Survey Reveals eBay as Top Brand on Internet

Recent reports say that Internet monitoring company Envisional has placed online auction site eBay as the top brand name on the Internet.

The scoring method used by Envisional is based on how positively any particular brand is perceived on the Internet and eBay came out with the highest ranking. Apparently, McDonald's had the most negative perception online.

The most prominent company name in the index was Microsoft, although it was rated as number six in the negatively perceived category.

Ben Coppin, chief executive of Envisional is reported as saying, "The internet is fast approaching television in terms of influence on consumer behaviour and therefore big brands cannot afford to neglect the issue of how their brand is perceived on the web”

The ever-increasing brand recognition of eBay in the online shopping and auction domain is great news for buyers and sellers alike, with the number of auction and ‘Buy it Now’ items growing at a rapid rate.

But for sellers, especially shops and stores, the massively popular eBay brand can also have a downside in terms of increased competition within the eBay marketplace. One way of gaining differentiation and added visibility is to join the Directory of eBay Shops which promotes both eBay and its shop and store subscribers.

eBay Tip - Where to Find Free eBay Guides?

eBay is probably the world's greatest marketplace. You can find almost anything on eBay. From cars to houses; collectables to furniture; airplanes to walking shoes - you can find them all on eBay.

In this free special report for eBay buyers, you'll learn how to find items on eBay you might otherwise have missed. The guide details advanced search techniques to find items hidden away on eBay. Also, you'll find out how to avoid scammers and lower the risk of losing your money.

This free report for eBay sellers explains the tried and proven methods of eBay Power Sellers. You'll learn how to get higher bids, how to get viewers to look at your other auctions and how to get high quality, fast loading photographs in your auctions. The report details exactly what you can do to lower complaints, plus how to offer a 100% money back guarantee and get very few returns. Using a simple strategy will make sure buyers leave feedback - and there's many other excellent tips here too.

You can find bargains of all kinds on eBay, but where do you start looking? Here’s a link to help you locate some of the best retail outlets on eBay - the Directory of eBay Stores and Shops.

$21m Investment in India Planned by eBay

Global online auction company eBay is planning to invest around $21m in expanding its’ India operations over the next 2 years.

eBay acquired the Indian auction site BaaZee last year and is currently integrating the business into its’ global portal. eBay’s senior management is apparently looking at ways of using India’s large pool of technology expertise to increase the group’s current levels of offshore outsourcing.

Avnish Bajaj, country manager of eBay India is reported as saying “….currently eBay outsources a part of its development to Cognizant and a part of customer support to IBM Daksh. Dialogues are underway at the top management of eBay on how we can leverage the vast talent pool of India and we should be deciding on this within the next few quarters.”

It seems that since the integration of BaaZee and eBay, there has been an upturn in the number of Indian sellers looking to address the global marketplace. But here’s the catch. Unless you do an eBay international search for specific descriptions, items on eBay.in don’t automatically show up if you’re registered in another country. So if like me, a lot of your eBay shopping is done browsing through categories, you won’t find the bargains from India.

What a number of smart India based sellers have done to get their items easily visible across the world is register directly on eBay.com eBay.uk etc. and are not just making a bit of money but (in relative terms for India) an absolute fortune selling their stuff globally. Good luck to them!

Another emerging trend - increasing international competition between eBay sellers is acting as a catalyst in the formation of seller groups. Now some of these groups are banding together to promote additional visibility through externally promoted eBay Shops and Stores Directories.

$10 Sells for $27,100 on eBay Auction

Sounds like a great way to make money? Well yes it certainly is, but the $10 bank note in question was an extremely rare note printed in 1905 and featuring a portrait of President William McKinley.

The $10 note was sold on eBay to a New Jersey man for $27,100. Jess Lipka, has been a currency collector for over 30 years and is reported as saying that the bill is "very rare, very desirable."

The serial No. 1 note was from the first series of its type printed and bears a red seal on the front together with the bank president's signature and the portrait of McKinley. Apparently, many serial No. 1 notes were saved by bankers for themselves. The anonymous seller, was said to be "shocked" by the sale price.

The auction was run on behalf of the seller by drop-off store, iSold It, which operates a large chain of eBay drop-off stores and made over $5,000 in commission. Both the seller and the iSold-It franchisee are reported to be well satisfied with the deal.

