Ramblings of an e-trader

Barack Obama's 2005 Chrysler 300C On eBay For US$1 million

2012-01-27T12:03:00.000+08:00

A 2005 Chrysler 300C that used to belong to Barack Obama, before he became the President of the United States, has been put up on eBay. The starting bid is US$1 million. It is being sold through a proxy as the owner would like to remain anonymous.

According to the seller, she has yet to receive a bid on the vehicle yet but said that knowledgeable eBay buyers know to bid on items closer to its expiry. However, if it fails to sell, she will most probably relist it. Vehicles with presidential links are not uncommon but this could be one of the most expensive.

Italian SEO Company

2012-01-23T22:24:00.001+08:00

My Italian friend, who works as a manager in my hometown, told me that he is envious of what I do. I can work as and when I feel like it and there is no one to breathe down my neck. I am sure he is just exaggerating on the pros of my work, there are many cons, which I did not tell him about.

According to him, he had tried working from home before, like what I did but after running the small online business for about six months without clinching a sale, he gave up and went back to full time employment. Ah, that is a wise choice! A lot of people think that it's easy work manning an online store, clicking the mouse a little at the comfort of home. If only it is that easy!

I spend a lot of time on search engine optimization. SEO is not something that I like doing but it is necessary. As for my friend, he could always engage the services of an Italian SEO company, leaving the "dirty" work to them and concentrate on the procurement, sales and marketing aspects of his business.

I am sure with SEO tweaking, he would be able to clinch a sale in a short time.

*** This post has been sponsored.

eBay Bans Replica Coins

2012-01-21T12:38:00.001+08:00

eBay is banning replica coins from being listed on their marketplace; this is effective from 20th February, 2012. This is a positive move but I wonder why they need to give such a lengthy grace period.

The move to take off all replica coins from the marketplace will make shopping for coins and paper money a more positive experience, without having to fear that we have bought a "replica" coin instead of a real coin, thinking that we bagged a deal.

My mom collects coins and she said it's a waste of time looking through the coins section of eBay because she would have to sieve through the listings. I am definitely informing her of this good news!

Topamax Personal Injury

2012-01-19T17:08:00.001+08:00

Having been going in and out of the plastic and reconstructive clinic for the past few months, I have witnessed a lot of newborn babies with various degrees of cleft lip or cleft palate. Some babies are so damaged, it's a pitiful sight. The specialists will try their best but there's always scarring for life.

I wonder if some of these cases were caused by Topamax, taken by the mother when she was pregnant. This medication is used to treat or at least control children and adults of epileptic seizures. However, it has also been linked to such birth defects as well, unfortunately, hence there is this ongoing Topamax lawsuit that I know of.

If you come across anyone that requires an attorney to handle a Topamax personal injury case, do contact this firm below:

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Olympian Auctions Spot On His Shoulder

2012-01-19T16:51:00.001+08:00

Nick Symmonds, 4-time US outdoor champion in the 800 metres, has successfully auctioned off a spot on his shoulder and will, for one year, wear a temporary tattoo of the winner bidder, Hanson Dodge Creative, a marketing company who won the spot for a rice of $11,100.

Nick didn't put up his shoulder on auction for the money but to make a point to regulating bodies to lift sponsorship limitations. Right now, because of exclusivity rights, some meets have very strict rules about logos worn on the apparel and shoes of sportsmen and women.

Nick hopes that changes will come to track and field so that they can seek sponsorships more freely.

Break From Work

2012-01-17T13:02:00.001+08:00

My cousin has just completed his industrial training in the capital city. He said he will take a short break before looking for a job. What a stressful time it is when one starts to actively apply for jobs!

My cousin is planning to go for a short holiday with some friends, but I worry that he will get himself into trouble, as he led a very sheltered life so far. he said there's no need to worry as his friends are experienced travelers and besides, he has insurance, which will be handy if he does need medical help. Touch wood!

Oh well, I hope he enjoys himself. Work can wait!

eBay's Look Back Time Lengthened

2012-01-17T12:49:00.001+08:00

eBay has increased the number of days sellers can check prices of items sold for, for up to 60 days in the following categories: Art, Antiques, Coins and Paper Money, Dolls and Bears, Stamps and Toys, and Entertainment and Sports Memorabilia. The look back time was 15 days previously.

I noticed that the look back time is not standard across all categories. For example, it is 90 days for sold items and 45 days for unsold items for Collectibles. Why is this so? Does anyone know?

Holiday Games

2012-01-17T12:38:00.001+08:00

My friend is joked that with the upcoming holidays, she would be left with no time to take care of her work, but instead, baby-sit her two kids. Her kids are very active and so my friend has to look for games to occupy them.

I suggested that she checks out loop 900 yoyo factory and maybe get two yoyos for her boys. This will keep them entertained for a long time. Better than playing games on the computer, I say.

I remember playing yoyo when I was in school, and it was really fun. Some people may think that yoyos aren't educational but it is now recognized as a sport.

AC/DC Debut Single Sold For $1225 On eBay

2012-01-11T10:28:00.000+08:00

Debut AC/DC Single Sold For $1225 On eBay

A fan of AC/DC paid $1225 for a copy of their debut single, Can I Sit Next To You Girl. This single was ever only released in Australia. It featured the lead vocals of Dave Evans, the original singer from AC/DC. The B side contains another original, Rockin' In The Parlour. These are the only two songs recorded by Evans as he was soon after replaced by Bon Scott.

Can I Sit Next To You Girl was released on 8th May, 1975 and reached number 19 on the Australian charts. AC/DC rerecorded it for their second album, TNT, with Bon Scott on the lead.

Crestor Lawsuit

2012-01-10T21:59:00.000+08:00

Did you read about the recent Crestor lawsuit? It is said that Crestor, the medication that is used to treat bad cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diseases has been linked to serious side effects in patients, including heart failure and heart attacks, among other similarly health damaging risks. A consumer advocacy group, in 2004, already filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw from the market because of this.

If you know of a family member or friend who has been prescribed with Crestor, do sound an alert. It could be too late if Crestor already caused damage to the heart.

RM50K Debt From 12 Credit Cards

2012-01-08T23:52:00.000+08:00

Read in the news recently that a man who had 12 credit cards sent to him by banks have raked up to RM50,000 in debt. The jobless man, who had never applied for a credit card before, spent on luxury items and services, including holidays. he gave two of the cards to his mother and sister.

It is a wonder how banks could simply approve the cards and mail them out to customers, even when they have not applied for the cards. They don't qualify for the cards, even if they did apply. It's no wonder Bank Negara says that bankrupts in the country are getting younger and younger!

Outdoor Functions

2012-01-07T15:55:00.000+08:00

I have been attending many functions lately, as an event blogger. Some of them are held indoors but many are held outdoors. It seems to be a fashion these days. However, the weather has been pretty bad, with torrential rain almost daily. It spoils the mood, actually.

Some organizers think way ahead and bring out the best quality poly tarps that could withstand strong rainfall, luckily for us! I personally prefer clear tarps so that I could see what's going on outside, especially when it rains.

Anyway, I am planning to buy canvas tarp to be used as "walls" to partition my garage. What color do you think I should get? I also found out there are many types of tarps. Which do you think I should get? Is canvas tarp a good choice? Or is vinyl better?

