Ebay store or private seller

[richardfm208]

I'm a collector who is getting out of collecting and selling my collection. I have roughly 500 items to sell. Should I use ebay store or use private non store method? 

[klhmdg]

do you have any limits?

How many items can you list in a month?

You get 250 free listings a month.

Do you plan on having more than 250 active listings in a month? This includes relists and roll over listings.

[12345jamesstamps]

eBay store lets you do a lot of things....you can change items from for sale to auction to change of price and so on. I find 21.95 a bargain.

I don't collect anymore and it feels like I have a  nice collection still  since I still have a lot for sale and to list.

And when the money pours in you might buy and resell which I do now.

Extra cash is extra cash the easy way...not a 9 to 5 job on your feet.

[richardfm208]

I'm looking to basically sell things until they're gone. Yes I have enough to sell 250 a month, but most likely will not. This isn't my day job lol. 

[12345jamesstamps]

The more listed the bigger audience  lookers(buyers)....

[dhbookds]

You have to look at the costs.  You get 250 free without a store and with a starter store.....  If it were only insertion fees that matter.......you shouldn't get a store until you exceed the 250 free listings and pay insertion fees of nearly the the cost of the store..... 

Basic and above stores have a reduced fvf.....not alot, but some.........so could make it worthwhile if your items are expensive............

[richardfm208]

So using the store method, would that be considered a business or just a tool to sell smarter and access lower ish fees per listing. Once I run out of items, I will no longer be selling. Thanks for your reply! 

[richardfm208]

Yes some of the items are pretty expensive. I'm trying to just sell things off and reach the most buyers. But not in a pure business, just selling things until I have no more to sell. 

[4pawsup* · Accepted solution]

I started out doing the same thing. I decided to go with a basic store in order to save that little on the FVF.

Its only $7 a month or $5 if you sign up for a year. If you do the year there is a penalty to pay if you close before the 12 months. Hope this helps.

[richardfm208]

Thank you very much. This isn't a business for me, just a safe way to sell my collection with minimal hassle. I'm just not interested in the full business aspect and all that entails. Just selling what I have until it's gone. Thanks for your reply! 

[4pawsup*]

Good luck to you i see you started about the same time i did. I seen your sales and you would save a few dollars having a store. All your listings look good as well.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@4pawsup* wrote: .... I decided to go with a basic store in order to save that little on the FVF.

Its only $7 a month or $5 if you sign up for a year.....

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@richardfm208   This information, which you have selected as the Best Answer, is not correct.  

The lowest level of Store subscription (which costs $5 per month if you make a full-year commitment and $8 per month otherwise) is called the "Starter" store and with it you only get the same 250 free insertions that you already get having no Store, and the final value fee rates are the same.  

The store subscription level called "Basic" would cost significantly more ($21/$28). It would get you more free insertions and lower final value fee rates, but I recommend that you stick with the 250 for now and see how it goes.  Details here:

 https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/store-fees?id=4809

As noted in one of the other posts, this speculation might be moot anyway, depending on your listing limits.  Signing up for a store subscription has no effect on your limits, which you can check here:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/selling-limits?id=4107

[richardfm208]

OK that makes more sense thank you! Would I need a business bank account for this or just an ordinary checking account? 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@richardfm208 wrote:

Thank you very much. This isn't a business for me, just a safe way to sell my collection with minimal hassle. I'm just not interested in the full business aspect and all that entails. Just selling what I have until it's gone. Thanks for your reply! 

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Having a Store subscription is just a way to get more free insertions and lower final value fee rates. It doesn't mean that you're a business and for instance it would have no effect on how you file your taxes.  When deciding whether or not to sign up for a store subscription, just stick to the cost/benefit aspect and don't even think about the notion of "business" vs "personal".

[richardfm208]

Fantastic, thank you so much for clearing this dilemma for me. Much appreciated. I will proceed with basic and go from there. 

Thanks everyone else too! 

Cheers