ECRATER
Encyclopedia
eCRATER is a free online marketplace
and an ecommerce website builder
based in Irvine, California
. It was launched in the early fall of 2004 by Dimitar Slavov. By October 2008, it reached 1,500,000 items for sale in the marketplace and, as of January 2009, eCRATER has 65,242 active stores, and 95,773 stores have been created since its launch.
eCRATER does not follow the online auction business model
, it is more an online equivalent of a shopping mall
. Its marketplace
offers the products of all registered sellers in one place, while the web store builder allows sellers to have their own custom online store. All listings are "fixed price" and buyers can add products from several sellers into their shopping cart
and buy them in one single order.
Creating stores and listing items for sale in eCRATER is free of charge; also, "final value fees" are not applied to the merchants' sales. eCRATER does offer premium positions on its website
for a fee but this is completely optional for sellers.
, started putting the eCRATER.com site together in early 2004. It took him about four months to code an initial version, coding module
by module from scratch. His goal was to create an ecommerce marketplace that was nice and clean, where buying and selling was easy.
Slavov eliminated any fees charged to buyers and sellers because he thought that online selling should be as free as it is searching the internet. This idea gave birth to eCRATER, a free marketplace, just a few minutes before midnight on September 27, 2004 in Irvine, California
.
Despite some sources pointing to eCRATER as a competitor to eBay
, Slavov says that his marketplace doesn't intend to take on eBay, but to provide an alternative ecommerce venue for both buyers and sellers.
eCRATER's first store opened on September 28, 2004 and, as a curious fact, they never listed any product. By the end of 2008, eCRATER's listings hit the 1,500,000 mark and over 300,000 orders placed. As of January 2009, eCRATER has 65,242 active stores and has 462,000 unique visitors. As of March 2011, its traffic rank on Alexa
is around 4,260..
Some eCRATER's selling facts: A CD by the rock group Motörhead was the first product sold, for $10.99. The most expensive item ever sold on eCRATER to date was a 2005 Chevrolet
Corvette
.
and, a free online marketplace. The website builder allows sellers to choose the color of the store template
, as well as adding their own logo
, main picture and category's pictures.
The product listings have a fixed price and can include up to 10 pictures, there can be unlimited product listings in a store and they are automatically included in the marketplace. Sellers can add their own text to the homepage, about, terms, FAQ and contact pages of their stores but, they cannot use any HTML
code.
The stores' back-end allows sellers to modify the store's look and contents, set up internal categories, add products, configure shipping and payment options and managing orders. eCRATER's stores also count with a bulk lister tool, to upload a hundred or more products at a time, and a product inventory control
.
eCRATER's marketplace and stores have a shopping cart that allows buyers to pay with PayPal
, Google Checkout
, check
or money order
. The cart is integrated with PayPal Express Checkout and Google Checkout. eCRATER is listed as a Google Checkout ecommerce partner and it offers integration with other Google solutions, like Google Product Search and Google Analytics
.
eCRATER has an internal messaging system to allow buyers to contact the sellers, also, buyers can use the feedback system to rate the transaction with the seller. The eCRATER community forums
were launched on February 24, 2006, open to both sellers and buyers with the exception of some boards that are exclusively for sellers. .
Main Categories: Art, Antiques, Baby, Books, Cameras and Photos, Collectibles, Computers, Craft, Electronics, Movies and DVDs, Home and Garden, Music, Sports and Outdoors, and Toys, Games & Hobbies.
It is not allowed to post:
. Most common questions and technical issues are covered on the boards and, if not, a contact form is available to direct the questions to the eCRATER team. eCRATER's customer support is not intended for buyers asking about a particular product or payment and shipping arrangements, those kind of questions are meant for the seller directly, as eCRATER itself does not sell any particular product.
However, buyers can request support if they're having problems with a seller or if there is a technical issue with the site that prevents them from making their purchase. Problems with sellers may include: non-delivery of product, selling of counterfeits, breach of terms and agreements, and others. Also, anyone can report illegal products being sold/listed, fraudulent activities and/or DMCA infringement.