Unwarranted Chargebacks

2012-01-07T15:15:00.002+08:00

Advertisers in Tasmania, Australia, have been alerted of scammers, who would purchase an item and paying by PayPal. The problem comes when the buyers then claims that it is an unauthorized payment once they have received the goods that they purchased.

This is called unwarranted chargebacks. Although PayPal try their best to avoid this, they evaluate each case of chargeback on a case-by-case basis. So, sometimes, sellers are left without their goods and out of pocket too!

Therefore, if you are selling an item, especially an expensive one, and if the buyer sounds fishy, like if he does not require to have a look at the item, better be careful.

Certified In Beauty

2011-12-30T14:39:00.002+08:00

My sister, who lives in Tennessee, told me that it is time to move on in her career. She doesn't see any prospect for growth as she has been in this job for eight years, holding the same position. In fact, in the eight years, the company has undergone a couple of downsizing exercises.

I suggested to my sister to take up a course relevant to what she has been doing so far, so as not to waste the many years that she had spent learning a new trade. It is a good idea to attend a Nashville beauty school as it will be convenient for her and besides, since she is already in the beauty line, it would be great to get certified by a recognized beauty school.

*** This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com or contact Regency Beauty Institute – 3583 Alpine Avenue NW – Walker, MI 49544

Be Extra Vigilant When Shopping Online

2011-12-30T14:29:00.000+08:00

I read a report that scammers are targetting online shoppers, especially at this time of the year. It may be a great time to shop for a year-end or New Year gift online, but scammers are thinking it's a great time to scam unsuspecting buyers too.

Last week, it was warned that iPhone 4S was the target product on eBay, where buyers who shopped on "eBay" thought that they could buy iPhone 4S a t a cheaper price but the "Buy It Now" button leads shoppers to another phishing page. This Christmas saw the hacking of large online stores like 360buy.com.

Two Year Break

2011-12-28T10:41:00.001+08:00

My friend told me that when he left a telecommunications company, he had to adhere to the company policy of not working in another telecommunications company for two years. In the blink of an eye, the time frame is up soon. That's why he is now actively looking for Telecomm Specialist Jobs as he really wants to get back into the industry.

I was surprised to learn that it's a two-year ban. A friend who hopped from a hotel to another had a ban of only 6 months, which I think is more reasonable. Anyway, two years out of the industry, I am not sure if he could cope with the new pace because the market moves so swiftly. I hope he can find his dream job, though.

Quiet Time

2011-12-28T10:29:00.000+08:00

Phew... the holidays are over and we are now waiting for the New Year holidays. Looks like it is a quiet time for now, until the next retail rush, Valentine's Day. Luckily... because of all the rushing around, I have fallen ill! Need a few days to recharge my battery and then rush again.

Peace & Calm

2011-12-22T15:31:00.002+08:00

A friend is really into meditation lately, and is trying to recruit me. I am interested but my schedule is very tight and I know that if I were to try meditation, my mind would continue to wonder, and think about work! Hence, there's no use trying at the moment, I think.

My friend is persistent, though, and told me that she has a spare zafu waiting for me. Ah! I don't think I could push her off for too long, otherwise I feel bad too. If you meditate, how many hours are you spending on it? I am trying to see how best to fit meditation in my life.

Phishing Scam Targets iPhone 4S Buyers

2011-12-22T15:21:00.000+08:00

A new phishing scam has been uncovered by a computer security company recently. It targets iPhone 4S buyers on eBay, with pages that look exactly like those of eBay. In fact, all links lead to a legitimate eBay website, except for the Buy It Now button. This is really scary as buyers who check the links by hovering their cursor over the links may have missed out the Buy it Now button.

Anyway, the button leads a potential buyer to a fake page, which requires log in. Naturally, the buyer would use his or her eBay credentials. This is how one would get the information compromised. So if you are looking for iPhone 4S on eBay, tread carefully!

The More I Move....

2011-12-22T13:56:00.000+08:00

...the more doors I open! Yes, this is what I have to keep reminding myself. Sometimes, I run around so much, I get exhausted but this thought keeps me moving on.

Last week, i met a big boss of a company that deals in pipes. Subsequently, I met another man who deals in metal hose. While I have no use for any of their products right now, it really is difficult to say if I do not require any of their assistance later on in life. Who knows, right?

In my course of work, I meet so many people, unfortunately, I don't remember many of the names! Am I getting old or what?

New Loan Rules By BNM

2011-12-15T20:35:00.000+08:00

Bank Negara Malaysia has issued new loan rules effective 1st Jan, 2012, and these rules will affect mortgage loans, automotive loans, share financing (excluding securities margin financing) and personal loans (including overdraft facilities).

According to BNM, these new policies are to protect loan applicants and not to restrict growth. These policies were announced following those for credit cards announced earlier ion the year, which will also come into effect on 1st Jan, 2012.

To read more about these policies, check the website of Bank Negara Malaysia.

PayPal Preferred Over Credit Card

2011-12-13T21:20:00.001+08:00

According to a survey by KPMG, PayPal is the preferred online payment over credit card. This survey was done on 10,000 adults from 31 countries who shop online. The study also found that in Europe and the Middle East, PayPal has already overtaken credit cards as the number one method to pay online.

In the same survey, it was found that just 27% of UK shoppers had shopped online using mobile banking over the past six months compared to 52% of global shoppers. This is because UK shoppers are concerned about cyber security.

eBay 5000 Free Listing

2011-12-07T14:29:00.001+08:00

eBay is running an offer for sellers to list up to 5000 auction items without incurring listing fees. The catch is that this offer is only valid for items listed for 1 day, 3 days or 5 days.

The good news is that both sellers with or without a Store subscription can enjoy this. Sellers without a store who prefer to list their auction items for 7 days will have these listings count towards their free 50 monthly listings. In addition, sellers who are utilising their free 5000 auction listing can add the Buy It Now (BIN) option at no additional charge.

This offer, from 6th - 8th Dec, 2011, is valid on eBay.com, eBay Motors Parts & Accessories and eBay Canada, for most categories. For further information, check THIS PAGE.

Funny T-Shirt Gifts

2011-11-29T08:31:00.000+08:00

My sister told me that she is having a tough time looking for Christmas gifts for her colleagues, former and current. I could just imagine a long list of names on her gifting list. Oh my!

I told her that the easy way out of it, which I have used before, is to just get many funny shirts. Yes, they may all be getting a t-shirt but each has a different funny saying on the front, or even back, so I wouldn't say it's the "same" gift. Would you?

My sister is quite reluctant to do that but I guess if she is running out of time, she doesn’t have a choice. Hahaha!

Cyber Monday Bargains

2011-11-29T08:26:00.000+08:00

The day that I have been waiting for is here! I missed Black Friday deals as I was travelling so I made it a point to free my schedule so that I could sit at the computer to shop! I have many gifts to buy, it's mainly as Christmas gifts. Hahah! I know I am early but this is an excellent way to save money so that I could buy more gifts for more people!

Also, I find that although I may be going my shopping early, it's great to allow some time for delivery. Some merchants are shipping from overseas, so it actually is just right!

Need New Bag

2011-11-29T08:18:00.000+08:00

Those who know me know that I don't like to go shopping. However, I have spent the past two weeks looking for a good bag, to no avail. My friend told me that I should just get a kelty bag, once and for all, as there is no point buying a bag, and having to go through the process again when it breaks down. Hhmmm it's true what he said. Can you imagine, it can be pretty tiring, shopping, especially when I am not able to buy what I want!

