billy8156
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posted on June 1, 2005 11:44:47 AM new
Been a full time eBay seller since 1998 and thinking of finally getting an eBay store. But I'm not sure which of the three is best (normal, featured, or anchor).
I don't mind spending the $499/month for an anchor is its really going to get more exposure. Currently I spend between $4000 and $5000 per month in eBay fees. But with the normal 'buy it now' listings sales has been dropping so I'm thinking the eBay store will give me better visibility.
Am I on the right track? Also just what is the difference between featured and anchor type stores?
Thanks
Bill
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toben88
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posted on June 1, 2005 12:05:44 PM new
Dont hesitate to get a base store. Mine has been very profitable. I have no idea about the anchor or featured stores, but the base one you shoud get asap.
I just updated my new website - give me your feedback on it.
http://gotflag.com
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stopwhining
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posted on June 1, 2005 01:45:06 PM new
billy,
what do you sell??
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
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billy8156
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posted on June 1, 2005 03:55:36 PM new
I sell many different products ranging from software to clothing to novilties.
I had done very well when eBay was a 'browser friendly' system. But now it seems like eBay would rather you type in a key work as they've made so many search features and eBay users don't browse as much. And most of my items aren't found with key words because most of my items are too unique. Its like no one would type in 'rubber dog poop' but if they browse and see 'rubber dog poop' they might make the purchase.
I'm hoping my store increases my sales as back in 2003 I had made over $150,000 free and clear profit. 2004 my eBay fees went up 25% but I only cleared about $110,000. This year I'm spending 16% more in eBay fees than last year and at present sales trend I might profit $75,000. Fees going up up profits down down down...
Bill
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stopwhining
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posted on June 1, 2005 04:56:57 PM new
have you considered having your own website and drive traffic from ebay??
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
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billy8156
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posted on June 1, 2005 06:33:59 PM new
Actually I have my own website, actually several. However its against eBay's User Agreement to place a link in your eBay listings to your Website.
Back in 1998 and 1999 it was ok to do so but sometime early in 2000 or 2001 eBay took that right away from us sellers.
If there is another way to do it (without breaking the eBay User Agreement) I would love to hear about it.
Bill
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classicrock000
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posted on June 1, 2005 06:53:28 PM new
'Its like no one would type in 'rubber dog poop' but if they browse and see 'rubber dog poop' they might make the purchase."
well Ralphie might 
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
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max40
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posted on June 1, 2005 07:01:30 PM new
toben88
Just checked out your website. (1)Why aren't your flags (country) in alphabetical order? (2)How do I get to view a flag after choosing one out of your drop down list?
If you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first, they'll believe you
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neglus
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posted on June 1, 2005 07:01:55 PM new
Actually, rubber dog poop might be a good thing to sell - Search yields 0 results
You can put a link to your Web-site on your "me" page
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
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stopwhining
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posted on June 1, 2005 07:17:59 PM new
do they still have the 2 clicks rule?one click takes you to a page which tells more of the item and then another click??
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
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fenix03
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posted on June 1, 2005 08:20:37 PM new
Billy - I don't think the investment in an anchor store is neccesary unless they offer a lowered FVF. Otherwise there are a number of ways to get the same advantages offered by achor stores (namely the unlimited catagories) by means of html and coding in your item listings.
If nothing else I would first try a Featured store and play around a little, explore the different options and see if you aren't able to achieve the desired results with $50 investment as opposed to a $500 one.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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ebayvet
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posted on June 2, 2005 08:20:17 AM new
I've thought about upgrading from the basic store to the $50 one, if I could figure out how it would benefit me. They claim better placement, but what does this mean exactly? The big difference I can see between the $50 and $500 store is 24 hour live support - That must be nice, but can't imagine for me being worth $500.
I think an ebay store is an excellent way to get customers to your business. I've acquired some great customers through my store that purchase again and again and again.
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neglus
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posted on June 2, 2005 08:43:46 AM new
I have played around with "Featured Store" several times. I am currently in the second month of my latest experiment.
I have noticed NO DIFFERENCE in sales!! You do get a purple background for your store name in a list of stores. You do get some "free" keyword campaign $ (I haven't had a chance to even use mine). You get to minimize the ebay header on your store page, thereby eliminating the "search" box (search box makes it easier for buyers to navigate to another seller's listings), You get more store pages and if you use them properly you can get your inbound links for search engines and that should improve your page rank (I haven't a chance to use any of those either!)You also get Sales Manager Pro for free (maybe all stores get this now) but I use Vendio and don't need that..
I think when they say "better placement" they mean your store will appear higher in the search results (when reg search yields less than 20 items) than others in the SAME PRICE RANGE - the lowest priced items get first placement. You don't necessarily get placement among the store listed on the left side of a category search - those stores are listed because they have the most AUCTIONS running (even though you may have more store items!)
I have not studied the advantages of an anchor store because I am not about to shell out $500/month to have one.
The bottom line to all this rambling is that in most instances, the basic store is good enough. One needs to make the store easy to navigate (and that does NOT mean that you need all the bells and whistles) and run auctions to drive business to the store. It is also necessary to get your store placed in the search engines (there is a long thread about this on the store sellers ebay board and well worth the read).
Good luck!
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
[ edited by neglus on Jun 2, 2005 08:47 AM ]
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stopwhining
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posted on June 2, 2005 09:18:09 AM new
now this is interesting.Ebay does not register its stores with various search engines !But then neither does AMZN.
Both Ebay and AMZN store formats SUCK big time,but if your customers are mostly ebay bidders,then Ebay store is for you.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
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