Huh? Is it really this easy?

I can certainly attest that the process and the challenges facing eBay Trading Assistants are much more complicated and more labor intensive than this article suggests.

Lets review the e-How list...

1. Sign up with eBay - OK Sounds Easy, until you actually read the accompanying agreement eBay makes you opt in to. The eBay Trading Assistant agreement transfers all legal liability to you and essentially makes the Trading Assistant become a legal shield for eBay. Beyond that, read my previous articles about the eBay Trading Assistant Agreement - It can be a challenge just to read, for an attorney even.
2. Must have "Ten Sells" in the last three months to qualify (e-How's English, not mine) Sounds Easy and can be quite easy on eBay, but why is the figure so low? To Maintain a Successful eBay Trading Assistant business one will need to maintain a minimum of 30 sales per month at an ASP exceeding overhead after payout to the client and eBay and Paypal. 10 Sales in three months will not give anyone an inkling of an idea of the dedication needed to become a successful and profitable Trading Assistant.
3. Create a Simple Brochure and Ask Businesses to display them for you. Wow , there is an advanced marketing strategy.
4. Pass out fliers and business cards in your community - Must be a more advanced version of the marketing strategy. Sure word of mouth is a good way to add to business, but the marketing plans listed here will not provide anywhere near the volume of traffic needed to pay the bills as mentioned in #2.
5. Post a classified ad and Post on Craigslist - Hilarious, I mean really, how long does anyone think an eBay Trading Assistant's advertisement will last on Craigslist?  And even if it is not flagged & pulled, the people on Craigslist are there because they do not like paying eBay fees, much less commissions on the sale. Stay away from Craigslist to advertise your eBay TA business. Classifieds are a much safer, yet infinitely more expensive bet.
6. Contact local businesses and offer their overstock via the Internet - This plan has a bit of merit, yet without a much more serious business plan I doubt any new Trading Assistant with only 10 sales in the last 3 months will get much face time in front of decision makers. Businesses hate to lose money and liquidating via a Trading Assistant means it will cost them more than if they simply did it themselves. I am not saying a Trading Assistant wouldn't do a better job, but small business seems to have a hard time seeing the value of eBay Trading Assistants without some sort of organized and efficient plan and usually a brick and mortar location to work from. Businesses want to know they will be handing over stock to a safe and reputable, insured concern. Starting out as a Trading Assistant from your home will not usually give them this impression. Make sure you have yourself established before knocking on too many business owners doors.
7. Hand out Business Cards at Yard Sales and Flea Markets - Isn't this a return to #4?  I guess this could have been a 6 step list.

Not That Easy

In reality becoming a Trading Assistant is much more complicated than most articles you find on the Internet will indicate. eBay itself tries to make it sound easy, yet they protect themselves with an agreement which a Harvard Law professor would have a hard time deciphering.

Trading Assistants work is not the path to independent wealth and security, it can provide a nice small amount of extra income for retirees and stay at home parents (if they have the time to do all the work involved).

Bigger is not always Better

Stepping up to a full size Trading Post (Now REDOL) has been proven across the land to be a very difficult business model to sustain. Overhead is too high and margins are too low in most cases. The successful REDOLs (Registered eBay Drop Off Locations) usually have very sophisticated systems of marketing and just plain good locations.

Even with a good location all is not assured because these businesses are rapidly finding the public has learned to sell on eBay for themselves.

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• Trading Posts had been renamed as REDOL's (?).
• REDOL (Drop Stores and TA's with actual business locations) were saddled with increased insurance requirements that initially contained unattainable coverage requirements.
• The word "Auction" has been banned by eBay as part of any private business name, signage or included in advertising...except, strangely enough, for use as an eBay account name.
• Legal liability shifted completely onto the small business owners selling consignment items in the eBay system.

We reviewed the terms of the new program here at the Trading Assistant Journal. 

Our review led us to the personal and business decision to opt out of joining the new program and to drop our eBay designation as a Trading Post/Trading Assistant or REDOL. We do still sell items on consignment, just without the Trading Assistant logo.  We found the terms of the agreement to be too restrictive and much too liberal in its protections of eBay for any and all legal threats in relation to any action brought against eBay itself or any Trading Assistant or REDOL by any third party. 

Our review of the Trading Assistant requirements and our final business decision and personal opinion plus the details of the TA/REDOL agreement have been discussed here.

One of the reasons proffered by eBay for consignment sellers and listed as a benefit for joining the new program was the inclusion in the new and improved eBay Trading Assistant Directory.  The "New" directory was said to have unlimited potential and would not follow in the footsteps of the previous eBay Trading Assistant directory which was widely known as being nearly useless as a tool to advertise or promote an eBay consignment business.  The old directory was full of bad listings, was a rampant spam magnet and provided almost no leads for real business.  In my 7 years as a registered Trading Assistant and a Drop Store owner I could count on one hand the number of leads derived from the old directory.

The promises sounded good and some believed in the new system, so much so that they breezed right past the legal mumbo jumbo and signed up for this new and improved eBay TA system.  This directory was to be different, it would bring more leads and business, it would be searchable and it would legitimized the eBay consignment business as it had never done before.

Be aware that until this blog mentioned the fact that when the keywords "Trading Assistant Directory" were placed into a Google search box, only posts on this and other blogs would be returned in the search results.  It seems that since our story regarding this SEO faux pas, the situation has been corrected by eBay (what would they know about search engine optimization?). 

The public is now finding the Trading Assistant Directory in Google for the first time ever (hurrah).

Unfortunately, once they land on the directory, the search success seems to fizzle out...

The following are direct quotes from the eBay discussion board. These comments were posted in the Trading Assistant discussion board.  Keep in mind, it is now a full 2 months since the new directory was initiated and all of the "new" members of the Trading Assistant and REDOL program were instructed on how to complete the required information for their listings in the directory. 

Finding a TA .....Help
martin****  (172 ) View Listings | Report		Mar-25-08 07:36 PDT
I am trying to find a TA in my area, Baltimore MD 21218. Ebay's system for "helping" has me frustrated. I went to the find a TA in your area link. I get a list of names and distance from my zip code, not very helpful. I do not care if someone is 2.3 or 2.7 miles away. I want to know what areas of expertise they have. Do they prefer to handle only new items or do they know the difference between an elephant folio and an elephant umbrella stand? How many lots they can handle a week 10, 100, or 10,000?I start clicking the TAs that are listed. Many of the listings have half the fields blank. I can understand not filling in your address or phone number but not including terms is beyond me. Very few had about me pages to see if it is someone looking to earn beer money or a business with 4 employees. There is no way to search for keywords in the TA listings or to compare them to each other without using the back button and clicking back and forth. Some have no items listed right now. Are they still in business, on vacation or competing on American Idol?I have tried the, have a TA contact me 3 times over the last month and have not heard back from anyone.In the past I have used college students and friends to list items for my business. Recently many of the have left and gotten; a full time job with benefits, married or pregnant.So I am still looking for a TA.Thank you for letting me vent.

replies
seacliffvil****** (836 ) View Listings | Report
LOL I'm glad you came here to vent...it's good for all of us to get some feedback on user experience of the trading assistant directory.I do think you should go with gut and process of elimination. Certainly if you don't like the lack of specific information at a listing, cross that one off your list.If you have tried contacting someone via the directory and haven't heard back, please be aware that the directory is still brand new...many of us are still trying to figure out how it will communicate with us, and it IS a third party service, so we won't get communications via My Messages the same way we get other communications. Try contacting TAs directly through their listed contact information, rather than using the system. Then...if you don't hear back, that's another one to cross off your list.As for trying to decide who's serious...vs. who's just picking up pocket money...lack of information at the listing is certainly a hint, then interviewing TAs is certainly your prerogative as well.If you're looking for a serious TA..most advertise locally...look through your penny saver type mailers and at other local low cost advertising venues.If you're just looking for a hired hand to help you list things...your best bet might be to hire at an hourly rate, and train. If you find a good, experienced TA...you'll pay for their expertise. If you're just looking for extra help...training your own can be the best investment if you're looking for support in a business. Karen seaclif*********
purr**** (378 ) View Listings | Report		Mar-26-08 18:04 PDT	4 of 4
I am trying to find a trading assistant for a friend in south central Michigan, very near the Indiana and Ohio borders. I can't bring up a single one and I know you are out there. She has some wonderful collectible dolls and he has lots of model cars to sell. I am in Florida and the logistics involved are too much over this much distance.Thaks! Pat PS it would help if you guys put more than UNITED STATES in your locations on your about ME pages.

My experience on both sides of the fence has revealed certain truths, and since I was at one time a proponent of the franchise model, I believe my views could be helpful to anyone considering the purchase of a new franchise eBay drop store. These views are my own opinion and do not reflect upon eBay any eBay franchise drop store chain in particular or upon eBay consignment as an addition to any other type of business. I am simply expressing my views regarding the stand alone drop store franchise model and why it has failed.

The Promise:
eBay drop stores came upon the scene with a great fanfare and promise. Initially it was considered a unique and interesting proposition by both business pundits (Entrepreneur Magazine) and investors alike. The promise of the initial drop store franchise operations seemed limitless and they expanded like weeds across the land. Soon it would be difficult to pick up a newspaper or read a business magazine without seeing some reference, either advertisement or article, about the eBay drop store franchise revolution. It was an exciting time...

