Maybe buying a shop

[IAntDemo]

I'm not sure what I'll be charging, not alot.. yes anybody can do that but not everyone does.. I've had many people ask for me to buy or register them on ebay.. alot of people don't like using computers.

Anyway, it can't be that bad as this guy has a shop and he does the same thing. you make it sound worse then what you point out to be bad...

I don't need help with expenses, that's what I do everyday at work.. i'm looking for good valid points at gaps, such as braking the items and having to send them back..warranty and things like this

It might not be all that good of a business but it'll set me up and hoping to take me more places, getting staff, going out and repairing peoples computers, setting up entertainment packages, setting internet up.. this will be all from the shop.

 

[Lowndsey]

I've had many people ask for me to buy or register them on ebay.. alot of people don't like using computers.

What did they say when you offered to charge them?


You say a lot of people don't like using computers. The thing is the way you explained your idea they will still need to have their own ebay account. Still need to log on..search their own stuff and buy it. Rules out the people who don't like using computers angle..

 

[IAntDemo]

What did they say when you offered to charge them?


You say a lot of people don't like using computers. The thing is the way you explained your idea they will still need to have their own ebay account. Still need to log on..search their own stuff and buy it. Rules out the people who don't like using computers angle..

I don't charge them, and if I did I'd barely charge them, I wouldn't charge too much.

Yes you don't need to have an ebay account to look on ebay, and they can always ask me to search for them.. it's just for their own comfort if they wanted to look on their own they can..

Many kids with no bank accounts would most likely want me to purchase them things that they can't get, xbox stuff, ps3, pc graphics cards and things, I mean the retailer their so overpriced in places, like maplin.. pc world.. maplin cost 30pound for a 580w psu.. ebay.. 18pound.. you see what I mean.. it's much cheaper..

I've told a few people, they said it sounds like a good idea.. I mean what can it do if it goes wrong? I'd lose little cash.. but I'm sure I'll learn alot in the progress, I'm not kicking my self yet and still not going to back down because of a few obvious leaks that you pointed out which I already knew anyway.. was wanting a more of a look into the subject of problems occurring.. anyway if you don't think I'll do good then fine, you've stated that thanks

 

[superman22x]

A little cash lost? Do you know what it requires to run a business? It sounds like you have not researched this nearly enough. You say maybe you'll fix computers, maybe you'll sell coffee. Look at how many of those types of places barely stay in business. And a few friends wanting to buy through you is one thing, thousands of customers is another. You have to promote your business. If you just open a store downtown under, "We'll purchase your ebay items for you!" You might get 5 customers a week if you're lucky. When you factor in property taxes (expensive on zoning for businesses), the company registration costs, equipment... You will be at a very large net loss. You might make $5-10 per sale (if you're lucky) and a few hundred on large purchases (cars and the sort). You're better off opening a computer repair place or a coffee shop. And either of those I wouldn't recommend anyway.

 

[root]

what's wrong with being an internet cafe?
where kids that are too young to use paypal and who's parents are too old to trust the internet can buy something for cash rather than having to use a card, -let someone else sort out the electronic money side of it?
what's wrong if that internet cafe serves coffee as well?
what's wrong if whilst watching over a shop that would arguably be empty for most of the day some computers get fixed?

I don't understand why this business idea has to be one or the other, why can't it just be all the ideas, basically a place where people (mostly young) can meet, and can get stuff done on the internet, where refreshments can be served, where a person can help people on the internet?

it may be that there are four business ideas there, and it might be that the guy who just serves coffee isn't doing so well, and the guy who just does internet access without refreshments, the guy who just does one thing might not being doing well. there might not be a business idea there that could keep someone employed, but in doing three not completely unrelated services from the same premises then you should be able to make a little more money than the individual service shops. -none of those things are specialist or skilled trades -there is no reason that one person couldn't do them all.

the trouble with the ebay idea is:
if a kid tells you that he wants something, unless he's there when you buy it, how do you know how much he wants to bid, or is prepared to pay
it'll take a week for the seller to send it
will the kid still be interested after a week?
what if it arrives broken?
what if the kid breaks it and says that it arrived broken? are you going to test/inspect everything to make sure it works before releasing it.

basically, can you afford to run foul of the odd scam? can you afford for people to change their minds? and not want goods after you've bid for them, using your ebay account?

 

[foothead]

There is no way this would work. Everyone knows how to purchase things on the internet nowadays, and the few who can't/won't aren't going to start if you add more complexity. The only people who will use this service are going to be scammers. Think about it, you're offering a service where people can buy ebay items and have them shipped to YOUR address. All they have to do is use a fake name and it becomes very difficult to trace. When the cops inevitably come knocking, it's going to be very difficult to convince them that you were not somehow involved.

Given how the economy is, opening any type of shop is going to be difficult, especially if it's in a market already heavily saturated and rapidly disappearing. All the things you listed seem to be going away. Half the coffee shops around here have closed over the last few years. It's been ages since I've seen any sort of internet cafe. Computers have become so cheap that more and more people can just throw them out when they get a virus. Heck, even the specialist PC shops are closing because they just cannot compete with websites like Amazon and Newegg.

Computer repair isn't a bad idea really, but opening a physical shop without any current client base will cause you to fail very quickly. There's just too much overhead, and people usually get someone they know to fix it or bring it to a large chain like Best Buy.

If you really want to open a shop, the best thing to do would be to look around town and find an open and lasting market. It'll probably require some ingenuity unless you're in a small town, but there's bound to be something people need.

 

[IAntDemo]

I've just purchased business cards and sending them out all over, I can't run the shop.. something has occured, I need to get my car licence sorted also to run this pc repairs service..

The guy who runs the ebay shop on whitegate drive actually said he does very well altho he told me many things which makes me not want to do it..

And yes super I do know what requires to run a business, I don't know what makes you say that, I'm not asking how much my gas/electric/rent is.. I fully am aware also ho tax works, which again hits me on the head with ebay.. I'd get hit large with tax..

Don't forget super, my everyday job is looking threw bank statements and invoices to calculate profits and sundries and bills..

Anyway thanks guys for the input, I read everything, clearly root has a good idea and a roll .. I think I'm going to open a run around business before I open a pc repairs shop,personally I think I'll do much better in a car then renting a shop.. theirs not much to pay for .. petrol costs is the only 1 thing that's big on the list, other then that it's not at all costy.

I am a very lucky person tho because I already have a hugh word of mouth due to my job, my boss see's so many clients and can give word of mouth for me.. so that will populate me even more

Thanks guys