Entries from October 2007 ↓

Choosing a good [tag]password [/tag]for [tag]eBay [/tag]and [tag]PayPal[/tag]

Your [tag]passwords [/tag]are like the keys to your [tag]accounts[/tag]. Whether on eBay, PayPal, or any other secure site, you want a password that will do its job - protect your account from unauthorized access. Hackers and crackers have developed programs that scan thousands of words and commonly known passwords, trying every combination as they automatically try to access your account. They may load an entire dictionary into the program so that any password that is a regular word will eventually be matched and they get a hit. The program records this match and they have access to your account. So never use a simple word or name for your eBay or PayPal (or any) account.

Here are some tips for choosing a great password, and protecting it as well.

1. Make your password easy for you to remember. Don't write it down, if someone finds it they have access to your account.
2. Try to use a combination of at least 6-8 characters including letters, numbers, and special characters. Many systems have a maximum password length of 8 characters. You may add more characters to make it easier to remember, anything after the 8th character will be ignored. An example is: "softwareking" is the same to the system as "software." In that case, make sure the first 6-8 characters do not form a complete normal word.
3. Choose several small words without spaces. Do not use words or phrases that relate to eBay or your favorite hobby, such as "coincollector" or "dvdseller" which may be easy for people to guess.
4. Use the "License Plate Method": try to squeeze a phrase into eight characters, as if you were putting it on a vanity license plate. You can use numbers to make up words such as: OVRR8D, PMS247, UCOMPNS8.
5. Mix letters and numbers. Some people use a small word along with a significant year or number to create a combination that is hard to crack. Putting numbers within words also makes your password more secure.

Protecting your passwords

The number one way to protect your password is never give it to anyone. This includes family members. A few years ago I received an email from an exhausted mother who was trying to clean up a mess her 14 year old son had made. She'd given him her eBay password to allow him to make a purchase. He made that purchase, and then he and his friends bid on dozens of other items - a mess indeed.

Another mistake many people make is using a public computer and forgetting to logout. I've worked dozens of trade shows for eBay with computers in the booths. People routinely check their auctions, and then walk away, leaving themselves logged-in for all the world to bid on whatever they'd like. Computers at work or libraries are risky for this reason. Make sure you log off.

Tips to protect your passwords and accounts on eBay or PayPal include:

1. Do not use the same password for your eBay and PayPal accounts.
2. Do not use single words that can be found in the dictionary.
3. Do not use a password that contains any part of your user ID or email address.
4. Do not use your name, or the name of your spouse or pet, or your birthday. Don't use any personal information in your password that may be easy for others to obtain.
5. Do not write your password down.

If you think someone has gotten your password

If you think someone has gotten your eBay password, immediately go to your My eBay page, under My Account select Personal Information and change the password. Before you do this though, make sure your email address is still current, since eBay will send you a confirmation email when you want to change your password. Once you've done that, review the Account Theft information page. eBay has a great page with info on protecting your eBay account.

If you think your PayPal account has been compromised, you should try to change the password by logging into your account, selecting Profile and then click the Password link in the Profile Summary. Visit the PayPal Security Center for even more information on protecting your account.

If you cannot log in to your eBay account, contact eBay right away via Live help. They can help you right away. You can also call eBay and ask for customer service at: 1-866-322-9266 or eBay's Trust and Safety Department at: 1-408-376-XXXX (this phone number is no longer active -Steve, 4/02/08). If you cannot get into your PayPal account, you can call them at: 1-402-935-2050. You'll need to have the last 4 digits of the credit card or bank account registered with PayPal when you call.

Losing control of your account is frightening. I hope this helps you avoid that problem, or helps you solve the problem if you're a victim. If you have any stories or tips to add, they are most welcome. [tags]online security,trust and safety,identity theft,ecommerce[/tags]

Popularity: 4% [?]

[tag]eBay.com[/tag] has just announced it will allow users to add [tag]Skype[/tag] buttons to [tag]eBay listings[/tag]. They will be available gradually according to categories and eventually sitewide.

Currently, the Skype buttons are available for the following categories:

• Beds
• Automotive GPS devices
• Basketball-NBA
• Camera & Photo
• Cell Phones & Portable Electronics
• Cigar
• Coin silver
• Commercial homes
• Diamond solitaire rings
• Furniture & Large Appliances
• Internet Telephony
• Jukebox Machines
• Lost in space
• Manufacturing and metalworking
• Motorcycles
• Other real estate
• Passenger cars
• Radio control toys
• Residential homes
• Routers, wired
• Skype Devices
• Special Vehicles
• Travel
• Tube Radios

I suppose that list will grow quickly as time goes on. Visit here for instructions on adding Skype to your listings.
This should allow users to chat with or even call each other to discuss an item. For more details, see the eBay announcement. [tags]eBay[/tags]

Popularity: 3% [?]

