Using The Ebay Anything Points Program.

eBay Anything points are a loyalty scheme, just like you might get in a shop. The buyer earns points on their purchases, which they can then redeem for money off when they pay for items through PayPal.

Buyers can also earn eBay Anything points when they use the eBay credit card, or exchange their frequent flyer miles for eBay Anything points. People think it’s really great to take frequent flyer miles they’re never going to use and get stuff on eBay for them.

How to Offer Points to Your Buyers.

Go to http://anythingpoints.ebay.com/offer.html and click ‘Log In to Offer Manager’. Enter an item’s number to offer Anything points on that item.

How Does it Work?

You choose how many points per dollar you want to offer to your buyers when they pay you with PayPal. Each point costs you 1c, and is worth 1c to the buyer – eBay don’t take anything out along the way.

For example, if you sell an item worth $500, and you offer 2 points per dollar, then the seller will receive 1000 eBay Anything points – the equivalent of $10. You only pay for the points when the buyer actually receives them, and you can offer points on as many or as few listings as you like.

Each listing you add will get a big banner below the description, saying “X Anything Points per dollar of the final price for buyers who pay with PayPal”. Buyers can click it for more information on the scheme.

Why Would You Want To?

Really, most sellers who offer points are doing it to get around a condition of their contract with their supplier. Many sellers only get access to goods at wholesale prices provided they don’t list them for sale below the manufacturer’s MAP, or minimum advertised price. The points allow them to offer the items at the MAP and then give their buyer money back in the form of points. It’s a bit like a virtual rebate.

The eBay Anything points scheme is good for you and for eBay, as it encourages buyers to use PayPal instead of more cumbersome payment methods. eBay are keen to promote PayPal, and obviously thought this would be a good way of doing it – not to mention that it keeps buyers coming back, to spend their points. You will also get to be listed on the ‘Earn Points from eBay Sellers’ page, which is here: http://anythingpoints.ebay.com/earn.html.

Here’s another advantage for you: if you buy things from sellers who offer Anything points, you can then use those points to pay your own seller fees. Another seller gets to pay your fees for you! All you need to do is go to My eBay, then Account Management, click the Pay button, and then choose the option to use your Anything points to pay.

If you’re going to offer points, then you want your auction to end for as much as you can possibly get – let the buyer pay for their own points! All you’ll need is our next email, all about strategies for when to start and end your auction.

SSL Certificates Offer Website Security

What is Secure Socket Layer (SSL)? Basically, it is the standard security technology used to encrypt online data. SSL offers encrypted communication between the web server (server-side) and the customer&s web browser (client-side) when transmitting personal information such as credit card number, name and address. The SSL protocol uses Certificate Authority (CA) to issue &digital certificates& to the authenticated company.

The whole SSL process involves authenticating the server&s identity, the website&s identity and once the authentication is verified, the message will be sent in the form of encrypted information to the one who asked for a certificate. Usually, a browser requests a SSL certificate and in turn the web server supplies its public key with the requested certificate. Then, the browser has to verify whether the certificate issued is valid (certified by the authorized parties) and also should verify whether the SSL certificate issued comes from the particular website for which the request has been made.

An SSL certificate contains important details of the owner like his e-mail address, validity period, Distinguished Name along with the Common Name and also the certificate identification of the person who issues this information. The Certification Authority (CA) maintains an extensive list in which we can find names of the signed certificates and also more information about the revoked SSL certificates. Additionally, SSL increases the accountability and visibility of the company and creates goodwill and positive image among the customers. The certification maintains the integrity of the data passed to and fro between the browsers and web server (this is private and confidential). Thus, it’s a good tool to meet the security, privacy, safety standards required to protect sensitive and personal data.

SSL is especially important when we give our credit card, personal information to e-commerce websites. SSL certification cannot easily be accessed by hackers because the certificates have the proper key to encrypt the data. Therefore, the security of the certificate is taken care off in all aspects so one can really rely on the Certificate Authority (CA).

The internet has undoubtedly created new opportunities for e-commerce. However, that development is also attracting an ever-increasing number of cyber criminals. A fraudulent web site made to look very alike to a legitimate website may try to entice innocent customers into revealing personal information unknowingly. The only solution to this problem is to take advantage of the Secure Sockets Layer technology and implement it on your website. On the bottom line, every website that deals with sensitive information like credit card numbers or any other critical person information should have proper SSL certifications in place to protect them and their customers.

How To Start Your Own Affiliate Program

1. Why Start Your Own Affiliate Program?

Multiple web sites and distributors selling your product can result in increased sales and profits. Unlike conventional advertising, affiliate programs pay only for performance. Commissions are not paid out unless sales are made.

Also, with many more web sites linking to yours, your link popularity is sure to increase in search engines, resulting in additional traffic and income.

2. Combine a Merchant Account with Your Affiliate Program

If your product is downloadable (such as electronic books or software), you might consider ClickBank.com. For a $49.95 initial fee, you can process credit cards and on-line cheques for $1.00 per transaction plus 7.5% of sales. As an added bonus, you have your own built-in affiliate program.

ClickBank gives you a listing on their web site and visitors can buy your products and join your affiliate program. You choose the commission rate you are willing to pay. All commission payments are handled by ClickBank. One downside is that you can`t run a two-tiered program.

3. Use an Affiliate Program Script

If you are comfortable with running CGI scripts, you may wish to install your own affiliate program on your server and administer the affiliate program yourself.

Be forewarned, though, that this is a lot of work. You will be responsible for all the testing, security, commission payments, promotion and so on. Another downside: Will your potential affiliates trust you since their commissions are not tracked and paid by an independent third party?

4. Use a Hosted Solution

There are good reasons for not hosting your affiliate program on your server. Perhaps you don`t have the time to administer all the aspects of an affiliate program. Maybe your time could be used more productively in other areas of your business. Additionally, an independent third party tracking and paying affiliate commissions inspires confidence in prospective affiliates. Finally, you just might benefit from the additional exposure that an affiliate network brings you.

ClixGalore.com is an example of an affiliate network. You will need to pay a $75.00 deposit to cover affiliate commissions. They charge 25% of any affiliate commissions paid. For example, if you paid an affiliate a 10% commission on a $100.00 sale, you would pay the affiliate $10.00 and ClixGalore $2.50.

With ClixGalore, you can also have a two-tier program. Taking the above example, if you paid affiliates for finding other affiliates, you might pay 2% on your second tier. That would be another $2.00 commission and $ .50 affiliate network fee for a total of $15.00 in commissions on both levels.

5. For All Affiliate Programs

Setup your own web page (or pages) outlining the benefits of your affiliate program. Offer articles, suggestions, text and banner links, and other useful support for your affiliates.

Offer a generous commission so that others feel motivated to sell for you. Obtain the e-mail addresses of your affiliates so that you can keep in touch with them to aid them to sell more.

For increased traffic, sales and profits, start your own affiliate program.

How To Use The Ebay “Checkout Service”.

Back in the ‘old days’ of eBay, getting payment for the item was entirely left up to sellers: you had to choose your payment service, sign up for it and then send links to your buyers. Now, though, eBay handle most of the complexities of payment for you with their checkout.

How Do I Offer the Checkout?

The checkout will be offered to your buyers automatically. When they win an item, eBay send them an email with a ‘Pay Now’ button that takes them to the checkout, and they can also access it through their My eBay page.

It is in step 4 of the ‘Sell Your Item’ process, the payment and shipping step, that you can choose which kinds of payment you want to accept through the checkout and which you don’t.

PayPal: You should be accepting PayPal. You might want to click ‘Edit Preferences’, however, to either select or de-select the ‘tell buyers I prefer PayPal payments’ box – you don’t want to tell people you love PayPal when you only tolerate it. If you’re selling Buy it Now items, you can also tick the box to require immediate PayPal payment for them.

Money orders and cheques: tick these boxes if you want to accept the more ‘traditional’ payment methods. Your address will be revealed to your buyers so that they can post the payment to you – you should make sure eBay have the correct address.

You may also tick credit cards to accept, which you should do if you have your own merchant account or an account at somewhere like NoChex that you’d like to use.

It’s also worth writing any instructions that might be needed in the box on this page, such as who to make cheques out to or a warning that international non-PayPal payments might take a long time.

What Happens When Buyers Use It?

Once you’ve set the checkout up on your items, buyers will be able to choose which way they would like to pay you out of the options available, and eBay’s checkout will take them through the process step-by-step. This will save you the trouble of having to explain things.

When the buyer pays or agrees how to pay, eBay will send you an item letting you know what happened. If might tell you that the money is now in your PayPal account and you should send the item, or it might say that they’ve put a cheque in the post. Remember to wait for payments to clear before you send anything.

That’s it – the role of the checkout is over. You just configure the checkout; it’s the buyer who deals with it the most. You might have noticed, though, that you can configure the checkout differently for different items. This is sometimes worth doing if you some of the items you sell are worth more than others, and you’d prefer not to accept PayPal for the highly-valued ones, for example.

By now, you might be a little sick of going through the ‘Sell Your Item’ screens each time you want to list something. The next email will show you how to use eBay’s automated listing tools.

How to Sell Your Products on eBay

Founded in September 1995, eBay is The World&s Online Marketplace for the sale of goods and services by a diverse community of individuals and small businesses. Today, the eBay community includes more than a hundred million registered members from around the world. People spend more time on eBay than any other online site, making it the most popular shopping destination on the Internet.

