You've done the best you can with eBay's retarded Storefront design. I have to say you have some great stuff posted on your Storefront even if I'm having trouble determining what's a Store item vs. an auction item. Great thumbnail pics by the way! Are the Store items the ones without end dates??? If your items are unique as they appear to be I imagine you shouldn't have any problem with competition.
A quick question about the Buy it Now feature for your Store items. Are you only allowed to use BillPoint for that with their 3+% fee, or are you allowed to accept other forms of payment? If you're forced to use BillPoint then it's 8+% down the drain paid to eBay on each sale (5% FVF plus 3+% BillPoint fee). Not as bad as the 15% eBay charges at Half.com, but still a heavy charge!
posted on June 17, 2001 10:21:57 PM new
i just open a store,i cant really see what is the big fuss?
it is a listing of items except it last 30 days.
if they add improvement and make it look more like yahoo,it will not be 9.95 a month,i can assure you that.
posted on June 17, 2001 10:59:18 PM new
I wouldn't call what eBay is offering a "store", it's more like a catalog. Knowing how little time most bidders spend reading the TOS of any given listing, I have to wonder if giving them more static listings to read - thumnails or no - is going to encourage sales. The shops on RubyLane.com would have been a better model, they are gorgeous. In addition, the site is available 24/7 and the cost to sellers is ridiculously cheap. Not every buyer wants to wait a week or more to buy - that is why "Buy it now" has been so successful for eBay. And most people want at least a halfway entertaining experience, too, some eye candy. The eBay stores, to me, are boring to the extreme. I had thought I'd open one when they became available. But now...Nah.
Anybody can have an AW STOREFRONT with FIXED-PRICE items. So, I launch my auctions from www.***.com & they DO NOT SHOW in my store -- great, as I DON'T WANT ANYTHING in my store other than FIXED-PRICE items!
posted on June 18, 2001 01:31:40 AM new
Well after midnight I tried it. Open and shop then closed it becuase when I tried to list something and I didn't check the credit card box, so when it went to the review page it said you must accept credit cards. No Way. No thanks. I'll stick to auctions. Anyone know a way around this??
posted on June 18, 2001 01:48:49 AM new
I did take Billpoint eCheck until this past week, I stopped when several people paid for their $4 and $5 postcards I got tired of the fees. I stopped taking PayPal last fall. I have heard to many charge back horror stories. Oh well I wrote to [email protected] and asked if you have to take credit cards, I wonder how long before I hear back my guess is 2 or more days.
Goodnight!
Mel
posted on June 18, 2001 07:12:44 AM new
I'd agree, You have to ATLEAST offer billpoint. I had a sale this morning and the email from ebay said the buyer chose to pay with a check (Yeah!) I state in the listing I accept checks money orders billpoint and Paypal. 1st sale says I'm sending a check. I can only hope its the beginning of a trend
Now if i could only figure out how to list faster than 1 by 1!
posted on June 18, 2001 07:18:48 AM new
Pandora, I'm not allowed to shamelessly plug a poster for ebay storefronts, but if you go to my web site, you'll see a link to one...
posted on June 18, 2001 08:34:47 AM new
Pandora, I haven't been able to find another way to do it without using the eBay SYI form which I hate using. However, I think BIN and your regular auctions are in the store too, so I guess you could stock the store with BIN and regular auctions?
Thee hasn't been a lot of good information from eBay, but that doesn't surprize me. I am not sure what the *real* differences will be with the store. Perhaps a third type of listing? Regular auction, BIN, and fixed price, and they all show up in the store?
I am going to go and look at Mr Lister to see if eBay has altered it to do Store listings. Mr Lister is no joy either, but it is better than the SYI form.
Apparently there is code in Mr. Lister, (the 6/6/2001 version) to do bulk up load to the Stores. Someone found it in the program but you have to go into the Registry files to change the options. I don't screw around with Registry files. I have in the past and crashed my disk.
