In the short but wild history of the Internet, few companies have developed such an ideal approach to utilizing the uniqueness of the medium for business as eBay--hence the title of Adam Cohen's colorful and insightful corporate biography The Perfect Store. Cohen, chief technology writer for Time magazine before joining The New York Times' editorial board, is the only journalist to receive complete cooperation from the company for such a project, and the combination of access and experience leads to a well-researched and well-written tale capturing the essence of this online auction-house phenomenon. In the process, Cohen reveals how the pioneering site first developed into a vibrant virtual community, then a cultural icon and a model for Web-based commerce that reported revenue of $749 million in 2001.
From its beginnings as a hobby site on a Silicon Valley PC, to its maturation as a real company under the burgeoning fiscal pressures of cyberspace, to its present status as one of the few original e-business practitioners to survive the dot.com implosion, eBay has always been part of the crowd while managing to stand out from it. Cohen helps us understand why by taking us inside the heads of major players like Pierre Omidyar, the cofounder who imbued his site with a Libertarian philosophy responsible for its heart and soul, and Meg Whitman, the seasoned manager who brought business savvy and a Harvard MBA to its roller-coaster world. What helps make the book so readable and informative, though, are Cohen's accompanying observations of the many other people and events that also helped eBay develop its trademark direction and characteristic personality: the company that formulated its distinctive logo, the Kansas City clothing-iron collectors whose pastime was transformed by the upstart Web site, the quirky listings that generated controversy (and publicity) like the one in 1999 for a "fully functional kidney," even detractors who decry its big-business underpinnings. Fans of the site, along with students of the online world in general, will find Cohen's account both instructive and enjoyable. --Howard Rothman
With today's rocky economy and unsteady job market, there's never been a better time to earn extra cash online. And now there's a new book that guides you each step of the way: eBay 101: Selling on eBay For Part-time or Full-time Income, Beginner to PowerSeller in 90 Days. Access the world's biggest marketplace, right from your own home.
You'll learn how to:
-- Register at eBay and PayPal -- Start part-time and expand your income when you're ready -- Find great inventory at low prices -- Auction to the highest bidder or sell at fixed prices -- Identify niche markets for big profits -- Get tax deductions for your eBay home-based business -- Guard against scammers and rip-off artists
Starting a business on eBay is perhaps your fastest route to the American Dream. The payoff can be high, and the barriers to entry are low.
The world's most popular online marketplace, eBay has millions of registered buyers waiting to do business with you. For less than $100 and very little risk, you can start an eBay venture with profit margins rivaling those of any business. Exactly how much money you earn depends mostly on how much effort you put into your new enterprise and how efficiently you operate it.
In this new eBay guide, you'll see:
How eBay works ... Register your business ... Sell your item ... Build your listing
Timing, planning your auction ... Make a picture worth $1,000 ... Use Pre-filled Item Information ... Price your item ... Reserve Pricing ... Multiple Item (Dutch) Auctions ... The auction alternative: fixed prices ... Best Offer listing option ... Upgrade your listings ... The best time to list
Profit with a niche ... Start with used merchandise ... Win with niche selling ... Cash in on collectibles ... Autographed items ... Trust, but authenticate ... How to recognize fake autographs
Get more great inventory ... Estate sales ... Bankruptcy sales ... Thrift shops ... Local artisans ... Close-out merchandise ... Library sales ... Overstock distributors ... Find overlooked gems at estate sales ... Live auctions ... Postal Service auctions ... Treasury Department auctions ... GSA Auctions ... Government Liquidation ... Law Enforcement Auctions ... Classified ads ... Get merchandise on eBay ... Get merchandise on consignment ... Become a trading assistant
Expand your business ... Create your `About Me' page ... Cross-promotions ... Open an eBay store ... Set up shop ... Promote your store ... eBay Express ... Using eBay's Half.com site ... Google Base ... Why many would-be PowerSellers fail
Prevent problem customers ... Set Buyer Requirements ... Be a feedback fanatic ... Completing sales ... Communicate with a packing slip ... Respond to feedback ... Mutual Feedback Withdrawal ... Feedback policies ... Handle customers right ... Unpaid item disputes ... Work with PayPal
Avoid scams and fraud ... Spot shady buyers ... Recognize predators ... Avoid phishing e-mails ... Beware of hoax e-mails ... Avoid drop-ship, wholesale scams ... Recognize crooks and middlemen ... Warning signs of bogus wholesalers ... Know a fake from the real McCoy
Ship efficiently ... Choose a shipping company ... Communicate when you ship ... Pare shipping costs to the bone ... Sell Get It Fast Items ... Handle delivery snafus ... Print online postage ... Organize your inventory ... Design your SKU system
Get efficient with fulfillment software ... TurboLister ... Selling Manager ... Software for media sellers ... Research prices wirelessly
More eBay rules ... Prohibited and restricted items ... Shill bidding ... Keyword spamming ... Fee Circumvention ... Sales taxes ... Income taxes ... Business use of your home ... Hiring employees
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition. From the Publisher
Praise for Steve Weber's eBay 101:
"I wish I'd had this book when I started on eBay. It's a virtual encyclopedia of tips for selling successfully on eBay-information that takes years to learn."
By utilizing sintered powder structure, the most expensive type of heat pipe, the NT01-E possesses qualities that few coolers can match. In addition to having superior low thermal resistance and high reliability, the NT01-E is also unaffected by the direction in which the cooler must be installed. Whether your aim is to silence the system or increase cooling performance, this sophisticated heat sink will accomplish both tasks with flying colors.
The FP32 is a convenient I/O ports kit for the new generation of computers. At an easy to integrate size of a 3.5¡¨ drive bay, it is available in either silver or black aluminum finish. By providing connections for four USB 2.0 ports (also compatible with version 1.0 & 1.1), one firewire IEEE 1394 port, and two audio ports compatible in AC97 and High Definition audio (Azalia) standard, the FP32 is also excellent upgrade for any aluminum case.
It is place where you can find everything. No wonder why you love it. Original and clear I Love E-Bay Italian Charm is going to be your favorite. Words and little heart are engraved with laser on a high quality stainless steel base. Black engraving and shiny steel look perfectly together and provide expressive and beautiful look.
845933035138 Features: -E-Reader sleeve.-Shock absorbing neoprene, internal faux fur lining.-High-quality logo that won't fade or rub off.-Protect your Nook or Kindle with a Neoprene case. Color/Finish: -Official Green Bay Packers team color and logo. Dimensions: -Overall dimensions: 8.25'' H x 5.25'' W x 0.5'' D.