Did you know that most eBay sellers are full time workers in a huge variety of work domains? You may see eBay as a great opportunity to supplement your income, or you may see it as a modern form of a garage sale. Regardless of your views, you can make the most out of eBay’s offer and reach an extensive audience for whatever it is that you wish to sell.

Selling your product on eBay is a user friendly, simple process. The first thing that you need to do is to create your own free eBay account. In order to do this you need to provide the site with your credit or debit card number and your checking account information. You needn&t worry about security issues, as eBay has some of the most secure servers in the world.

The second step is to choose to have your fees deducted from your checking account with eBay Direct Pay or to pay for them with your credit card. EBay charges you an insertion fee, for each item you post for sale, and a final value fee when the item is sold. The fees are low and if the item isn’t sold you don’t have to pay the final value fee. In case you do not have a credit card you can still participate to the buying and selling activities on eBay by verifying your identity for $5.

When you eBay account is ready you will have to follow these steps: • Decide on your selling format. There are several ways to sell items on eBay and you will have to choose the one that suits your need best. • Select a category – place your ad in a relevant context for better exposure. Its like selling them in the right place inside a huge mall. People will likely to search at that category, just don’t forget to emphasize on categories. • Write a concise title. Titles sell the best, one-liners or what you think is best. You can make things appealing considering you have the merchandise; they can instantly pull of another sound made by cash registers on a sale. • Describe your item as clearly as possible. EBay users search of the best image for the merchandise, you can have to improve your camera skills to attract probable customers. And of course add photos of the item in all angles. This is a very convincing argument for most buyers as they will trust your product more when they get to actually see it. • Set your price and the duration of your auction. Having to decide on this might be a good idea when the bidding closes off, as some schemes let the possible buyers choose the buy it now option if the conditions apply, try to experiment on things that may entice them to actually buy the product at a high price. • Make your item stand out from the crowd by using the numerous listing upgrades. Upgrading your listing makes them fresh and on top of the competition. this is fairly optional, but if you have the time to update your list, might as well do them. • Enter Payment and Shipping Information and specify who will pay for the shipping and how your buyer will release funds for it. These conditions are critical to state. Often, confusing your prospects and make them walk away from the deal if you give them a horrible shipping condition. Try to build their trust; after all, what you really want is to sell your items.

The steps mentioned above will take only minutes to complete, making your eBay selling experience a pleasant one. You will be asked to review all of the information you provided and then submit it. Your eBay listing begins from that moment and you can start watching the buying process unfold.

An SEO Glossary – Common SEO Terms Defined

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become an essential weapon in the arsenal of every online business. Unfortunately, for most business owners and marketing managers (and even many webmasters), it’s also somewhat of an enigma. This is partly due to the fact that it’s such a new and rapidly changing field, and partly due to the fact that SEO practitioners tend to speak in a language all of their own which, without translation, is virtually impenetrable to the layperson. This glossary seeks to remedy that situation, explaining specialist SEO terms in plain English…

AdWords

See ‘Sponsored Links’.

algorithm

A complex mathematical formula used by search engines to assess the relevance and importance of websites and rank them accordingly in their search results. These algorithms are kept tightly under wraps as they are the key to the objectivity of search engines (i.e. the algorithm ensures relevant results, and relevant results bring more users, which in turn brings more advertising revenue).

article PR

The submitting of free reprint articles to many article submission sites and article distribution lists in order to increase your website’s search engine ranking and Google PageRank. (In this sense, the “PR” stands for PageRank.) Like traditional public relations, article PR also conveys a sense of authority because your articles are widely published. And because you’re proving your expertise and freely dispensing knowledge, your readers will trust you and will be more likely to remain loyal to you. (In this sense, the “PR” stands for Public Relations.)

article distribution lists

User groups (e.g. Yahoo, MSN, Google, Smartgroups, and Topica groups) which accept email submissions of articles in text format, and then distribute these articles via email to all of the members of the group. See also ‘article PR’.

article submission sites

Websites which act as repositories of free reprint articles. Authors visit these sites to submit their articles free of charge, and webmasters visit to find articles to use on their websites free of charge. Article submission sites generate revenue by selling advertising space on their websites. See also ‘article PR’.

backlink

A text link to your website from another website. See also ‘link’.

copy

The words used on your website.

copywriter

A professional writer who specializes in the writing of advertising copy (compelling, engaging words promoting a particular product or service). See also ‘SEO copywriter’ and ‘web copywriter’.

crawl

Google finds pages on the World Wide Web and records their details in its index by sending out ‘spiders’ or ‘robots’. These spiders make their way from page to page and site to site by following text links. To a spider, a text link is like a door.

domain name

The virtual address of your website (normally in the form www.yourbusinessname.com). This is what people will type when they want to visit your site. It is also what you will use as the address in any text links back to your site.

ezine

An electronic magazine. Most publishers of ezines are desperate for content and gladly publish well written, helpful articles and give you full credit as author, including a link to your website.

Flash

A technology used to create animated web pages (and page elements).

free reprint article

An article written by you and made freely available to other webmasters to publish on their websites. See also ‘article PR’.

Google

The search engine with the greatest coverage of the World Wide Web, and which is responsible for most search engine-referred traffic. Of approximately 11.5 billion pages on the World Wide Web, it is estimated that Google has indexed around 8.8 billion. This is one reason why it takes so long to increase your ranking!

Google AdWords

See ‘Sponsored Links’.

Google PageRank

How Google scores a website’s importance. It gives all sites a mark out of 10. By downloading the Google Toolbar (from http://toolbar.google.com), you can view the PR of any site you visit.

Google Toolbar

A free tool you can download. It becomes part of your browser toolbar. It’s most useful features are it’s PageRank display (which allows you to view the PR of any site you visit) and it’s AutoFill function (when you’re filling out an online form, you can click AutoFill, and it enters all the standard information automatically, including Name, Address, Zip code/Postcode, Phone Number, Email Address, Business Name, Credit Card Number (password protected), etc.) Once you’ve downloaded and installed the toolbar, you may need to set up how you’d like it to look and work by clicking Options (setup is very easy). NOTE: Google does record some information (mostly regarding sites visited).

HTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the coding language used to create much of the information on the World Wide Web. Web browsers read the HTML code and display the page that code describes.

Internet

An interconnected network of computers around the world.

JavaScript

A programming language used to create dynamic website pages (e.g. interactivity).

keyword

A word which your customers search for and which you use frequently on your site in order to be relevant to those searches. This use known as targeting a keyword. Most websites actually target ‘keyword phrases’ because single keywords are too generic and it is very difficult to rank highly for them.

keyword density

A measure of the frequency of your keyword in relation to the total wordcount of the page. So if your page has 200 words, and your keyword phrase appears 10 times, its density is 5%.

keyword phrase

A phrase which your customers search for and which you use frequently on your site in order to be relevant to those searches.

link

A word or image on a web page which the reader can click to visit another page. There are normally visual cues to indicate to the reader that the word or image is a link.

link path

Using text links to connect a series of page (i.e. page 1 connects to page 2, page 2 connects to page 3, page 3 connects to page 4, and so on). Search engine ‘spiders’ and ‘robots’ use text links to jump from page to page as they gather information about it, so it’s a good idea to allow them traverse your entire site via text links. (See ‘Link paths’ on p.21. for further information.)

link partner

A webmaster who is willing to put a link to your website on their website. Quite often link partners engage in reciprocal linking.

link popularity

The number of links to your website. Link popularity is the single most important factor in a high search engine ranking. Webmasters use a number of methods to increase their site’s link popularity including article PR, link exchange (link partners / reciprocal linking), link buying, and link directories.

link text

The part of a text link that is visible to the reader. When generating links to your own site, they are most effective (in terms of ranking) if they include your keyword.

meta tag

A short note within the header of the HTML of your web page which describes some aspect of that page. These meta tags are read by the search engines and used to help assess the relevance of a site to a particular search.

natural search results

The ‘real’ search results. The results that most users are looking for and which take up most of the window. For most searches, the search engine displays a long list of links to sites with content which is related to the word you searched for. These results are ranked according to how relevant and important they are.

organic search results

See ‘natural search results’.

PPC (Pay-Per-Click advertising)

See ‘Sponsored Links’.

PageRank

See ‘Google PageRank’.

rank

Your position in the search results that display when someone searches for a particular word at a search engine.

reciprocal link

A mutual agreement between two webmasters to exchange links (i.e. they both add a link to the other’s website on their own website). Most search engines (certainly Google) are sophisticated enough to detect reciprocal linking and they don’t view it very favorably because it is clearly a manufactured method of generating links. Websites with reciprocal links risk being penalized.

robot

See ‘Spider’.

robots.txt file

A file which is used to inform the search engine spider which pages on a site should not be indexed. This file sits in your site’s root directory on the web server. (Alternatively, you can do a similar thing by placing tags in the header section of your HTML for search engine robots/spiders to read. See ‘Optimizing your web ’ on p.22. for more information.)

Sandbox

Many SEO experts believe that Google ‘sandboxes’ new websites. Whenever it detects a new website, it withholds its rightful ranking for a period while it determines whether your site is a genuine, credible, long term site. It does this to discourage the creation of SPAM websites (sites which serve no useful purpose other than to boost the ranking of some other site). Likewise, if Google detects a sudden increase (i.e. many hundreds or thousands) in the number of links back to your site, it may sandbox them for a period (or in fact penalize you by lowering your ranking or blacklisting your site altogether).

SEO

Search Engine Optimization. The art of making your website relevant and important so that it ranks high in the search results for a particular word.

