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June 27, 2008
Car & Truck Options and eBay Motors
The availability of cars and trucks for sale online has made the normal newspaper search for vehicles and auto accessories almost a thing of the past. Ten years ago who would have thought that the purchase of expensive items would become both simple and safe? Yet that is the case now.
Whether your interest is in automotive ratings, the best new car prices, Saturn automobiles, or even the biggest trucks in the world, you can find it on the Internet.
eBay is also ripe with opportunities to locate just about any vehicles on eBay Motors. Almost unbelievably, they have tens-of-thousands of automobiles available on which to place a bid. If you're searching for or need to sell a car, take a shot at it first on eBay before spending any more time plodding through newspaper classified ads.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:32 PM | TrackBack
June 23, 2008
Natural Skin Care Products
Going through eBay, I find all kinds of stuff to put on the face. Unfortunately, most of it is damaging to our skin and body. Mostly we buy this stuff because we don't know any better. But by using natural skin care products we can beautify our faces - and do good things for our bodies. The problem is that we aren't, as consumers, educated to exactly what's in this seemingly-helpful formulas.
Example: while looking in the category of "Health & Beauty > Skin Care > Moisturizers", I typed in the keyword "natural" and the first product I notice is "JERGENS NATURAL GLOW" with an explanation of how it's a natural skin care product. It isn't. To quote one site:
* "Jergens moisturizer is the worst natural skin care product in the skin moisturizer category. If you fed this product to your children you'd be thrown behind bars for severe child abuse."
* "Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer scores in 10 of 12 toxic parameters. The Jergens moisturizer contains a known human carcinogen - Titanium Dioxide . This chemical is a direct cancer causing agent."There is nothing positive about this product according to the ingredient label. There are a few organic ingredients thrown in for token value, though these are outweighed by the toxins."
* "The Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer does not meet any natural ingredient parameter. It is not certified organic and it uses synthetic chemicals that have been tested on animals. The fact that it is not certified organic - obviously - means that there is a possibility the product contains G.M.O - genetically modified organisms - and pesticides."
* "My advice is this, DO NOT believe the hype and false claims of the Jergens brand. This product is just one example across their line of how they hoodwink their trusting customers into believing they are natural."
DON'T believe everything you read. Educate yourself if you're going to use skin care products.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:15 PM | TrackBack
June 19, 2008
A Good Mattress Is Worth its Weight in Gold
"Oh, my aching back." How many times have you or a loved one awakened in the morning - or the middle of the night - with a similar complaint? Americans have more bed and mattress options than anyone in the world, yet we may be the most uncomfortable of all, partly from the use of those options.
Beds are a big deal. Most of us spend literally one-quarter to one-third of our entire lives sleeping, or trying to do so. With a good night of sleep, the following day seems so much more upbeat. The impact of a lack of good sleep is cumulative over time. Knowing this, marketers of sleep products are on the rise, with sellers of mattresses chief among them. You can purchase the hot (and expensive) Sleep Number air bed, consider an array of wholesale mattresses, sleep on a cushy Simmons mattress, or simply go after one of a slew of cheap mattresses. Whatever you want, they are all out there.
Of course, the eBay market is also replete with mattress and bedding options that reflect the interest of the broader market. Just about any size and standard shape can be bid on or purchased outright. And for sellers, this is yet another product niche that is not likely to dry up. Everyone sleeps, and everyone needs a bed. They eventually wear out. A lot of others are already offering bed products on eBay - new and used. If you're considering an eBay business, this could be your territory.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:56 AM | TrackBack
June 16, 2008
Skin Care and Anti-Wrinkle Surgery Options
With the recent constraints eBay has placed on products delivered electronically, sellers are becoming more creative in how they market their services or items that might otherwise be a lousy fit or eBay.
Take the anti-aging skin care industry, for example. It's a $60 billion per year gold mine, with creams and medical procedures raking in the money from people trying to cling to their youth. Outside of eBay, you can find it all: get a tummy tuck in dallas, a New York City facelift, a treatment of Botox in California, or a New Mexico plastic surgery procedure. Going under the knife as a short-cut from other "fountain of youth" options is hugely popular among our aging generation.
Well if as an eBay seller that were your target market, you could offer - for example - an auction for a $1000 discount coupon on a "facial rejuvenation" procedure. Details could be made available at a non-hyperlinked website included in the eBay listing. The winning bidder might pay $2.00 for that coupon which would then be delivered for next-to-nothing through a preferred carrier.
