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Post by macktheknife on Jan 2, 2013 1:08:18 GMT -5
It is and always will be a consumer website. eBay is a seller's website.As an AUTHORIZED reseller on Amazon I'm confused? Can you explain the difference? Amazon wants to sell your products, marks them up for their fee and the sets the amount you recieve and even by your words has you losing money on some items to stay in business, Walmart can afford that, I'm sure you can't long. Ebay contacts people and advertises to "sell" goods for anyone and also charges a fee to do so. So if I want to sell scooter parts on Ebay am I not also just a seller and if you sell them on Amazon are you not also a reseller? It's a minor distinction but it is there nonetheless. eBay was created to be an auction website. A seller puts up something for sale and allows people to bid on them. This much you know. The important issue is that it is up to the seller/poster to list what they want for sale. The original purpose was for people to sell the junk they have in their attics or basements. Look back at the original ads 15 years ago. It evolved into a more generic online shop with the "buy it now" button they added about 5 years ago. Anybody can sell anything for any price. That makes it a seller's website. Amazon was created to sell books online. With its success it expanded into selling other products. It is only fairly recently that it grew to allow third parties to sell products on their website. This makes it a buyer's website since it was always designed to be a retail site selling products to the general public. Currently, Amazon has expanded to allow "anybody" to sell a book or DVD on their site. The stipulation is that it is an EXISTING product in their database. People generally cannot sell their own creations on Amazon without special dispensation. Certain types of products are restricted from the general public from selling on Amazon. To sell these products you have to be AUTHORIZED by them. Certain Authorized resellers can also sell their OWN products with their own SKU and UPC code. I am one of those special authorized sellers (since very few scooter parts have a UPC or EAN). Hope this helps. Greg Ebay did start out like that but has evolved to sell any and everything. But unlike Amazon one has the right to sell as a bid, hard price or best offer, a good choice. Amazon has grown itself and now wants a piece of the pie themselves on this always growing market but unlike ebay selects and controls how, what, when and how much but rest assured they are going to get their cut regardless if the reseller makes anything or not? Not nearly as friendly and selective plus it's common knowledge that ebay sells a lot more scooter stuff and even though you have to sometimes weed out the good from the bad one can find a good buy on scooter parts. Even some of the vendors here sell on ebay, Scrappydog is one that comes to mind and they seem to be doing just fine with the system of paypal that you hate. Ebay also adds ebay bucks and if you buy considerably then they add up after a spell and they also now have the bill now and pay me later option which even the giant Walmart uses too. Comes in handy when you might not have the cash in hand and you get 6 months interest free if you pay the bill in full option too. Both systems have their ups and downs but again for me I live by the old saying first time shame on you, second time shame on me and if my card is going to be used in Mexico I want to be there to use it and not some guy who hacked into a online seller of anything.
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Post by mainepeace on Jan 2, 2013 1:18:27 GMT -5
Very valid points. I do agree with you about many of them. I have resigned myself to selling on eBay again since they finally have made changes that you do NOT have to use Paypal as a seller and can just use a credit card to secure the account. I may also open up a bank account specifically for eBay so they won't dip into MY money if there is ever a disagreement.
Actually, I am going to put my Amazon listings on eBay in the next few days. eBay only takes 10% which is nice, but the typical eBay seller runs his account out of his bedroom and has no problems selling parts where they only make $.05 per sale. We can't do that except under certain circumstances, like to build up positive feedback.
Greg
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Post by jimboeau on Jan 2, 2013 11:39:31 GMT -5
And I appreciate your business Skuttadawg. At this very moment I am redesigning the website to address other issues people have mentioned to me about it being difficult to find specific parts on the website. It has outgrown the old software platform and I made some structural errors that I am correcting in the new database. It will be ready in a few weeks with a completely new look as well. I am going to roll the eShop into the main site so it is a single website. It will be as easy, if not easier, to find parts than the Parts for Scooters website (which seems to be the benchmark for a scooter website, great job guys!). Personally, I think I have done well since the eshop came online exactly 1 year ago today, and with selling parts on Amazon really only since October (had the account setup in June). Greg Greg, Are you going to be selling "drop shipped" scooters off of your regular website or are you still going to create "scootkat" for that? Keep up the good work!
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Post by Scooter Elements on Jan 2, 2013 11:57:20 GMT -5
Very valid points. I do agree with you about many of them. I have resigned myself to selling on eBay again since they finally have made changes that you do NOT have to use Paypal as a seller and can just use a credit card to secure the account. I may also open up a bank account specifically for eBay so they won't dip into MY money if there is ever a disagreement. Actually, I am going to put my Amazon listings on eBay in the next few days. eBay only takes 10% which is nice, but the typical eBay seller runs his account out of his bedroom and has no problems selling parts where they only make $.05 per sale. We can't do that except under certain circumstances, like to build up positive feedback. Greg We started selling on Ebay in March of last year and it was the best decision we made! Only thing that sucks is its expensive. Also have had the issue of my competition from Puerto Rico buy something from me and left me negative feedback to damage my score.
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Post by mainepeace on Jan 2, 2013 19:19:44 GMT -5
Are you going to be selling "drop shipped" scooters off of your regular website or are you still going to create "scootkat" for that? Keep up the good work! Still haven't decided. I want to keep my internet stuff separate from my shop stuff, but I guess there will always be overlap. Greg
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Post by tortoise on Jan 2, 2013 21:21:58 GMT -5
Are you going to be selling "drop shipped" scooters off of your regular website or are you still going to create "scootkat" for that? Keep up the good work! Still haven't decided. I want to keep my internet stuff separate from my shop stuff, but I guess there will always be overlap. Greg Might check if Tomos will drop-ship their scooters . . as inferred in this post.
