Archive forJanuary, 2008

Buy Cars on eBay®, No Really

Did you know that you can buy cars on eBay? Did you know that you can buy almost any car on eBay? I didn’t really realize it was such a large marketplace either. You think eBay and you think about antique sewing machines, sports memorabilia and all the other quirky items that you didn’t know you could buy or ever wanted to.

If eBay can be trusted for buying so many other items, then why not cars? Because it just seems strange, right? Buying something as serious as a car from another person who you don’t really know is not the normal route. A car is something that you would like to physically touch, maybe even drive, before you buy it. Yeah, there is risk when you buy cars on eBay, but not more than any other web site that sells cars.

One convenient aspect is when you buy cars on eBay is that the seller reviews and feedback are right there for anyone to view. Nobody can really survive as a seller on eBay without having overwhelmingly positive feedback. There are plenty of people selling items on eBay, so there is no reason to buy from someone with a questionable history. This is especially the case when looking for a relatively common item because there will likely be multiple people selling similar cars, so you will obviously choose to purchase from a person with 100 percent positive customer reviews.

If you are looking to buy cars on eBay, it looks like there is no type of car that you can’t find. Every brand seems to be represented, they even have Willys. What are Willys? You might ask. I have no idea, I’m not a car dork, but it looks like old hot rods and Jeeps.

What’s that you say? You want to buy an Alfa Romeo, but are having a hard time finding one? Well eBay just happens to have 23. I just found out that Alfa Romeos existed, and they appear to be a 1970s and 1980s poor-man’s version of a PorscheÒ. Obscure, but for the avid car collector, I guess it is good that you can buy cars on eBay. You actually don’t even have to buy cars on eBay, you could just spend quite some time entertaining yourself by looking up all the strange, old types of cars that are for sale on eBay that you never knew existed. Citroens, DeLoreans, DeSotos, Edsels and International Harvesters, they have everything.

If you don’t want to take the leap and buy cars on eBay, you could start with a nice, safe motorcycle (Note: motorcycles aren’t that safe). eBay seems to have plenty of motorcycles available. The site also sells parts, accessories and even clothing to go with your car, motorcycle or boat. Yes, your boat. eBay sells boats, too. Another entertaining aspect of eBay’s vehicle section is reading the titles of what is for sale under the “Other Vehicles” category. It reads: Aircraft, Buses, Military Vehicles and my favorite, Race Cars (Not Street Legal).
If it can be classified as a vehicle or in some way relates to vehicles, it might be for sale on eBay.

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Make A Statement With Your Business Cards

Business cards are a pivotal aspect of the business world. They open the doors for exchanges, help create contacts and act as a representation of you when you are no longer there. A business card can be worth a thousand words if you so design it. But what many people think to be somewhat of a luxury is actually affordable and accessible to anyone with the Internet.

Business cards are thought to be the decendants of visiting and trade cards. Visiting cards made their fist appearance around the 15th century in China and the latter part of the 17th century in Europe. They were used by royalty and the upper class to remind people of their arrival. They were a tool of proper etiquette.
Trade cards came around in the early 18th century, starting out in London. They were used by tadesmen and merchants to bring people to their stores. These cards would include pictures, maps and advertisements.

Buying your business cards online puts you in the designer’s chair. There are a few key elements that business cards should have. Business cards should convey information about a company or individual. Remember, they act as a memory aid, so they should include the giver’s name, company affiliation (include a logo if applicable) and contact information such as street addresses, telephone number(s), e-mail address(es) and the website address.
There are literally hundreds of web sites online that will help you design and personalize your business cards. So, whether you are blue or a green type of person, whether you want tall or long cards, if you can imagine and design it, you can have it! Many web sites offer templates where you simply have to input your information and within seconds your business cards are done! It can be that simple and still make a great impression!

Many handheld computers, like the BlackBerry, the Trios, the iPhone, the BlackJack etc, have the ability to “beam” information. This includes electronic business cards. For many people in the business industry, the ability to beam business cards in not only a time saver, it is essential. Some of us meet hundreds of people a day. Working a room at a large function means literally stacks of business cards. If you can beam your business card to your recipient they will have you in their roladex instantly and you won’t have to risk them losing your card somewhere during the evening. Beaming business cards all but eliminates the need for the recipient to key-in contact information. It makes life a little easier, and saves some trees in the process!

So, whether you are starting a new job, or are already a player, represent yourself how you want to be seen! Order and design your own business cards in seconds and see the difference they make when you meet someone new.

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Going Green In Business

In a world that is becoming more and more environmentally conscious, large and small business owners alike are moving towards greener policies and practices. A trend is being seen, more and more employees are demanding recycling programs, and heads of companies are realizing that going green in their small business ultimately means more green in their wallets.