SEO copywriter

A ‘copywriter’ who is not only proficient at web copy, but also experienced in writing copy which is optimized for search engines (and will therefore help you achieve a better search engine ranking for your website).

search engine

A search engine is an online tool which allows you to search for websites which contain a particular word or phrase. The most well known search engines are Google, Yahoo, and MSN.

site map

A single page which contains a list of text links to every page in the site (and every page contains a text link back to the site map). Think of your site map as being at the center of a spider-web.

SPAM

Generally refers to unwanted and unrequested email sent en-masse to private email addresses. Also used to refer to websites which appear high in search results without having any useful content. The creators of these sites set them up simply to cash in on their high ranking by selling advertising space, links to other sites, or by linking to other sites of their own and thereby increasing the ranking of those sites. The search engines are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and already have very efficient ways to detect SPAM websites and penalize them.

spider

Google finds pages on the World Wide Web and records their details in its index by sending out ‘spiders’ or ‘robots’. These spiders make their way from page to page and site to site by following text links.

Sponsored Links

Paid advertising which displays next to the natural search results. Customers can click on the ad to visit the advertiser’s website. This is how the search engines make their money. Advertisers set their ads up to display whenever someone searches for a word which is related to their product or service. These ads look similar to the natural search results, but are normally labeled “Sponsored Links”, and normally take up a smaller portion of the window. These ads work on a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) basis (i.e. the advertiser only pays when someone clicks on their ad).

submit

You can submit your domain name to the search engines so that their ‘spiders’ or ‘robots’ will crawl your site. You can also submit articles to ‘article submission sites’ in order to have them published on the Internet.

text link

A word on a web page which the reader can click to visit another page. Text links are normally blue and underlined. Text links are what ‘spiders’ or ‘robots’ use to jump from page to page and website to website.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. The address of a particular page published on the Internet. Normally in the form http://www.yourbusinessname.com/AWebPage.htm.

web copy

See ‘copy’.

web copywriter

A ‘copywriter’ who understands the unique requirements of writing for an online medium.

webmaster

A person responsible for the management of a particular website.

wordcount

The number of words on a particular web page.

World Wide Web (WWW)

The vast array of documents published on the Internet. It is estimated that the World Wide Web now consists of approximately 11.5 billion pages.

Quick Guide To Accepting Payments Online

There are many ways of accepting payments online, some are easier, some more expensive, and some which offer ways to take online payments, and pay affiliates without tracking them yourself.

Accepting payments online can be a minefield and as the amount of online payment processors grows, the choice becomes more difficult as to which online payment processor to use. Here we weigh up the pros and cons of 3 of the top online payment processors.

One of the biggest and most widely accepted ways of accepting payment online is to use Paypal. Anyone who has used Ebay is likely to have already come accross Paypal even if they haven&t signed up for an account. Paypal allows the online merchant to accept instant payments from customers either directly from the customers Paypal funds or from a credit card. This combined with its high profile, and use by Ebay makes it a useful payment processor to the new marketer online.

Paypal also gives you easy ways to create buttons and sales links to sell your products, and in the case of digital or downloadable products can be set to send a customer straight to the download page so your delivery work is done automatically. The thing to bear in mind is the fees associated with Paypal, as they take a percentage of every sale paid through them. The fees can soon add up and knock a hole in your profits.

Another favourite payment processor with online marketers is ClickBank.com who also accept credit cards on your behalf.

Clickbank is preferred to Paypal by some vendors due to its built in affiliate program which also has many affiliates searching for products to sell for commissions.

Clickbank makes it easy to setup an affiliate program and pays your affiliates for you directly, and can also offer the instant downloads the same as Paypal. As it already has a huge army of affiliates and people making search scripts to find products in the Clickbank marketplace it seems to be the answer to all your online sales needs, but unfortunately Clickbank have made it difficult to sell more than one product, so you need another account each time you want to sell something, or all your products on one page for affiliates to send their potential clients to.

Another thing in Clickbanks favour is that they have recently started allowing payment from Paypal, so that makes the payment options more varied for your customers, and affiliate customers.

Clickbanks one drawback is that you can only sell digital products through its system, so if you want to sell physical products such as books etc. then you need to look elsewhere.

Another option is to use an online credit card processor such as 2 Checkout (AKA 2CO) which offers the user the ability to accept all kinds of credit cards, and is able to be “plugged into” many shopping cart scripts for use on websites. Although it offers no affiliate program itself, 2Checkout doesn’t stop you using multi level affiliate scripts, unlike Paypal, and Clickbank which are limited in this respect. Where 2Checkout doesn’t compare so favourably is in the fees charged for each transaction, but you do only pay a one off fee to get an account unlike most credit card processors which charge fees and a monthly or yearly membership fee.

These are just some of the choices available to the online marketer who wants to accept payments online, all have pros and cons, but you need to look at what you want to do, and choose one or two of these services to start selling your products online. Use the one which best fits your business model, and budget, you can always look at other ways to accept payment later, but these will get you started.

Online Internet Shopping is the Craze in Australia

Aussies and the world are logging on in record numbers, recent surveys conducted found that:

• Australians spent an average of $471 online in November (Nielson/NetRating)
• The number of Australian shoppers utilising the Internet has grown exponentially, almost doubling to 2.3 million in the past twelve months (news.com.au)
• 68% of Australians have a home Internet connection (Nielson/NetRating)
• Australians are spending 31 hrs a month online compared to just 10 hrs in 2003 (Nielson/NetRating)

Throughout the world consumer preferences are changing, online purchases are fast becoming the norm as potential customers are becoming computer savvy. Here are few more resounding global facts.

• 400 million passengers worldwide are now booking their flights over the internet (TheAge)
• The French spend nearly 50hrs a month online (Nielson/NetRating)
• Online consumers spent a whopping $22.3 billion in America 2005

With these kinds of figures we know that consumer loyalties are changing when it comes to purchasing goods. Consumer confidence is at all time high and we at thedeal would like to help you the consumer with your online purchasing.

We have put together a quick online shopping checklist which we hope will guide you safely through deciding which and where to purchase your products.

Online shopping checklist

1. Identifying info—do you know who you’re dealing with?
Has the website provided contact information, such as the physical address of the business, phone and fax numbers and, in the case of Australian businesses, an Australian Business Number (ABN)? This is important if something goes wrong, for example, if your package doesn’t arrive or your credit card is charged incorrectly.

2. Description of product—do you know what you’re buying?
Make sure the goods or services you are buying have been clearly described and they suit your need. Confirm this with the business (e.g. by email or phone).

3. Cost and currency—do you know how much you’re paying?
It is important that you know the final cost, especially if the business is going to charge your credit card. Clarify that delivery and handling costs have been included and check there are no ongoing fees.

Check if there any applicable taxes or import duties.

You should also clarify the currency—even an Australian company might list prices in US dollars.

4. Confirm the order—do you know if your order is correct?
Once you know the final cost it is useful to get confirmation of your order before agreeing to pay.

5. Applicable law—do you know which country&s laws will apply to the transaction?
This is particularly important if you are doing business with a website based in another country.

6. Privacy—do you know how any personal information you submit will be treated?
Many websites have privacy policies stating how they will deal with personal information. It’s important that you read these policies as your name could end up on mailing lists that receive unsolicited email from online marketers. In many countries, including Australia, there is now privacy legislation.

7. Payment mechanism—do you know what sort of online security the website has for processing your payment?
You need to satisfy yourself that any online payment by credit card is secure. Many online payment systems use secure sockets layer (SSL). The site should tell you that you are entering a secure online environment before you start to provide your credit card details. Usually an unbroken key or lock will appear in the bottom of your browser window to indicate you are sending information via a secure connection, or the web address will begin with https//:

8. Print out details—do you have printed copies of the terms of your agreement?
Make sure you print out any form you have filled in and keep copies of any email correspondence. It’s a good idea to print out pages from the website as a record of the offer you have accepted. This is important if the business denies having made promises to you. Remember, websites change regularly, and even disappear completely. You want to be able to prove the terms of your contract with the business.

9. Delivery—do you know how long it will take for the product to get to you and who to call if it doesn’t arrive?
You should clarify an expected delivery date so that you know when to start chasing it up if it hasn’t arrived.

10. Terms and conditions—do you know all the terms and conditions?
These will give you details of how the company deals with its customers. They need to be read carefully in case there are things you were unaware of, for instance, what happens if the chosen product is unavailable.

11. Refunds and warranties—do you know the business&s return, exchange, refund and warranty policies?
If you can’t find any policies on the website, contact the business via email or telephone and ask them to explain their procedures.

Australian businesses are bound by the Trade Practices Act and/or fair trading legislation. This means businesses have to replace a product or refund your money if that product is not of merchantable quality, or fit for any purpose that you’ve made known to the supplier. Goods must also match any description given by the trader (this could include matching a photograph of the goods).

For services, they should be rendered with due care and skill and be reasonably fit to achieve the purpose specified.

Remember that goods bought at auction are not covered by statutory warranty rights other than those relating to clear title, quiet possession and owning the goods outright.

12. Complaint handling and dispute resolution—will you have access to a complaints handling process or any external dispute resolution mechanisms?
Are you satisfied that, if you aren&t happy with some part of the purchase, the business will attempt to resolve any complaint you make in a fair and open manner? Many businesses have policies about internal complaint handling and external dispute resolution when that they can’t address any complaint you make directly to them—it’s worth checking this out before you make your purchase.

http://www.thedeal.net.au – Online Shopping Australia

Are affiliate programs good business opportunities?

