Auction Blog

Ever grow weary of the endless days of the same-old on eBay…the dull humdrum of questions from buyers, missing packages, fee increases? Well, it doesn’t have to be so bad. In fact, you can have a positively “out of body” experience by simply frequenting a host of auctions featuring items such as ” Somniferum Poppy Seeds” and “Salvia Divinorum“. So, why not trip the light fantastic and do a little business with your friendly eBay dealer?

Once again this week, I continue with my password harangue by pointing you to a blog entry where step-by-step you will see how easily passwords are hacked and why odds are that yours is one of them. After you are sufficiently alarmed, why not pay a visit to Microsoft to test your new password’s strength?

Using Google Base Connector is an easy way to get your eBay Store, Yahoo and Amazon Marketplace items listed in Google Base..this you’ve heard before on the show. But did you know that you can also get a premium top of the page search result as well? Listen in as I explain.

Now that eBay is allowing you to earn affiliate commissions on your own items, the next step is a handy little service that will create your ads easily…but you need to know how to title your listings so that you get the maximum benefit.

There’s a site that will happily take your money and guarantee “leads” for your eBay Trading Assistant business...listen in as I explain where these leads are coming from and why you should save your change.

A very good site for zeroing in on local auctions by zip code and category.

Like I say, videos work well for auctions but paying a site to create and host those vids doesn’t. Listen in as I tell you about a site that doesn’t offer a thing, video-wise, that you can do yourself for free.

Amazon debuts ClickRiver. Why not advertise within a relatively secure marketplace and benefit ( at least in your customer’s mind) from the association?

Top 50 Free Web Directories…

An automatic, threadbare auction management service for those of you pinching pennies.

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Links from this weeks show:

Google Base Store Connector - Apart from easily uploading your Amazon, eBay & Yahoo inventory..your listings also can appear at the top of natural search results.

How I’d Hack Your Weak Passwords - Step-by-step how easily its done…with your help.

Microsoft’s Password Strength Checker - Use it.

eBay Affiliate Ad Generation Tool - Quick way to earn decent money on your listings as well as others.

Leads for Sellers - A so-called service that pulls Craigslist listings and then charges you for the “lead”. DIY.

Auction Zip - Spiffy site where you can zero in on live auctions by zip code and category.

Amazon’s ClickRiver - Advertise within Amazon.

Top 50 Free Web Directories -

Auctomatic - Free, nuts and bolts auction management.

Tags: Google_Base, Password_Hack, eBay_Affiliate, auction_manager, Amazon, ClickRiver, Free_Directories

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Yet another example of a hijacker, this time in Britain, stealing eBay accounts by simply cracking stupid, easily guessed passwords. While eBay ignores such simple steps as qualifying passwords as to difficulty before allowing their use, isn’t it about time you took the time to make the hijacker’s job just a little more difficult?

Common wisdom is that once your business reaches a certain size on eBay, you open your e-commerce store and then only use eBay for slow-moving items or for loss leaders to drive traffic to your stand alone store. Trouble is, as with most commonly wise notions, there is a very big exception to this rule. Listen in as I explain how eBay can actually be used to market your store if you know how.

Clipfire is a site where you can use an RSS feed to drive a little traffic…and Rapidfeeds is an easy tool to create specific RSS feeds. But how you use these feeds requires some careful thought; such as including eBay’s affiliate program and Store Referral Credit in conjunction with a Press Release. Sell your item, get 75% off your FVF and make a commission on the sale!

I review two very friendly Shopping Carts, one of whom doesn’t charge a thing until something sells!!

Handmade soap is a tried and true item on eBay…and it sells with varying degrees of success. But, one thing missing in some many seller’s approach is how they market what they’re selling. I found one site that uses a very sharp marketing pitch that positions handmade soap so that it not only engages the customer but also entertains them…a good lesson for everyone.

A wholesale site for Wii, PS, Xbox, etc. accessories.

An independent auction site that shows us how by focusing on a particular niche can breathe life into something as humdrum as, well, another independent auction site.

Magnetic paper supplier for inkjet printers…that’s right, magnetic paper!

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Links from this week’s show:

Power Press Web Site Marketing Strategy - Write press releases that will drive traffic and buyers to your website or auction. Normally $37.97, you can receive $10 Off ($27.97) by entering “lonelyboy” (omit the ” “) in the Promo Code box.

Man Hijacks 90 eBay Accounts - Its your password, stupid!

The Power Seller Report - A wealth of great information and research.

Wordtracker Free Trial - Use it as many times as you want…but USE IT!

RapidFeeds - Create RSS feeds and publish, or, import & manage existing ones. Use in conjunction with a Press Release.

eBay Store Referral Credit - Get back 75% of your Final Value Fees!

Flying Cart - Easy shopping cart that doesn’t charge until an item sells.

Web2.0 Stores - Another easy shopping cart with a more traditional pricing scheme.

Villainess - Sassy soap seller.

