Weighing up store benefits

[boomerangent]

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 ?:|

[davewil1964]

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.

[digital*ghost]

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. 

[the-kazbar]

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 🙂

[phorum_junkie*]

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.

[wildwolf_9]

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

[zenremix777]

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.

[boomerangent]

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 🙂

[brendaglover123]

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

[phorum_junkie*]

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%.