iSold It, a popular eBay drop-off chain in the United States, announced today that it has begun opening stores in Europe and should have over 200 locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland by 2010. The company says its entry into Ireland and the U.K. represents its first steps towards developing the important European market, and furthers the company's international expansion, which began with the opening of franchises in Canada in October 2005.

Whether it will appeal to eager sellers remains to be seen, judging by the reaction of some buyers and sellers on eBay's UK site.

"We are very excited to be opening up stores in the European market," says iSold It President and CEO Ken Sully. "Buying on eBay is hugely popular in the U.K. and Ireland, but only a very small percentage of people in either country actually use the site to sell. We expect our service will be very well received by those who want to sell on eBay but don't want to invest the time or effort to do it themselves."

iSold It's first store in Ireland opened in Dublin in November 2005.

"We are thrilled by the items coming through the door," says Ireland's master franchisee William Bodenham in a written statement. "eBay has always been hugely popular in Ireland, and folks here are delighted to finally have a way to sell through this great online marketplace." Bodenham, whose family opens and operates Rentastore, Ltd. (Ireland) and Trasteros Riviera (Spain), is now actively working with franchise candidates to develop the iSold It concept across Ireland.

The U.K.'s master franchisee, Phillip Molloy, will reportedly be opening the U.K.'s first iSold It store in the Birmingham area in the spring of 2006. He is already in discussions with a number of interested franchise candidates to join him in developing the U.K. market, with stores planned across the entire British Isles.

"The eBay drop-off store concept has been eagerly awaited here — it's just what the U.K. market needs. I've already had a tremendous amount of interest from people who can't wait to use the store to sell on eBay, plus entrepreneurs interested in the chance to be one of the first to open a store in their market," says Molloy.

Users Skeptical
eBay UK members were asked about the appeal of a franchise like iSold It on the eBay UK discussion boards and many voiced doubt over the need — or possible success — for such a service in Great Britain.

"Us English people like to have control over our affairs," said a user named sarahs-christmas-shop "I think just handing over your goods and waiting would be too much for us!! I'd rather take 10 minutes and list it myself, safe in the knowledge that I know what's happening. It's also the small matter of the predictably huge cut they'll take! Also if someone takes something in of value and the customer doesn't realise but the assistant does, would they be honest enough to say or would they con the customer?"

Powerseller "pm booksandstudiopottery" agreed. "Britain is a lot smaller than the USA of course, and distances are smaller. Equally these franchise operators would have the same problem that a lot of terrestrial auctioneers do — getting goods of sufficient quality to make it worthwhile."

"Let's face it, the vast majority of stuff on eBay is rubbish, and goes for peanut prices. If you are gonna go for the expense of terrestrial premises and all the added expenses, then you need to be making a substantial cut. Terrestrial auctioneers often look for 30 percent (commission), and even then, a lot of them are making a loss...Would people be willing to give iSold 40 percent or more of final selling price?," the seller added.

Devin Comiskey is the Managing Editor of ECommerce-Guide.