Ebay News

Police worker jailed for eBay fraud

2009-01-04T06:03:00.001-08:00

Huw Rees, 28, led a secret double life away from his job working as a crime logger recording details of criminals across Britain. A court heard he sold fake designer clothes under the online user name "hugeandhard" - and then wired cash to Thailand in a major money-laundering operation.

Police and trading standards investigators discovered nearly £100,000 of illegal proceeds had gone into eBay accounts in his name. Rees, who worked for British Transport Police's national crime recording centre in Cardiff, was said to be a "cog in the fraud.

Selling gifts on eBay

2008-12-31T04:19:00.001-08:00

What was it this year? The one gift you received that was way off the mark. And what on earth are you going to do with it? A growing number of people are secretly turning their unwanted gifts into cash. Billy Carter and Karen Furry are looking to unload and cash in. "Pick up a few bucks from things I thought I'd sell on eBay," Billy Carter said. "I just think this is a great way to do it," said Karen Furry. They're actually downsizing a home, but many people will use the same strategy to dump unwanted gifts.

Cheryl Goldstein of Sold It On eBay says "there are people who get duplicate gifts. There are people who get gifts that they have no idea what they are and they don't want them, and then there are people who also maybe upgraded some items and want to sell the ones they had before."

Certified seller has eBay 'down to a science'

2008-12-31T04:18:00.000-08:00

SHOREVIEW — There’s a science to selling your old junk online? Laura Miller, a certified eBay trading assistant, insists earning a big profit is more than just luck.For several years now, the Shoreview woman has helped others net a good reward for their unwanted possessions. Other than cleaning out the closet, she’ll do the rest of the work; or if the seller is willing to do some of the busy work, she’ll give her expertise for a lesser fee.

She has eBay selling “down to a science,” she said, including the best time of year to sell items, the best time of day to start and end auctions, the best length of time to hold an auction and the best keywords to use. Miller made her first eBay sale seven years ago. She wanted to sell some of her own unused items, but didn’t know how, so she sought aid from a trading assistant. She recommends everyone start with an assistant.

Minnesotan's eBay listing offers 'On Golden Pond' boat

2008-12-31T04:16:00.000-08:00

A Maple Grove man says he owns one of the boats featured in the Oscar-winning movie "On Golden Pond," and it's sitting in the dock of eBay watching the bids roll its way.
"This is THE movie boat from 'On Golden Pond'!!!!" says the online auction listing, which describes the 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman and includes numerous photos.

"There were a couple of boats used on the set," Jamison Kohout's ad continues. "One was destroyed for the 'crash' scene where Henry Fonda's character was ejected from the front of the boat. This is the remaining boat regarded as the collector from the movie" that also starred screen legend Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda's daughter, Jane.

eBay Business Automation

2008-12-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

With eBay’s extensive group of online tools, you can let eBay work for you. Just consider the various tools and eBay companies an extension of your business. Michael Prete of Gotham Cycles Gotham Cycles in Bradenton, Florida, understands how powerful eBay and other companies can be as “employees.” “I work alone, so I’m always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of my business in any way I can,” he says. This Plati-num PowerSeller (eBay User ID: gotham.cycles) sells mostly Ducati motorcycle parts and has achieved a $30,000-a-month income in just a little over a year of selling on eBay. But Prete knows he couldn’t have done it by himself.

He has multiple companies working to automate his business so he can concentrate on increasing his profits. Here are some ways eBay’s many resources can help automate your business and increase efficiency. Shipping: Avoid long lines at the post office with eBay’s Shipping Center. You can print postage online, learn about your shipping options and schedule mail pickups at your home or business.

Scarlett fever spreads through eBay tissue

2008-12-26T18:51:00.000-08:00

Last year Samuel L Jackson caught The Cold. It took a supporting role in his respiratory system and (like Sam before it) diligently worked its way up, before making its jump for the big time and leaping into a glamorous star vehicle – one Scarlett Johansson.

The Cold made its move when Scarlett and Sam worked together on Frank Miller's comic book adaptation The Spirit. "Me and Sam did some good, fluid work together," The Cold told AP, speaking from its new home, a used tissue high in Johansson's pocket, "but I need a new challenge and, although Scarlett was awkward with me at first, I feel I really grew on her."

eBay Tip - How To Make Money on eBay

2008-12-26T18:50:00.001-08:00

You can make money online on eBay without ever leaving home. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, an open mind, and a camera. You may be thinking– wait a minute I’m no salesperson. I’m here to tell you that you do not have to have experience selling, any special skills, or have a PhD, to make money online on eBay.

The only things that you will need to do is find a product to sell that you would buy yourself, have enough money to purchase the product (there are ways around this), and have the time to list the product on eBay. EBay will take care of the rest.

Ask Dave Taylor: How do you get the best deals on eBay?

2008-12-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

Q: I'm a big fan of eBay and am convinced that with some work, attention to detail and a bit of luck, I can create a profitable home business buying and selling on eBay. My question: what are your best tips for getting good deals on eBay?

A: What a great question. I have been a fan of eBay for years. In fact, when I check my account profile, I joined eBay back in Aug. 27, 1998 -- more than 10 years ago.

Holy cow!

In that time, I've bought more than I've sold -- which is true for most users -- but I have sold many dozens of items, ranging from cheap used software to expensive computer hardware and telephony gizmos.

Small Biz Takes Monster Case to eBay

2008-12-09T06:19:00.000-08:00

It turns out you can’t sell justice for a dollar on eBay, Christina Vitagliano, proprietor of Monster Mini Golf, told WebProNews, but you can sell discount coupons to raise money for a legal fight against Monster Cable.

eBay shut down Vitagliano’s original listing because listed sellers must sell something tangible—i.e., no donations accepted. Now, a customer can buy $2 off of a round of minigolf for just a dollar, good at one of 23 Monster Mini Golf locations.

With less than a week left on the new listing, Vitagliano and her husband have accrued $5,000 toward the $100,000-plus needed to defend themselves against a notoriously litigious and much larger company, alleging use of the term “monster” constitutes trademark infringement. Monster Cable seems to fear some confusion of its audio cables with Monster Mini Golf, where Monster Energy Drink is sold.

eBay mompreneur a

2008-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

HAMPTON - Mother and entrepreneur Jennifer Fiander will have some extra spending money for Christmas this year thanks to her business and Internet savvy.

Jennifer Fiander was named eBay Canada's Mompreneur of the Year for 2008. She has grown her Hampton business, Lil- Angel Gifts, through her website and eBay online store.

As owner and founder of Hampton-based Lil' Angel Gifts, she was named winner of eBay Canada's Mompreneur of the Year (2008) Award earlier this year. Her $2,000 in prize money arrived Dec. 3, three weeks before Christmas Eve.

Balancing a successful online business with a demanding family life, Fiander conducts most of her business through her eBay online store and her website, www.lilangelgifts.com. She has built her business since 2002, working from home while caring for her children: eight-year-old Cameron, six-year-old Kennedy and two-year-old Peyton.

Boosting Holiday Sales by Getting on the Coupon Bandwagon

2008-12-09T06:16:00.001-08:00

Coupons have become downright chic this holiday season. With the economy ailing, and everyone looking to save where they can, coupons are being embraced as never before, even online. So how can you, as an eBay seller or an online merchant without the marketing budget of a Target or Wal-Mart, benefit from this trend?

Some eBay and smaller sellers are putting their discounts out there on coupon aggregator sites. One of the online sites getting a lot of attention, with recent coverage in The New York Times and USA Today, is RetailMeNot.com. With coupon codes listed for over 20,000 stores, RetailMeNot is "the world's largest coupon source," as it trumpets on its home page.

"RetailMeNot.com is a great resource for small sellers," said Lisa Holden, spokesperson for the site. "As long as they have their own domain, they can post coupons on the site for free and expose their store to the millions of shoppers who visit RetailMeNot.com every month."

Online Auctions- Great Tips to get started selling on eBay

2008-12-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

Let's consider a couple of variants. If you are an independent manufacturer, the choice of products is not a problem as you sell what you produce. Nevertheless, as a rule, you are not (well, actually you may sell some DIY stuff, but this is not the case of real trading via eBay, put selling single items and we are not interested in such sales). So you major problem is to find a reliable source of products. It must be truly reliable, I mean that the goods you are going to sell must always be available to you and thus to you customer. If you are not a reliable seller, the clients are likely to find it out sooner or later and you will be a roaring failure in your business. What else do you need?

Well, I would say that there are two ways from this time on: to stock products somewhere or make the manufacturer stock them and use only as required. How can this factor affect your business? It is obvious - your stocking the product will inevitably affect its price (you have to pay rent to the warehouse you use). Of course, you can stock them at your own place, but as your business grows bigger, just imagine how jammed it may become. And if you pay the rent you have to make the price of the items you sell higher.It might not affect the goods that are sold by great numbers (some small stuff), but if we are talking about custom items? Each item will cost considerably higher, and you are likely to become uncompetitive in the niche.

Employee accused of selling stolen truck parts on eBay

2008-12-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

An Evansville man is accused of making more than $100,000 by stealing truck parts from the dealership where he worked and selling them on eBay.

Derrick M. Hill, 38, is facing a preliminary charge of theft, a Class C felony.

Indiana State Police began working the case after receiving information from the Evansville Truck Center, 8516 Baumgart Rd., about missing inventory, said Indiana State Police Sgt. Todd Ringle.

