Does this Transaction Model seem Viable ???

[misterkev]

I’m setting up a website that enables buy/sell transactions among members, i.e. I'm not really selling any product. The model borrows features from Ebay & Alibris, enabling members/sellers to post their own inventory to the site to sell. (But no auction.) I’m trying to provide a user experience that is as simple as possible, but still monetizes the site, and generally follows Ecommerce norms, so nothing groundbreaking here. See transaction model below. Would love feedback….does this seem simple and easy to you? If you wanted to sell, say, a dozen books from your collection, would you find this model helpful, or a pain in the b.?

1. User registers as Seller, creating a profile & providing a cc# or PayPal account to fund small (1$?) payments to website.
2. Seller uploads items, paying flat fee for up to X items. (1$ for up to 10/20 items?). This is debited against their account when items are uploaded, so upload action incurs a charge.
3. At the Website, Buyer searches inventory via common queries (artist, title, seller, etc.).
4. With search results, Seller’s terms are displayed with item, e.g. shipping, pay method, etc., like Ebay.
5. Buyer selects (purchases) item, following Seller's terms. Email goes to Seller for fulfillment.
6. At purchase, another flat fee (1$ ?) is debited vs. Seller account. No percentage taken.
7. Seller verifies fulfillment, alerting website and buyer of ship action. Seller ships.
8. Follow up ‘Thank You” email to Buyer, asking for Seller / website rating.

[akula]

...rubbish..you're wasting your time
where's the opportunity?

[cutelucy]

I suggest you to charge the seller only after his items have been sold, no registration fees and no upload fees.

[misterkev]

I suggest you to charge the seller only after his items have been sold, no registration fees and no upload fees.

Yes, u may be right. I'm considering that, but I like some small fee to discourage large scale vendors who want to post up huge inventories. Of course, maybe just have a file limit ? Or maybe allow the first 10/20 items free, charge a buck thereafter ??