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Messages - MovieMan

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1831
eBay / UPS, eBay and PayPal changes
« on: November 01, 2012, 10:17:46 AM »
I got an email from UPS this morning and you will have too if you use direct UPS label printing through eBay/PayPal.

Basically they are saying that won't be available (in its present form) starting May, 2013.  Details are in a link in that email. If you opt for the new approach they will give you a 3 year free contract with the new software supplier which is valued at $360.  At the end of that time (after you are used to using it) I guess they will start charging you $120 a year or whatever it will cost in 2016.

Here's a copy of the email followed by a link to the actual ups web page describing the program.

*******
Dear UPS Customer,

As a valued customer who has used UPS label printing through PayPal® with UPS Account Number xxxxxx, you should be aware that starting in May 2013, you will no longer be able to purchase and print UPS labels through PayPal. However, eBay® sellers will continue to be able to select UPS services from the list of available shipping options when listing items for sale. For information on how to continue to ship with your UPS Account Number when selling on eBay, please click here.

Thank you for choosing UPS.  


http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/bussol/browse/iabol4commerce.html

Edit:

As I look at this again I'm thinking I might have gotten this email because I also have a personal UPS account, so if that is the case I don't know if ups shippers JUST through eBay/PayPal will get that email. We'll know soon enough.




1832
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #11...November, 2012
« on: November 01, 2012, 10:01:07 AM »
See the thread link below for some low-level analysis of the Auction Scene Thread series for 2012.

http://storageauctionforums.com//index.php/topic,2866.msg20395.html#msg20395

1833
Stories about Storage Auctions / Auction Scene Thread Statistics (decline in replies and views)
« on: November 01, 2012, 09:54:08 AM »
Take a look at these stats for the Auction Scene threads running in descending order from January, 2012 through October, 2012.

The replies go down (from the members here who actually post) and the views go down (from the over 2600 members here who don’t post at all).

Is this somewhat “telling” for where the business might be going?  

The first number shown on left is "replies". Second number on right is "views".
                               
Auction Scene #1...January, 2012      145     5472

Auction Scene #2....February, 2012   104     4512

Auction Scene #3...March, 2012          95     3996

Auction Scene #4...April, 2012            69     3203
 
Auction Scene #5...May, 2012             64    3404

Auction Scene #6...June, 2012            56     2777

Auction Scene #7...July, 2012             60     3081

Auction Scene #8...August, 2012         27     2191

Auction Scene #9...September, 2012   26     1981

Auction Scene #10...October, 2012      29     1419



1834
Stories about Storage Auctions / Auction Scene #11...November, 2012
« on: October 30, 2012, 08:54:38 AM »
Gettting a jump start on November here a day before Halloween...thinking maybe an early start will avoid the auction zombies (newbies) !

Be sure to look at Cobia's entry October 30 in the Auction Scene #10..... October, 2012....a good view of late Oct doings in his area...hopefully that will spread across the country!

******

Meanwhile only 1 auction coming up this week for me and doesn't usually amount to much.


1835
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #10...October, 2012
« on: October 23, 2012, 04:05:37 PM »
Went to an auction today and I have to say it was almost like the good old days of two years ago.

Crowd was about 20 to 25, prices somewhat in line with reality. A couple of big lockers went in the $800 to $1,000 range but might have been worth it (for bulk).  Also, a number of lockers went in the $400 range and I think they will make money.

Three quarters of the crowd were regulars with the rest newbies. I didn't bid on a single one, but that was mostly from just not wanting to work that hard for the return on invesment. Many of the other regulars bid but didn't get the lkrs as some regulars from out of town were spending today.

Anyway, not an unpleasant experience, but one of those when you went home with nothing and not regretting it.


1836
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 22, 2012, 01:48:42 PM »
To storme:

My overall point in commenting on big oil and banks (and leaving out dozens of other financial and moral deficits committed in this country and the world) is that the misuse or theft of a cardboard box is like a grain of sand in comparison and is truly (again) a tempest in a teapot.

1837
eBay / Re: New to eBay
« on: October 22, 2012, 01:38:45 PM »
Quote
author=StorMe link=topic=2856.msg20284#msg20284 date=

Can't we be friends Ron, and play nice with each other?



Don't know about friends, Phil, but cordial is ok.

1838
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 22, 2012, 09:28:20 AM »
Quote from: Cobia on October 22, 2012, 08:33:32 AM
I sure miss Money4nothing & RockintheRetro; I'm tired of hearing the male "hens" bicker.  ;D

Cluck, cluck !  ;)

Question: Why did the chicken cross the road (quickly)?