The investigation revealed Hill had taken numerous items, which he then photographed in his office at work or his garage at home and placed on eBay, Ringle said.

eBay increases protection against scams

2008-12-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

The world's largest online auction site is making major changes that could make shopping on eBay a lot safer.

The changes should mean a lot less people getting scammed on eBay, and for the first time, nearly 100 percent protection for many users.
Richard Lamagna is eBay's online safety adviser. As a security expert, he has helped the DEA go after drug dealers, the National Security Council go after terrorists, and now he is helping eBay take down Internet scams.

Web retailers Amazon, eBay down on Cyber Monday

2008-12-02T07:35:00.001-08:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Shares of eBay Inc (EBAY.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and other online retailers fell on "Cyber Monday," as analysts worried that deep discounts from traditional retailers may have stolen the thunder from their online-only rivals, known for lower pricing.

Shopping traffic online typically rises on the Monday after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, as consumers seek better bargains than they found in brick and mortar stores over the weekend.
But this year's Cyber Monday was expected to be somewhat muted, because worried retailers were already advertising deep discounts online and in stores even before the Thanksgiving weekend.

"One of the implications of the heavy discounting at physical retail is that bargain-hunters will not be as enticed to go to bargains on the 'net," said Soleil-Media Metrics analyst Laura Martin.

An eBay Stimulus In His Own Image

2008-11-28T04:45:00.000-08:00

As a pointless exercise in self-flagellation, it's fun to look back and wonder how you should have invested your money in the last year. You'd have ditched stocks and bonds, of course, and you would have avoided real estate. And if you really had foresight, you would have bet the rent on Barack Obama baby bibs.

Or Barack Obama mugs, T-shirts, stationery, posters, postcards, notecards, aprons, coasters, dog jerseys, throw pillows and mouse pads. With so many segments of the economy in the fetal position, the Obama memorabilia business is one of the very few that is actually thriving.

The Digital Home 42: Should you shop on eBay?

2008-11-28T04:28:00.000-08:00

In this Thanksgiving show, Don sits down with eBay to find out whether or not you should shop there and tells you why Google Chrome is the world's best browser.
And as always, follow him on Twitter!

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

Recent posts from The Digital Home
The Digital Home Video: Why you should use Chrome
The Digital Home 42: Should you shop on eBay?
Should parents police their children more aggressively?
The Digital Home Video: Violent video games don't cause violence!
Why is Blockbuster always late?

Making $100 A Day On Ebay Everyday

2008-11-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we wonder if all of the bad news that we hear
is just the media manipulating public opinion... for some
reason unbeknownst to us.

Yesterday, I had driven home to me just how bad the
recession actually IS in my part of the U.S., and also how I
could actually help out.

I'm retired U.S. Air Force, so I've earned a pension.

That means that after having served 20 years in the military,
I DO have a guaranteed income for the rest of my life.
Combine that with the web business that I've built and I
honestly DON'T notice most of the economic ups and downs.

Tips to start your own eBay business

2007-11-12T15:24:00.002-08:00

Given the combination of opportunity and motivation, “Mompreneurship” provides working mothers with an alternative to traditional employment and a way to combine work with parenthood. Many “Mompreneurs” use the Internet as the primary platform for their business model – its 24/7 availability allows them to work when and where they can.

Women start businesses for many reasons – career independence, personal fulfillment, professional challenge, and work-life balance. According to a recent Census Bureau study, 56 percent of women-owned firms are home-based businesses. One of the more popular and effective ways that mothers are working from home is by starting eBay-based businesses – and BBB offers reliable advice for Mompreneurs to help them be successful earning money from home through eBay.

EBAY INC. AND PAYPAL CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF NEW GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

2007-11-12T15:24:00.001-08:00

(PRLEAP.COM) eBay Inc. and PayPal celebrate the grand opening of a new Global Development Centre in Chennai, India. The facility currently houses a development staff of approximately 1000 people and the companies plan to hire hundreds of additional technical positions over the next two years.
“We’re thrilled that one of the world’s most innovative and successful companies has selected Chennai as a home for its new development centre,” stated Shri A Raja, Honorable Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Global Development Centre. “eBay and PayPal provide our community with fantastic career opportunities and we look forward to the companies’ continued success and presence in the region.”

Ukrainian eBay scam turns Down Syndrome man into cash machine

2007-11-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

Exclusive In late September, Mark Hartman received an email from eBay's Trust and Safety department informing him that his bid on a high-end road bike had been canceled because the auction was suspected to be fraudulent. There was only one problem: He had already mailed a cashiers check for for more than $1,500 to a man 2,300 miles away.

"I had a sinking feeling after I got the email that if I didn't intercept [the check] in this person's hands I'd never see it again," said Hartman, who lives in Sammamish, Washington. "I'm the type of person who does not like to be duped."

Music lover downloaded CDs to sell on eBay site

2007-11-12T15:17:00.001-08:00

COUNTERFEITER Clive Kinsey sold copied music discs on eBay but claims he wasn’t in it for the money.

Cardiff Crown Court heard he was actually doing it because he was passionate about the songs.

Barrister David Elias told a judge: “He’s just a lover of music – he actually enjoyed what he was doing.

“Perhaps ego took over and he thought he was part of the music industry.

“As a driver for the out-of-hours doctors’ service, he earns up to £1,000 a month and his wife has a good salary.

“He didn’t need to do it for money.”

She’s Famous (and So Can You)

2007-10-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

It has been said many times of the Internet that it radically subverts the traditional relationship between high and low, in terms both of culture and class. Yet Meg Whitman, the chief executive of eBay, did not get her career start posing for the video game “Street Racing Syndicate” and, absent a miracle, Tila Tequila’s chances of taking the helm of eBay are nil. Some structures remain rigid, and so it’s worth pointing out that the primary purpose of trash entertainment may not be to provide critics with opportunities to take potshots, but to hold a mirror up to a constituency for whom Tila Tequila is more home-girl than pole-dancing oddity.

People watch her show and mob her on MySpace because, in some sense, they already know someone like her and are looking to participate in a trajectory that has vaulted her out of the projects, away from gangs and into an echelon of the “entertainment industry” that, while it will never include invitations to the Vanity Fair Oscar party or drinks at the Ivy with Demi Moore, still manages to give her recognition, limousine service and a shot at “love” with 32 brand new friends.

eBay Q3 2007 Earnings Call Transcript

2007-10-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

eBay Inc. (EBAY)

Q3 2007 Earnings Call

October 17, 2007 5:00 pm ET

Executives

Mark Rowen - IR

Meg Whitman – President, CEO

Bob Swan - CFO

Analysts

Shawn Milne - Oppenheimer

Scott Devitt - Stifel Nicolaus

Jeffrey Lindsay - Sanford Bernstein

Anthony Noto - Goldman Sachs

David Joseph - Morgan Stanley

Ben Schachter - UBS

Mark Mahaney - Citigroup

Heath Terry - Credit Suisse

Victor Anthony - Bear Stearns

Presentation

Operator

Welcome to eBay's third quarter 2007 earnings results conference call. Today's call is being recorded. With us today from the company is the President and Chief Executive Officer Meg Whitman; Chief Financial Officer Bob Swan; and the Vice President of Investor Relations, Mr. Mark Rowen.

At this time I would like to turn the call over to Mr. Mark Rowen. Please go ahead, sir.

Mark Rowen

Thank you, operator and good afternoon. Thank you for joining us. Welcome to eBay's earnings release conference call for the third quarter of 2007. Joining me today on the call are Meg Whitman, our President and Chief Executive Officer; and Bob Swan, our Chief Financial Officer.

We're providing a slide presentation to accompany Bob's commentary during the call. This conference call is also being broadcast on the Internet, and both the presentation and call are available through the investor relations section of eBay's website.

Before we begin, I'd like to remind you that during the course of this conference call, we may discuss some non-GAAP measures in talking about our company's performance. You can find the reconciliation of those measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures in the slide presentation accompanying the conference call.

Torontonian Named eBay Entrepreneur Of The Year

2007-10-20T08:04:00.001-07:00

This year's eBay Canadian Entrepreneur awards were announced recently, and Toronto-based vintage t-shirt slinger James Applegath picked up a silver. Hundreds of eBayers enter the annual competition, now in its third year, vying for the $5000 top prize. Applegath received second place honor and $2000 for his eBay store, Defunkd.

Former proprietor of the Queen Street West club Nasa, Applegath now "stuffs envelopes for a living". Stuffing them with wicked vintage concert tees, team jerseys, custom t-shirts, and even a bit of retro cotton for the dog. And doing it quite successfully. Applegath was also commended for his vintage buying guides, demonstrating his "commitment to authenticity".

I shot him an email to congratulate him, and asked him a few questions about his store, his experience with eBay, the award, and his future plans. Read on...

eBay surfers get an Amazon splash

2007-08-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Web's largest auctioneer is revamping page designs, overhauling search functions and launching new services that bear a strong resemblance to features that work well at Amazon, the Internet's biggest retailer. To be sure, this is no casual face-lift for eBay.

For more than 10 years, eBay, with its fat margins and zealous user base, has been the dominant force in the battle between the two e-commerce superpowers. Currently, however, the momentum appears to be with Amazon.

Wall Street has rewarded Amazon for its ease of use, growing selection, low prices and success at persuading greater numbers of merchants to sell goods on its site. By comparison, some say eBay looks frumpy, with its helter-skelter search results and cluttered product pages. Sure, eBay has seen sharp growth from two significant units--payment service PayPal and Internet telephone service Skype--but investors are showing signs of wariness that Amazon may be eating into eBay's market share.