You can find bargain collectibles of all kinds on eBay - have a look at the Directory of eBay Stores and Shops.

eBay Safety Tips – Using Feedback Ratings and PayPal

eBay continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, not only within it’s existing territories, but also on a global basis.

With the acquisition of BaaZee in India last year and the more recent launch of the eBay country site in Poland, buyers and sellers alike are offered new opportunities for trade on a world-wide basis.

But how can you be sure that when you find a great bargain on Global eBay, you will actually receive your item and that it will be as described in the listing?

There are a number of safety checks which eBay puts in place and probably the two most important are Buyer & Seller Feedback Ratings and using PayPal for secure payments.

eBay is a great place to buy and sell, but there can be pitfalls for the unwary. To find out more about Feedback Ratings, PayPal and the other safety features provided by eBay, take a look at the free guides for eBay Buyers and Sellers.

George Michael’s Car on eBay Auction for Charity

The Range Rover owned by celebrity George Michael is for sale on eBay with proceeds going to charity.

An extract from the description reads “This is a unique opportunity to own a car owned by one of the most talented singer/songwriters of modern times. It is without question a one off, as this gentleman’s vehicles never see the private add columns and would normally be handed down to family or friends.

The proceeds of this sale will be going to worthy causes.

The vehicle itself was purchased from Broadfields Range Rover on the 05/12/1991 and was fully optioned at the time at a cost in excess of 50k.

The vehicle has a full r/rover history up until the time of storage. There are two previous owners showing on the V5 the original being the accountants, the second being in his own name and currently the vehicle is in the name of his father’s stud farm.”

You can search eBay Auctions to have a look at this car and the full description - the item ID is 4543866872 - or you can also have a look at other eBay Charity Auctions – it’s all in a good cause!

eBay Shops and Stores – How to Increase Your Revenue and Profit

The latest eBay newsletter from Jim Cockrum, Author of best selling "The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay" is now available. The newsletter contains great information and links to brilliant ideas for maximising sales on eBay.

Whether you are just an occasional seller or run an eBay shop or store full time, Jim’s newsletters and ebooks have some really useful and practical tips and techniques that you can put to good advantage in the increasingly competitive eBay community.

Jim says, “As you may already know my first eBay success guide titled "The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay" has sold more copies than ANY other eBay related eBook on the Internet (as far as we know). Customer feedback has told us that readers of the "Silent Sales" book would like more information on how to tap into the power of eBay traffic. For that reason I've just written a new book that I'm calling: "How to turn auction traffic into cash"

Have a look at Jim’s eBay newsletter first and then take a look at the overview of “The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay” – I bought the book and it helped us build an eBay shop turning over £6,000 plus a month inside 3 months!

eBay Launches new Site in Poland

Following the recent announcement of first quarter earnings up 28% on the same period last year, the global online auction company eBay has released information to the press about the launch of a new country website.

Thousands of people in Poland have already been using eBay for some time and the launch of an eBay site specifically for Poland will allow individuals and eBay Shops in that country to list and sell their goods and services using local currency pricing as well as internationally.

Said Matt Bannick, eBay International president, in a statement to the press "We are pleased to expand our footprint into Eastern Europe and bring new opportunities to a growing community of e-commerce users." Bannick continued, "Many thousands of people in Poland are already using eBay, and we look forward to working with them to build their own dedicated website."

This most recent step in eBay’s plans to continue leading the global online auction community reinforces the need for eBay users focusing their sales efforts through their own eBay shops to rise to the challenge of increasing competition within the eBay community. An independent eBay shops directory has recently been launched and eBay Shops are now starting to come together within this externally promoted directory to complement corporate eBay’s generic pan-global marketing initiatives.

Book Review - eBay for Beginners

One of the best paperback books for newcomers to eBay is ‘eBay for Beginners’ by Cherry Nixon and the brief summary is shown below.

There are two kinds of people, those who are trading on eBay and the rest who are missing out. Though eBay has been embraced by entrepreneurs all over the world, it remains the peoples’ site and offers the largest market for the smallest fee.

eBay presents an opportunity for everyone, the trick is to master it. This book shows you how to start trading on eBay. It also offers advice on getting organised and tips to put you ahead. It is straightforward and ideal for anyone wanting to get a fast and effective start on eBay.

