So I've noticed a bit of a shortage of retro online stores in Canada. Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough, but I haven't really come across a respectable online location that ships from Canada.
This typically leaves me with slow, expensive shipping ($9 vs $40 in some cases) that takes weeks to arrive (not only am I across the border, I'm on the left coast as well)
What's a solution to this? I'm considering starting an online store myself, selling games, accessories, etc. There are a few stores locally, but not many and they don't have online stores and are quite overpriced in many cases.
So how would I go about setting up an online store selling stuff? Bulk orders? eBay scouring? eCommerce sites? PayPal? There's a lot to know. Any suggestions or advice? Should one just quit the pipedream?
Starting an online store
Re: Starting an online store
opethfan wrote:So I've noticed a bit of a shortage of retro online stores in Canada. Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough, but I haven't really come across a respectable online location that ships from Canada.
This typically leaves me with slow, expensive shipping ($9 vs $40 in some cases) that takes weeks to arrive (not only am I across the border, I'm on the left coast as well)
What's a solution to this? I'm considering starting an online store myself, selling games, accessories, etc. There are a few stores locally, but not many and they don't have online stores and are quite overpriced in many cases.
So how would I go about setting up an online store selling stuff? Bulk orders? eBay scouring? eCommerce sites? PayPal? There's a lot to know. Any suggestions or advice? Should one just quit the pipedream?
Quit the pipedream if you don't have it laid out. How much will hosting cost? What will the server fees be? What is your pricing strategy? How long can you take a hit before being in the black? How about SEO? Can anyone find your products online if they searched for it?
It's an expensive business to start without a prior existing business. I'm here to help if I can though!
Re: Starting an online store
I'm in Ontario, so maybe that influences things, but receiving a package of one or two games from the US is often cheaper than the same within Canada. That even applies for larger shipments, depending on the service used (I am not a fan of Canada Post, their prices are high and they lost my Mario Kart with manual). From the states, it usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on the size/cost of the shipment, and I don't mind that either.
As an Ontarian customer comparing a U.S. seller to your shop, I might end up balancing your potential speed boost against lower overall prices, and would probably go for the lower price. That's just me, though. And it depends on a lot of factors. The fact that you're Canadian might influence me to pay a little extra, but not too much.
Have you thought of opening a real shop? I mean, a storefront operation? With a counter and display case and everything? We lack those places too! I would patronize a local shop with reasonable prices, especially if they had cleaning/repair services, rather than pay cheaper and wait a few weeks. Getting to see exactly what I'm buying, and getting it immediately, would be satisfying.
As an Ontarian customer comparing a U.S. seller to your shop, I might end up balancing your potential speed boost against lower overall prices, and would probably go for the lower price. That's just me, though. And it depends on a lot of factors. The fact that you're Canadian might influence me to pay a little extra, but not too much.
Have you thought of opening a real shop? I mean, a storefront operation? With a counter and display case and everything? We lack those places too! I would patronize a local shop with reasonable prices, especially if they had cleaning/repair services, rather than pay cheaper and wait a few weeks. Getting to see exactly what I'm buying, and getting it immediately, would be satisfying.
Re: Starting an online store
There's actually alot of online game stores in Canada. Especially for modchips etc. Like Kickgaming.com and http://www.modchip.ca/store/home.php I've bought from. My stuff always gets caught in customs so I try to stay away from them though :/ Not alot of retailers in USA like these though that have credibility.