e-how (How to do just about everything) published an article "By ***amylaine" touting these 7 easy steps to fame and fortune as an eBay Trading Assistant.
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... Continue reading “How to become a eBay Trading Assistant – Is it Really That E-asy?” »
Today a landmark change in listing fees for fixed price format "Buy it Now" items on the original auction Internet site eBay was announced.
Starting September 17th eBay will charge 35 cents to list any number of the same types of fixed-price items each fixed price item listing will now run for 30 days just as store listings and continue to be included in core search.
UPDATE: eBay special web page explaining changes here: eBay
Lorrie Norrington, eBay's president of global marketplaces says no, but .... Continue reading “Auction Format Dead on eBay – Long Live The Auction” »
Consignment Pal - Re-designed for Consignment Specialists and Clients with ease of use & exposure in mind.Read the Official Press Release Here
Linda Miller of Consignment Pal has worked long and hard to provide a directory service to the consignment industry. Her efforts have been rewarded with a very efficient and usable directory for both consignment shops and eBay Trading Assistants / REDOLS (formerly Trading Posts) and the clientele of these establishments.
The eBay version "Trading Assistant Directory" is widely regarded as being difficult to use and nearly impossible for any end user to find in an online search. If a Trading Assistant or Drop store wants to be found on the Internet, being listed in the Trading Assistant directory will not really help much. Now that Linda Miller has updated the Consignment Pal Directory, the chances of having your listing found online have gone up significantly.
Just a quick search for the words "Consignment Directory" in Google brings up the following results: Continue reading “Updated Consignment Pal Directory – eBay Trading Assistants and Consignment Specialist – Get Found in Search Here” »
The eBay Trading Assistant program was re-engineered several months ago. eBay, in fact, started the recent round of controversial announcements (Fees, Feedback, DSRs tied to fee discounts, No more digital delivery, etc) with the summary and unexpected changes to the Trading Assistant system. 
We reviewed the terms of the new program here at the Trading Assistant Journal. Continue reading “Finding eBay Consignment Help – New eBay Trading Assistant Directory – Not So New” »
As a former official eBay Trading Assistant, Trading Post owner and master franchise representative for an eBay drop store franchise chain. I would like to weigh in on the subject of franchising and stand alone eBay drop stores or consignment locations.
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. Continue reading “eBay Franchise Drop Stores – Why they failed” »
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. Continue reading “eBay Trading Assistant Directory Google Search and Consignment Sellers” »
I found the listing below (in italics) in the "New" TA Directory this morning. I was looking at whom in my area had signed up for the new directory with an eye to see if any of my former local colleagues in the industry had joined up. If they had, I was going to stop in or call and see if they were getting any leads from the new system.
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). Continue reading “New Trading Assistant Directory – Listing Promotes NOT using a Trading Assistant” »
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...
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
The following is a fictional account of the possible tact a defence attorney could present in the case currently before the Circuit Court in Pennsylvania. Any relation to real persons or events is purely coincidental...
Thank You Your Honor....
In My Cross Examination I would like to ask the prosecutor in this case to take the stand....
Thank You for your cooperation... If I may ask a few questions, with Your Honors Permission?
...I'll allow it, but you better get to the point quickly Mr. Mason...
Yes - Your Honor....
Continue reading “Rebuttal – Accused vs. State of Pennsylvania – Trading Assistant Auction Trial” »
While stay at home mom, Mary Jo Pletz has been exonerated of all charges by the State of Pennsylvania. (Due to media attention no doubt). It seems the story of an i Sold it drop store in Harrisburg, PA was not as damaging to the local politicians in the media as that of Mary Jo.
Barry Fallon owned an i Sold it franchise... and like Mary Jo Pletz, he completely shut down his business when the State came knocking at his door to serve notice of his violation of a law created before the Internet was widely used. Barry purchased a franchise store and having done so, would presumably have applied to the local tax office for all of his reasonable business licenses in Harrisburg, he then operated a store in plain view for a period of time. But when the State decided to make a test case of a law which has no possible application they chose to persecute this honest law abiding small business owner.
Wouldn't any small business person reasonably expect the local authorities (tax collector for one) to have shared any applicable information required to determine if he needed a special license to operate an online consignment business?
This entire prosecution is unjust and should be investigated by authorities on a Federal level. What the situation boils down to is political cronyism run amok. The Auctioneer board in PA is behind this and the politicians have made a deal with the Auctioneer board to get rid of this eBay consignment thing...
NEWS FLASH - EBAY is here to STAY - Auctioneers in PA should get with the program instead of trying to fight a losing battle so late in the game. You can not use back door politics to try and stem the tide of eBay competition for your auctioneering business. Even if you make it difficult for consignment businesses to operate, eBay has already made the process of selling an item from ones home very simple. People will not abandon online Auctions or Internet sales at this point.
Every Trading Assistant , Drop Store Owner and Small Business person in America should take a moment to make their voice heard in the Great State of Pennsylvania. Let the political powers that be, know about our collective voice. Write the media in Pennsylvania demanding they investigate this case. Any real investigation should reveal the real reasons behind this frivolous and massive abuse of power for political and commercial gain. Would you want your competition to weild enough power in your State as this? Don't we live in a democracy crafted to prevent this type of abuse of power?
For more on this story read the Philadelphia Enquirer article here: PA Drops Case