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***
The newsletter for
Issue 0601
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This newsletter is written by and for eBay and QXL
users in the
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This latest issue is now also available online at
http://www.workwinners.com/newsletter/0601.htm
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In this issue:-
1. Have
eBay.co.uk shot themselves in the foot?
2. Have you
been hoaxed on QXL?
3. Are you
having a baby?
4. Coming soon
(Update) .....
5. Someone's
auctioning WHAT???? Unusual items currently available.
6. Finally
......
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Brian McGregor speaking - you receive the UK Internet
Auction
Users Newsletter because you have bought from me or
enquired
about my auction items on eBay or QXL.
I have no wish to encourage S-P*A-M, so if you do not
want to
receive this newsletter, the only one dedicated to
sellers, you can unsubscribe by sending a blank email
to
remove@workwinners.com
=================================
Inspirational quote of the day
" Never look down on anybody unless you're
helping him up."
Jesse Jackson
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1. Have
eBay.co.uk shot themselves in the foot?
If you are registered with eBay, you will probably
have received
an email regarding a change in their fees from
The email announces the addition of VAT on eBay fees.
The reason given is a new EU directive on VAT. I
haven't the time
to research the topic of EU directives, so I must
accept eBay's
statements on this issue.
Also in the same email is a note to the effect that
eBay has
restructured its fees. They will "raise some
fees, reduce others
while keeping some the same".
It all seems pretty trivial stuff, not to say boring.
The
legitimate charging of VAT on any product or service
has to be
accepted by those who buy the product or service. And
the fact
that eBay are choosing at the same time to restructure
their fees
into VAT inclusive figures seems sensible.
But hold on! Did you know eBay is increasing fees by
rather large
amounts - most fees are going up by between 60% -
250%.
Speaking personally, as a seller I find eBay is
exceptional value
for money. Where else can you, literally for pennies,
put
something up for sale on a web site that gets 4
million hits a
month? And, even with the increased fees, it will
still be great
value.
Where I believe eBay has displayed poor judgement is
by mixing
the unavoidable VAT implementation and the imposition
of a
complete fee restructure. This has laid them open to
charges of
attempting to disguise fee rises and blaming them on
the VAT
issue.
You should see the furore this has caused in the eBay
forums.
Take a look at the Community Question and Answer
Board. There is
a furious argument going on about the fairness or
otherwise of
eBay's announcements.
If you've never visited these forums before, click on
Community -
it's next to Help on all main screens - look under
Chat, and go
to the Community Q & A Board. It's all happening
there!
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2. Have you been hoaxed on QXL?
You know how these dreaded hoaxes never happen to you?
The reason
is that they happen to me!
I recently received an email from QXL. The subject was
Verify
Account Details. And, this is what it said:
"We regret to inform you that your QXL account
could be suspended
if you don't resolve your problems. To resolve these
problems
please login here to go straight to the source of your
problems.
If your problems could not be resolved your account
will be
suspended for a period of 3-4 days. In this time you
have to mail
us all your personal informations to check them
further. After
that it will be again operational.
Per the User Agreement, Section 9, we may immediately
issue a
warning, temporarily suspend, indefinitely suspend or
terminate
your membership and refuse to provide our services to
you if we
believe that your actions may cause financial loss or
legal
liability for you, our users or us. We may also take
these
actions if we are unable to verify or authenticate any
information you provide to us.
Due to the suspension of this account, please be
advised you are
prohibited from using QXL in any way. This includes
the
registering of a new account.
Please note that this suspension does not relieve you
of your
agreed-upon obligation to pay any fees you may owe to
QXL.
Regards, The QXL Team"
What would you do if you received this email? I was
tempted to
click on the link
"login here", but somewhere in the back of my
mind I remembered that QXL had sent out a warning
saying beware
of emails which purport to come from QXL and which ask
you to log
in. Apparently they are after your personal details so
they can
then use your ID to bid and buy without you knowing!
So I went into QXL's FAQ's, and found the information
on hackers.
Sure enough, the email I received today fits the
pattern of a
potential fraud. QXL advised me to click on the link
to get the
URL they were sending me to. I did this.
The page that came up looked identical in every way to
QXL's
login page! It was quite spooky. It even had the
identical ad
that QXL themselves were running that day! But, the
URL was a
number, not https://qxl etc,etc. Like the good little
detective I
was becoming, I noted down the URL and emailed it off
to QXL.
That's as far we've gone today on this investigation.
I'll let
you know if the trail leads anywhere exciting.
Seriously, if you get an email which looks for all the
world like
it's come from QXL, but it asks you to login on a web
screen -
DON'T DO IT! Go into FAQs, the link is at top right on
most QXL
screens. In the Ask a Question box, type in the word
hackers.