Disabled entrepreneurs face uphill battle

2007-08-21T16:19:00.001-07:00

Dusty Dutton, a 30-year-old Larkspur woman with Down syndrome, is a successful and self-supporting puppeteer whose puppet shows delight children throughout the area and visitors to local farmers markets.
John Coleman, 45, of Oakland, disabled since undergoing knee surgeries a couple of years ago, cannot get the funding to start a high-tech manufacturing business from the state agency charged with rehabilitating the disabled.

Besides the vast differences in complexity of their business plans, Dutton and Coleman are different in two other ways. Dutton has had the full-fledged support of her parents in navigating the state's agency for the severely developmentally disabled, the Department of Developmental Services.

Oxygen Breathes Life Into eBay TV Market, May Suck Some From Other Nets

2007-06-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

AFTER MONTHS OF STRUGGLING TO gain traction, the eBay-powered system for buying and selling TV time has some life. Oxygen, the one cable network to agree to use the trading system, has begun a trial effort with at least one advertiser.

No deals have been cut, but the female-targeted network may be on the brink, according to its new executive vice president of ad sales Mary Jeanne Cavanagh. (On Monday, on the eve of the upfront, Oxygen announced that Cavanagh had been elevated to the position from senior vice president, national ad sales after five years with the network, now in some 73 million homes.)

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt Thrilled : Lips Rescued From EBAY

2007-03-18T17:56:00.001-07:00

WINDHOEK, OSHIWAMBO, REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, AFRICA, WHATEVER--(UNASSOCIATED PRESS ) Standing in front of their home in South Africa, a relieved Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie thanked INTERPOL and Scotland Yard for the recovery & return of Angelina's poofy-lips from being sold on the popular auction website, EBAY.

"It has been a nightmare since I was violated in a burglary 2 weeks ago! No one knew who I was without them!" stated Jolie with tears running down her face, "I became so desperate, I had to run around with a modified toilet-plunger wrapped around my face with duct tape"

The anti-eBay

2007-03-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

On their recent pre-Super Bowl broadcast, Steve Sedahl and Carmela Sterling of the Atomic Shopping cable-TV auction show were hawking a chocolate fountain. As liquid chocolate poured over the tiers in front of him, Sedahl suggested that having the fountain spew barbecue sauce might be a cooler idea.
"Super Bowl party. Barbecue sauce. And little wieners."

Long silence. Definitely not the norm on shopping networks.

Then Sedahl turned red and hunched over to hide his laughter. Sterling rolled her eyes like an eighth-grade teacher and tried to maintain her composure. Laughter from the crew could be heard offscreen. As the hosts argued about the appropriateness of saying "wieners" on live TV, Sterling blurted out, "I don't like those things anyway."

Online sellers targeted by Tax Office

2007-03-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

ELEANOR HALL: Within hours of a new budget range of designer clothing by Stella McCartney rushing off the shelves in Australia, it was being hocked online.

But some of those sellers may now be getting nervous. Trading on online auction sites like eBay is the primary source of income for more than 17,000 Australians, and the Australian Tax Office is now focusing its attention on them.

As part of a GST audit, the ATO is requesting the details of all sellers who turn over more than $50,000 a year as Kathryn Roberts reports.

KATHRYN ROBERTS: With almost no set-up costs, online selling has become a popular choice for people wanting to set up a small business from their home or garage.

Bringing Your Art to the Online Market

2007-02-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

by Barbara Nelson

SPECIAL REPORT
Women Entrepreneurs
This Time It's Mine

Editor's note: This is the first column of a new series of weekly Q&As in which entrepreneurs featured in the Women Entrepreneurs Special Report answer questions submitted by readers. You can submit a question for consideration here by writing to nick_leiber@businessweek.com.

Many artisans like me are trying to sell their works from home using Internet marketplaces such as eBay (EBAY) and Etsy. Could you give some advice on how to get products the most exposure on the Internet? I'm sure many artists would appreciate the business help.

There are two important concepts to consider: brand value and integrated marketing.

Keep in mind that every time someone sees your work, reads about it, touches it, or hears about it, your brand is reinforced. Your brand defines how your art is different, and how that difference matters to someone who might buy it.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: Selling On eBay

2007-02-26T17:32:00.001-08:00

Monday, February 19, 2007 - The online auction and shopping site where everyday items are bought and sold to the highest bidder, eBay, has become a pop culture phenomenon. Since its launch back in 1995, eBay has grown to more than 100 million users worldwide. While some use it for simple purchases, others have turned it into a major moneymaker, selling items many of us would consider junk. El Pasoans who have joined this trend tell us they sell everything from antiques and household items, to clothing they find on clearance. They say all you need to get started is a computer, the internet and a digital camera. A step-by-step guide on eBay will walk you through the process of listing an item for sale.

Be an eBay Entrepreneur

2007-02-26T17:21:00.001-08:00

By Jeff Bertolucci

More than eight years ago, Bob Bull was, as he describes himself, one of the "walking dead." With a bad heart, emphysema, multiple sclerosis and diabetes, Bull must be on oxygen 24 hours a day. "I was so depressed, I couldn't do anything," says Bull, 70, a retired construction superintendent who lives in Dewey, Ariz.

Bull remembers the exact day when his world changed. On April 22, 1998, he discovered eBay (www.ebay.com), the online trading site where you can find everything from brand-new shower curtains to secondhand clarinets. He registered on a lark and started browsing the message boards, where members write about items and their own trading experiences.

Bull and his wife, Alice, decided to trade Beanie Babies and other collectibles. Unfortunately, the Beanie Babies craze died fast. "We ended up donating $9,000 in Beanie Babies to Toys for Tots," he laughs. "We had 830 of them." Bob began using the message boards to help new traders learn the ropes. "And I've been doing it ever since-seven days a week, 80 to 90 hours a week," he says.

Boss of eBay division makes way for growth

2007-02-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Bank charter for eBay's PayPal?
Officials from eBay Inc. and its payments division PayPal Inc. have recently held private discussions in Washington about the possibility of applying for a limited banking charter, according to two people familiar with the company's moves.
The charter would reduce PayPal's dependency on partnerships with other banks.
But San Jose, Calif.-based eBay's plans were thrown into doubt last month after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. extended its freeze for another year on all applications for deposit insurance from commercial parent companies.
The issue has become politically toxic after banking applications from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Home Depot Inc. ignited a groundswell of opposition to allowing commercial ownership of banks.
The FDIC's freeze could also make it much more difficult for eBay to obtain an industrial loan corporation, or ILC, charter.
-- Dow Jones Newswires

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- By the end of February, most of the employees at eBay's San Jose headquarters will collect their possessions, wave a final goodbye to their landline telephones and change cubicles.

But what John Donahoe, president of one of eBay's most important divisions, really wants is for his colleagues to change the way they work. "I'm a big fan of breaking patterns," he said.

Donahoe, 46, is a deputy to eBay's chief executive, Meg Whitman, 50, and, many people in the industry say, her likely successor when she steps down. In his two years as head of eBay Marketplaces -- a division responsible for 70 percent of the company's revenues and an even greater percentage of its profits -- he has set out to change the company's colors substantially.

Donahoe has led the acquisition of companies like the ticket exchange StubHub, helping eBay morph from a single auction-oriented marketplace into a portfolio of retail sites.

This year, revenue-sharing deals brokered by Donahoe with Yahoo and Google will bring online advertisements to the auction site on a large scale for the first time.

The Easy Way to Make Money on eBay

2007-02-24T10:08:00.001-08:00

(ARA) - For a mom working from home, a part-time second job, or as a hobby that pays, you can make extra money selling on eBay. All you need is a computer and a few hours.

Ruth G., a homemaker in Rexburg, Idaho, who's been an eBay seller for some time says, "I have a 17-month-old son and another baby on the way, so [making] a real financial contribution to our family budget AND [being] at home as a mom is very important to me. In just a couple of hours a week, I am able to meet our financial goals, leaving me plenty of time to do the things that are really important to me in life."

A collector's tips: study, save, finagle

2007-02-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

To look at Chris Burmeister's art collection, you'd think the guy was a trust-funder with time and money to burn.
You'd be wrong.
"I did it on a very meager budget, and still do," says the Albuquerque clinical therapist, who works with troubled children and adolescents.
Using a keen eye and fierce negotiating skills, Burmeister has assembled one of the city's best contemporary art collections. Focused on pop and minimalism, it has big names, emerging ones and a lineup of locals.
Alongside Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Robert Rauschenberg, and Charles and Ray Eames are New Mexicans Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Stuart Arends, Wes Mills, Tom Waldron, Robert Kelly, Eric Garduno and Johnnie Winona Ross.

Last week's ice brings $26 on eBay

2007-01-28T10:47:00.000-08:00

Last week we told you about an enterprising Spring man who decided to cash in on last week's cold snap by selling a chunk of naturally formed Houston ice on eBay. Now for the rest of the story: When the ice auction ended, the hunk of cold stuff fetched a respectable $26 — not bad, really, considering you can make it at home for free.
Houstonist talked to the seller, Mathew Cournane, about the auction. He's from New Zealand, where it gets colder than it does in Houston, and he said the idea for keeping some natural Houston ice for posterity came as he was joking with his Texan girlfriend about the big deal everyone was making over the weather last week. "She said, 'You should put some ice in the freezer and keep it," and then I said Ishould put it on eBay as a bit of a joke, and it kind of went from there," Cournane said. "This was at 11 o'clock at night [Tuesday] when the ice was just starting to form. I didn't have to go to far to get it. it all came from the back yard and a street sign on the corner near our house." To sweeten the deal, Cournane added two icy fig leaves from his yard, some icicles and a "genuine print of a leaf made from ice."

