posted on November 11, 2002 04:51:34 PM
i've been waiting to jump into an AW Storefront until I see some feedback from others. what do you think of Stores compared to your eBay sales? any tips for newbys?
posted on November 13, 2002 08:23:25 AM
well, this has been a hot one! looks like no one wants to fess up about their AW storefront. there can only be a few possible conclusions:
1. AW is suppressing these replies (conspiracy theorists please don't run with this, please!).
2. stores business is so lousey no one wants to talk about it.
3. stores business is so good no one has time to talk about it.
4. this topic is so uninteresting no one wants to comment on it.
posted on November 13, 2002 09:03:03 AM
Twas a great idea while it was FREE -- & I would be willing to pay a "SUCCESS" fee, but closed it after the new fee schedule was introduced!
posted on November 15, 2002 06:22:33 PM
Yes, Yes, Yes! I admit it...
I love my AW storefront! I don't actually list anything for sale in my store that’s not on ebay, but it's great free advertising. How you ask?
1) Every time a potential bidder clicks to enlarge a pic, they get a sneak peek at the other things I have up for bid. (I often remind bidders to click on a pic for a closer view)
2) Every time a buyer clicks on my WBN... they get a peek at my other items offered
3) Every time a buyer receives an email from me they are sent a clickable link to my storefront where... you guessed it... The see the other items I have up for auction
4) Every Time a buyer uses my AW check out... yep... they see the other items I have
I try to list “like items” each week. This way, if a bidder likes my Vintage Toaster, I can bet they will like my Bee Hive Oster Blender, Chrome Breadbox and vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster as well. Because of my little AW storefront my multi-auction winners has greatly increased.
Remember amateurs built the ark - Professionals built the Titanic.
posted on November 16, 2002 12:56:09 AM
I kept asking Auction Watch to put a smart counter on my store but they didn't . every time I went into the store or put another item in, it registered another hit. I had 300 items listed in my store and didnt sell any in aproximately a year.After I subtracted the hits I put on myself I had about 150 from other people. I have no problem paying an end value fee or sales commission but I can put up my own storefront and have it hosted for approximately the same amount per month with no additional fees.
posted on November 16, 2002 02:12:36 AM
There have been plenty of threads on this subject, you should read some of those responses.
Anyway, between upsells (customers adding additional products to their auction order at checkout) side deals and repeat Business -- 15% of my total business comes from my AW store and I do about 5 figures worth of business/week between eBay and my AW store.
In any event, I think asking the question "Do AW Stores Work?" is rather ludicrous. *Begin Rant* An online storefront is not a car or an appliance, it is merely a venue from which to sell products. Depending on what products the store has available to sell, how the products are presented, how the store is marketed and more importantly, how the store is utilized and implemented in the one's sales channels will determine how the store works.
Simply putting up a store with products in it will not bring you any business, you have to put some analysis, planning, marketing and good old fashioned elbow grease into it.
Are you taking advantage of the upsell?
Are you putting in complimentary products to the ones you have available on eBay?
Do you offer your customers a chance to buy things from your store if they offer a side deal or want to purchase additional items from you?
Are you taking advantage of the direct mail capabilies offered by AW?
Whether your store works, is dependent on what you do to MAKE IT WORK! The AW store, in of it itself does not work or not work, you have to MAKE IT WORK.
The question "Do AW Stores Work" is nebulos and ambiguous -- of course it works! Can customers come to the store and purchase products without any difficulties? If the answer is yes, then the store works. "DO AW Stores Work" Should only be asked with respect to the functionality of the store itself, not in terms of generating sales.
The Internet is not a Kevin Costner movie, if you build it, no one is coming, but if you, perform the proper due dillegence, plan it and market it, then they will come.