Now that I have got the brand, I have to decide which design to choose. I think it’s pretty ambitious of me to buy one bag and hopes that it could be used for all occasions! What do you think?

Maximum 2 Credit Cards

2011-11-24T10:58:00.001+08:00

Bank Negara Malaysia has announced that Malaysians who earn less than RM36,000 per annum (that's RM3K per month), can only hold two credit cards, with the credit limit per card capped at twice their income. According to Bank Negara, they are targetting the lower income group of people because they are most vulnerable to overspending.

I think that for rational spending, even holding one card is sufficient. Always do remember that we do need to settle our credit card every month, so as not to allow interest to accumulate.

However, I think that young executives are the most susceptible when it comes to spending past their income, as they come out to work, being influenced by friends and colleagues, and especially when they received their first credit card.

Coromal Caravans

2011-11-18T23:03:00.000+08:00

My friend told me that he is looking to buy a caravan, now that his three sons are grown, and they are free to travel. My friend and his wife are avid traveller, you see, and in a country like Australia, driving from one state to another is an experience in itself.

According to my friend, he has in mind a couple of coromal caravans Perth, and he is planning to go out to have a look at them soon. However, he has yet to decide if he should buy a new or a used vehicle. That would depend on the prices of caravans in the market, and also, he has to seek the permission of his wife!

I am excited for him, and hope that if he does make this purchase, I can one day take a ride on his caravan. No, I don't know how to drive it but I will be enjoying myself riding in one, visiting new towns and cities!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

2011-11-18T22:39:00.001+08:00

I am in need of new clothes, shoes and a bag but I am holding on tight to my purse strings because I am waiting for deals. There will be two great internet shopping days, namely Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which will be happening at the end of this month.

I don't even know if I will find anything that I will like but I am excited and am going to spend long hours in front of the computer, scouring major online shopping websites. Better save up some money now.... in case I see something I MUST get!

Grow Longer Lashes

2011-11-17T14:17:00.000+08:00

When my friend told me that she discovered her eyelashes thinning, I asked her if she's imagining things. She said she no. Besides, she would like to grow her eyelashes longer. I remember reading about eyelash growth products that are quite popular among my friends. They like to have longer eyelashes without sticking on fake lashes, which could be troublesome.

I too would like to grow my lashes longer, but I just can't find time to do it. If there is an easy way to do so, I definitely would! I believe I would look a lot prettier! Call me vain. Hehehe!

Soldier Jailed 5 Years For Selling Comrades' Medals

2011-11-17T14:12:00.001+08:00

I found this news report about a soldier who was convicted of selling his comrades' medals on eBay. He stole medals from eight soldiers who were either on sick leave or on operational duty. He gained a total of £7K from his eBay deals. Soldiers are very attached to their medals, and the worse thing is that some of the owners died while on duty.

I find it weird that there are still people who are naive enough to think they could get away with theft like this, particularly if one has to off-load their loot on a public channel like eBay.

Buy Trailer Hitches

2011-11-17T14:02:00.001+08:00

A friend asked me to help him look for reasonably-priced trailer hitches for his new vehicle. I am not familiar with hitches but I said I would try. I don’t mind a little extra work to help out a friend.

According to my friend, he doesn't have time as he need to modify his truck. I don't understand why since it is new and should meet all his needs "as is".

Anyway, I will first look for sellers of the kind of hitches he wants. The ultimate decision will lie with him, which store he wants to shop from. That will very much depend on his budget.

Guitar Stolen In 2005 Lands On eBay

2011-11-17T13:42:00.001+08:00

A guitar that was stolen from Eric Malmberg from a practice room in 2005, has turned up on eBay. Over the past six years, Eric has not stopped searching for the six-stringed Fender Telecaster love of his life. What do you know, it turned up on eBay and was finally tracked down by him.

The seller said he bought the guitar, now worth US$2000, from a music shop several years ago, which has since gone out of business. Therefore, no charges have been filed against him.

Nowadays, it’s quite scary to buy second hand goods. They could be stolen goods!

Actos Cancer Lawyers

2011-11-14T15:13:00.000+08:00

Cancer is the number disease in the world. We take pains to avoid cancer and yet, it's ironic that medication that is prescribed for diabetes has been said to increase the risk of cancer, particularly bladder cancer. If someone who does not smoke, but has bladder cancer, find out if he or she has been prescribed with actos. If so, look for actos cancer lawyers as he or she may be compensated. Besides bladder cancer, actos is also said to cause heart diseases or heart attack.

Of course, to win a case like this, one should engage a top-notch lawyer with a solid background and years of experience making such product claims. Click on the link I have enclosed in this post to connect with an expert.

Restoring Access To PayPal Account

2011-11-14T15:05:00.001+08:00

This is a scam that has been happening recently. If you have received an email telling you that you need to restore your PayPal account because it has been hacked, it is a scam. You would be asked to download a file in order to do that. Once you have downloaded the file, you will be taken to a fake PayPal website. You would be motivated to enter your PayPal login ID and password which would then be phished by these scammers.

The important thing to remember is not to click on any links that come in email, whether they are legitimate emails or not. Or worse, download attachments from such emails!

Auctions Only

2011-11-14T14:55:00.001+08:00

With the many items for sale on eBay, I find that the thrill of using eBay has lessened drastically for me. No doubt, when I was selling on eBay, I only sold exclusively on a fixed price, because I couldn't afford to put my inventory on auction but from a buyer point of view, I definitely preferred buying through auctions, even if it means, sometimes, I do not get to buy what I want because I have lost in the bidding war.

If I have a say, I would want eBay to go back to their roots, where there is a better chance of finding something rare hiding in someone’s garage.

SMT Stencils From Fine Line Stencil

2011-11-14T14:45:00.001+08:00

While chatting with a friend about his work, he told me that he is looking for SMT Stencils. He told me that his supply is erratic, and I found out the reason is that he is buying from a third party. I recommended Fine Line Stencil to him, mainly because this is a manufacturer and hence, they would be able to fulfill his orders in a timely manner.

In addition, Fine Line Stencil is a leader in the industry, with over 15 years of expertise and using the latest technologies, producing top quality range of products. Components get smaller and smaller with the advancement of technology but Fine Line Stencil continues to keep up with the market.

eBay Free Listing Weekend Again

2011-11-14T14:38:00.000+08:00

eBay ran a free listing weekend again on 12th - 13th Nov, 2011, just about two weeks after their previous free listing weekend. I was not able to capitalise on it as I was busy working and then I hit the road. But with such regular promotions, it looks as if once one round of free listing was over, another begins. Obviously, this is good for sellers, since they get to list way more items for free!

I think from now until Christmas time, we would still get to enjoy more free listing weekends. Or would eBay want to earn extra in fees over the holidays? What do you think?

Postman Found To Have Hoarded 30K Undelivered Mail

2011-11-14T14:33:00.001+08:00

A postman in the UK has been found guilty of hoarding 30K undelivered letters and parcels between October 2008 and June 2011. The postman, Paul Willicott, claims that he was unable to deliver all the mail in his four hour shift and so stashed the mail in his car and home, with the intention of delivering them when his workload is lighter, but I guess it never did become lighter.

Weirdly, with that much mail around, he was still able to hid them from his wife and other family members. Paul Willicott has been sentenced to 280 hours of unpaid work and will have to pay £1700 costs. How unfortunate, don't you think so?