If you can muster the strength to raise your index finger then you can trade on eBay. This book shows you how.

Aimed at beginners and intermediate levels, ‘eBay for Beginners’ is a great value book. ISBN 0-85934-551-3 published by Babani Computer Books. Well worth reading! For more information please visit eBay Auction World Community

Profit at eBay Rises 28 Percent

Online auction site eBay’s first-quarter net income was 28 percent up compared to the same quarter last year. The company attributes this earnings growth to a record increase in new visitors together with a 36 percent rise in sales, the online auction house reported on Wednesday.

A pro-forma profit of $0.20 per share was posted, beating analysts’ expectations of earnings per share totalling $0.18. eBay, based in San Jose, California, reported its net income including expenses was $0.19 per share ($256.3 million total), a significant increase compared to $0.15, ($200.1 million) 12 months ago. Net revenue was $1.03 billion for the quarter, compared with $756.2 million for the same period last year.

eBay was reported to be the number 1 online retailer in March. Purchase transactions reached 21.3 million items, equivalent to around 45 percent of total online purchases. eBay exceeded Wall Street forecasts, although the Company had previously missed fourth quarter expectations.

The continued growth in eBay’s market dominance in the auction sector seems to be leading many internet shops which were previously operating on a standalone basis to join eBay where they benefit from the collective internet presence.

But some eBay shops are now starting to form their own off eBay Shops Directory groups to promote their eBay sites. As more independent online retailers join eBay, this trend towards externalised promotion will probably gather pace as the thousands of competing eBay shops struggle for differentiation and market share.

How to Get Someone Else to Sell Your Car on eBay

Many thousands of people have successfully sold their cars on eBay.

But now there is a new angle on this theme which should make anyone who abandons their vehicle feel somewhat unhappy.

A city council in the UK has discovered a new way of getting rid of abandoned, but roadworthy cars and making a profit into the bargain.

Apparently, Westminster City Council in London has recently sold a Range Rover on the UK eBay Auction site. The vehicle was bid up to over £6,000 so presumably the council made a substantial amount of money from the deal. Do you think the original owner felt rather upset that he or she didn’t sell the car on eBay themselves rather than just abandon it?

It seems that roughly 200 cars are abandoned in London every day so that’s a lot of potential income for the council which everyone hopes they will re-invest in improving the lot of car owners in central London who simply wish to find a parking space for a few hours – not abandon their car for ever.

So if you’ve a car you don’t want any more – sell it on eBay – don’t give it away!

Religious Image for Sale on eBay (Again!)

Apparently, a few days ago, the owner of a wooden rocking chair with a knot that was said to bear a likeness to Jesus withdrew the item from eBay because the bids did not get high enough.

There was only one bid for the chair, and the seller, said to be located in Canada, decided that $5,000 was not enough to persuade him to part with the item. With a starting price of $650, the item received 17,000 hits on eBay.

Now, curiously, another “Rocking Chair with Image of Jesus” has appeared on eBay only days after the other one was withdrawn. But this time, the seller is identified as located in Sheffield, England.

The same item? - or just a miraculous co-incidence? If you search eBay auctions for item ID 7316604806 you’ll find the picture of the newly listed item and all will be revealed. By the way, we are not associated in any way with either of the sellers!

Janiece Smith - eBay eBook Review

Janiece Smith is an eBay expert and her eBook is a bestseller. Based in the USA, Janiece's techniques are equally applicable in the rest of the World.

She describes "How an overworked, traveling, soggy sandwich eating Dental Hygenist made $11,212 a month online."

Janiece's book gives an easy-to-use direct roadmap to the exact same highly profitable -- yet exceptionally easy -- money making secrets she uses every day to make Big Money on eBay.

One of the things I like most about Janiece's book is the clear and practical way she illustrates how to go about the whole eBay business. Sometimes, when you read an ebook, you get the impression that it's just a collection of ideas from other people - but this one is different. You really can see that Janiece has practical experience and that makes her eBay book very well worth reading.

Re-review of The eBay Book by David Beblin

I know I’ve reviewed this book before, but having just finished reading it again it’s so good that I think it’s worth blogging again on the subject. There are many books, electronic and paper, that are available on the subject of eBay and how to get the best out of this global marketplace. These books cover areas of interest for both buyers and sellers, and range in scope from beginner through to intermediate and onwards to advanced eBay PowerSellers.