Online marketplace
Online marketplace refers to a type of ecommerce site where product and inventory information is provided by multiple third parties, whereas transactions are processes by the marketplace operator. Online marketplaces have become a driver of new business for online merchants that leverage them as...
and an ecommerce website builder
Website builder
Website builders are tools that allow the construction of websites without manual code editing. They fall into two categories: on-line proprietary tools provided by web hosting companies, typically intended for users to build their private site; and software which runs on a computer, creating pages...
based in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
. It was launched in the early fall of 2004 by Dimitar Slavov. By October 2008, it reached 1,500,000 items for sale in the marketplace and, as of January 2009, eCRATER has 65,242 active stores, and 95,773 stores have been created since its launch.
eCRATER does not follow the online auction business model
Online auction business model
The online auction business model is one in which participants bid for products and services over the Internet. The functionality of buying and selling in an auction format is made possible through auction software which regulates the various processes involved.Several types of online auctions are...
, it is more an online equivalent of a shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
. Its marketplace
Marketplace
A marketplace is the space, actual, virtual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. The term is also used in a trademark law context to denote the actual consumer environment, ie. the 'real world' in which products and services are provided and consumed.-Marketplaces and street markets:A...
offers the products of all registered sellers in one place, while the web store builder allows sellers to have their own custom online store. All listings are "fixed price" and buyers can add products from several sellers into their shopping cart
Shopping cart software
Shopping cart software is software used in e-commerce to assist people making purchases online, analogous to the American English term 'shopping cart'...
and buy them in one single order.
Creating stores and listing items for sale in eCRATER is free of charge; also, "final value fees" are not applied to the merchants' sales. eCRATER does offer premium positions on its website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
for a fee but this is completely optional for sellers.
Origins
Dimitar Slavov, a programmerProgrammer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
, started putting the eCRATER.com site together in early 2004. It took him about four months to code an initial version, coding module
Module
Module or modular may refer to the concept of modularity. It may also refer to:-Computing and engineering:* Modular design, the engineering discipline of designing complex devices using separately designed sub-components...
by module from scratch. His goal was to create an ecommerce marketplace that was nice and clean, where buying and selling was easy.
Slavov eliminated any fees charged to buyers and sellers because he thought that online selling should be as free as it is searching the internet. This idea gave birth to eCRATER, a free marketplace, just a few minutes before midnight on September 27, 2004 in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
.
Despite some sources pointing to eCRATER as a competitor to eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, Slavov says that his marketplace doesn't intend to take on eBay, but to provide an alternative ecommerce venue for both buyers and sellers.
eCRATER's first store opened on September 28, 2004 and, as a curious fact, they never listed any product. By the end of 2008, eCRATER's listings hit the 1,500,000 mark and over 300,000 orders placed. As of January 2009, eCRATER has 65,242 active stores and has 462,000 unique visitors. As of March 2011, its traffic rank on Alexa
Alexa Internet
Alexa Internet, Inc. is a California-based subsidiary company of Amazon.com that is known for its toolbar and Web site. Once installed, the toolbar collects data on browsing behavior which is transmitted to the Web site where it is stored and analyzed and is the basis for the company's Web traffic...
is around 4,260..
Some eCRATER's selling facts: A CD by the rock group Motörhead was the first product sold, for $10.99. The most expensive item ever sold on eCRATER to date was a 2005 Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
.
Services and Features
The main service that eCRATER offers is a free of charge, customizable ecommerce websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and, a free online marketplace. The website builder allows sellers to choose the color of the store template
Web template
A web template is a tool used to separate content from presentation in web design, and for mass-production of web documents. It is a basic component of a web template system.Web templates can be used to set up any type of website...
, as well as adding their own logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
, main picture and category's pictures.
The product listings have a fixed price and can include up to 10 pictures, there can be unlimited product listings in a store and they are automatically included in the marketplace. Sellers can add their own text to the homepage, about, terms, FAQ and contact pages of their stores but, they cannot use any HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
code.