Medicaid and Medicare Fraud Cases

2011-11-14T14:22:00.001+08:00

Growing up, my parents would always caution us on getting entangled with the law. It could be extremely sticky. And even if one has a slight chance of winning the court case, one would need to spend a lot of money.

Sometimes, though, there is no way to avoid charges. If you know of someone who has federal charges against him because of Medicaid fraud, then it is time to look for a medicaid fraud attorney, who specializes in Medicaid and Medicare.

In such a case, one would have to look for a top lawyer with experience in such fraud charges. Attorney George Murphy, who is based in Houston, has more than 20 years handling these for clients and have been successful in helping them. To contact him, click on the link in this post.

Teen Advertises Himself On eBay

2011-11-14T14:13:00.000+08:00

A teenager in the UK has applied for over 600 jobs after finishing A-Levels, saying that he has decided to look for a job because he cannot afford to go to university. However, we all know how important paper qualification is, and so, he has not received any interest... that is, until he listed himself on eBay.

eBay does not allow listing of this manner, but teenager, Josh Butler, still managed to get the interests from prospective employers, while he claims would not have happened if not for eBay.

It is still worrisome, though, as it looks like the offers that he had been getting are low level, low paying jobs. I hope he doesn't regret his decision of not continuing with his tertiary education. I am walking down this road and I know how difficult things could be without paper qualification.

Bentley Listed For US$13,900

2011-11-14T14:06:00.001+08:00

A Bentley that was erroneously listed for US$13,900 and was bought through eBay's Buy It Now, has caused hue and cry from the buyer. eBay, once alerted of the error, completely removed the listing and it now looks as if the seller had never even listed such an item, let alone sold it successfully.

While anyone with common sense can see that a Bentley can't be sold for such a low price, one cannot blame the buyer for capitalizing on the mistake of the seller, an automobile dealer with a good seller track record on eBay.

eBay, on the other hand, has been accused of siding with the seller, as usual. Instead of wiping the entire listing off the record, I think they should just cancel it. What do you think?

Pest-Free Home

2011-11-14T12:45:00.000+08:00

I am lucky that I do no have pests at home, after seeing the troubles my neighbor goes through with termites, and now cockroaches. Although my friend has tried numerous solutions, the pests still come back to haunt her. We have no idea why and although I had tried to help, my efforts were not successful.

People living in Texas are lucky to have houston cockroaches experts in Bulls Eye Pest Control. With years of experience in cleaning homes of pests, they are the company to call when one is faced with a pest problem. Experts from Bulls Eye Pest Control draw up custom plans for each client to ensure that their homes are free from pests, cockroaches or otherwise.

Bumper Christmas

2011-11-10T09:01:00.000+08:00

The majority of top sellers on eBay are anticipating a bumper Christmas season this year. If you are an online seller, you should already have your Christmas inventory up online as there isn't much time left given that we have to give at least one week allowance for shipping. That is, if we are shipping within the country. For international shipping, we have to allow at least three weeks, just to be on the safe side.

Anyway, I am no longer selling online because I just can't find the time to do three things a day. Maybe I am getting old already. Or maybe I’m just complacent! Hehehe!

Birthday Away from Home

2011-11-05T12:26:00.001+08:00

When my sister asked me for suggestions to buy her boss a birthday gift, I was stumped, until she told me that her boss is currently traveling and is in Philadelphia. AH, that's easy then! I believe her boss would appreciate fresh Philly flowers from ProFlowers. That would certainly be unexpected and would definitely put a smile on her face!

Of course, my sister would first have to find out in a roundabout way, her favorite flowers and also her hotel. She should be discreet or else receiving a birthday gift wouldn't be a surprise. I can't help here there. She has to do the detective work herself!

PayPal's New Global Operations Centre in Malaysia

2011-11-05T12:25:00.000+08:00

PayPal officially opened its first global operations centre in South East Asia in Malaysia on 1st Nov, 2011. This is in addition to the one in Berlin (Germany), Shanghai (China), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Dublin (Ireland), and Chandler and Omaha in the United States of America.

Its new office in Dataran Bandar Utama already has 200 staffers on site. PayPal Malaysia plans to recruit another 300 locals by 2013.

This global ops centre is aimed at providing service and support in English to customers across South East Asia, even Asia, and provides additional risk and financial services operations for PayPal's global business.

Support for additional major Asian languages will be added in the near future.

Fixing The Kitchen

2011-11-01T23:05:00.001+08:00

My sister is renovating her kitchen, which makes me wonder why since she hardly cooks. Now that she is no longer working, she plans to spend more time in the kitchen! The first thing she wants to look for is a nice spice rack.

Actually, we had no idea where are so many different designs of kitchen spice racks until we went shopping for it! Now, my sister has to decide what design she wants, which would suit her needs the most. I suggested a wall spice rack because it is space saving but she is no keen on drilling her wall.

I think that after doing a thorough research on spice racks, I may as well get one for my own kitchen too. I do need a spice rack but it's optional, really. It's good to have one though. It keeps the clutter away from my counter top.

'Fast N Free' New Shipping Badge On eBay

2011-11-01T22:41:00.000+08:00

Heading towards the holidays, eBay has introduced a new shipping badge on profiles of Top-rated Sellers who offer fast and free shipping. This is based on their seller track record previously.

Initially, eBay will test this Fast 'N Free badge on 30% of traffic but will introduce this badge on all eBay Top-rated Seller listings by mid-November. This could be used across the board in December, 2011, in time for Christmas.

This Fast 'N Free shipping badge is only one of the incentives offered to top-rated sellers to catch in on holidays sales. Others include added advantage in Best Match sort for Fixed Price listings.

Employer’s Market

2011-10-30T11:55:00.001+08:00

My friend, Marc, has just graduated from Australia. He said that unlike most of his friends who are staying back in Australia to look for a job because of better job prospects, he prefers to return to his own country. Hence, he is on the look out for Network Installer Jobs.

I heard from friends that it is currently an employer's market so I do not know if it will be easy for Marc to secure a job. He doesn't have work experience yet, you see, and bosses now need people with experience to cut down on training time and cost.

8ft Lego Man Spotted at Florida Beach

2011-10-27T15:03:00.000+08:00

An 8ft tall, 100-pound Lego man was spotted floating at the coast of a Florida beach, with the words "NO REAL THAN YOU ARE" at the front of his shirt and with the name "Ego Leonard" at the back. Ego Leonard is the experiment of a Dutch artist, who previously pulled something similar in Holland a few years ago.

The Sheriff's office is keeping Ego Leonard in a secure place until his owner comes forward to claim him, failing which it will go to the person who first spotted him in Florida. The man has indicated that if that happens, he will sell off Ego Leonard on eBay.

Legoland recently opened a theme park in Florida and this would have been a great publicity stunt but they were beaten to it.

Private Physician Network

2011-10-21T12:06:00.001+08:00

Doximity.com is a private social network for physicians in the United States. Having such a network enables physicians to connect with each other, exchange notes and information and to reconnect with old contacts. Members of the website are required to undergo a three-step credential check which means that all members are who they claim to be.

The powerful search engine used to Doximity allows members to search for a physician by name, for example, ajit sawhney MD. The search could be narrowed down if more information is included, like geographical location, languages spoken, and medical discipline.

The availability of a closed network like this could reduce the chances of mistakes made my physicians especially on patients that have been consulting different physicians over a period of time.