It looks as if eBay put the code into the program but hasn't done whatever needs to be done so you can select the option while the program is running. I have the instructions to go into the Registry. If you want them let me know.
posted on June 18, 2001 12:05:26 PM new
Hi. I'm sticking with auctions for now. Here is the reply I got today from eBay.
*****************
Hello Mel,
Thank you for contacting eBay.
Sellers must meet the following requirements in order to set up an eBay
Store:
1. Be registered as an eBay seller
2. Have a minimum feedback of 20 or be ID-verified
3. Accept credit card payments (eBay Online Payments or other merchant
account)
If these requirements are met, sellers should go to:
posted on June 18, 2001 03:32:52 PM new
Thanks Joemstoys,
I'm not sure that it (xxxx) will work with the storefronts. Like Amazons Z-shops the auction managers won't work. You need spreadsheets etc. Or using Amazons stuff. I'm wondering if its true for ebay storefronts. Although my (sellers assistant-Mr Lister?) isn't giving me the option for storefronts Although I'm sure ebay will come up with something wonderful, just as the 30days are up :0
SMW,
Sure I could load up with auctions and BIN's but storefronts are free (temp) hmmm? .30cents vs free. With sales these days and pocketpickers I'm going with Free
Messing with code, not me!
I'll just keep going 1 by 1 till ebay gets an upgrade I guess. I'm going fire off an email to ebay and maybe next week I'll have an answer.
Gotta run, gotta list!
Thanks everyone, I'll check back with what ever I find out.
Angela
www.pandorastrinkets.com
posted on June 19, 2001 12:50:04 AM new
No adult storefronts permitted. It's not in the TOS anywhere-- but you need to select a product category. If you try one of the adult categories, you get a "not permitted" error message.
posted on June 19, 2001 12:50:23 AM new
No adult storefronts permitted. It's not in the TOS anywhere-- but you need to select a product category. If you try one of the adult categories, you get a "not permitted" error message.
posted on June 19, 2001 01:37:17 AM new
Storefront Problems and Glitches:
1. When you list an item and select the catagory for your storefront, the catagory does not "take". You must wait until that item is picked up by the storefront then edit it to select the store catagory. THEN it will sort next round to the proper catagory. Items always default to the catagory "other".
2. On the page http://www.ebaystores.com/ what is showing up as the "description" should come from the box on the edit your store page titled "Store specialities" and NOT the box titled "Store description". It's making everyone's store look AWFUL on the list of stores. There also needs to be a selection box or something to choose where your store will go...as in that page needs SOME kind of organization.
3. The stores are not picking up items that were listed prior to creating a storefront. Since the "me" icon is gone, those who had lots of items listed and were heavily dependant on the "me" page as a storefront are LOSING customers. They can't see our items already running after they get lost in our store! I think we need the "ME" button back as well as the red tag.
4. Will there ever be a search that also searches stores? like for instance that Amazon has always had? If everyone adds inventory to their stores rather than to ebay, how will we find stuff that we need to search for? I don't plan to search EACH store individually looking for that rare book title.
5. Updates are SLOW.
6. As I understand it, if you need to close your store, you must end ALL your auctions first. I have not been without an auction running since 1996 (?). That is a problem especially for those who tried it out and don't intend to keep up a store.
7. Need a pull down box when relisting to move things back and forth between auctions and the store in order to rotate stock.
8. Bulk loading? Auction Submit?
JMHO. Otherwise I like it. By they time I pay for it, I expect it to work.
T
posted on June 19, 2001 05:55:58 AM new
I thought about it for a second. Then I figured I already give Ebay enough money. I have cut back on my auctions there because of all the rules about links etc. . . I have increased my sales at Yahoo and My website and Half.com (so easy to list there) and I think I will just keep doing that until the only stuff I put on Ebay is the really rare stuff.
When I thought about the store I thought of all the rules they will make and all the ropes they will use to bind a person in. I wonder if they will let store front people put links in to their websites. Not I am sure.
One note: try clicking on the tab About the Store do you see your about
me page? Do you see all your listing pre-store and after?