Published in paperback, ‘The eBay Book’ by author David Belbin details essential tips for buying and selling on eBay and defines this auction and “buy it now” site as the world’s biggest marketplace. David’s book is aimed at the UK sector, but the global nature of eBay makes his advice and techniques applicable the world over.

In brief summary David outlines his book by starting with some key statistics. eBay.co.uk has over two million items for sale in its auctions at any given time. The site sells every type of consumer goods and collectable you can think of.

Over one third of all internet users in the UK visited eBay in March 2004, when the number of eBay users passed 9 million. One million people started using the site in the first three months of 2004 alone.

eBay provides an easy way for anybody to auction items they want to sell – whether antiques, books, computers, sports equipment, records, DVDs, CDs, photography, clothing, jewellery, electronics or almost anything else – and allows anyone to browse and bid on this vast catalogue from the comfort of their own homes,

In ‘The eBay Book’, David Belbin, a long time eBay user, explains how eBay.co.uk works and how to get the most out of it, whether you are a buyer or seller. Step by step, he takes you through the key features of the site, advises on bidding and selling tactics, explains how to minimise the fees you pay and why feedback is so important. He explores ways to pay for goods and what to do if your transactions go wrong. This hugely readable book also contains a wealth of case studies covering a wide range of eBay users.

For newcomers, this is an indispensable primer which will give you the confidence to join the vast community of eBayers. For people who already know the basics, it is a short-cut to eBay’s advanced features and a rapid way to learn the tips and tricks that David has picked up over the last five years.

The book is published by Harriman House ISBN 1 897 59743-6 and is really great value for money for anyone interested in buying or selling on eBay

Vendio Announces New Software for eBay Ticket Merchants

Vendio (www.vendio.com) has announced the launch of Tickets Manager which is the first online sales management service designed specifically for eBay ticket sellers. The software has been developed within a collaborative relationship with eBay and a number of eBay's large ticket sellers.

Rodrigo Sales, CEO of Vendio is reported as saying "Category-specific applications represent the next generation of online sales management services. The majority of eBay's largest merchants sell in only one or two categories and have specific operational and merchandising needs that apply uniquely to each vertical."

Greg Bettinelli, Sr. Category Manager for eBay Tickets is reported as commenting, "In 2003, event ticket sales on eBay generated more than $250 million in gross merchandise sales. By making sellers more efficient, we contribute to the overall growth of the tickets category and eBay as a whole. Vendio is an ideal choice for delivering this type of solution, given the company's deep understanding of customer needs and exceptional track record of delivering services that makes sellers more efficient."

Try searching eBay for great bargain ticket deals – there are lots to be found and Vendio’s new software will help enhance this particular category to the benefit of both sellers and buyers.

Reincarnation Paintings for Sale on eBay

Peter Teekamp is a Dutch-born American artist who is offering his own paintings and also his Gauguin collection for sale on eBay as evidence of his belief in reincarnation.

Teekamp has built his reputation as a painter by specialising in pictures of spirits and angels themed on near-death experiences. Following many years of coincidences, connections and discoveries, Teekamp is apparently convinced that his life's work should be used to help people believe that we have all been here before. Using eBay seems to be the best way to access a mass audience for Teekamp to get his message across.

It is said that the $1 million opening bid is to make sure any potential buyers are serious and is intended to ensure the collection is bought by someone with the vision to understand the significance of one of the most unusual art collections ever put together.

Probably the price tag for this collection is a little too much for most of us, but it’s interesting to search eBay for a look at what the sale is all about.

Baby Triplets’ Names Sold on eBay

The Internet casino GoldenPalace.com is becoming famous for buying weird and wonderful items on eBay. Now the casino has scored another hit after winning the auction placed on eBay by mother-to-be Natasha, offering the right to name her triplets, due in August.

GoldenPalace.com used eBay's "Buy It Now" option to add naming rights for the triplets to their growing collection of odd items. One of the babies will be called GoldenPalace.com and names for the other two babies will be announced after their birth in August.

So far, the weird items purchased on eBay by GoldenPalce.com apparently include the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, a pretzel resembling the Madonna and Child and the so called Ghost Cane. Along with some other bizarre eBay purchases, the casino is said to have spent well over $100,000 to date.

