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May 30, 2006
Assist2Auction eBay Franchise
We recently wrote a review on a "mobile eBay franchise" called Assist2Auction. We're interested in all things eBay, so we paid close attention to this one. Our conclusion: the only one winning with this so-called opportunity is the franchise owner. We simply can't see how the famous "average person'' can succeed: too much outgo, too little inflow.
Read the complete Assist2Auction franchise review here
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 29, 2006
Auction Genius Course Student Offers PayPal Fraud Warning
An Auction Genius Course student offers a PayPal fraud warning:
Just a note of caution. I recently purchased a Bulk Mailer for sending to a list of Double Opt-In leads I have. I went to the Website and paid by PayPal. The Website offered a Free Trial and 8 bonuses. I paid through PayPal. After a few days I kept e-mailing the contact address and they said they were waiting for Faxing of my details to send my Registration number. After another couple of days, I phoned the company in USA and to my horror discovered they had not received a payment from me. ($299) They have investigated and found a Spoof Website had mirror copied their details including their PayPal payment page and the payment had disappeared to the Fraudster. Needless to say, I have notified payPal and the Spoof site is now down. Hopefully PayPal will cover me for the money I lost. It is a salutary warning to be always on guard on the Net. The Fraudsters are getting better at copying legitimate PayPal forms.
Once again ... always, always, ALWAYS go directly to PayPal.com and login through your own account when paying via this popular channel!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:48 PM | TrackBack
May 27, 2006
eBay & Yahoo Partner Up To Punch Google?
eBay and Yahoo have recently announced a major agreement to partner up on lots of new services. Many believe this is an attempt on Yahoo's part to punch Google, the current Top Dog of search. Some of the results of the eBay~Yahoo pairing are:
* An increase in eBay search results on Yahoo!
* Sn increase of contextual text and graphical ads on eBay
* PayPal to power Yahoo! Wallet
* A co-branded eBay Toolbar
* Click-to-call advertising using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice and Skype
What's interesting is eBay's participation in this. Yahoo and MSN have been eager to knock off Google, the #1 search engine, but until recently, there hasn't seemed to be animosity between Google and eBay. However, such entities as eBay Express and Froogle, and Google's promise of an online payment system to presumably rival PayPal, may have changed all that.
As an eBay seller, naturally my concern is about eBay results and so far the promises are exciting. It would be great to have my auction listings on Yahoo. But what about ''contextual ads'' on eBay?
According to eBay North America president Bill Cobb, " This will include testing some sponsored search ads for complementary products and services. For example, a buyer searching for a hair dryer might be presented with sponsored search ads for related items like shampoo or hair brushes. To be clear, we will not place ads on view item pages."
This can only strength the Yahoo Publisher Network program, and as a participant of that as well, I am excited about that. Competition among the giants will most likely result in good things for us small sellers.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 24, 2006
Systems Seminar In Chicago
Last weekend Jeremy and I attended the System Seminar in Chicago. This wonderful event is the creation of Ken McCarthy and I was honored to be a speaker. I just can't say enough wonderful things about this weekend. We met with old friends - Brad Fallon, Andy Jenkins, Todd Taylor, Rob Cowie of Worldwide Brands, and others. And we made many new friends, too, like my partner Jeremy and Sherman Hu, seen below:
Too many seminars are nothing but money-making opportunities for the speakers. There is a tiny bit of content, while the rest is a not-so-thinly-disguised sales pitch. That's why I've quit speaking at events - because I don't like that practice.
However, the Systems Seminar was different. Sure, there was the opportunity to purchase the products of speakers. But it was at a separate event on Saturday night ... attendance optional. The sessions themselves were filled with genuine content that can be used in any Internet business.
The students were grown ups, realizing that building a profitable business takes time, money and determination. I didn't hear a single Whiner. And everyone shared freely and openly, enriching all.
It was an A+ event. If you ever have the chance to go, take advantage of it. I didn't hear one regret the entire weekend. It was first class!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 11:18 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 22, 2006
New PayPal Dispute Resolution
The new PayPal Dispute Resolution Center is long overdue and may save some folks from eBay and other fraud. According to PayPal, "It is the first phase of buyer complaint and buyer protection at PayPal."
