Wagglepop 2: Deja Vu as Auction Site That Left Sellers Stranded Reopens

[RiverRat]

[quote author=carlitos link=topic=3775.msg57203#msg57203 date=1181946913]
I'll ask forgive me if off topic

for my own web site i need
1. a domain name( already own that and it's parked)
2. a host such as tulips tools that i see to my left side of screen that is 3.79 a month
3. do i need a ssl certificate or does tt hosting comes with that?
4. is there any way to design a site on TT with no html, or do i need to learn that before even trying to get the hosting?
5. i have a merchant acc on retail that allows me online transactions, so i could just collect the cc info and process it, or use google or paypal pro.

please note that this is more of a learning experience for me, i don't expect huge traffic overnight, so i am willing to go on slow steps.

website would have Christian books, bibles, Cd's and DVDs

all suggestions are welcome 


[/quote]

Hey Carlito!

You're already on your way!  
I'll try to answer some of your questions:

1. A parked domain - Great!  All you'll have to do is change your Nameservers once you get signed up for hosting.

2.  I highly recommend Tulip Hosting.  I've worked with several people setting up their websites and I can attest to their fantastic customer service.

3. If you're going to be collecting credit card info, you definitely need a SSL Certificate.  If you sign up with Tulip Hosting you can get one thru them for a very reasonable price.

4. I would recommend letting Tulip install a Zen Cart for you.  I love my Zen and it will do anything you need it to do.  Once it's set up, it's as easy or easier than listing in an eBay store.  There is a learning curve, but there are plenty of us around here who have one and we can help you.

5. If you already have a merchant account, you're one step ahead in the game.  The Zen Cart is set up so you can either process cc payments directly thru your merchant account's gateway or it will collect the information for you and you can process it offline.


You have an excellent attitude towards setting up a website.  It does take a while to build up traffic sometimes, but I know several people here who were making sales on their site within 10 days or less of opening.  

I hope this info helps and if you have any more questions, just post or drop me a PM!  One of us will be able to answer them I'm sure.  

Good Luck!!  You're on the right track!  

[isawthelight]

[quote author=Platzki link=topic=3775.msg57083#msg57083 date=1181862988]
OT.

Just wanted to let everyone know that Dusty got sick again.  He's been throwing up everything for two whole days.  The vet said that he didn't feel he would get better no matter what we did.  We had to put him down tonight.  Please say a little prayer for him, OK?

Talk to you all later.
[/quote]

Just catching up and had to stop and say I'm so, so sorry to hear about Dusty! Prayers going out for Dusty and your whole family. I'm sure he's in doggie heaven romping around having a good ole time, missing you, but he'll be waiting to see you all again someday. Big hugs to you!

[isawthelight]

[quote author=The Pet Guy link=topic=3775.msg57100#msg57100 date=1181866610]
FH and I have a new grandson. Brian JR. was born today at 4:18pm, 7 pounds 9 ounce,  20” long. EST. Baby and Mom are doing great. Free round of brownies for all. This is him at 15 minutes old. Sorry this pict didn't work.
[/quote]

Congratulations!!! That's wonderful news!

[isawthelight]

[quote author=eclectica link=topic=3775.msg57125#msg57125 date=1181873571]
Carlitos and Lur-Kist! Nice to have you here!
[/quote]

Ditto!

[Lur-Kist]

[quote author=sherrand link=topic=3775.msg57202#msg57202 date=1181944672]
[quote author=Lur-Kist link=topic=3775.msg57199#msg57199 date=1181943500]

eCRATER is totally free and extremely professional looking - no html or other skills are needed to set up a very nice looking store that's easy to maintain.

Yep, I'm getting one setup right now.  I did list some items on Ecrater in like January - nothing sold and I'm sure it's just that there is no market for what I listed there.  I'll try harder next time.  I started it and then we got busy doing something else and by that time I had lost initial interest.  Too many irons in the fire at the time.

Another WP store closed a bunch of listings today...     

Happy Friday Everyone.  Hope everyone has a nice weekend...   
[/quote]

If you are who I think you are, you have/had an absolutely beautiful store. I will miss just looking at it.

You have a great weekend too. 
[/quote]

Um, yeah, likely...  Are you on my MYspace?   ^-^

I didn't want to reveal myself and get banned...if I get banned, I want it to be MY idea...  

Edited to add that if Ray does have watchdogs here - it would tip him off...and I could be outst for any reason cuz he (Ray) isn't very reasonable...  LOL

[amy]

Hugs to Platzki and BillsCaddyshack

Congratulations to ThePetGuy, FlyingHigh, and SkyHawker.

Welcomes to Lur-Kist and Carlitos.

Did I miss anyone? 

[Alskling]

To all contemplating Ecrater: I have a store there, and frankly have not had much time to stock (still less than 200 items) and no time to set up SEO, yet already I've done more business there than I did in months on WP, where I worked my tail off to get buyers. I want my own site, but haven't the time nor expertise to set one up. I consider Ecrater the intermediary step between eBay and my own site. At least you don't have to be a computer whiz to set up shop on Ecrater.