Game Asylum - Wholesale video game accessories.

I Do..Now I Don’t Auction Site - Auction site that proves with the right idea, even an auction site can make sense.

Magnetic Paper - If you don’t do something with this, I will!

Tags: Wordtracker, Passwords, Hijack, Shopping_Carts, eBay_Affilate, Video_Games

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Stupid Passwords - Save 75% on eBAy Final Value Fees - Easy Shopping Carts - eBay Affilate Program and Press Release Marketing - Wholesale Video Game Accessories

This week I continue my cook’s tour of eBay and all things scam related. I visited a site that I’ve actually followed for quite awhile, one that is driven by a crusty old bird named “Doc”…one of those eBay stories of a once contented seller, done wrong, who now makes it his sworn duty to expose the width and breadth of scams on the site. And to that end, ol’ Doc has done quite a job. While he concentrates on the eBay Motors side of the business, he nevertheless manages to document an incredibly wide range of bad goings-on with extensive screen captures and data.

On my last show, I pointed out that Paypal’s new security device worked well. What it underscores is that in all of the concern for phishing on eBay, it still remains the responsibility of every user to protect themselves as best they can…and one of the easiest, yet most overlooked means of defense is a good, secure password. Listen in as I describe how to make your password virtually unhackable.

HitTail’s blog points out what I’ve been saying about the cost of traffic on-line. You are paying for it, you will pay for it…even if you’re not readily aware of doing so.

A good post on TheStreet.com regarding eBay and Skype.

Haven’t heard much about drop-off stores lately, have we? There’s as site that is run by drop-off store survivors that does a very good job of educating anyone who will listen as to the economic pitfalls of drop store franchising.

Michael Rappa details the basics of doing business on-line with his post on Business Models on the Web.

A good site to begin any business on-line is one where you can search for expiring domains that may just fit perfectly for what you have in mind…the right domain with some history under its belt might just give your business a jump start.

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Links from this week’s show:

Power Press Web Site Marketing Strategy - Write press releases that will drive traffic and buyers to your website or auction. Normally $37.97, you can receive $10 Off ($27.97) by entering “lonelyboy” (omit the ” “) in the Promo Code box.

e-Junkie - The best digital download manager available. Enter code: “SELL101″ for a one month’s free service.

GoDaddy Discount - Get $96 in Free Extras with your domain name from GoDaddy.com. Each domain includes free hosting with a Web site builder, a free Blog, Complete Email and much more. Enter code “pod54″ and get 10% off your order.

eBay Motors Sucks - Don’t let the name put you off…Doc has assembled quite a bit of information and documented it well with screen captures, many of which eBay has deleted.

Auction Count Mayhem - Doc’s page on the wild swings in auction counts that he and others maintain are examples of a wide spread attack on the site.

Doc’s Example of an eBay Phishing Kit - Another example of exactly how attacks are conducted and how easily available the tools are to do so.

HashaPass - Hashapass automatically generates strong passwords from a master password and a parameter.

Google Gadget Password Generator - Similar to HashaPass.

HitTail Article on the Cost of Free Traffic on the Web - Well written article.

Am I The Only One eBay Drop-off Store Franchise Information - A great site to visit before to make the leap.

eXpiresoft - Another’s expiring domain may just be your head-start.

Crowd Clout - TrendWatching piece on the power of crowds when it comes to purchasing.

Open Source Code for eBay Listings - By creating eBay listings related to the content using a simple ASP function call you can set up variables and call eBayDisplayItems function to create unique eBay listing choosing the correct keywords and searching category.

Free Directory List - In bound links.

Tags: eBay_scams, phishing, passwords, hacking,

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Evidence of Things Not Seen; What eBay Denies in Plain Sight - Hack-Proof Passwords - Web Business Models - Expiring Domains - Crowd Clout

Earlier in the year, a hacker who goes by the name of Vladuz ( supposedly a Romanian), posted screen shots of what was purported to be an internal screen shot of eBay’s internal computer systems. More recently, he has managed to hack his way into eBay’s boards posing as a customer service manager, a “pink”, proceeding to taunt eBay management.
Additionally, he has listed an extension available for Firefox that automatically fills-in Captcha information.

Has there indeed been a profound breach of eBay’s system and could this explain why hijacked accounts appear to have more in common than simply the results of identity theft. Listen in as I explore a problem that eBay can’t seem to shake.
What if anything can you do to prevent your account being stolen on eBay or PayPal? Two weeks ago, I mentioned that PayPal had released a key chain fob that offers what may be, the best bet for keeping ahead of Vladuz and his ilk. Listen in as I explain why I applied for mine and why you should too.
eBay has finally relented and is now allowing you to market your own listing and store items through their affiliate program…easily the best news out of San Jose in quite awhile. Listen in as I explain why and how you can start taking advantage of this immediately.

Do you know what to do if you suspect your account has been hijacked? There are steps and contact information you need to know and fortunately, an eBay member from Australia has detailed it all in an easy step-by-step format.

