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Comment by mikejarema | Hacker News Reader

Great looking product, I'm a big fan of empowering everyday people to make money doing what they love. ShopLocket is a (local) favourite of mine, and I think GumRoad is also in this category.

Are there specific use cases that CropUp provides more value? Eg. on physical products? Photography? Digital downloads?

I ask because I see more and more similar products cropping up (pardon the pun) which want to help anyone sell anything online, but can't help but think that focusing on a specific vertical may result in the platform providing more value to the sellers.

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(I do product at CropUp.)

For now we're focused on physical products, which come with a couple of challenges sellers of digital products usually don't have to worry about, like taxes, fulfillment, returns/refunds, etc. Our goal is to provide a product that equips sellers with everything needed for selling online and to make it real simple, so that they can focus on making their products and don't have to worry about selling them.

My only humble suggestion is to make the 'how it works' page more explicit. I did understand what you do but my mother would probably think you are just some kind of bitly for product listings she made herself. She would have to go to the FAQ sections to understand.

Maybe you should add more text to that page.

I agree... I didn't know if they accepted payment until going to the FAQ.

Cool site! Just notice that in some jurisdictions sellers of digital products also have to worry about taxes, cancellations, refunds etc.

(I do product at CropUp.)

Interesting. Would you be able to provide me with a link to where I can read more about this, please? Would be very helpful. Thank you.

Regarding cancellation of goods bought over the internet, directive 97/7/EC applies in the European Union: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:...

Directives are implemented differently in different EU countries and the countries also have the option to impose stricter rules.

In Denmark, consumers have the right to return digital goods such as e-books etc within 2 weeks (provided they haven't started using the product). I have no idea how it is in other EU countries but I would not be surprised if several other countries protect consumers that way.

Most Danish sellers of digital products state in their terms that the right of cancellation only applies until the file (e.g. an e-book) has been downloaded. I am not sure that would hold up in court.

As for VAT, in the European Union this is regulated by an EU directive on the common system of VAT: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLE... Article 58 and Annex II deal with electronic services (and goods). Also look at the temporary rules in article 357 and forward.

As for taxes, every country has it's own rules and you will probably also have to consult double taxation treaties.

These issues are very complicated. If your website sells in different countries you should probably consult with accountants from each country.

(I do product at CropUp.)

Thank you. This doesn't look like a lot of fun to read... Will suffer through this. Again, thank you very much. Very helpful, very appreciated.

Paul, states like CO, KY, NC, NJ, TN, TX and WA generally require you to collect sales tax for digital goods. I suggest you dig into it a bit with the advice of counsel.

(I do product at CropUp.)

I shall and I will. Thank you very much.

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