Do any of you .

[Mr. P]

have, or ever had a web-based business, or know someone that did/has?

Pros/cons, good/bad? Anything you know would be helpfull.

Thanks.

 

[archangel]

have, or ever had a web-based business, or know someone that did/has?

Pros/cons, good/bad? Anything you know would be helpfull.

Thanks.

Did ebay for quite awhile...you can make some extra fun money but unlikely ya will get rich...I did sales of classic ob boat motors...it was a pain as they weigh alot and shipping was a headache...my daughter still does ebay but does sales of horse related products...she does quite well as a side income along with being a certified Income tax preparation specialist..

I also tried a business directory web page...too much competition to make any money worthwhile!

 

[007]

I was going to say ebay but arch beat me to it. That's what I do. Don't use Paypal. They take a smokin' huge cut if people pay with a debit or credit card.

 

[Semper Fi]

They take a smokin' huge cut if people pay with a debit or credit card.

Really? Tell me more. Seriously.

 

[007]

Really? Tell me more. Seriously.

Not much more to say. If you sell something on ebay, and you use Paypal as a means of accepting payment, if the buyer uses a debit or credit card, it's going to cost you dearly to get that money from Paypal. They charge a "FEE" for you to withdraw it to your bank account. A "HUGE" fee, considering. If you sold something for say $200 on ebay, accepted payment through Paypal, and the buyer used his/her debit or credit card, the "fee" from Paypal would be somewhere close to $8.00. That's fucking outrageous. I WILL NOT use Paypal on ebay. They're sons a bitchin' thieves.

Look closely at ebay, and you'll find that most all who have an "ebay store", DO NOT use Paypal. They all use other means for payment. Paypal is "OWNED" by ebay, so in reality, ebay is soaking you TWICE for ONE SALE if you use Paypal. Paypal is for all the new ebayer's that don't know any better. They soon learn though. They're getting raped using it.

I just accept money orders, cashiers checks, and even personal checks on ebay. That way, I pay ebay for the auction, AND THAT'S IT, the rest of the money is mine.

 

[Shattered]

If you're just selling things you have laying around your house for a little extra cash, yeah, you're getting "raped".

If you're running an actual, licensed business, you learn to work those figures into your starting/opening bids, and you recoup them, just like any other "cost of business".

To say that nobody accepts Paypal that runs a store on there is incorrect. Those that are properly licensed through whatever state they live in, take all forms of payment, just like any other business. There are few exceptions - those are the ones that don't take Paypal. Those are the ones that are unwilling to offer the buyer the <b>security</b> of paying with a credit card.

Those are also the ones that say "If the post office loses your package, too bad - it's not my problem." THOSE are the sellers you want to <i>stay away from</i>.

 

[Mr. P]

Thanks guys. I'm sure ebay would be an option for a store front.

I'm looking for any experience more along the lines of Ecommerce.
Did it work for you? Did you have a Web site? How did you choose a target market/product/s? Did you inventory or drop ship? Stuff like that..

 

[archangel]

Thanks guys. I'm sure ebay would be an option for a store front.

I'm looking for any experience more along the lines of Ecommerce.
Did it work for you? Did you have a Web site? How did you choose a target market/product/s? Did you inventory or drop ship? Stuff like that..

If you are going for a store front and want your own web page that is okay..however you must remember you will then need to pay extra to list on other sites or purchase e-mail addresses for those interested in your products...it is cheaper and more efficient to list your site on established sites such as ebay...I listed on ebay as well as specialized antique and classic marine related sites...I also used paypal as they offer a guaranteed secure payment program for both the seller and buyer...It is worth the extra fees...IMHO!

 

[Mr. P]

If you are going for a store front and want your own web page that is okay..however you must remember you will then need to pay extra to list on other sites or purchase e-mail addresses for those interested in your products...it is cheaper and more efficient to list your site on established sites such as ebay...I listed on ebay as well as specialized antique and classic marine related sites...I also used paypal as they offer a guaranteed secure payment program for both the seller and buyer...It is worth the extra fees...IMHO!

I've found a service for $7.25 a month (there are some cheaper). Includes domain name, 30 e-mail addresses, secure CC transactions, and a bunch of other stuff. Ebay is only an option for an ad of a store front at this point.

 

[archangel]

I've found a service for $7.25 a month (there are some cheaper). Includes domain name, 30 e-mail addresses, secure CC transactions, and a bunch of other stuff. Ebay is only an option for an ad of a store front at this point.

sounds like a good start...however 30 free or included e-mail addresses won't get ya too far...ya really need multiple thousands...and listing a ad on the ebay store section is a great start!