1-Day Listing Promotion - 250 Free Auctions On eBay

2011-10-19T22:28:00.001+08:00

eBay will be running a one-day only auction promotion on 18th October, 2011, valid on eBay.com, motors.eBay.com and eBay.ca. On this day, eBay sellers can list up to 250 items on auction for free, without paying any Insertion Fee at all, without maximum starting fee.

eBay Store holders and those without Store subscription can en joy this promotion. Those without an eBay Store can still enjoy their 50 free listings per month and once that have been used, they can list an additional 250 items on auction for free.

For more information, check out this eBay Page: http://pages.ebay.com/promo/1018freetolist/

Birthday Gift For Best Guy Friend

2011-10-13T11:58:00.000+08:00

I have a problem. A guy friend whom I really treasure will be celebrating his birthday next month. Although I am quite forgetful when it comes to remembering birthdays, I have never once forgotten this friend's birthday because his birthday is near mine. Also, I always have difficulty coming up with a birthday gift for him so I need to crack my head in advance.

I don't know if my girl friends have problems looking for appropriate birthday gifts for men, I think I will discuss with them what I should buy. HHmmm should have bought a coffee table book during the recent book warehouse sale that I visited recently.

Led Zeppelin Rare Album Sold For $3,467 On eBay

2011-10-13T11:51:00.000+08:00

A rare, near mint condition Led Zeppelin is said to have sold on eBay for US$3,467 two weeks ago. I noted another similar record on eBay, with a little more blemish selling at a significantly lower price.

If you are fan of vinyl records or of Led Zeppelin, would you pay this price for this rare album? I know that fans would usually pay a lot of money for things like these so it's not easy to put a price tag on something as rare as this. Of course, when the condition is near mint, it's even more difficult to find.

Checks, Bank Checks and Personal Checks

2011-10-13T08:35:00.002+08:00

I haven't had the need to issue bank checks for quite awhile already. The other day, when I took out my check book, I found it boring. It's the usual plain sheet of check.

My sister told me that she has personalized checks, which she thinks make her unique. She issues checks to pay her bills and make purchases, even if the amount is small.

Browsing Carousel Checks, I find their range of personal checks very attractive, with very interesting colors and pictures that we could use. We could also customize our checks by using our own photo. These are called photo checks.

Since I will be writing more checks from now onwards, I am planning to order checks from Carousel Checks but first, I am going to browse through all the check designs that they have, then only make a decision. They have so many to choose from!

No matter if you are looking to print your own custom checks for personal or business use, you should look no further than Carousel Checks, where you will be spoiled for choice with the many check designs and styles. Moreover, I find their prices highly reasonable. There shouldn't be a reason to look elsewhere.

Shopping For Groceries Online

2011-10-08T22:52:00.000+08:00

I read that shopping for groceries online is becoming popular in Singapore. This is also available in Malaysia but because Malaysia is larger, it is not as easy to take off, I think.

Even though we know that we have to pay a little bit more to have groceries delivered to us, some of us are still willing to pay for it, simply because time is more valuable. It is no longer easy to shop for our needs at the neighbour stores or nearby hypermarket because we don't have time to drive there, look for a parking spot, pay for parking, collect what we need and then queue at the cashier.

Living in Ipoh, I don't think an online grocery shopping business is workable here because we can go to the store quite easily still and things are relatively cheap here.

Opening A New Restaurant

2011-10-04T11:06:00.001+08:00

My friend lost his job recently and after not being able to secure a new position, he is thinking of opening a restaurant. My friend can cook so he does not need to hire a cook for the time being. Cooks can be expensive!

With his limited budget, my friend is now scouting for used restaurant equipment for sale. In addition, he is roping in his friends and family to help him initially. It's understandable that he is looking to set up his restaurant at the lowest cost.

I am excited for my friend's new venture. At the same time, am worried of the challenges that he may face, in view of the lethargic economy.

eBay Duplicate Listing System

2011-09-30T12:40:00.000+08:00

eBay has rolled out its new duplicate listing system which will detect duplicate listings at the point of listing, in an effort to reduce 'spam' in the eBay search results. You know how annoying that could be when you see the same items by the same sellers dominating the search results.

But even if a duplicate item is successfully listed, it could also be ended after a manual review by an eBay employee. The first time this happens, listing fees will be refunded to the seller. If this happens for the second time, listing fees will be forfeited.

Guide On Web Hosting

2011-09-27T10:49:00.001+08:00

My friend is planning to set up an online boutique and she said she is surprised by the amount of work it entails. First, she has to look for a reliable web host. She didn't know there are so many companies to choose from. I did warn her not to go with the company that offers her the cheapest rates but to go with the company that could need her needs, has maximum up time and offer 24/7 technical support.

Since my friend is new to website hosting, she is overwhelmed with all the information that she has found online. I pointed her to a web hosting directory, which I believe, she could easily check out the web hosting packages available in the market and compare the services that each company offers.

I also suggested she read up the web hosting guide, which could answer all her questions about web hosting quickly and straight to the point.

Man Puts Ex-Wife's SatNav On eBay

2011-09-26T12:02:00.000+08:00

A man, only known as Dave, has put his ex-wife's satnav on eBay after discovering that her recent journeys to another man's home. At the time of writing this, more than 500,000 people have shown support on the page, supporting the seller.

That's really dumb of any satnav user to do, to mark a place of a lover... she should have marked another place nearby. But no point crying over spilt milk. Perhaps now she and her lover can get together, finally? Best of luck to all parties involved.

Google+ Opens To Public

2011-09-21T09:55:00.000+08:00

If you do not yet have a Google+ account, you can now sign up by going to google.com/+. This means that you don't have to pay for your Google+ invite, if you haven't got an account yet but hankering for one. Good news to the Google+ hungry public, of course.

However, if you are on the other side of the spectrum and have been selling Google+ invites on eBay or anywhere else, bad news. This means that Google+ invites are now worth $0. Time to look for something else to sell?

Quotes From Movers

2011-09-20T17:57:00.000+08:00

My friend and her family will be moving out of state and she said, she doesn't relish the work it involves. It is definitely not easy packing the entire household. If I could, I would leave it up to someone else to do the "dirty" work!

Luckily, there are companies that offer professional moving services. My friend would need to look for Long Distance Movers and get Moving Estimates from them first, before deciding on which moving company to engage. The lowest quotation doesn't mean the best, though, as one would need to see the scope of work the movers will do.

According to my sister, many of her friends have to move to smaller homes because they could no longer cope with the high monthly home installments. They would request for Local Moving Quotes from Local Movers after they have found a new home.

Elaborate Banking/Phone Scam Scheme

2011-09-19T11:00:00.000+08:00

Just read about a news report where police has uncovered a new modus operandi by phishers in Malaysia. They would target internet banking kiosks that are not securely guarded and when customers of the bank have concluded their transactions, these phishers would download the customers' data from the computer to their device via the USB port.

With this information, they would also head over to the telco company to attempt to hijack the SIM card. With the new SIM card, where the original one would then have been cancelled by the telco company since the "owner" claims that it has been stolen/lost, the scammers would then be able to easily transfer funds from these victims' bank accounts to their own, since obtaining TAC would no longer pose a problem

Been Sick

2011-09-15T10:26:00.001+08:00

I've been sick for the past three days and even though there are lots of things waiting to be done, because I was traveling earlier in the week, I just couldn't do them as my head was spinning so badly. I had to see two different doctors because the first one wasn't able to curb my vomiting.