Answer: To avoid the drivers maintaining the flow of traffic.


1839
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 21, 2012, 07:05:26 PM »
Quote from: alloro on October 21, 2012, 06:04:35 PM
Speak for yourself. Yes I've done things that were illegal out of ignorance for the law, but if I know something is illegal I don't do it. (My one exception being breaking the speed limit. But even then I only do that to keep up with the flow of traffic, which I relate to being more safe than holding back traffic and forcing people to weave around me.)



I understand that you would not knowingly break the law, but I would ask if you have ever heard the expression "Ignorance of the law is no excuse (or no defense)" ?  Not seeing a "no parking" sign and parking there anyway is not knowingly breaking the law, but it is still breaking the law as any ticketing officer will tell you.

As to your "one exception" regarding the speed limit. A strict adherance to the law would to be to go the speed limit and let the others "pay" (in whatever manner) for the fact they are breaking the speed limit. To justify or rationalize the fact that you would maintain a higher speed to facilitate traffic flow is just that....rationalization...and your then "interpretation" of what the law means or how it should be applied.

I have been criticized in more than one thread for MY strict use of language...what words MEAN and MY justification of THAT is that words and our use of them are the only thing that either holds together or breaks apart the many daily communications we have.

When we say (or write) something it leads to back and forth communication like we all do here; in writing of course there is a delay in "reaction" time and sometimes a second party will say something like "You know what I meant". My response would be "No, I know what you wrote; YOU know what you meant".

Anyway, civil discourse is what it's all about and name-calling doesn't really come into it for me (and not saying it does for any particular member on these forums, but there are some who are into that).

Each of us is entitiled to our own opinions and what works or doesn't work for us, whether it's posting large pictures, using boxes one way or the other, or speeding down the highway, and I personally have never said "My way is the only way". I would never think that.


1840
eBay / Re: New to eBay
« on: October 21, 2012, 06:48:05 PM »
Quote from: StorMe on October 21, 2012, 11:27:33 AM
This creates big holes in the ad server web pages where there was supposed to be an image. It may have been 9 years (doubtful) you have been doing it – you just haven’t been caught yet.


Your "doubtful" assertion just above is just one step short of calling me a liar and while I certainly don't feel the need to defend myself to anyone (and maybe especially you) I include here a document you are free to call into question as well. (name blocked out to protect the innocent....me  ;D).


1841
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 21, 2012, 10:07:42 AM »
Quote from: Millertime on October 21, 2012, 12:28:21 AM
Alloro is right on, using USPS boxes without using the service is theft. The cost of those products is embedded in the price of shipping. Ebay shippers are infamous for shorting us on postage all the time, so it is not surprising that some think stealing postal products is fine.

Yes, it is theft (probably theft of services) but on a scale so small I would consider it next to miniscule.  My comparison to the "legal" theft by gasoline companies on price gouging and by banks on the allowing of no-down-payment loans is by way of saying this box issue is really a tempest in a teapot.

And my comment early on in this conversation that I doubted it was a felony still holds up IMO. It may be a misdemeanor. Don't really know or care.

The fact that that the post office got smart and put wording on the brown surface of the boxes says it all IMO. They knew there was no reasonable point in going after the few people who misused the boxes and they made the logical choice to eliminate the problem at the source...their design of the package.

The misuse of these boxes no more added to the deficit running of the post office than pouring even a gallon of water in the Pacific ocean. If they would stop the use of third class mailing by advertisers and the bulk mailings of other advertisers at reduced rates they would not only free up the service for its orginal purpose but would save millions (maybe hundreds of millions) in dollars and trees by not delivering "mail" that goes dirctly from the mailbox outside our doors to the wastebasket inside our homes.

The fact is that the use of first class mail has diminished so much due to email, texting, social networks that it is hardly a viable way of communicating at all. Bill paying online has cut into it too. All my opinion....yours may vary.


1842
eBay / Re: New to eBay
« on: October 21, 2012, 09:49:09 AM »
Quote from: StorMe on October 21, 2012, 06:46:49 AM
Placing images outside the confines (inline HTML) of the provided image posting controls of e-bay and Craigs (and other ad services) is a good way to get an account limited or deleted. And, if the images get to large in size and the number of them is to many the pages load slow thusly creating issues the ad service doesn’t want.


