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Selling Breyer Collectibles On EBay Just Got Harder
Bonnie Stasser
http://www.morethanequine.com
eBay has been a success story for many small businesses. Over the years many people have made a great deal of income by selling items on eBay. Some have made even more money teaching others how to sell on eBay, you can find all sorts of coaching program, eBooks, secret systems on "how" to sell on eBay.
Recent changes in eBay WILL affect you
However with all of eBay’s recent changes, things have become unsettled to say the least. The changes that eBay has made are significant and cannot be ignored. You might have heard grumblings about the new feedback system which some sellers feel hamper the identification of a rogue buyer. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
For example, by October of 2008, eBay will no long allow a seller to accept anything other than PayPal or Credit Card for payment. This of course will have big impact on everyone, both Buyer and Seller, as it limits payment choices.
EBay is also doing away with the auction format. This is a shock to many of us as eBay built it's business on actions. It just won't seem to be the same place without the thrill of bidding. And many sellers feel that their wares won't fetch as a good price with the Buy-It-Now format.
What eBay does as a business is their choice. If that is what is profitable for them, then that is what they will do. Can we stop them? No. Everyone has to understand that eBay is in business to make money just like every other business in the world.
So what can you do as a Seller of Breyer models?
Well, for one, you can push yourself outside of your comfort zone. You have a choice. You can adjust to the Buy-It-Now option on eBay or move. If you have depended on eBay to be there forever as your recourse for income, you need to rethink your game plan.
I believe that eBay closing its auction table is a good thing. I can say this because Model Horse Collectors are people with dreams. I believe that way deep down, each and every Model Horse Collector has a dream and a passion that is waiting to be expressed. You are drawn to model horses because they spark your imagination.
So use this wonderful imagination to your benefit. Use it to answer this question. How will you find your buyers now?
You can find another auction site to sell your models on. There are many to choose from, like MH, My Auction Barn, Online Auction, and Auction.net to name just a few. Many of these sites have a much lower cost of listing an item than eBay. And certainly these sites will grow now that eBay has upset so many of its customers.
But when there are so many sites to choose from, how will the normal traffic volume coming off of eBay know where to look? Due to its success, eBay has become a household name. With all of their advertising as "the only place to go" to buy or sell, they became a giant beacon for sales. Now that beacon has shut off its light and the flocks will scatter because there is no light to follow.
Keeping this in mind, you need to take action. You have to take assertive action NOW. Do not wait until eBay is simply a “Buy-It-Now" option or gone altogether. Because it takes time to build your business, whether it is full time or part time. Each day you wait will put you one more day behind in your growth.
So start with a new plan
Start building your list of customers today. Keep track of the names, emails, addresses, what your customers buy, what they like.
Talk with your customers. Not just once or twice, but continually. Now I am not saying you should harass a person, but get to know them. How long have they been collecting? What are their favorite models? Do they show? It is about building a relationship, a friendship.
Know what you customers want by asking them. Be willing to put yourself out there as an expert and give all you can. Give your customers the experience they are looking for and that they won’t forget.
Start looking for other places online that model horse collectors gather, such as forums and mailing lists. Make it easy for others to find you by building a profile on social media sites such as facebook and myspace. Be an active participant in these online communities and make new friends.
With some thought and effort, let your imagination and passion out and soon you won't miss eBay at all. Bonnie Stasser lives on a ranch in Kansas and raises American Quarter Horses. She is a lifelong collector of Breyer Horse Models and actively buys and sells them online, visit her horse model gallery at http://www.breyerhorsecollectors.com and find out about how to properly value your horse model.
Article submitted Saturday, September 20, 2008
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