When you get to the hackers information screen you
will see QXL's
advice on how to identify if an email has really come
from them.
Learn about this today! As I found out, you never know
when it's
your turn.
Update Saturday 7 June. Andrea Eniks - Community
Relations
Manager at QXL - has confirmed the email I received
was not from
them, it was from a third party who may be a hacker.
My
suggestion to you to find more about potential QXL
hackers is now
doubly important.
=================================
3. Are you having a baby?
No, neither am I. But I have recently had the privilege
of
becoming a grandfather for the first time.
My daughter-in-law asked me some time ago if I had
thought about
turning my mighty pen to the subject of reducing the
costs of
having a baby?
Well, I hadn't really. I finished with all that stuff
years ago.
Mind you I still like going through the motions, just
for
practice you understand. Which reminds me of that
lovely remark
by Woody Allen when his wife complained that he was a
lousy
lover. Woody said, "How can she tell after only
thirty seconds?"
Anyway, I have taken my daughter-in-law's request to
heart, and
produced one of my Special Reports which shows
parents-to-be, and
parents who are, where they can buy maternity, baby
and nursery
goods at trade prices.
If you're at all interested, I am selling the Report
on both my
eBay and QXL auctions.
Sorry about the blatant plug, but I love Woody Allen,
and it's
not often I can get his work into an internet
newsletter!
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4. Coming soon
(Update).....
In the last issue of the newsletter, I told you about
the Guide I
am writing which shows UK sellers how to make
meaningful money
consistently on eBay.co.uk.
If you recall I was fed up with seeing adverts for
manuals which
purport to show me how I can make my fortune on eBay.
But as
these were written for the eBay.com market, they
didn't really
offer what I needed in the UK. We know eBay.co.uk is
one tenth
the size of eBay.com, so we require a different
approach. Hence
my book.
As I said last time, I promise you that readers of
this
newsletter will find out about it before anyone else.
It's in proof reading stage now, and nearly ready for
publication. Please watch this space!
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5. Someone's
auctioning WHAT???? Unusual items currently
available.
Nothing surprises me when it comes to internet
auctions. Amuse
yourself with some of these beauties ...
Just type the auction number into the Search Box on
eBay/QXL.
-----
Looking for an ideal home. Oh, and you're not prone to
a bit of
potholing? This might be what you're looking for. How
about an
underground bunker, complete with two bunk beds and
"oodles of
atmosphere". Take a look at eBay auction
2326799831.
-----
I knew that football was going through a difficult
time
financially, especially in the lower leagues, but I
didn't think
it was this bad. Swindon Town are selling off their
first team
kit, one at a time! I wonder if the players know! It's
on QXL
auction 8640680.
-----
I was taken by this auction because the seller seemed
to have a
mental block on spelling. Mind you, it's not
unreasonable, as
he's selling an Aboriginal Didgeridoo. Have a look at
how he
spells it. It's on eBay 2932900334.
-----
Call me a cynic if you like, but, if I was auctioning
a golf ball
which purported to have upon it the signature of
Bernhard Langer,
I think I would spell the guy's name correctly in the
auction
title. Maybe it was difficult to read, what with the
dimples and
all! It's on QXL at 8560988.
-----
I defy you not to shed a tear when you see this
auction, for a
"hedgehog lovers membership pack". It's not
the description. It's
the photo that does it! You can see it on eBay
2933018524.
-----
Disclaimer - I have no association with any of the
sellers of the
above items.
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6. Finally .....
I have been using eBay and QXL for around two years,
initially
for buying, but very quickly I started selling items.
My current
feedback ratings are 602 on eBay and 105 on QXL.
I have three User IDs, two on eBay and one on QXL.
eBay User IDs: gbm0 and workwinners
QXL User ID: bptrad
If you want to look at the items I currently have on
auction, use
Advanced Search on eBay or QXL, and key in my seller
ID.
I also write Special Reports, and you can see all of
these at my
web site:
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And finally...
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 friend sent you this newsletter you need to send
a blank
email to:
newsletter@workwinners.com
That way you can get your own copy next time!
Regards
Brian McGregor
Editor - "UK Internet Auction Users
Newsletter"
====================
A note about S-P*A-M
====================
"UK Internet Auction Users Newsletter" is
published whenever
there is useful information to share.
In each issue you'll get ideas on how to make the most
of buying
and selling on eBay and QXL auction sites from a UK
perspective.
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!
I can't stand spam, and don't want to send any. Thank
you for
joining and staying on this mailing list.
=====================
Copyright Information
=====================
Copyright © 2003 Brian McGregor. All rights reserved.
No part of this newsletter may be copied or published
without
prior permission, but please feel free to forward this
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 readers responsibility to
practice due
diligence in any product or service acquired based on
information
contained in this newsletter.
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
remove@workwinners.com
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