Thousands of emails have apparently been received by GoldenPalace.com over the past few months with offers from sellers of unusual items. But it is not clear whether this approach by sellers is the best way to catch the casino’s attention. So if you have something really weird you think the casino might be interested in, probably better to list it on eBay!

Intel Offers $10,000 Reward on eBay

Around 40 years ago, Gordon Moore, now chairman emeritus at Intel, made a famous prediction. Moore forecast that the performance of computer chips would double approximately once every 18 months. And that prediction still holds true today.

However, original copies of Moore’s declaration were lost when he lent out his own copy which subsequently went missing. Now, Intel Corp. is using the “want it now” facility on eBay to help trace the original and has posted a reward of $10,000 on the world’s largest online auction site.

The original article was published in the April 19 1965, issue of Electronics. But the magazine went out of business some time ago and Intel, the largest chip maker in the world does not have a copy.

Intel is apparently hopeful that the $10,000 price tag will encourage the electronic engineering community to search their archives for a copy of the magazine.

So if you have a collection of 1960’s Electronics magazines, now is the time to rummage through the attic and see if you have the copy that Intel is looking for. You can search eBay listings here for more details.

eBay Drop-Off Stores on the High Street?

Throughout the US, a new variation on the eBay concept is starting to emerge.

Hundreds of drop-off stores are being set up where people who have items to sell, but don’t want to do it themselves on eBay, can leave the selling to professionals.

C-it-Sell, based in Maine is believed to be the first in the area that is devoted 100% to selling items on eBay on behalf of its customers. So for anyone with unwanted items ranging from consumer electronics through to clothing and jewellery, there is now a means of raising cash with someone else taking responsibility for listing on eBay, receiving payment from the buyer and shipping.

Rates of commission vary, but most drop-off stores seem to be charging around 25% to 35%. This might seem a high percentage, but many sellers seem happy to pay the commission simply on the basis that otherwise they would have unwanted items cluttering up their homes – and not realising the cash value that selling on eBay generates.

So will we see a proliferation of eBay retail “inlets” on our high streets and main streets? Probably the market will take some time to mature, with the biggest issue seeming to be in the logistics of shipping items to the buyer. But with major organisations like UPS now starting to take an interest, anyone already selling on eBay should probably keep a close watch on developments.

April 8 Collectables Sell Well on eBay

Collectors always find eBay an exciting place to look for bargains and this week has proved to be no exception with almost fever pitch bidding for souvenirs of the Royal wedding.

The last minute date change has led to a wide range of items including mugs, bookmarks, and other souvenirs attracting bids much higher than even the sellers were expecting.

It seems that many people were under the probably false impression that items with the incorrect date of April 8 would have a much higher value in the future and were prepared to offer bids as much as twenty or thirty times the estimates of experienced Royal memorabilia collectors.

A mug with the wrong wedding date and pictures of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles was bid up to over £60. But it is not just on eBay that high prices are being paid. There are reports of a shop near the site of the Royal wedding selling a dishcloth – presumably emblazoned with appropriate pictures of the Royal couple – on sale for more than £12.

So even though eBay is normally a great place to find bargain collectables, it is worth remembering that sometimes buyers should be a little cautious about getting carried away in bidding for an item just because it seems a good idea at the time!

eBay India Buying Visibility With Massive Spending Spree

On a percentage basis, eBay India spends twice as much as its parent, eBay Worldwide, on marketing campaigns. Apparently, marketing budgets constituted 10 per cent of gross merchandise volume.

In India, eBay needs to allocate a larger percentage from its sales for marketing to popularise the concept of online auction selling. Shopping on the web is more popular globally than in India and as a result, the proportion spent on awareness initiatives by the parent company is much lower than that of its Indian subsidiary.

eBay India was formed a month ago after eBay Worldwide acquired Baazee.com in July 2004. It is now India’s largest online marketplace, providing a trading environment for anyone wishing to buy or sell a wide range of items.

It has taken almost a year to change from the brand name of Baazee to eBay in India and the company is now keen to establish the eBay brand in the country by creating awareness among existing and new online buyers and sellers.

There are now over 1 million registered users of eBay in India with around 70,000 live listings across 2,500 categories of products.