Affiliate programs are great business opportunities, as well as a great business idea. Here’s the scoop. You join an affiliate company and they give you a unique URL called an, “Affiliate Link,” that only you have. When people click on your affiliate link it not only takes them to your affiliate website but it also alerts the affiliate company that you directed this person to their website. Now if that person makes a purchase you will be paid a commission as a reward for generating business for that company. Commissions can be as high as 75%! Dose that sound exciting to you? If so read on!

How can you find an affiliate program? There are literally 1000&s of websites eager for new affiliates. One way is to do a search for, “affiliate programs” using a search engine such as Google. Another way is to join ClickBank. ClickBank works with 100&s of affiliate companies. After you join ClickBank, You then choose from a list affiliates ClickBank is affiliated with. You then promote an affiliate link that is a combination of ClickBank’s and whatever affiliate site you are promoting. ClickBank then pays you instead of the company you are an affiliate for. You can also find a link usually labeled, “affiliates” on websites that have affiliate programs. You will usually find this link at the very bottom of the homepage in very small text size.

Depending on which Affiliate program you join they will pay you weekly, biweekly, monthly or bimonthly but most often biweekly or monthly. They will usually give you the option of how you will get paid via company check or Electronic Bank Transfer. I prefer Electronic Bank Transfer because payment is immediate and you don’t have to worry about your check getting lost or stolen.

The greatest thing about running an affiliate business in my opinion is this. When you run a business, any business whether it is internet based or not, you must deal with a host of things including, but not limited to, inventory, storage, packing, shipping, complaints, returns, phone calls, emails, checks and credit cards just to name a few. When you’re an affiliate, “they” take care of all of that for you! Your only job is to advertise for them. Once you have directed someone to your affiliate website via your affiliate link your job is done. They will take over from there. What could be a sweeter deal?!

Advertising your affiliate link can be accomplished in a number of different ways. Google AdWords is one way. Article submission is another way. There are 1000&s of Article submission sites where you can submit your articles to for free. As an example you can check out, IdeaMarketers. Click on the link at the upper right part of their homepage entitled, “Learn How This Site Works.” There are a number of ways you can find other article submission sites far too numerous to approach here, so I will only say that one way is to do a search using any search engine and typing in, “Article Submission Sites.” Another way to allow your affiliate link to be made known to the world is through discussion forums. One of the best out there is the AssociatePrograms.com forum. Discussion forums allow you to attach a signature file to the bottom of all your posts, where you may include your affiliate link.

All right. We’ve discussed all of the exciting aspects to joining an affiliate program like receiving commissions as high as 75%, not having to deal with inventory, storage, packing, shipping, complaints, returns, phone calls, emails, checks or credit cards etc., getting paid most often biweekly or monthly and usually having your choice of payment via check or Electronic Bank Transfer. We also discussed, how to advertise your affiliate link using little or no money. Now it is up you. Dose having an affiliate business sound good to you? If so find, join, and promote your affiliate business and/or businesses using the techniques discussed here. And remember, affiliate programs are fabulous business opportunities as well as a great business idea!

Increasing E-Commerce Website Sales: A Guide for the Online Newbie

With consumers purchasing billions of dollars of merchandise online each and every year, the Internet has become the key to financial security. The
e-commerce business has consistently thrived well above all other online enterprises, and continues to flourish. Because of this encouraging surge in activity, many individuals are now interested in becoming e-commerce merchants. To profit from your online business, you must first produce a unique website that will intrigue visitors and interest them in your items.

In reality, the e-commerce business is not much different than your average offline retail venture. Both vendors have products that he aims to sell, and each retailer must discover the appropriate avenue to market these items. Online shoppers crave the same things that traditional shoppers demand: a pleasant shopping experience, in-stock merchandise, and a courteous vendor. If you seek to please the customer, your e-commerce business shall prosper.

Almost every e-commerce website that is currently profiting has a clean, crisp layout, and effortless navigation. It is essential for you to have several categories featuring your products that are easy to browse. Clear, detailed images should also be readily available. Customers should have the opportunity to examine your products and compare them with others.

An ideal e-commerce store will have many WebPages. These pages will be organized into various categories, with searchable properties, and will use thumbnail pictures for faster loading time. Each picture should also have a detailed description of the product. The easier the site is to access, the more likely it is the visitor will purchase a product.

Website security has become a major issue in cyberspace. It is up to you as an e-commerce vendor to make each one of your customers feel at ease shopping at your online store. It is crucial for you to have Secure Socket Layering (SSL) on your online payment pages, so you have the capacity to handle encrypted transactions, such as credit card processing. Outwardly demonstrating to your customers that your website is secure will make them more comfortable shopping with you.

Customer service information should be an eminent characteristic on your
e-commerce website. It is essential that you have a Contact Us link on your site&s menu, and on every page of your website. This link should be directed to another page, which lists an e-mail address, phone number, and mailing address. Customers need to feel that they can contact you at any time if they have any questions or problems. It is also wise to have a Frequently Asked Questions section to your site, which provides answers to common queries.

With the e-commerce business leading the way in the web of money-making ventures, many are racing to join the masses. While building and eventually increasing sales to your e-commerce site may not come easily at first, in time, the rewards will be plentiful.

Dr. J. Elisha Burke
Copyright 2005 Burke Publications All Rights Reserved

Antivirus Program

Antivirusprogram.se helps in choosing the right antivirus program and keeps updating the information’s correctly about the new viruses and also the new traits in the antivirus programs. The information provided by the antivirusprogram.se will help in overcoming the virus problem by self at that moment. The most necessary programs like dialers, antivirus, malware, spyware will be available. The website is also available in all the leading languages of the world, information about the old and the very new virus can be read under “Virusakuten” column. This website consists of the people who have worked for several years with the virus threats, security threats, and antivirus and all are certified by CISSP.

Malware is software that is designed for destroying or harming or reducing the stability of a system. And the firewall is another program that makes sure that antivirus is updated in the system. For controlling and removing these malwares from entering the system, updated antivirus program is most necessary in every system. Antivirusprogram.se is a Swedish company. Viruses are prone to attack the system daily when using the internet, so it is very necessary to ensure that the antivirus program is updated daily before browsing and checking emails, for complete safety of the system. This website helps in finding all such information regarding antivirus programs.

To the left of this websites many links are found that direct and guide with more information on antivirus programs together with other security concerned programs helping the user to save and protect the stored information and datas in the computer. There is software Spyware that can be said as the one in malware family, which is used to steal or change the informations like the credit card details, and sensitive personal information of the user like the most visiting WebPages etc. Some spyware change the route of the homepage directing it to the creators website for creating the web traffic and make money.

Spywares try to get installed in the system automatically when visited some websites and together they also include with some of the programs that are installed manually by the user. If attacked by a spyware then the system will be prone to show more pop up windows and advertisements, web pages will be directed to unknown pages. Desired search will not be done by the search engine taking the user to the unknown links.

Many programs are available to protect the system from the spyware. Antivirus companies in maximum number give in built protection against spyware that are included in the security packages sold by the supplier. For removing this spyware the antivirusprogram.se provides a link to pestpatrol on the left which will help to remove al spyware related problems.

Spams are the big headache for the regular email users, Spams are nothing but the unwanted waste emails that are pushed to the inbox of the user. Spammers collect the emails of through virus or forwarded messages and there is no actually 100% protection for the spasm. But still can be safe from the spasm by getting link to the antispam links through the antivirusprogram.se on the left i.e. antispam appliance and antispam home.

eBay Selling Tips for Everyone

Ever wondered how to get the most out of eBay? First off here are some practical eBay selling tips:

You need an eBay account. Then, take note of this step-by-step guide for setting up an auction. This is the core of eBay selling tips that you need to know.

Before you sell anything on eBay you should be guided by the eBay selling tip of researching first to make sure that you are going to get the best possible result. There might be better ways to sell your items in the research what sells on EBay section of the eBay.

Auctions with pictures almost always sell for more than those without pictures. You&ll eventually want to invest in a digital camera, but for just getting started, you can take pictures with a regular camera.

On eBay selling tips regarding listing of products, one of the big mistakes when it comes to selling on eBbay is not listing the item at the right time and not for a long enough duration.

Try to write a clear and concise description and title. This will help save you time by cutting down the number of questions from potential bidders. If you do get questions, you should try to answer them promptly.

Research closed auctions to get an idea of what you might expect your item to sell for, and to figure out what to set your starting bid at.

The eBay selling tip on the best time start your auction is during weekdays so that it will finish on the weekend. The main reason for this is that most people are home on the weekends and have the time to sit and wait to the last minute to make their. Try to have your auction end by Sunday evening. This eBay selling tip is very advisable and have been experienced successful by most sellers.

It’s usually best to state in the auction what the shipping costs will be. The USPS usually has better shipping rates on smaller items. It’s a good idea to also check the rates at UPS and Fed-Ex if you’re shipping something heavy. UPS are better shipping transaction for heavier items, because they&ll pick the package up from your house for no extra charge.

You can get free USPS Priority Mail boxes and tape here: Free Priority Mail Supplies.
You can print a free shipping label with free delivery confirmation on Priority Mail by going here.