They SHOULD all be there. Of course you know it and I know it but will
your customers click that tab....NO.
Got this e-mail from ebay [b]The center of eBay Stores activity is the
Hub page where Stores are arranged by category and your items are linked
to the appropriate category names. [/b]
HUH? It's a mish mash jungle at the hub page.
Thanks JOEMSTOYS. I figured I'm just gonna have to wait it out.
e-mail from ebay : [b]Save time and manage listings efficiently with eBay
listing tools such as
Seller’s Assistant and Mister Lister. [/b] My sellers assistant
gives no auction vs storefront choice? hmmmmm.
posted on June 19, 2001 10:43:59 AM new
I just received a notification from Mister Lister Help. They have added storefront tags to the spec. Here is the info of interest
===================================================================
LISTING TO A STOREFRONT
===================================================================
This section describes the syntax and use of the five eBay Stores tag sets.
The eBay Stores tag sets are used only optionally, when listing items to
a storefront. When listing standard items not associated with a storefront,
they need not be used and only the standard tag sets are used. When items
are destined for a storefront, any applicable standard tag sets are used
-- plus the eBay Stores tag sets.
<EBAY_STORE_CATEGORY> and </EBAY_STORE_CATEGORY>
The EBAY_STORE_CATEGORY tag specifies the custom category within the target
storefront an item is listed in. Possible values are integer values between
1 and 6. Storefront categories 2-5 are the custom categories the storefront
owner can name and 6 is the statically named "Other" category. Default:
1. (This tag is required if the EBAY_STORE_BIN_ITEM tag has a "y" value.)
Example, listing an item in the storefront's custom category #1:
<EBAY_STORE_CATEGORY>2</EBAY_STORE_CATEGORY>
<EBAY_PAYMENT_COND> and </EBAY_PAYMENT_COND>
The EBAY_PAYMENT_COND tag specifies whether payment conditions like shipping
and handling, tax, and insurance will be specified (see the other tags
below for these values). Possible values: "y" for yes and "n" for no. If
"y" is specified, the tags EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION and EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE
must have non-blank values. Default: "n".
Example:
<EBAY_PAYMENT_COND>y</EBAY_PAYMENT_COND>
<EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION> and </EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION>
The EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION tag specifies whether insurance for the item
is not offered, is optional, or is required. Use one of the ID values from
the table below for the value of the EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION tag. If 2 ("Optional"
or 3 ("Required" is specified, then the EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE tag set must
have a nonzero value. Default: 1.
ID Meaning
-- ------------------------
1 Not Offered
2 Optional
3 Required
Example:
<EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION>3</EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION>
<EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE> and </EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE>
The EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE tag specifies the amount of insurance charged for
each $50.00. When the EBAY_INSURANCE_OPTION tag has a value of 2 or 3,
the value for this tag must be a positive, nonzero number and a decimal
point is required. Do not include a currency symbol in the number (such
as "$" or a thousands separator character (such as a dot or comma). Default:
0.00.
Example:
<EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE>5.00</EBAY_INSURANCE_FEE>
<EBAY_STORE_BIN_ITEM> and </EBAY_STORE_BIN_ITEM> *
The EBAY_STORE_BIN_ITEM tag indicates whether an item is a fixed-price
storefront item or an auction-type item. Fixed-price items have a constant
price and are listed only within the target storefront. The price for an
auction-type item varies through the bidding process (as happens in normal
Dutch and Chinese auctions) and is listed both in the storefront and the
standard eBay item listing pages. Possible values: "y" for a fixed-price
item and "n" for an auction-type item. As this is a require tag, there
is no default value. Also, if the value for this tag is "y" then the EBAY_STORE_CATEGORY
tag set MUST be included in the item's bulk item definition.
