Category Archives: Trading Assistant

Trading Assistant eBay Discussion – Read the fine Print – Join The TA Agreement or Not?

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I have been spending too much time on the eBay Trading Assistant discussion board, and admittedly I may have gotten carried away with my opinions.  You may fault me, or you may respect my veracity, in any case I think it is important that the discussion from today is noted somewhere besides the eBay forum.  One never knows when eBay could decide to delete or retract certain threads.

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
Continue reading “Trading Assistant eBay Discussion – Read the fine Print – Join The TA Agreement or Not?” »

HooRay for Mary Jo Pletz! PA Trading Assistant Charges Dropped!

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Great news!

The case against Mary Jo Pletz detailed in the Trading Assistant Journal has been dropped! Mary Jo (Known by her eBay trading name JoJoDoug on the eBay discussion forums) has reported on the ebay forums that she has received a reprieve in the mail -

All charges are dropped by the State of Pennsylvania vs. Mary Jo Pletz - eBay Trading Assistant

GOOD NEWS!!
I received a letter last night. They are dropping the charges filed against me. Why?? It states that what I did MAY constitute a violation of the auctioneering act - and they MAY REOPEN the complaint for any reason they deem appropriate. BUT for now - since I took my name out of the directory "TA", and because I stopped selling for others they are letting me go. I haven't heard back from Barry as of yet to see what his news is. BUT it dosn't mean all of PA is out of the woods yet. I think they are running from the bad press... any thoughts? JoJo

I think we all can feel better for Mary Jo because she certainly did not deserve this persecution ... oops prosecution. Continue reading “HooRay for Mary Jo Pletz! PA Trading Assistant Charges Dropped!” »

Internet Business Mentorship – Option for the future of TA's Drop Store Owners?

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Are you the friend or business acquaintance everyone asks about eBay or how to sell online?

  • 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

Top 10 eBay Trading Assistant Drop Store Reality Checks

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TA Consignment

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:

Continue reading “Top 10 eBay Trading Assistant Drop Store Reality Checks” »

Antiques Appraisals – Where, How, Why? Trading Assistants Should Know Walt Kolenda – AuctionWally

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As Trading Assistants we see the gamut of merchadise come through our doors each day....

Usually we can evaluate the value of this merchandise in the blink of an eye, or possibly with a quick online trip to Terapeak...

But when something is presented by a client... say possibly a fine piece of antique furniture, do you get that uneasy feeling in your gut that says "I might need a real appraisal on this one"?  Antique Desk

If you don't get that feeling, you must have extensive antiques experience or your just flying by the seat of your pants. Not knowing the true value of any fine antique can cost you and your client hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

To sell an antique properly, you must know more than the projected value at auction of the piece.  You will not get that projected value if you do not describe it correctly in your listing with all of the historical detail possible.

How do you get that information?  From a book?

You could, if you had the time...

From Terapeak or Hammertap? - Not likely...

From eBay? - Please, you would be depending upon some other seller who may not know what he is talking about...If you could find the same exact piece listed at all... (Not likely with antiques)

How about from an appraiser? Yes a real, licensed expert in antiques appraisal!

Isnt that expensive? - Sure, locally you could spend quite a bit of cash on a certified appraisal, but what if you could get one completed online from your photographs?

With the same Seal of Approval and accuracy? Something you can take to your buyer with confidence...

Continue reading “Antiques Appraisals – Where, How, Why? Trading Assistants Should Know Walt Kolenda – AuctionWally” »

State Bill Vote Scheduled – Exempts Internet Sellers from Auctioneer Regulations

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In a story by: Unravel the Gavel and reported in AuctionBytes today. It is reported New Hampshire has introduced a bill in the legislature to exempt Internet sales from any auctioneer licensure requirements.

This report is the best news of the week for eBay TA's (excuse me please, REDOL's). We can only hope this Bill in New Hampshire passes and some semblance of order in restored to the eBay consignment sellers universe.

Personally, I do not understand why more eBay consignment specialists have not organized a PR campaign to fight this movement to require our industry be governed by the antiquated auctioneer statutes and competetively biased Auctioneers regulatory organizations.

eBay TA's, Trading Posts, Drop Stores, REDOLS, or as I prefer, Consignment Specialists.... Are NOT Auctioneers... period. Continue reading “State Bill Vote Scheduled – Exempts Internet Sellers from Auctioneer Regulations” »

New eBay Trading Assistant Agreement – Options for Drop Store Owners

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With the advent of the new eBay Trading Assistant (”Registered eBay Drop Off Location” or REDOL) agreement, an already complicated business outlook has just become more convoluted.   