You should decide what types of payments you will accept. This is an important eBay selling tip. Make sure to include that information in your auction. There’s Paypal, C2it, StormPay, PayingFast and Postal Money Orders only. Electronic payment services are likeable because they allow you to take credit card payments and receive payments extremely fast.
It is a useful eBay tip not to take checks because risk is involved in this. As for money orders, take only the ones purchased from the post office. Recently we found out that banks treat all others the same as checks and people can put stop to payments on them. Also, Postal Money Orders can be cashed at the post office.

Here’s a list of payment services you might want to check into:
Paypal
StormPay
C2it
PayingFast
BidPay
Western Union
CCNow
PaybyCheck

You should ship items out as promptly as you can, once your received the payment. Some people like to ship items out immediately after receiving the payment. But if you don’t like running to the post office every day, especially if you have to take your kids along, then by all means, go about once a week.

State in your auctions that the item will be shipped within 7 days after payment is received, so that bidders know ahead of time that the item may not ship out right away.

There are other eBay selling tips which will be a great start in maximizing your profit potential. This can be achieved by giving your customers a professional look and feel to your auction listings. This presentation will entice more bids and hence more money for you.

There’s also some Auction E-Books that include in it more worthwhile eBay selling tips which will help you make money on Ebay. A lot of this information is absolutely free.

Keep it Safe Shopping Online

Everyone is talking about online shopping. It’s easy and a lot less hassle than a trip to the mall. It puts unbelievable choice right at your fingertips. Despite the advantages, there are certain things you do and don’t do when it comes to your money and your safety. Street smarts are the rule online and off when it comes to safe shopping. Online that goes double.

Online shoppers, just like those in the physical world, know to be aware of the neighborhood where they are shopping. They know the reputations of the places where they do business. They watch their wallets, and they know to be aware of who might be scrutinizing them just a little too closely.

Do a little research. Anyone can build a website. If you encounter an unfamiliar company where you want to shop, find out who they are. Look for an address. Be wary of any company that does not list one. An address is no guarantee, but you can use it to check references with the Better Business Bureau, BBB. Their online site at http://bbb.org/ has nationwide listings.

Sometimes you may want more information than the BBB provides. In this case, after the BBB check, use your favorite search engine and try an “about search.” The difference in an “about search,” and just looking for the site, is that you already know where the site is; now you want to find out what people are saying about it. Generally, just putting “about” in front of the company name will get you started.

For a very small purchase, you might want to dispense with all this investigating. But do use a low limit credit card. That way if anything does go awry, it isn’t that far awry. Yes, we all know about the $50 liability limit, but the low limit card can be a hassle saver online.

You may choose not to use a debit card online at all. Many debit cards do not offer the same protections against fraud as credit card companies. You could be putting your whole bank account at risk.

While you are at it, be sure to check out the return policy and guarantee. Online and off, most good companies do accept returns, either by providing a cash refund or product exchange. Note, however, shipping costs are typically not refunded for online purchases.

Online Security:

After you’ve found exactly what you have been looking for, checked out the seller, and their return policy; the next thing you need to do is make sure the site is secure. Secure means your personal information is encrypted in transit to the seller’s server. This prevents unauthorized (hacker) access and possible misuse of your credit information.

Examine the URL in the address bar. If the site is encrypted you will see an “s” directly after the http – like https://… The whole site will not be encrypted, but the order page for the transaction should be.

Other things to look for – depending on your browser, you may see either an open or a closed padlock, or a whole or broken key. If the key is broken or the lock open, you should assume that the site is not encrypted.

Sometimes security issues get tricky. Suppose you personally know the owner, it is a solid local business, but there is no encryption system in place and they expect you to transmit your credit information online. With small businesses, this is most often a case of not knowing better, that does not, however, mean that you do not. In cases like this, look for a phone number and call in your order. If there is no phone number and no mailing address, you should seriously consider whether you want to risk an unsecured transaction.

Common sense is the rule online and off. Guard your personal information, including Social Security Number, bank account information and passwords. No reputable merchant has a need for your Social Security Number and it is not standard policy to ask for it when you buy your groceries for instance. Requiring this for a routine purchase should send up a red flag. You should immediately take your business elsewhere. Some will do whatever they can think of, in all kinds of official looking ways, to get you to provide private personal information. If you call, they may personally assure you that they do indeed need your bank account and password to sell you that CD. No way, just because it looks good, and they sound sincere, doesn’t mean that it is or they are, and you may not know there was ever a problem until you see your credit report.

The last big rule is to keep copies of everything. Print out the pages with the description and prices of items you order. Print out your credit card receipt. Most companies will email you a copy as well. Keep that too, and make sure it matches your online information.

And remember, online and off, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let the heat of the offer lull you into abandoning your good common sense. Of course, you could miss the deal of a lifetime, and that is exactly what the unscrupulous want you to think. Likely as not, online and off – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Shopping the net is destined to change the way we do business, but it is still a new frontier, with many of the uncertainties that go with it. The only way to really be secure online is to develop your street smarts and sometimes, that may not be enough. It will certainly level the field though, and by keeping your cyber smarts well honed, you should be able to safely shop the net.

Copyright 2005 Regina Pickett Garson

How Is Bulk Domain Name Registration Done? It Just Depends!

With the popularity of the internet in business today, it is not uncommon for a company to register more than one domain at a time. This allows the company to bring users to their site or sites from a number of angles. Various domains can be used for branches of the business, to vary the content, or simply as a way to get a bigger piece of the internet pie. Registering all of your domain names at the same time will often get you a discount from your registrar. If you have 100, 200, or even 500 domains to register, though, it is obviously easier to register all of them at once. So how is bulk domain name registration done? It depends on the company you use to some degree, but there are a couple of more popular methods of getting your bulk domain registration completed.

Obviously it would be a colossal time waster if you had to type in 500 separate domain names, check their availability in each suffix, and then register the ones you can find and want. With that in mind, many companies that offer bulk domain name registration offer their own interfaces for completing the process. So how is bulk domain name registration done by these companies? It is actually pretty simple from your end. First of all, there will be some sort of text box that asks for you to list the domain names you want. Most of the time, you will not even need to supply the suffix you want. Once you have pasted or typed them all into the box, you select the suffixes you want to check, and click a button. Your list comes back with what is available and immediately you can choose whether or not you want to register what is available and for how long. Then you simply give your credit card information and the domains are all yours. The entire process can be completed in a matter of minutes.

Not every company, obviously, uses the exact same features for bulk email registration. So how is bulk domain name registration done by other companies? The best method is where the company actually does all the work for you. Once your IT department or whomever you have working your domain name lists comes up with their choices, you can fax a hard copy or email an electronic copy of the list. The company will research the domain names for you and come back to you with a price and a list of what is available in what suffixes. You give the thumbs up or make the adjustments you want and they will do everything else for you. Before you know it, you are all over the web with your hundreds of domains making it easier for customers and clients to find you.

If you want to save money, then knowing the answer to the question: how is bulk domain name registration done, will allow you to decide what works best for you. Your comfort with interfaces or desire to do more or less of the work on your own is the best indicator of what type of service you should use. Coupled with price, it just takes a little research to find out which company you should use to get your bulk domain registrations done efficiently.

Web Directories For SEO

If you are looking for ways to promote your website, than web directories should definitely be considered a big part of your promotional plan. Web directories provide web visitors with a one- stop destination on the web to find the information they are looking for. Further, in using web directories, you can increase the visibility of your website and derive myriad benefits offered by web directories.

Let’s take a look at the benefits that webmasters derive from web directories:

1. Some webmasters might wonder why they should bother to submit to web directories when 80% of all website traffic comes from search engines. The answer is simple when you consider the following: what about the other 20%? When you are attempting to maximize the traffic that comes to your website, every little bit of promotion helps and web directories can help you gain a big chuck of that 20% of web traffic you have been missing out on.

2. Did you know that a key factor in the ranking algorithm of search engines is link popularity? By using web directories you will be creating more links that point directly to your site and the higher your ranking becomes in various search engines across the Internet. Further, everyone knows that a higher search engine ranking is equivalent to easier accessibility and easier accessibility equals more traffic for your website.

3. The first way to increase your link popularity is to include keywords in your hyperlinks. When you submit to web directories, the links you submit should not only lead to your site, but also should possess themed keywords within the links. The themed keywords will not only make your site easier to find, it will also increase the rating of your links in various search engines—again getting more, free web traffic for you.

4. Links that are created within web directories are votes for a site and they use your keywords within your hyperlinks to associate your link with certain key phrases. As such, the keywords you select are extremely important because they determine how often your links will be pulled up whenever a key phrase is associated with your created links. Therefore, It is a good idea to research the most popular keywords associated with your website theme before submitting your website to various web directories: the most popular keywords can make all of the difference in the world.

5. If you are submitting to various web directories, there are a few things that you need to consider. First, for a directory to be valuable, the pages you submit your listings to must, at minimum, be listed in various search engines. For instance, if you submit your links to a web directory that doesn’t appear in any search engines, chances are web visitors will not only have difficulty finding your website, but they will also have extreme difficulty finding the web directory you have listed your site in. In such cases, the listing in the web directory is a fruitless endeavor. Conversely, if you list your web site in several popular web directories and you utilize keywords in your hyperlink and short website description, you greatly increase the visibility and accessibility of your website.

6. The second consideration you must keep in mind when submitting to web directories is that when you are submitting your hyperlinks, you will derive the most benefit from submitting to directory pages that have a comparable theme to your website. For instance, if you have a website that is based on credit cards you will find that you get more web traffic from a web directory page that focuses on credit cards. Thus, when searching for web directories, look for web directories with topics that parallel the central focus of your website.

