With e-commerce platforms being so open to everyone and under a variety of different business models what do you have to do be able to take credit for the sale?
The reason for my query is I sell in e-commerce under a variety of business models, in one case I purchase from a wholesaler and resell at retail, another case I pick up items in a variety of places and resell, then I have things given to me to sell for my profit and in the final case I list and do the customer service for items that belong to someone else.
Which sales are mine? If it is just items I have money invested in then a trading assistance, consignment shop or someone who drop ships is not a seller.
If it is just items I physically ship or have the physical inventory myself then anyone who uses a fulfillment center or drop shipping is not a seller.
If I list the item but don’t own it am I the seller? That is a trickier one to define, many larger e-commerce companies have people that do the listing for them, but they also have someone else do the shipping and another person to do the customer service so in that case who is the seller. Then you have smaller situations where people list for others on consignment or on eBay as a trading assistant so who is the seller, the owner of the item or the person who takes the time to list it.
Does product sourcing make you a seller? Not really, just because you have product does not make you any money, they still have to be sold somewhere.
Does being a product stager or photographer make you a seller? No, it gets the products closer to being sold as you now have a physical representation to show to the consumer but it will still not get you any cash as it is still not available for the consumer to purchase.
Does listing the item available for sale make you the seller? That person at least gets the products out onto the e-commerce site so it is available to be purchase.
Does it matter if the e-commerce model is a large company or a 2 person job? A solo operation is easy of course they are the seller as they do all the steps involved, but what of any business model with more than 1 person.
Just in the circle of e-commerce sellers I know, there are many that are individual people doing all the work, then I know people who list things that belong to others as their sole income, others who are large enough to have a staff to do the work for them. So who should take the title of “THE SELLER?”
In my case I feel all the sales are mine, the ones that I have no money invested in but list, the ones I have money invested in and the ones I list for others because I do the research on price, title and description, and I am the one that handles the customer service both the complaints and the compliments. Even though my name is not on the door I am the one accountable for the sales or lack there of. If I were not listing them they would not be available for sale on the venues I work with.
What part of the job do you think makes someone the seller?
I will be interested in others opinions so please leave a comment
The one whose name is on the shop is viewed as “The Seller”. If you actually have the item, or are ‘dropshipping’ under your name then the public will view you as the seller …. BUT if you are doing all the work and no where is your name added, the public will view the other guy as the seller, not you.
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If whatever product you are marketing is offered from a site that you control, ie., your user ID, you are the seller.
Whether you use a drop shipper, have the inventory physically in your possession or are selling on consignment, you are the one responsible for the product.
I agree with John and Kat. Everything “Depends” but the bottom line for me is “show me the money”. It doesn’t matter how I get my inventory or how or what I sale I just want to be paid. So call me a “seller”, “hobbyist” or “chief-in-charge” it really does not matter. If I put in the work those are my sales. I’m just sayin! And a bit stronger than intended I might add. lol
Kat the was exactly the answers I knew you would say. LOL
It does depend and a lot depends on the context
I agree with John that whoever gets the money is the seller.
But to further this discussion what about commission based sales. The person who gets a percentage of the sales is listed as the sales person and is not sales person synonymous with seller.
For example in the real estate business the real estate agent sells on commission and are called the listing agent not the seller, however back at the real estate agency they are given credit for the total sales they close. If you are a million dollar real estate agent, you did not received that million dollars however you are credited with a million dollars in sales.
Thank you for all the comments.
I agree with Kat – if you do the majority of the work – the sale belongs to YOU
The “seller” is the one that made the MONEY…pretty simple. If you are the one that collected the money, then you are the seller.
A guy in a clothing store helps me try on a suit and complements me on its fit and guides me to finding the best look for my style….he is a “sales person” (i.e. and agent for the seller) The lady behind the register, she is a cashier.
The sales persons may get a % for the work he does as a sales person, the cashier gets a salary no matter how many people pay at her check out stand.
In this case, the retail store is the seller and they have sales agents (sales people) who make the sale of the retailers goods. So the retailer is the “seller” here.
Where the goods come from?!? I don’t think that matters…who gets the money is the only part that counts IMHO.
John (ColderICE)
and I say “It Depends” LOL which is my answer to everything.
IMO, if you are IN CHARGE of it – whatever ‘it’ is – then it’s your sales!