Upgrading to an Ebay shop (business seller)

mrcol1000

I am thinking of upgrading to a shop on Ebay. When I first started my business I did not think I'd sell the volume to make it worth while. I sell around 200 items a month with a mix of buy it now and auction. I am mainly interested in doing it as I do free postage and would like to offer discounts for more than one sale.

I just wondered what happens to existing 30 day buy it now listings? Do they upgrade to good till cancelled, or do I have to wait till they end to restart them as good till end? Is it possible to put good till cancelled listings out of stock for a week while I am away? I have to go away every so often for a week or so due to family commitments. At the moment I just time 30 day auctions around going away.

Also any downsides to upgrading to a shop I should look out for? Thanks in advance for anyone's help.

ballisticbrian

Have you worked out your first year's tax return? Your intended salary? Overall costs of doing business? The only reason I ask, is because it sounds like you are working it out as you going along and like many eBay businesses they fail after a short period of winging-it.

mrcol1000

ballisticbrian wrote: »

Have you worked out your first year's tax return? Your intended salary? Overall costs of doing business? The only reason I ask, is because it sounds like you are working it out as you going along and like many eBay businesses they fail after a short period of winging-it.

In my third year of trading. Happy with the money making and just did my second tax return.

RFW

I'm not entirely sure what happens to 30 day listing. I think you would have to end and relist them as GTC.
As far as offering discounts goes you have to have gone through a full 30 day cycle on a GTC listing before you can offer any.
You can offer promotions though, eg buy two items save 5% or spend over £10 get £1 off, etc..

soolin

ballisticbrian wrote: »

Have you worked out your first year's tax return? Your intended salary? Overall costs of doing business? The only reason I ask, is because it sounds like you are working it out as you going along and like many eBay businesses they fail after a short period of winging-it.

I'm a sole trader, I don't have a salary- I just get all the profits of my business after expenses and tax etc have all been paid. Much simpler and yes it is possible to do it as you go along. (Just remember to set aside tax and NI money so you don't get a shock at end of tax year).

OP, I love my shop and couldn't give it up mInly because I am always away (I'm abroad at the moment) and just put my shop on holiday settings which means no one can buy anything.

One thing to be aware of though is that the 200 free listings included with a basic shop are only BINs , you can't use your free allocation against an auction item.

mrcol1000

Thanks for advice Soolin and RFW. I am now asking myself why I didn't do this a year ago rather than trying to time BIN to end before I go away and start them again.

soolin

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Thanks for advice Soolin and RFW. I am now asking myself why I didn't do this a year ago rather than trying to time BIN to end before I go away and start them again.

I was the same, I went for years without a shop but once I realised how well it fitted my holiday pattern I wished I had opted for one earlier.

I have all BINs with immediate payment so can sell right up to the day I go away.

celestius

soolin wrote: »

I have all BINs with immediate payment so can sell right up to the day I go away.

Yes I do the same...