7. Here’s a quick tip for you that can help you derive the most benefit from listing your hyperlink in web directories: watch out for Google Adwords as these are a good indicator of how Google at least categorizes the page. In other words, if you mirror your hyperlinks and descriptions to appear much like those seen in Google ads, you will more than likely increase your search engine ranking as well as your listing in various web directories.

8. In order to be successfully listed in any web directory, you will need to conform to the terms and conditions of the directory. Typically, web directories list a series of specific listing regulations that you must adhere to and it would pay for you to adhere to them. In addition, to improve the chances of your listing being accepted you should try to avoid promotional language and you should choose a category that is as close to your website theme as possible.

9. Webmasters have much to look forward to in terms of web directory posting. In fact, the next generations of web directories are now appearing that allows business card type pages. Not only do webmasters get the opportunity to post a short description of there website, but now they are afforded the opportunity to display their logo and contact information as well. Such offerings prove to be particularly appealing because eye catching logos and easy contact information will make a Webmaster’s website that much more appealing.

10. In the end, web directories are a valuable part of your web promotional program and should not be overlooked in terms of their value. Along with the use of search engines, and article databases, a Webmaster will be pleasantly surprised at the free advertising available on the Internet. Finally, the increase in web traffic that webmasters will reap is truly astonishing indeed.

eBay Express Offers Exciting New Selling Options

Recently eBay launched its new “eBay Express” and it’s almost certain to be a major profit center to eBay sellers.

As everyone knows, eBay began as an auction site. Catering to small, mom and pop sellers, eBay evolved into a more traditional online shopping channel with its stores and such features as Buy It Now (BIN) which allows buyers to purchase merchandise immediately, rather than waiting for an auction to end.

With eBay Express this transition to online store is complete, although eBay will certainly retain the auction format for which it is most famous.

In 2005 eBay bought shopping.com and the similarity in format between the two is apparent. The format is almost identical although there are far more items on eBay Express than shopping.com. For instance, this morning in &women&s apparel& there were “469,207 matches found” on Express and “79,000 items from 525 stores” on shopping.com.

One great difference: with the eBay Express system every purchase goes to the same shopping cart, even though there are thousands of merchants. The shopping site, on the other hand, leads directly to the individual store that owns the displayed merchandise.

eBay sellers cannot sign up for eBay Express, although they can opt out. Instead, the merchandise is automatically listed if it’s in the BIN format or if it’s listed in an eBay store. At this time, there is no charge for this dual listing on eBay and eBay Express, although I feel certain that this will change in the future and that eBay will charge for this service.

Sellers will receive not only more exposure for each item listed, but there are other benefits as well:

1. Buyers can choose to purchase multiple items all in one transaction, just like any traditional store. If the buyer wants eight different items, it can be handled in one transaction, with one payment and one shipping charge. This is so much simpler than dealing with eight different auctions, eight different sellers and eight different shipping fees that it’s almost certain to encourage multiple sales.

2. This will, in turn, solve one of the biggest gripes of eBay sellers: the dreaded Non Paying Bidder! For reasons known only to themselves, there are multiple dead beats who deliberately win an auction – but never pay the seller. Usually they don’t even respond to repeated emails. This is very costly to sellers – not only in the obvious sense of unpaid merchandise but also because of the loss of other buyers who were legitimately interested in the merchandise but have most likely gone elsewhere. With eBay Express, everything will be paid in advance so the buyer won’t withdraw her merchandise from the market yet never be paid for it.

3. There is a shopping cart for eBay Express and it includes multiple ways to pay.

4. eBay has promised to aggressively promote eBay Express in the search engines and there is every reason to trust that promise. After all, it is in eBay’s interest to use their considerable muscle to ensure the success of eBay Express. This is certain to mean more traffic to sellers.

Although the starting point of seller participation is either an eBay store or Buy It Now items, there are additional requirements:

* At this time, the Express is only available to American and Canadian sellers. If eBay Express is a success, this is very likely going to expand to other countries.
* The items for sale must physically be in the US
* There are PayPal conditions: the seller must be either a PayPal Business or a PayPal Premier participant
* Every item listed in eBay Express must include a picture
* If applicable, the “condition” field must indicate whether the merchandise is Used/New/Refurbished
* Such items as books, movies and DVDs have a “pre-filled item information” component to their listings and this must be used
* There are three choices for shipping on eBay and these must be clearly indicated in the &shipping& field of each listing in order to be included in eBay Express
- Calculated
- A flat fee of “X” amount of dollars
- No cost for shipping
* Sellers feedback must be a minimum of 100 points
* Seller feedback must have at least a 98% approval rate

Items will be listed in up to three different locations on eBay Express. According to eBay’s president:

“Results are sorted on relevancy against the buyer’s search by default. Searching brings back listings that may not be an exact keyword match and sorts them based on a range of factors. The buyer is able to re-sort by total cost, i.e. item price plus shipping cost.”

With all these exciting promises, there are eBay seller gripes about one feature and that is that sellers will sometimes be presented with orders from unconfirmed PayPal addresses. This is significant because PayPal offers some fraud protection but only if the merchandise is shipped to an address that has been confirmed by PayPal. If the address is not confirmed and the buyer is a fraud, sellers will lose out.

In spite of all the outrage over this provision, it isn’t that different from online sellers who have their own merchant account.

In the United States, for example, there is an Address Verification System. If we, for instance, receive an order from an address that doesn’t match the address on the buyer’s credit card, we know that we are taking a much larger risk than normal. In fact, many merchant account providers forbid turning off the AVS and breaking this rule can cost the merchant his account. In this case, all orders that don’t have an address match are automatically rejected.

If eBay sellers don’t want to agree to these terms, they have two choices:

1. The first seller choice involves opting out of eBay Express entirely. This seems to me to be a foolish choice. Yes, there is added risk but the possibility of increased business will most likely more than make up for an occasional bad transaction.

It’s imperative that we make it easy for buyers to do business with us. Perhaps the strongest example I’ve ever seen of eBay fear was a notice by a seller that we had to mail him and get permission to bid on one of his items! Undoubtedly he had been burned by an unscrupulous buyer and tried so hard to protect himself that he most likely destroyed his business. I seriously doubt that people are willing to do as he requested (unless his merchandise was irresistible – and it wasn&t!)

2. There is an option to decide on a case-by-case basis if the transaction should be honored. This might be useful in the event of very expensive merchandise, but it could quickly grow to be a problem in the event of many sales.

Most everything that eBay touches turns to gold and eBay Express will likely be the same. We cannot know the results as yet, but the increased sales will probably far outweigh the increased risk. We cannot know without testing but sellers would be wise to concentrate on these exciting new opportunities rather than focusing on fear of loss.

Wandering around eBay Express as a buyer, I cannot help but be pleased with what I find. I have the option of viewing up to 90 items on each page, the volume is gigantic, the pictures are great, and I can buy whatever I want with only one payment. It’s more like Amazon than eBay. With the vast resources behind this new selling venue, success is the most likely possibility and this seller doesn’t intend to miss out!

Introducing The New eBay “Buyer’s Credit” Program.

In an effort to compete with more ‘traditional’ shops, eBay has started to offer finance agreements though PayPal for expensive items. This means that, if the seller decides to offer it, you can now spread the cost of an item into affordable monthly payments.

This is good for buyers, good for sellers, and good for eBay. Buyers can get the kind of credit agreements they’re used to in shops. Sellers can make their items more attractive to buyers who might not have all the money then and there, but eBay still pays the sellers upfront – they don’t have to wait to be paid each month or anything like that. Buyers make their monthly payments to PayPal’s credit provider instead.

The APR of the Buyer’s Credit program is currently 12.9%. You can pay back $999 or more over 12 months, or $1,999 or more over 24 months. There are also interest-free options for purchases of $199 or more over 3, 6 or 12 months.

The reason why some of these credit offers sound better than others is that it is up to the seller to decide how good the credit offer should be and pay extra to PayPal to offer it. To give their buyer the best promotion, for example, of no interest for twelve months, the seller must pay 3.75% of the item’s cost to PayPal.

Basically, this means that sellers pay less when the buyers pay interest, and sellers pay the cost of the interest on the interest-free offers. PayPal makes its interest either way, buyers are happy to get credit, and sellers are happy to sell more.

Can I Get This Credit?

On items over $199, Buyer’s Credit is now being automatically offered to buyers in the USA only. Just click the link when you buy something for more than $199 and you will be taken through the application process, which includes a 30-second check on your credit history. Then you just go through the buying process as normal, and you get your item before you’ve paid a penny.

Why are eBay Offering This?

eBay say they want to “level the playing field”, to allow eBay businesses to compete with the big chain stores, and they also want to promote PayPal as a payment method. Relatively few buyers can afford the more expensive items on eBay all at once, and so the introduction of Buyer’s Credit seems likely to significantly increase prices and sales at the higher end of the market.

It is worth noting that you can use Buyer’s Credit anywhere PayPal is accepted, not just on eBay. PayPal say it’s “like a credit card – minus the card!” You don’t get a card number – you can pay with credit with just your email address and password.

The only thing left to do now, then, is find the best deal for that really special item – the expensive thing you’ve been wanting for ages but could never afford. But how can you be sure you’re getting the best price? Try our tips and tricks for eBay searching, in the next email.

The Internet Made Easy

Let me ask you a quick question. . .

How many times have you banged your fists into the table and shaken your head in disbelief because trying to get onto the Internet seems so frustrating?

If you have, it can feel like the world’s passing you by.