These franchises promised individuals an easy way to be in business for themselves - a way to "have a store without investing in inventory" by offering a simple effective solution to everyone in America's battle with clutter. People heard the story and they believed; they read about eBay's fabulous growth and the amount of merchandise sold every moment on eBay and they felt it was a sure thing. If any franchise could work for them, this type would because it was easy and it was new and customers would clamor over themselves to get in the door. And really it was a "cheap" franchise to buy....

The Deal:

The deal was simple.

Anyone could own a store if they agreed to the franchise terms. Most of these terms included a simple up-front franchise fee of about $25,000, an added expense for signage and fixtures of anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000, plus a continuing monthly national advertising fee and a royalty fee on all sales of about 4% (of Gross Sales), some with a cap at $1,250.00 per month but most with no cap on the royalty fee.

Once "accepted" into the franchise, the new store owner would be "helped" in finding a suitable lease for a prime storefront (its all about location). These prime retail locations usually were recommended to have a footprint in excess of 2500 square feet. (The storefront itself did not require more than 300 square feet, but storage would be large consideration). Usually the overhead numbers involved with operating a 2500 square foot space in prime retail locations were not stressed to the new store owner, but it would be mentioned to cover the basic requirements of disclosure.

Every franchise must comply with the U.S. government rules regulating franchises and they do so with a document called the UFOC. The UFOC is a very verbose & complicated document which provides both parties in a franchise transaction certain definitions, disclaimers and disclosures. The document can reach 400 pages in length or more and is simply not easy for a layman to understand or evaluate. The U.S. government requires this UFOC document, but they do not provide a course in how to read it. I will say that it is intended to provide many worthwhile protections for prospective franchise buyers, but since most of those same people do not read the document, these protections are rarely understood.

The Process:

A new store owner is first given a training course, usually lasting approximately 7 days. This course is given by the franchise at a franchise designated location (travel expenses are not included in the up-front franchise fee). The course is designed to teach the standard methods and practices of the franchise methodology of drop store operations. The class will also include many details about eBay rules, eBay practices and eBay listing procedures. Very little time is usually devoted to the calculation of eBay fees. Intake, Description, Software Operation, Photography, Storage & Inventory, Shipping, Customer Service (both store front and online) and numerous other topics are covered in this 7 day course. It really is a lot to absorb, especially if the new store owner has never sold an item on eBay before.

The Program:

The newly trained store owner is then released to complete his store construction phase according to franchise regulations. Counter colors, sign placement, numbers of computers, placement of interior walls and paint colors all are defined in the materials given to the new store owner. He has bought into a "proven" system and he must follow the franchise specs.

Once the new drop shop franchise owner's store is complete, he is ready for business. Some franchises will use a portion of the "National Advertising" budget to send out flyers and possibly buy a newspaper ad or a radio spot for the grand opening of the new eBay drop store. Initially the store owner is pleased with the small amount of initial business which results from this advertising push because he and his staff (usually 4 or more employees to start) need to get up to speed on all of the procedures of both eBay and the franchise and they need to learn each step of the process. The store owner is responsible for training his employees or he can send them to the franchise corporate headquarters for a training class at his own expense. Usually it is a trial and error method with the new store owner teaching his staff as much as he can remember from his short training class.

The Grind:

Now that everyone is all "trained" and the initial "ad buy" is over, the store owner is now looking for ways to drive business into his new store. He has more overhead than he initially had envisioned so he must get to work. Staring at a monthly nut to crack of nearly $8,000 on average, most store owners realize fairly quickly that they need items to sell on eBay. Where to get them? Some store owners simply advertise the store and wait behind the counter for customers to stream in. In certain areas of the country and in the early days of drop store operations history, this "tactic" did work. It is less likely to work each and every day however.

The average customer of an eBay drop store, franchise or not, is someone who is not tech savvy, has no internet access, is elderly or is wealthy and has little time. Initially the pool of prospective customers was much larger than it is today because more people now have internet access, more people are familiar with eBay and eBay has made it much easier for people to list a single item on their own. eBay classes are taught by certified eBay education specialists at retirement centers nationwide and these classes are sometimes free. People would rather realize 100% of net profit from a sale than 60 or even 50%.

The drop store owner is now on a mission to bring in customers.

He/She must have products to sell. If it become apparent that advertising and location simply do not provide the traffic he needs, the store owner will try different tactics. Sometimes the franchise will offer assistance in the form of "outside sales" seminars, conference calls and the like. These sales ideas are offered as a way to show that the franchise is on the side of the store owner. (To be honest, most employees of franchise operations are honest hard working people who want nothing more than to help the store owners).

In the end these outside sales ideas boil down to selling cars, RV's and boats - all of which are now precluded by eBay and some States as being illegal or unacceptable without special licenses for each. The franchise failed to mention that a store owner may need a car dealer's license and a boat broker's license or an auctioneer's license to operate a eBay drop off store and sell these types of items. Business-to-Business is another source of income promoted by franchises, but rarely do other businesses wish to split profits in the manner required to make the deal attractive for the drop store owner. This leaves only household merchandise, collectibles and toys, generally creating a garage sale type of atmosphere.

Processing becomes the key - reduce processing time, become more efficient, write shorter descriptions, shoot less photos and speed up the process for each item. This only serves to reduce the final sale price of those items. Store owners soon realize that selling any item worth less than $100 is not worth the expense of processing that item. They react by turning customers away with low value items. This is not always the wisest course of action because that customer will never return and one never knows - they could have been just trying you with a small item before bringing in a diamond ring.

Those rare occasions that high value items are presented are exciting to the store owner and stressful at the same time. The store owner knows the customer will want what he/she has been taught that diamond ring is worth. Unfortunately used diamond rings or other high value items are not always worth what some may think they are. We all like to buy low and sell high but when we buy high we really hate to sell low. eBay has a way of bringing reality to the equation. The store owner must now attempt to coerce the customer into selling a high value item with a low starting price and no reserve. Why no reserve? Because the store owner soon learns that items placed on eBay with a reserve price rarely reach the minimum bid and the number of bids on items with undisclosed reserves are are less than on items with no reserve at all. On eBay the game is to start low and hope to sell high. The store owner must get his customer to buy in to that theory.

Some eBay drop stores do survive with perseverance, skill and entrepreneurial spirit...

These stores would have survived and possibly thrived without a franchise but going in, the store owner did not know that he would have to find ways to make it work on his own. He purchased a franchise and this usually implies the investment in a proven system which will yield dividends if the system is followed. In most cases, in the eBay drop store business, if the franchise model is followed and the store owner does no more than what the franchise recommends, the store will not be profitable. The overhead, eBay fees, insurance, lease payments, employee costs and advertising costs are a tough enough nut to crack on a net of 30% of the net profit from used merchandise. Adding in a franchise fee, national advertising fee and royalty fee just makes the entire business model collapse upon itself.

Franchises sell a name and a brand in most cases.

In this case the franchises were selling someone else's name - they sold the name and brand and the cache of eBay. They did it with eBay's blessing in most cases, but they did it in a way which was not exactly providing the value of a franchise.

When one purchases a franchise like McDonalds, they are reasonably assured that people driving down the road who see the franchise sign will be familiar with that brand. When one purchases any eBay drop store franchise, no matter the name, they are not assured of the same brand recognition. They perceive a brand recognition for the eBay name, but that has little to do with xyz franchise signage. The franchises usually tried to capitalize on the eBay brand with similar color schemes or even by using the eBay logo in the franchise brand logo. This still does not make the consumer recognition for that brand any stronger than it would if a store owner who did not purchase a franchise used the same logo trick (which is not allowed by eBay) in their own non-franchise store logo.

Buying a franchise is a big step, one which should include a great deal of your own research and numbers crunching. Even if the idea of owning a franchise seems comfortable, be aware that it is not a guarantee of success. Many people who have purchase eBay drop store franchises feel as thought they were deceived into a purchase of a business model which never worked.

On the surface this is the truth, but it was not always the case. In the early days of the drop store boom the concept did work and store owners realized gross sales months as high as $200,000 or more. These numbers were widely leaked by the franchises because they helped sell franchises...and because at the time they were the truth. Leaking these numbers was a big risk. As a franchisor it is unlawful to share these numbers, but it was done on a consistant basis.

Times have changed for the eBay consignment business, the market has shifted, customers are smarter and eBay is easier to figure out. Retail lease space costs have increased and insurance premiums have doubled or more. The cost of doing business as a stand alone eBay drop store is just too high. It is no longer a viable franchise model and only in very rare cases will it work for non-franchise store owners with no other retail income.

What Will Save The Day?

Think long and hard about investing in this business model. If you currently own a franchise drop store, you need to seek other opportunities, find new ways to bring in income, reduce your overhead or increase your revenue per item. There are many options available but most store owners are swamped with the grind of maintaining the process of eBay consignment to fully explore these options.

For the owners of franchise eBay drop stores - only they can save the day. But if the franchise will not budge on the fees or on restrictions regarding secondary - or actually primary - retail solutions such as cellular (another iffy proposition) or some other form of retail, there is little hope of digging out of the trap. The current situation was not foreseen by the store owners or the franchisors, although the franchisors saw it sooner than the store owners in most cases. The situation remains, in either case...

eBay consignment can work as a tool for another business. In my view, it is not a business model which can support itself without some other form of business income. As a part of another business, eBay consignment can be a very attractive addition to the overall picture. By using eBay and consignment sales to boost revenue and provide customer service for another business entity while increasing the worldwide exposure for that business through eBay stores listings and auction listings of consigned or inventory products, eBay consignment can be utilized as a very good tool for marketing. eBay consignment, if used as a draw to get new customers in the front door, advertise an existing business in a new and interesting way, and to transition a brick and mortar operation to Internet sales can be a very nice marketing program for almost any existing business.

