I have been selling online for a number of years and the one thing I am positive of is the face that people shop blindly.
You know you've done it. Whenever I think of something I need to purchase I immediately think of checking Amazon and eBay first. Those are the only two websites that I would consider first. I do have this fear of purchasing from someones personal website because of fraud and theft. Id consider a 'brand', like a well know store. Everywhere tells you it probably is fine but you know your gut tells you otherwise. Are you with me?
The problem is when you purchase an item on either one of these platforms you never think of the person you actually purchase from. Imagine it, you are walking around with your new (insert new item here) and someone says, "Hey where did you get that from?" and your response is? 'Amazon' or 'eBay' - you will never say I got it from 'So and So' in the Amazon Marketplace or 'This and That' store on eBay. NEVER!
So how do you, as a seller, develop a brand? Leave a mark on the 'inter web' and get customers to remember your name?
Ive been wondering for a very long time. As I sit here writing this I want to leave the Amazon and eBay selling platforms. I am tired of the fees, and fighting for the buy box and Amazon selling the same products, photo requirements, being nervous because someone will leave that negative feedback or file, or lie and claim, the worst is waiting and waiting for a sale! I had the buy box just once in my selling life. I got over 25 orders within an hour, it was a good day. But thats all it was, a single day for a few hours.
Again buyers purchase blindly on Amazon. They find the item they are wanting and jut purchase it from the person at the top. Doesn't matter where they are located, if they have a good rating or if they are Amazon itself. This is what they do. So unless your in the top box, chances are its going to take a long time to get a sale.
I have been researching for weeks and still can't figure out what to do. I found a 'free' listing website thru square marketplace and while it was easy to use, it's very limited. I really don't want to pay a monthly fee while I build my site. I know its not something that will be built in a matter of hours like they state, its going to take a few days, maybe even weeks. I have a lot of stuff.
So I am back to square one.
