topic Re: Weighing up store benefits in Selling

Weighing up store benefits

boomerangent — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:33:31 GMT

Hi Guys,

Just wanting to get some opinions on whether there are significant benefits to having an ebay store, rather than just selling without a store ? The reason I ask is because lately I am finding that the $49.95 store fee is chewing up the majority of my profits, and I am wondering if I would still be able to sell as effectively without this feature. I have put up with it for a few months now, but i'm getting tired of seeing my paypal account raided by eBay each month. I could cop the old $19.95 store fee, but I think $49.95 is a bit overboard.

Obviously I could raise my item prices, but then the buyers lose out and I run the risk of them buying cheaper products from overseas sellers.

What to do ?:|

Re: Weighing up store benefits

davewil1964 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:11:29 GMT

Nobody can make that decision but you.

I generally start making money for me about week 3 of the month, but I doubt I would sell much with only free listings, so for me a shop is still worth it - just.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

digital*ghost — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:04:39 GMT

You're a Top Rated seller on this ID (which also means Power Seller), with multiple quanity BIN listings, so, on the financial side of things, and presuming you wanted to continue using this ID...

As a Power Seller, you will be able to use multiple quantity and/or variant format even if you ditch the store. Without the store, a BIN listing can have a maximum 10 day duration, and insertion fees will be per item available, not per listing.

That means, to list the nail polishes, one 10-day listing for 3 items at $3.95 will incur an insertion fee of $1.50, and any that sell will incur FVFs at 7.9% - that's opposed to a flat 20c insertion fee with the store (for up to 30 -day duration), and a FVF of 7% per item sold.

So, leaving any and all other benefits of having a storefront aside, if you work out how many items you would list per month, how many items - on average - you sell, and compare the costs of having a store vs not having a store using the above figures, you will be able to see whether you're better off (financially) with or without the store.

Don't forget that you would have to relist a 10-day BIN 3 times to equal the duration of a 30-day store BIN - eg the nail polish listing with 3 available would cost $4.50 over 30 days compared to 20c with a store.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

the-kazbar — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:21:40 GMT

Obviously I could raise my item prices, but then the buyers lose out and I run the risk of them buying cheaper products from overseas sellers.

What to do ?:|

There will always be someone who can sell cheaper so you need to focus on what you can offer that they can't such as fast postage, unusual items and great service.

PS I just bought the chocolate mousse 🙂

Re: Weighing up store benefits

phorum_junkie* — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:07:13 GMT

Obviously I could raise my item prices, but then the buyers lose out and I run the risk of them buying cheaper products from overseas sellers.

This is not always the case, if I have listed an item for a while and it hasn't sold I will sometimes cancel it then relist a month later with a 'flowerier' description and a higher price and it sells, many buyers want quality and don't think that is what they are getting if it is a cheap item.

If I saw a make up item for under $5 with free postage I would assume it was the type of cheap stuff you can buy at a dollar store so why wait for delivery?

I do find that sales from my store start to drop off if I go much below 200 listings and dry up almost completely if below 50 so perhaps the answer is to increase your range of items you sell.

I presume you are running those bikini auctions to try and attract buyers into your store, trouble is you are not attracting those looking for makeup.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

wildwolf_9 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:21:34 GMT

Hi I don't know about the store, because i only sell a few items now and then, but i did notice you don't sell alot, so like the other person said best to weigh up cost of both, however, that said as a buyer i hope its ok for me to give you a little feedback... only to help and no offense in any way intended.

the photos you have look a little bland, maybe you can jazz it up a little, i know i'm attracted to good presentation, also, i noticed you sell some things in groups of 3... maybe if you mix up the items such as selling lip liner and lipstick together, maybe even combos with eye makeup and eyeliner etc, you only currently have 47 items so i gather that you don't sell huge amounts of things, maybe you could go into other beauty products as well that might bring a better return, if this is only something you do part time then maybe i'm not helping, but i hope this is helpful.

cheers

Re: Weighing up store benefits

zenremix777 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:34:57 GMT

Digital*ghost outlined some great ways to tally up the financial pros/cons.