As my regular visitors know, this site is mostly about eBay and related subjects. But today I'm adding a personal note just because I need to. My [tag]cat[/tag] passed away this morning. I was the only person in the world who really liked her much. She wasn't very friendly to anyone but me, but my family put up with her for my sake.

Rescued from a dumpster

I found her through an ad in the Sacramento Bee when I lived in Citrus Heights, California in the early 90s. She had been one of a litter of eight kittens thrown in a dumpster, and then found by a kind lady who took the survivors home and nursed them to health. I sat on the lady's floor and watched the entire bunch of them interact. The one I chose was the scrappiest of the bunch and all her life had the same personality.

I took her home and brought her in the house inside my lunchbox to surprise my (former) wife. I never told many people, but [tag]Kitty[/tag] was named after a local celebrity. In Sacramento at that time there was a lady on the news named Kitty O'neal with red hair and I borrowed her name for my cat.

When she was younger she did the coolest tricks. She had these foam rubber balls she would fetch, just like a dog. She would also do complete back flips if you bounced one of the balls over her head.

Moving days

This cat has had lots of moving days. From Sacramento to Atascadero in 1994, Atascadero to San Jose in 2000, and cross-country by air in 2002 to Michigan. Then in 2005 it was back on a plane to Atascadero, California again where we are now. She was a great flyer.

Through the good times and bad...

She was with me when my first wife and I split up. I remember sitting up in bed one night, still extremely sad about the loss of my marriage and Kitty jumped up and sat in my lap. It was as if she knew I needed consolation. I'd never experienced that with a pet before. Another point I remember during that time was when my ex-wife came back for some things after a few months, Kitty seemed to have forgotten her. Almost as if she was taking sides with me. I know it was my imagination but it was an emotional time, and my cat was a great comfort.

I was single for five years and then married again. Kitty was a bit jealous, and let everyone know the marriage took place without her approval. When my son was learning animal sounds some years later, when asked "what sound does a cat make?" he would hissss. He eventually learned "meow" was a more normal response.

Our family eventually got two other cats, and she could never accept them as equals. She was Queen right up to the end. If she wanted to pass, the other cats would move aside, even though they were bigger and healthier. She would sit on the window sill in my office and make sure I was working, which I'll now miss terribly. During my 50 or so webinars for Doba that were presented with my friend Mikal Belicove, she was right there on the window sill. I'd occasionally flip the web cam around so Mikal could see the "boss" watching my every move.

The end

Her decline was quite rapid. Although she's 14 years old, she was pretty healthy and never needed medicine or vet visits. I fed her the best food, and kept her indoors mostly. About a month ago though, she began losing weight and acting feeble. She wouldn't eat dry cat food any more so I gave her canned food. It still didn't help much and she wound down more and more like a music box.

She has always followed me everywhere in the house, bedroom, office, living room, kitchen, even the bathroom. If I wandered too far from the desk, she would meow at me till I got back to work. She was worse than a boss that way. Lately though, she has been extremely vocal - more than ever - as if she was trying to tell me something. I think she was. I thought she wanted food, which by the end she could only keep down if given in very small portions. In the end though, it seems like she was trying to tell me something was dreadfully wrong. She wanted to be picked up and held.

Yesterday I made the incredibly difficult decision to take her to the vet and have her put to sleep. I sat with Kitty on my lap and my wife asked if she should make the call. I couldn't talk through the tears and nodded "yes." The appointment was set for 5 PM today. Last night I sat with Kitty in my lap for the last night. She was purring continually and rested her chin on my leg. She was so tired, and I felt so bad for her. But she was where she wanted to be. Before bed I said goodnight to her and gave her a comfortable towel to curl up in.

When I woke up this morning, she was pretty unresponsive and limp. She was alive, but slipping away. I made her as comfortable as possible, stroked her chin, and talked to her till she [tag]died[/tag]. I am going to miss her so much. I really loved that old cat.

I would appreciate any comments you may have to offer. [tags]pets,pet,death[/tags]

Popularity: 5% [?]

One of the most overlooked areas of [tag]eBay[/tag] is the link to [tag]Advanced Search[/tag] tips near the search box on any eBay page. You'll find valuable [tag]search tips[/tag] here that can help you narrow your search to just what you're looking for. Once you use the tips (see below) and land on the search results page, you can save the search to your [tag]Favorite Searches[/tag] in your My eBay page. That way you won't have to create a complicated search from scratch each time. You can set your favorite searches to email you whenever a new item appears on eBay that matches your search.