Your friends are &online&, your family&s &online&, heck even 5 year olds seem to have it mastered – and you – well you’re still trying to figure out how the whole thing just goes together.

Do any of these all too common problems drive you nuts:

Can’t connect to your ISP (Or Your Not Even Sure What That Is)
The modem won’t work (No matter what you try you just can’t get online)
You can’t send emails
You can’t receive emails
You’re worried about online viruses
And you’re to scared to buy online because of credit card fraud!

If that sounds like your experience with the Internet so far, or it sounds like the problems someone you know has and you want to help them then you’re in luck!

If you don’t know your ISP from your elbow, have no idea what the heck a &POP& server is and don’t want to to fuss over a &Firewall& . . . . but you simply want to get on with it and connect to the world-wide-web then our brand new video set called &The Internet Made Easy& is for you!

Why Video?

Quite simply, we’ve found it’s the fastest and easiest way for people to learn.

Video training is the closet thing you can have to expert one on one tuition (without the expense) and you can learn at your own pace.

Imagine, saving time by doing the weekly shopping online and the great things you could do with the hours you’ll save. . . Picking up a great bargain or deal on a new holiday or automobile that makes you the envy of your friends . . . Having access to all the information you need from health issues and sports results through to local events and global news . . . Whatever you need, it’s all online waiting for you.

Seriously… who wants to struggle with &How To& books that have been thrown together by rocket scientists for other rocket scientists to read – Or worse still, waste hours on premium rate telephone &Help Lines& where the person you speak to is probably on the other side of the world and seems to have less idea than you.

The answer is right in front of you . . . It’s simple, insert the disk into your PC choose from the menu which area you need help with and spend ten minutes listening and watching to exactly how it’s done.

In a less than an hour all your online problems can be solved.

Just take a look at some of the topics we include in &The Internet Made Easy&

Here’s A Quick Summary Of What’s Included:

Choosing which is the best Internet Service Provider For You.
How to protect yourself with FREE Anti-Virus Software.
How to send and receive emails with ease with Outlook Express
How to use Internet Explorer and find what you need FAST!
How to buy online safely and securely
How to download and save files to your PC (including ZIP and PDF files)
How to get organized and work with files and folders
How to back up your information to keep it safe
How to use RSS feeds and gather news and information easily.

It’s All About Being Safe – Being Sure – And Being Online

For your copy of this amazing software please visit http://www.internetmadeeasy.akashop.com

Author: Darren Mallory
AkaShop.com

Discover The Ultimate eCommerce Solution For Successful Online Trading

Discover The Ultimate eCommerce Solution For Successful Online Trading

So what is it the complete solution to all of your online business problems? The solution is called an ecommerce shopping cart system. This highly popular online business instrument enables you to raise sales transactions of your online store very quickly and conveniently. Shopping cart is the vital element in an online ecommerce website. Shopping cart acts as a turnkey for your entire online business and turns your business into a thriving and highly profitable home based business.

Various web designers and developers are designing shopping cart to boost up the sales of almost all kinds of products. Many businessmen have put up their products online for sale. The medium of ecommerce or ebusiness is quite effective to promote any business.

Your website is the mode through you attract buyers to your site. So the ecommerce online shopping cart should contain all the features that can attract potential buyers to your site. An online buyer is always nervous about giving out his financial details online. It is very essential to assure your customer of the secured identity.

Many shopping carts provide the muti-payment modes to the customers. They can either opt for credit payment mode or by merchant account or via gateway such as Paypal or any other service provider. Merchant account is a bank account that allows you to manage credit card dealings. This allows you to maintain your customer&s personal information. You can add prices and product options in to your shopping cart.

Ecommerce has gained popularity, but customers will not buy products from sites if your site is not working properly. Your website must be user friendly and must make shopping easier for the customer.

There are some basic elements of a usable ecommerce online shopping cart. Site navigation must be very simple. Complex site navigation will confuse your customer and can scare them away. The links found in your website should be properly co-coordinated. Some times customers find the products they want to purchase through links in various sites.

Best ecommerce shopping cart are the ones that integrate the selling transactions of your online businesses. Each of the software manufacturer claims that their ecommerce shopping cart are the best in the software market.

An advanced ecommerce shopping cart should have the genuine features of an online store. It should enable the customers to purchase products without much hassle. The shopping cart software should support all the customer friendly programs. The online shop on the website displays the products with the price listings and the size listing along to make the shopping easier for a customer. Various modes of payment are optional to the customer. Thus the customer makes his pick with the help of shopping cart on the website only.

There are text, hyperlinks and images in an online store. They are to be managed strategically in the web pages to give an overall attractive structure to the site. Online visitors should attract customers via eye-catching designs. It should have the power of converting the visitors into buyers. The online store or marketing website should have an appearance that assures the customers that they will get the best service.

A good ecommerce shopping cart should have good functionality. It should perform the sales effectively. Some of the good ecommerce shopping cart gives the full technology support of shopping cart software. Any person with basic web knowledge can go in for establishing an online store or marketing website. Various ecommerce shopping cart providers even set online tutorials for the potential customers of shopping carts. The tutorials give the guidelines for establishing the online store in an easy way.

There are provisions to establish the web pages for the online shop in three dimensions with help of graphic interface. A good ecommerce shopping cart should be versatile. The user should be able to manage his business without hassle. The software manufacturer also provides the traffic volume enhancement systems and the sales measuring systems.

Shopping carts and online stores

Setting up an internet shop can be very confusing and bewildering, especially if you are someone with very limited technical knowledge. With hoardS & Hoards of solutions available, offered by thousands upon thousands of website design companies and software developers, it is easy to choose a system that may not necessarily suit your business. Many companies have spent a lot of money on their ecommerce website solution, only to find that it does not work for their business. Unfortunately for them, this usually means a trip back to the drawing board, arguments with their developer and inevitably the need to spend more money so that the site will work in exactly the way they want to.

So what can be done to make sure that the shopping cart solution you choose is the right one for your business? First of all, you must have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the site. Spend some time to make good notes and write down a clear and concise plan and method of operation for your site. If will help very much if you take a good look at your competitor’s websites, especially the successful ones.
Visit your competitors sites, browse through the various sections, making notes about the structure of the pages ,the site navigation and anything else of interest. Ask yourself questions as you check through the site. Are you able to quickly find the items you are searching for? Is the checkout system simple to use? These are just some of the elements you should be looking at. Compile as much information as you can, take the best constituents and combine them with your own ideas to create a well defined and structured plan of what you need. Once you have put together a well thought out site plan with all the required features, it will make up good a brief that can be worked on by a website designer.

How you go about turning your site plan into an actual website will depend on the budget you have to spend. There are many options that can be explored, from shopping cart software that will enable you to build your online store yourself through ready built, off the shelf solutions right up to completely bespoke programmed websites built from the ground up by a competent web development company.
What ever route you take, you should spend time researching the various systems and improving your knowledge so that you can make the right decision before committing yourself to spending lots of time or money on your project.

Although you can spend a small fortune getting your on line store up a running, you really don’t have to. There are simple to use systems which use tried and tested technology to get you up and running in a short period of time. Many of these systems don’t require you to have any technical knowledge either.

To take credit card payment for goods online you will have to make use of a web based payment gateway. There are many to choose from but all of the payment processing solutions make profits by charging you a percentage of the transaction fee, so you must make sure to take this into consideration when calculating you profit margins. Look for an ecommerce systems that is readily configured to use the payment gateway you choose. This way, once you have opened your merchant, account all you need do to start to take credit card payments through your website is enter your merchant account number into a web page form in your site admin.

The Warning signs of Online Fraud and How to avoid it

The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004 in the Unites States alone, computer users logged in more than 207,000 Internet fraud reports to the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you look hard at this number, you may be astounded, and a good bit frightened, by the implication. You may ask, “Is it really safe to buy and sell at an online site?”

Put simply, the answer is: yes. The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool for business, so you can’t pass it over just because of a few crooks and conmen—even if they do seem like they’re behind every pop-up window and banner ad. The truth is that you can create opportunity and make more money online than you could lose in fraud.

Better yet, you could lose absolutely nothing if you know the warning signs of fraud and the tricks to avoid danger during your Web-based business dealings.

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell goods online, the first—and the best—way to fight fraud is prevention. There are certain warning signs to watch for, which should set off a chorus of alarms and flashing red lights in your head. Don’t do business with this person! For buyers, these potential warning signs can be when a seller:

• asks you to pay through non-traceable avenues, such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or a third party, or via an overseas address. You should ask yourself—and the seller—why he or she won’t accept payment options that are traceable and convenient for you.

• posts an image on his auction or classified ad that’s obviously from an outside source. Sometimes these images may not even match the type of item, let alone the brand, that the ad features.

• sells a typically expensive item at cut-rate prices, which is a good indicator that it could be counterfeit.

• refuses to provide tracking numbers when you purchase an item. Tracking numbers are another way to trace a valid transaction.

• offers only excuses, instead of help, when your purchased item doesn’t arrive at your doorstep.

If you’re a seller, you ought to be wary of signs of a suspicious buyer, such as when a buyer:

• asks to pay only some of the fee, offering to the pay the rest sometime in the future. This is the old excuse from Popeye’s friend Wimpy, who always could be heard saying, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” Wimpy never paid Tuesday.

• sends you a cashier’s check for more money than the agreed price “by mistake.” In this scam, the buyer then asks you to repay him the difference by personal check, wire transfer, or money order—before you find out that the cashier’s check didn’t clear. Believe it or not, this scheme works because cashier’s checks can be cashed before they bounce.