As a hobby or part time income producer, selling for neighbors or friends, eBay consignment can be fun and rewarding. But as a full time stand alone business model with no other income streams, your efforts and money could be invested more wisely elsewhere.

Written by: Scott Pooler - All Rights Reserved - No re-prints or re-transmission of this content with out express written permission.

Reader Please Note: This post is over 1900 words in length. I feel it is worth the time to read the entire article. If you think this post is just too long after reading the entire article please leave a comment and tell me what you think - Thanks - Scott

eBay has decided to change the existing system in regards to Trading Assistants and Trading Posts. In doing so eBay completely revised the way they qualify participants for the program(s). This change has been presented as a way to clean up the "old" directory and provide more relevant results for people looking for help in selling merchandise on eBay. Some think the real reason for the change is to allow eBay to extend the legal distance between itself and anyone listed as a eBay Trading Assistant because of certain active cases against Trading Assistants and Drop off Store owners in States like Pennsylvania.

The terms and conditions eBay requires to be placed in the eBay "official" Trading Assistant directory are extensive. To be included in the directory as what is now termed REDOL (Registered eBay Drop Off Location) or Drop Store, the extensive terms of the TA agreement become even more so. Choosing to be included in either directory at this time is a more important issue than many may be aware. Diligent business owners will read all of the terms of the agreement(s) before making a quick choice to join the directory. 

There were many promises made to the existing members of eBay's TA & Drop Store or Trading Post (Now REDOL) community when this massive change was announced. Essentially eBay promised a massive advertising campaign to 50,000 businesses in the USA promoting TA's and REDOLS, they also promised a new, easy to find, and less spam filled directory. eBay said that with the "reduction in competition" after the directory was switched over to the new version and every TA & Drop store re-registered, each registered member would receive more business from the directory.

The results so far have been less than promised.

Consider the first promise: "Massive" direct mail advertising campaign to 50,000 businesses. This boils down to a single letter sent to 1000 businesses in each State. My County in Florida has more than 50,000 registered businesses alone. For any company to send out a direct mailing piece to just 1000 businesses in my State would be considered as a joke by any reputable direct mail advertising agency. Not surprisingly, the direct mail piece eBay sent out has not returned much business for TA's or REDOLS - if the responses in the Trading Assistant Discussion board on eBay is any measure.

Reduction of Competition: Thus far this promise has been met - there are fewer listings in the TA directory, whether the listings in the directory are more relevant is up to debate.  From our inspection of the directory it seems more like a great deal of new and inexperienced Trading Assistants joined the program to fill the void left when the old directory was closed by eBay. This void may have been created when the veteran TA's and Drop store owners either chose to not join the new directory because of the terms of the extensive new agreement required for listing in the directory, or they just did not get the email notifications from eBay which indicated they would not be included in the new directory without accepting the new terms in the TA & REDOL agreement. 

To be fair, eBay did make several attempts by email and by phone to notify all previous members. In any case, the directory does not seem to contain nearly as many experienced TA's or Drop Store Locations. Many franchises have opted out because they have the word "Auction" in their name which is no longer allowed by eBay if a business wants to be included in the directory. Some businesses find that the requirement to change signage and the business name to be too much of a burden when comparing the costs against the benefits of the "new and unproven directory."

When one takes a step back and looks at the benefits of using the resource eBay has provided with the TA & REDOL program versus the costs or commitments, a conclusion could be drawn. What was your conclusion?

Did you decide to join the new directory? Possibly changing your business name and all advertising materials (removing Auction or eBay from your message), agreeing to the extensive rules and legal protections the agreement provides eBay and which subsequently places all of the burden for any future legal exposure upon yourself? If you chose to join the new directory have you found the effort worth the costs (if any) of making these changes, i.e. have you received any real business from the eBay Trading Assistant Directory?

Did you Opt Out of the New eBay Trading Assistant or REDOL Program? Choosing instead to continue to advertise locally and possibly start your own (off eBay) Internet website to advertise your business?

Personally I chose the latter. I did this for many reasons all of which I feel are valid.

1. Can't change my business name: All Business Auctions - Too much invested in my name and I like it, so do my clients.
2. My attorney: Advised against my volunteering to accept all legal burdens in regards to any actions brought against myself or eBay by any party (This includes States Attorney Generals). My attorney felt this was an onerous burden for my company in exchange for a simple directory listing and the right to use a logo.
3. Not enough return: My business has been listed in the old Trading Assistant Directory under several different names since the inception of the TA program, both as a TA and as a Trading Post with almost zero verifiable results in the form of actual leads to clients.  

In my opinion it is just too difficult for a client to find the TA directory in the first place. When a person wants to find someone to sell merchandise for them, what search words do you suppose they would use? 

• Trading Assistant? No, I don't think so...
• People generally think of a Consignment Store or service or they immediately think - Auctioneer. 
• See the list below from Google - Trading Assistant is not one of the most common searches and REDOL will not even be considered.
• Why be listed in a directory no one is searching for?

Searches related to: Sell on eBay

If one chooses they can continue to search for relevant keywords which should lead to the eBay Trading Assistant Directory but they are hard to find. Lets say you use the keyword "Consignment Directory" which I would assume most average customers of a Trading Assistant business would search for in Google. This search would result in not one mention of the eBay Trading Assistant Directory.

Let's check a few more (just follow the links to see results)

• Sell on eBay for me
• eBay Seller
• eBay Sales Help
• eBay Drop Store

I could go on but I think the point is clear. The only way anyone will find the eBay Trading Assistant Directory is by using that exact search term. When eBay has not used common SEO practices to funnel traffic to the directory and they have not educated the public in any other way which would present term "Trading Assistant" as being anything to do with eBay or eBay consignment sales.  How does eBay or anyone utilizing the directory expect to derive any benefit from inclusion in same?

Today's world is driven by relevant keyword search criteria.

People are less likely to look in the yellow pages for business services. If they need to find a business or service or product the first stop is the Internet and the Google search bar. eBay knows this more than anyone and eBay has been incredibly successful at driving traffic to their site. The eBay name is synonymous with SEO optimization and without knowing how to utilize search effectively eBay would never have grown to be the dominant Internet sales property in the World. So one has to ask, why would they just forget to optimize the Trading Assistant Directory for relevant keyword search?

Could it be because eBay would prefer the general public sit down and learn how to sell for themselves? eBay has made the sell your item form much easier to navigate. Every task involved from uploading photos to writing descriptions have become a simple task for one time sales with the SYI form. eBay is a fee based service, the more people registered to sell, list and re-list on eBay the better for eBay. eBay would rather have 40 sellers a week register to sell one item each than have one registered seller with experience (a TA) sell 40 items for those same 40 people.  40 new seller accounts equal 40 new Paypal accounts, one Trading Assistant account is just one PayPal account. Think about what benefits eBay the most.

As a business person many choices must be made to improve your business on a daily basis. As a Trading Assistant or Drop Store owner your business only survives if you bring in new customers with the right kind of goods to sell. It seems clear to us that some methods of advertising and promotion are more beneficial than others. And we think every consignment based business should look for more efficient ways to promote their business and not simply rely upon one directory provided by eBay which has no real funnel sending traffic to your business.

11 Alternate Methods to Promote and Advertise your Trading Assistant Business:

1. Set up your own professional website - With SEO in mind.
2. Attach a blog to your website and make regular article entries in that blog.
3. Get listed in other directories outside of eBay and funnel traffic to your blog and/or website.
4. Create online press releases about your business and insert them in your website prior to release.
5. Participate in the conversation - Add comments to other blogs and forums with your industry focus.
6. Create a local Joint Trading Assistant or Consignment community on Yahoo Groups or Meetup.com - Get involved with your local competition, share ideas, and specialties.
7. Exchange ad space on your blog or website with local businesses
8. Create a digital download product which describes your business and gives tips to your clients about eBay. This will build confidence in your business and your personal integrity.
9. Contact the local direct consignment shops and thrift stores in your area - negotiate a deal to handle items which are better sold on eBay than in a B&M store - then offer to advertise the B&M consignment store on your Internet Properties. Some items are better left in a traditional consignment shop and some are better sold on eBay, there is no reason why the two businesses can not work together.
10. Set up an external mailing list with a company like Constant Contact. Make sure you communicate with your clients and your buyers on a regular basis.
11. Open your mind to the possibilities - There is more to the Internet than eBay - Many opportunities and many methods to make your business known. As eBay people we all become a bit myopic when it comes to exploring the rest of the Internet for our own business purposes. Time to look outside the box!

Scott Pooler is the Owner of All Business Auctions and a Web Development Company iBusinessLogic. He writes for the Trading Assistant Journal, All Business Auctions Blog and several other publications such as the Auction Software Review. Scott Pooler will be happy to discuss your business and how you can funnel traffic to it by using proper web development design and web 2.0 techniques at any time.  Simply click the links to find contact information. 

