Power Sellers Unite

mythandlegend · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

I've been on Ebay for 6 years now, feel it's time to open my own store. This is completely new to me. Can you tell me what is the difference between a PSU store and a store on eCrater? I've read that a PSU store is your own website, is that the main difference? Thanks.

sciencefare

@ mythandlegend

Welcome to PSU!

A store on eCrater is a store on the eCrater site. As you correctly pointed out, a store here at PSU is actually your own domain name hosted on PSU servers... your own site.

There are both pros and cons to having your own site with a store and having a store that is part of another site such as eCrater.

With either scenario, driving traffic to your store by marketing the store is important. Folks need to know that you're in business online, they need to know what is offered, and they need to know how to find the store.

Since eCrater is an established e-commerce site, some of the traffic to the site itself can help bring buyers to a store there. Marketing your own store is still necessary however. With a store at eCrater for example, you'll have much less flexibility when it comes controlling many aspects of your store as opposed to your own site at PSU with your own store.

There are many things to consider, some folks operate their own site and store plus have additional stores at sites such as eCrater. One isn't necessarily better than the other (some will debate that point), but each is different in perhaps the effort required, the degree of fine tuning and individualization that can be attained, and maybe the results achieved.

I'm sure others will chime in with plenty more information that you can consider. It may be time to begin surfing, reading, asking more questions, and really looking at all the many options available to you.

Good luck!

METZYMOM · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 1218

One of the nicest things at OLA is you can advertise your personal website there... right on your auctions!

You can advertise your website on OLA and you can advertise your OLA store on your website... lol...

Roll my butt in flour and call me a dumpling, but to me, that's a win/win scenario!!!

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

mythandlegend - if you look to the left, you'll see a header - Ecommerce Hosting. You can see the Ecommerce details that PSU offers right there for you! Many here do have a store here - I do not. My biggest fear is I'm still so green with html, and know nothing about shopping carts - thus ... I'll take down my own site by accident!!!

I do have a store on eCrater. It's FREE, fast and easy to set up. If you decide to check our eCrater, there forums have great helpful information and folks. I do not use the whole shipping calculator, as it was 'too hard' for me to digest. But - I do get sales there on a regular basis and like the ease of using it.

Most here agree on one thing - diversification. Put some items at a couple places, get the feel for the process, then decide if it works or if you want to 'be your own boss'. I do know that the folks who have stores here are super great about helping others get theirs set up - so it's a working solution for those who desire to have their own site!

Best to you as you gather information and move forward!! :D :D

mythandlegend · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks so much for your replies. I decided to start with eCrater and then go from there. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions. Thanks a lot.

psunite · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 6213 Location: Columbus OH

mythandlegend
If you sell at multiple auction or marketplace sites it is not a bad idea to also have your own website whether it is a commerce store or a simple home page. When you have your own website you have your own domain name in which you can setup an email account on it. Every email you send will contain your domain name. When someone goes to your domain name (site) you can give them a list of all your selling venues and where they can find your products. They can also purchase products right off of your site.

purple_reading_giraffe · Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 5485 Location: Indiana, USA

One of the advantages of having your own website is the ability to make it an information site as well as a store. Most people on the internet find things by following an information trail. They can find you if you know stuff they want to know; then if they feel you are trustworthy because you provide good information, they will be more likely to also want to buy what you sell (if it relates).