Has worked for me without a problem for 9 years.



If a page loads slow or it looks out of skew people will close your ad and move on to the next one. I’m sure you have noticed how this page has grown in width because of the oversized images that were put on it. (???) People don’t like to scroll horizontally when viewing a web page. It’s just the pragmatics of basic Web Design.

I don't know about anyone else's computer, but I never have to scroll left and right
with the size of images I use, and when I have looked at other eBay sellers who also use large pictures I have not had to do so either. I suppose if a picture was REALLY large that might be the case, but otherwise, it hasn't been a problem for me.


1843
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 20, 2012, 01:36:35 PM »
Quote from: alloro on October 20, 2012, 12:57:46 PM
The point being is that the USPS pays for and supplies these boxes to the consumer free of charge for the purpose of shipping via the USPS. Using these boxes for any other purpose violates that implied contract and essentially means the boxes (owned by the USPS) were stolen. Now you can play any game you want over the wording, but anyone with a half-assed grasp on reality can see that the misuse of these boxes is flat out wrong.

Speaking of half assed grasps....

Going faster than the speed limit is also against the law as is talking on a cell phone while driving (at least in California), but it frequently happens ....doesn't mean it's right, but it happens.

On the other hand the pricing of gasoline MAY be legally done, but like no down payment house loans is IMO truly morally reprehensible.

1844
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 20, 2012, 06:48:39 AM »
Quote from: alloro on October 19, 2012, 10:53:23 PM
http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c%5Bc_usps09091%5D&varset(source)=sourceType:embedded&referrer=faqsitemap#Using2

Using Express Mail® service or Priority Mail® service envelopes for other mail

If any Express Mail service or Priority Mail service packaging or packaging supplies e.g., Priority Mail tape to seal a Parcel Post package, are used on any other class of mail, the applicable Express Mail or Priority Mail price will be charged.

Misuse may be a violation of federal law.
Turning the packaging inside out to conceal the Priority Mail / Express Mail insignia is specific misuse that is not allowed.


Using boxes that are ordered at The Postal Store® for other uses

The terms of Agreement for the use of United States Postal Service shipping supplies is as follows: I understand that Express Mail service, Priority Mail service, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International and Priority Mail International packaging is the property of the United States Postal Service and is provided solely for sending Express Mail, Priority Mail, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International and Priority Mail International. Misuse may be a violation of federal law.

Seems even the post office has questions about this.  My guess is that if a business ordered 100,000 boxes or even 10,000 boxes and then used them all for inappropriate mailings there would be a problem, but to come after Joe Schmoe for his twice a year mis-use would be a losing proposition.

By printing their message on the brown interior surfaces they took the route that would eliminate most of the problem.

On the other hand, using those boxes as fillers inside larger boxes for padding MIGHT not be a violation, especially if they were sent in re-useable condition....that is they could be used by the recipient for their intended use.

Could you find a section in the code about THAT Alloro ?  ;D

1845
eBay / Re: Ebay Shipping is killing me
« on: October 19, 2012, 08:26:03 PM »
Quote from: alloro on October 19, 2012, 07:48:37 PM
Fedex might not care but the USPS does and it is a felony to use their boxes like you just suggested. Me I'd rather dish out the $.20 for a shipping box, it's a whole lot cheaper than a lawyer.

Frankly, it's hard for me to imagine it is a felony, but I don't really know.  What I do know is this.

Several years ago the interior (brown side) of usps boxes was not imprinted with the words that indicated that the box was to be used ONLY for priority shipping. I turned the boxes inside out on more than one occasion and used them for both usps mailings and ups mailings.

Once I sent a BOOK through usps using a box treated in that fashion. It was returned to me a few days later with a note saying I couldn't use the box like that. I THINK the box was opened by usps to see if it really WAS a book being mailed under the media mail rate, otherwise I doubt it would have been a problem.

NOW, all the usps priority mail, flat-rate, etc boxes have messages printed on the brown side, which pretty much eliminates using that old technique.

I can't remember the last time I've bought a box though. Grocery stores (especially small ones) often don't flatten their boxes (or bind them for disposal) relying instead on people coming around for  boxes for moving or in OUR case, shipping. I go to one spot that unpacks various dry items like crackers, etc and I get maybe 10 to 20 boxes at a time all the same size. Since I send a lot of eBay items that are "breadbox" size, this works great for me.

Large boxes can be obtained that used to hold lawn mowers, patio sets, even sofas.

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