LinkWorth: The Good

There are a number of link broker sites out there: the good, the bad, and the ugly. I'm not going to name the ones I don't like for a number of reasons, but I will tell you about one that I have been with for several years and that I am very happy with and that is LinkWorth.com.

There are a lot of reasons why I not only like LinkWorth, but also have been very loyal to them. When I was contacted directly by an advertiser after they canceled text ads on our sites, I was surprised that they wanted to do this to get a discount by bypassing LinkWorth. I promptly reported them to LinkWorth and told the former advertiser that I would never take their business, no matter how much they offered us.

I did this because LinkWorth provides a good service and charges about 30% for the text ad fee. This is not a small amount, but the other sites I have seen generally charge about 50%, or 30% of the "wholesale" price. I consider both of these to be excessive, although to be fair LinkWorth does take 50% of the fees when they take care of the marketing and placing of text ads. I have not tried the full service option but it may be worth it.

Once your site is set up in LinkWorth, you can add code to your site which allows the adding and removing of text ads on your site to be automated. If you've ever added and removed links as advertisers change, you know that can take some time and be a headache if you have a lot of sites.

LinkWorth also allows you to buy text ads on other sites and has different types of advertising options. And as a publisher you can also provide a number of options for advertisers.

We have been with LinkWorth for a number of years and also run Google AdSense on most of our sites. Over the past few years the income from AdSense has decreased, but the LinkWorth income has increased and we are now exceeding the most we have ever made with AdSense on a monthly basis.

If you have a web site or a blog and are not not offering text ads on your site, you are missing out on a great additional revenue stream.

[Note: This is not a paid post and it does not contain any paid text link ads. Some links may be affiliate links and can be easily circumvented if you wish. If you want to confirm that I really feel this way, please feel to comment. I really do like LinkWorth...]

Most eBay Items Definitely Not Authentic

eBay Authenticity Statistics from the WIW2U Group

WIW2U.com has just released the latest statistics for one of their newer services, the Opinion of Authenticity. This service allows customers to get an expert?s opinion regarding the authenticity of an item up for sale on eBay.

July 9, 2007 - The expert provides their comments and chooses one of the three following options

The item is:
probably authentic
probably not authentic
definitely not authentic

Here are 3 examples of items within these three categories

Probably Authentic: Yellow Ware Bowl
http://www.wiw2u.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=appraisal.certificate&item_ID=142871

Probably Not Authentic: Humphrey Bogart Postcard
http://www.wiw2u.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=appraisal.certificate&item_ID=143938

Definitely Not Authentic: Bowie Knife
http://www.wiw2u.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=appraisal.certificate&item_ID=144936

Using a sample of 500 Opinions of Authenticity done for customers on items on eBay, it is interesting to note the overall percentages of the 3 different choices.

Probably Authentic- 33 items = 7%
Probably Not Authentic-101 items = 20%
Definitely Not Authentic- 366 items = 73%

It must be understood that many times, when a customer requests an Opinion of Authenticity, they already have some doubt in their minds regarding the genuineness of a listing, however, it is staggering to see the percentages stack up day after day.

We will continue to post statistics as this service continues to grow and a larger sampling becomes available.

For more detailed information regarding the Opinion of Authenticity or to see all of the WIW2U Group's services visit www.wiw2u.com

About wiw2u.com
Now host to over 200 experts worldwide, wiw2u.com is the leader in online item valuation and resource information.

Wiw2u.com is heavily utilized as the portal into the online world of antiques and collectibles. Providing answers to questions, opinions of authenticity, expert judgment for ongoing eBay auctions and item valuations, the appraisers on the wiw2u website continue to provide clarity and honest responses.

Key partnerships with industry leaders include eBay, A&E?s The History Channel Club, The NRA, TIAS.com, The Trader's Group, QuikDrop and many more.

An ever-expanding list of services now includes an online marketplace called The Security Exchange as well as an e-learning website - AntiqueTutorials.com - providing online courses in a wide range of hobby areas.

For more information, contact wiw2u.com at
613-264-9032 or via email at: media@wiw2u.com .

CONTACT: Murray Ault
Ph.613-264-9032
Fax: 720-294-8179
email- media@wiw2u.com
wiw2u.com

Bees Swarm over America in Pollinating Lifestyles

 

Bees Swarm over America in Hopes of Pollinating a Healthier Kids Lifestylea in New Program Called 'Kidz Bee-ing

The USA Bee Kidz pageant, created by a mom, nutrition specialist, inventor and former Mrs. California-America, is the only children's pageant in the world that prides itself on volunteer work and actually penalizes kids that compete in make up and glitzy dresses, proudly presents their new program 'Kidz Bee-ing Healthy!' 'Kidz Bee-ing Healthy' program will provide kids with healthy snack recipe ideas, products and message on the importance of living a healthier lifestyle, to kids by kids. With approximately 30.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese in America the Bee Kidz have decided to take action. The USA Bee Kidz Pageant is an all natural kids pageant that encourages boys and girls to act, look and bee themselves! This one of kind pageant tries to send the message to the youth that "life is more than the crown but what you do with it after was that matters." USA Bee Kids at the age of 2, for example, have done far more community service events than most adults have done in their lifetime.

Chino Hills, CA (PRWEB) July 7, 2007 -- Founded by a former Mrs. California-America, the USA Bee Kidz pageant is a children's pageant unlike any other. This innovative pageant, with its no make up tolerance rule, is introducing a new program called 'Kidz Bee-ing Healthy' where proceeds of their healthy snack cookbook and Bee-Z Snack Shop product, invented by the USA bee Kidz pageant founder, Jenny Lee, will be used to buy healthy snacks for low income neighborhoods. With approximately 30.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese in America, the Bee Kidz have decided to take action.

