So here’s the story with my local hardware store and why it is soooo difficult for me to keep my business local.

I found the item I wanted on the hardware store’s national website and I could have had it all shipped directly to my house but I thought I would try to help out the local store and order it from them.

I called them on the phone… told them the exact item number I wanted and that I needed 5 cases of them.   The clerk asked for my name and phone number, and since I knew I was not going to be in town for about 3 weeks so I told her that I also wanted to give her my Spokane phone number.  I also let her know that if she needed to delay the order that would be fine because I was not in a hurry and would not be back in town for about 3 weeks.   She explained that it would take about 2 weeks for the freight to arrive from the warehouse and that she would go ahead and place the order and call me when they came it.

Friday (about 4 weeks after I placed the order) I stopped in the store and inquired.  There were multiple people that tried to help me and finally a gentleman went in back to check for the items.  He was not able to find them and phoned someone else.   The verdict… “The phone number you gave us was incorrect and we sent them back on this morning’s truck.”

First of all, the clerk that took the order had two of my phone numbers and IF SHE WROTE ONE OF THEM DOWN WRONG she could have tried the other.  I am also in the PHONE BOOK and had she bothered to look up my name she would have been able to call.  

Long story short I went online placed the $485.00 order, paid the shipping and I will have my items on Thursday.   Local business need to understand a little bit about customer service.   Not even an I’m sorry and of course it was my problem.   I guess I should have double and triple checked she wrote my phone number down and then had he send me a fax copy so I could verify that everyone could read her handwriting.  

Needless to say that this business will NO LONGER be receiving any of my business.   I can go to the Ace Hardware, Haney’s or if I want mediocre service even WalMart.

I had a co-worker send me an email the other day that was about purchasing American made products.   It was actually one of those emails that made me go… hmmmm….

When purchasing Made in the USA I am one of those that has this preconceived notion that whatever the item is will be more expensive.  After all, our labor force here is expensive, insurance, etc… but you know what?  American made products are NOT always the most expensive. (Can’t help but wonder what the manufacturers are doing with the money they are reportedly saving by manufacturing out of the country?)

Anyway I thought I would share the email with you all.   Read through it, let me know your thoughts and maybe some of your experiences while reading the labels… (I don’t think I will be giving up my Hershey bars.)

Good idea. One light bulb at a time .

Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowe’s the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in  China . The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking .

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else – even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track . Let’s get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey’s candy . I noticed, though, that it is marked made in  Mexico now. I do not buy it any more . My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now.  I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything .

This past weekend I was at Kroger . I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets . I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, Everyday Value. I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats , they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in Mexico and the Everyday Value brand was made in get ready for this – the USA in a company in Cleveland,  Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you can not find products you use every day that are made right here .

So on to another aisle,  Bounce Dryer Sheets . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada . The Everyday Value brand was less money and made in the USA. I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price.

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA – the job you save may be your own or your neighbors.

I have been spending quite a bit of time on eBay lately.  And while I can still say that I am NOT an eBay fan these days I was able to find a couple of really good deals on geocoins as well as a couple of study aids for my PMP adventure.

I hate getting caught up in a bidding war on eBay and what I find typically happens is that as soon as there is a bid on an item, or as soon as you outbid someone on an item you end up in a bidding war and the price of the item keeps increasing above what you really want to pay.  And now that you have a “vested interest” you don’t want to be the loser.

Gixen has helped me solve this problem… When I see an item that I would like to bid on I can logon to the Gixen site and place my maximum willing to pay bid.   Since it isn’t recorded on eBay there are no emails telling me I was outbid and that I really should bid again, I don’t get emails about similar items, etc…  A large part of the emotion involved in an auction is removed.

In the past few days I’ve won 6 auctions in the last 6 seconds and in most cases it was for far less than I was willing to pay.  I am convinced that had I been caught up in a bidding war I would have paid much more.

Gixen is free but does have a “mirror” site that you can pay for. (Six bucks a year.) There are also a couple of additional functionality things you get but certainly don’t necessarily need.

If you’re wondering if a FREE snipe site works I encourage you to take a peek at gixen.com.  You can also check out my original posting on Gixen – HERE…

When buying a telescope, get the best possible one you can afford. Don’t go out and buy some $100 telescope that is going to fall apart or not be worth using. Telescopes have a really good resale value, so buy the best telescope you can, and if you don’t like it, you can go sell it online and make some of your money back.

The power of a telescope is not as important as you might think. Get a telescope that has large aperture, which gives you a bigger field of view and makes it easier to find stars, which is very hard by the way.

Remember, if you can’t afford a telescope, go get a decent pair of binoculars. There are many binoculars out there that make it much easier to enjoy astronomy than when using your naked eye. Binoculars are also much easier to use and find things with, and another nice thing is that they can be used for general observing during the day (so can telescopes btw).