Luckily, my medical insurance allows me to make claims for doctor's visits. Some would only cover hospitalization, you know? I am glad that I decided to pay slightly higher premium to cover this medical cost as well. Sometimes, visiting a late night doctor could be pretty expensive.

Nepali Youth Is eBay UK's Top Seller

2011-09-15T10:20:00.000+08:00

eBay UK has announced that the top seller on their UK site is a Nepali youth by the name of Sudip Gautam, now known as Dario Lopez. He changed his name in 2007 as he wanted to have his own identity separated from his family's caste system.

Dario Lopez started his business at the age of 12. Now, he employs 13 staffers at his shop called London Magic Store. Despite its name, Dario Lopez specializes in accessories for mobile phones, nothing to do with magic at all.

I have been following many stories on top sellers and found that a significant number of them are dealing with mobile accessories. HHmm I think these things come very cheaply, particularly if they are from China.

Enrolling In A Cosmetology School

2011-09-15T10:11:00.001+08:00

A friend, who has been working in a beauty salon cum spa, told me that without paper qualification, she doesn't feel secured with her position in the company. Although she has the experience now, she thinks that she should enroll in a Cosmetology school, get her paper qualification and at the same time, refresh her skills.

It is indeed a good move, as more and more fresh graduates flood the employment market. She really should take steps to upgrade her skill level and create more value in herself to her employer. Regency Beauty Institute is a top beauty institute with over 80 campuses around the United States, it is a top choice for students who would like to venture a career in the beauty industry.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com or contact Regency Beauty Institute – 7100 Northland Circle, Suite 312 – Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

J.D. Salinger Note To Maid On Auction

2011-09-15T09:57:00.001+08:00

A seller on eBay has listed a rare JD Salinger note to his maid for US$50,000. JD Salinger, the author famous for his book The Catcher in the Rye (1951). those of us who enjoyed his books and have looked forward to reading more of his work know that J.D. Salinger was very guarded about his life and although he never stopped writing, he did not publish many books.

So a handwritten note, even though it is to his maid, is exceedingly rare. Moreover, it was written on his monogrammed stationery and signed with his name. Do you think any collector would pay US$50,000 for a JD Salinger's autograph or is the asking price too high for a "piece of paper"?

Performance-Based Search Engine Optimization

2011-09-12T22:10:00.000+08:00

During one of my sales pitch, where I tried to sell advertising space on my blog to a travel and tour company, the boss asked me a very valid question. He wanted to know how people know to come to my blog to read about his company.

This is where performance-based search engine optimization comes in. To understand what it means, you have to read through the website of rankpay as they discuss the topic in-depth.

In short, RankPay guarantees that they rank your specified keywords on major search engines. The client only pays if they are successful. This means that the clients 'see' what they have purchased first before paying, which is good for them. And obviously, this pushes RankPay to work hard and fast, since they want to be paid, right? It's an advantage to both parties, as you can see.

This is different from many other companies that offer search engine optimization. We wouldn't know if we are paying for the results or not, since we need to wait for months to see our keywords ranked in major search engines. This sometimes never materializes!

RankPay is the way to go for companies seeking to rank in search engines and yet, want to see the results first before writing that check.

*** This post has been sponsored.

'Back to the Future' Nike Shoes

2011-09-12T21:44:00.000+08:00

Nike, which released a limited 1500 number of glow in the dark Nike shoes that was made popular by Michael J. Fox in 1989 Back to the Future movie, now known as "2011 Nike Air Mag" has seen these shoes snapped up on eBay, flying off the shelves with British rapper Tinie Tempah paying US$37,500 for a pair.

Unlike the shoes in the movie which self-laced, these replica shoes have to be laced manually. But I guess no one minds, judging from the number of shoes that have been sold till now.

Packing Up

2011-09-11T09:36:00.000+08:00

My friend told me that she has just accepted a job offer overseas. She will be locking up her house, instead of renting it out or even selling it. This is because she doesn't know if she will be sticking to her new job, or giving up and coming home.

I helped her to pack everything neatly away. We bought many packing boxes and small steel drums to store her things. She lives in a condominium so it's not as difficult as living in a house, which would require hiring a gardener to come monthly to keep the garden prim and proper!

Before she leaves, we will be throwing a farewell party for her. I hope I won't cry. I know, it's not difficult to keep in touch thanks to technology but still, it is not the same as having her physically around.

Malaysian Scam Victims On The Rise

2011-09-04T10:19:00.000+08:00

It is shocking to read the number of Malaysians, especially women, who have been victims of online love scams, customs scams, bank scams and even police scams. I think that we have read a lot of such reports in the papers over the years to realise that sometimes, things aren't what they seem.

However, it really is not surprising that people can still fall victim, actually, seeing how clever scammers are aided by technology. And the problem is, they keep improving! If you think something is too good to be true, it probably is!

Quick Home Insurance Quotes

2011-09-01T23:12:00.001+08:00

My sister told me that her company has reduced the number of employees by two thirds. It's surprising that because many of her colleagues have lost their jobs, they have also lost their homes because they could no longer service their home loan.

Is the economy that bad? My sister says that people who are still keeping their jobs, like her, are already thinking of ways to reduce their expenses. It's not easy, especially when they have home and auto loan installments to take care of.

My sister has been looking for ways to reduce her property insurance. It's easier said than done because there are quite a few property insurance policies, actually. This is just the general term. Therefore, a homeowner has to know exactly what protection she is getting from her policy.

Luckily it is very easy to compare the different property insurance policies and to obtain quotes for her home. This could all be done online, through the website of a reputable property insurance agent. By going through an agent, we could quickly receive homeowners insurance quotes from multiple major insurers in the country, thus allowing us to compare the different quotes and look for a policy that meets our requirements and best fits our budget.

*** This post has been sponsored.

eBay Australia's New Seller Requirements

2011-08-28T11:44:00.000+08:00

If you are a seller on eBay Australia, you should pay attention to this. Beginning 15th September (that's next month), eBay Australia requires all sellers to specify s returns policy, how goods are delivered and expected handling time.

This doesn't really come as a surprise as eBay Australia had wanted to implement this earlier this year but the enforcement was postponed. It's not a bad thing actually, and all responsible sellers should already have these in place.

However, the fact that eBay Australia is making this compulsory wouldn't sit well with some sellers. More rules to follow, you see?

Moving Away

2011-08-23T23:16:00.001+08:00

My sister sent me an email this morning, saying she is sad that her friend is moving away. Of course, she is happy that her life is improving but with the distance separating them, it will not be easy to meet up. They could chat online but it's not the same.

Also, initially, the friend will be very busy setting up her new house with her family. There are many things to do, including searching for swing set installation connecticut. It takes time finding one's way around in a new city. Naturally, my sister is worried for her.

Well, life is like that. We just need to roll with the challenges. I too will be moving to a new city soon and I am looking forward to what life has in store for me!

Chinese Exporters Sue PayPal

2011-08-21T10:50:00.000+08:00

A group of more than 100 exporters from China are planning to launch a class action lawsuit against PayPal for cancelling orders and returning payment to buyers without valid reason. It is claimed that every month, more than USD100 million is frozen from accounts held by exporters from China.

According to PayPal, they took such action upon complaints from buyers that their PayPal accounts have been hacked, or that they did not receive their purchases. PayPal sided with buyers even though sellers are able to produce shipping invoices.

