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Messages - rulesforrebels

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31
eBay / Re: Selling Gift Cards on eBay
« on: December 23, 2014, 11:34:11 AM »
Quote from: Travis on December 18, 2014, 10:29:37 AM
I just wanted to post an update on this.

Letters/packages containing gift cards are NOT covered by insurance above $15 at UPS & USPS. Didn't check at FedEx.

The best way to send gift cards is by registered mail, which requires a signature for delivery and includes insurance.

Get this. The post office website says CURRENCY sent by registered mail can be insured for up to $25,000.

that's wierd gift cards cant be insured but currency can. must be some special program for large anks and stuff because im shocked they would insure currency.

do you happen to have a link to that im shocked as everything i have ever seen post office seems to discourage people from sending money, i think there's even a myth or common misconception its illegal to send money although obviously everyone does it in birthday cards and stuff

32
Picker's Paradise / Re: Reselling Black Friday Deals
« on: December 02, 2014, 09:52:42 AM »
In the past I have done this before but honestly many of the deals aren't even that great and the ones that are is normally a doorbuster where to actually get the item you have to spend days camped out. I'm not gonna blow my thanksgiving away from my family sitting out in the cold so I can buy some item for $200 and turn around and sell it for $300.

33
Other Forms of Selling / Re: Why does everyone complain about ebay policies and fees when Amazon is worse?
« on: November 29, 2014, 11:17:55 AM »
Quote from: dbr831 on November 28, 2014, 07:55:49 PM
I agree with all of your complaints about Amazon. Fees too high. Can't create a new listing. I imagine we don't see the complaints because fewer people on this forum are selling on Amazon. I have gotten a few storage units with massive quantities of vintage books. I will list them on Amazon if they will sell for more then $10 (I always list my books for less than the lowest already listed so if there are already copies listed for under $10 I don't bother). It's easy to list them and you don't have to take photos. Much quicker than EBAY and they stay listed indefinitely.  I used to draw the line at $7 but after fees I was only taking home $4-$5 and I just don't think it's worth my time to list, store, pack and ship something for that. I can't imagine how sellers make any money for all the books you see listed for $.01! Another thing I hate about Amazon is there is no such thing as "no returns". A buyer can return a book for any reason within 30 days so if they just want to read it they can return it and get their money back. That sucks but luckily doesn't happen often.

I think you make a good point about amazon being less used than ebay, I think in large part because unless your willing to signup for a 15 a month seller plan your really limited on what you can list. You can't find some cool painting ina  storage locker and put it on amazon, it has to be things already listed which is typically new electronics, books, etc

Amazon also doesn't offer seller protection like ebay. If I ship an item with no sig and delivery shows delivered amazon is going to rule for buyer and take the money from me where as ebay would either rule in my favor or rule in buyers favor but cover the loss instead of me covering the loss. Amazon does  automatically give you like $4.49 for shipping when most items are going to be about $2 if they are first class so I guess you can use the $2 and protect yourself though I think more people pocket the $2 and hope they dont have claims and come out ahead.

34
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Pubic Storage - No, that's not a typo!
« on: November 28, 2014, 02:32:17 PM »
Quote from: Travis on November 20, 2014, 12:35:19 PM
Yes, they could take your domain from you. The registrars take copyright and trademark violations very seriously these days.

When the internet was in it's infancy, people made a fortune from registering and sometimes extorting companies for their own names.

Getting a trademark without the domain extension will help prevent other businesses from registering the same name by just adding a different extension.

Do you remember hearing abut the guy who bought Olympics 2016 or whatever and was fighting with the olympic commitee over whether he had to give it back or not? I don't recall who wound up winning that.

I think a big part of it is if the person is doing anything with the domain. For example with the olympic one, if it was just sitting dormant I imagine it would be easier to take than if he throuh about a blog aboutthe upcomming olympics in 2016 and tracked olympians training progress then even if its fake he can kind of show I am running a blog on this I didnt buy it just to extort the olympics lol.

What you described is very common on twitter, I forgot who but some celebrity within the past few years paid something like 20k for their name on twitter from someone hwo had registered it.

35
Other Forms of Selling / Re: Getting ready for Cyber Monday
« on: November 28, 2014, 02:23:04 PM »
I saw Walmart had a great deal on a samsung smart tv 32", it wasn't a doorbuster item either so no risk of it not being there. None the less on my way home from family dinner saw the parking lot and said I'm not messing with it. I've seen some pretty good deals on amazon, I may take advantage of some online deals but I hate shoping and crowds too much to deal with teh stores. My gf got a great deal for me on a mattress topper at kohls though. I think it was 70 or 80 percent off plus they let heruse a 20% off coupon so go a 4" memory foam and gel mattres topper for $30. I can use it too as my crappy ikea bed frame broek and been sleeping on the floor on a 3" matress pad for the past few months.

36
Other Forms of Selling / Re: I can't stand selling on facebook anymore
« on: November 28, 2014, 12:33:20 PM »
If you think facebook has flakes and headaches expect the same on craigslist. Also when you say you dont have a craigslist for your area craigslist doesn't list every city, most people post the closest large city and you'll find buyers. Also you'd be surprised by how many people will drive 3 hours for a $20 dresser

37
Other Forms of Selling / Re: Getting ready for Cyber Monday
« on: November 28, 2014, 11:48:06 AM »
I think black friday and cyber monday are more geared towards businesses and not just people selling stuff on ebay. Granted it is probably a better day than the rest of the year as people are online and are looking for deals but most people are probably on amazon.com, bestbuy website etc and not nearly as many browsing ebay or peoples personal sites.

