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The eBay Auction Newsletter

 

The newsletter for buyers and bidders on eBay

 

December 14, 2004 - Issue 5912

 

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This latest issue is now also available online at

 

http://www.workwinners.com/newsletter/041214.htm

 

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In This Issue

 

1. Welcome from Brian McGregor

 

2. News and Views

 

3. Drive Yourself to More Auction Money

 

4. My New Baby

 

5. A Gift From me to you

 

6. Someone's auctioning what? Unusual items currently available

 

7. Finally

 

8. My Products Catalogue

 

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Inspirational quote of the day

 

"From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another.

The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other."

Emily Matthews

 

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1. Welcome from Brian McGregor

------------------------------

 

Hi, and welcome to the latest edition of my newsletter.

 

My partner is out Christmas shopping as I write this. I would

have gone with her, but, you know how it is! She'll probably be

much quicker without me holding her back.

 

Well, that was my story.

 

Anyway, I have something extremely important to announce in this

newsletter. So it's helpful that I'm able to devote full

attention to it.

 

So, here it is....

 

I have just given birth!

 

Not physically, you understand. Now that would be newsworthy!

 

No. Today I am announcing my new product. It's called Keyword

Pro.

 

Keyword Pro is designed to help eBay sellers make more money from

their auctions. You can read all about it in Section 4 - My New

Baby.

 

Also, thanks to all of you who have made contact in the past two

weeks. I don't know what it is, but I'm getting more suggestions

than ever about unusual auctions currently running on eBay. You

can see some of them in Section 7.

 

And, as always, I hope everything is well with you and that you

find something in the newsletter which is helpful in your own

eBay activities.

 

Speak to you soon.

 

Brian

-----

P.S. You receive the eBay Auction Newsletter because you have

bought from me or enquired about my auction items on eBay or QXL.

 

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2. News and Views

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a) Readers feedback

 

Thanks to Simon who emailed me following the last newsletter.

It's good to know that when I put something together aimed at

assisting readers in their eBay ambitions that occasionally we

get it right. Here is an extract from his email..

 

"Hello Brian,

 

I have just bought and paid for the watch dropship website and

hosting you offered in your last newsletter.

 

I must say it is exactly what I'm looking for.

 

I already retail and sell on ebay ...... I'm hoping I will be

able to add my own items to the watch website that I'll own.

 

I look forward to receiving details and hearing from you.

 

Regards,

Simon"

 

I said at the time that I thought this was an excellent idea when

I was approached about it. A purpose designed website, including

hosting, already stocked, with delivery being handled via

dropshipping.

 

If you fancy trading online, literally within hours, it's well

worth taking a look at this clever proposition.

 

And, by way of an incentive, I've arranged a special reduction

for newsletter readers on this unique package.

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1110.htm

 

b) The Sunday Times and eBay

 

Last week, The Sunday Times had an article about eBay in its

Small Business section.

 

The point of the article was that eBay has now become the fastest

growing forum for business start-ups in the UK. They state that

eBay's attractions to new businesses are; virtually no set-up

costs, little red tape and minimal overheads.

 

Increasingly, instead of buying a shop or opening up in an

office, it seems budding entrepreneurs are starting their new

businesses on eBay.

 

So, if you're already selling on eBay, did you know you are a

budding entrepreneur?

 

I hope one day to be reading about your eBay business in The

Sunday Times.

 

c) A Sign of the Times?

 

A newspaper, the Portland Oregonian, has just made the news

itself.

 

They have declined to take advertising from a new eBay drop-in

store.

 

You'll remember from previous newsletters that drop-in stores are

opening up all over USA, and some in the UK. These drop-in stores

are where you can take items you own and they will create, run

and manage eBay auctions to sell them for you. In return, you are

charged a commission fee.

 

Well, the Portland Oregonian seems to feel that drop-in stores

could jeopardise their classified ad revenues. So they refused to

accept an advertisement announcing the opening of the drop-in

store.

 

However, I guess it turned out not too bad for the drop-in store

involved. They got a pile of publicity for nothing. In fact,

probably more than they would have got from an advert in the

Portland Oregonian!

 

d) The eBay Bandit

 

Did you read about the 28 year old lady who made £3,000 on eBay

selling, well, nothing?

 

She advertised tickets for sale on eBay for the Glastonbury

Festival. The only thing was that she didn't actually having any

to sell!

 

She simply took the money and ran.

 

The law eventually caught up with her, and she was sentenced to a

nine-month suspended jail term.

 

Nothing unusual so far.

 

Regular readers will recall how in previous issues of the

newsletter I've written extensively on eBay fraud, and how best

to protect ourselves from it.

 

The difference with this case is that the judge took it upon

himself to make some long overdue statements regarding eBay.

These are "the king has no clothes on" kind of pronouncements.

 

Judge Richard Bray, who had never heard of eBay, said "It's all

right for the fraudsters, but there should be more warnings for

people who want to use this system. It is based entirely on

trust, with no checking at all. I'm not surprised there is fraud.