Wow, that's XML tag structure! eBay is surreptitiously teaching its users the coming XML standard that will be used alongside HTML to mark data. Sellers will be reasonably fluent in XML without even realizing it!
posted on June 19, 2001 11:29:11 AM new
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
I thought about it for a second. Then I figured I already give Ebay enough money. I have cut back on my auctions there because of all the rules about links etc. . . I have increased my sales at Yahoo and My website and Half.com (so easy to list there) and I think I will just keep doing that until the only stuff I put on Ebay is the really rare stuff.
When I thought about the store I thought of all the rules they will make and all the ropes they will use to bind a person in. I wonder if they will let store front people put links in to their websites. Not I am sure.
--------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
tracyg..I am with you on this one! I don't intend to give them one more dime than is necessary. I haven't listed on Greedbay in two months and in the future will only list the items that I know gets multiple bids.
I am selling better on Yahoo (at least half sells..and I list at lowest I will take, as there is rarely more than 1 or 2 bids). I personally would rather spend my money there. I also list at a couple of the newer sites, but lots of looks and no bids...so a waste of time.
I just cannot deal with all the asinine new rules that are made every week, most of which I consider to be bordering on illegal...but until someone screams loud enough to the right people, Greedbay will go on making the auction internet fit into it's corporate pockets.
Sure wish the sellers would pull what they did to Yahoo....yeah, I know it's comparing apples to oranges, but, if there was a boycott for even one or two days, and the stockholders and media knew about it...it would bite Meggie and the MBA brains (NOT), big time! Wishful thinking, here.
posted on June 19, 2001 11:38:17 AM new
I dunno, eBay sell-through is still great for this time of year. I'd be afraid to give up on eBay. Why not use eBay and purchase just the minimal listing fees --- screw the high priced promotional fees that are a waste of money. Thirty or fifty-five cent listing fees paid to eBay pays greater dividends than the same paid to Yahoo IMHO, and I'm far from an eBay fan. Keep your options open, show your allegiance to none, and GO MAKE A TON OF MONEY!!!
posted on June 19, 2001 12:00:37 PM new
eSeller...I don't use the features and never have, except for an occasional reserve fee a long time ago and the gallery also a long time ago). Been selling on Greedbay for 3 years.
The reason I don't use featues...because I sell needlework craft books (and once in a while silver & gemstone jewelry) and they are rarely listed above $4.99...the larger books are listed at $9.99, but most fall into the $1.99 to $3.99 area. It wouldn't help to use any features because in the last year the needlecraft market at Greedbay has become saturated. I can't compete with sellers that have a B&M and unlimited supplies at wholesale prices.
I have found at Yahoo that if I list say, 20 auctions I will get bids on half of them (and I haven't had a deadbeat in two years...knock on wood). However, when I relist the same auctions...I only get a couple of more bids, unless I wait a month or so. Actually, the sell through rate for me, is the same at both sites, though admittedly, with more than one bidder at Greedbay, the final sale might be higher. But..with the watch auction feature...the multiple bidders fell through because they wait until the last minute, so many times, most auctions sell for the same exact bid on both sites. that's why I list only the real good sellers on eBay...the ones that get early bids and more bidders.
I just followed the advice of MAM last year...and spread it out. I like to try new sites. I watch them for a while and when I see some action..I list! However, the action is really slow at the new sites, like ePier, SYI and Bidville...slow to none. But I move my no sells from Yahoo over to those sites for a week or two and then later, move them back to Yahoo for a few more sales.
The other option I went for was opening my own web site. It is under construction now, with just a couple of pages ready for sales. But, this summer I am devoting myself to that web page and getting it into search engines.
I realize that a small time home seller like myself will never make the kind of money that a RL business makes on the net, but I am only looking for a way to subsidize my income in my retirement...and having been an avid needleworker all my life and having a collection of more than 40 years, it is what I know best.
Possibly, I will also look into a storefront, but it will not be at Greedbay...I have jumped through enough hoops to last me for the rest of my life. Maybe I am cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I guess that's the Virgo in me...I think about the end result in any move I make, but when I've had enough, I've had enough..no matter what. I accept the consequences and move on. All of life, to me, is a matter of acceptance and adjustments.