38
Other Forms of Selling / Why does everyone complain about ebay policies and fees when Amazon is worse?
« on: November 28, 2014, 11:45:45 AM »
We all know people complain about ebay fees as well as ebay policies favoring the buyer but nobody seems to gripe about Amazon.

I just recently started selling on amazon. I find Amazons fee structure to be much higher and worse than ebay, plus I don't believe they give you a chance to lower them with volume or good performance like ebay does. I have yet to see Amazon offer any discounted fees or anything like ebay does routinely.

Amazon also doesn't provide guidance to sellers on how to protect themselves. Ie ebay says over $250 get a signature and you're in the clear. On the offchance an item shows delivered and buyer claims they didnt get it ebay/paypal covers your loss. Amazon doesnt tell you when to put a signaure on items nor do they give clear guidance on how and when they rule in a buyer or sellers favor. They also don't seem to accept delivery confirmation as proof of delivery.

Lastly ebay anyone can put up a listing for anything where as amazon without singing up for a monthly fee and offical selelr account you can copy other peoples existing listings but can't create origional listings of your own.

Just curuios why ebay catches so much flack and amazon doesn't?

I think partly because amazon is more professional sellers and small businesses so its not as many just random people selling out of their basement so ebay is easier for new sellers and smalltime sellers but just curious yoru thoughts?

Also if anyone has tried amazon curious to see how you think it compares to ebay?

39
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Pubic Storage - No, that's not a typo!
« on: November 20, 2014, 11:55:05 AM »
Not sure how the rules and laws work with this but I could swear I have seen instances where large companies have sued people who basically try to use domains similar to theirs for the sole purpose of "stealing" traffic. For example if I tried to setup a site homedepott.com with an extra t i imainge home depot would come after me. As far as if they have a case I don't know.

40
eBay / Re: Selling Gift Cards on eBay
« on: November 18, 2014, 10:45:01 AM »
I probably wouldn't buy a gift card on ebay, be worried about getting an empty one. I know every year around christmas there's a bunch of gift card scams.

Just did a little terapeak research average gift card sales amount is about $53. Starbucks is by far the most searched term and most sold gift card. About 877,000 worth of gift cards sold last week so they definately are selling on ebay

41
The "Other" Job / Re: Getting ready to leave "the other job"
« on: November 15, 2014, 12:07:45 PM »
Quote from: bakerben on September 27, 2014, 09:08:48 AM
sounds fun! I went full time awhile back(been doing it part time almost 20 years) and havent looked back since. I'm still looking for that one nice honey hole that'll pay my salary for the year, but until then i'm paying the bills and making some money. what area are you in?

Did you have a hard time finally pulling the trigger and leaving. I've been preparing to leave for quite a while. I never really had any entrepreneurs in my family so the whole you need a stable paycheck and insurance has been drilled in my head as long as I can remember.

Financially speaking I made more last month than my entire years salary at my day job granted my day job isn't a good one but its a stable paycheck with health, dental and a 401k. I'm having a hard time however wrapping my head around what I will do with myself without being forced to get up and go to work and just not having a forced obligation like I have my whole life.

My situation is a little unique in some external factors with my  business I'm dealing with which are somewhat out of my control but in terms of sales and making money things couldn't be better

42
General Storage Auction Talk / Anyone have connections with a storage facility?
« on: November 13, 2014, 01:04:55 PM »
I know we all talk about how its nice to get friendly with facility managers, maybe bring a cup of coffee or a footlong to them for some favorable treatment whether its an extra day of leaving stuff in a locker, ending an auction on your bid a bit quicker, etc. For the most part though its just casual friendliess not really friends.

Anyhow, a buddy of mine recently landed a gig as a manager of a pretty large area of storage facilities. I think it will be interesting hearing his perspective and info on the storage business in general as well as hearing funny stories and his experiences at auctions too.

I think he'll probably tip me off to some good units and stuff as well although his area is pretty far from me so doubt I'll be heading there all that often. Just curious if anyone else has the hookup at a particular facility and how its helped you

43
Storage Facilities / Re: What's more important?
« on: November 13, 2014, 01:02:00 PM »
I get the feeling most of these facilites have pretty high vacancy rates so its not like they are really losing anything when a unit gets auctioned as the actual cost to them is minimal. For this reason I would say probably just saving them the hassle of cleaning a unit themselves.

44
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Reasons people get in the storage auction business
« on: November 13, 2014, 09:52:43 AM »
Quote from: Travis on November 12, 2014, 07:40:36 AM
My wife and I feel the same way. Our daughter has been coming to auctions with us since she was a few months old.

Oh so your the guy with the baby stroler blocking my view of the unit  :41: jk

45
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Protecting Your Turf
« on: November 13, 2014, 09:51:30 AM »
I get the logic of running up bids or paying a bit more than you would normally just to keep a newbie from thinking this is good hunting grounds, however there will always be a newbie so this attitude imho will basicaly wind up with you wasting your money week in and week out to keep a never ending line of newbies out of your backyard. Maybe you drive away tim but tom is comming tomorrow and billy the next day and tony the day after that so your constantly going to be throwing money around to drive away one guy and the next guy is still gonna come

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