You have 45 days to file a complaint and the basis is either that you haven't gotten what you paid for, or it isn't as described:
"As a buyer you can open a dispute if you experience a transaction problem. When you report the dispute in the PayPal Resolution Center you can indicate whether the item in question has not yet been received or the item you received is significantly not as described. By opening a dispute, you are asking the seller to help you resolve the problem. You can communicate directly with the seller by posting messages in the PayPal Resolution Center until the issue is resolved or if you are not able to reach an agreement and decide to escalate the dispute to a claim."
For more info:
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:06 PM | TrackBack
May 20, 2006
When Selling On eBay DOESN'T Work
When selling on eBay doesn't work - WHY doesn't it work. In other words, what is the single biggest factor working against your eBay success???
* It isn't lack money.
* It isn't that you don't have a product to sell yet
* It isn't lack of time
* It isn't any physical or business factor
The answer is so simple, so close to you, that it might surprise you ...
It's what's in your own head! It's the 'Voice' that constantly feeds you negative thoughts and worries and fears. We all have these voices. We must learn to manage them, or they will defeat us.
I suggested that you might want to listen to my student Dennis Hester on Entrepreneur radio recently. Dennis has some real problems in his life, but he never gets discouraged, he never gives up and he just keeps on until he gets what he wants. I am 100% sure that Dennis will be a gigantic success story. The way he's finding products may not be the way you would choose, but I can give you a couple of examples of what he's found:
1. "Bed in a bag" that he can buy by the pound - he pays about $15 for each one. Go to eBay and type in "bed in a bag" and check out the prices.
2. Cell phone covers: $1-2, depending on brand - and yes, they're for brand name phones. Check out these prices and note the shipping. Most sellers are definitely making money on shipping.
But here's the most important point - Dennis "gets" what I've been teaching. And it's this: while it's great to make money on the two products above, there is a lot of money in the 'back end' of any eBay product.
For instance, I have both a bedding store and my online-home-shop.com store. If I sold the beds in a bag, they would be perfect for my ideal customers. I would be making them all kinds of other offers and I can GUARANTEE you that some of them would be buying other items from me.
I stay away from popular toys like cell phones, iPods/mP3 players, DVD burners, etc., and I strongly advise you to do the same. But I'm sure that I could work out something with cell phones if I tried.
The point is that there is a whole lot more to this business than appears on the surface. It's much more than just 'finding something to sell'. The man behind the Systems Seminar, Ken McCarthy, told me why he invited me to speak this weekend. He said, "There are a lot of people teaching about eBay but you're the only one who has any strategy". So yes, there are strategies for this business and I know lots of them. You will, too, soon.
So, the next time "The Voice" starts babbling nonsense in your ear, telling you how you are going to fail at this, tell it to take a hike! You're too busy learning and growing to listen. :-)
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:44 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 18, 2006
eBay Selling With Your Reputation
eBay selling depends a lot on your reputation. That is to say - SUCCESSFUL eBay selling depends on your rep. This is especially true when the merchandise you're selling is expensive. If I'm buying a $10 item I don't pay that much attention to the person information on the seller. But if it's expensive, you'd better believe I do. And of course "expensive" is defined by the buyer. So it's important to know the eBay selling symbols:
PowerSellers are eBay top sellers who have sustained a consistent high volume of monthly sales and who have a high level of feedback (98% positive or better).
The user has created an About Me page to tell you more about themselves. Click this icon to open the About Me page.
The user has been ID Verified. When a member gets ID Verified, a third-party company working with eBay confirms the member's identity by cross-checking their contact information across consumer and business databases.
The user has been a registered eBay user for 30 days or less.
The user has changed their User ID within the last 30 days.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:21 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 15, 2006
Cheap Wholesale Products On SaleHoo: Follow Up
Yesterday I publshed a story in my ezine on SaleHoo and its promise to deliver cheap wholesale products. I received this email from a reader and thought it was very appropriate. For obvious reasons, I have kept her name private!
- - -
I don't know if it is appropriate to respond or not but since you were discussing SaleHoo I wanted to pass along my experiences.
I recently lost my job and started investigating selling more than I have been on ebay. I paid for a SaleHoo membership and created my account. However when I tried to log in it wouldn't recognize my account.
I contacted them several times but never received a response. I then contacted paypal and asked for a refund. Paypal issued the refund in less than 24 hours.
Several days later I finally heard from a manager at SaleHoo in the form of a very unfriendly email - they were upset with me becuase I did not give them time to solve the problem. I sent the info they requested but never heard from them. I didn't worry about it since I had the refund.
