Does having a store create more trust?

Hi everyone,



I spend most of my waking time on ebay, so I am trying to turn it to making some money by selling things. I am very new with selling. I am planning to sell a lot, like 100 cheap ($10-40) and 5 expensive ($300) items per week. I am thinking about opening an ebay store. I wonder if it is better with a store, in terms of saving money. Secondly, does having a store create more trust?



I appreciate your opinions.

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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

I forgot one of the worst sins of listing, putting music in the listing.



When looking at something at midnight I don't need to be frightened witless when the music starts up and if I am listening to music of my choice and so chosen because I like it, i do get very annoyed when someone's listing starts up music because it turns off the nice music I was enjoying.

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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

Just from a quick glance, a store would make listing what you have more economical in the long run, particularly as you could then make use of the variant listing format for the things like jeans, or even the bags if they're all the same brand / style just with different patterns.



With the amount of stock (and apparent value) you have, I really hope you fully researched the marketability of them, especially within Australia. Those bags are really nice (I like 'em, anyway :^O), but I've never heard of most of the brands you have currently listed (then again, I don't keep up with many of the fashion...stuff, although I do sell clothes...). My point is, though, are people actively looking for these brands in Oz? What kind of traffic volume are you getting? For that kind of investment, I'd want to be fairly well-assured of a return, either that or simply have deep enough pockets to experiment with $30k, or have the time, energy and dedication to build up brand awareness. :8} (There are ways you can do that, but I won't go into detail here and now). 



To tell you the truth, I do believe that having a store can make a difference, particularly so with the kinds of items you have listed. I'm absolutely not suggesting sellers without stores appear less trustworthy, but a store set-up allows you to communicate several things to potential buyers without the need to state them explicitly - in some ways, it legitimises your presence as a dedicated business, and as such can increase buyer confidence in your products and practices. 

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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

Yes Lindal, my house is already like a warehouse indeed. Got shelves, heavy duty racks, boxes, and a clothes steamer etc...Just need to start working on it.



Bright ton: Yes 30k worth of stuff. When I shop, I prefer to one stop shop, and so I purchased things like shoes, fashion clothes, warm clothes, designer sunglasses and ties like Roberto Cavalli. Things for the whole family. And people have a range of things to choose from. I just hope most people are like me ๐Ÿ˜›



Once a bump: I will do a bit more calculation and will look into opening a shop. My margin of profit is not that big so have to calculate carefully, just in case I don't sell enough and pay ebay fee from pocket. You have such an interesting nickname. Where is it from?



Digital ghost: Most of the brand is from the US or France. I think any business would be slow for the first few months. But since I've been ebaying for no gain for the last 10 years then it is ok if I make only enough for ebay fees for a few months. Once I am more experienced on what products sell better, then I hope to make only $1000 per week. That is enough to make me happy ๐Ÿ™‚ I think packing 15 - 20 items each evening is not too much for me. Thanks for your kind advice.



Anyone here ebay for a living?? ๐Ÿ˜„



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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

I don't know about buying and selling designer brands so please excuse the dumb-blonde questions.



If you have purchased designer brands items how will you prove to eBay that they are genuine if someone should claim you have sold them a fake?



Do you have everything itemised on receipts and will you be allowed to sell brand new designer brands if you are not an authorised reseller for the brand?



i ask these questions due to the large number of buyers that come to these boards claiming they have been sent a fake and a very, very, very small number of buyers who will try a dispute just to keep the item and get their money back.

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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

One a bump: I buy things in bulk and the invoice shows a list of some 10's or 100's items. I don't think the invoices can be used as a proof that the items I sell on ebay are from the warehouse, as I can always mix a few look-alike fake items in, can't I?



 I only hope that if any buyers doubt about the authenticity, they will take the items to the right place to verify the authenticity before they make a claim. If they do so, the items will be confirmed as authentic any way because I only sell authentic items. I know with some items of small values people couldn't be bothered to verify authenticity, but I am not taking advantage of this. I know how it feels like as I am myself a victim of sellers who sell fake stuff  so many times.



I am not an authorised seller for any brand. I will check out the legislations on this.



Talking about ebay thieves, it looks scary to me. The other day I read about a guy's story on here, that his buyer made a credit card charge back as a not authorised transaction, although the seller sent the item with a tracking number, also received a positive FB. I am not prepared for this, as I paid a lot for some expensive items (like Belstaff items, I got ~70 pieces  to list soon). Is there any way to protect sellers in this case?


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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

IMO I would not be too afraid of the dreaded credit card chargeback. I have only ever had to do one (American Express) and believe me I had to jump through hoops to do it. Paperwork by the mile, and in total 3 months f back and forward and letter from various copany's, doctors (it was a claim for non use of Airline ticket due to illness) and hnestly if it had not been for a substantial amount of money I would not have bothered. I am not saying that a scammer, or someone of that ilk would not do it, but it certainly isn't something the everyday buyer would do over a $100 item IMO

_________________________________________________________

You can't please all the people all the time, so now I just please myself


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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

Missed a bit - regarding authorised seller for any brand, unless the Brand is actually Trade Marked and Registered in Australia as an exclusive by another importer, there should be no problem, importers paralell import all the time. Just google to see if any are reg'd.

_________________________________________________________

You can't please all the people all the time, so now I just please myself


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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

lyndal1838
Honored Contributor

Oh greencat, you are wrong, wrong, wrong.  Maybe American Express makes chargebacks difficult, but I have done several chargebacks on my Visa Debit card through St George Bank and they are neither difficult nor time consuming.


I have done chargebacks for amounts as low as $25, and several around the $70-$100 mark and they took an average of 6 weeks.


I made a phone call to the Card section of my bank and gave them the details of the transaction, they sent out the claim form which I filled in, along with my details of the transaction (receipt etc) and sent it back.


A few weeks later the money was back in my account.


That was for the ebay transactions, where the actual claim was against paypal.  For an off ebay transaction that was a straight claim against the seller who had ripped me off I did not have to even fill in the forms.

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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

Sorry OP - Lyn that is really kind of scary, what protection has any seller really got then? if any nob can claim a chargeback that easily? WOW

_________________________________________________________

You can't please all the people all the time, so now I just please myself


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Re: Does having a store create more trust?

lyndal, that came out wrong, I wasn't calling you a nob, I swear

_________________________________________________________

You can't please all the people all the time, so now I just please myself


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