E-Commerce Options for Creative Side-Gigging
August 5, 2009 by Felicia Montalvo
Has the recession got your wallet in a bind? Are you looking for a way to sell off some of your old goods(or hand made items) in order to generate some supplementary income? Then it’s high time that you open up your own store — an online store, that is. All you need to do is choose the right e-commerce platform to get started. That’s where we come in. Check out our list of four e-commerce platforms and why they may (or may not) be the perfect match for your e-commerce biz.
EBAY.COM
If you have a pulse, odds are you’ve heard of Ebay. Whatever you’re interested in buying, Ebay has got you covered (and they offer buyer protection through their resolution center). In terms of selling items in your own online shop,however, Ebay misses the mark. If you can figure out how to set up a shop, use that shop, and assess all the fees you might incur for that month, consider yourself an accomplished individual. The long list of shop fees alone, which vary according to the type of shop you choose (Basic, Premium or Anchor), the number of distinct items you list, the price of those items, and any pictures you post, is almost enough to make you overlook the 12% (and up!) sales fee for every item you sell. On the flip side, Ebay is one of the most popular e-commerce websites in the world and the amount of traffic and publicity your items receive will be immense. The decision basically comes down to whether the fees are worth the exposure.
ECRATER.COM
After Ebay “went corporate”, many people decided to switch to websites which would offer the same things as Ebay, but at a much lower price. Hence, Ecrater.com, an online commerce site which boasts that it is a “100% free online marketplace” where sellers retain 100% of the profits they make on their items. The only problem with the site that promised to be everything Ebay was not, was that they’ve gone too far. While Ebay included steep selling fees, the one thing it did do correctly was protect buyers. Ecrater, though it has received generally good reviews from sellers, has had numerous complaints from buyers who report never having received the item they purchased. Unfortunately, even though Ecrater has taken the time to list any potential scammers in its community forum section, any e-commerce platform that charges next to nothing for selling items is bound to attract a lot of attention, especially from scammers.
ETSY.COM
Do you have a knack for creating hand-crafted and vintage items, but could never figure out how to garner a profit? If so, Etsy is what you’re looking for. An elegantly chic site dedicated to the lovers and creators of all things handmade and/or vintage, Etsy provides a great platform for all members of the handcrafted community to meet and exchange goods. One of the best aspects about this site is that each week three sellers are chosen to be featured on the main page, which includes photos of the seller’s items and an interview containing information about his or her products and/or how they got started – giving buyers a way of getting to know sellers better, as well as providing great publicity for the seller. As far as commissions go, Etsy charges .20 listing fee for each item in your online shop (including quantities of the same item). If the item is not sold within four months, the seller must pay the same fee to re-list it. On top of that, they take a modest 3.5% cut of each item you sell.
SILKFAIR.COM
Remember the days when ancient civilizations traveled the Silk Road throughout Asia, to the Mediterranean, and the Middle East,exchanging goods from region to region? No? Well no worries, because Silkfair, an e-commerce platform whose name was inspired by the trade activity on the Silk Road, is looking to bring you the same experience (less the horses and lengthy travel time) via their online Market and Custom Shops. Unlike other ecommerce platforms, listing an item on Silkfair is FREE! That’s right, and so is setting up a Market Shop. In fact, the only cost incurred is the 3% sales fee if an item is sold. Additonally, Silkfair’s new video feature allows sellers to showcase their items through more than just pictures. And, if you already have a seller’s account on Ebay, Silkfair allows you to integrate your feedback scores into your profile. If you’re a serious seller, for $24.99 a month, you can start a Custom Shop, which allows you to customize your shop’s brand and bring in your own domain and url. But, if you’re a little low on cash or just want to try it out, we recommend you stick to the free Market Shop.
At the end of the day, if all else fails or if an online shop just isn’t your bag, remember that you can always set up a yard sale. People still do those. Right?
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I just put in an order for a pirate necklace on etsy! And ,yes, pirate necklaces are cool.
Also, I should be getting my handmade soaps soon. whoo hoo!