Earnings Reports: Profits rise for eBay, McDonald's

2007-01-28T10:27:00.003-08:00

EBay Inc. reported Wednesday that fourth-quarter profits increased 24 percent from the same period last year, trouncing Wall Street estimates and prompting executives to raise estimates for the current quarter.
Because of scorching holiday sales — particularly in eBay's traditional strongholds of the United States, United Kingdom and Germany — the San Jose-based online auction company earned $349 million, or 25 cents per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31.

Teaching eBay-sics

2007-01-28T10:27:00.001-08:00

By BRIGITTE ROZARIO
Trading online seems to be the most convenient way of doing business.
You don't need an office; you answer to yourself; and, in the case of online auction portal eBay, you can sell almost anything.
However, easy as it sounds, not everyone is familiar with eBay and trading is therefore hampered if you're not familiar with the site, how things work and the general rules of selling and buying online.
That's where Chris Chan comes into the picture.
Last August, Chan became an eBay education specialist.

Ready to eBay?

2007-01-21T14:58:00.001-08:00

Online trading is big business these days, and there is no bigger online marketplace than eBay.
By YAP MIOW SEN
If you have access to the Net and are no older than 35, then you must have heard of eBay. It’s a wonderful site that allows people to buy and sell anything — well almost.
I recently set about learning how the system worked and had a ball bidding, unsuccessfully, for an iBook for my mother-in-law, and trying to offload all my unwanted belongings online.
It’s been three months since my first trade, and the fun of getting online is still there. Usually, I trade on the Singapore eBay site, as the Malaysian one just doesn’t have enough traffic. Furthermore, the Malaysian site doesn’t allow money earned through PayPal (eBay’s payment partner) to be withdrawn through a Malaysian bank account.

eBay launches business high-fliers

2007-01-09T15:55:00.002-08:00

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Auction sites are increasingly being recognized as a breeding ground for serious business men and women, as the growing band of entrepreneurs making a healthy living out of selling their wares online can testify.
Clare Price is one of them.
The 32-year-old left the security of a high-flying job to set up in business on eBay.
Once operations director of an IT services business -- working on the customer service, not technology, side of the business -- she started trading online two years ago, after netting a bargain in the January sales.
Price, from Hayling Island, near Portsmouth, snapped up limited edition Italian designer lamps for £5 ($9.79) each, and made six times that after selling them for £70 per pair.
She then sourced other lamps from a department store supplier and bought a car-full. She sold them within a week.
She bought a van-full -- and sold them within 10 days. She bought a lorry-full -- and started to make some real money.

eBay store is ready for auction

2007-01-09T15:55:00.001-08:00

UNWANTED Christmas presents can pose an awkward problem for thousands of people at this time of year.
But now a Capital entrepreneur has come up with a way to get rid of that hand-knitted cardigan over the internet with a minimum of hassle.

Scotland's first eBay drop-off store allows people who are too busy - or too baffled by the internet - to bring in their goods and have them sold by a professional for a commission.
Former land surveyor Charles Dollimore, 52, got the idea for his "i-sold4u" shop on holiday in America, where drop-off stores have proved a massive hit.
"I was already selling items for family and friends from my home and the work just snowballed," he said. "I had seen drop-off stores in the US and they seemed to be very popular. About six months ago I realised I just couldn't keep on doing this from home any more - I had too much stuff - so I started a plan to open the shop."

Artists hold online auction to benefit James Kim's family

2007-01-09T15:54:00.002-08:00

By KOMO Staff
Watch the story
An online art auction is under way to raise money for the family of James Kim, who died of hypothermia last month while looking for help after his family got lost in the southern Oregon wilderness. Kim's wife and daughter stayed behind in the car and were rescued alive. The Kims' tragic story touched artists back in their home town of San Francisco. One of the artists, Sara Paloma is now trying to raise money for the family through an online art auction. "The wife and two little girls that don't have a dad and that's really tragic," she said. Paloma is planning to auction off dozens of items on eBay, including her own work.

South Portland business helps eBay novices

2007-01-09T15:54:00.001-08:00

SOUTH PORTLAND (Jan 3, 2007): Every New Year brings the hope of tidier closets, a less-cluttered garage and the dumping, in general, of unwanted stuff.
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Hold a yard sale in January – that’s one way to clear out the junk. There’s another, far less-chilly and much more technologically advanced way to transform that surfeit of unused material goods gathering dust into a highly useful pile of extra cash – just let it go, the eBay way.
Anyone with limited Internet savvy simply hoping to unload few unwanted Christmas presents, however, might find eBay a mind-boggling challenge: Currently, eBay boasts 174 million registered users, with 50,000 different categories of products, 50 million items posted at any given moment and 5 million new items for sale added to the Web site every new day.

Preparing Your eBay Business for a Crisis

2007-01-09T14:50:00.001-08:00

We know that you're busy doing everything you can think of to make your eBay business successful. You eat, sleep, and breathe your business, analyzing each potential move for its risks and benefits. But, as busy as you are, you've got one more task, and it's imperative. You have to answer the following question. What will I do to keep my business alive in the event of an emergency?

Nobody wants to think in terms of the worst that can happen, but that's why it's so important to answer this question when everything is good. If you can't concretely answer it, and off the top of your head, you've left yourself vulnerable to lose a good deal of what you've worked so hard to build. On the other hand, if you put a solid emergency plan in place, you don't have to worry about worst-case scenarios. You'll be able to devote yourself even more thoroughly to the business of business, because you'll have a definite plan to fall back on if something catastrophic happens.

Fraud on eBay: Causes and Cures

2007-01-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2007EBay's success makes it a huge target on the Internet. Scammers are attracted to eBay like moths to a flame; the problem is that it's the eBay buyers and sellers who wind up burned. While unsuspecting bidders are the main prey of the crooks, sellers are also bilked when their accounts are hijacked and when scammers hack into and clean out PayPal and linked bank accounts. EBay sellers pay an additional price in the general loss of trust in the site as it becomes increasingly perceived as riddled with flim-flam artists, driving away buyers.
It Can Happen to YouSellers are often the last to know when their accounts have been hijacked, as I discovered. One morning, about a year ago, I received an eBay e-mail inquiring about shipping costs for a John Deere tractor being sent to North Carolina. Since I only sold books on eBay and have never even sat on a tractor, this caught my attention. But I had been selling on eBay for six years without a problem, I never responded to phishing e-mails, and experience taught that occasionally such buyer e-mails went astray on the site's server, so I paid it no mind.

EBay auction supports Milford teen program

2007-01-09T14:35:00.003-08:00

MILFORD – An eBay auction starting today will support the Milford Middle School Enrichment Program which provides after school, school vacation and summer programs for teens.Funds raised will help the scholarship program that enables financially needy students to attend the fee-based program at no or reduced cost and the Art-in Action Program.Search MMSEP for more than 20 items including ski passes to Ragged Mountain, three one-month family memberships to Hampshire Hills, and original art work by local artists Beth Cianci, Dorothy Ledner, Susan Peterson and Joan Tierney.Other items include a Saturday overnight and brunch at the Crowne Plaza in Nashua, an area rug from Devine Flooring and Redkin Hair Products donated by Kimberly’s Creative Hair Design. Up for bid are gift certificates from Pasta Loft, Cafe on the Oval, Doggie Bag and Day Spa, Salon Exclusives, Union Street Grill and Home Depot. Silver earrings designed by Nina Zotcavage, a jewelry class by Sussy-Rose Shields and a unique felt hat made by Emily Archer will also be available.

eBay Sellers' Guide to Product Sourcing (Vendor Monday)

2007-01-09T14:35:00.001-08:00

In today's AuctionBytes "Vendor Monday" column, Worldwide Brands cofounder and CEO Chris Malta shares in-depth lessons on product sourcing for eBay sellers. Each week, AuctionBytes.com runs an article submitted by a vendor or marketplace in the online-auction industry about a topic helpful to online sellers. Story submissions are welcome by emailing the editor.
There are two key aspects to successfully selling online - knowing what products to sell, and knowing where to get them. The first aspect - knowing what to sell - is discovered through the process of Market Research. This just means examining the current marketplace to see what products you can be profitable with.

ARA secures £55,000 order against eBay counterfeiter

2007-01-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

PRNewswire-GNN London 5 December
Editor's Note: : 1. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 created the Assets Recovery Agency and provided completely new powers to allow ARA to seek civil recovery of the proceeds of unlawful activity by an action in the High Court. The Agency can also issue tax assessments where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that there is taxable income, gain or profit from criminal conduct. 2. The Agency is playing its part in the multi-agency approach to deliver the Government's Asset Recovery Strategy. Under the cross government initiative 'Payback', the tracing of and recovery of assets is seen as an important element in the delivery of justice, and sends out a strong deterrent message. The overall aims of the strategy are to make greater use of the investigations of criminal assets in the fight against crime; recover money that has been made from crime or which is intended for use in crime; prevent criminals and their associates from laundering the proceeds of criminal conduct, and detect and penalise such laundering where it occurs; to use the proceeds recovered for the benefit of the community.

