Tag Archives: Trading Assistant

eBay Trading Assistant Directory Google Search and Consignment Sellers

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A great deal of turmoil has been raised recently in the eBay Trading Assistant community.

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” »

Using Press Releases to Promote your Traditional and Online Businesses

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Pres Release Marketing 

Press releases have been used by marking agencies and advertising firms for eons but they are no longer the tool of high powered and expensive marketing gurus.

You can use online press release outlets like PR Web and Express Press Release to get your marketing message online and possibly picked up by your local or even national news agencies.

Read more about it here: http://allbusinessauctions.com/blog/2008/02/27/google-press-release-tools-for-marketing-rocketplace-ebay-conference-pr-web-based-marketing/

I have just written the article above to show how to write a press release for your business. It details how you should use a newsworthy style and include outside quotes and references. If your press release looks too much like marketing hype it will be ignored.

As a Trading Assistant or Drop Store owner you could use press releases to raise consumer awareness of your services. If you do a charity drive for a local church or sell a very distinct item like a meteor or a Elvis Presley handkerchief for some outrageous amount, you should issue press releases to draw attention to your business and your brand.

Try free or low cost online press release outlets for your business. The long term effects could increase your companies awareness in the community.

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?” »

Pennsylvania still pressing charges on eBay Drop Store Owner

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Pennsylvania is still after honest business people... Charging them with violation of a law which never applied.

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

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

Philadelphia Enquirer Details Pennsylvania Case Against Stay at Home Mom eBay Seller

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The Philadelphia Enquirer Headline Reads:

Pennsylvania Takes on Online Auctions

Pa went after Mary Jo Pletz's eBay business now changes in law may come... PAvseBay

Read this excellent news article (link below). The story details the plight of a Trading Assistant who was unfortunate enough to be very good at what she does. The State made a very poor decision to use her as a "test case", an example, in an effort to demonstrate the need to institute new and unprecedented taxes & fees for online consignment specialists.

What it seems to boil down to in Pennsylvania is that someone thought it would be easy to get online sellers and eBay consignment people to fall in line for a new tax (in the form of a license) if, they could make an example of a successful online seller, by charging her with breaking existing laws. Continue reading “Philadelphia Enquirer Details Pennsylvania Case Against Stay at Home Mom eBay Seller” »

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” »

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