pnkbargains
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posted on April 26, 2003 12:24:41 AM new
For the past month or so I've been contiplating on wether to go ahead an invest the time and $$ to open an eBay store. I've read some good and bad things about it. I've recently been able to go full time into my online business, but I'm just not sure wether to venture out to an eBay store, Vendio store or my own small web page. Things have been going great with my regular auctions (allowing me to quit that Just Over Broke-ob), but I've read a lot of news articles saying that businesses, like mine, are really booming across the internet. Can opening a store or web page really increase business enough to justify the extra work? I know that several of you have very prominate and successful online businesses, but you know the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." With the excitement of being able to grow my business, I don't want to go blindly into something that could wind up hurting it. Any responses, especially from those of you who have experience in this issue would be greatly appreciated.
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tomwiii
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posted on April 26, 2003 12:52:25 AM new
I prefer my VD Store because it be far cheaper than that dud from feeBay!
At 5 little buckerooos/month, you get a whole bunch of good goodies from Vendipoo!
Easy to set-up + unlimited listings + shopping cart + Froogle = GREAT DEAL!
It is FAR from perfect, but for me & Ralphie, it's ideal!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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pnkbargains
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posted on April 26, 2003 01:28:01 AM new
Tom, does your store do a decent amount of business. Looking at it, I must say I am impressed. Is it worth the extra effort put into it, to keep building it up?
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hdm228
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posted on April 26, 2003 06:15:05 AM new
Do Vendio stores work? I am thinking about it for the new and used computer equipment that I have. Just wondering and looking for some feedback.
Thanks in advance
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mandm50s
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posted on April 26, 2003 06:58:58 AM new
tomwiii Do you use Google Adwords to bring in customers? How do customers find you? Yours is the first VD store I've looked at but I was very impressed. Feebay stores have a big problem. What customers you do manage to drive to your store are lost to the whole big feebay thing. As far as I can see if you get a customer to your VD store they can't drift off to another store from your store. In other words you are the end of that road. This looks really great for sellers that are still afraid of taking that big website leap.
Mike
mandm50s
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baylor45
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posted on April 27, 2003 06:31:10 AM new
I sell one-of-a kind items and currently have over 5000 listed in my storefront. What would that cost on fee-bay? Only $4.95 here (for now). I drive business into the store by using the storefront template in ebay auctions, about me page, google ad words and emails...offering free shipping when combining a storefront item with an ebay auction, etc. Mine has worked very well for me.
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mandm50s
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posted on April 27, 2003 06:39:04 AM new
baylor45 Sounds to me like you are doing just fine without Feebay. I do the same thing except with a website. The results are the same. Basically free of Feebay.
mandm50s
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tomwiii
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posted on April 27, 2003 07:51:57 AM new
baylor: says it all!
Obviously, if you are a big small biz (like Izzy), then the VD Stores will not be appropriate for ya!
There are some annoying restrictions, etc! BUT, but $5/month, I feel VD offers a super solution for little dofuses like Ralph & me who desire a web-presence without much expense or WORK 
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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pat1959
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posted on April 27, 2003 08:59:19 AM new
Tell us more, Baylor!
How do you use GoogleAdwords in your auctions -- and what additions do you use in your e-mails?
I need help getting more traffic to my auctions. Price cutting doesn't seem to work that well. I've tried various listing lengths (3,5,7,10 days) and times (am & pm) with little change in results. Simple, specific titles seem to help somewhat.
My product line is varied, as I'm cleaning out three storage units of my folk's belongings, which probably contributes to the lower repeat-business status, but upping the hits would sure help!
Fortunately, I do enjoy the customer relations end of the business, and I'm maintaining a 83% feedback return. But that hasn't seemed to bring in a lot of repeat business.
At this point, I'm open to any and all suggestions!
Thanks,
Pat
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neglus
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posted on April 27, 2003 09:29:04 AM new
I don't know if it's coincidence or not but I have noticed increased auction sales since I opened my eBay store....I don't have many items listed in it yet (one of the things that never gets done since VENDIO doesnt make it easy)..I know when you click the "browse stores" button to the left of searches and categories my store always shows up somewhere in the top 10...also notice the name of my store comes up in searches...anyway maybe I am wasting $9.99/mo but I'm going to keep it for awhile..I know that my VENDIO store (which is actually more of an auction gallery) gets virtually NO HITS ..counter seems to move only when I go in there.
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tomwiii
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posted on April 27, 2003 09:30:53 AM new
Neglus: my counter is up to 1200 & I reset it about 5 weeks ago after it hit 1400, so the HITS are definetely hitting 
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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neglus
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posted on April 27, 2003 12:49:25 PM new
Tom - My Vendio counter is only at 119 and I have had the store for about 3 months! I run over 300 auctions/week and I have a "view my vendio gallery" link at the bottom of my listings and use store front template to list my items (though unless you know where to click you wouldn't know it goes anywhere)...the eBay store is right there next to my feedback but doesnt have a counter..how do you get people to go to your Vendio store?
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mandm50s
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posted on April 27, 2003 01:16:38 PM new
neglus if it were me I would give Google adwords a try for my Vendio store front but not ebay store. You would lose any lookers at your ebay store to your competitors.
mandm50s
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tomwiii
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posted on April 27, 2003 01:18:08 PM new
Neglus: I put a link in EVERY email I send out!
PLUS, I have a picture-link (me little boyo, of course!) on my "ME" page -- seems to be doing da trick!
BTW: yer PC's are wnderfuuuul!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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neglus
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posted on April 27, 2003 01:19:17 PM new
what are google ad words and how do you use/get them?
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neglus
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posted on April 27, 2003 01:22:42 PM new
thanks tom...i try ..now if i can just figure out how to do the link in the PP WBN and Vendio post sale emails...html?
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tomwiii
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posted on April 27, 2003 01:40:11 PM new
Sorry, Postcard boy, can't help ya there!
My present experience with VD is limited to the STORES & these boards!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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neglus
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posted on April 27, 2003 01:52:01 PM new
I'm a MoodyMommy and not a boy ...maybe someone else knows how to create links to Vendio store in Vendio post-sale emails?
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mandm50s
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posted on April 27, 2003 02:27:05 PM new
neglus go here and look around if you have questions just come here. I would start slow maybe $1.00 per day and see how you like it.
https://adwords.google.com/select/main?cmd=Login
mandm50s
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neglus
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posted on April 27, 2003 05:11:22 PM new
thanks for the link...I don't think I'm ready to do anything like that but I can see how it works for other types of merchandise.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think eBay postcard buyers don't search Google for postcards....
I also don't see other post card sellers as competitors..very rarely selling the same card at the same time..maybe I'm naive there too but I feel more camraderie than competitive towards other sellers..the better quality sellers we have on eBay the more we assure that eBay is the venue buyers choose - good for all of us!
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