The stores' back-end allows sellers to modify the store's look and contents, set up internal categories, add products, configure shipping and payment options and managing orders. eCRATER's stores also count with a bulk lister tool, to upload a hundred or more products at a time, and a product inventory control
Inventory control
Inventory control is the supervision of supply, storage and accessibility of items in order to ensure an adequate supply without excessive oversupply....
.
eCRATER's marketplace and stores have a shopping cart that allows buyers to pay with PayPal
PayPal
PayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
, Google Checkout
Google Checkout
Google Checkout is an online payment processing service provided by Google aimed at simplifying the process of paying for online purchases. Users store their credit or debit card and shipping information in their Google Account, so that they can purchase at participating stores by clicking an...
, check
Cheque
A cheque is a document/instrument See the negotiable cow—itself a fictional story—for discussions of cheques written on unusual surfaces. that orders a payment of money from a bank account...
or money order
Money order
A money order is a payment order for a pre-specified amount of money. Because it is required that the funds be prepaid for the amount shown on it, it is a more trusted method of payment than a cheque.-History of money orders:...
. The cart is integrated with PayPal Express Checkout and Google Checkout. eCRATER is listed as a Google Checkout ecommerce partner and it offers integration with other Google solutions, like Google Product Search and Google Analytics
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free service offered by Google that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website. The product is aimed at marketers as opposed to webmasters and technologists from which the industry of web analytics originally grew. It is the most widely used website...
.
eCRATER has an internal messaging system to allow buyers to contact the sellers, also, buyers can use the feedback system to rate the transaction with the seller. The eCRATER community forums
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
were launched on February 24, 2006, open to both sellers and buyers with the exception of some boards that are exclusively for sellers. .
Main Categories: Art, Antiques, Baby, Books, Cameras and Photos, Collectibles, Computers, Craft, Electronics, Movies and DVDs, Home and Garden, Music, Sports and Outdoors, and Toys, Games & Hobbies.
Prohibited or Restricted Items
There are some basic requirements to list products on eCRATER: the seller has to be a registered user, all texts must be in English, all prices must be in US dollars and equal or greater than $0.20, and the seller must be able to ship throughout the United States.It is not allowed to post:
- Body parts & organs
- Pirated materials and products
- Copyrighted materials (images & texts)
- CounterfeitCounterfeitTo counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
designer items (replicas or imitationImitationImitation is an advanced behavior whereby an individual observes and replicates another's. The word can be applied in many contexts, ranging from animal training to international politics.-Anthropology and social sciences:...
of designer products) - Fake documents
- Illegal goods and services
- Personal information about another individual
- Prescription drugs
- ProstitutionProstitutionProstitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
- Currency exchanges
- The same or very similar content several times (even in different categories)
- Miscategorization
- Meaningless titles & descriptions
- Test items unless your store is put on-hold
- Free items and items with prices that are not "real"
- Items that are not for sale
- Pre-order items
- Firearms & ammunitionAmmunitionAmmunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
- TobaccoTobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and cigars for smokingSmokingSmoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them... - Live animals
- Mod chipsModchipA modchip is a small electronic device used to modify or disable built-in restrictions and limitations of computers, specifically videogame consoles...
or mod chips accessories
Customer Support
The eCRATER community forums are an important part of the site's customer supportCustomer support
Customer support is a range of customer services to assist customers in making cost effective and correct use of a product. It includes assistance in planning, installation, training, trouble shooting, maintenance, upgrading, and disposal of a product....
. Most common questions and technical issues are covered on the boards and, if not, a contact form is available to direct the questions to the eCRATER team. eCRATER's customer support is not intended for buyers asking about a particular product or payment and shipping arrangements, those kind of questions are meant for the seller directly, as eCRATER itself does not sell any particular product.
However, buyers can request support if they're having problems with a seller or if there is a technical issue with the site that prevents them from making their purchase. Problems with sellers may include: non-delivery of product, selling of counterfeits, breach of terms and agreements, and others. Also, anyone can report illegal products being sold/listed, fraudulent activities and/or DMCA infringement.