There's a need for a mutual feedback rating system for providers and buyers. Word-of-mouth and review lists don't help people who just look at journal and submission-based auctions that don't have any rating system. (They're also not efficient for selling goods like a store is.)
Efficiency doesn't seem like a big deal for services, like custom commissions that are different each time. But ratings could be even more important, because so much is done on trust. Not saying that lots of artists are untrustworthy, but if they are, word of mouth doesn't offer security like a rating.
Niche selling services are cool too... other services (like Ebay) aren't too friendly for Furry-specific uses. (Searches won't be useful, adult content isn't allowed many places.)
Furbuy is pretty good. I have done a minor 2 dozen sales and they have been very nice to work with... lots of people seem to leave feedback. (Almost 2/3 of those sales! On Amazon it's more like 1 in 10.) I'm doing it more to spread small neat stuff for fandom, than profit (my main business does that)... so before sending a cut, I have been watching how much of their $2000/year sale limit I do, and if it might grow. One obstacle was even getting FA to take my ad money (communication with them isn't reliable.)
For bringing cuts of sales to support the site: how many people make money on there, how often? The community is not large. I can't tell what kind of margin the larger sales represent... I'm guessing it's not too much or too often. That could change if business was as significant as hobby and fandom, and "furry industry" was a thing - like people actually making a living and valuing the site as integral to their business. I guess it's a scale thing. It seems possible to get there with the way cons are growing.
Right now I'd guess the "furry industry" consists of a handful of legit small businesses (fursuits, clothing, publishing, web services, porn), beyond the tons of part-time, small, self-employed art type activities, and people who dabble as part of their other careers. It would be really interesting to get a better picture of that.
There's a need for a mutual feedback rating system for providers and buyers. Word-of-mouth and review lists don't help people who just look at journal and submission-based auctions that don't have any rating system. (They're also not efficient for selling goods like a store is.)
Efficiency doesn't seem like a big deal for services, like custom commissions that are different each time. But ratings could be even more important, because so much is done on trust. Not saying that lots of artists are untrustworthy, but if they are, word of mouth doesn't offer security like a rating.
Niche selling services are cool too... other services (like Ebay) aren't too friendly for Furry-specific uses. (Searches won't be useful, adult content isn't allowed many places.)
Furbuy is pretty good. I have done a minor 2 dozen sales and they have been very nice to work with... lots of people seem to leave feedback. (Almost 2/3 of those sales! On Amazon it's more like 1 in 10.) I'm doing it more to spread small neat stuff for fandom, than profit (my main business does that)... so before sending a cut, I have been watching how much of their $2000/year sale limit I do, and if it might grow. One obstacle was even getting FA to take my ad money (communication with them isn't reliable.)
For bringing cuts of sales to support the site: how many people make money on there, how often? The community is not large. I can't tell what kind of margin the larger sales represent... I'm guessing it's not too much or too often. That could change if business was as significant as hobby and fandom, and "furry industry" was a thing - like people actually making a living and valuing the site as integral to their business. I guess it's a scale thing. It seems possible to get there with the way cons are growing.
Right now I'd guess the "furry industry" consists of a handful of legit small businesses (fursuits, clothing, publishing, web services, porn), beyond the tons of part-time, small, self-employed art type activities, and people who dabble as part of their other careers. It would be really interesting to get a better picture of that.