As Was and eBay Consulting

By Art Micklewraith
Getting your business going on eBay can be a frustrating experience. Navigating the rules on auction sites and the many technical aspects of e-commerce prevents many online retailers from getting the full benefits of their eBay accounts. The eBay merchants with finely tuned sites that stand out from the herd have a serious edge on those who don't.

While eBay and the other auction sites all offer upgrades and personalization to your storefront, these aren't normally free. Many uninitiated online retailers have racked up huge fees for results that were far less than desired.

Debbie Levitt, president and central voice of As Was, says that incomplete understanding of the services and regulations at eBay are part of a tapestry of troubles that costs eBay sellers money. Her company offers services that will help with nearly all aspects of working with the auction giant. From hand holding through the often Byzantine aspects of getting started to writing copy for ads, from writing code for the listings to online marketing help Ms. Levitt's years of computer issue education experience will “reduce the eBay learning curve.”

For the roughly half of their customers who are brand new to eBay the advice on business basics and vendor selection Ms. Levitt's company offers could easily reduce start up time and allow the business owner to concentrate on what they know best.

The centerpiece of the company's service is the storefront template. As Was says that when they tell you they'll personalize your store front they mean it. All too often template customization means a choice of colors and fonts. As Was claims that when they come to a customer to make a template they start from the bottom with a conversation with the customer to determine what they really want and need. They promise a very personal identity.

As Was' web site claims their clients sell over $1 million in merchandise every month and Ms. Levitt says that many of their clients enjoy a 50% to 60% improvement in sales in the first three weeks. If true the fee for As Was' services will pay for itself quickly for even moderate sized eBay businesses.

Which brings us to the fee. A $1,000 flat fee will turn As Was loose on your eBay business with nothing else to pay. The flat fee aspect of As Was is of note, the retailer is not asked to pay any sort of individual service fee for the many choices offered. Once they have been contracted As Was discusses the service with the client who can then select to ones they want without having to have a total board running in their mind.

For those unsure if they want to drop $1,000 but still think they can improve the ability to do business online As Was offers seminars on various topics of interest to the e-commerce world. Topics include eBay basics, various levels of html, and digital photography for websites and auctions. The seminars are conducted over a conference call while the participants are online with the instructor. They classes are normally quite small giving each participant plenty of time to ask questions and be sure to get from the class the instruction they need. They are also very inexpensive; an upcoming class on beginning html is only $25.

The company also offers a 119 page “Every Sellers Guide to eBay” for $60. The book, not surprisingly by Debbie Levitt, offers tips on many aspects of selling on eBay. When you buy the book you also buy a thirty-minute consultation with the author to ask any questions you might have.

Those that are brand new to the idea of running an auction site store would benefit by simply visiting As Was' website. The partners section of their site has links to many of the fundamental sources and services of interest to online retailer.

While As Was may represent the vanguard of auction consultant services it certainly won't be the last. The online auction world grows everyday and everyday this growth attracts new sellers and increases competition. The pressures of competition will almost certainly create more and more resellers looking for a business edge by contracting consultants like Debbie Levitt.

For more info: As Was Ebay Consulting