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Post by larrball on Jan 3, 2013 2:58:13 GMT -5
I know first hand about Ebay selling as my mom and sister make baby clothing by hand and sell online. www.etsy.com/shop/lilbumsboutiqueFor the most part they had to drop ebay due to the cost of the listing alone (but not because of ebay it's self) they make everything themselves. Its not like they can take advantage of ebay like a seller that is just the middle man for a different business and can afford to under cut on prices and collect the $.05 per sale as the sale's are most often "auto generated" and they never see anything but a check in the mail. Not that it's a bad thing, but you have to have a-lot invested UP FRONT to get anywhere If your doing it with any passion. I think Greg has the right ideal using Ebay as a point of advertising (if you will) Then a way to make a living off of Ebay. Just my $02, and NO i'm not trying to sell you my mom and sisters bo-bo stuff it's simply what they had to go with to help others and still keep there hobbie.
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Post by rapidjim on Jan 3, 2013 8:40:52 GMT -5
I use to use Ebay a lot. Stopped using them because of their fees and PayPal fees. For what I could make I might as well be throwing the stuff in the garbage. Ebay use to be a great place. Not anymore in my opinion.
Jim
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Post by mainepeace on Jan 6, 2013 17:00:00 GMT -5
Just want to tell all of you programmers out there...
Before you delete a "testing" site, make sure that it is NOT LINKED to the LIVE SITE DATA!
Sleepless night last night....
Greg
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Post by teddy554 on Jan 6, 2013 19:58:43 GMT -5
mactheknife you most have the worse luck of anyone on the planet with all the stuff that happens to you and a grudge against Greg.This is the second thread i seen you bring up this same thing and try to turn it into a argument with Greg? Shop where you want and pay how you want, and sale your stuff where you want. why should it bother you where someone else sales there product if you are not happy with it, spend your money else where ( that is what i do) Amazon process so many sales they are guarantee to make a mistake or two,show me a business that hasnt had these same issues once in awhile,that has the same number of sales. Take your head out of the sand and you will see the world is full of ever evolving criminals and fraudsters wanting to steal yours and who ever else money whether online or not online
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Post by EPAhater on Jan 6, 2013 20:46:50 GMT -5
I think Mack had some valid points, even Greg agreed with that, his opinion his right.
Who made you the one to tell someone else how or what they should say or think on a free forum?
I too don't care for Amazon, use them some, never had a fraud but I can beat their prices easily and don't shop there much at all, their scooter parts selection sucks, even Greg said he was moving on to Ebay also.
IMO being the largest just makes it easier to have more fraud.
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Post by teddy554 on Jan 6, 2013 21:17:31 GMT -5
Epa Hater i didnt say what he could our couldn't do, i guess that would be as bad has telling someone how to run there business? just said this is a second time he brought his same ol lame story up and turned it in to a argument with greg and how he runs his business. Mactheknife seem to be a pretty smart guy from some of his other post so i was just wondering his angle and from what i can tell he is pretty good at speaking for himself Has for fraud you dont have to shop at Amazon or online to be a victim it happen every were.
? it most be pretty boring on the other side of the fence?
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Post by EPAhater on Jan 6, 2013 21:59:06 GMT -5
Again your opinion, didn't see it that way myself. Actually I learned a lot from reading what they both said, and I'm sure his opinion didn't not does it have anything to do with how Greg runs his business and IMO I just don't see how someone saying they were done wrong on online sales as a argument?
No doubt you can have any problems with any online deal of any kind and any where.
Never bored, got you to watch for entertainment. ;D
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Post by tvnacman on Jan 6, 2013 22:04:31 GMT -5
Again your opinion, didn't see it that way myself. Actually I learned a lot from reading what they both said, and I'm sure his opinion didn't not does it have anything to do with how Greg runs his business and IMO I just don't see how someone saying they were done wrong on online sales as a argument? No doubt you can have any problems with any online deal of any kind and any where. EPA , every link you put up for parts. I have every part you linked to and can beat every price you listed . but I won't list prices in open forum . John
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Post by EPAhater on Jan 6, 2013 22:06:56 GMT -5
Again your opinion, didn't see it that way myself. Actually I learned a lot from reading what they both said, and I'm sure his opinion didn't not does it have anything to do with how Greg runs his business and IMO I just don't see how someone saying they were done wrong on online sales as a argument? No doubt you can have any problems with any online deal of any kind and any where. EPA , every link you put up for parts. I have every part you linked to and can beat every price you listed . but I won't list prices in open forum . John Then you need to let the people know via PM about them. ;D
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Post by tvnacman on Jan 6, 2013 22:14:33 GMT -5
I have just hit a bump in the road some problems with my website had to pull it down . When it up I will make some effort to become more known . Some people are taking the angle of price point , mine will be on tech support .
Then I will price match !!!
John
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Post by teddy554 on Jan 6, 2013 22:29:14 GMT -5
+1 on shopping for the best deal every dollar counts but free shipping after spending a 100 on greg's site. I have only used gregs store once cause i really dont like the layout or the brands but if i order a stock part i try to use someone on the forum to help out
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Post by mainepeace on Jan 6, 2013 22:43:56 GMT -5
I have over 768 PMs that I haven't deleted yet.
Imagine the frustration to get at least 10 PMs every day asking the same basic questions as what is on these threads. After a while it gets on your nerves to have the New Message box pop up constantly when online.
This thread is about Mainely Scooters.
btw, checkout the sale I have on a Dr. Pulley Variator for 139QMB in the marketplace and on our eshop.
Greg
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