Access to eBay sites and eBay Shops across the globe is easy for anyone, no matter where they live and many India-based sellers are now promoting their bargains to buyers in other countries.

New Data Center for eBay in Phoenix

eBay is paying over $16m to purchase a building in Phoenix in which to set up a new data centre for its online auction service. Computer servers and a small number of staff will be housed in the four-story 141,000 square foot building.

A number of Western US cities competed for the new data center with Phoenix eventually emerging as the winner. Apparently, the building was constructed during the late ‘90s and has been on the market for around four years.

eBay already has three data centers in California and one in Denver. Growth in transaction volumes has led the company to expand its data capacity and also to make use of multiple distributed locations as a disaster recovery contingency in the event of earthquakes and other possible events.

eBay operates on a global basis with over 130 million users across the world and this new data center will help ensure continuity of eBay’s internet services.

Growth Continues at eBay Australia and India

Some 2000 full-time eBay Australia traders sign on for work every day with the numbers continuing to rise. They make a full time living by selling everything from collectables to iPods on eBay – not just within their own country, but for export on a global basis.

eBay auctions were worth around $600 million last year in Australia. However it’s ordinary people who are getting the rewards not global multinationals.

There are over 135 million users across the world, making eBay a global economic force processing around $A12 billion in the period September to December 2004. Even assuming no further growth, this will be almost equivalent to the oil-rich state of Kuwait’s Gross Domestic Product.

The Internet has enabled massive change in the world’s supply chain mechanisms with individuals now able to compete with global corporations. eBay in particular represents a channel to consumers on a global basis - an opportunity which some countries with low cost production facilities are now starting to aggressively adopt

BaaZee is India’s equivalent of eBay with over 1m users. eBay acquired BaaZee in August 2004 and the name changed to eBay.in on 22 Mar 2005. So what? - you’re thinking. Well, if you already use eBay to find bargains in your own country you should look at what you can get in India for really really low prices. Cost of living there is about one tenth USA and Western Europe so even allowing for postage there are some incredible bargains to be had.

But here’s the catch. Unless you do an eBay international search for specific descriptions, items on eBay.in don’t show up. So if like me a lot of your eBay shopping is done browsing through categories you won’t necessarily find the bargains from India.

If you do decide to look at eBay.in their main auction categories are Apparels & Accessories, Bollywood Costumes, Books & Magazines, Cameras & Optics, Cars & Bikes, Computers & Peripherals, Consumer Electronics, Fitness and Sports, Health & Beauty, Home, Tools & Appliances, Jewellery & Watches, Mobiles & Accessories, Movies & Videos, Music & Instruments, Services & Real Estate, Stamps, Coins & Hobbies, Toys & Games, Travel, Tickets & Vouchers and Video Games.

But eBay.in doesn’t yet seem to have portals like eBay Motors, eBay Collectibles (or eBay Collectables if you’re in the UK) so maybe that’s coming by June 2005 when eBay say the global integration will be complete.What a number of smart India based sellers have done to get their items easily visible across the world is register directly on eBay.com, eBay.uk etc. and are not just making a bit of money but (in relative terms for India) an absolute fortune selling their stuff globally.

So will eBay and similar online aution portals facilitate massive export growth in consumer items on a global basis – especially for the low cost production countries? Probably the answer is yes, and that will have a dramatic effect on the major distribution corporates and on the entire global economy.

Autopsy Tape up for Bids on eBay

Brother of the supposed assassin of Martin Luther King has announced the listing for bids of his brother's autopsy tape on the eBay auction site.The brother of James Earl Ray, Jerry Ray, made the announcement at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis during a press conference.

He has maintained for a long time that the bullet fired from his brother's rifle was not the one that killed King and over the last many years he has fought a legal battle to gain possession of the rifle for forensic tests.

However, the State of Tennessee passed legislation in 1998 to retain ownership of the rifle and place it in the Civil Rights Museum. Proceeds from the sale of the autopsy tape will benefit Ray's ongoing legal efforts. The Conspiracy Museum of Dallas also announced its intention to obtain the rifle for additional testing. In 1997 Joe Brown, Memphis Judge, said tests had shown the bullet that killed King did not match those fired from James Earl Ray's rifle. Further planned tests were apparently never conducted.

eBay can be searched here for further information on the listing.

eBay Canada Launches Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

The launch of a Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Award was announced by eBay Canada. The award scheme has been developed in recognition of the efforts of some 430,000 individuals in the USA and Canada who make a full-time or part-time living selling on eBay.

eBay has enabled thousands of individuals across the globe to start their own businesses in the online marketplace. eBay, together with its subsidiary payments company, PayPal, provides a convenient and safe environment for online trading.

