Is it still worth it to have an eBay store?

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Is it still worth it to have an eBay Store?

Is it still worth it to have an eBay store?


I am an eBay shopkeeper or store owner. I sell mostly digital goods or electronically downloadable products such as eBooks, web templates, or other information. Everything I sell is original or I have resell rights. I have been very happy with eBay throughout my years of eBaying, that is until about February of this year (2008). I still feel eBay is the easiest way for anyone to begin making money online with very little out of pocket expense, but so much has changed that I don't know if it's worth all the hassles anymore.

eBay - The Changes 

In February 2008, eBay announced many changes to their policies and have continued with more changes every month since and in my opinion are for the worst.

eBay raised their final value fees from about 4.5% to 8.75% and then raised their minimum buy it now from 1 cent (an exclusive for store owners) to $1.00, so eBay effectively killed the 1 cent buy it now auction all together. They changed the digital goods policy to one that reads

"all goods that can be digitally downloaded or transferred electronically must be listed using the Classified Ads format",

which incidentally cost $9.99 to run for thirty days, this format does not enable buyers and sellers to transact online through eBay nor is eBay Feedback available, and there are a slew of other headaches with listing items as classified ads. This is not all the changes as there are more pending such as Sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers as of May 2008. That was always a last line of defense for sellers against buyers, especially eBay Newcomers who might abuse the feedback system or not know how it works.

My eBay store is basically bare now. There are a few items left that are evidentially violating eBay's terms as they are digital downloads. What's left were items listed as "Good till Cancelled", so those listings automatically relist for the time being. I could always offer the same products, just burn them to a CD, and charge shipping, but that kind of defeats the purpose of Digital Product, especially a 1 cent buy it now, digital delivery, with free shipping item.

So is it worth it to keep an eBay store that made its bread and butter from selling digital goods? Keep in mind money can still be made, just not as easily or conveniently as before.

I am thinking it's time to move on and find other alternatives

YOUR TURN! 

Is it worth it to have an eBay Store?

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Yes, it is definatly worth it.

Proimpulse says:

Even though there are many changes with eBay it's still worth having an eBay store even if the sole reason is to market your website. eBay is by far some of the most cost effective marketing you can do and if done in the proper way it can greatly increase your cash flow.

No way, too many changes for the worse.

amy1980 says:

Nah, I've never found it to be worth doing.

assads says:

I was paying £6 a month before, have not seen the promised benefits for the new fee of £15.

Randell says:

Not to me, I closed my eBay store

 

by Randell

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