EBay's ticket row tout of order

2007-01-02T18:59:00.001-08:00

TICKET touts are back. There they were, loudly whispering, "Anyone want tickets? Get your tickets here" outside the Olympic Park railway station during the U2 Vertigo tour and Sydney Entertainment Centre last week for Elton John's three-night stand.Why are they back? It seems those who would buy or sell scalped tickets online have become cautious of the process.
Concert and sports promoters have threatened that tickets sold for a profit will be cancelled.
They can do that because in the terms and conditions on the back of the tickets you are warned that if you sell your ticket for profit it "may be voidable".
Big Day Out organisers have changed that "may" to a "will" for next year's event.

Rare disc sold on eBay

2007-01-02T17:53:00.001-08:00

Among experts, it is regarded as one of the rarest and most important artefacts in rock‘n’roll — an early studio recording by The Velvet Underground, the late 60s New York art rock band mentored and produced by Andy Warhol.
Discovered on a New York market stall in 2002, it was bought by Warren Hill of Montreal, Canada, for 75 cents. It was sold on December 8 on eBay for $155,401. The excitement lies in the seller’s claim that this is the definitive version of the band’s 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico described by Uncut magazine as the best debut album of all time. It was hugely influential on the glam rock, punk and goth scenes; Brian Eno famously remarked that while only 100 people bought the album when it first came out, they all went out to form a band. The music on the record dates from a 1966 recording at Scepter Studios in New York, overseen by Warhol. Rather than a commercially pressed album, it is a fragile acetate cut in the studio so the musicians could review the day’s work at home. Five of the songs on the acetate are the same version as the ones on the commercially released album, though with different mixes. However, the tracks Heroin, I’m Waiting For The Man, European Son and Venus in Furs are different recordings.

Learn to Buy and Sell on Ebay and Win a Free Laptop

2007-01-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

Nearly 10 years ago, Education To Go began working with colleges and universities to make online classes available to students on a larger scale. Teaming up with talented instructors to serve the people in various communities who want to build new skills or upgrade old ones but who do not have the time or ability to participate in on-campus offerings, Ed to Go will enroll their one millionth student by January 2007.
Temecula, CA (PRWEB) December 17, 2006 -- In collaboration with the ed2go network of more than 1,500 of the top accredited colleges and universities across the United States, Canada, and Australia, www.learntobuyandsell.com/ kicked off a "Thanks A Million" campaign to celebrate the one millionth enrollment. Everyone who enrolls for the Learn to Buy and Sell Ebay course between now and February 2007 will be eligible to win a free laptop computer. A new online course begins each month and runs for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course and costs as little as $119. Interested students can enroll online directly through www.learntobuyandsell.com/ or locate a school of their choice that is offering Learn to Buy and Sell on eBay in their area. A list of participating schools is available on the website; or simply call your local college or university for details.

Replaces standalone site with joint venture

2006-12-31T18:40:00.000-08:00

eBay today confirmed it will replace its China auction site with a joint-venture site run by partner Tom Online in 2007.

The announcement comes after months of speculation that eBay was preparing to vacate the Chinese market after losing the market lead and significant share to rival Alibaba.com's Taobao auction site.

Beijing-based Tom Online will operate "Tom Yi Qu," which combines the Tom name with the Chinese name for eBay's current site. Tom Online will hold a 51 percent stake in the new venture. EBay will inject EachNet, its China subsidiary, into the venture and hold the remaining 49 percent stake.

eBay will also contribute $40m to the joint venture, and Tom $20m, the two companies said in a statement. According to the terms of the deal, the two companies may also invest a further combined $10m.

The deal will close in January, said eBay CEO Meg Whitman at a webcast press conference in Shanghai. "The deal is very balanced, although the financial contributions are different," she said of the levels of capital and resources given to the joint venture.

Former eBay COO Leads Customer-Service Startup

2006-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

Maynard Webb, 51, who left his position as eBay's chief operating officer in August, was named last week as chief executive of LiveOps, a Palo Alto-based company whose technology routes customer service calls to 9,000 work-from-home agents around the country. He replaces Bill Trenchard, who will continue as chairman of the board.

A former executive at online auctioneer eBay Inc. has come out of a short-lived retirement to take a job leading Silicon Valley startup LiveOps, which contracts with companies to handle customer service and sales calls.
Maynard Webb, 51, left his position as eBay's chief operating officer in August after seven years with the company. He previously served as chief information officer of PC maker Gateway Inc.

Start the New Year Off Right

2006-12-31T17:51:00.000-08:00

Usually at this time of year, I make a list of my “10 New Year’s Resolutions for the Small-Business Owner,” but since New Year’s resolutions seldom make it beyond January, I thought I should take a tougher stand this year.

Here are 10 “commandments” to help you make 2007 a better year for your business than 2006 was. Don’t hesitate--do them now! Then you can enjoy the rest of the year without guilt. Let's start from the bottom and work backwards:

10. As soon as you finish reading this column, get in your car and drive directly to your local IRS office (it’s usually in the same government building as your county courthouse). Pick up as many copies of IRS Form 1099 as you can carry, and make sure you send one to every human being--except employees and partners, who get different forms--you paid more than $600 to in 2006. The deadline for sending these is January 31, but the IRS runs out of forms well before then and you can't download them from the internet. Be sure to send copies to the IRS and your accountant.

NJ lawmaker wants crackdown on 'net sales of hot items

2006-12-31T17:50:00.000-08:00

Home News Tribune Online 12/29/06
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TRENTON: Following major Internet fencing ring arrests in other states, a key New Jersey lawmaker says he wants to crack down on stolen goods sold through online auction sites.

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan wants tough new penalties for people in New Jersey who use Internet auctions to sell shoplifted baby formula, gift cards, coupons and other goods prized by retail theft rings.

Cryan introduced his legislation this month after authorities in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas targeted criminal enterprises that used popular Internet auction site eBay.

Cryan's bill, which hasn't yet received consideration, would make it a crime to sell shoplifted items through Internet auctions. The crime would be punishable by fines of up to $10,000 for a first offense. Subsequent offenses would carry
fines up to $20,000.

The bill specifically outlaws the Internet auction of baby food and formula subject to federal expiration date regulations. Items such as gift cards also would be prohibited from online auctions unless the seller can prove the product was legally
obtained.

Former eBay COO Maynard Webb Joins LiveOps As CEO

2006-12-25T13:24:00.000-08:00

eBay's former Chief Operating Officer Maynard Webb has joined LiveOps in the role of CEO. Webb left eBay this year, as did eBay's Senior Vice President of Product, Development and Architecture, Lynn Reedy.

Maynard Webb said in a statement, "LiveOps is enabling people to work from anywhere, at anytime. It is using technology to build a passionate community and dramatically improve people's lives. It reminds me of eBay in the early days." The lure of a start-up is not surprising: according to a June article in the San Jose Mercury News, Webb received more than $90 million exercising and selling eBay option shares during his 7-year tenure at the company.

LiveOps is a leader in the distributed call center industry, contracting with over 9,000 home agents, or work-from-home customer service agents, across 48 states to answer customer service calls and take product orders over the phone. It empowers this community through its Web-based technology platform. The company has over 150 customers, ranging from brand- name direct marketers to Fortune 500 companies and has worked with the Red Cross to reconnect families in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

A $500,000 bike, and a chance to look a gift elephant in the mouth

2006-12-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

LEFT it to the last minute? Well, trust The Australian to come to the rescue with Christmas gift ideas that will make you look like you've really thought about the giftee.
First up, the gift that every man, woman and child would love to receive: a $570,000 motorcycle. The best part is that the Experimental is really a dirt bike, with a customised Honda frame and a 250cc engine. So why pay over half a mill for a Honda dirt bike? Well, take a look at the photo. It's not a bike, it's a work of art. Canadian motorcycle designer and builder Roger Goldammer has won two world custom bike championships and more than 10 other international awards for his work. How many world championships have Jeffrey Smart, David Hockney and Lucian Freud won? Besides that, looking at paintings for too long makes you fat and cooks your brain. The Experimental holds the world speed record (128.7mph) for its class, and so can you.

Former eBay exec to head startup

2006-12-25T13:13:00.001-08:00

Dec 22, 2006

A former executive at online auctioneer eBay has come out of a short-lived retirement to take a job leading Silicon Valley startup LiveOps, which contracts with companies to handle customer service and sales calls, an Associated Press report said.
The Associated Press report said Maynard Webb, 51, left his position as eBay's COO in August after seven years with the company. He previously served as chief information officer of PC maker Gateway.

Webb was named as chief executive of LiveOps, a Palo Alto-based company whose technology routes customer service calls to 9,000 work-from-home agents around the country. He replaces Bill Trenchard, who will continue as chairman of the board, the report said.

Webb said he wanted to be part of a fast-growing company, touting LiveOps' potential to fundamentally change the way people work from remote sites.

"It frees people up to work anytime, anywhere," he said. "It's creating a marketplace for work where one didn't used to be."

The company is privately held and does not release financial data, but Webb said revenues have doubled in each of the last three years. He said work-at-home customer service agents are cheaper than traditional call center workers and have higher retention rates.

Is It Time to Sell?

2006-12-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

Lighten up ... rotate out ... take a little off the table.

Whatever you call it, it means "selling," and selling is tricky business. So before you pull the rip cord, ask yourself this:

"What if I had never sold a stock?"
Honestly, would you have more money now, or less? I set out to answer that question myself this morning, and to back it up with some hard data. I chickened out.