 

[Mr. P]

sounds like a good start...however 30 free or included e-mail addresses won't get ya too far...ya really need multiple thousands...and listing a ad on the ebay store section is a great start!

That will get me 29 more that I need. I can list on ebay anytime.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

sounds like a good start...however 30 free or included e-mail addresses won't get ya too far...ya really need multiple thousands...and listing a ad on the ebay store section is a great start!

Why would you need multiple thousands of email addresses?

 

[archangel]

That will get me 29 more that I need. I can list on ebay anytime.

I misunderstood the e-mail address comment.I thought you meant mailing addresses vs individual e-mail address for the site!

 

[007]

If you're just selling things you have laying around your house for a little extra cash, yeah, you're getting "raped".

If you're running an actual, licensed business, you learn to work those figures into your starting/opening bids, and you recoup them, just like any other "cost of business".

To say that nobody accepts Paypal that runs a store on there is incorrect. Those that are properly licensed through whatever state they live in, take all forms of payment, just like any other business. There are few exceptions - those are the ones that don't take Paypal. Those are the ones that are unwilling to offer the buyer the <b>security</b> of paying with a credit card.

Those are also the ones that say "If the post office loses your package, too bad - it's not my problem." THOSE are the sellers you want to <i>stay away from</i>.

I disagree. I think if you're just selling an item here and there, using Paypal is no big deal. But if you have an ebay store, and Paypal has their greedly, fat fingers in every transaction purchase by debit or credit card, THEN you're really getting raped. It adds up fast!

Yes I've seen those sellers that say, "if using a credit or debit card, add such and such percent to the final sale price". That is one way to offset Paypal's fees. Another is just not to use Paypal. Many people don't like to, or simply won't accept, personal checks. I've never had a problem with a persoanl check yet, and I've found people are more than willing to send one as opposed to using Paypal.

Paypal used to be free, until they were purchased by ebay, and ebay saw an opportunity to dip their greedy fingers into your sale TWICE, and added the fees. There was a big stink about it, and ebay lowered some of it's fees trying to make it look like it was doing some good, but they just jacked fees up on the other end. Another shuck and jive game.

Believe me, there's other way's of accepting payment over the internet other than getting screwed by Paypal. "Most" ebay stores have their "own" way of accepting payment, like accepting credit cards directly.

http://www.merchantwarehouse.com

And here's a real gold mine for internet payment options. I'm sure there's one in there that's CHEAPER than Paypal, or maybe even free.

http://ganges.cs.tcd.ie/mepeirce/Project/oninternet.html

 

[Shattered]

I disagree. I think if you're just selling an item here and there, using Paypal is no big deal. But if you have an ebay store, and Paypal has their greedly, fat fingers in every transaction purchase by debit or credit card, THEN you're really getting raped. It adds up fast!

Yes I've seen those sellers that say, "if using a credit or debit card, add such and such percent to the final sale price". That is one way to offset Paypal's fees. Another is just not to use Paypal. Many people don't like to, or simply won't accept, personal checks. I've never had a problem with a persoanl check yet, and I've found people are more than willing to send one as opposed to using Paypal.

Paypal used to be free, until they were purchased by ebay, and ebay saw an opportunity to dip their greedy fingers into your sale TWICE, and added the fees. There was a big stink about it, and ebay lowered some of it's fees trying to make it look like it was doing some good, but they just jacked fees up on the other end. Another shuck and jive game.

Believe me, there's other way's of accepting payment over the internet other than getting screwed by Paypal. "Most" ebay stores have their "own" way of accepting payment, like accepting credit cards directly.

http://www.merchantwarehouse.com

And here's a real gold mine for internet payment options. I'm sure there's one in there that's CHEAPER than Paypal, or maybe even free.

http://ganges.cs.tcd.ie/mepeirce/Project/oninternet.html

Incorrect.. Paypal was not free until eBay purchased them. They haven't been free since their "trial" period. As for the "add such and such an amount to your total if you'd like to use Paypal".. This is 100% illegal, which you will see if you care to read the agreement put forth by both Mastercard, and Visa (You'll find this clearly stated in Paypal's rules, as well as the cardholder agreement).

I ran a business on eBay for over 5 years.. I added those fees in to my starting prices, just like any other business does.. You go to Walmart, and you pay for the register tape they use to ring your sale, you're paying for their plastic bags, for the carts to put your items in, for their electricity, their ink, and everything else. It's called overhead.

Why are you not complaining about the outrageous shipping prices people charge to get your item to you? A good example.. Radar detectors can ship Priority Mail (2-3 days) for $3.85.. $4.50 if you add a little to cover your packing costs and materials..yet sellers on eBay are charging $14.95.. Care to explain that one?