I suggest buying a refractor telescope because it is much easier to use and maintain. A refractor telescope uses lens to to make the picture. The major advantage to a refractor telescope is that it does not require a lot of time to get set up and running. Another advantage is that it is a lot more reliable. You can expect to pay a lot for a good refractor telescope.

Guys, stay away from reflector telescopes unless you know what you are doing. They are not really that hard to use but I would suggest that you get a refractor telescope for a beginner. A great advantage is that the reflector telescopes are a lot cheaper and you can get a really nice telescope with a really big field of view for a good price.

Another great kind of telescope is the catadioptric telescope. These are a combination of the refractor and reflector systems. A good catadioptric telescope can be very costly, but you can sometimes get lucky and find a decent one for a good price.

You need a pair of binoculars when using your telescope to help you find stars easier. Binoculars are a great way to learn how to spot stars, and they build up your ability to spot things with an instrument. That is why you should get binoculars if you don’t have a telescope yet. They are cheaper and can be used to learn how to look at stars, and since you need them anyway, you might as well get them first before you drop a ton of money on a telescope.

So again, if you are just starting out, get a good pair of binoculars and then when you get better at finding stars go out and get yourself a really nice refractor or catadioptric telescope. If you are low on money, consider getting a Used lx200 Meade Telescope.

About the Author

Jason Heff owns http://www.telescopesgonewild.info and is binocular and telescope fanatic. He enjoys using his telescope for astronomy and plane watching.

There is something particularly rewarding about being presented with a special bottle of wine. And because it can be a very personal thing, choosing the right wine to give to a friend or loved one, will show them just how much you care.

But with so many choices out there, the task of picking the right wine as a present can prove a bit daunting. But there are a few simple tips, which should help you steer clear of any pitfalls. First of all think about the person you are buying for. That may sound simple, but just because you like sherry, don’t assume everyone else will. If in doubt – it’s often best to stick with tried and tested favourites.

If you’re buying something for a man, whether it’s a work colleague, your father, or husband – there’s always something particularly grand about a bottle of Port or whisky. Both are excellent options especially around Christmas time and, as they are not an everyday item, they have an added ‘treat’ factor. Classic wines such as reds from Bordeaux or crisp, dry white from Chablis are good safe bets. The 2005 vintage was one of the finest in Bordeaux for a long time, which improved the standard of all the wines from that year. So if you spot any – they’re worth snapping up.

If you are buying something for a woman then Champagne is almost guaranteed to raise a smile. And if authentic Champagne is looking a tad expensive, there are plenty of top-quality sparkling whites to get that are great value. If you’re looking for something a bit different then Sparkling rosés are becoming increasingly popular. As well as a refreshing vibrant taste there is something deliciously elegant and romantic about a flute of bubbly rosé. If the lady in question prefers red wine – a Pinot Noir from New Zealand or, if you’re feeling flush, red Burgundy has a unique celebrated red-berry complexity that sets it apart from all other reds.

These are a just few suggestions, but it is worth visiting the website of a reputable wine merchant to find out more. Many will offer sound advice on what to get as well as delivery direct to your home or whichever address you choose. Decanter Magazine’s Wine Merchant of the Year – Laithwaites is a good place to start laithwaites (dot)co(dot)uk. The have an extensive range with interesting mixed cases for simple ‘thank you’ wine gifts as well as fine wine for when you want something truly impressive.

With expert advice at your fingertips making the right choice becomes a lot easier as does making that special someone feel particularly appreciated. Happy hunting!

About the Author

Mark Hooson is a professional writer for the wine trade. For more Information visit at Laithwaites.Co.Uk

Auctiva eCommerce, slated to launch in January is tagged as the eCommerce that works for everyone. 

Features are quite extensive and after years of experience with online shopping we can only hope that they would get it right the first time.   Some of the extensive features list includes:
    Store Setup Wizards
    Product and Image Import
    Real-time Inventory Display
    Automated Emails to Customer and Store Owner
    Flexible Shipping Options Including Weight, and Number of Items
    SSL Enabled
    Flexible Payment Options including Real-time Credit Card Processing
    Promotion Management With Start and End Dates
    Quantity Break Pricing
    Comprehensive Order Management Module
    Automatic Store Manager Notification of Low Inventory Levels
    Complete Reporting Module

The feature list is quite extensive and goes well beyond what I have included above.

My only concern from what I have seen in all of their marketing materials is the pricing model.  At the time of this writing they were promoting a price of $9.95 which is reduced from their normal monthly price of $14.95.  These seemed quite reasonable but then in reading the additional details on the pricing page I was a little disappointed to see that they are also going to take a percentage of all of the sales from your site.  5% to start gradually reducing to .5% if you sell over $100,000 in a month.  