I already knew the answer. If I had never sold a single share of stock, I would be ... richer than I am today. How much richer? Much richer. I can't give you a precise figure, because I knew that once I saw it for myself, I would scream. How about you?

It gets worse and worse and worse
I bought eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) on a tip back in 1998. I dumped it two months later for a quick double. OK, that's not exactly true. In fact, it's an out-and-out lie. But I could have, and it does help to illustrate my point.

Former eBay COO Maynard Webb to lead startup

2006-12-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

PALO ALTO, Calif. A former executive at online auctioneer eBay has come out of a short-lived retirement to take a job leading a Silicon Valley startup.

Maynard Webb left his position as eBay's chief operating officer in August after seven years with the company. He previously served as chief information officer of P-C maker Gateway.

Webb plans to bring his experience to his new role as chief executive of LiveOps -- a Palo Alto-based startup. The company's technology routes customer service calls to work-from-home agents around the country.

Webb says he wanted to be part of a fast-growing company, touting LiveOps' potential to change the way people work from remote sites.

He says work-at-home customer service agents are cheaper than traditional call center and have higher retention rates.

Welsh Ebay counterfeiter jailed

2006-12-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

A husband who spent £920 on 10 pieces of toast covered in Marmite on eBay has been jailed... for selling counterfeit goods on the same website.

Wayne Withers was featured in the Echo earlier this month for buying the toast, described as a unique art piece depicting portraits of famous people, through the auction site eBay for his wife's Christmas present.

But Merthyr Crown Court yesterday heard how Withers, along with wife Lisa, used the same site to run a business selling counterfeit DVD films.

The couple sold their DVDs - copied from illegal versions or their own Disney collection - under a number of user names, claiming they were originals.

Officials from Merthyr Trading Standards swooped on the house in Church Street, Penydarren, last December and found what was described as a cottage industry.

Got a business complaint? Try the hotline

2006-12-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

The most common scam Bob Pegg, Mel Lezberg and Janice Green have heard in more than five years of manning the phones at the state's consumer protection hotline involves fake lottery checks.

The story is often the same: A letter arrives in the mail telling recipients they have won hundreds of thousands of dollars. All the winners must do to claim the prize is wire the lottery company a lesser amount to cover the taxes and handling fees. But once the money is sent, they discover the check is fake and, by then, it may be impossible to get their money back.

"It's amazing what people will do with money," said Pegg, a retired furniture manufacturer from Gilford. "You get jaded."

The consumer protection hotline is a free service offered to the public by the attorney general's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau - and staffed entirely by volunteers. It serves as a clearinghouse for consumer questions and complaints.

Volunteers apply for their positions and, if they are chosen, they commit to work at least one six-hour shift per week for a year. They go through a two-week training course. Once on duty, they have access to filing cabinets packed with consumer pamphlets on thousands of subjects, including identity theft, check scams, credit reports, gift cards, car buying andeBay sales.

Former eBay executive to lead Silicon Valley start-up

2006-12-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

By Associated Press | December 21, 2006

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- A former executive at online auctioneer eBay Inc. has come out of a short-lived retirement to take a job leading Silicon Valley startup LiveOps, which contracts with companies to handle customer service and sales calls.

Webb was named late Monday as chief executive of LiveOps, a Palo Alto-based company whose technology routes customer service calls to 9,000 work-from-home agents around the United States. He replaces Bill Trenchard, who will continue as chairman of the board.

Webb said he wanted to be part of a fast-growing company, touting LiveOps' potential to fundamentally change the way people work from remote sites.

Research and Markets: New 5th Edition of 'eBay for Dummies' Contains the Golden Rules for Buying and Selling on eBay

2006-12-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

The latest edition of the all-time eBay bestseller!

Written by eBay expert Marsha Collier, this fully updated revision offers inexperienced eBay users unique insight and advice into buying and selling on the worlds largest Internet marketplace. Veteran eBay users can also catch up on the latest changes to eBay, such as new seller and search tools, revisions to the My eBay page, and updated fee and payment systems.

Author Marsha Collier plans on keeping all the great insight and advice on basic buying and selling on eBay intact while focusing on these areas:

Do You Work From Home? Buy Your Next Home Wiht Your Office In Mind

2006-12-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

The flexibility afforded by a “zero-commute” combined with the skyrocketing price of gasoline has strengthened the case for full time teleworking and telecommuting. According to an Environmental Protection Agency (2004) study:

“Americans spend an average of 46 hours per year stuck in traffic. Gridlock produces more than $63 billion in congestion costs per year”

The artist community has been well acquainted with the use of work/living spaces for years, but improvements in technology have made the benefits of teleworking and occasional telecommuting more attractive to general consumers. According to the key findings form the International Telework Association & Council (ITAC) Telework America (2000) study:

Vouchers stolen to sell on eBay

2006-11-26T18:30:00.000-08:00

A "GREEDY" insurance company worker who stole promotional vouchers from her employers for sale on the eBay internet site has escaped being sent to prison.

Serene Claw, 24, a call centre worker at Liverpool Victoria, admitted theft and transferring criminal property.

Her co-defendant, Ryan Oliver, 23, of Belle Vue Road, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to converting criminal property.

continued...
Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Michael Mackey said Claw, of Surrey Road, Bournemouth, had helped herself to Caravan Club vouchers from an unlocked stationery cupboard. They were part of a credit card scheme which entitled holders to a free stay at Caravan Club sites.

Claw gave the vouchers to Oliver, who sold them on eBay, splitting the profits between them.

A Bournemouth customer contacted Liverpool Victoria after spotting the vouchers on sale on the internet site.

Quick Cash for the Holidays

2006-11-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means the holiday season is in full swing. Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa are right around the corner and with them the expense of food, gifts and travel.

If you are the organized sort of person, you're already prepared. You picked up gifts throughout the year, thereby spreading out the expense of holiday gift giving. You bought your plane tickets several months ago taking advantage of lower airfares. If you are that sort of person, this article is not for you. This article is for the person like me who is faced with spending hundreds of dollars in the next few weeks because I waited until now to start preparing for the holidays. Fortunately, there are some fast and easy ways to make some extra money during the holiday season without getting a second job.

Easy Daily Cash Goes Gold, a Golden Opportunity to Work from Home

2006-11-26T18:18:00.000-08:00

Easy Daily Cash was established in the spring of 2006 by Craig Garcia and Michael Corcoran. It is a program providing a mammoth supply of software and ebooks for internet business development. It has a Two-Up Compensation plan in place. The resale of each package offers 100% commission, making this an attractive work from home opportunity. The expanded flagship program was just launched on November 1, 2006 and is named EDC Gold.

The three programs available are titled Your New Fortune, a smaller library with a very small monthly membership fee, and slightly different compensation plan, Easy Daily Cash, a much larger library with a one time fee and monthly website fee, and now the ultra deluxe library called EDC Gold, available for the price of the Easy Daily Cash program but for a limited time until December 1, 2006. For just under $300, this home business opportunity offers many advantages. Live training, available live online support via internet conferencing, an extended advertising guide with extensive marketing tools, and the owners themselves available by phone are all a part of each individual program.

Mom-and-Pops, All Grown Up

2006-11-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

Susan Gearing's home office in Columbia looks like a fun factory -- embroidery machines hum, and shelves are lined with 350 rolls of fabric, including some emblazoned with Elvis, Betty Boop and shirtless cowboys.

But behind the colorful facade lies a grueling, complex Internet retail operation. Every day, Gearing cuts, folds and mails 30 yards of fabric to customers around the world who buy from her online. And each year, her business, SusieCraft, grows bigger and more demanding.

The same is true for Jennifer Canty, a Sterling entrepreneur who started refurbishing iPods and other gadgets and selling them on eBay three years ago, primarily so she could work from home and care for her infant son. Today, the company she founded, Dyscern, employs 12 people, occupies a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and is projecting $6 million in annual revenue.

As Internet shopping matures and enters its 12th holiday season, veteran eBay sellers are discovering what it takes to make a long-term career out of selling online. Internet sales have become as competitive as traditional retail but compounded by the furious pace of change on the Web.

Seven Wonders of the Internet World

2006-11-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

Almost everyone has some familiarity with the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a list of unparalleled achievements of mankind from before the second century BC. The compilation was a creation of the Greeks, written down for our reflection in various lists, the most well-known and complete created by Antipater of Sidon, a Greek poet. The Seven Wonders consisted of the Pyramids at Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pharos of Alexandria.

The list is not dominated by creations of art, such as the statue Winged Victory, nor creations of intellect, like the works of Plato. Instead, what invoked a sense of wonder in Antipater was things that were big; creations that required engineering and manpower out of proportion to the other objects around them.

But today, while size still impresses us, we are no longer struck with a sense of awe. We are no longer like Vladimir I of Kiev, the ruler of Russia who in 987, upon hearing the account of his envoys about the Hagia Sophia, the great church of Christendom, ordered his entire country to convert to Christianity. His representatives had explained the awesome size and elegance of the cathedral, declaring "We are at a loss to describe it. We know only that God dwells there." Even today in Russia, Eastern Orthodox Christianity is still practiced in great numbers because of Vladimir's awe and wonder of a big building.

Buy on the Web and Let the Gifts Come to You

2006-11-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

They do it at work. They do it at home. Heck, they even do it at Starbucks.

We're talking about online shoppers, sneaking in a bid on eBay during a conference call. Internet retailing is expected to top $100 billion for the first time this year, according to research firm comScore Networks. Nearly half of shoppers will buy at least one item online this holiday season, and about 89 percent will research their purchases over the Internet.