Another idea if you choose to ditch the store is to sell your bulk lots even more in bulk, to save on insertion fees. You can combine 3 bulk lot sets of lipliner into one listing for $0.50, saving $1. Just times that by however many listing you generally have. People love bulk lots of things, so 9 instead of 3 may be a good way to save $1 per two listings and even generate more business.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

boomerangent — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:13:28 GMT

Hi everyone, thanks for the tips and ideas. Feedback is always welcome and it looks like I have a few things to go away and try 🙂

Re: Weighing up store benefits

brendaglover123 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:27:57 GMT

Hi, im not a seller just a new buyer,I started my own very little business just going to clients homes and painting nails and nail art.You have kinda answered my question with your one.I didn't understand what the difference between the 2 stores.Firstly I cant believe you have to pay that amount, that's terrible.As a seller you are right about people looking else where,I always search for the cheapest item then decide what buyer im going with.Sometimes the same item has 3 different prices, now I see why,traders are having to put prices up to pay that terrible sum of money. 😞 Thanks Brenda from New Zealand

Re: Weighing up store benefits

phorum_junkie* — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:52:48 GMT

As long as you have enough items listed a store on ebay is great value.

I have around 200 listings in my store at a time many of them with multiples so there are probably at least 300 individual items., If I were to list that many without a store my listing fees would be astronomical for the 270 that weren't free and I would be paying 7.9% fnal value fees instead of 7%.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

davewil1964 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 06:52:35 GMT

If I had to pay for my 600 listings, all singles, I'd be up for 50c per 10 days on each and 7.9% FVF, instead of 5c per 30 days and 9.9% FVF. Oh, yeah and the $50 for the shop.

Still better for me to have a shop. And if I had 10,000 books to sell I'd use an anchored store, provided my sell through was adequate.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

abrahams95 — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:11:38 GMT

Each seller should do their own research and calculations. I had a a store for years until it became too expensive for my level of sales revenue.

I sell my own paintings on ebay with production limited to around 100 year, so I cancelled the store. Sales have not changed noticably, but I find it necessary to promote sales by offering very low OBID's for some items at below cost just to attract visits and hopefully bids.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

elitemilitaryitems — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 11:55:46 GMT

Mate, eBay stores ain't worth the coin for small seller croups one has to remember eBay hits the hip pocket more then once, they own paypal as well, so you get the store fees,insertion,fees,image fees (option) final value fee of close to 10% then hit around 4% from eBay when paypal is used. Dont forget also that you can not list a item and put local paypal payments will occur the ebay/paypal fee of 4%, they kick your items off for passing the rising cost to customers, so its really in my opinion.

I dont list to much on eBay because you are around 12-13% behind the eight ball before the 1st bid is laid

Wonder if I get kicked again for my opinion on high over the top fees that dont help the small fish, its all good for powersellers that sell over 500 items a month. Good luck each to their own.

Re: Weighing up store benefits

onyxbutterfly2912 — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:08:11 GMT

Hi, I had a look at your store and notice that your items are very low profit with free postage. You have very few listings. I agree with a previous commentor that you should bundle different items together. People feel they are getting a good deal that way Three of the same item goes a long way for someone who tends to pay as little as possible on makeup.

I don't mean to be rude in anyway but the prices you charge make me feel that the items are not the best quality. I am sure they are great but I would be inclined to charge just a touch more to at least cover your postage. How on earth can you post nail polish for free at such a low price?. Being bulky and a little weighty I would assume $6.60 standard post.

My store costs me a great deal but at least I can set it up to relist items automatically, send out emails automatically and even a newsletter automatically. So for me, the time saved is worth the cost, just. I agree that hiking up to $49.95 was a bit cavalier and it made me think about it as well. The jury is still out but I intend to stay with it for a while longer. I hope you make a decision that you feel happy with.

All the best. 🙂