posted on January 9, 2001 06:54:31 AM new
I was over at Yahoo reading for the second or third time about the Yahoo Stores and Merchant's Accounts, where a seller sets up a store and can also list auctions for free on Yahoo for a flat rate of $100 a month for a small store.
Does anyone on this board have such a store, and if so, what has your experience been with such?
Actually, it looks like a reasonable alternative to paying for listings at $.20 a pop to me; and perhaps afford more exposure for products and links to one's web site.
Just wondering if anyone else had considered this AND/or if anyone had experience with such.
Okay, I know everyone believes they are committing suicide and doing a store would be a waste of time - but thought it might be a viable alternative to listing fees, and one could hang around selling till they actually go under.
posted on January 9, 2001 07:04:09 AM new
Keep in mind that over the last few days sellers have checked with Yahoo to see if this was a viable alternative. First the merchant account division said Yes and then they said they weren't sure if the auctions offered from their division would be free any longer. That aspect of this company had not been discussed. Be very careful!
posted on January 9, 2001 07:06:44 AM newI was over at Yahoo reading for the second or third time about the Yahoo Stores and Merchant's Accounts, where a seller sets up a store and can also list auctions for free on Yahoo for a flat rate of $100 a month for a small store.
The problem is that Yahoo!Auctions has demonstrated that it is unable to provide sellers with pageviewers, bidders and ultimately buyers to the extent that it would make economic sense to post auctions there.
Yahoo!Inc. itself is, according to brokerage firm and press reports, about to see declines in advertisement revenue. Koogle has been trying to pick up advertisements from non-internet companies, apparently with little success.
I'd like to hear of some Merchant Account Success Stories. If they have some listed on whatever page is the "storefront" for them, let me know because I'd love to play Yahoo!Merchant success stories roulette.
posted on January 9, 2001 07:17:46 AM new
Well, while I was reading through the information on the Merchant Store Account information on Yahoo, I did pick up a phone number to call, and will be calling them to see what the situation is regarding their position on continuing to offer free auctions to Store Merchant Accounts. The phone number to ask questions regarding the Merchant Store Accounts, etc., is the Yahoo Sales Department at: 408-616-3801
I see it as an alternative to the listing fee, at least for us, as we have done well on Yahoo. Personally, I'd rather just give them $100 a month and skip having to mess with setting up a Store Front, but, if this was a real viable alternative,(with the auctions included free) I'd be very interested.
I'll be talking with them today, and see what they have to say.
Even if Yahoo is committing suicide, which it may well be doing, in my 6+ years in on line selling, I know it takes a goodly while for a site to die, so might as well try to find an alternative and stay put till it actually fades away, or becomes non-profitable.
I have posted a number of auctions on other sites in the last week, but have yet to see any movement in them.
I am afraid I didn't expect much from these other sites, as, outside of SnapRat, and Pootah, I had already tested the other sites in the past and found them relatively non-productive.
Just trying to stay non-emotional, and business directed and oriented in my decisions.
posted on January 9, 2001 12:08:04 PM new
From a Yahoo page: I have noticed they have changed the $100 pricing from 100 items down to 50. I am not sure if the items at your storefront are also items you can list in the auctions.......
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Pricing
Yahoo! Store users pay a flat rate depending on the size of the site. There is no per-transaction fee, no startup cost, and no minimum time commitment.
Small Store$100/month
For $100/month you can have up to 50 items for sale (plus as many additional information pages as you want). You can upgrade to a large store at any time.
Large Store$300/month
For $300/month you can have a store with up to 1000 items.
Larger Stores
Larger stores cost $300/month for the first 1000 items, plus $100/month for each additional 1000 items. So a 5000-item store would cost $700/month.
All stores, whether small or large, have the opportunity to opt-in to Yahoo! Shopping.
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posted on January 9, 2001 03:46:27 PM new
It was my understanding that the 50 items per store was not related to the number of auctions you can run, but I don't know.
If having a store really does still allow you to run free auctions, I will probably give it a try for a while, at least until the bidders are gone.
The only problem I forsee is that you are required to have a credit card merchant account...
posted on January 10, 2001 07:48:04 AM new
If you have a regular inventory of merchandise then that might be a reasonable route to go.
From the yahoo help pages when you click NO if that was enough info it takes you to the form to email the yahoo store customer service.
THEY HAND TYPE their responces.....a PERSON will answer your questions since they are looking at a possible yahoo store client at a guaranteed income of $100-$500 you can bet you get a real response......I sent an inquiry to them from there and got a response immediately.
My question didnt have anything to do with the auctions option so I can't report back what was said.
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posted on January 10, 2001 08:21:16 AM new
Has anyone gotten an answer from Yahoo on the free auctions allowed someone with a Yahoo Store front?
I think this is why we thought the Merchant's Account had auctions tied to it...this is from a page on Yahoo:
Yahoo! Store
Yahoo! Store's simple browser interface makes selling fixed-price and new items painfully easy. Design, build, and open a fully functioning online store within minutes. You can also use your store to sell items on Yahoo! Auctions, with our Merchant Auctions program.
AND
Step
1. Register for Yahoo! Store
To participate in Yahoo! Merchant Auctions, you must open a Yahoo! Store. In order to participate in Yahoo! Merchant Auctions, you'll need to have a merchant ID that allows you to process credit card orders online. Find out about registering for a merchant ID.
Step
2. Start listing your Yahoo! Merchant Auctions
Once you have registered for your Yahoo! Store, all of your auctions will be identified with a distinctive Yahoo! Merchant Auction icon. You can then either submit items one at a time, or use the bulk loader if you're selling in volume.
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I didn't find an exact answer to my questions on the Yahoo site, so I have written their sales department. If I get a straight answer, I'll let you know what they say.
posted on January 10, 2001 08:31:52 AM new
please do let us know.
I did get a prompt personally written response about the yahoo store but my question wasn't about the auction listing part of it.
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