It's a mazing."

 

An eBay spokesman later said it invested substantial resources in

fighting fraud.

 

He said: "Fewer than 0.01 per cent of all listings on eBay result

in a confirmed case of fraud, and when used properly the site is

a safe and secure place."

 

Fewer than 0.01% eh? Oh, well that's alright then!

 

Except that if you work it out based on the number of auctions

eBay runs, 0.01% of eBay's listings equals about 200 auctions

each day. For every single one of those 200 there's a real

person, probably totally honest, who can well do without the

hassle and losses caused by a fraudster.

 

I don't know about you, but I think eBay needs to put much more

effort into protecting their members.

 

As the Judge said, "It's a mazing."

 

e) Santa's Big Deal

 

I rarely advertise other people's products and services in the

newsletter. This is because I don't want to turn it into an

advert ridden publication like so many ezines and newsletters

seem to be these days.

 

However, this is a bundle the like of which I've never seen

before. For an incredible price.

 

It may not be for you. But if you're seriously looking to develop

an internet marketing business, it's definitely worth reviewing.

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1201.htm

 

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3. Drive Yourself to More Auction Money

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Big ticket items are increasingly popular on eBay.

 

Cars are one of the best examples of this.

 

In fact, eBay is the largest dealer of used cars in the USA. And

eBay's car sales in the UK is also growing significantly.

 

eBay Motors expect to handle $7 billion in transactions through

2004.

 

If you're an eBay seller, here's an idea you might like to

consider to make some extra cash.

 

The vast majority of car dealers don't use eBay. They advertise

in the press, usually locally, and their customers likewise

usually live within reach of the car dealer.

 

What eBay Motors has successfully proved is that people will bid

on cars from owners hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

 

Why not take your eBay selling expertise, and offer your services

to car dealers in your area?

 

You know how to create auctions, take and upload photos, and

manage auctions. The dealers have vehicles which are getting a

tiny fraction of the exposure which eBay could offer.

 

You might decide to offer this to dealers on a no-cost basis. In

other words, you bear the cost of eBay's listing fees. The

benefit here is that there is no reason why the dealer shouldn't

give you the go-ahead. They might get a sale without cost to them

and no extra effort on their behalf.

 

The best types of cars to sell on eBay are those that are unusual

for one reason or another. It might be vintage vehicles, sports

cars or high value models. It also depends on the kind of dealers

you have in your area.

 

The commercial arrangements are simple. You could work on a

commission. Or you could agree a price which the dealer will

accept for the sale of the car, and anything you can get above

that price is your profit.

 

One of the major potential problems is easily handled. You can't

expect the dealer to cease trying to sell a vehicle which you

have on eBay auction. In every auction you run for a car, you

state that the vehicle is also on sale in other ways, and that

you reserve the right to withdraw it before the end of the

auction period. You will such statements on many eBay car

auctions.

 

Once you're established, you might want to charge the dealer for

eBay's listing fees. They could think of this as being a similar

cost to the press advertising fees they already pay.

 

This idea doesn't have to be limited to cars. There are big

ticket item opportunities in several categories, where the retail

outlets tend to concentrate on local advertising and local trade.

Examples of this would be jewellers, antique traders and real

estate operations.

 

With big ticket items, just one or two sales per week could make

a significant difference to you.

 

Worth thinking about!

 

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4. My New Baby

--------------

 

I'm not sure if this qualifies for the Guinness Book of Records

as the longest pregnancy in history! It certainly feels like it.

 

I've been carrying my new baby for over a year. But now,

thankfully, the birth has happened.

 

Keyword Pro is here.

 

You probably know just how important your auction title is. I

wrote an article about this in a recent newsletter

http://www.workwinners.com/newsletter/041112.htm. Look in Section

3.

 

In summary, the auction title is the most critical part of your

auction. This is because eBay's search facility only looks at

auction titles. Unless your auction title contains the words

being searched on, it won't appear in return lists. And unless it

appears in search return lists, your auction description won't be

seen by anyone.

 

Keyword Pro tells you the most popular keywords in each primary

category. Include these keywords in your title, and your auction

will get returned more often by eBay searches.

 

I should point out that Keyword Pro is a professional tool. It is

designed for those who are serious about their eBay selling

business.

 

Anyway, you can see my baby here:

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1202.htm

 

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5. A Gift From Me to You

------------------------

 

Here is a gift which I think you will like, and find tremendously

useful.

 

It's an ebook, within which there are links to no less than 61

other ebooks which you can download without charge.

 

There are so many, that they are categorised. The categories

include affiliates, automation, ezines, ebooks, ClickBank and

traffic.

 

It's a superb collection of titles. And all at zero cost.

 

You can download the master ebook here:

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1203.htm

 

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6. Someone's auctioning what? Unusual items currently available

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

Nothing surprises me when it comes to internet auctions. Amuse

yourself with some of these beauties ...

