# Anybody operate an eBay store? Looking for things to do and to avoid in starting same **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-operate-an-ebay-store-looking-for-things-to-do-and-to-avoid-in-starting-same/398379 "2007-04-02T03:24:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-operate-an-ebay-store-looking-for-things-to-do-and-to-avoid-in-starting-same/398379/1 "2007-04-02T03:24:33Z")
Over the past several years, I’ve sold about 150 items on eBay, so I’m familiar with the standard protocols. But now we have inherited hundreds of items from the in-laws who are seriously downsizing. Plus we’ve been given several hundred vinyl LPs in excellent condition by a neighbor, and my wife and I are finally making the move to slenderize our two packrat stashes, after being married for 8 years. We’re thinking it would make sense to set up an eBay store for all this stuff. Some is pretty ordinary, but there are some intriguing items and some definitely medium-to-high-priced stuff. I did a search on “eBay store” in the past year with over 5 replies in all open forums and found nothing. Then repeated with just “eBay” and found three pages worth of threads, but none were about eBay stores. There’s lots of information about stores on the eBay site, but I suspect there are Dopers with actual hands-on experience who might be kind enough to suggest must-dos and musts-to-avoid. Thanks for your help. Hometownboy ---
**Author:** ![Gentle\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gentle\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gentle_Robot)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-operate-an-ebay-store-looking-for-things-to-do-and-to-avoid-in-starting-same/398379/2 "2007-04-02T03:30:39Z")
This is probably not exactly what you’re looking for, but there are like 20 books on the shelf at most bookstores that deal explicitly with this. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-operate-an-ebay-store-looking-for-things-to-do-and-to-avoid-in-starting-same/398379/3 "2007-04-02T03:41:13Z")
The OP is looking for factual opinions. Moved to IMHO. **samclem** GQ Moderator ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-operate-an-ebay-store-looking-for-things-to-do-and-to-avoid-in-starting-same/398379/4 "2007-04-02T03:58:54Z")
Until recently I had an eBay store, selling prints of my photography. A few months ago, eBay more than tripled the fees charged for maintaining a store and for each item within the store. This virtually eliminated my profits. I will no longer have anything to do with eBay, neither as a buyer nor a seller. I’m not saying they’ll necessarily do the same to you, but don’t be surprised if they do. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-operate-an-ebay-store-looking-for-things-to-do-and-to-avoid-in-starting-same/398379/5 "2007-04-02T04:21:04Z")
Don’t listen to the disgruntled sellers on the eBay boards. Give FB first and fast (unless it’s a complete noob). Don’t give retalitory FB. It’s like giving yourself a Neg.