell on Ebay, I sell 5+ on Amazon and as the years go by, Ebay keeps losing share on that revenue breakdown.

If you are selling standard items that are graded and/or authenticated, I think Amazon is your best bet out of the gates as their turnkey will have you high in the search listings in no time.

Perhaps it is more expensive in the long run, however, I have always felt that Amazon delivers bang for the buck while Ebay is just trying to make themselves a buck.

Good luck with your endevour! >>



That's interesting. I always thought that ebay was the place to be for selling cards. Apparently not.
So do you feel that selling graded vintage cards (say pre 1975) would go over well on Amazon too
or better there than on ebay?

To be honest, I've never searched Amazon for any cards. Maybe they are there and many of us never knew.

Dpeck100

Graded card search on Amazon


Here is a search of graded cards on Amazon. I think it is very premature to suggest that for graded cards Amazon gets more eyeballs.

One thing this search did do is open up my eyes that it looks like there are great supplies and other items like that for sale at great prices.

I have purchased DVD's and other basic non card related items through the site and I will certainly be more open to looking for things for sale there.

Everyone can say EBAY is getting more greedy but they deliver the eye balls and ease of use. Many card prices have exploded in the last few years so if they want a bigger cut I don't blame them. Five years ago a card sold for $100 and they got 8% or $8. Five years later that same card sells for $200 and they get 10% or $10. Yes on a percentage basis it is much greater and for volume sellers it certainly matters but I would rather be in an environment where card prices have risen in many cases and focus on that. In the example I used it is pretty clear that the numbers have favored collectors and dealers due to a pick up in the hobby.

In terms of building a website I think it is a great idea to have a site that you operate that has your inventory running side by side with EBAY if you are using fixed price listings. The start up costs are low and the potential cost savings over time for volume sellers makes since.

Dpeck100

147&keywords=graded+cards">Walter Payton 7.5



After browsing through many of the listings it looks like most sellers are looking for suckers.

Here is a nice listing for an above grade Walter Payton.

A quick search of EBAY and you can find a PSA 8 for $260.

LeonLuckey

Ebay is the largest selling venue in our hobby. It's not even close. I have had several websites and manage a few now. It will be more about your inventory and how you price it, for your sales, than some spiffy looking site. You get the inventory and the pricing right and the sales will follow. Of course you have to get it some exposure too. (Hosting is anywhere from $5 a month to $150 a month, a good hosting solution will probably be $50 or less a month, for what you need) My personal website on yahoo is about $14 a month.....while the forum I run is exponentially more, it has much higher traffic and usage and needs the bandwidth (it's own virtual server). Good luck!!

tsalems1

Some great info here!

Ebay is the way to go for sure. I have close to 1000 listings and could do so much more.
My inventory on OPC baseball has grown bigger than ever and have another buying trip scheduled this week.
Not only do I have people in the States emailing/calling me, but also all over Canada looking for things.
Last week I opened my shipping up to Canada for the 1st time because of the USPS tracking now and I have
had so many sales from up there.

Anyways, I am still learning and will probably send out a PM to japhi today.

I have several questions. I need the site/Ebay working together otherwise the site will end up being a mess.
It needs to run the way 4sc has it, when A item is sold, its removed.

Looks like the cost to host it isnt very much which is good!
Also when doing some research online, web site developers want BIG money to make a site. This is where knowing someone will help out!

bowlarama

One very easy way is to setup an Ebay store and upload all your inventory into it. Then you could either pay a designer to make your Ebay store graphically appealing OR you could establish a domain and website and then use one of the many, many free "widgets" that display all your current Ebay listings. All the sales transactions would be through the Ebay storefront though. If your comfortable with the Ebay/Paypal marriage then you would probably enjoy the simplicity of doing it this way.

tsalems1

<< <i>One very easy way is to setup an Ebay store and upload all your inventory into it. Then you could either pay a designer to make your Ebay store graphically appealing OR you could establish a domain and website and then use one of the many, many free "widgets" that display all your current Ebay listings. All the sales transactions would be through the Ebay storefront though. If your comfortable with the Ebay/Paypal marriage then you would probably enjoy the simplicity of doing it this way. >>



I would rather draw people to my website to buy and avoid the Ebay fees as much as I can.
I can advertise my site through my auctions to draw people, even offer discounts on the site.
I can offer so much more!

