In recent years, with the popularity of the Internet, more and more people have begun to shop online. There are also endless online shopping platforms, such as Facebook, eBay, etc. Opening a store on eBay and Facebook are both very popular online shopping platforms, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of opening a store on eBay and Facebook?
Facebook is a very popular social media platform with many advantages. First, there is zero cost to join the platform, making it easy for individuals and businesses to join. Secondly, it is easy to use, most people already have a Facebook profile, so no additional registration or login process is required.
However, Facebook also has some shortcomings. First, users need to be careful when sharing private information as this information can be misused. Secondly, for independent sellers selling products on the Facebook platform, it takes time to read and respond to messages, and arrange the time and place for buyers to pick up the goods, or use other shipping methods. Finally, many buyers will push the price very low, which may lead to a price tug-of-war between independent website sellers and buyers.
eBay is an international online shopping and auction platform that also has many advantages. First, eBay sellers can choose to sell on different sites and sell products to buyers across the country. Second, eBay sellers can search for items for sale to see how much their products might fetch. Additionally, eBay sellers may make more money through eBay auctions because people can place higher bids to compete for items. Finally, eBay offers customer service, which, while not necessarily the best, can sometimes be helpful to eBay sellers.
However, eBay also has some shortcomings. First, the fees are relatively high. eBay charges 10% of the item’s selling price and shipping fee, and PayPal charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Second, eBay sellers need a printer to print shipping labels. In addition, delivering packages may also be a problem. For most small packages, eBay sellers can put them directly in the USPS blue box; for large packages, eBay sellers may need to deliver them to the post office. Finally, while eBay provides customer service, sellers sometimes need to deal with complaints or returns.
Based on the above analysis, it can be seen that Facebook and eBay have their own advantages and disadvantages in opening stores. For sellers, if they want to sell goods on these two platforms, they need to choose the platform that suits them according to their own situation and needs. At the same time, consumers also need to consider the characteristics of the platform when choosing a shopping platform so that they can better enjoy the shopping experience.