eBay Store Closed

My eBay store, The Quality Corner 1, is now closed.  After much deliberation, I decided to close it last month.  It was not an easy decision, but it is the best course right now. 

I opened the store back in 2008 and it was my pride and joy.  I worked very hard to grow my eBay business.  In 2009, I expanded to selling books and audiobooks worldwide.  In 2010, I became a Power Seller and an eBay Top Rated Seller.  I felt good about my accomplishments at that time.

In 2011, eBay made several changes to the fee structure and seller requirements.  During the entire time I've sold on eBay, they have continued to make policy changes.  However, the most recent changes caused me to reconsider my eBay business.  I decided to keep the store open through the busiest season of the year.  After a slow holiday season, I became discouraged.  After reviewing my profits, I made the final decision to close the store in February.  As the saying goes, "if it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense."

Even though my eBay store is closed, The Quality Corner is still open.  I maintain my relationship with a very large book distributor, therefore, I still have access to over 2 million titles in print and audio.  I will continue to take special requests and ship books directly to my customers.  I have several local customers, including the Columbus City School district.  I am very thankful for my loyal customers and I look forward to continually providing quality products and quality service in the future.

The online segment of my business is continuing to grow.  I am now selling ebooks, music and entertainment on my blog.  You can view my selection here.  Also, I am an affiliate for Barnes & Noble, so I will be promoting their products and passing on savings to my readers.  You can read more about that here.  I intend to focus more on my book review service as well.  To learn more about book promotion through reviews, trailers and press releases, view my website at www.blackbookreview.com.

Life and business is all about change.  I have made a lot of changes in the past few months and I am excited about my new ventures. 

Barnes&Noble.com Marketplace

Barnes & Noble has added new categories including home products and consumer electronics to its online marketplace, the latest move by the retailer to compete with e-commerce rivals such as Amazon.com and eBay.

Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. bookstore chain, has largely focused on books for its marketplace. Members will now also be able to buy and sell items such as rugs, cooking utensils, games and items for babies on its website from third-party sellers.

Sales on bn.com - aided by its Nook e-reader and digital books - have soared. Sales rose 36.9 percent to $198 million in its most recent quarter and now makes up 14 percent of overall sales. eBay's online marketplace still leads the pack, but bn.com is working it's way up.

The Quality Corner is an Ebay Top-Rated Seller

The eBay Top-rated seller status recognizes PowerSellers who consistently provide the best experiences to their customers. The program differentiates sellers by their performance.  I am pleased to announce that The Quality Corner is recognized as a Top-rated seller.

Top-rated sellers:

• Consistently receive highest buyers' ratings
• Ship items quickly
• Have earned a track record of excellent service

With every transaction, I strive to make my slogan a reality - "Quality Products Quality Service."  I always aim for 100% customer satisfaction.  When you do business with The Quality Corner, you won't be disappointed.  Visit www.thequalitycorner.com for an excellent buying experience.

eBay Mobile Apps

Shopping eBay is even easier with eBay applications.  eBay has applications for the iPhone and iPad as well as Android and BlackBerry smartphones.  Buyers can search, buy, pay, and check account status from anywhere.  The apps are extremely easy to use and convenient.  I have the eBay app for iPhone and I absolutely love it.  It took me less than five minutes to find what I was looking for and make the purchase.  The app is equipped with push notifications, so you will be notified if you are outbid or the item is about to end.

eBay has several apps available for the iPhone.  They include Selling, Fashion, Deals, StubHub and Half.com.  As an eBay seller, I especially appreciate the Selling app.  This app allows you to list items directly from your phone and use pictures stored on the phone.  The Selling app also allows sellers to check the status of their items and communicate with buyers.  The convenience just can't be beat.  If you buy or sell on eBay, I highly recommend using these apps.  More information on eBay apps can be found at http://pages.ebay.com/mobile/.

Visit my eBay store at www.thequalitycorner.com.

eBay On Location

I had the privilege of attending the eBay On Location conference at the Hilton in Chicago on July 9-10.  It was a great conference!  I learned so many tips that I have already started implementing in order to grow my business.

I was very impressed by the way eBay had everything laid out.  The look of the conference was very modern.  The main ballroom where attendees gathered was all decked out in the signature eBay colors.  There were several "lounges" set up throughout the facility with white leather chairs where sellers could network comfortably.  Food and drinks were provided so that the entire atmosphere was comfortable and all felt welcome.

The event started on Friday evening with a welcome reception.  On Saturday, eBay offered concurrent sessions on various topics to help sellers grow their business.  Some of the topics included:

• Strategies to Grow Your Business
• The Power of Productivity
• Know Your Numbers

I especially appreciated the opportunity to network with others that have eBay businesses.  I have found that I learn the most from other sellers.  I made some valuable connections during this conference.

As a result of what I learned at the conference, there is FREE SHIPPING on ALL hardcover books, audiobooks, and children's books at www.thequalitycorner.com.  Visit the store to see the latest and greatest improvements to The Quality Corner.

For more information on eBay On Location events visit www.ebayonlocationevents.com.