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eBay auction and dropoff franchises

Written by: Diarmuid Kieran

Article Overview: The continued success of the online eBay auction house means there could be a number of ideal franchise opportunities for those looking to capitalise on the growing number of buyers and sellers using the site.

eBay auction and dropoff franchises

The continued success of the online eBay auction house means there could be a number of ideal franchise opportunities for those looking to capitalise on the growing number of buyers and sellers using the site.

Drop off stores provide a local-based way of selling goods on behalf of clients and are great for those people who are too busy to sell directly on eBay.

The bricks and mortar stores allow customers to bring in a wide range of items, including large scale lots such as cars and white goods to smaller items such as jewellery or computer accessories.

The drop off franchise, in return for a fee, then takes over the marketing and online selling of the product by producing eye-catching auction listings as well as dealing with any questions from prospective buyers. The store can also take full digital photos of the item to ensure that bidders are provided with a wealth of information about the goods. Once the auction is ended, the drop off franchise then takes care of payment and packages the item off to the new owner.

It is vital that all the items are located in secure warehouses at the drop off franchise store and are fully insured against possible loss of damage to help protect both customer and franchisee.

Many drop off businesses tend to offer customers the chance to relist their items for free if they do not sell the first time and offer the ability to donate items to charity if they remain unsold. In fact, there is a growing number of drop off franchises that only offer services in order to directly raise money for good causes.

As with any franchise, potential investors are advised to make sure they fully research their market before outlaying capital into a venture. In particular, those looking to set-up a drop off business are advised to make sure that they are no competitors in the nearby area as this could limit overall customer numbers.

It is also expected that potential online auction drop off franchisees would have some experience and knowledge of eBay and how to develop successful listings to generate high sales.

And the nature of the online businesses also means that franchisees must have access to a reliable and secure IT system otherwise they could risk losing potential bids. Therefore, wannabe drop off owners must ensure they opt for a franchise opportunity that can provide adequate IT backup and long-term support.

The amount of commission that drop off franchises can demand for services can vary, with the majority of main businesses charging between 20 to 40 per cent to help sell clients' goods. However, the growing popularity of eBay means that many people are willing to pay higher fees to ensure their items sell without requiring extensive demands on their time.

Anyone interested in investing in a franchise system and becoming an entrepreneur is advised to make sure they consider all alternatives and do not rush into a decision of which franchise most meets their long-term needs.

Copyright Adfero 2006

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Related Forum Posts
Selling on eBay - Does anyone know if you can remove an item that you've listed for auction on eBay and then conduct a private sale? Is there a way to do this without violating the rules on eBay?
eBay experience - [quote="ideasuniversity":39stsg0r]Okay, but somebody mentioned that you are an expert on ebay. If you do it more often then you might be an expert soon[/quote:39stsg0r] Hi ideasuniversity, Well I can tell you that becoming familiar with eBay is all about using it more frequently. It's like swimming in that respect. For example, you can watch all the instructional videos or articles on swimming you want, but unless you jump into the water, you won't learn anything. Personally, I favor eBay sellers who use "Buy It Now" or "Best Offer" because I can haggle them for a better price (even the "Buy It Now" sellers are very cooperative). Furthermore, I feel that placing your bid at the last second isn't a very good buyers' strategy unless you really want the item and are willing to pay a gross amount of money for it (or there's an excess supply of it). I've bought enough tennis racquets on eBay to know that auctions aren't very effective ways to find a bargain. For instance, I've seen a racquet's highest bid at about $50 and when I threw in 3 bids in the last minute to raise the price to $105... but the original highest bidder still won the auction (because he/she placed an enormous max bid. Probably more than $150). In addition, if you try bidding in the last second there's a good chance someone will have placed a higher bid and you won't even have the opportunity to make a another one. I'll be looking to begin selling things on eBay shortly.
Re: Selling on eBay - [quote="BuzzAroundBooks":ctamvpom]Does anyone know if you can remove an item that you've listed for auction on eBay and then conduct a private sale? Is there a way to do this without violating the rules on eBay?[/quote:ctamvpom] If you are going to have a private sale with someone that saw the listing on Ebay and you complete the sale off the Ebay site, it violates their rules as far as I understand them. You can re-enter the info on Ebay and let someone bid right away to complete the sale and then Ebay gets their share. Chris
How Important is Feedback in eBay? - Just a couple of questions to answer about eBay purchases that may help people make decisions about eBay decisions...... 1. Have you made eBay purchases? 2. Was the seller's feedback important? 3. Do you sell on eBay? 4. Do you worry about your feedback score? I have bought and sold on eBay. I do consider feedback scores. And I do worry about feedback left for me.
Re: New Year Resolutions... - [quote="Alan Mater":2acona1t]My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now. Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.[/quote:2acona1t] Hi Alan, Do you mean $500+ per month? And when you're selling items on eBay from a reputable dropshipper... do you think it's still important to pick a product you're passionate about (like what an entrepreneur would normally do when starting a business)? Or is it just about moving a popular item for profit on eBay?


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