Why are these tips necessary?

Lets say you're trying to [tag]source products[/tag] on eBay to buy in large lots and break them up for individual sale. Just search for "case of" or "pallet of" - with the quotation marks as shown - and you'll force eBay to search for those words in that particular order. Try it here.

Popularity: 5% [?]

I've just had the opportunity to speak with about 100 auto dealers in Orlando, Florida about eBay Motors. The session lasted about an hour and had good participation from dealers.

Topics included best practices in the areas of pricing, format choice (whether auction, fixed-price, Best Offer, Local Markets), and writing good titles. Lots of the comments from dealers after the session indicated that they found the information useful and planned to implement it as soon as they got home.

See more on the event on DealerClasses.com here.

Popularity: 4% [?]

One of eBay's founding principles is that [tag]people are basically good[/tag]. Aside from all the wrangling and scamming that gets so much attention, the vast majority of buyers and sellers transact on eBay everyday without a hitch. Strangers sending money and goods to each other. Often those transactions result in secular conversations not related to any purchase.

[tag]Seth Godin[/tag] has posted a great article showing the human side of doing business. It is about someone at Zappos actually feeling something for their customer as a human being and reaching out to do something nice. It is so easy, yet it's so rare today. [tag]eBay[/tag] is the best platform in the world for this type of behavior, [tag]sellers[/tag] and [tag]buyers[/tag] need to remember that they are humans and the people they are dealing with are humans. Don't be so afraid of showing basic goodness. And although it shouldn't be the motive behind kindness - as insincerity will certainly be rewarded - people will notice and talk about what you've done, and sales will result.

[tags]ecommerce, customer service, marketing, online selling, zappos[/tags]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Yes, and no. If you're just looking for a link to the Mutual Feedback Withdrawal form, go here .

Remember when you were in school and you'd get the heart-stopping threat of something being entered on your "permanent record?" Well, that one didn't really exist, but [tag]eBay[/tag] has come up with a close version.

[tag]Feedback[/tag] comments may be left between two parties involved in a transaction. The comments may be left as Positive, Negative, or Neutral. Once a user leaves a comment, it generally may not be retracted nor may the recipient erase it. There are a few exceptions that would disqualify a comment which I'll list later. What if you and the other party can work out your differences and patch things up? eBay allows you a chance to make it (almost) all better.

[tag]Mutual Feedback Withdrawl[/tag]

If you get a negative comment from someone, don't panic. There is hope that you can work it out and restore your image within the community. eBay allows either party to contact the other user and request both comments be withdrawn. This is called Mutual Feedback Withdrawl and it is pretty easy to do.

How Mutual Feedback Withdrawal works

You can initiate your request within 30 days of either member leaving Feedback, or within 90 days of the transaction end date, whichever is later.

After you and the other eBay user both complete the online process, you will see that your Feedback Scores have been adjusted at the same time. Depending on the type of Feedback rating withdrawn, your score could increase, decrease or remain the same. eBay will add a note to the Feedback comment, which indicates that the Feedback rating was mutually withdrawn.

Note: If you haven't left Feedback for your trading partner and you go through the Mutual Feedback Withdrawal process, you will no longer be able to leave Feedback for that transaction.

Some people complain because even though the bad point is removed, the comment remains "grayed" out so it may still be read. Personally I think they should be happy the point is removed and not whine. It's not likely anyone will decide not to buy from them based on that withdrawn feedback.

There are a few reasons eBay will remove a feedback comment without going through the Mutual Withdrawal process. Those reasons are:

• Use of inappropriate language
• References to an eBay or law enforcement investigation
• Publishing contact information

So if someone puts your name in a comment, you may actually be able to get it removed. However, if that reason is used, every comment using your name will be removed retroactively. In other words, if you tell eBay "I want that comment removed because it uses my name." They have to assume you don't want other comments to include your name either. Just something you should know.

Do you have a feedback question? or a feedback nightmare? Leave a comment below.

[tags]negative feedback,positive feedback,neutral feedback,feedback score,feedback removal[/tags]

Popularity: 4% [?]

What if you have a package you want to send that is NOT an [tag]eBay[/tag] item? Usually, when you sell an item on eBay, you may create a postage-paid label for that item through [tag]PayPal[/tag], and ship it. That's cool, but what if you didn't sell the item through eBay and you just want to send your Mom some new work boots?

