Focus On: ebid

Published 4:29 pm Saturday, July 15, 2006

VALDOSTA — So many people have valuables they would like to sell, but they may not want to go through the hassle of garage sales. Some may need a wider market to get the desired prices for certain items. So why not sell it on eBay? It opens up a worldwide market of hungry shoppers looking for unique items.

A new Valdosta store, ebid, can help with online auctions like eBay. Owners Tripp and Ava Castleberry have been selling and purchasing items on eBay for years and have decided to serve the public by doing something they enjoy. Stores like this are popping up in larger cities, and they thought Valdosta would benefit from one as well.

Ebid is an full-service eBay drop-off center that sells customer items online, similar to consignment. The Castleberrys follow a multiple-step process that includes authenticating each item, taking professional photos and creating a compelling sales write-up, category placement, choosing optimal auction start times, fielding buyer questions, payment collection, packaging and shipping, managing returns and customer payment. They notify customers when the auction begins and customers can follow their own auction online.

Anyone can request the ebid Supreme Package. This covers eBay’s higher listing fee, a 10 day auction, gallery and listing upgrades and as many professional digital photos as needed. This gives the item plenty of time for buyers to spot it, watch it and bid on it and you have a better chance of selling it and making more money.

Ava Castleberry said she likes the area on Ashley Street in the Castle Park shopping center because there is a lot of traffic, it is a central location and it is very convenient. The storefront serves as a dropoff point only; there is no retail available for purchase at the store.

Anyone looking to purchase ebid items can go to the Web site (see info box) and click on the current auctions link.





Q: Is there a minimum value for products?



A: Yes, approximately $20.



Q: What percentage does the customer receive?



A: Items selling for $20 to $99, ebid keeps 30 percent and customer receives 70 percent; items for $100 to $299, ebid keeps 28 percent and customer receives 72 percent; items for $300 to $499, ebid keeps 25 percent and customer receives 75 percent and items for $500 and over, ebid keeps 20 percent and the customer receives 80 percent.



Q: Costs?



A: If your reserve is below $250, the item is listed for free. If your reserve is higher than $250, we require our $7 Supreme Package.



Q: How has business been?



A: It really has been good. A lot of people have dropped in.



Q: What is something interesting you have sold?



A: We just sold a steel guitar for $2,400.



Q: Do you like it?



A: I love it. It is so much fun to help people sell the unique, neat things they bring in. I especially like researching the old toys.



Q: What are your expectations?



A: We hope to be successful at this venture and open more stores. Possibly even a franchise in the future. We expect it to really take off when people find out how easy it is.



Q: What should people know?



A: If you have anything around your house like collectibles, antiques or anything of value, let us sell it for you on eBay. You will have less hassle and a larger market, then we’ll send you the check.