Making A Shopping List

2011-08-16T11:38:00.000+08:00

Everyone is complaining about the rising cost of living. Honestly, we are all feeling the pinch. People say to live within our means but when our pay cheque remains stagnant, or worse, if we lose our jobs, I have no idea what it means to live within our means.

I have learned from young to not waste; whether it's money or water or electricity. And when I shop, I make a shopping list so that I do not end up buying extras. Yes, I still do look around but if it's not in the list, the temptation is not that great to make a purchase.

Oh course, with a shopping list, it is still not easy to keep within budget when things get more and more expensive each trip!

Working On The Move

2011-08-12T12:37:00.001+08:00

From next month onwards, I will be on the move more. It's all right since I can work even when I am on the move. I do nee a place where I can sit down to work, though. It's just that my time is not sold to an employer and I don't need to check in or check out at a certain time.

I enjoy myself so much, doing what I am doing, I don't mind even though my paycheck is smaller. I need to keep my phone, laptop, camera and psp batteries fully charged, though, and that will keep me happy!

The only problem I have when I am on the move is the weight I am forced to carry around. I wish I am rich enough to hire a porter. LOL

12 Million Online Users Pay To Play

2011-08-12T12:30:00.000+08:00

With reference to my earlier post that says 12 million Facebookers pay to play games on the social network, there has been a correction. According to the company that ran this survey, the figure of 12million is across all online sites and not only Facebook.

However, this figure is only limited to the United States and this dates to mid-2010 only. This means that since then, this figure has probably increased. And also, in the entire world is taken into account, we would probably be shocked by the total number of people who would pay to play games online.

Job Hunting

2011-08-09T11:44:00.001+08:00

My cousin brother has lost his job again. I don't know what the problem is with him, he seems unable to hold on to a job even if it's a job that is not demanding. I have lost count of the number of times I helped him look for a job this year alone. Well, what can I do when his mom, my aunt, asked me to help him out?

I have just found out about a job vacancy at a collection agency last week and have passed the information over to him. I told him to seek a job interview if he's interested but he doesn't seem like he is interested....

His mom is, though. Interested not for herself but hoping that he would try out this job. I think she is already fed-up having him around the house every day. LOL

12 Million Facebookers Pay To Play

2011-08-08T10:01:00.000+08:00

According to a survey, there are 12 million people on Facebook who pay to play games on the social network website. 12 million people sounds like a lot of people, and considering they are paying every month, that's a lot of money, just to pay virtual games on the network!

On the other hand, 12 million people is just a fraction of the total estimated number of people on the website. There are about 750 million registered accounts but I suspect that the actual number of real people is just half of that since most of us have at least one dummy account, some have more. A friend even has 40!

What do you think of people who pay to pay? It's like spending money to entertainment, for example, going for a movie. However, I don't understand why people need to pay to level up when they can play for free. One would need a lot of friends, though!

New Boutique Business

2011-08-04T09:35:00.002+08:00

I made friends with a pair of sisters just this week; they sehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gift up a new boutique in my neighbourhood. I asked them if they have a website already, they said no. However, they have plans to set up a website to create better online awareness for their business.

Since their boutique is so new, they do not need to buy managed hosting yet because shared hosting is sufficient for the time being. However, I told them that if their web traffic increases, they could upgrade their package later. They may even require dedicated servers!

Another friend who recently shopped for colocation told me about Superb Internet so I passed this information to the sisters. It would be useful to them when they decide to set up their website, but that would be only after they are settled with their brick-n-mortar store.

PayPal Launches Safe Online Shopping Campaign

2011-08-04T09:16:00.000+08:00

About a month ago, PayPal launched a campaign targetting Malaysian and Singapore users to educate us on the safety of online shopping, via payment with PayPal. This campaign utilised social media from Facebook to Twitter and YouTube.

The campaign isn't really that popular but it's still good that we are reminded of our rights as a buyer and if we paid using PayPal, under a lot of circumstances, we are protected.

However, don't forget that sellers are from time to time defrauded as well and when such a situation arises, usually, PayPal will side with the buyer. And even if the buyer is able to proof the case, he will be bogged down by red tape and it would take months for the money to return to him!

Avastin Lawsuit

2011-07-30T11:17:00.000+08:00

While reading up on current cancer treatments, I read about the Avastin lawsuit, which was brought on by patients injured by Avastin, a cancer medication that was said to be able to interfere with the growth of cancer cells and stunts the spread of these cells in the body of patients.

However, it is recently found out that Avastin has given patients more medical problems than it is said to be able to cure cancer. Some of the side effects include high blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure, bleeding and even holes in the nose, stomach and intestines!

It is very strange to think that while on medication hoping to be cured of a disease, one suffers even more because of the medication that has caused those damages!

Cheryl Cole Slim Dress Is Now On eBay Again

2011-07-30T11:07:00.001+08:00

The owner of Girls Aloud Chery Cole's Hervé Léger bandage dress up on eBay because she couldn't fit in. She thinks it's timely to sell it on eBay to someone who can wear it, and to donate part of the proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support because she has recently lost a brother-in-law to cancer.

According to the owner, the dress was bought by her boyfriend when Cheryl Cole was auctioning her wardrobe. It's funny. Although he won the bid, that doesn't mean that the girlfriend has to wear it. It could be an "investment", couldn't it?

Personalized Backpacks For Kids

2011-07-30T09:50:00.001+08:00

My sister told me she is very tired running around stores helping her friend get two kids ready for school. Once they have made the purchases, they had to label everything with the names of the children. That certainly sounds like a lot of work!

If she had told me earlier what she is lately busy with, I would have suggested she buys all the school needs online. She could even buy a functional kids backpack online that comes with free personalization. That would save her plenty of work and obviously, time!

In addition, the free personalization looks way better than my sister's handiwork. My sister is all thumbs when it comes to sewing!

Men Slightly Outnumber Women In Malaysia

2011-07-30T09:38:00.000+08:00

When friends ask me what they should sell if they plan to set up a retail business, I tell them to first think of who they would like to target. Obviously, they also need to enjoy what they trade in, have knowledge and most of all, passion.

In Malaysia, the 2010 census has shown that the male population in the country slightly outnumbers the female population. Therefore, if one targets just the male or just the female market, there is not much difference in terms of number of potential customers.

Of course, it is best if we could target both men and women but then again, I think women generally shops more than men. However, they shop at places that could offer them the best prices, unlike men who would only shop at places they are comfortable in and familiar with!

Actos Lawsuit

2011-07-29T23:12:00.001+08:00

A friend told me to read up the news about a recent Actos lawsuit. According to her, it has been found that Actos leads to serious injuries to the heart causing heart attack and heart failure. Moreover, studies have shown that it increases the risk of bladder cancer.

It's ironic that Actos, which is sold under these trade names, Actos, ActoplusMet, Competact and Duetact, and used to control diabetes in patients, could cause even more health problems to a diabetic!

If you are on medication for diabetes, do check with your doctor if you are at risk! Hopefully not, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Autographed "Rare" Mega Drive Tetris On eBay

2011-07-29T11:40:00.000+08:00

An autographed mega drive tetris game cartridge has been put up on eBay with an asking price of USD1 million. A lot of people are saying that the game is not as rare as the seller claimed and not worth the asking price. It is autographed by game developer, Alexei Patzinov.

Interested parties can offer a lower price, if they are not willing to pay USD1 million for it but then again, it's up to the seller to accept to reject the offer. Now, I have no knowledge of games and how rare or not they are. I think the value of the cartridge will not only depend on the rarity of the game but also on how rare an autograph of Alexei Patzinov is!