The first listing in my area (Largo, Florida) I came across had the following information listed as the description of services (Please note, this name is not listed as an education specialist).

Have a lot of stuff to sell and want to keep ALL the money for it rather than pay an eBay reseller a high commission?  Contact me and I will teach you how to sell on eBay right in your own home (Tampa Bay area only).  I have already done this successfully with several eBay members who are now selling on their own.  I will show you all the standard eBay listing techniques, walking you through it step by step, and show you how to avoid costly errors made by most beginning sellers. I will make sure you can sell on eBay, including PayPal setup if necessary, and show you how to ship items as well.  After the 3 hour session you will receive from me an email including notes on how to sell on eBay as well as specific advice and reminders especially for you.  I have had students who have attended seminars and read books on how to sell on eBay who have said they have benefitted more from my individual consultations and custom-written advice.

Fees:

I charge a flat fee of $100 for me to come to your house and spend 3 hours setting everything up for you, and listing your items while you watch me, then I watch you while you list your items.  In many cases, the items that sell will pay the $100 back to you and start you on your road to self-reliance as an eBay seller.

Kinda makes me feel all wondrous inside when I see that I am not competing head to head with a service like that listed in the TA directory.  (Since I have opted out of the program myself).  Nothing against being an Education Specialist (I am one) but to list TA services in this manner in the TA directory is not good business sense.  I am surprised eBay did not screen this.  (or am I)?
Anyway, cheers... Just thought all of you might want to look at what your local competition is placing in the TA directory.  It could be less than beneficial for all TA's in your area.

The lead in is simple...

The Characters -

SoJo - A long standing TA has elected to not join the new REDOL or Trading Assistant program.  SoJo is a long standing member of the boards and by all accounts has contributed value to each discussion with great advise and valuable insight. Oh and SoJo invented the Flurpel campaign....

 Karen Swett - Also a great and valuable asset to the board with an enormous amount of experience. Karen is a large eBay fan and promoter.

Scott Pooler - Me... Well, you know who I am...  

 The Story - SoJo is saying goodbye to the board because she knows she will not be listed in the official eBay directory after the 14th of February because she has done what most have not and actually read the new eBay Trading Assistant agreement... SoJo has elected to continue her business as an Internet Consignment Specialists without a listing in he new eBay directory... SoJo is a wise woman and can see the real writing on the wall...

• Part 1 - Sojo Says GoodBye.... 

Well I came here figuring it was the 11th and the old TA list was coming down, and since I'm not re-registering, I was going to give my good-byes to all my fellow boardies and wish you luck.

But the old is still up and there I am, still listed?? I live in California, and its 6:10 p.m. so???

Well, anyway, I'm sure they will get around to it soon.

In any case -- I guess I'm no longer an "official" TA, though I'm doing just fine in the consignment biz, got a wait list of customers, and still believe in this industry.

So best of luck to all of you remaining. You'll still find me on Seller Central and the Stores board, as well as my 3 offsites.

May you all wear your Flurple proudly!

Was... Registered Trading Assistant
Now... Professional Online Consignment Seller

sojo

• Sojo - Dont Go... 

29 replies Date posted Reply #
seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-11-08 18:29 PST  1 of 29 
Hey sojo...you con't have to be an official TA to come to the TA boards.
I was wondering...how come you're not going to sign up in the new directory? You can be a TA with a drop off location and NOT be subject to the insurance requirements...there are two kinds of drop off locations in the new directory...only one (the redol) requires the insurance, etc.
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

consignmentpal  (1227 )  View Listings | Report  Feb-11-08 18:42 PST  2 of 29 
sojo,

Please don't leave us!!!

I think the launch date of the new directory was changed to Feb. 14.

Linda

Buy - Sell - Consign - Donate
 
seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-11-08 18:58 PST  3 of 29 
con't=don't...it's getting late!
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

• Understand, Sojo's decision had been made, she was not remaining with the new program... Karen wants everyone to join the new program... 

allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-11-08 19:31 PST  4 of 29 
Karen,

I applaud your positive attitude and your very generous outlook. I agree with you that eBay is a extraordinary venue to sell our wares and to build a business. But I must say that sometimes it seems to me that you are positive to a fault if that is possible. Not everyone agrees with the recent changes in the TA agreement and REDOL. And while you certainly have a right to agree for yourself, others also have the right to disagree.

There are many other provisions in the new agreement which TAs could take issue with...

Personally I am with sojo on this issue and will not be registering any of my eBay accounts for either version of the new agreement.

I would rather be listed in ConsignmentPal and have control over my own business, business name, and operational procedures than to just by default, sign up for an agreement which states that eBay can alter the agreement at any time without my approval and I will be bound by that agreement. eBay can tell me what my business name will be, and eBay can define my hours... etc.. etc...

I have said it before and will say it again, Ive been a registered TA since the inception of the program and have never received more than one call per month and I doubt 1 in 12 of those calls in a year led to any business. 1 solid lead per year is not worth my business independence.

ConsignmentPal is nearly ready to make a new home for all of us. Renaming our entire industry as ConsignmentPals or Consignment Specialists is a good idea. Linda is building something there which will benefit everyone, even if costs a few bucks to join.

I think with the SEO advantages ConsignmentPal may have over any eBay style TA directory will generate more business. And if we are listed in a directory where we can purchase advertising and focus our message towards people actually looking for consignment services, rather than trading services, maybe being in an off eBay Directory will work better for all of us.

At least I know supporting Consignment pal will not incur the risk of being told some day the directory is closing, unless we decide to give up our rights to run our business the way we see fit... And then if we do that, a new directory will re-open, but only if we are good little business people and follow the new rules.

Sure, everyone should have insurance... Of course a bond will increase confidence... These are business realities. But as a business persons we should make these decisions on our own. Our local governments may make these demands upon us but...

Why should eBay, a vendor and not our customer, have the authority to make these demands upon us in exchange for a listing in a simple directory? I fail to see the logic.
If it were the only game in town, I could see the point. But the TA directory is not the only game in town. We have an option and that option is ConsignmentPal.

Do as SoJo says and call yourself a Professional Online Consignment Seller or Simply an Internet Consignment Specialist...

Was there ever any magic in the term Trading Assistant?

Do people on the street actually look for or ask for a Trading Post?

Can anyone explain the branding idea behind REDOL to me?

Sounds more like an illness... than a place to take an estate diamond.

Internet Consignment Specialist even sounds more professional.

Yep, I am a ConsignmentPal now... But I have my history as a TA... I did not leave the program, it left me.
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/
allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-11-08 19:43 PST  5 of 29 
I may as well be a FLURPEL

Fabulous Licensed Uber Respected Professional eBay Lister...
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/

big_sky_auctions-1  (3011 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-11-08 21:29 PST  6 of 29 
Oooh I wanna be a FLURPEL too! 

I actually got a referral last week from the TA directory - one that will pay off. (after 4 years)

I'll hang out for a while longer, at least, and see how things shake out. Maybe I'll get another doll lady with boxes up to the rafters in another 4 years. You never know!

Put it in the Van!
"Big Sky" Lori

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 04:06 PST  7 of 29 
Scott, I guess it's just that...other than the bond...my business already met all the redol requirements, just as a matter of coincidence. I just happened to not have branded myself as an ebay auctioneer...ebay is just one facet of my consignment business since I have a brick and mortar consignment shop. The revised (not original) insurance requirements are so sound, that they are exactly what I had put in place when I opened, on the recommendation of my insurance agent.

If auction were in my name and brand, I'd probably be feeling a whole lot more like a lot of other folks are feeling now, frustrated and angry.

So maybe in my optimism I'm being insensitive? But we are all in agreement on one thing...the old directory didn't work for anyone. So I am happy that the whole program is being revised.

And as to ebay's new, stricter requirements...ebay is clearly reacting to the very serious failures of drop shops who closed and left their consignors high and dry, and that happened in numerous states, leaving attorneys general to clean up messes that only hurt our industry. This revision of the TA program is a direct response to the wholesale failure of the franchises. We should ALL be very concerned about any infraction on our industry because it hurts all of us. When someone in my town reads about a drop shop anywhere in the country that closed, taking payments and property with them, that's one less client I can hope for.

Usually, an industry generates it's own self-regulation via the formation of a professional organization. We TAs just haven't put one together yet...although consignment shops do have one called NARTS...National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops.

Ebay, the way I see it, has stepped in and done for us what we just had not yet done for ourselves. And yes, there is a very good argument to be made that we should be self-regulating, that ebay overstepped it's bounds. But to me, in the end, that's just quibbling over who took the right action, first.

By the way...I have been in consignmentpal for almost a year now, and I am also listed at NARTS, on consignmentshops.com as well as all the local yellow pages, citidex, etc in my area. I don't see these things as exclusive...
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

drop2sellit  (3382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 06:00 PST  8 of 29 
so why dont we put something together?

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 06:05 PST  9 of 29 
It's a great idea drop...and long overdue. But it'll be a full time job for a couple of people, with no income, but some important expenses. It's hard work.
The founder of IMA posts over at the powerseller board. His name is Steve. He'd be a good person to instruct on how to go about starting an association.
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 06:08 PST  10 of 29 
Was there ever any magic in the term Trading Assistant?

Do people on the street actually look for or ask for a Trading Post?

Can anyone explain the branding idea behind REDOL to me?

