Bonanzle ~ WAHM Ventures Into New Online Marketplace ~
One of my new goals for 2009 as both a Work-at-Home Mom and a Baby Boomer trying to establish a supplemental source of income in order to retire, was to phase out my eBay store and set up a new booth at Bonanzle, the latest online marketplace.
Over the past year, I’ve slowly liquidated much of my merchandise and my eBay store specialized in strictly Vintage Collectibles ~ mugs, dinnerware, sewing patterns and boutique children’s clothing.
The changes that eBay implemented within the past year became just too much for me to keep up with. I couldn’t believe how much I am paying in Fees each month, just to maintain an online presence at this auction site. Whether I sell anything or not, the fees just keep racking up.
Despite what many of the eBay blogs and mainstream news articles I’ve been reading are saying, mainly, that people are supposed to be looking to eBay and Craigs List for bargains ~ I haven’t seen an increase in my business. The holiday shopping season sales this past year were very dismal in comparison to previous years.
Tonight I closed my eBay Store for good.
As an active member of Twitter, I found out about an alternative venue and marketplace, .
It’s premise is simple if you’re a Seller:
- Import Items from eBay or Craigs List
- Import Items with one click
- Import eBay Feedback
As a Buyer, you can search for items by categories, or those posted within the last 24 hours.
There are no fees to list your items or set up a booth. Yay! Fees are only incurred once you sell your wares.
Bonanzle accepts Paypal and other methods of payments, such as Google Checkout and Money Orders.
I was able to set up my booth in minutes, and it didn’t take long at all for Bonanzle to import my items from eBay. The process couldn’t have been easier! The FAQs and Help instructions are very easy to follow.
You can even create a special “Bonanza” to improve sales! What’s a “Bonanza”?
It’s a quick sale where everyone on the site is directed to your booth for a couple hours to get your stuff gone. Pick a day, start time, and duration below. Choose the items from your booth that you most want to include in the sale. Pick a discount price for those items. Then show up at your booth at the time you declared.
What does this new venue mean for me? I can continue to sell the items I have a passion for ~ vintage collectibles, as well as boutique clothing items. I’ll continue to promote my new Bonanzle Booth in the manner I was promoting my eBay store ~ through widgets, Squiddo, Facebook, my blogs and Twitter.
The only difference I can see is that I won’t be paying fees unless something sells. Hopefully, through viral marketing, the word will get out about Bonanzle and the Buyers will arrive!
I can’t believe I waited as long as I did to open a booth.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Bonanzle will give eBay any competition this year. I’m thinking the answer will be “yes.”
What do you think, have you tried selling or buying on Bonanzle yet?
Visit my new booth at: Mooettesgram on Bonanzle
Related Posts:
End of the Beginning ~ Happy Trails to You, eBay
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About Moomettes
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Twitter: @erinjeany
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I too closed my e-bay store back in September and opened a Bonanzle booth. I have not looked back. I paid my fees yesterday, a whole $6.00!
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I’ve just joined Bonanzle too! You are right – it is so easy. I’ve already made a couple of sales! Stop by http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/jammatun
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Boy, you learn something new everyday! This sounds really interesting.
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I’m definitely going to check this out! Thanks!
Lolli’s last blog post..Testing my new button
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Ebay is absolutely getting way out of hand with their fees. I left them years ago and went to Overstock but did not do very well over there, so thank you Cindi for the great tip and good luck to you sweetheart, you have some very beautiful things. If I had all the money I could use right now I would spend some on some of your wonderful items. Great job. Have a relaxing Sunday by the way.
Jodi
Jodi’s last blog post..Valentines Day Is Coming
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How cool! I am going to check this out tomorrow for sure. I really would like to start a business myself this year. Thanks for the inspiration!
I have an award for you—stop by and pick it up when you can!!
Irene’s last blog post..My Valentine’s Day Fantasy
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Nice.
I closed my eBay store last summer… I was sick and tired of subsidizing the machine that is eBay and Paypal. You pay to list, you pay to sell, you pay to get your money… it was ridiculous! I just signed up with Bonanzle and I hope they kick eBay’s butt!
I put you down as my referral.
Linda Stranger’s last blog post..Some of my favorite things
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Just closed my ebay (FEEBAY) Store yesterday.
Sure I won’t have as many sells but I also won’t have fees racking up for the items that are not selling in the long run I will come out ahead on this with Bonanzle.com
Promote this site every chance you get.
I want eBay to get what they deserve.
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This post has assured me that my husband and I should definitely give this site a test drive!! Been having nothing but spam from Craigslist.
.-= Brandy´s last blog ..Is It Right To Read Your Child’s Diary? =-.
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I’m glad you found the post helpful, Brandy. I certainly found it easy to switch to Bonanzle, although I’ve never tried CL. I’m a little leery of that site. Good Luck to you, and let me know if you have any questions about Bonanzle!
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