UPDATE: Ok - thanks to some [tag]eBayers[/tag] on the [tag]discussion boards[/tag] I am asking that you ignore all the stuff I've struck out below. There is a much simpler way to use PayPal to create an original label. The good part is - you really do have a way to print postage-paid labels in service types not offered on the USPS.com site. You must be signed into PayPal and then you can use this link: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

There is some concern that my earlier method will send a confusing email to the original customer and we don't want that. Thank to eBay posters: [tag]balloonplace[/tag], [tag]poker-chips-on-line[/tag], [tag]no.1macgyver[/tag] for their correct and helpful information!

In order to make this work, you will have to have at least one sale on eBay in the past 90 days.

This is really a great tool to use and is really quite simple once you do it a few times.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Hey!

"What's with all the pink?

Everywhere I've gone in the past 48 hours I have seen pink. eBay, the bank, the grocery store - I even saw there are paper towels with pink ribbons on them - all to support the fight against breast cancer. October (in case you've been in a hole somewhere) is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I'm sure if you're a regular visitor to my site you noticed my deep burgundy banner across the top is pink. It's only for a month. Did you know an estimated 1,150,000 women around the globe will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. You can do your part--and perhaps even help save a life--by creating listings with eBay Giving Works to benefit nonprofits that are leading the fight against this terrible disease.

eBay is bringing special attention to listings that benefit one of over 80 participating nonprofits certified by MissionFish, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Breast Cancer Fund, Young Survival Coalition and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. To see a full list or organizations to support, go to the Spotlight on Breast Cancer Awareness microsite at eBay.com/breastcancer and click the “Sell” tab.

Many sellers have lined up to show their support and have really stepped up their listings on eBay.

You'll notice a lot of support on eBay in areas such as the homepage promotion and a spread in the buyer catalog. Buzz is also being generated for the event by a host of high-profile, highly-publicized auctions including meet & greets with Melissa Etheridge, Ford toy cars decorated by A-listers such as Kelly Clarkson and the cast of Gray’s Anatomy, pink rubber ducks glammed out by Lucy Lui, Barbara Bush, Courteney Cox Arquette and other celebs, plus more.

According to MissionFish Executive Director Sean Milliken, “the eBay Community has proven time and again that compassionate commerce can have a profound impact on society’s most critical challenges. The simple and unacceptable fact is that one in eight American women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in her lifetime. We are eager to raise awareness of this important cause by placing the spotlight on the organizations that are on the front-lines of this important fight. This event is the perfect way for eBay sellers to support this worthy cause and show your customers you care.”

If you haven’t tried eBay Giving Works yet, there’s no better time to see what it can do for your business.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Just added to my items for sale on [tag]eBay[/tag]: four new [tag]Corvette[/tag] posters. I'm very happy to have a handful of these posters to offer for the holiday season, and while I usually don't promote my own products much - I am making an exception this time.

[tag]1961[/tag] Corvette Prints

The first is snappy little print of a 1961 Red and White Corvette parked outside a diner on Route 66. It looks to be in the southwest United States from the background. I couldn't tell what year it was since the early Vettes are similar in appearance. But the '61 has painted headlight rings and a little strip of trim on the edge of the side scoop. So it's a '61. In any case, it's selling well on eBay while supplies last.

The second '61 Corvette is a real piece of artwork by an artist named Robert Young (www.bobyoungprints.com). He creates some of the most amazing artwork for lovers of trains, planes, and automobiles. Mine were printed for a recent trade show, but they're very high quality.
The 1961 [tag]Chevrolet [/tag]Corvette in black is rendered in watercolor and is really stunning. Very high quality art and printing and suitable for framing. If you have a '61, or know someone who does, this would make a great gift. I have very few of these so once they're gone they're gone.

[tag]1963 Corvette Split-window Sting Ray[/tag] Poster

One of my personal favorites, this one is also created by Bob Young. The '63 Sting Ray was one of the most unique Corvettes with the unusual "split-window" design. It was the only year Chevrolet made the model and in 1964 it had a standard one-piece rear window due to safety concerns with the split version.

[tag]1974 Corvette[/tag] T-top

The final new [tag]Corvette poster[/tag] for my line-up is a yellow 1974 model with the famous removable "t-tops." This one makes me think of high school and the car I thought was just about the coolest in the world. Artist Bob Young captured the filtered sunlight reflecting off the front of the car with an amazing realism. This is another print that I'm very proud to offer. I'm offering all of these for a pretty low starting price and I don't have many, but you can get the prints on his website (for the regular price of $39.99) along with many other great vehicles.

The history of the Corvette Poster

I also offer this [tag]Corvette History[/tag] poster which I find fascinating. It has many of the important models through the years and represents most of the various generations of this great car.

[tags]Vette, Chevy[/tags]

Popularity: 4% [?]