Sounds more like an illness... than a place to take an estate diamond.

Internet Consignment Specialist even sounds more professional.

Scott I agree with you 110% on this. Back in September, when Sharon first came to the boards and introduced herself and let us know she'd be introducing changes to the TA program, I advocated strongly that TA, drop off and all the other terms we use are meaningless, and that the word consignment was the only word that made sense to folks outside of the ebay world, and so the word consignment should definitely be a part of the new lingo. I was vetoed by other, more estabished TAs. Too bad you weren't here on the boards back then...I could have used the back up!
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 06:47 PST  11 of 29 
Karen,
As I said, I appreciate your positive outlook. Karen, You are a good person and you have made your business decision. I respect your right to do so, but please stop advising others to follow your lead unless you plan on being their legal council. This agreement has many poison pills included in it and the entire insurance fiasco only served as a smoke screen. "Now that the insurance requirements are solved - go ahead and sign up!" I think this is a foolish thing to do. No one should agree to anything until and unless they have discussed it with their legal council. Everyone can then make an informed decision.

Please understand I am not disagreeing with your enthusiasm or your decision. It may just be fine for you, but each business person on this board needs to make their own decision only after reviewing the facts and with their own council in their own State. This agreement has legal ramifications which could cost some people their entire business.

Your endorsement carries weight and I would rather not hear about some poor TA getting upset with you because you said it was great, later on down the line when this agreement comes back to bite them.
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/
allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 07:00 PST  12 of 29 
I wonder...

Did everyone ask an attorney to review the agreement?

I ask, because mine came back with a huge amount of red ink...

See below:

Trading Assistants are not representatives, employees, independent contractors, or agents of eBay. eBay does not formally screen Trading Assistants to confirm a set of professional standards or credentials. eBay is not responsible for the acts or omissions of Trading Assistants, and eBay has no control over the quality, safety, or legality of the items advertised, the truth or accuracy of the listings or the ability of sellers to sell items.

Ok, so eBay does not screen or control us, but yet they issue a code of conduct?

The following Trading Assistant Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”): You agree to abide by the following minimum conduct standards in your Trading Assistant-related dealings with others during the Term of this
Agreement:

You will not represent yourself as an employee, representative, partner, or agent of eBay. Further, you will not imply an affiliation with eBay or in any way suggest that eBay is involved with or endorses your products or services. There goes any benefit from using the branding or name....
You will not use your Trading Assistant status, or any aspect thereof, to market any off-eBay solutions.

This is a problem for anyone who wants to grow their business beyond that of a trading assistant, why should you not be able to do what Skip McGrath does and make money as an affiliate? Why cant you sell eBay related services which are approved and recognized by eBay? Why could you not use or promote off eBay solutions like for instance QuickBooks or ConsignmentPal? If eBay has no control over our business, if they are not our partner and we have no business relationship, how can we be expected to only sell their product?

Program Optimization. You must participate in secret shopper, customer satisfaction surveys, a client feedback system and any such other efforts proposed by eBay for Trading Assistant Program participants to measure customer experience. For example, eBay may institute a secret shopper program in which independent third parties will evaluate your Trading Assistant services and the customer experience offered therein.

Fun - we are already controlled by feedback and DSRs and now we get people in the door looking to bring our ratings down another notch - yet eBay has no control over us or our business and we do not represent eBay in any way.

Warranties; Disclaimer.

You represent and warrant that, during the Term, you shall comply with all laws, regulations, rules and ordinances, and orders applicable to you, your business, products and/or services. You further represent and warrant that you shall comply with all laws, regulations, rules and ordinances, and orders applicable to your interactions with the eBay Site, your interactions with the Trading Assistant Site and/or use of the Trading Assistant Branding. Additionally, you represent and warrant that: (a) you have all governmental approval, permits and licenses, and have made all governmental filings and registrations, necessary or prudent for the marketing and performance of your services, and (b) eBay is not required to obtain any governmental approval, permits or licenses as a result of this Agreement, eBay’s performance hereunder or any payments made by you hereunder.

Can you say... CYA? eBay wants every TA in the country to agree that they themselves and not eBay will bear the burden of State sponsored criminal prosecution like in Pennsylvania. This one sentence tells you and everyone else that eBay will not expend any of its substantial clout to help defend or protect this industry from these pressures. eBay no longer has any intention of lobbying for us and eBay wants you to agree now that if anything happens in the future which would cause you to ask for their considerable help that you will not do so. Further, eBay wants every States Attorney General to see this paragraph and know they are only able to go after all of the little fish and not the big bankroll like they did with Tobacco. Therefore, TA's in effect have just become a barrier to legal threats for eBay. We bear all of the responsibility and eBay reaps the rewards. Cool System, no? .

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN, EBAY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. EBAY DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE EBAY SITE OR TRADING ASSISTANT SITE WILL OPERATE SECURELY OR WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. Each party acknowledges that it has not entered into this Agreement in reliance upon any warranty or representation except those specifically set forth herein.

Except we warranty even though eBay has no control over us - we will comply with rules of conduct, be subject to secret inspection and reporting - and will hold harmless and protect eBay from any and all legal claims. (see below)

General.

Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed exclusively by the laws of the State of California applicable to agreements made among California residents and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, regardless of such parties' actual domiciles. You agree that any cause of action arising under this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in a court in Santa Clara County, CA.

I Like California but its a heck of a drive from Florida...

Publicity. You shall not make any public statement regarding the terms of this Agreement or any aspect thereof, (except to indicate that you are a Trading Assistant where applicable) without eBay's prior written approval which may be withheld in eBay’s sole discretion.
You mean I can not talk about this contract with anyone? I cant share with other TA's the terms of this contract which in effect make them the bait and barrier for any legal threat whatsoever. My rancor can not be expressed for the restriction on outside sales of "off- eBay solutions" I can't say that I think these types of controls and restrictions are ludicrous for a simple inclusion in a "directory". Ooops

And there is a whole bunch more wrong with this agreement including eBay saying they can change it at any time by any means they deem and we must submit any changes only in writing to their (agent) - Code word for Mighty Fancy Legal Council. This Agreement may not be otherwise amended except in a writing signed by you and eBay. In writing - yet they can change it electronically at any time by means they deem as appropriate?
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 07:00 PST  13 of 29 
Your endorsement carries weight and I would rather not hear about some poor TA getting upset with you because you said it was great, later on down the line when this agreement comes back to bite them.

Well I appreciate this complement Scott, and I will take your advise under consideration.

I guess I'm thinking...it's just an agreement to be in the directory, revocable at any time. Sojo was a regular on the board when I was new here...I'm sad to see her go. BTW...inclusion in the directory isn't a requirement to participate in this board.
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

rce News, Tips & Opinions

Karen,

It is mkuch more than just an agreement to be in the directory. Getting in the directory is the only benefit but the agreement has content which can effect your entire business...

Please look at it with your attorney...
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 07:06 PST  16 of 29 
Will do Scott. I have, in the past, been active with certain mlm companies, such as tupperware, and another one you'd likely not heard of because it was an arts based mlm. However, the language in this agreement is not dissimilar to all the other agreements I had to make to be a direct seller in those companies...it's fairly standard language. So, I wasn't overly concerned about it. But I will take your advice and have my attorney review it.
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 07:14 PST  17 of 29 
Those other companies - were paying you Karen. This is the opposite situation. No?

We are not sales people for eBay, they are clear about that...

We are not sub contractors...

We do not get any financial remuneration from eBay, and therefore these conditions are not applicable. The contract could have been much shorter and to the point but they slipped in controls and provisions meant to have an impact much later down the road.

It is a completely one sided agreement and does not provide enough compensation for the conditions to be agreeable.
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 07:22 PST  18 of 29 
NO! Those other companies were not paying me...I was an independent sales rep, buying wholesale from them, and reselling at a mark up. The agreements defined how I could market myself, considering there was no relationship between me and the companies. That's how I see ebay handling themselves in this...we are not employees of ebay, we are not paid by them, but we are using their branding and logo and they are defining how we may do so and the relationship between them and us. It's exactly the same thing, except I'm not buying my goods wholesale from ebay.
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 07:48 PST  19 of 29 
I can see your point on that Karen... And if the agreement simply covered it in that way, I would be fine. But I don't think that it does cover the relationship in the same manner. It covers much more than the use of the brand , which in both of our opinions is no brand at all...
If we could use the eBay brand... Maybe but we are relegated to a logo which has very little public recognition and has since been changed to REDOL...
Which I don't think anyone in the world will know what that is...
I posted the first REDOL article in my blog the day the new agreement was announced. That day I also subscribed a google alert on that keyword - REDOL - google has not returned a single result other than my own in that time...
If it is such a great new directory, don't you think eBay would be trying to build up the name recognition? Wouldn't they have some other way of getting the word out, besides this board?
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 08:05 PST  20 of 29 
If it is such a great new directory, don't you think eBay would be trying to build up the name recognition? Wouldn't they have some other way of getting the word out, besides this board?

Well Scott...that is the promise...that with these new changes will come increased marketing on eBay's part, including increased visibility for the directory on the ebay website as well as off-ebay advertising. Of course, the jury is still out on whether that will be effective, and will probably be out for some months to come....
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 08:24 PST  21 of 29 
Google Web Alert for: REDOL

Redol — Blogs, Pictures, and more on WordPress
Scott Pooler wrote 2 weeks ago : With the advent of the new eBay Trading Assistant (”Registered eBay Drop Off Location” or REDOL) agreement, ...