Washington Post retail reporter Ylan Mui will be online to discuss different shopping styles when buying for the holidays and answer questions about the retail industry's holiday outlook.

Holiday Shopping Guide
For many people, holiday shopping is as much about the journey as the destination.Here are seven ways to wrap it up.

Main Story: Get It Done Your Way
Downtown Lunch Hour: Think Morning, Noon and Night
Luxury: Make Your List And Hand It Off
Last Minute: A Fruitful Trip to The Grocery Store
Budget: Watch the Bucks, Hunt the Bargains
Online: Buy on the Web and Let the Gifts Come to You
Do-Good: Be a Part of the Bigger Picture
Mall: Use the Centers but Beat the Crush
Color of Money: Beware the Trap Of Ribbon and Wrap

Retailers aren't ignoring those numbers. They're ramping up promotions and marketing on their Web sites. Free shipping has become almost standard during the holidays, but be wary of blowing that savings in add-ons such as gift wrapping, personalized messages or express mail. Also keep in mind that your gifts need to be ordered several days before Christmas to receive them in time for the holiday -- even if you do splurge on overnight shipping. The last day that Amazon.com will guarantee Christmas delivery for free holiday shipping is Dec. 15, a spokesman said.

That means now is the time to shop. The busiest online shopping days usually are in early to mid-December, though the Monday following Thanksgiving has been hyped as the time when many e-tailers kick in their heftiest online promotions.

Making Money Selling Silver Jewelry On Ebay

2006-11-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

Making money selling silver jewelry is simple. All you need is a computer with an internet connection and some basic computer skills, and a suppplier that provides you more than just jewelry.

You will be needing a supplier to caters to your specific needs. If you want to succeed selling jewelry on ebay you need to have a large variety of items, beautiful pictures, and new products consistently.

Since you would be starting a new business, it would not be easy for you to purchase from suppliers with minimum orders, even a minimum order of $100 is too high for newbies. Silver jewelry costs around $2 and above per piece; depending on the design/make. A $100 minimum would end you up with 50 pieces; and what if the items do not get sold? Most suppliers do guarantee their products, and will refund you for incorrect merchandise. Is there any supplier that would allow you to return products that are not sold within a certain period of time?

How to Get Free Adwords Credit, and 9 Other Tips You Were Never Told!

2006-11-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Do you know how to get free Google adwords credits? I do, and it's all in here-I have been very successful with Adwords campaigns and when I visit forums it pains me to see how many people are struggling with it. It's pure science, so if you put the time in, you WILL succeed!!

Someone in a forum asked me the other day for some quick tips on Google Adwords. I have been quite successful with Adwords, and so my post got longer and longer as I thought of things, and each one seemed more important than the last-It occurred to at that point that this would make a pretty useful article, as it’s something lots of people participate in, and I don’t feel that many people get as much out of it as they should do! I think it’s a pity because in the work at home and home business arenas, some decent Adwords skills can make a huge amount of difference to your online money making! With that in mind, here are my 10 Adwords Tips You Were Never Told!

eBay mania gives post offices a lift

2006-11-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

It's the internet phenomenon that has helped transform attics full of clutter into ready cash.

But the eBay effect' is also proving a hit with Bradford's village sub-postmasters and mistresses.

The online trading company's popularity has increased the number of parcels and packages being processed at local branches across the district.

While some sub-post offices are struggling through the withdrawal of television licence payments and other services, the slack is being taken up by income from eBay traffic.

continued...
At Gomersal Post Office, sub-postmistress Gillian Wilkinson said the last 18 months had seen a noticeable upturn in the number of Ebay and internet-related parcels and packages.

"We have five or six regular customers and a couple who are doing it as a business. We process all sorts - CDs and DVDs of old classic television and radio shows, trainers and sports articles.

"Just on eBay stuff, I'd say we do 50 parcels or packets a day. It used to be that number per week. It's what we make our money on when it used to be pensions."

Enterprising young mothers are earning while bringing up baby

2006-11-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

A new generation of 'mumtrepreneurs' are earning thousands of pounds a year by establishing businesses that operate conveniently from home claims a new report.

One in three new or expectant mothers have either set up a firm from home or hope to do so soon, enabling them to combine generating income and looking after young children.

Related story: 56% of mothers go to work

They are earning up to £32,988 a year from home-based business ventures, including paid-for child care for friends, domestic cleaning, beauty treatment, hairdressing and even buying and selling on internet sites like eBay.

Nationally, women who set up home-based businesses earn an average of £467.91 a month or £5,614 a year.

One in three new and expectant mums are pressing their employer to let them work from home rather than commute into a workplace every day.

The New Age Work at Home Revolution

2006-11-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

For more than a decade, the Internet has revolutionized the work at home business opportunity industry. Never before has it been possible for so many people to make a part-time or full-time living from the Internet, and it’s no surprise why.
More and more companies are realizing that the best way to sell their products and services online is to get other people to advertise and promote them, in return for a set commission or an agreed percentage of the sale value. This method of online marketing has made it possible for the affiliate marketer to earn an income well in excess of six figures a year.

Sector Snap: Internet stocks mixed

2006-11-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

OCT. 19 3:02 P.M. ET Internet stocks traded mixed Thursday, as earnings pushed up shares of eBay Inc. while CNET Networks Inc. lost ground after convertible note holders rejected amended terms.

On Wednesday after the closing bell, Web auctioneer eBay posted a profit that beat Wall Street's forecast, pushing shares up $2.04, or 7.2 percent, to $30.53 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq, in spite of an outlook that Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney characterized as "tepid" but "not as bad as feared."

EBay's shares have traded between $22.83 and $46.86 in the past 52 weeks.

At Sherborn Library

2006-11-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate autumn at the Sherborn Library with Susan Reed, an award-winning singer/storyteller, who will perform on Saturday Oct. 21, at 10:30 a.m. Reed has kids and adults singing along as she plays a violin, guitar, mountain dulcimer and a banjo. Her lively and unique performance will include songs, stories, poems and even some dances to welcome autumn and the harvest.

Two of her CDs, "Skipping Round the Moon" and "Shoes," have won the 2005 National Parenting Publication Award.

Reed, a resident of Milton and a mother of three children, is a former faculty member at the New England Conservatory of Music. She has performed throughout New England and the U.S.

For more information about this performance, please contact the library.

Join the ’Shelf Squad’

The Sherborn Library is looking for volunteers to join the "Shelf Squad." This library volunteer program is specifically directed to individuals who would like to contribute to the smooth running of the library but who do not have much time and prefer a flexible schedule they can set themselves.

Home business growth spurt

2006-11-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

- Evening News photo by VALERIE TOBIAS Newport resident Robin Lemon and her daughter, Bailey, 3, stand next to a display of some of the products that Mrs. Lemon offers from her home-based business, Naturally Delightful. In addition to being a distributor of Mia Bella candles, the business-savvy mother of four recently started crafting her own line of aromatherapy products, which she sells at various shows and on the Internet. She is also the founder of Moms in Business, a 2-year-old local networking group.

Robin Lemon's third pregnancy resulted in the birth of a business.

"I started my first home business in 2001," says the Newport resident. "I was pregnant with my third child and I got very ill during my pregnancy and I lost my full-time job."

Mrs. Lemon had been working in customer service for a freight-forwarding firm, juggling the job with the demands of being a wife and mother of two youngsters.

"I knew I wasn't going to be looking for another job. I was using before- and after-school daycare for my two older children and so I was seeking out any which way that I could try to make some income at home," she recalls.

She started selling items on eBay, the Internet auction site, then became a distributor for Mia Bella's natural candles. Her home-based business, Naturally Delightful, has grown from there, offering various other products.

Growing, too, is the number of home-based business owners, spurred by a quest for independence or the need to find alternative income amid Michigan's dismal economy.

Indeed, 49 percent of the nation's businesses now are operated from home, and more than six in 10 owners used their own money to start the business, according to new U.S. Census Bureau reports on characteristics of businesses and business owners.

The State of Online Buying, Part 1: Clicks vs. Bricks

2006-11-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

People have been getting used to buying online since the mid-1990s, and today it has become an integral part of how most folks shop. US online retail sales will grow to $328.6 billion in 2010, up from $172.4 billion in 2005, according to a Forrester research report. By 2010, predicts Forrester, there will be 55 million US online shopping households (http://www.forrester.com).

But there are certain types of things that people still look to those traditional offline venues to buy. And there seems to be plenty of room for improvement in the online experience: Seventy percent of consumers report satisfaction when completing transactions in stores, vs. just 26% for a Web shopping experience, according to Forrester. And that lack of satisfaction translates into weak conversion rates for online sellers: they post an average conversion rate of just 2.6%, according to Forrester.

One-size-fits-all Internet rules proposed

2006-10-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

nationwide consumer organization believes residents in Boca Raton, as well as other cities across the United States, will be denied consumer choice by proposed Internet broadband regulations.

The Virginia-based American Consumer Institute (ACI), which specializes in public policy research and analysis, expressed concern about a national cable competition bill currently before the United States Senate.

Although supportive of the bill's overall purpose to allow competition among cable television providers and generate savings for consumers, ACI officials are worried about its potential effect on Internet user choices.

According to Stephen Pociask, president of ACI, the bill carries a "net neutrality" amendment -- which he said is endorsed by Web-based companies like Google and eBay -- that would prohibit Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from offering services customized to consumer needs.