 

Thanks to Karen for these two suggestions:

 

Unfortunately bidding has now finished on this item. Have we

missed our chance to get the unique Holy Chalice of

Christianity? 

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1204.htm

 

I had a look for the Ark of the Covenant too, but there was only

a model of it available. Never mind, the next item looked pretty

hot too, and much more affordable than the item above:

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1205.htm

 

Thanks to Iam for this one:

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1206.htm

 

And thanks to Izzy for this:

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1207.htm

 

Lastly, this is what I call a bargain! Lovely jubbly!

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1208.htm

 

Disclaimer - I have no association with any of the sellers of the

above items.

 

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7. Finally

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If you are changing email addresses soon please put a note on

your calendar to send a blank email to:

 

newsletter@workwinners.com

 

after you get your new email address.

 

I don't want to lose touch with you!

 

If a someone else sent you this newsletter, you need to send a

blank email to:

newsletterpuns@workwinners.com

 

That way you can get your own copy next time!

 

Increasingly, email filters are preventing genuine email

communications such as this newsletter from reaching subscribers.

 

If you use any method of checking on your email, and you wish to

continue receiving the newsletter you may need to include my

email address in your safe list, whitelist or address book.

 

Thank you for continuing to take my newsletter - I hope it gives

you as much enjoyment to read, as it does me to write.

 

Regards

Brian McGregor

Editor - eBay Auction Newsletter

 

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8. My Products Catalogue

 

Check out my portfolio of products and services:

 

"The eBay Formula"

How to sell successfully on eBay - time, after time, after

time. Special Price offer to newsletter readers.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd01.htm

 

 

Keyword Pro

Put the most popular keywords on eBay into your titles and watch

your auctions sales explode!

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1202.htm

 

 

Broadband speed without changing your existing modem and ISP! Up

to 256k speed instantly with this incredible software for less

than 1p per day.

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1002.htm

 

 

"UK Dropshipping Sources"

Twenty six genuine UK dropship companies.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd02.htm

 

 

"Sourcing DVDs, CDs and Videos at Trade Prices"

Where and how to get DVDs, CDs and Videos at trade prices, and

how to sell for profit.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd03.htm

 

 

"Sourcing and Selling Electrical Products for Big Profit"

Where and how to get Widescreen TVs, DVD players and VCR players

at trade prices, and how to sell for profit.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd04.htm

 

 

"Sourcing Maternity Clothing and Baby Needs at Trade Prices"

Where and how to get at trade prices.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd05.htm

 

 

"Sourcing and Selling Jewellery for Big Profit"

Where and how to get jewellery at trade prices, and how to sell

for profit.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd06.htm

 

 

"Sourcing Mobile Phone Accessories at Trade Prices"

Where and how to get mobile phone accessories at trade prices,

and how to sell for profit.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd07.htm

 

 

"The Streetwise Buyer's Guide to Radar Detectors"

Don't get a Radar Detector system until you read this.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd08.htm

 

 

Oil Painting Marketing Business

Become my partner in this pleasant money-making venture.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd09.htm

 

 

Your Own ebook and Software Sales Business

Valuable ebooks and software which you can use and resell on

eBay, and through the website pages provided.

http://www.workwinners.com/rd11.htm

 

 

Your own business recycling second hand mobile phones.

Make money today with this brand new business idea.

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1004.htm

 

 

Get your own ecommerce website selling watches, fully stocked,

with items dropshipped by suppliers direct to your customer.

Special Price offer to newsletter readers.

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1110.htm

 

 

Finally, a book well worth reading. In 'The eBay Book', long time

eBay user David Belbin, 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

the best 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 variety of eBay users.

It's available at Amazon here:

http://www.workwinners.com/nlr809.htm

 

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See all of my products and opportunities here:

 

http://www.workwinners.com

 

http://www.keyword-pro.com

 

http://www.more-auction-sales.com

 

http://www.internet-dialup.com

 

http://www.workwinners.com/boat.htm

 

http://www.uk-dropship.co.uk

 

http://www.radar-detector-guide.co.uk

 

http://www.workwinners.com/fstv.htm

 

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The eBay Auction Newsletter is published approximately two

weekly.

 

In each issue you'll get tips and ideas on how to make the most

of buying and selling on eBay.

 

If you would like to unsubscribe please use the link at the

bottom of this email.

 

Finally, be assured that your email address will never be shared

or sold - ever!

 

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Copyright Information

 

Copyright © 2006 Brian McGregor. All rights reserved.

 

No part of this newsletter may be copied or published without

prior permission, but do please forward it to your friends and

colleagues as long as you keep it in its entirety. Brian

McGregor, as publisher, disclaims any liability for the use of

any information contained herein. We further claim no

responsibility for the legality or accuracy of any advertisements

or articles. It is the reader's responsibility to practice due

diligence in any product or service acquired based on information

contained in this newsletter.

 

If you do not want to receive this newsletter, please send a

blank email to unsubscribe@workwinners.com

 

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