This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google.

Remove this alert.
Create another alert.
Manage your alerts.
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 08:36 PST  22 of 29 
Yes Scott...redol does not yield anything linkable to the directory or ebay on google. The directory hasn't gone live yet. This program doesn't exist in the real world yet but it still under development. But worse yet...I'm with you..even when the program does go live, who outside of ebay will ever think to google the letters REDOL?
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

auctionwhat  (160 ) View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 09:51 PST  23 of 29 
This is agreement is the same BS you get from any large Corporation. Try reading an UFOC for a franchise, read the UFOC for any of the Drop Store Franchises same BS.

ONLY BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IS YOU CAN BAIL OUT WHEN YOU LIKE AND GO YOUR OWN WAY.

eBay changes the terms you can bail.

These contracts are 99.9999999% one sided and eBay is no different.
allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 12:06 PST  24 of 29 
Usually you get something in return for the BS...

UFOC's are required to be as verbose as they are because of government regulations. Most Franchisers would prefer to cull out the disclaimers.

But yes, agreements are generally written in this manner and as long as you understand how it is written and what it is saying... and you agree, great!

But I don't think this agreement specifys that you can get out at anytime. It says eBay can change the terms at anytime in any way they see fit. You must notify their "agent" if you want to get out of the deal... No word on who or where the agent can be found.

I am an eBay supporter and a fan. And I understand why it is they are doing this. I just feel that everyone should read and understand it as well before moving ahead. We all have different businesses and we all have different tolerances for risk and exposure. If you feel that this is a great deal or even a good deal for you... then by all means go right ahead.

But do it only after you have read and understand the agreement. Don't just jump in because it is your only choice. We all have many choices.
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Trading Assistant Journal
http://www.allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com
Post your TA Store or Web Link Here Free!
http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com/ta-links/
Internet Business Mentor - Program for eBay TA's
http://internetbusinessmentor.wordpress.com/
newton@ebay.com View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 12:55 PST  25 of 29 
Hi and thanks for the lively discussion.

The TA directory is completely voluntary and free advertising, so you should determine if it is of value to you.

I think it's great that many of you conduct your business independently and do not need to be listed in the directory or use the logo. That is certainly the power of eBay.

But please understand that if you do not agree to the new TA user agreement, you may not use the TA, TP or REDOL logo - new or old.

Some other info:
We are changing the links to the new directory on Feb 14 (updated date was posted previously).

We are doing a direct mail to 50,000 businesses on Feb 19. I hope to generate leads for you from that. I think there are plenty of TAs to choose from in the directory now (with no SPAM!!!) so this should have good results.

Thank you everyone who has signed up in the new free directory. We hope you find that it pays for itself!  I know we'll have to prove the value to you.

Also a reminder about eBay logos that you may have on your web site: Although some eBay programs allow you to use the program logo (TA, PS, affiliate), you are never allowed to use the eBay logo for other purposes unless you have written permission.

The eBay Logo
The eBay name and logo are registered trademarks in the United States and many other countries. We generally do not permit the use of the eBay logo by third parties unless they have a written license agreement with eBay. Use of the eBay logo without permission from eBay is not permitted on any of the following types of materials:

Promotional materials
Flyers
Websites
there's more - please see: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/everyone-ebayipuse.html
Sharon
- Newton

seacliffvillageboutique  (822 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 13:44 PST  26 of 29 

But I don't think this agreement specifys that you can get out at anytime.

Scott...the agreement relates soley to the use of the directory. You can simply opt out of the agreement by opting out of the directory. Or in the case of the redol agreement, by opting out of redol and listing as a regular ta.

Earlier today you stated that I was optimistic...perhaps overly so. Now I'm inclined to say...you may be as overly pessimistic as I may be overly optimistic.

Nobody has to agree to anything in order to run a consignment business, even on eBay. Anybody is free at any time to sell items on consignment on ebay, excepting residents of those states who consider online auction activities to fall under the realm of auctioneering.

All eBay is requiring is that those who want to make use of the directory have to agree to their terms.

Since, by having us in the directory, and by promoting the directory, ebay is de facto endorsing those businesses in the directory, it doesn't seem unreasonable for ebay to have a certain set of standards or criterion for the businesses ebay is preparing to endorse.
Karen Swett

seacliffvillageboutique
Fine furnishings on consignment.

allbusinessauctions  (382 )   View Listings | Report  Feb-12-08 14:53 PST  27 of 29 
Ok, I give... This will lead to no good for any of us... I do not want to argue and I don't think my voice is alone... But you are right in many things Karen, if you want to be in the directory you must agree...

I have removed my 6 year old TA sticker from my window... I would not want to violate any eBay policy. Along with my even older Trading Post sticker

If I see a significant promotion lasting more than one mailing and one email push, I may find my hesitation to have been a mistake. I could be wrong about all of this and if I am I apologize to anyone who thinks I have been over zealous in my view.

I just think everyone should read the contract they agree to, before they agree to it. And I do not personally agree with the way this has been handled, presented, or promoted by eBay. I know Sharon is doing a great job at trying to make it work and she has done a great deal for all of the TA's who have chosen to join. There is little she can do for those of us who can not join and we all understand that.

But that is just one mans view.
Scott Pooler
Capt ebay
 
All Business Auctions - eCommerce News, Tips & Opinions
http://www.allbusinessauctions.com/blog

• Do you have previous experience selling products on the Internet via online auctions or through your own website?
• Have you ever worked at or owned an eBay Trading Assistant Business or eBay Drop Store?
• Are you familiar with fellow members of your community, local business people and entrepreneurs who would like to know what you know about the internet or eBay or both?
• Have you ever thought about how much easier it would be if someone had shown you how to sell online?
• Do you think you could explain why online marketing is important for any business?
• Do your friends ask you about web 2.0, blogs, ebay selling, or the difference between a server and an isp?

If any of these situations sound familiar… if you are a former eBay seller or current eBay trading assistant looking for additional income or a new career we think you could be an Internet Business Mentor.

Read More Here

Running an eBay consignment business can be complicated, time consuming, and nerve wracking...

As a business, consignment selling on eBay is not the easy get rich quick scheme some would have you believe. While initially setting up an eBay consignment business may sound like a ticket to easy street...

Whats better than selling other peoples stuff and making a 40% commission from the sale?

Having a retail store without owning inventory...

When one gets right down to the facts, its not that simple...

eBay consignment has its rewards and challenges, like any other business. The difference here is the dependence eBay consignment sellers have on outside influences. Outside factors have a great deal to do with how well an eBay consignment based business will prosper or if it will even survive.

Some of those outside sources of influences are:

1. eBay - eBay itself controls whether you have a business at all. If you make just three bad decisions, your account can be closed forever and you will be shut down. Tough to be a eBay consignment business without eBay. Knowing the rules of eBay is sometimes just enough to stay out of trouble. But as we all have seen recently, eBay can change the rules at any given moment and these rules are interpreted by different eBay employees with differing view points at different times. One day you can be perfectly OK, the next day all 250 items you have listed this week can be removed without even an email warning. Be aware of the risks because the listing fees you lose will be your own.
2. Local Government - Your local or State Governments can decide in a moment to come down on your operation for breaking rules you were not breaking the day before. (SEE PENSYLVANIA)
3. Customers - Your first customers - the sellers, are your life blood, without them you have nothing to sell. They all want you to work for minimum wage and they have a hard time understanding why you need to "charge so much". Customers can also lead you into peril with outside factor number 1 - eBay, if just one customer places a shill bid, or gives you stolen merchandise to sell... can lead to trouble your business can not withstand and you did not deserve.
4. Expenses - You are not really running a store without inventory, your landlord knows that and so does your insurance agent. You are running what the insurance companies want to classify as a Pawn Shop. When insurance company underwriters see the code for "Pawn Shop", whatever that code may be, on the agents form for your quote... they immediately think guns, and robbery and all kinds of unsavory situations involved with bailee insurance coverage. They quote high rates, if they return a quote for coverage at all... and you end up paying much more than a simple retail store would for a similar exposure. - Other expenses including eBay fees, PayPal fees and Software expenses sometime become a reality no one at the franchise office or eBay warned you about.
5. Hours - If you thought eBay consignment was a 9-5 type of job for a store owner, well you may have been mislead. Running an eBay consignment or drop store will take a great deal of time. Each item you accept through your doors must be handled and processed in multiple steps both in intake and when processing for shipment. Plan on each item taking up at least one hour of employee or owner time, start to finish, if your lucky. Multiply that by the 250 - 400 items you should be trying to process per week and you get the picture. Lower the number of items processed by raising the bar on what you accept is one option... but then you reduce your overall numbers and raise the amount of time each higher priced item will demand of your man-hour pool. (Higher priced items get more questions, demand better photos and need more careful handling and packaging).
6. eBay Sellers & Buyers - As a consignment seller it is necessary to include numerous disclaimers in your listing details sections on your eBay auctions detailing the facts . i.e. "This is not a new item, there is no warranty, we only take returns if we did not describe it correctly, you will pay shipping for returns etc"... All of these necessary protections are reasonable from your point of view as a consignment seller. They are not reasonable from the point of view of most buyers on eBay. If the eBay buyer smells a possible problem, they bolt and do not bid. Your standard disclaimers hurt your chances to sell your items. It is a catch 22. Buyers are your second set of customers for each item you list and hopefully sell. This second set of customers, the buyers, are very inquisitive and they demand to know certain facts about certain items you have listed for sale. Some of these questions may be difficult to answer. This in turn causes you to either fake an answer, ignore the question from the buyer, or to forward the question to your seller. Your first customer the seller may answer in a less than honest manner to get the item sold. All of these questions and answers take time and in the case of incorrect answers returning from your seller customer, can put you in a bind with the buyer customer. - In the end you are in the middle serving two customers for each item sold.
7. Unsold Items - It is a fact that not every item will sell on eBay. Some items will not sell, no matter how much you lower the price. If you run these items as auctions on eBay too many times for your first customer the seller the eBay listing fees will build up to unacceptable amounts. Even if you charge an up front fee, the eBay fees are lost money if an item does not sell. To make money on each item brought through your door just from a man-power and eBay listing fee perspective, you would need to charge an upfront fee to your first customer - the seller of $25 or more. (Consider labor, electricity, lease payment, insurance costs, etc etc...). We all know mechanics charge $35 to just estimate the repair on a car, but when it comes to eBay consignment it is very difficult to get reimbursed from your first customer - the seller what you have spent for your time.
8. Employees - Do you need employees? Yes, you do... One person can not process the amount of product necessary to meet the monthly overhead of a full eBay drop store operation. Three full time people is the usual minimum used for successful operations. (By successful I mean meeting the overhead and paying the landlord). So, why are employees an outside source of influence over your business? Most business owners know why, but in this instance the reasoning can be a bit different. Finding good employees, who understand the intricacies of this business is the first challenge, keeping them is the second. After those challenges are met, your next hurdles include trusting other people to handle and describe , merchandise you do not own. If a description is incorrect or the right keywords are selected for the title of the item on eBay, you can lose money for yourself and your first customer the seller. As the owner of the business your job is to bring in sales and handle marketing. You must depend upon your employees for your product presentation (eBay description). Unless you plan on describing every item yourself... You should have good employees. Good employees with computer skills, customer service skills, no criminal record etc... are not inexpensive, nor are they easy to find and keep. Offer those employees incentives in the form of commissions on sales and you will open up a whole new can of worms. Shill Bidding - Your employees can not have any incentive to bid on your consignment items themselves. If they do it, you will lose... possibly your entire business. Be very wary of offering commissions on sales.
9. Limited Venue - eBay... Yes eBay... Everyone I know is painfully aware of the fact that I sing the praises of eBay every chance I get... I fully and completely believe, as a marketplace eBay is unmatched, but it is just one marketplace. Placing your entire business plan and future prosperity in the hands of just one provider or one outlet to sell your consigned items... is a very risky proposition. I think the events of the past week have proven this to be true (See REDOL). eBay changes the rules, when they want to. They have not a care about the investment you have made in your business. When you set up an eBay consignment store or TA business, your banking on the fact that eBay will be there with you 100% and will not change the rules or raise the fees, or eliminate your ability to offer your services (as in the case of eBay Motors recently) to the public. Almost every successful Internet business today sells in many "channels" or on multiple venues. Stand alone eCommerce websites, Amazon, Yahoo, Buy.com, Overstock, even Craig's List. eBay is not the only game in town any longer. As an eBay consignment seller, especially if tied to a franchise, you are pretty much locked into one solution or venue to sell your wares. This is a choice no savvy marketer would make in good conscience, not if long term stability and profitability were in his/her goals.
10. Progress - Read the tea leaves... eBay is changing and morphing into a new and some think a better place. eBay is too large and has too many high dollar, high profile new merchandise sellers to remain a place where used Pez dispensers can be sold at a profit. Repeatable inventory sales is the future... or actually the now of eBay. No consignment seller will have repeatable merchandise to compete with the big sellers on eBay. When you list a used item for your customer -( the seller) and learn that a brand new item or one very similar, can be purchased for pennies more than what you know your customer should receive for his nearly new item... you know the game is up.

eBay has become the land of mass merchandising.

Used item auctions will remain as the core of eBay but the role of auctions will continue to diminish over time. See the recent quotes by new eBay CEO John Donahoe. In addition as people become more Internet savvy and sell their own items on Craigslist or Kijji for free the demand for eBay professionals to provide this service will be diminished. Progress is inevitable, when the eBay consignment industry was born most of our consignment customers did not know how to turn on a computer or surf the web. Now it is estimated high speed Internet connections will be available in 70% of US homes in the next few years.

Grandmothers are selling on eBay and kids are inventing new and interesting worlds online like Second Life or Club Penguin. If you don't know what those last two places are, you are no longer an Internet savvy pioneer and have become one of the old school Internet professionals. Kinda feel like a blacksmith?

What to do?

If you are contemplating opening an stand alone eBay consignment drop store, one which sells nothing but merchandise brought through the door by consignment customers... Please study your numbers, your costs, your soul... before dedicating any of your own assets to this type of venture. As a former franchise representative for an eBay drop store chain, I can tell you the numbers were not looking good nationwide back in 2006. This is 2008 and many of the market factors limiting the profitable outlook for a stand alone eBay drop stores have only become more competitive.

If you are thinking about adding eBay sales and eBay consignment in a limited fashion to your pre-existing business...

Great idea! Just be aware of the consignment challenges and be sure to include selling other new and repeatable merchandise in your eBay business plan. eBay can be a huge benefit for any retail or wholesale operation needing a boost in exposure, sales, and eCommerce revenue. Using consignment to boost your existing revenue or offer a trade in program for your regular customers is a great way to increase overall business. This is what we do for our clients at All Business Auctions and I can tell you it works. There is no better and less expensive way to get your brand and your products in front or more buyers worldwide. As long as your outlook is focused on the advertising and exposure benefits and possibly the service to existing customers aspects, you will find an eBay program to be very rewarding for your business.

If your currently a eBay drop store franchisee or owner...

Look for ways to move your business into other markets. Most franchises are trying to offer import good from the far east as a way to placate their franchisees who are not generating the revenue originally projected for the eBay drop store consignment business. I think these measures are someone foolhardy. Yes, every eBay drop store owner could profit by selling repeatable merchandise. The merchandise offered by the franchises does not seem to be repeatable however. (small lots of no-name brand second run merchandise). Be careful about what types of merchandise you import or buy to supplement your store sales. You do not want to end up owning a container full of widgets which also can not be sold. Some drop stores have begun to sell pallet loads of returned electronics and other merchandise bought from brokers. This is a difficult way to add to your bottom line. The high rate of returns inherent with this kind of already returned merchandise will do nothing for your feedback rating or your labor costs.

Bottom line for drop store owners is to look for a way out.

If your store is just on the edge of profitability or it has never reached profitability then you should be looking for better ways to make your money work for you.

You can do what I have done with All Business Auctions and move your business from a consignment only model to that of a business to business service provider. Become what you are in your community - an eBay and eCommerce expert. Use the knowledge you have gained during this time of eBay growth and decline of eBay consignment to further your goals in business. Business to business coaching and consulting is one of the most lucrative professions in the world.

If set up and trained correctly you can make enough money in one afternoon of consulting to cover the overhead of your store for a month. How many businesses in your community would be interested in learning about how to sell product on eBay without having to pay you a commission on each item sold? What if you could set them up with the software, the eBay store design and the tools necessary and then be there for them as a paid consultant to help them get online and selling smoothly and efficiently? Could you sell your local chamber members on a service like that?

I am sure you could... Sometimes there is opportunity in the darkest moments. If your consignment sales business has been floundering, maybe you should look at it differently. Look at the time spent as a training program for your future.

Scott Pooler -  All Rights Restricted - Reprint only with prior written permission

The Tribune article details with specific clarity the unfair and abusive nature of the State of Pennsylvania's prosecution of honest eBay small business owners. Legislation in Pennsylvania has been sponsored by a small group of politically savvy and powerful special interest groups (Auctioneers). 

When Pennsylvania prosecutors proceeded with these cases... "in my opinion" they crossed the line from protectors of the people to being nothing more than hired thugs, attempting to close down small business owners because the business they have built may threaten the profits of more established businesses.  

To suggest regulation in any State in the Union of eBay sellers, consignment or not, by a board of Auctioneers who are not elected officials is ludicrous.

Read the story below and try to  understand how anyone could think the Auctioneers are trying to protect the consumer.  Show me a story in print from anywhere which details fraud perpetrated by an eBay Trading Post or Trading Assistant in a consignment transaction with a consignee.  There is no basis in fact to any of the spin which the Auction Industry has tried to place upon the eBay consignment businesses.

When will anyone else point out these facts? 

(preceeding is simply a statement of opinion) Below is fact... 

State Regulation of Online Biz Opens Can of Worms

Chicago Tribune
01/21/08 8:54 AM PT

"All the same laws that already apply to every other company already apply to those online businesses," said Catherine England, a spokesperson for eBay, based in San Jose, Calif. "We just think that any legislation that targets business based on the medium in which they sell their products is unfair."

Three years ago, when Mary Jo Pletz stumbled onto the job of selling goods online for other people, she thought she had found the perfect job for her family life.