"It could be services with different speeds, higher security, guaranteed reliability or any other type of differentiation," Pociask said. "Basically, we feel that consumers should have a choice."

Tools that rock

2006-10-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

THE iconic Minimoog synthesiser changed the face of music when it hit the scene in 1970. The integrated keyboard synth not only opened up a range of sounds and effects, it made it possible to emulate instruments altogether.

Other electronic devices like sequencers, samplers and drum machines further enhanced the ability of musicians to dispense with standard instruments altogether.
With technological advances in the past 30 years, the home computer is now performing much the same function, enabling bedroom musos to create, record and publish homemade music, and bands to compose and record new material while on the road.

But the new technology has its limitations, and some of the older analogue equipment is finding fresh popularity.

Brisbane musician Ken Evans has a foot in both analogue and digital worlds, using his computer loaded with software synthesisers to work out his tunes before turning to his home studio crammed with classic equipment to record the final product.

Selling to the world on eBay

2006-10-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

If you're already an avid eBay browser, why not turn buying power into selling success?

"More Canadian small business owners than ever are turning to the web as a cost-efficient way to expand their customer base. It's a very attractive online option - the costs of start-up are low, and returns can be very high," said Nancy Hughes Anthony, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

eBay Canada honours top Internet entrepreneurs

2006-10-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Small business owners from British Columbia win top prizes in eBay's
Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
>>

TORONTO, Oct. 12 /CNW/ - For the second year in a row, an online
entrepreneur from British Columbia won first place in the annual "eBay
Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Awards," announced today. All 10 finalists
in this year's competition are running successful online businesses selling
everything from clothing to music to jewellery, to customers in Canada and
around the world. The winners are as follows:

Various Types of Computer Work from Home Careers

2006-10-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Computer work from home careers come in many varieties. You don’t have to be a computer whiz in order to take on computer work from home careers. The truth is there are a number of work from home careers opportunities that require very little computer knowledge at all.
Computer Programming Work from Home Careers

For those that are very comfortable with the computer, there are several programming work from home careers available. The need for those knowledgeable in programming has been increased by the ever-increasing importance of the Internet. Many businesses and organizations need an up-to-date interactive website in order to draw in new customers and to keep them. If you have the knowledge, you can help set up some great programs for these sites and you can do it from the comfort of your home.

Texans top most busy list: hurry up and wait, dahhling!

2006-10-16T15:51:00.001-07:00

We all know what it's like. You get home from work, run a few errands on the way, or pick up the kids from school (only to drive them to whatever practice or play-date they have later), make or buy dinner, clean the dishes, help the kids with homework/showers, put them to bed, remember to take the laundry out of the drier, and just as you close your eyes you remember to say the first words to your spouse as you utter a sleepy good night. Or any variation of a hectic life thereof that leaves you with very little free time.

Exploring Internet Work from Home Online Opportunities

2006-10-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

When it comes to finding great self-employment opportunities, it really isn’t necessary to look any further than the Internet. Work from home online opportunities abound on the Internet, and there is likely to be at least one that suits your taste.
Freelance Work from Home Online Opportunities

One of the greatest t work from home online opportunities available is freelance work. When you work as a freelancer, you are contracted to do work for a business or an individual from the comfort of your own home. Some freelance work from home online opportunities include web design, photography, writing, medical transcription, secretarial work, and medical billing.

Stay At Home Dad Finds The Key To Successful Home Business

2006-10-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

(PRLEAP.COM) In August of 2005, dad-to-be Mathew Butka made a choice that would become the best decision of his young life. Mathew quit his job as a full-time Computer Technician to start his own online business.

After diligent searching for a viable opportunity among the myriad options for online businesses, Mathew settled on an Ebay business. With a worldwide customer base of over 168 million and over 700,000 Americans using Ebay as their primary or secondary source of income, Mathew thought Ebay was as close to a “sure thing” as you could get. On top of that, start up costs are near zero!

In just a couple of months, Mathew built his business enough to secure him “Power Seller” status – a moniker reserved for those with high sales volume coupled with consistency over time. Everything was going well with his business until Mathew’s son, Vincent, was born in January of 2006.

Legitimate Work at Home Ideas Finally Offered to Those Seeking a Way to Make Money Without Leaving the House

2006-10-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

(PRLEAP.COM) A new work at home site has found its way to the web and just in time. In the midst of work at home sites that either charge readers for information, advertise work at home scams, or keep their opinions to themselves for fear of losing advertisers, The Untrodden Road has appeared to lay out free listings of genuine work at home opportunities.

Many people seek out work at home jobs in order to stay with their children or because of an illness that keeps them from maintaining traditional employment. They begin searching only to be bombarded with offers that turn out to be money making scams. They then quickly give up their search assuming there are no legitimate ways to make money from home.

Entrepreneur mom makes money on eBay

2006-10-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

She sells items on the Web site, financing her daughter's preschool.
By MINDY RUBENSTEIN
Published September 24, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEADOW POINTE-For Michelle Palm, what started as a hobby has turned into a way to pay for her daughter's preschool and still be a stay-at-home mom.

"I've always loved garage sales," she said.

At a garage sale a couple of years ago, Palm saw name-brand items selling for less than $1.

She got an idea.

"I said to my husband, 'I think there's money to be made on eBay with me staying home,' " she said.

Palm, 32, bought some items, then resold them on eBay. After her first sale, she was hooked. She had bought two outfits for about 50 cents each. On eBay, one sold for $14, the other for $11.

Online Marketing - WAHM Business Tools - Successful Entrepreneur

2006-09-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

Note from Tammy - Owner of WAHM Connections

I've been busy adding to the resources at WAHM Connections and updating pages that were a bit light on the resource department. There is actually a ton of information here so make use of the Google Search Box near the end of the newsletter. Make use of this information and plan your success BUT..

remember... spend twice as much time DOING than Learning. :-)

Ebay and Dropshipping

2006-08-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

Jane Foster
August 10, 2006
If you hope to own an eBay business, and make a full time living at it, you can easily make that dream come true even if you don’t have a product of your own to sell. eBay provides many people who want to quit their corporate nine-to-five jobs with a way to make a good living, without having to put up a lot of start up capital. This is made possible with the help of drop shippers. Drop shippers send merchandise to the customers of business owners. If you have an eBay business, you are a business owner. This will allow you to offer a wide variety of stock in your eBay store, without having the need to warehouseall of those products!

Work at Home

2006-08-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Can anyone suggest an effective work at home scheme. I am not looking to make big money, just something to do at home and make some money.

Thanks!

eBay's negative sentiment continues

2006-08-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

started writing about eBay for Blogging Stocks in mid-June, only a month and half ago, when eBay was still over $30 a share. It's now trading under $24.

I kept noticing this downtrend, aware of investors concerns, but never 100% sure why the sentiment was so negative. Especially after Q2 earnings report. I thought that at most, and especially after the store listing fee increase, it should be treated as a neutral investment. A wait-and-see attitude, if you will. After all, isn't that fee increase a good move, promising the return to auction format, and hence more volume growth? (That would be despite the wrath of sellers apparent in the comments to this post).

No letup in sight for growth

2006-08-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

OZAUKEE COUNTY - With flexible work hours, no commute and a high level of autonomy, operating a home-based business certainly has its advantages over traditional employment. With many of the obstacles to starting such a venture now diminishing, recent research indicates that more and more individuals are in fact striking out on their own.
"With phones, PDAs and the Internet, people can run businesses anywhere," said researcher Joanne Pratt, whose study was published by the Small Business Administration.

While home-based businesses do not earn as much total revenue as those that rent office space, they do keep more of what they earn. Pratt’s report indicates that home-based firms take home 36 percent of gross receipts versus 21 percent for their counterparts.

Four Ways to Earn Extra Cash

2006-08-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

People are always looking for inventive ways to earn extra cash. With the cost of living rising, and gas prices skyrocketing, it is no wonder that so many people are financially strapped. Yet, there are ways to get your bank account out of the red. A second job may provide extra cash. Regrettably, this is will also zap you of time and energy. Rather, consider creative ways of earning additional cash. You’ll be surprise at the amount you are able to save by making simple lifestyle changes.
1. Direct Deposit into Savings Account

If your employer offers direct deposit, select this payment option. Instead of having the funds deposited into a checking account, deposit the money into a savings account. Next, transfer bill money to your checking account as needed. If you have a check card, there is the temptation to spend on a whim. On the other hand, if all available funds are left in a savings account, the money becomes less accessible. In turn, you spend less.

How to Become a Telecommuter

2006-08-11T04:39:00.000-07:00

Been to the gas pump lately? It's not fun. One way to cut down on your gas expenses is to reduce commuting back and forth to work. How can you do that? By telecommuting.

When you telecommute you work for your company at home, at least part of the time. The advantages of doing this are easy to imagine. No commuting back and forth, which reduces stress and gas expenses. You can sleep later and work when you are at your best. If necessary, you can run errands when the stores, post office, etc. are much less crowded. Your life will change for the better! I know, because I've been telecommuting for more than 10 years, and interviewed lots of companies and telecommuters for my book, The Telecommuter's Handbook.

10 Steps to Successful Selling on Ebay

2006-08-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

Jane Foster
August 10, 2006
So you want to be a successful seller with your own eBay business, do you? Here's a simple, ten-step path to eBay enlightenment.

Step 1: Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn't out of the items you're interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You'll probably see the sweet spots quite quickly - those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.

Step 2: Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.