Selling your maps through the guild?

[Robbie]

Would anyone be interested in selling their maps or map related products through the guild if I were to offer such a service? I just discovered we have a built-in third party classsifieds system, and if it pans out, I may enable it. This would give you all a way to sell your work and would also generate a small bit of support for the guild financially as well. Lets discuss, please post your thoughts here.

[J.Edward]

Oh yeah, this could be good.
I like the idea. How it would be implemented, and how we would be able to gain a larger customer base might be tricky.
But I like it. Along with being able to have a better profile url [though this is a peripheral issue.]
I will add more as this progresses.

Edit - oh, just read the classifieds part... so not a store, just like classified ads. Hmm, not quite as interesting.

[Mouse]

So we would just draw the maps we feel inspired to draw, and then post them to a "store", and then if anyone just happens to like what they see, they can just add it to their trolley and buy one of a range of usage rights - like Shutterstock.com and 123RF.com?

I'm up for it if that's what you are offering

Ha-ha ninja'd again. Hello J.Edward - I think you answered my question before I asked it - in other words, no, not like a store but more like a newspaper ad?.

[snodsy]

Yes I would be interested in selling my maps through Cartographers Guild and surely give the Guild a cut which seems fair. I guess each member would set their own price what they would want, plus the rights issue of course.

[Robbie]

Well I'm not sure exactly how it would integrate but it's integrated. Your postbit where your rep and awards show in each post you make would have a link to your "store" or items for sale. I'm not yet sure if it will allow for digital distribution yet. Working with them to figure out what it would support. Ultimately I'd want it to be a digital store where users could pay for the ability to download a hi res work. I also may be able to have it support commission work.

This is all pending me discovering what functionality it offers. If there is enough interest I may seek another option if this doesn't pan out.

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[Mouse]

Oh - yes please - if your talking about stores and not newspaper ads

EDIT: not to put too much of a dampener on things when the idea is only just getting started, but when I looked into publishing a book through Amazon I had to jump through lots of legal hoops and things, and it looks like I have to pay US tax AND UK tax. Amazon pass the task of sorting it out onto the seller and absolve themselves of all responsibility that way, but it makes selling on Amazon difficult if you don't happen to be an American citizen.

On the plus side of things, though, you could channel lots of potential customers in through the doors of your new store by advertising it on the FB page.

[Robbie]

Yeah I wouldn't want newspaper ads. The fact that it facilitates a percentage back to the guild tells me it handles the sale. So hopefully it will do digital distribution too.

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[ladiestorm]

I'm intrigued by the idea as well. It almost sounds like you are talking about something akin to an eBay store. But how would we implement a payment system? And, of course, there are probably legalities involved. I guess it would depend on the implementation. But you have my interest :-)

[Robbie]

From what I just got from their new account team, they do handle payment but for digital products the files would have to be sent manually by the seller after verification of payment.

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[Mouse]

I'm not so sure I'm all that enthusiastic, now that I've been thinking about the tax aspect for an hour or two. Its different for those of us who don't live in the US where you are based. The tax laws are horrendously complicated between countries - even between the US and the UK.

Sorry - just giving an honest answer to your question, Robbie