Power Sellers Unite

VintageAds4U · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 5

I closed my shop at Ioffer over Christmas due to the mess created by the beta program.
In the interim I added to my store, opened a second ebay store and listed on google.
Then, I read about eCrater. I really like it and have a store there now.

I have one question and it is not meant to offend. How does eCrater make any money? I like the site and am hoping that it stays around. I am a little afraid I will list a ton of stuff and then the company won't make it.

Again, I am not trying to offend, just curious. I do really like the clean look!

Thank you.

2BOYSandTOYS · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 10095 Location: Kansas

VintageAds4You - No offense should be taken - it's a great question....of course, I do not have the answer - and personally - 'go with it'....

If the site decides fees are needed/required - I'll 'deal' with that then. I suppose the best I can offer - ensure you've not got all your eggs in one basket (which it looks like you're diversifying - great)!!

I don't know if there would be more 'answer' on the site in the forums or not - I just go with it!!! :oops: 8)

DaKine · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Hawaii

Do a search on the eCRATER forum because I know I've seen that asked there before.

Otherwise, just post and ask - someone will answer.

lammergeiernet · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 1007 Location: Canada

I know eCrater charges if you want your store to be higher profile in thier internal site search.

Revenue from that

rowsofclothes · Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 73

lammergeiernet is correct. They charge a fee if you want to advertise on their home page or as a featured category. They have been around for 3 years and are really growing this past year. I dont see them going away anytime soon. :)

BigT · Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 305

eCRATER.com first went live in December 2004. They claim they will always be free. So far so good.
Sellers have suggestion that they at least accept donations - but they won't. Not at this time anyways.
The cost was the time to do the programming - that's done. There's not much cost in anything else besides equipment which has already been in place. Replacements as they need to be done cost but the owner of eCRATER.com won't pass that on or even accept donations for it.

So for the past 2 years I have been enjoying my FREEdom!

Java_juliet · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 8

I don't get it either :confused: I just started putting my shop together and I am blown away by the ease! As I was loading up my pics, I thought to myself how do they host all these pics for free? Pics take a lot of space. This is my first store outside of eBay and I am thrilled with eCrater.

vinewood · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 236

hi

i am happy with the site , but the mod's on the forum are a bit rash :evil: :twisted:

LurkeyLou · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject:

Hey, Wes

I've seen a couple of those conversations. Those folks aren't mods. AFAIK, only BigT is a mod., and even that's not obvious. Anyway, I'm sure you'd agree, he's been nothing but 100% professional in his communications.

The others have zero authority at eCrater. They're just members, the same as you and I. It's probably nothing personal as this is the way they speak across both venue and non-venue forums. The best defense is to shine 'em on ;-)

eCrater is great! I'll be opening a 3rd store next month!

yellowrose · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 269

I agree! I love eCrater. The mods are helpful, friendly and professional. I have found many of the other sellers willing to share their experience and opportunities to help promote your store. It is free. The forums are nice and clean. What more can I say? It is truly a great site!

2BOYSandTOYS · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 10095 Location: Kansas

I do believe there's one other mod over yonder, but right now - I can't remember the name of the person.... :oops: 8) !!

I'm good with the forums and like the clean-ness of them! I agree with Lurkey Wes - shine on (as in harvest moon....JK)!! :)

BigT · Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 305

Technically, there is ONE mod - BigTallMensClothing - on the ecrater.com forum

ljstores does show as a mod under the id because that had to be done to allow for the handling of the Solutions Forums.

It's ok vinewood, many people in this world can't handle Matter of Fact type personality people. And I personal know that BigTallMensClothing has that type of personality. No sugar coating, no beating around the bush, just straight to the point. That's me 100%! I can and do agree to disagree. IT's all a persons opinion. WHICH everyone is entitled to have.

I just try to help those that ask. I try to point out why things are the way they are - especially when changes are requested because alot of folks seem to request things that would be great for them but don't know why they are the way they are or how what they are asking effects everyone else. I been there for along time and I have seen many changes. Every change has an effect on every seller. Like when they changed the whole layout of the description page - every ad of mine said click the store link BELOW - then it got moved to the top of the page - that meant I had alot of ads to change. With 2000+ listings in just one of my stores, that's alot of work caused just due to changing the page layout.
Every change has an effect on every seller. Someone has to point out that sometimes the change just isn't worth the work to all the sellers that will have to adjust their way of doing things.

DaKine · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Hawaii

Personally, I love BTMC's personality. It's refreshing.

When you get a response you know that what is said is exactly what is meant. No sugar coating, no beating around the bush, just straight to the point. :D

On too many other forums you can't trust the responses you get. People have hidden agendas and such.

Not BTMC and not the other sellers on eCrater. We have a really great group of sellers over there who understand that by helping one another we all prosper. As it should be.

I've gotten nothing but great, honest responses to everything I've posted over on eCrater from everyone - but the most helpful responses and suggestions and constructive criticism I've received have come from BTMC.

If I have a question, that's the first person I think of.

AND I think everyone should give BTMC a huge THANK YOU. It takes a lot of time to be a moderator and answer thoroughly & completely the amount of questions that are asked. With multiple sites/stores to be running it takes a very generous person to give all of us that time and attention (and be honest with us on top of it all).

And another huge THANK YOU to eCrater for giving us such an awesome venue - FREE!

yellowrose · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 269

I feel the same way DaKine. BTMC's responses and answers are refreshing and extremely helpful. He is also very professional and honest. I am thankful that in his busy life, he continues to help other sellers. He is an asset to eCrater and to the sellers as well.

kathyscorner · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 610

I wholeheartedly agree that the atmosphere at the boards at Ecrater is very healthy! One "go to" guy with factual information is a tremendous asset for the place.

I had toyed joining with another fairly young site that has recently sprung up before choosing ecrater instead. Precisely because there already was a "Boardies" mentality forming, I decided against that place.

Ideally boards exist to aid in the technical areas as a source of information. A couple of friendly threads don't hurt, but aren't really necessary.

I don't know what your online site experience is Vinewood, but there are several threads here at PSU in the Overstock threads that detail the level of Moderator and user friendship, and the resulting ramifications that ensued. Users who answered questions in the manner BTMC uses were long ago run off in favor of those who do cyberhugging and paste up frog GIFs. And nobody ever knows what's going on, as an info source they are useless.

I will settle for factual information presented in a clear brusque manner any day of the week. Anything else can become very counterproductive.