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... Continue reading “New eBay Trading Assistant Agreement – Options for Drop Store Owners” »

eBay limits all Trading Assistants and Drop store owners ability to earn a living…

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The recent changes in the trading assistant agreement has sparked a debate on the official eBay forums. eBay has laid down a very restrictive agreement and as a trading assistant or drop store owner, you should read it very carefully before clicking any box indicating your agreement.

To be honest, eBay has instituted this new agreement to protect themselves from some very nasty States Attorney Generals (Pennsylvania... Anyone?). eBay must protect itself legally from becoming implicated in any of these various legal challenges to the trading assistants methods and practices.

We all know this has been spurred on by the numerous Auctioneers organizations around the country who have been pulling together political muscle to combat the loss of business they have sustained via eBay Trading Assistants and drop stores. We do the job better, faster and for less money than the auctioneers, so rather than join us, they have chosen to fight us in the legislatures.

It is disappointing that eBay has abandoned its efforts to protect our rights as legal businesses to advertise property for our clients. But I think most of us in the business saw the signs of change coming...

Now what?

Now we continue on... As a group of professional I suggest we work together to form our own association outside of eBay to create a greater voice and protect our rights...

Beyond that... I suggest we all look closely at the business model which is eBay consignment... I have made changes in my own business which allow me to create other forms of income. These changes involve my many years as an eBay seller and eCommerce merchant.  More importantly, the alteration has had a positive effect on my bottom line... and they have allowed me to limit my trading assistant work to only the most profitable and potentially lucrative clients...

I am working on a repeatable business plan which will  allow every savvy trading assistant professional and drop store owner the ability to make more money, with less effort than ever before...

Using the skills and knowledge you have gained over years of being a trading assistant.

I have tested this new business model in my city and it has created quite a bit of interest... And profit for my company...
I am putting together this new business plan as a dealer type organization, I will not be selling franchises!

What we will offer is an opportunity to put all of the skills and knowledge you have gained as a trading assistant into a real world actionable business plan which allows you to promote yourself as the expert that you are... And you will never need to sell consignment items again with this plan. (Unless you choose to do so as part of a continueing effort to promote your new focus...)

There are a few small items I need to get together to make this opportunity available to everyone interested... So, keep checking this website... Or give me a call to discuss what it is you can do now that eBay has pretty much limited all Trading Assistants and Drop store owners ability to earn a decent living...

Scott Pooler All Business Auctions 727-596-6900

QuikDrop Closes eBay Drop-off Store Franchise Store Owners Looking for Software Replacement

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QuikDrop Says Goodbye...

QuickDrop LogoIn an article written by Ina Steiner of AuctionBytes.com this morning, it is reported that QuikDrop, one of America's largest drop off eBay store franchises, is closing up franchise sales and support operations by the end of this month. The current franchisees (store owners) are free to continue store operations but will do so without corporate franchise support or software.

...at least one storeowner was worried over QuikDrop's notice that it would cease offering the stores use of its proprietary software program on December 31. Bob Golub, owner of a Massachusetts QuikDrop franchise store, said he wasn't surprised at news of the closure, but is worried about finding replacement software and learning a new program in such a short period of time. "We're all scrambling," Golub said. Excerpt by: Ina Steiner AuctionBytes.com

If you own a QuickDrop franchise what will you do? Continue reading “QuikDrop Closes eBay Drop-off Store Franchise Store Owners Looking for Software Replacement” »

Why every Trading Assistant and eBay Franchise Drop Store Should have and eBay Stores Account

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In our previous post we reviewed Trading Assistants & franchise eBay drop store marketing ideas and I promised to detail how and why every Trading Assistant or drop store owner should have an eBay Stores account.

It always amazes me when I consult with franchise owners who are struggling to find that they have not signed up to become an eBay store owner. These franchise drop store owners are struggling to generate profits and eventually they ask for marketing ideas, when one of the smartest marketing tools available on the planet is an eBay Stores account. Why don't these business people take advantage of this opportunity?

Is it the $15.95 per month charge which holds them back? Or is it simply the fact that eBay does not do a good job of explaining why eBay stores are the key to becoming profitable on eBay. Continue reading “Why every Trading Assistant and eBay Franchise Drop Store Should have and eBay Stores Account” »