eBay Drop-Off Stores on the High Street?
Throughout the US, a new variation on the eBay concept is starting to emerge.
Hundreds of drop-off stores are being set up where people who have items to sell, but don’t want to do it themselves on eBay, can leave the selling to professionals.
C-it-Sell, based in Maine is believed to be the first in the area that is devoted 100% to selling items on eBay on behalf of its customers. So for anyone with unwanted items ranging from consumer electronics through to clothing and jewellery, there is now a means of raising cash with someone else taking responsibility for listing on eBay, receiving payment from the buyer and shipping.
Rates of commission vary, but most drop-off stores seem to be charging around 25% to 35%. This might seem a high percentage, but many sellers seem happy to pay the commission simply on the basis that otherwise they would have unwanted items cluttering up their homes – and not realising the cash value that selling on eBay generates.
So will we see a proliferation of eBay retail “inlets” on our high streets and main streets? Probably the market will take some time to mature, with the biggest issue seeming to be in the logistics of shipping items to the buyer. But with major organisations like UPS now starting to take an interest, anyone already selling on eBay should probably keep a close watch on developments.
Hundreds of drop-off stores are being set up where people who have items to sell, but don’t want to do it themselves on eBay, can leave the selling to professionals.
C-it-Sell, based in Maine is believed to be the first in the area that is devoted 100% to selling items on eBay on behalf of its customers. So for anyone with unwanted items ranging from consumer electronics through to clothing and jewellery, there is now a means of raising cash with someone else taking responsibility for listing on eBay, receiving payment from the buyer and shipping.
Rates of commission vary, but most drop-off stores seem to be charging around 25% to 35%. This might seem a high percentage, but many sellers seem happy to pay the commission simply on the basis that otherwise they would have unwanted items cluttering up their homes – and not realising the cash value that selling on eBay generates.
So will we see a proliferation of eBay retail “inlets” on our high streets and main streets? Probably the market will take some time to mature, with the biggest issue seeming to be in the logistics of shipping items to the buyer. But with major organisations like UPS now starting to take an interest, anyone already selling on eBay should probably keep a close watch on developments.