What do you think of the asking price? If you are a game collector, would you pay USD1 million for this game cartridge? If so, how much do you think the value of this autographed mega drive tetris will potentially rise?

PayPal Fee Changes w.e.f. 7th September 2011

2011-07-25T23:16:00.001+08:00

PayPal UK will be making slight changes to their fees with effect from 7th September, 2011. You'd think that the company is rich enough, and yet there is fee increase in some transactions. To be fair, they have not increased their fees for eight years.

Depending on who in Europe you normally trade with, you may be affected by the fee increase, or you may gain from the slight decrease in fees. Yes, not all transactions are affected by an increase, as you can see. But even if we hate to be held at ransom like this, if we are trading on PayPal, we have to play by their rules.

For more information, read this PAGE on PayPal UK.

Kate Middleton's 2001 Volkswagen Golf On eBay

2011-07-19T10:26:00.000+08:00

The current owner of an inky blue Volkswagen Golf is putting it up on eBay to cash in on the new found fame of Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge. According to Sonny Brazil, he bought the car two years ago from GBP1,400 from one James Middleton, who turns out to be the younger brother of Kate. Catherine Middleton's name is listed on the car registration certificate.

Sonny has listed his car on eBay with a staring bid of GBP20,000 and the winner of the auction will also receive a pair of silver cufflinks found in the car. It is not know who owned the cufflinks. Maybe James or Prince William, who used the car when he was dating Kate Middleton while they were in college.

News of the World Final Issue costs £30 On eBay

2011-07-14T09:24:00.000+08:00

The final issue of News of the World is being sold on eBay at £30 and still going up. This copy has already been sold out at new-stands as soon as it hit the streets. It is then not surprising that some people would be heading to eBay and other online marketplaces to get their hands on the final issue of News of the World.

This newspaper has been in circulation for 168 years but the decision to shut it down came after a scandal that implicated former News of the World journalists in illegal phone hacking where it is reported that more than 4000 people were targetted.

Personalized Checks

2011-07-12T23:57:00.001+08:00

Although I have a personal and a company checking account, I hardly issue checks. Most of my transactions, like bill payments, are done online while most purchases are done with cash or credit card. Frankly, I'd rather receive checks than issue them! In contrast, my sister is a regular check user, paying all her bills with checks. She would write a check even if she's buying a $10 item!

However, when running a company, there really is no escape from writing bank checks, and when I do issue one, I like it to be special. In the United States, we have the freedom to customize our checks, whether personal or business checks. Of course, you would have to order checks from third party printers, like Carousel Checks for example, and not directly through your bank.

I find this great. When we are running a company, it sets us apart from other companies and is another avenue for us to promote our brand, especially in a competitive business environment. I believe that if we have custom printed checks, the recipients of our checks will remember us better. Perhaps they will think of us when there is a new business opportunity.

This morning, I had the chance to browse through the wide variety of personal and photo checks on the Carousel Checks website. No matter whether we require custom printed checks for personal or business use, we can be sure our needs will be met.

eBay FVF Updated

2011-07-09T12:48:00.004+08:00

eBay has updated their new Final Value Fees, which will impact new listings only. This means that old ones will not be affected, until they are up for renewal. The new FVF will include shipping costs as well. This is really unfair, don't you think so? However, eBay says this is their way to reward those who reward low cost shipping.

I don't know how this will affect buyers and sellers in generally, but from what I can see, it will be more difficult to earn a living from selling on eBay because it will increase the sellers' costs. In any case, we need some time to evaluate the impact on users of eBay, particularly on sellers.

Golf Gift

2011-07-09T12:45:00.000+08:00

I went to Jusco's golf fair the other day, hoping to find a golf gift for my friend. After looking for thirty minutes, decided to leave as I couldn't find anything unique. I was hoping to get him a unique golf gift, maybe a novelty item, since he already has everything he needs when it comes to golfing!

I think I will have to resort to shopping for his gift online. I have no issues with shopping online, I just hope that the item will be shipped to me quickly. Maybe I would need to pay for overnight shipping so as to get the gift on time for the birthday. I'll give it a day or two to look at local shops first before I go online.

Family Puts EVERYTHING On eBay Auction

2011-07-09T12:35:00.000+08:00

A family in the US is putting up everything they have, well almost everything, on eBay on auction, before they move to a new city and build a new life. What they are keeping are the kids, in-laws, pets, Pillow Pets, stuffed animals and sports trophies. They rest are sold in a "bundle" including the house and car.

Right now, bidding has yet to reach the reserved price but the family is unfazed as they believe last minute bidders will help push the price up before the auction closes. However, with a reserved price of US$275K, there are not many people which that much spare cash to splurge on a purchase like this.

Price Comparison Shopping

2011-07-09T12:16:00.000+08:00

Since using an Android handphone, I have been comparing prices of my purchases way more often than I used to. It's so easy because of the barcode scanner application, and with my phone connected to the internet, it will call up prices of the item from all major retailers.

Of course, this doesn't always work, especially when I am not buying an item from a major brand name. Still, having this application on my smart phone is truly handy. I don't know how much I have saved on my purchases but it has definitely helped me save some money over time.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Autographed Handphones On eBay Auction

2011-07-09T12:08:00.000+08:00

eBay India and Maxx Mobile (India) are collaborating with Mahendra Singh Dhoni to raise funds for charity. Maxx Mobile will be sponsoring two handsets, MSD7 and M2020, which will be autographed by brand ambassador, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Mahendra is the current captain of the Indian national cricket team.

Proceeds from the auction of these two mobile phones, which will run from 5th to 15th July, 2011, will benefit MS Dhoni Charitable Foundation. This charity foundation supports people in India from all segments of society and provides assistance to build careers in cricketing.

Helping Out The Family Business

2011-07-09T11:23:00.000+08:00

Many people do not know that I come from a mining family. Well, although I work for myself as a web marketer, I still have to help out the family business when I can. I am right now busy sourcing for waterproof metal detectors.

Well, if you have played treasure hunting before as a kid, you will have a rough idea what I am looking for, except that what my dad wants are industrial sized and waterproof metal detectors. I hope I am able to source for him what he wants, and at a good price too! It’s not easy to fit his budget but I hope I can do that.

PayPal Most Targetted By Phishers In May 2011

2011-07-05T10:05:00.000+08:00

Kaspersky Labs, a leading internet security company, has released a report on phishing victims in May, 2011. According to the report, PayPal, not surprisingly remains the top company targetted by phishers, leading by 23.28%. Meanwhile, the country that generated the most spam mail was India, with 11.35% share of the pie. Hhmm I never realised this.

Also, May was the month that Osama bin Laden was killed by America and spammers took it to the (online) street by making use of the news story and tricking web users to click on links purportedly showing graphic images of Osama being killed, that unfortunately lead them to phishing websites.

Managing Retirement Fund

2011-07-01T10:03:00.000+08:00

A friend will have access to his retirement fund at the end of this year. It's quite a sum of money since he held a high paying job before his retirement. He said that because it is a lump sum of money, he would consult with a wealth management group to see what the best way to grow his money, his new wealth.

I read about a Missoula, MT wealth management group earlier which I am sure would be able to give him the advice he needs. This is an established company; when it comes to wealth management, we definitely don't feel as secure going with a new company, right?