So you will not see too many "nose jobs" offered directly on eBay. Options for medical care may be restricted anyway. But a coupon for the same from a professional medical organization? Pretty clever.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:46 AM | TrackBack
June 13, 2008
Anti-Aging in America
As the baby boomer generation begins to hang up its collective cleats and enter into the retirement years, there is a natural interest in preserving youth and youthfulness. Technological advances are generally keeping up with the pace of interest as we watch a growing trend toward the preservation of skin tone and general appearance. The market is loaded with options for wrinkle remover creams, Botox creams, plastic surgery, and many other skin care choices.
Our aging population is routinely on the search for products to assist. As with just about anything else, eBay is loaded with beauty and anti-aging options - a market that should only grow during the next couple of decades. Sellers who are able to establish an online presence in eBay with such items should consider stepping in early before a glut of others get the same idea. They will likely experience a very happy level of financial success while the boomers enjoy their rejuvenation.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:23 AM | TrackBack
June 10, 2008
The Current Housing Market and eBay
Clearly, today's news routinely informs us that we are facing a real estate crisis. Sellers are anxiously waiting to sell, often happy to simply unload what they can no longer afford. Buyers who wish to capitalize on the availability of great deals are often perceived as vultures, taking advantage of others' plights. This is an unfortunate view, as such buyers are doing exactly what the sellers want and need.
Consequently, great opportunities await savvy and patient buyers. And the spread cuts across the country, from Victorville new homes in California to Washington DC homes for sale. Even outside the US are deals for residential properties in Dubai, Costa Rican properties, and endless others.
For those searching for a new or even investment home, the opportunities are expansive. If you're inclined to go after such a home but hesitate from a sense of taking advantage of a seller, don't let false guilt hold you back. The seller wouldn't be selling if the transaction didn't also benefit him/her. And eBay is loaded with thousands of real estate options, some of which are pretty spectacular (including the prices!).
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 9:58 AM | TrackBack
June 6, 2008
Brad Callen Does Not Keep His Word
I am sad to say that Brad Callen does not keep his word. On May 27th, he sent out an email soliciting the purchase of a Russell Brunson product. Here's what he said:
"... and because I can 100% guarantee you'll benefit from them,and want to make sure you don't pass this up, I'm going to give you a 99 minute teleseminar we recorded with Russell, PLUS over 17 MORE hours of recorded teleseminars that we've recorded with some of the internet marketing world's most well-known names. (You can see exactly what I'll give you here: EliteSessions.com)
I'll give you all of this completely free, if you grab your copy of Russell's new Affiliate Evolution product.
Here's all you need to do to get over 18 total hours of information packed audio from the world's best IMers from me."
I bought the product on the specified day and filled out a ticket, as per his instructions. Since then I have sent THREE follow up emails - and have no response whatsoever. I am giving up at this point and realizing that I am not going to receive the promised material. That's OK because I am happy with the product I bought and didn't buy it just to get Brad's bonuses. Nevertheless, I am sorry that the creator of such software as Keyword Elite and Affiliate Elite doesn't keep his promises. I certainly will not be dealing with him in the future.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:33 PM | TrackBack
June 2, 2008
Ebay Sales Lagging During This Summer?
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It's summer and eBay business is usually down during the summer. I guess folks are vacationing and hanging out at the pool. For whatever reason, there are less people on the Net and sales always decline during this time. So if your eBay selling isn't going as well as it normally does, here are a few pick-me-ups. |
1) What about your prices? Are yours too high? The eBay "Advanced Search" rides to the rescue. You can find it at the top of the page and it will allow you to search in all kinds of ways. I prefer to organize my results by highest price first, but regardless of your choices, you can get a clear idea of what buyers are willing to pay for your offers. This is also, by the way, a good feature for studying market trends.
2) Check your competition. Are they selling? If so, why? What are their offers? Do they have features that you don't offer? Can you compete?
3) Experiment. Don't be afraid to take some risks, to do things differently. For instance, don't be afraid to experiment with a $.99 opening bid - even if you need to receive $50 for your merchandise. Low starting bids will encourage buyers to swarm to your auctions. That is, of course, assuming that there is demand for your products. If there isn't - game over.
4) Look at your listing. Try to see it as a totally objective person would see it. Is it attractive? Do you give all the relevant information? Are there typos? blurry pictures? misspellings? confusing descriptions? 14 different colors? There are many more possibilities, of course, but this gives you a starting place.