• sends you a cashier’s check for the correct amount of money but then demands a refund, requesting that you repay with your own money. See the scheme above for how this trick works.

These warning signs, of course, are only for a handful of the frauds and scams out there. Conmen are good at what they do, trying to separate you from your money. That’s why it’s best to always follow these golden rules of online commerce whenever buying or selling on an Internet auction or classified site.

Keep your common sense. No matter how good a deal seems, or how much clients say they want to pay, always remember the old adage: “If it sounds too good to be true….”

Do your business locally. Try to buy and sell from your neighbors as much as possible. It’s safer, more convenient, and better for your local economy. What’s more, it saves you the trouble of dealing with foreign vendors and buyers. Though they may be legit, dealing with them can be complicated because of different legal systems and customs, which can make any conflict difficult.

Seal the deal with plastic. Paying for items with credit cards, and allowing your customers to charge for purchases, is a great all-around business decision. Under U.S. law, all plastic purchases are protected from fraud and allowed to be disputed in case of problems.

Meet at the middle man. Intermediary services are virtual middle men that protect both buyers and sellers from cyber shysters. Services like Escrow act as a holding pen for both payment and sale items until both the buyer and seller are content. Only then will Escrow finish a transaction.

Purchase with PayPal. As Escrow and credit cards do, PayPal guards against fraud for both buyers and sellers. It’s a secure and reliable way to transfer money over the Internet. No wonder PayPal is the most popular online money transfer service.

As you can see, the odds are actually in your favor when it comes to doing business on online classified or auction sites. The resource of the internet is far too valuable than to be taken away by a few crooks and conmen. It simply comes down to being smart, sensible, and observant whenever buying or selling on the Web. Then again, that’s what all good business is about, whether you’re doing it in a mall or on the information superhighway.

Ebay And Paypal

E-Bay and Paypal are two giant firms which are involved in sales transactions of customers. E-Bay is an online portal in which buyers could auction and bid items for sale. On the other hand, Paypal is the most popular online payment system used through credit cards. The teaming up of both firms is inevitable because E-Bay provides the goods to be purchased while PayPal provides the resources to be used.

E-Bay has indeed grown as the number one destination of online shopping through auctions. E-Bay offers a variety of choices when it comes to books, food, gadget, technology stuff, and many others. The variety and diversity of E-Bay makes it the most visited site whenever buyers are thinking of something to purchase. It is also a favorite destination for online shoppers who want to have a quality bargain of the items they want to buy. On the other hand, Paypal is the most reliable online payment system utilized whenever holding transactions. The firm claims that they have 16 million users worldwide. Despite of such successes for both firms, there are still many criticisms regarding the nature of both businesses.

E-Bay is often criticized as a portal that is not pro-buyers instead, it some people consider it as pro-sellers. Some buyers accuse E-Bay as not being true to their business and does not really live up to their word. On the other hand, Paypal does not really receive a lot of complaints but when it does, no one seems to mind. This is because their customer service department does not do their job well. No one really assists the customers and when they reply, it seems like the customer waited for 20 years before an action was done.

Due to the partnership of these two companies, many speculated that E-Bay would acquire Paypal. Many people were not in agreement to this deal because they believe that once E-Bay had acquired Paypal, the rotten service of the firm would eventually be more than worst. Aside from that, competition would also diminish in the market. Despite the said speculations, both firms deny that a joint venture or acquisition between the two companies would happen. Both firms insist that they would continue each other’s operations separately and not as a joint company. Both firms also expressed that their partnership between each other is solid but not to the point of collaborating with each other.

Paynet Systems Merchant Account Affiliate Program

Paynet Systems facilitates internet, retail, mail/phone order, wireless/mobile and home based merchant accounts for businesses worldwide. Paynet system has formed lasting partnerships with established banks and affiliates to provide one of the world’s top merchant account services. Paynet Systems is well known as a provider of complete, yet flexible solutions for merchant accounts.

Besides comprehensive credit card processing solutions, Paynet Systems offers a great affiliate program! The Affiliate program at Paynet System includes and offers:-

An opportunity to make $50-$100 for every approved merchant account generated by your website or referred to us verbally.
A “No Monthly Minimum” program
$50 for each referral that signs up for the “No Monthly Minimum” option.
An “Option 2″- lower rates, a lower statement fee and transaction fee, but includes a $25 monthly minimum.
A $100 referral fee if your referral signs up for “Option 2″ pricing.
Reliability – We have been paying affiliates on time, every month.
Professional 24/7 customer support, sales support and full accounting support.
Real-time statistics for sales and traffic directed to the Paynet website.
Pending payout details
Earning reports
Account management, and much more!

Join the Paynet Systems Affiliate Program now and earn revenue for every merchant you refer! Visit http://www.paynetsystems.com/html/affiliates.htm to read the affiliate programs ‘terms and conditions’ and to fill out the affiliate online application. Once you’re approved, you may either place a link of Paynet Systems on your website, or verbally refer someone and provide them your affiliate ID and contact information. You get paid with each referral that signs up for services. Paynet Systems takes pride in superior service and pricing to each referral and is recognized for its affiliate program, which has been featured in ‘Gr1innovations.com Directory of Ways to Make Money’.

There is no cost to sign up with Paynet Systems Affiliate program, and no risk to get started – so why not join today? The affiliate program at Paynet Systems is a profit sharing platform, ideal for anyone looking for great ways to make money on the internet. Sign Up now to become a Paynet Systems value added affiliate!

10 Ways To Avoid Being Ripped Off On eBay.

It is important to remember that eBay is a lot like a marketplace. There will always be a dodgy guy in the corner, selling things that most people wouldn’t touch. The trouble is that, on the Internet, these people can be a little harder to spot. Here are ten tips to help you keep an eye out for the rip-off merchants.

1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is: This holds for everything in life, but especially for eBay. Things that seem too cheap are usually too cheap for a reason – it might be a complete scam, or the items might just be of extremely poor quality. Investigate before you go further.

2. Know the value of what you want to buy: There are people on eBay who regularly bid such high prices for used cameras that they might as well have gone out and bought them brand new. Check around for prices first.

3. Only bid on real things: eBay has plenty of people who are trying to sell all sorts of schemes and scams. It is never worth bidding for these, no matter how cheap they might be.

4. Don’t do anything outside eBay: Occasionally people will ask you to send them money outside eBay, to avoid the fees eBay charges sellers. Any money you send this way is entirely insecure – don’t do it.

5. Be careful where you send payment: People may hack into others’ accounts, and ask you to send payment to addresses that eBay has not confirmed as belonging to that account – you might send your money and receive nothing in return.

6. Look out for sellers who suddenly change what they sell: Sellers can look like they’ve made lots of transactions, when really they’ve never sold anything of worth. If they suddenly start selling $1,000 televisions, steer clear – the chances are they’re planning to run off with the money.

7. Beware the shill bidder: If someone who doesn’t seem to have bought anything before is constantly outbidding you on a certain item, be suspicious. It might be a seller ‘shill bidding’ to force up his item’s price.

8. Don’t use the seller’s escrow service: If an escrow service is recommended to you by a seller, it could well be owned and run by them – and they’re quite likely to keep your money and send you nothing.

9. Pay electronically: You are more likely to be able to recover any losses if you pay using a credit card instead of sending out cheques and money orders – these low-tech payment methods can’t be tracked as easily.

10. Buy from reputable sellers: Each seller has a number next to their name, which is their feedback rating. The higher this rating, the more you can trust them.

On that last point, feedback ratings are the most important way that buyers and sellers can protect themselves on eBay – and you, as a buyer, have a rating too! Now that you won’t get ripped off, the next email will be all about your rating, and what you can do to make sure people know that you’re not going to rip them off either.

Avoid Internet Auction Fraud With These Tips

In the early days of internet auctions you were much more likely to be conned than you are today. Figures from the National Fraud Information Center for the year 2000 stated that 78% of Internet fraud at that time took place on online auction sites. Since then the big sites have taken major steps to make their auctions safer places for their users.

Although it is safer to buy online from auctions today, you still need to be careful when transacting in internet auctions. Here are some tips to ensure you don’t get taken advantage of.

Buy from sellers with good feedback scores as this is one of your best protections. This is a feature of internet auctions which can’t be compared by other online retailers. This independent rating system will give you a very good indication of which sellers can be trusted. Ensure the seller has carried out enough selling auctions for it to be a reliable indicator.

Pay by credit card, which is usually the safest method. That way, if you have any problems you can seek redress through your credit card provider. This is a facility you wouldn’t normally have when buying from a private individual, so use this extra security feature of online auctions.

Use the big name auction sites because they want to protect their reputation. That means they&ll take any fraud complaints seriously and deal with the culprits quickly because it’s in their best interest to do so. Stay away from the small sites that nobody’s heard of.

Make sure you know exactly what the product or service you’re buying is worth to you. Do this right from the start and you’ll be in a better position to make sure you don’t overbid and end up paying more than the item’s worth. There are plenty of people who&ll testify to having been caught up in a bidding frenzy. Auctions can be exciting and addictive, but it doesn’t make sense to pay more for items at an auction than those that can readily be bought elsewhere.

When you place a bid you have entered into a contract with the seller. Think before you bid. Don’t place a bid if you don’t really want the item. If you don’t that bright orange, floral bathroom sink could be yours!

Remember that expression that says buying on internet auction sites – if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Have a great time – but be careful!