So I want to establish a domain but still learning how this whole thing works and trying to figure out what the overall cost will be

Fergman78

<< <i>

<< <i>One very easy way is to setup an Ebay store and upload all your inventory into it. Then you could either pay a designer to make your Ebay store graphically appealing OR you could establish a domain and website and then use one of the many, many free "widgets" that display all your current Ebay listings. All the sales transactions would be through the Ebay storefront though. If your comfortable with the Ebay/Paypal marriage then you would probably enjoy the simplicity of doing it this way. >>



I would rather draw people to my website to buy and avoid the Ebay fees as much as I can.
I can advertise my site through my auctions to draw people, even offer discounts on the site.
I can offer so much more!

So I want to establish a domain but still learning how this whole thing works and trying to figure out what the overall cost will be >>



You sound like you are in the same boat I was a few months ago. In the end I went with the EBay store. When selling on Ebay, I don't think to can advertise a non Ebay site in your auctions. I think it's a violation of their rules and you definitely don't want to upset the powers that be at Ebay.

hyperchipper09

It's a shame someone somewhere can't come up with an eBay/Paypal alternative that would challenge them. eBay and Paypal are just so, crooked. The best form of legalized criminal activity on the interwebs. There needs to be a marketplace which treats sellers and buyers with equal respect. Which doesn't force a draconian, nazi-esque law of "use paypal or else". One which doesn't at random place limits on accounts. One in which feedback is treated in a fair and professional manner. eBay and Paypal do none of those, one of the reason's I avoid both syndicates as best I can. eBay I avoid altogether, paypal I only use when using my credit card. And even then I feel somewhat corrupt. God knows I'd never use it to sell on eBay. Too many horror stories. Best of luck to Tom, who I've dealt with on here and is a great guy to deal with

Maurice

You could get a ProStores web store with your own domain name.

$10 per year for the domain name.

$50 per month for 5,000 products. First month is free.

It will automatically sync your ProStores inventory with your ebay listings.

You pay a 0.5% transaction fee.

http://www.prostores.com/ecommerce-eBay.html

tsalems1

<< <i>You could get a ProStores web store with your own domain name.

$10 per year for the domain name.

$50 per month for 5,000 products. First month is free.

It will automatically sync your ProStores inventory with your ebay listings.

You pay a 0.5% transaction fee.

http://www.prostores.com/ecommerce-eBay.html >>



Now this looks interesting!

jpvintagesports

Same company as prostores, no transaction fee if you go through their site. http://www.homestead.com/

tsalems1

Its in the works!

OPCBASEBALL.COM

Big80s

<< <i>Its in the works!

OPCBASEBALL.COM >>



Good-looking start, Tom!

ThoseBackPages

Tom!

Im very proud of you Brother!

tsalems1

Thanks guys!

I hope to have it up and running by mid week.

Next weekend at the latest

ThoseBackPages

love the URL

EASY to remember!

tsalems1

<< <i>Its in the works!

OPCBASEBALL.COM >>



The name was a no brainer!

grote15

Awesome, Tom!

Edit to add: I'm hoping to see lots of unopened opc baseball wax for sale, LOL!

tsalems1

<< <i>Awesome, Tom!

Edit to add: I'm hoping to see lots of unopened opc baseball wax for sale, LOL! >>



LOL, sorry, you wont see much wax other than 1989 fleer fleer 1st print baseball boxes and thats not even opc, lol!
You will see lots of 60's/70's graded opc baseball though!
I also have some other ideas for the site as well. I just need to learn how to set it up and work it 1st.

My site will work kind of like the 4sc site with things listed on Ebay will be on my website. When a item is sold, it should get removed
right away from the other site (ebay/mysite). I am still learning and have a friend helping me put this together. It is a lot of work when
you dont know what your doing. I just hope things work the way I want them to. I'm told by my host that the Ebay thing should work no problem

MBMiller25

Congrats Tom, now the fun begins.