One of my listeners who happens to be a buyer with a major bricks and mortar retail chain, wrote me this past week chiming in on my discussion of using shipping and handling as a profit center.

Stuck in neutral when it comes to brainstorming a new product or idea to sell on-line? There’s a great article that details 10 unusual ideas that hit it big without spending a lot of cash.

Despite the blizzards, spring is indeed a-comin’..and I’ve found a great direct source for all manner of cedar outdoor furniture that will drop-ship for you.

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Links from this week’s show:

Power Press Web Site Marketing Strategy - Write press releases that will drive traffic and buyers to your website or auction. Normally $37.97, you can receive $10 Off ($27.97) by entering “lonelyboy” (omit the ” “) in the Promo Code box.

e-Junkie - The best digital download manager available. Enter code: “SELL101″ for a one month’s free service.

GoDaddy Discount - Get $96 in Free Extras with your domain name from GoDaddy.com. Each domain includes free hosting with a Web site builder, a free Blog, Complete Email and much more. Enter code “pod54″ and get 10% off your order.

The Red Tape Chronicle’s Report on the eBay Hacker, Vladuz - The good news is, eBay’s vaunted Trust and Safety Department has teamed with the equally respected internet sleuths of the Romanian establishment to track this culprit.

Vladuz’s Firefox Captcha Extension - Do Not Use…after all, like the man says, its merely “a proof of concept”.

PayPal’s Portable Security Key - Get it. Use It.

Information on eBay’s Affiliate Program - Make a little cash sending buyers your way.

How To Report Hijacked Accounts - Thanks to a user in Australia, the right information when you need it. Bookmark this page.

The Best Adirondack Chair - Manufacturer and drop-shipper of cedar outdoor furniture.

Tags: ebay, vladuz, hack, Firefox, captcha, PayPal_Security_Key,

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In a New York Times article, eBay’s President of Marketplaces John Donahoe reveals that after two years at the helm, its about time the staff begins to communicate with one another via Skype and by getting the engineers and the businesspeople to make nice. He also allows that:

“Selling newer products on eBay ‘didn’t make any sense,’ he said. ‘It watered the experience down’.”

Which taken at face value, would appear to be a repudiation of Express:

“Last year, he rolled out eBay Express, a site for buying new products more efficiently..”

There’s more, much more to the article;reading it is a bit like riding a roller coaster, facing backwards.

Endlessly debated on auction boards is whether or not shipping should or should not be a profit center….listen in as I fuel the fire.

Hittail is an absolutely essential site and service for anyone who has their own website or store; one that allows you to easily see just exactly which terms buyers use to find you.

Brainchild of Seth Godin, Squidoo is a blog wherein blogs publicize themselves…and it can also work as a blog that is simply a blog unto itself. Listen in as I explain the blog equivalent of St. Augustine’s chat with the angel.

Mailum, a simple yet powerful way to create and manage newsletters for your customers.

BlueRectangle will buy your left-over books and pick-up the postage as well. Whether throwing in the towel on book selling on-line or simply off loading a forgettable read; you couldn’t ask for an easier solution.

Refund Please will track those thirty day lower price/money back claims on Amazon and notify you via e-mail when the price has dropped and you are due a refund.

Darmik describes itself as:

…a flexible and powerful content creation and ecommerce enablement platform.

And from then on it really gets hazy. Listen in as I describe how any site, including yours, should state its case clearly and make what it offers easily and quickly accessible.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a real Powerseller?
I’ve got two words for you: plastic containers.

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Links from this week’s show:

NYT’s Article on eBay’s John Donahoe - Read this interview as eBay’s Jolly Giant explains why new is bad, why Skype is fit for internal consumption and why some day, the engineers and the businesspeople will lie down together.

Hittail - Easy, free, essential tool for any web site.

Power Press Web Site Marketing Strategy - Write press releases that will drive traffic and buyers to your website or auction. Normally $37.97, you can receive $10 Off ($27.97) by entering “lonelyboy” (omit the ” “) in the Promo Code box.

e-Junkie - The best digital download manager available. Enter code: “SELL101″ for a one month’s free service.

GoDaddy Discount - Get $96 in Free Extras with your domain name from GoDaddy.com. Each domain includes free hosting with a Web site builder, a free Blog, Complete Email and much more. Enter code “pod54″ and get 10% off your order.

Squidoo - Seth Godin brainchild for “making sense” of blogs & search and blogging and searching.

Mailum - Easy e-mail newsletters for the rest of us.

BlueRectangle - Sell your books, get cash, free shipping.

Refund Please - The Original on-line price drop tool.

Darmik - A lesson in how not to describe what it is that you are selling.

CPS | Container and Packaging Supply - Sexy little bottles, nifty little tubs…and maybe an idea or two.

Tags: ebay, John_Donahoe, Hittail, Mailum, Refund_Please, Squidoo, Seth_Godin

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