Over a week later I received another unfriendly email stating that my account was now set up and should be working.
I tried it and I have been able to log on successfully for almost a month now. Evidently they haven't realized that they sent me a refund via paypal.
I have yet to find anything worth buying but am amazed at how disorganized they are at keeping track of their customers.
- - -
Thanks so much for the feedback!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 14, 2006
Bosch Concept Mixer Good For eBay Selling
It's fascinating to poke around eBay and find products that are selling well - and perhaps we even stumble across great lines for sellers. An example: the Bosch Concept mixer. It's
1. Expensive
2. Has high demand on the Net in general
3. Doesn't have lots of competition on eBay
In other words, if you can find a supplier, you can make money.
Chances are, though, that you won't make huge sums of money with this one. Why? Because if you flood the market by putting up lots of mixer auctions, you will drive the price down. Some products lend themselves to multiple sales - like diet pills, for instance - but many don't.
That's OK, though, because you can create a small and satisfactory 'autopilot income stream' and go on to the next and the next and the next. Pretty soon those little streams add up to a mighty river!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:55 PM | TrackBack
May 13, 2006
Cheap Wholesale Products? Candid Review of SaleHoo
Especially since the popularity explosion of eBay, there are a lot of websites out there promising cheap wholesale products. But how many actually deliver?
Due to interest from many of our ezine readers, we took a look at a site called SaleHoo. It says, "You'll be pleasantly surprised how little work and effort is actually involved for you to start creating more wholesale business contacts". Whenever I read about how something is easy and involves very little work, the back of my neck begins to prickle.
After checking out SaleHoo, I'm not impressed and here's why ...
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:27 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 10, 2006
NEW 2006 Auction Genius CDs - FREE $297 Program In May Only
Whew. We recently finished our new Auction Genius Course CD set and it's brand new and updated, 2006-style. It includes the latest auction information and access to our new Permanent Information Center and Bonus Area for those who want the bonus CDs.
Through May only we are making the best deal ever ...
1. Everyone who buys the CD from now through May 31 will receive a copy of our eBay Secret Interview CDs & manual - they sell for $297 - at no cost
2. We will pay for shipping, so you don't have to
Go here to read about the CDs:
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:04 PM | TrackBack
May 8, 2006
Avoid eBay Scams Via Email
If you've ever been a victim of eBay scams via email, also known as "spoofs", then you might be interested in eBay's free tutorial.
Personally, I object to the word "spoof". The dictionary defines spoof as:
* Nonsense; tomfoolery.
* A gentle satirical imitation; a light parody.
I don't think there's anything nonsensical about email designed to steal your money!
To eBay's credit, they've provided a free tutorial/self quiz to hopefully save unsuspecting Netizens from these scavengers. Now if only people will read it!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 9:49 AM | TrackBack
May 5, 2006
Concrete Floor Covering A Practical Idea?
I am constantly amazed by the wide variety of goodies available on eBay. And some of the ways people are making a living is astonishing.
For instance, did you know there are sellers profiting from a concrete floor covering niche? Concrete floor covering? I guess when I make an infrequent trip to my basement I think about the subject, but generally it's definitely out of sight, out of mind.
On the other hand, vinyl garage flooring is a business that flounders on eBay. If I'd had to bet, I'd have expected the vinyl flooring to be much more viable. But it isn't.
Who'd a thunk it?
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 9:33 AM | TrackBack
May 2, 2006
PayPal Customer Service Offers Mobile Payments
eBay is calling PayPal Mobile an ''idea whose time has come.'' A cliche, to be sure, but it's backed up my two astonishing facts:
1. ''A recent survey of mobile phone users in the United States found that 60% keep their cell phones turned on and within reach 21-24 hours per day.
2. The same survey revealed that there are three things people will not leave their homes without – their wallets, keys, and cell phones.''
Obviously, I don't fit the profile of the typical American, since I find the ''electronic leash'' to be an invasion of my privacy. However, that's irrelevant to anyone but me.
According to an eBay spokesperson, this is how it works:
"With PayPal Mobile, consumers can send money to a friend, or "Text to Buy" an item, such as a DVD, or "Text to Give" to send money to a charitable organization – all using their mobile phones.
Jordan explained how simple it is to start using PayPal Mobile. “You start with a PayPal account. You register your mobile phone number, select a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Then PayPal calls you back to verify the PIN and complete registration. And you're set!”
