Paybay opens today in Hayden, ID

Access to the world’s largest Internet auction site will be a little easier beginning today, with the opening of Paybay in Hayden.

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Tommy Jones knows his way around the Internet and wants to help sellers and buyers whose technical expertise is limited use of eBay.

"I’ve been involved in buying and selling since I was a kid," said Jones, 23. "I’ve been using the Internet since I was 12."

Laid off as a trainer from Center Partners last May, Jones decided to combine his skills to help those who would like to sell on eBay, but are put off by the complexity.

"I’ve used eBay a lot," he said. "It’s always been a hassle. You have to take all these pictures, and load them up. It motivated me to start this business."

Paybay will be a drop-off location, where sellers can leave their products. Jones will research with customers the value of the item, photograph it, help write the listing, handle the shipping, and deliver the funds to the seller.

Jones will also help buyers find items, but selling will be the primary focus of the business.

"I’m here to fill the gap for people who don’t have the resources or technology," he said. "They’ll give me a maximum price they’re willing to spend and a deposit. I’ll do the rest."

Jones’ grandparents ran a large antique shop in Idaho Falls, and he plans to use his experience in that store to help sellers determine a value for listings on eBay.

"I grew up around antiques and collectibles," he said. "eBay is the best place to sell those items."

Jones said his service, for which he will charge a fee ranging from 10 to 30 percent depending on value, will help sellers who don’t want to deal with credit cards, wait for checks to clear, and endure other pitfalls of eBay selling.

His minimum item price is $40. He’s not looking for products that are readily available at retail stores.

"I’m looking for unique, hard-to-get items," said Jones.

He’s working on a plan to act as an escrow service where he’ll hold payments until the buyer has received and approved the item.

That will help avoid problems like what his parents recently experienced when they paid $1,500 for a keyboard on eBay.

The seller got the money, but never shipped the keyboard, instead filing bankruptcy.

He also will offer an instant cash program, which will allow customers to drop an item off, get 50 to 60 percent of its value, and be done with it.

Paybay is a private, one-man operation, but Jones hopes to franchise the idea in the future.

He also expects to be a valuable tool for retailers trying to sell products that are otherwise slow-moving or overstocked.

"I can really help businesses," said Jones. "If I get only one product that sells well on eBay, it can increase their volume."

Paybay is at 15 E. Honeysuckle, downstairs around the corner from Little Mo’s. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Information: 704-5643