The annual eBay Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Awards was founded to recognize those eBayers who operate successful online businesses in Canada, using eBay as the e-commerce environment within which to trade internationally.

In order to qualify, Canadian eBay sellers must achieve at least $1,000 CDN in sales per month on eBay.ca and/or eBay.com as well as having at least 10 listings each month. A minimum positive feedback rating of 96% is also required.

A key aspect of the awards programme is that entrants will be asked to detail how their evolving business on eBay operates within a framework using not just eBay’s technical features and market reach, but also eBay's community values and the ways that these values positively impact business.

Further details of the Canadian award programme are available on the eBay.ca site. eBay is a global corporation which operates on a worldwide basis.

Hawaii YMCA to Benefit From eBay Auction by WTC

The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is using an eBay auction to raise funds for the YMCA in Hawaii. Apparently, more than $800,000 has been raised in the last 2 years on eBay.

Six slots to the 2005 Ironman World Championship are expected to receive bids on eBay. The championship takes place on October 15 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The plan is to auction off one slot per week up to the week of May 23. Bids on the Ironman World Championship slots are open to anyone.

Bids will begin at $10,000 and in past auctions the average cost per slot has been around $32,000.

All funds are tax deductible according to WTC President Ben Fertic and all proceeds will go to the Ironman Kona Community Foundation. All funds raised from the eBay auction will go towards construction of the new YMCA building. All administration costs are being covered by WTC to make sure all funds will go directly to benefit the new facility

If anyone would like to look at the auctions there is an eBay search facility here

The eBay Book by David Beblin

There are many books, electronic and paper, that are available on the subject of eBay and how to get the best out of this global marketplace. These books cover areas of interest for both buyers and sellers, and range in scope from beginner through to intermediate and onwards to advanced eBay PowerSellers.

Published in paperback, ‘The eBay Book’ by author David Belbin details essential tips for buying and selling on eBay and defines this auction and “buy it now” site as the world’s biggest marketplace. David’s book is aimed at the UK sector, but the global nature of eBay makes his advice and techniques applicable the world over.

In brief summary David outlines his book by starting with some key statistics. eBay.co.uk has over two million items for sale in its auctions at any given time. The site sells every type of consumer goods and collectable you can think of.

Over one third of all internet users in the UK visited eBay in March 2004, when the number of eBay users passed 9 million. One million people started using the site in the first three months of 2004 alone.

eBay provides an easy way for anybody to auction items they want to sell – whether antiques, books, computers, sports equipment, records, DVDs, CDs, photography, clothing, jewellery, electronics or almost anything else – and allows anyone to browse and bid on this vast catalogue from the comfort of their own homes,

In ‘The eBay Book’, David Belbin, a long time eBay user, explains how eBay.co.uk works and how to get the most out of it, whether you are a buyer or seller. Step by step, he takes you through the key features of the site, advises on bidding and selling tactics, explains how to minimise the fees you pay and why feedback is so important. He explores ways to pay for goods and what to do if your transactions go wrong. This hugely readable book also contains a wealth of case studies covering a wide range of eBay users.

For newcomers, this is an indispensable primer which will give you the confidence to join the vast community of eBayers. For people who already know the basics, it is a short-cut to eBay’s advanced features and a rapid way to learn the tips and tricks that David has picked up over the last five years.

The book is published by Harriman House ISBN 1 897 59743-6 and is really great value for money for anyone interested in buying or selling on eBay

Christmas Sells on eBay in April?

The classic holiday movie "A Christmas Story" was filmed at a home in Cleveland and this has now been listed on eBay with a starting bid for the four-bedroom house of $99,999.

The buyer - Brian Jones - could not resist when his wife told him eBay was offering the house where the film family had lived during the 1940s. The main character called Ralphie had daydreams of shooting wrong-doers with a BB gun that he was hoping to get for Christmas.

