Are there any guides out there on how to set up a store on eCrater as I want to try setting up a store selling a few small electronic items there but it looks quite complicated from what I can see.

I've managed to get the basics set up but I'm just worried about doing the rest especially the listings and that sort of thing.

The store is called "Akiba CyberCity" ["Akiba" being the Japanese nickname for Akihabara in Tokyo, the area famous for its electronic goods] and when it's finished [hopefully with some good advice and help from the members here], you guys will be the first to know!

Don't be afraid of Ecrater-it's actually quite easy and there are several guides that sellers have written, complete with photos, on the forums. Also lots of friendly sellers willing to help newbies!
If you are listing electronics, don't use the stock photos from the company-this will get you flagged as an affiliate and Google will not pick you up for their search...Google doesn't like dropshippers. Also some companies do not allow small sellers to use their stock photos. So take the time to take your own photos!

I put together a step by step guide to setting up an eCrater store a while back. Here's the link http://www.squidoo.com/start_ecrater I hope it helps you out.

It's really not that hard with just a little explanation of what the different setting do.

It's interesting that Google doesn't like dropshippers... How come they don't like them considering a lot of e-comemerce is done that way?

So why would you get flagged as a affiliate if you're using stock photos especially if you have the permission of the companies whose products you're selling on their behalf?

On another note, because I'm unemployed at the moment, I don't have much in the way of funds to buy one of each item needed especially the more expensive items just to take a photo for the store concerned and if I were to say open a anime and manga store with 1000 or more different items, it would be insane to take a picture of each item!

Are there any sites similar to eCrater that will allow you to use stock photos?

I don't think she said you couldn't use those
stock photo's on Ecrater, just don't count on
Google picking up your items in search.

I'm sure there are other sellers using stock photo's
on Ecrater but may have to find another way for
customers to find their products other than using
Google.

The only thing I couldn't figure out by myself was that front page photo
<<Put>>

Couldn't find how to do that anywhere and finally had to ask. Sure wish they'd put that on the same page with the logo photo. I'll never remember how I did that a month from now.

Other than that, it was really easy to set up everything else on ecrater.

From my understanding, you are not supposed to use stock photos on ecrater and can have the listings pulled - unless they changed that. That's one of the things moderators look for.

The rule is no "copyrighted images" meaning if you don't have explicit permission from the copyright holder of the images you can't use them.