Her daughter, then 6 months old, had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and Pletz needed to quit her job as a dental hygienist and work from her home in Walnutport, Pa., about 70 miles north of Philadelphia.For two years, selling what she said was "just about anything that can come through the door" on eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) the job proved accommodating and profitable, making enough to help her husband pay the bills.

Auctioneer or Pawnbroker?

She could not have known that her perfect job would result in prosecution by the state, the forced closure of her business and the expenditure of thousands of dollars in lawyer's fees. It also would plunge her into an ongoing debate about whether such online sellers should be licensed as auctioneers, pawnbrokers, something else altogether, or not at all.

"It's horrible," said Pletz, 33, who ran her company out of her garage until a state agent visited right after Christmas 2006. "I didn't ever think of myself as an auctioneer. I had sold on eBay before for myself. Why wouldn't I be able to sell for someone else and make a fee?"

It's a question that has been asked nationwide in recent years as states struggle to figure out what to do with the still-emerging digital marketplace.

New Regulations

A survey last year by the online auction newsletter auctionbytes.com found that only two states -- New Hampshire and Kansas -- have said people selling goods online for someone else have to register with the state. (Kansas requires it only in the case of new merchandise.) However, at least seven other states -- Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin -- have considered such regulations, as Pennsylvania is doing. In every case, the states have backed down in the face of opposition, primarily from eBay, the widely used online auction site.

"There's no real easy way to set up new regulations for a new field like this," said Ina Steiner, editor of auctionbytes.com. "But any state that would try to make eBay sellers regulated as auctioneers is really like a square peg in a round hole."

Traditional auctioneers and some states contend that with rising complaints of online sales fraud, regulating companies, particularly drop-off stores, only makes sense.

"We feel that it's important that they be regulated so consumers have piece of mind," said Chris Longley, a spokesperson for the National Auctioneers Association, based in Overland Park, Kan. "Public trust is being lost because of the fraud involved in Internet auctions."

'Unfair' Legislation

Pennsylvania's debate began late in 2006 when Pletz and Barry Fallon, former owner of an I Sold It on eBay store in Harrisburg, Pa., were visited by state agents investigating their businesses.

They originally were cited by the state in April for auctioneering without a license in efforts that supporters believe are test cases before the state goes after hundreds more people like them if they are successful.

After a fall legislative effort to pass a compromise failed when eBay's lobbyist objected, the state refiled charges on Dec. 12. This time it added a charge of operating an auction company without a license. Pletz and Fallon face fines of up to US$2,000 if convicted.

"All the same laws that already apply to every other company already apply to those online businesses," said Catherine England, a spokesperson for eBay, based in San Jose, Calif. "We just think that any legislation that targets business based on the medium in which they sell their products is unfair."

Officials with Pennsylvania's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, which is prosecuting Pletz and Fallon, said the two aren't allowed to sell for someone else because they don't have an auctioneer's license.

'A Clash of Cultures'

"We're a complaint-driven organization, and complaints were filed" that alleged they were running auctions without a license, said Peter Marks, executive deputy chief counsel for the board.

However, the state's 20th Century auctioneer law was not drawn up for the 21st Century jobs that Pletz and Fallon were doing before they were forced to close their businesses.

Currently, the state law -- similar to laws in about two dozen other states that license traditional auctioneers -- requires that would-be auctioneers either work as an apprentice for two years or get 20 credit hours of college course work in auctioneering. Some of that course work includes learning how to do the auctioneer's chant, something online sellers say is pointless for their work.

Fallon and other online sellers believe the hard-line approach from the state board is the result of simple competitive pressure, with auctioneers worried that they're losing business.

"It's a clash of cultures," said Fallon, 61, who closed his store after the state began its prosecution, "with one side fearful of something they don't understand, trying to stymie something they can't fathom."

Protecting Consumers

Wylie Rittenhouse, a member of the state's Board of Auctioneer Examiners and a longtime auctioneer himself, disagrees.

"Competition isn't the problem; it's concern for consumers. We want to protect them," Rittenhouse said.

The nine-member State Board of Auctioneer Examiners, which would decide Fallon and Pletz's cases, is made up primarily of traditional auctioneers like Rittenhouse, some of whom have online sites but none of whom are strictly online sellers as Fallon or Pletz were.

"It's like giving the buggy-whip manufacturers the power to decide if the new-fangled automobile should be made," Fallon said with a laugh.

© 2008 McClatchy-Tribune News Service. All rights reserved.
© 2008 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.

eBay Trading Assistants and Drop Store owners - Franchisee or Non-Franchise... should be evaluating the new eBay Trading Assistant Agreement and determining what the implications are for the future of your business. 

I will refrain from interpreting this new eBay agreement for you, but please become aware of the terms and restrictions involved with proceeding under the new eBay TA agreement.  I suggest you review the terms (see link in the sidebar) with your business advisers and/or legal council prior to determining if joining the new eBay Trading Assistant directory is a business decision you are willing undertake.

Ultimately, for those who do sign the agreement, a small increase in TA business may result due to the culling effect it will have on the present population of TA's listed in the Trading Assistant directory.

If the prospect off initially receiving more than one or two calls per month from the TA directory is a worthwhile benefit in your future business plan...  You may be inclined to simply agree, get listed in the new directory and move forward with your daily business (especially if you are happy with the way eBay has promoted eBay drop stores and TA's in the past)...

Since you've found this blog post, I will assume you are looking for a way to weather the storm and move forward with your trading assistant or eBay drop store business.  Lets look at the options...

1. Close Up Shop and get a "real" job - This option undoubtedly has been the suggestion of friends and/or family, or resides as a thought in the back of your mind. This is an option, but not a very appealing one. No one wants to believe the work they have done to build a business, successful or not, has all been in vain, no business person who has joined this profession should believe there is no future in it, but what - if anything - else can you do?
2. Use your eBay store as a retail store for "gift" merchandise or become a mailbox rental & pack - ship location - Many Drop store owners are already doing this and some have been successful at melding the two different businesses into a single one stop location. In reality, I would wager most of you did not go into the eBay business to become a retailer or shipping specialist.  Not that there is anything wrong with either business, you just initially saw great advantages in the whole "own a business without buying inventory" aspect of this thing we call eBay.  You also were not drawn to the business for the glamor of packaging and shipping or for the retail grind of having a store to tend every day.  You originally were looking for something different... Am I right?
3. Sign the "new" TA agreement and try to continue on... This is an option which has merit, especially if your a franchisee under contract.  First, you may want to change your business name (No Auction or Auctions in your name allowed - anyone have an Auction IT Today franchise?)... i.e. change your signage and lose all of the goodwill you have worked hard for in your community, all of your advertising, all of your promotion and marketing - gone.  You will need a bond to do what you have been doing all along, even if your local laws do not require a bond.  Oh... and you must forget the most profitable "Big Ticket" customer merchandise from that point forward... No more listing customer property in eBay Motors (no motor vehicles-without a dealers license) or Real Estate... Please read the new agreement before just clicking that simple box to be included in the Trading Assistants Directory...
4. Keep on doing what we have been doing and forget the eBay Trading Assistant Directory - This, I think will be the response of most informed and capable business people in our profession.  I do not suggest this should be your course of action, only you and your council can make that decision... But it may be the only reasonable option going forward and what most TA's and drop store owners will do.

If your view is slightly different than those who wish to continue on as a listed member of the "new" TA directory. If you do not want to shut down your business or give up the most profitable aspects of that business... If you want to use all of the skills, experience, equipment, tools, and eBay trading acumen which make you who you are... Please grant me the liberty to assume that you may be looking for a new plan of action, a way to use all of the experience and knowledge gained since becoming a Trading Assistant and/or owning your own eBay drop store.

What are the details of this "plan"? (I can't release all of the details yet, but here are a few highlights)

• The plan I propose is simple, unique, and tailor made for this moment in time if you are an eBay TA.
• You will learn how to make money with all of your experience but without having to list a single "consignment" item on eBay (unless you do so for your own purposes).
• You will become the local eBay expert and an eCommerce entrepreneur - what you wanted to be in the first place.
• You will not need to stock merchandise or sell get rich quick schemes.
• Take advantage the resources and credibility (in fact this is essential) gained while being a trading assistant.
• No need to close your store or end your TA work. ( if you do not want to...)  
• No competition - I can guarantee there is not any competition in your existing market - no other company is offering a similar marketing opportunity for TA's, and there is no other company capable of doing so at this time.

I have developed this new professional eBay sales strategy over the last two years for my own business.  My quest began with a few simple questions...

How could I become a niche marketer as a TA? How could I find a niche market to sell on eBay with a source of supply on a consistent basis and not be stuck with stock in inventory which for one reason or another had gone "cold" only to rot on my shelves. We all know, selling a niche product line is the goal of most eBay Powersellers.

How could I put the advantages of being an eBay Trading Assistant (no inventory, no importing, no merchandising, and minimal employees) together with niche marketing?  I am sure most of you have asked these same questions...

Who could I find with access to niche products?

The answer was and is right in front of all of our noses... The answer is so simple you will fall out of your chair, in fact you may have already guessed what the answer is, or you have thought about this source of products before...

This source of supply is no secret, yet no one has tapped into it. This source of untold revenue for experienced eBay sellers is available in every city and town in the world. This resource of niche marketing supply is so simple and so unique and so plentiful that I am astonished no one else has broadcast it to the world. 

Once you join our team or when you contact me for details, I will be happy to share it with you. 

Or Read more here: