Consignment Pal Launches New Directory of Resale Businesses

Making it easier than ever to buy, sell, consign, or donate items.

Marketing your resale business just got easier with the launch of a new online nationwide directory of all types of resale stores. Create a free customized business profile and reach a wider audience today!

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SAN ANTONIO, TX May 28, 2008 -- Today Consignment Pal (CP) released a new online national business directory of consignment stores, resale stores, antique stores, eBay Trading Assistants, eBay drop off stores, art galleries, business liquidators, non profit stores, and e-commerce websites at www.consignmentpal.com. The Consignment Pal Directory features specialized search options by business name, state, zip code, and distance.

The new CP Directory affords both business owners and resale buyers and sellers unparalleled convenience as compared to existing resale directories. Business owners enjoy a personal profile in which they can list their specialties, upload images, post articles, link to their website, and much more. For instance, Consignment Pal founder Linda Miller says, “I’m excited about our new feature that allows eBay sellers to showcase five active eBay listings on their profiles.” All business profiles include an interactive map to easily locate businesses. Additionally, CP works to protect business owners from email spam. Users can email business owners directly from the business profiles with the click of an icon, which in conjunction with a security code, ensures that business owners only receive emails from legitimate customers.

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eBay introduced huge changes to the Drop Store (Trading Post - a term almost no one used) and Trading Assistant requirements recently. 

Read more about Trading Assistant and Trading Post - Drop Store topics on our sister site Trading Assistant Journal

eBay has changed their policy for eBay Drop Off stores, effective January 15, 2008. There are no longer “Trading Assistants” nor “Trading Posts”. Instead, the program is now called REDOL (Registered eBay Drop Off Locations). In order to maintain REDOL status (searchable for people in your area for those that want to sell items on eBay). Please see below.

Notable Changes to maintain REDOL status:

Must SELL, not just LIST, ten items per month.
(Here are the BIG changes)

Unless you and your customer agree in writing, you must list items for your customers within 7 days when taking in items.

Unless you and your customer agree in writing, you must give your customer a check within 30 days from when the buyer pays for the item.

You must notify your customer via email when their item is listed. You must notify them within 3 days of listing their item.

You must have a retail location open at least 5 days a week. Home-based businesses will not be permitted to participate in the REDOL program

In addition - ebay no longer will allow "REDOLS" to list motor vehicle items on eBay Motors - Nor will "REDOLS" be allowed to list or advertise Real Estate.

What are your thoughts? Will you continue with the program?

Read more about the changes here: Trading Assistant Journal

Scott Pooler is the primary contributor to this publication. Scott is a 10 year veteran of Internet sales and a 9 year member of eBay as a Powerseller in several categories. Scott has attended eBay University, is a Certified eBay Education Specialist and a Certified eBay Stores Designer. As a veteran of many years of online sales as a Powerseller, eBay Trading Assistant and Former Master Franchise representative of one of the largest eBay drop store chains in America, Scott has an intimate knowledge of the challenges which present themselves to companies and individuals who contemplate joining the e-commerce and online sales revolution.

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All Business Auctions is the PowerSelling eBay division of iBusinessLogic.

With our All Business Auctions eBay store we have a unique capability which allows us to show any business owner how both our services and eBay can benefit the bottom line.

If you are curious about how our software works, or if your products or services will sell on eBay, we can show you in real time. From launching your product for sale, to collecting the payment and shipping the item.

All Business Auctions can show you how eBay can work for your business, whether it is with a consignment model or straight inventory sales - direct to consumer or business to business. eBay is an excellent tool for business and our goal is to help you take advantage of the best kept secret in Internet marketing - eBay Stores. www.ibusinesslogic.com

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iBusinessLogic is a collection of services designed to make the transition into the online sales arena smooth and well organized for any business. 

 iBusinessLogic provides the information, design capabilities, web development resources and solutions required for successful e-Commerce development. All Business Auctions is the eBay trading assistant division of iBusinessLogic.

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In our previous post we reviewed Trading Assistants & franchise eBay drop store marketing ideas and I promised to detail how and why every Trading Assistant or drop store owner should have an eBay Stores account.

It always amazes me when I consult with franchise owners who are struggling to find that they have not signed up to become an eBay store owner. These franchise drop store owners are struggling to generate profits and eventually they ask for marketing ideas, when one of the smartest marketing tools available on the planet is an eBay Stores account. Why don't these business people take advantage of this opportunity?

Is it the $15.95 per month charge which holds them back? Or is it simply the fact that eBay does not do a good job of explaining why eBay stores are the key to becoming profitable on eBay. Continue Reading

With the current condition of the eBay drop store franchise industry, it has become apparent that not everyone who bought into the “owning a business without investing in inventory” sales pitch has actually succeeded as a business.

The question then becomes…Is it possible to operate a profitable business as a full time trading assistant?

The answer is complicated, and on the surface the quick answer would be NO - not without modification of the business plan suggested/promoted by most eBay drop store franchises and used by most Trading Assistants.

I can share this opinion from experience because at one time, I was a master franchise representative for one of the largest eBay drop store chains in America (and 5 other countries). The experience as a franchise rep taught me that the franchisees needed more support to become successful.

The franchisees in our chain were hungry for information about how to improve, how to market and how to make the whole operation profitable. The franchisees and I eventually became disillusioned with the franchise and its marketing/business plan (which will stay nameless) because the franchise was not willing to invest in the continued marketing support of the franchisees. I felt it was in the best interest of the franchise to make an effort to help the existing franchisees with marketing sales and business planning. In my opinion, if the existing franchisees were having trouble being successful, eventually the market would dry up and new franchisees would become difficult to find.

The franchise must be a healthy successful enterprise and all of the people who invested in that franchise must also be... Or the franchise will not survive. This prediction seems to be fulfilling itself and instead of saying I told you so, I decided it would be better to break free and help anyone who is in business as a Trading Assistant or Drop Store operator no matter their prior affiliation.

An eBay trading assistant business or drop store operation is not something which can be canned into a package and set up in a way which will guarantee success. An eBay drop store is not like a McDonald’s or Radio Shack. You can not simply put up a franchise sign and expect people to walk into your store and be comfortable with your brand. eBay is the brand, not XYZ franchise trying to look like eBay.

The American public has turned the corner, they now trust the name eBay. When a third party brand in the form of a franchise is interjected into mix is when the public looses confidence. If you were sold a franchise store and were advised that people would stream in bringing their Rolex watches and Tiffany lamps just because you put up a sign from XYZ franchise… I can imagine that you, like many of the franchisees from my former company, have noticed it just did not happen as you may have been led to believe.

So… What is the Answer? Can a Trading Assistant make a profit? – Yes or No?

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