The Environmental Defense has developed a hierarchy of proactive actions called the “4 Cs.” These include: conserve energy, convert to lower carbon energy, choose quality offsets, and call for action. By following the 4 Cs, energy and cash can be saved. This is good for both a large and a small business.
Here are the details according to them:

Conserve energy. Energy use in buildings – heating, cooling, lighting, etc. – is responsible for nearly 40 percent of U.S. global warming pollution. Simple changes, such as occupancy sensors to control lighting and Energy Star office equipment, can substantially reduce emissions and energy costs. You can save even more by improving efficiencies in manufacturing and corporate fleets.
Convert to lower carbon energy. State and utility incentives can make it cost-effective for companies to install renewable power systems like solar panels or wind turbines. The benefits are long-term emissions reductions, a hedge against fluctuations in energy prices, and a visible commitment to clean energy.
Choose quality offsets. Offsets support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions outside company walls. They don’t replace reducing your own emissions, but they’re a helpful additional step. We recommend purchasing offsets after making all the on-site reductions you can. Offsets have to be purchased each year, and must be carefully assessed to ensure they truly reduce emissions.
Call for action. Corporations are well positioned to influence others – government officials, suppliers, customers and others. Leadership brings a variety of advantages. A national climate policy would create a single set of rules to play by and reward those who act first. Encouraging suppliers to be more efficient can reduce a company’s own costs. Finally, getting out ahead on fighting climate change helps a business improve its reputation in the marketplace.
Leading firms have found that when they reduce global warming pollution, they reap the savings from lower energy costs, they drive innovation, they differentiate their company as a good environmental steward, and they prepare themselves for forthcoming federal regulations. A small business, while it may not run on the same large scale as a leading firm, also has a carbon footprint and makes an evironmental impact. A small business should take the time to evaluate their carbon footprint and find ways to reduce their output. Not only is it good for the planet, it’s plain old good for business!
National policy is coming. Numerous states have already mandated cuts to global warming pollution. Bipartisan support for federal legislation is building in the government. As elections roll around, make sure that your small business won’t be on the butt ends of fines and legislation. Get out in front of it now. Not only will you feel better, your wallet and your employees will feel better, too.
To check out your small businesses carbon footprint go to: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

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Video Professor’s Tutorials On Buying, Selling and Making Money on eBay®

Maybe you never really thought that eBay is something that you would use or you don’t want to take the time to learn how to use. But learning to use eBay is somewhat similar to learning to ride a bike or use the Internet. There are a few key things to know, but once you get going, it is relatively easy, and you can take it as far as you desire. And Video Professor can get you started. You will be rather amazed at what you can find on eBay and how quickly John W. Scherer’s tutorial will make you feel comfortable with the site.

I was blown away by the amount of items you can purchase on eBay. From the useful to the woefully useless to the incredibly obscure, there is more than one thing for sale on eBay that you didn’t think you could find or didn’t know you could buy. In order to access all that eBay has to offer, Video Professor takes you through the basic steps of setting up your account with this massive auction site. From this point, you can really chose to what extent you want to use the site. You could, conceivably use the site to shop for almost everything you need short of groceries, or you could just use it periodically to locate hard-to-find items or to get a good deal on something. Either way, Video Professor and John W. Scherer will teach you what you need to know. 

The ever-expanding categories of items available on this site ranges from houses to tickets to memorabilia. Video Professor will show you the different options you have in order to search for the items you are looking for. Browse the different categories and all their subcategories if you have a broad idea of what you want or search by keyword or brand using eBay’s built-in search tool. John W. Scherer’s tutorial will reveal an unparalleled shopping experience.

eBay can be your key to one of the biggest electronics stores on the planet. MP3 players of every kind are available with new items being posted constantly. Video Professor can show you how to sort through items for the cheapest item. Every piece of home audio equipment you are likely to need is available for your bidding. Amplifiers, equalizers, speakers, subwoofers, turntables and karaoke machines are just a few of the items you can find on eBay. Video Professor’s tutorial will explain the bidding process in detail so you can go into your first buying experience with confidence. If you are the winning bidder, you and the seller work out the details of delivery. But usually, it works much the same as other online shopping experiences, and the shipping is prompt. Many of the sellers on eBay sell a lot of items through the site and have a very streamlined delivery process, and John W. Scherer’s advice can make it even easier. On some smaller, items the delivery is often free.

For larger items, such as a house or apartment, you would be surprised at the brevity of options you have. Forget driving all over the city and looking at multiple houses for days at a time. Video Professor will show you how you can use eBay to find your next residence. Browse by location or type of residence, and narrow your search by looking only at houses with the amount of bedrooms or bathrooms you want. You can also find timeshares or other types of vacation homes in various locations across the globe. John W. Scherer’s tutorial can also help you find a great piece of commercial real estate. Open your mind to a new way of looking for a home with the help of Video Professor.

Staying on the topic of items you might not expect to find on eBay, this site can be the art gallery you always wished you could find. There are 39,000 paintings up for bid on eBay, and that covers just about every genre. You can narrow your search by the time period it was created, the style of painting, artist, subject, medium and more. Video Professor will show you all the options for finding what you want. John W. Scherer’s tutorial also explains the ratings of the sellers on eBay. This feature allows buyers to view ratings and customer reviews of the people they are buying from. See how many people have already bought items from any given seller and what they said about the product quality, delivery and overall satisfaction. Just because you are buying an item online, there is no reason to buy an unsatisfactory product from a non reputable source. You can also find prints, photographs, drawings, sculptures, mixed media work, textile art and much more.

There is also the large “other” category for all the strange items that don’t fit into a defined genre. Here you can find obscure items from hubcaps to marketing schemes. Video Professor will give you the information necessary to find whatever you are looking for and feel secure doing it. John W. Scherer’s method has worked for many others and it can help you, as well.
 

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