Since I have stopped selling on eBay, my use of Auctiva at this point is zero.   I may decide to look at their eCommerce option in January.  If you have a business online I would encourage you to check it out.  Let us know your thoughts.   Does this type of offering fit into your business plans?

What happens to your gift card when a retailer like Linens ‘N Things goes bankrupt?  You become a creditor and get to get in the line with everyone else for payment.   There are no safeguards or government regulations in place that protect the value of your card.  Nearly $100 million was lost last year by unsuspecting card holders.

I say why risk it… If you don’t know what to get someone buy them a nice card at your local Hallmark store and put cash into it.  Cash will always be spendable.  You may not get as much as you used to with it but you will always be able to spend it.

For those of you still hanging on to gift cards (it is estimated that 25% of gift cards purchased are still not used)… SPEND THEM!!!!!  Help the economy out and in the long run make sure that you won’t end up with a useless piece of plastic in your wallet.  (I have heard they make good ice scrapers for your windows)

There are a couple of conditions that cause the reporting… You need to receive payments of more than $20,000 AND you need to have more than 200 payments made to you.   I know for me that the AND portion of this bill becomes pretty significant.   Both conditions must be met before there is any reporting by Paypal.  In the original bill these reporting requirements were much smaller than those that were finally signed into law. 

So when does it all happen?  January 2012, Paypal will need to send 1099s to all of their customers that meet the requirements. 

You can see a full article by Ken Swab on the Paypal blog.

So this brings up a few interesting questions…

• At what point is an eBay sale considered taxable income?  (Do you report garage sale income as taxable income?)
• What other legislation is out there that might have an Internet sales reporting clause?
• What are the logistics of tax reporting for local jurisdictions and the Internet sale?  (ie… should a seller in Washington state be required to collect New Jersey sales taxes for products that are being shipped to a New Jersey locale?

I have noticed there have been a number of promotions on eBay lately trying to get people to list their items for sale.  I’m not sure that this is related to the general seller unrest that seems to be prevalent or simply eBay’s attempt to help stimulate listings due to soft economic conditions.  The bottom line really seems to be a matter of personal choice. 

My choice… I have nothing currently running on eBay and I’m not sure how long I will continue to NOT list.  I am trying out ewaey.com and I’ve dabbled with a couple of others.  What I really hope is that this general unrest will open the doors for these small guys to at least make a bit of headway into the online auction marketplace.  I’m a pretty firm believer in the concept that you don’t want to place all of your eggs into a single basket.  If you only list on eBay then you are tied to their every whim (fee increase, policy change, etc.).

So my questions to you if you are a seller:

• Are you a participant in the strike/boycott?
• What is your primary complaint with eBay?
• What alternatives are you using?

If you are a buyer:

• Have you noticed a decrease in listings?
• What are your thoughts on the eBay changes?
• What other online auction venues do you visit?

Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

This is the first edition of the Online Auction blog carnival.   For those of you not familiar with a blog carnival, think of it as a magazine related to a specific topic.  Authors will submit their posts/articles to the carnival and then an editor (me) will put them all together for my readers to enjoy.

This carnival is specifically related to online auctions.  If you have any thoughts or comments related to the online auction environment then we would absolutely love to have them posted here for all readers to enjoy in a quick, concise format.   You can click on the submit post link above it will take you to the correct submission page.

This is the first edition of this carnival and there were not too many submissions…  All are related to eBay so I have broken them into separate categories

eBay Auction Tools

Bill presents a review of a tool that he uses to place SNIPE bids on items on eBay.  Sniping on eBay is the act of bidding in the last few seconds of an auction not giving any of the other bidders an opportunity to react to your bid.  The article titled Free eBay Sniping Software – Gixen Review can be found on his blog Projects Possible.

eBay Auction How To

Raymond presents a great article called eBay Guide To Buying and Selling Wholesale Products posted at Money Blue Book.  In this article he points out some great tips for buying and selling on eBay and points out quite a few SCAMS that are in play and what you can do to avoid getting caught up in them.   Great reading for all eBay buyers and sellers.

eBay Auction Controversy

Raymond also presents Feedback About eBay’s New Pricing Structure and Policy Changes posted at Money Blue Book.  With eBay’s recent announcements about changes to their platform, there are a lot of opinions out there as to what if anything this is going to do to the eBay venue.  This article gives one viewpoint.

Bill presents a different viewpoint in these two articles found on Projects Possible.  The first article My Thoughts on the eBay Seller Strike list the pain points for sellers and the author’s view of those pain points.   The second article Another eBay Seller Boycott – May 1 discusses the continued dissatisfaction of the sellers and their intended boycott to begin on May 1.  This one also has a link to a YouTube video that is circulating.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of online auctions using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.  Remember this carnival is about anything and everything related to online auctions.  I’d love to get some posts about different online auction sites, tools that you use to bid, buy, list, etc… Next posting will be in the middle of April.

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