New Business Offers eBay Services

Biddees Online Auction Store
Owner: Stuart Craig and Jim Bennett
Address: 1985 N. College Ave., Fayetteville 72703
Phone/Fax: (479) 443-6933
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Startup date: July 12
Web site: www.biddees.com

Jim Bennett had been selling things on eBay for several years, but it became a burden handling Internet auction items for friends and others who heard about his eBay talents. That’s when he decided the service could become a moneymaker for him.

With the help of friend Stuart Craig, Bennett has opened Biddees Online Auction Store in Fayetteville. The two sell just about anything on eBay, or if funds are needed quickly, they’ll sometimes opt to purchase an item that they can later sell on eBay.

Craig explained the concept as “almost like a yard sale for the 21st century.” Just about anything can be sold on the Internet, because the audience is global, he said, pointing out that a higher price is often obtainable on the Internet too.

Biddees’ 800-SF store on North College Avenue has a collection of auction items ready for purchase and shipping, including some speakers for a Hammond organ, a variety of exercise equipment, encyclopedias, video games, collectible albums and more.

Biddees charges a 25 percent fee for its Internet sales service, which includes communications, digital photography, shipping and anything else needed to get the item sold.

Craig and Bennett have invested little to get the business going, but declined to say how much. Craig said they’re already seeing a return on the investment that they didn’t expect for another six months. Craig and Bennett would like to eventually open additional Biddees locations, but plans haven’t been made.