Brian Jones of San Diego purchased the house on eBay for $150,000 and plans to restore the home's exterior to the yellow and green-trimmed windows as in the movie and remodel the interior to resemble its movie appearance.

Jones also wants to create a museum in the house complete with gift store selling items associated with the movie. Apparently, these including Ovaltine, Little Orphan Annie decoder rings and "leg lamps" like the one Ralphie's father proudly displayed in the front window of his family's house in the “Christmas Story” film.

Presumably, having got such a good deal on the house, Jones will also be selling his movie memorabilia on eBay not just locally but across the world.

Charlotte Church Topless Picture Sells Cheap on eBay

Charlotte Church is perhaps best known for her marvellous singing talents. But it appears that her topless photograph has now been listed on eBay.

Apparently Charlotte had sent the photograph to her boyfriend via his mobile phone. However, it seems that Gavin Henson lost the phone which fell into the hands of someone who decided to sell the picture on eBay.

Charlotte is said to be now planning to take legal advice in an attempt to stop the photo from being traded across the internet.

It is not clear whether Charlotte was more outraged that the picture entered the public domain, or whether it was the fact that apparently the eBay auction ended at a mere 99p!

We don’t suggest you look for Charlotte’s picture on the internet, but you will find thousands of other bargains through the world’s largest online auction at eBay

View of Charles and Camilla Wedding for Sale on eBay

Apparently a London property rental firm has an eBay auction for a view of the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles on April 8.

The room being auctioned has balconies that are said to offer "excellent views" of the town's Guildhall, which will play host to the royal wedding.

Up to 20 people can be accommodated in the room but the bid sat at just $2 for several days before nudging up to $190 by midday Wednesday. The property firm insists it’s a real offer, even though the sale ended on April 1. The winning bidder will have access to the room and balcony for four hours including the time while the ceremony is in progress.

Anyone know how the auction ended? There’s a link to eBay auction search but we aren’t sure what description to use – maybe “royal wedding”, “Windsor” or “Charles and Camilla” would be worth trying.

eBay Changes Strategic Advertising Partner

eBay’s long term association with the advertising agency, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners of San Francisco has apparently ended and BBDO in New York has been selected as eBay’s marketing agency of record in the United States.

Television advertising, Internet marketing, direct marketing, and print advertising for eBay will now be handled by BBDO.

In a recent statement eBay said that it’s marketing needs have been expanding as the company has grown. eBay stated it spent $455 million on global online and offline marketing programs in 2004. About $250 million of that was spent on U.S. marketing initiatives.

So I guess the message those of us who use eBay both to buy and sell can take home from this change, is that eBay is intent on keeping its’ leading position in online auctions. That’s got to be good news in the context of giving the widest marketplace for both sellers and buyers regardless of whether our interest is in cosmetics collectibles or even Spock’s ears (please see earlier blog!)

Book Review - eBay for Beginners

There are many books, electronic and paper, that are available on the subject of eBay and how to get the best out of this global marketplace. These books cover areas of interest for both buyers and sellers, and range in scope from beginner through to intermediate and onwards to advanced eBay PowerSellers.

One of the best paperback books for beginners is ‘eBay for Beginners’ by Cherry Nixon. The brief summary below outlines the key aspects of Cherry's book.

There are two kinds of people, those who are trading on eBay and the rest who are missing out. Though eBay has been embraced by entrepreneurs all over the world, it remains the peoples’ site and offers the largest market for the smallest fee.

eBay presents an opportunity for everyone, the trick is to master it. This book shows you how to start trading on eBay. It also offers advice on getting organised and tips to put you ahead. It is straightforward and ideal for:

- Collectors and bargain hunters keen to widen their search.
- Hoarders who want to turn their clutter into cash.
- Anyone wishing to sell their items in the most cost effective manner.
- Dealers looking to expand their market.
- Students who wish to raise some money.
- Pensioners who want to supplement their income.
- People with mobility issues. Why struggle down the road to the car boot sale or flea market when you can zip around the world with eBay from the comfort of your own home!
- Budding entrepreneurs who long to say goodbye to the shackles of employment and establish their own business.

If you can muster the strength to raise your index finger then you can trade on eBay. This book shows you how.

Aimed at beginners and intermediate levels, ‘eBay for Beginners’ is a great value book. ISBN 0-85934-551-3 published by Babani Computer Books. Well worth reading!