Face it Poopers, WP will NEVER be an eBay alternative -- never, ever, amen. In case you didn't get it, let me say it again.
WP is NOT, NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE an eBay alternative!  
Ebay is eBay and will always be eBay and the only alternative will be another eBay, which ain't gonna happen. The close to it anything will come is Google, which has it's own business model. It's like the US post office: there really is no competition if you want to mail tons of light stuff at a reasonable price.  

Apart from the Boinktard owner and lack of advertising, buyers will never come to WP because it has absolutely NOTHING special to offer. NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!! This is something I said on the WP boards back sometime last August. Back then I was still optimistic and enthused about WP, but really felt it needed a niche to have any chance of real success. For that treasonous suggestion, I was beaten with pom poms and told by Karen that I should take a course in Business 101. Fact is, WP could advertise up the wazoo and the likelihood of buyers going there would still be slim to none. Think about it. What does WP have that eBay doesn't? Nothing and much less of it. The site is, was and always has been very buyer unfriendly. Inventory sucks. Invoicing sucks. Nothing to instill buyer confidence, like a solid reputation, transparency of the site and its mukeemuks, buyer protections, etc. NOTHING! Even if Ray were a Meg Whitman clone with angel's wings, the site would still have a very tough time staying afloat.

The fact is WP is nothing but one egomaniacal Boinktard's attempt at self-glorification by conning innocent, gullible sellers into joining his cult. As an auction site it is as pathetic as it can possibly be. Apart from that, the popularity of auctions has dwindled all over the net, so for the few who still like them, there are numerous other auction sites that do a MUCH, MUCH better job than WP will EVER do. As a web hosting site it sucks even more. Sellers can get competitive web hosting elsewhere and have their OWN NAME in search, not WP's. Consider: If, as a buyer, I'm searching for CD's, I'll Google CD's and find a dozen or so sites that specialize in CD sales. If I don't want to buy from a retailer on-line, I'll go to a site I can trust, like eBay or Amazon, where chances are I'll find what I want, where I already have an account set up, and check out is painless. If I'm looking for a one-of-a-kind, crafty item, I'll go to Etsy.

Why is this so hard for Poopers to understand? Wishful thinking means nothing, NADA, ZIP, ZERO, SQUAT in the business world. The harsh reality is that buyers and career sellers do not live in La-La Land. WP is NOT a business -- period - no matter which way you look at it.

Oh, hi Ray.

[Lur-Kist]

[quote author=eclectica link=topic=3775.msg57201#msg57201 date=1181944266]
I agree, except that.. I work my butt off. My DSRs show 5 stars for description. My lowest rating is shipping cost with 4.7. I would like to be advantaged over sellers that charge $45.00 handling fees or take 30 days to ship or don't bother to answer customer questions or write complete descriptions. I don't necessarily think that being a Powerseller should be the only requirement (and from what I understand it won't be), but those who show a solid record of customer service should have this added incentive.
[/quote]

When you put it this way it makes better sense to me.  I have 5 stars for description also and I'm 4.8 for shipping costs... And I don't think it's that annonymous because if you have a 5.0 in one and you get a feedback and it drops, you know who did it.  And that happened to me.  There will always be those who think that no one should ever get a perfect in anything...I had a boss tell me that once in one of my review interviews...so I got a point knocked for that...  I just said that perhaps one day I'd get to review her...  LOL

My weekend started - I told Hubby it was his turn to do supper - and he bought Pizza... 

[eclectica]

[quote author=Lur-Kist link=topic=3775.msg57220#msg57220 date=1181957317]

When you put it this way it makes better sense to me.  I have 5 stars for description also and I'm 4.8 for shipping costs... And I don't think it's that annonymous because if you have a 5.0 in one and you get a feedback and it drops, you know who did it.  And that happened to me.  There will always be those who think that no one should ever get a perfect in anything...I had a boss tell me that once in one of my review interviews...so I got a point knocked for that...  I just said that perhaps one day I'd get to review her...  LOL

My weekend started - I told Hubby it was his turn to do supper - and he bought Pizza... 
[/quote]

On one ID, I sell templates. No shipping cost. I have around 50 or 60 stars and 4.8 for shipping charges!! I literally laugh every time I look at it. I don't charge shipping so the only conclusion I can come to is what you said - there will always be those that just "can't" give a perfect rating. And I hope someday, somehow you get your "revenge" on that boss, now that would be TOO funny, lol.


Enjoy your pizza! I'm about to make a hot fudge sundae and start my weekend, too!

[moonMAJiC]

[quote author=Designers Bargains link=topic=3775.msg57217#msg57217 date=1181956485]
Nothing to instill buyer confidence, like a solid reputation, transparency of the site and its mukeemuks, buyer protections, etc. NOTHING! Even if Ray were a Meg Whitman clone with angel's wings, the site would still have a very tough time staying afloat.
[/quote]

I agree with everything DB has written - and to top off the 'nothing to encourage new buyers' - we now know that the feedback on WP is untrustworthy... it can be removed as if it never happened if a store owner whines loud enough.