eBay store

[thecornerbookstore_2015]

I am getting close to using all of my free listings. I’m thinking about opening an eBay store. What are the benefits and do you think it’s worth it?

[wastingtime101]

In short: benefits include more monthly free insertions, a very slight reduction on fees in most categories, lower insertion fees for listings over your free allotment, the ability to use promotions manager (to run sales, order discounts, etc), shipping supplies coupon for basic+above store levels, add a banner to your store front and organize listings into your own custom categories, send newsletters to subscribers, and more.

Starter store is not worth it for you since it comes with the same number of listings you get without a store. Generally the only reason to get a starter store is if you want to access promotions manager and you consistently have listings within the 250 allotment.

It's generally worth it to subscribe to a Basic store when the cost of extra listings lines up with the cost of the store subscription. I always suggest sellers start with a monthly subscription for 2-3 months to make sure they're happy with it before committing to an annual subscription. Even though annual subscription is less $ per month, it comes with a hefty early termination fee as opposed to a monthly subscription which can be cancelled at any time.

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/payments-and-fees/subscriptions-and-fees

[luckythewinner]

I am getting close to using all of my free listings. I’m thinking about opening an eBay store. What are the benefits and do you think it’s worth it?

Another option it to create a second account and get another 250 free listings. I have six selling accounts and pay zero store fees. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

I agree with the advice to open a second account rather than investing in a Store subscription.  Your Sold listings indicate 115 items sold in the past 90 days, with a median selling price under $20. That doesn't sound promising for justifying the monthly cost of a Basic store subscription ($28 monthly; $22 if you commit for a year), especially if the additional listings would be in Books, where stores do not get a discount on final value fee rates.

I sell under 4 different IDs mostly for separating categories (one for a specific type of collectibles, one for a specific designer, one for general garage sale items, etc.). It's not as complicated as some posters seem to think.

For more insight into fees and benefits:

Non-store: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822

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

[deltilogical]

The other posters didn't seem to mention you also get 1000's of Buy It Now listings.  That is the real reason you'd get a store.  If you have good auctions the additional 25c isn't much, just another fee to offset your profits.  You're getting a 1099 for all this regardless of a store or not.  The politician vampires demand their share, or they'll kill you.

[nobody*s_perfect]

I think that was the underlying question: Would the cost of those extra "free" insertions be justified.  

With a Basic store, the seller would get 10,000 free insertions in "select" categories, including Books, which is where most of their current listings are. Would the additional listings beyond 250 lead to at least $28 in profits to cover the subscription cost? If they'd double the number of sales per month and profit $1 per book, then Yes.

[sakic92710]

If I was generating the number of sales you seem to be, I would still have a basic store.  Did not mind paying that fee.  When my sales plummeted, I closed my store.  Since it is month to month, you do have the easy option of shutting it down whenever you like. However, when everything relisted after 30 days, you would start to see the listing fees accumulate if you kept over 250 active.

[dhbookds]

I echo this statement by @wastingtime101 

It's generally worth it to subscribe to a Basic store when the cost of extra listings lines up with the cost of the store subscription.

If you only list 10 items a wk......subscribing to a store after reaching the 250 free.......won't "pay" until you exceed the 250 by about 60 listings.... (rough math)....... for the basic store........

[chevymontecarlo88]

As mentioned before, having the Free up to 10k listings for books which it looks like you specialize gives you enough to get started on a Basic store. Plus you will get free shipping supplies quarterly if they still offer that which does not do much but is better than nothing. (check to make sure they still offer that)

What you many want to do to start, instead of the yearly subscription, start with a month to month so you can gauge your progress and savings. You can stop or upgrade at the end of the month. You do save on a yearly subscription vs monthly.

Good luck

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Obviously, the major reason is the number of listings without an insertion fee, but the other benefits may also contribute.

I find being able to create my own categories for my store to be useful and enable me to get more multiple item orders. I have enough divergence in the items I offer that most of my buyers only care about a portion of what I sell.

The $25 per quarter credit for Ebay supplies is also a value to me.

The minor FVF reduction is money in my pocket.

Knowing how many buyers are following my store is a feel good benefit.

[yoonix1]

I was in these shoes 7 years ago, and I'm still here. I've opened a basic store with annual subscription (paid on monthly base) which gave me much more free listing. The fees I was paying dropped down. Ebay was giving a quarterly coupon of $25 for buying EBay shipping supplies with EBay logo which gave more professional look to the Sellers. I had more exposure as a Seller on EBay because of increased number of listings, and EBay advertisement. Honestly it was a bumpy ride, and still it is because of economy. It's good to have an addition source of income, just in case to be able to cover the monthly subscription. Some people make living of selling on EBay, but my scope is not that big.

[jg.mason]

For me it was all about the number of listings I was going to carry. Once I got over 300 listings (and was planning on adding a bunch more) I noticed a couple of insertion fees so I did a little math and figured the store was the way to go.

I went with the yearly plan right away because it was cheaper. Also don't forget to use the quarterly $25 coupon for shipping supplies, that's like taking $100 a year off the store subscription. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@jg.mason wrote: ... I went with the yearly plan right away because it was cheaper. ..

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As mentioned in an earlier post, if you cancel the annual plan early there is a significant early termination fee.  For example, if you cancel a Basic-level store in the third month, the penalty is $73.

http://pages.ebay.com/stores/subscriptionterms.html

[slippinjimmy]

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@jg.mason wrote:

Also don't forget to use the quarterly $25 coupon for shipping supplies, that's like taking $100 a year off the store subscription. 

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More like getting about $35 a year given the ridiculously high prices charged by the eBay shipping supplies store.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

What you select from the Ebay shipping makes a lot of difference in value.

If you buy the very cheapest shipping supplies available, your estimate of savings is probably correct.

If do not buy the very cheapest shipping supplies for quality reasons. When I buy unbranded supplies, I have standards which require I use no additional packing materials in them, so I tend to buy higher priced supplies. The Ebay supplies I buy meet that standard. So I get greater value from the coupon.

Plus the Ebay name imprinted on the packaging is worth something. They make the buyers think I care more about the packaging and say so in FB. My goal for years has been spending minimal time packing, and not having negative effects of doing so.

Most of my shipments are in Stayflat mailers. And not all of those packages are flat.