This is the first of several blog posts of Frequently Asked Questions. These questions refer to individual usage of MySkatingMall:
Will items be listed in an auction or will I be able to set the selling price?
When MySkatingMall goes live in March, all prices will be set by the seller and there will be no auctions. That way sellers can receive what they want for each item listed. Buyers and sellers will be able to communicate via the site so that they can negotiate an agreeable purchase price. We will have the ability to do auctions if users would like that at a later date.
Will you have to pay in order to use the site?
There will be no cost to purchase items from the site besides the purchase price (including shipping). When you sell an item, there will be a 10% commission which is less than eBay. For the first year, there will be no listing fee at all. Starting in March 2011, there will be a $1 per item per year listing fee. An important feature is that listings will not expire until they are sold or the seller removes them from MySkatingMall. That way you never have to deal with mulitiple listing fees in one year like other popular listing/auction sites.
What is the difference between an individual web store and a partner store?
Individual stores are meant for skaters, clubs, or teams who are primarily listing gently used items. They will also be allowed to list new items if they so choose. For the first year, there will be no listing fee for items. Starting March 2011, there will be a $1 per item annual listing fee.
Partner stores are intended for commercial skating businesses. Most will be selling primarily new items. Businesses that already have a website will be able to link it to MySkatingMall without any upfront fees. Those businesses without websites will be able to create one on MySkatingMall just like individuals can. A $10 per month hosting fee will be paid by partner stores who are creating their stores directly on MySkatingMall (and not linking to it through their own websites.) The advantage of partner stores is that they will be more visible on the site and there is no per item listing fee.
If I have multiple copies of the same item to sell, am I charged the $1 listing fee for each one?
Until March 2011, there will be no listing fee for any item being sold on MySkatingMall.com. Individuals and partner stores will be able to list items that have multiple copies to sell. For individuals, only $1 will be charged up front for the listing. Once the first copy of the item gets sold, then another dollar will be charged, et cetera, until all your copies are sold. This way you are not out the $1 for each item if they do not sell. This seems like the fairest way to do it.
How does my skating club/ team receive the 5% funding?
Clubs and teams will be able to register with MySkatingMall.com before we go live in March. The skating group will need to set up a Paypal account so that the transfers can be automatic. The plan is that every three months, payments will be made to the skating groups.
Please leave a comment to this blog with your questions and we’ll get them answered!
Tags: Fundraising for skating clubs, Fundraising for syncro teams, Fundraising for theater on ice teams, Myskatingmall.com blog, skating clubs, Syncronized skating, Theater on Ice