The USA Bee Kids compete without any make up or fancy attire. In fact, this is the only pageant of its kind where a teen won, not in her fancy dress, but in her motorcross outfit! The USA Bee Kidz partake anywhere from 2-4 volunteer events a month! In fact, 2 year olds in this program have done far more in volunteer work than most adults have done in their lifetime. Jenny Lee when asked why she donates most of her proceeds from pageant fees and sale of her product said "To me ones success is not measured on how much money I make but instead it is measured in how many lives I have helped today!"

The USA Bee Kidz pageant is currently also selling a stranger danger video they made in telling strangers to BUZZ OFF. Proceeds from the sale of the video goes to buying stuffed animals for abused kids. The USA Bee Kidz have also been involved in the following:
1. Raised over 453 toys for needy families
2. Held a fashion show for the USO
3. Will hold a Mad hatters tea party for kids with cancer
4. Create cookbooks to help raise money for homeless kids
5. USA Bee Kidz will create their own art masterpiece to be auctioned off where proceeds will go to buying art supplies for underprivileged kids
6. and so much more.... Too many to list here.

While most kids are away on vacation this summer, the USA Bee kids have dedicated their summer into being Busy Bees! Children pageants have always received a negative image but the USA Bee Kidz beelieves in changing the stereotype and presented a new concept to children's pageant everywhere that kids do not need to wear make up or fancy outfits to be beautiful but what they need is what is in their hearts and the encouragement that this pageant represents and that is to share yourself with others who are in need, specially when it comes to spreading the message to kids by kids about living a healthier lifestyle.

#~##

Press Contact: Jenny Lee
Company Name: USA Bee Kidz Pageant
Phone: 909-214-3762
Website: www.usabeekids.com

Mesothelioma Portal Work Continues

LegalView.com Continues Development of Comprehensive Mesothelioma Portal

Far from being a fading issue, mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure is an ongoing problem, particularly for disaster relief workers who may have been exposed during Hurricane Katrina and September 11th cleanup efforts. LegalView.com is proud to keep its readers updated with the latest news and science on mesothelioma, asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 13, 2007 -- Your resource on the web for legal issues that affect contemporary America, LegalView.com, is pleased to continue bringing readers up-to-date on the news, research and legal developments about mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare and severe type of lung cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a once-popular building material that doctors now know is a carcinogen. Visitors to LegalView.com's mesothelioma lawyer portal may browse continually-updated news feeds, original articles, encyclopedia entries, a glossary of mesothelioma-related terms and an Asbestos & Mesothelioma blog, where users can read and comment on the latest news related to these important topics.

Thousands of Americans, mostly men, were exposed to asbestos through their jobs in the first half of the 20th century, when the material was widely mined and used in building insulation, shipyards, brake pads and other industrial applications. Decades later, many of these workers discovered too late that their work with asbestos led to developing mesothelioma, a crippling type of lung cancer that attacks the lining of the lung. Others may have been exposed more recently, due to illegal and unsafe practices at modern work sites, disaster relief work near buildings that contain asbestos, or work in the few industries that still use asbestos, despite decades of evidence that it causes serious cancers. Unlike most lung cancers, mesothelioma is not caused by smoking, according to the National Cancer Institute; the Institute reports that 80 percent of mesothelioma patients had known asbestos exposure earlier in life. Mesothelioma can kill quickly; on average, doctors give patients six months to a year to live after their diagnosis. With this in mind, LegalView.com continues to provide factual information, news and links to more information for mesothelioma patients and their families through its mesothelioma and asbestos internet portal.

LegalView.com strives to bring its readers complete, up-to-date information on legal issues that affect ordinary Americans. In addition to the mesothelioma resources, LegalView.com offers comprehensive sites with information concerning brain injury litigation, auto accident lawsuits, diabetes drug Avandia attorneys and peanut butter recall lawyers. These are in addition to general resources LegalView.com maintains on possible unsafe drugs, medical malpractice cases, and defective consumer products and foods. All of these sites, and others at LegalView.com, combine easy-to-understand information facts with the latest news, government information, jury verdicts and settlements, as well as links to more information specific to each legal issue. And for those who are ready to seek out a mesothelioma attorney or other type of experienced lawyer can find one in their areas using LegalView.com's free attorney search service.

LegalView.com is a free public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez Hodes; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's respected sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView.com attorneys, visit LegalView.com at http://www.legalview.com/.

###

Press Contact: Alan Haburchak
Company Name: LegalView.com
Phone: 720-226-6613
Website: http://www.legalview.com

Now AKA is Also Known As....

ALWAYSKNOWNAS -YOUR ID
Stay Connected and Current
WHAT'S YOUR AKA?

Toronto, ON/April 20, 2006 - Bono. Sting. Superman. Everyone wishes they could be known by one, simple name. Well - this is your day.

AlwaysKnownAs, or AKA for short, is a simple, revolutionary way to keep in touch. It is a new online solution that uses names and nicknames to keep you in contact with friends, family and co-workers. Similar to keeping your cell phone number when you change phones, with AKA you keep your name forever. (After all, once you're Superman, you should always be Superman.) But it's not just a name, your AKA is a permanent link to your current contact information.

"It's a fast-paced world and as we move through different jobs and cities we lose contact with people," said Terry Anderson, founder of AKA. "AKA is simple and safe. By simply choosing and sharing your AKA, friends and colleagues can stay in touch wherever they are."

Stay Connected. First you choose your AKA name, then enter it with your contact information at AlwaysKnownAs.com, and include phone numbers, addresses, emails, etc. From there, you choose different levels of privacy, controlling how much information people can see and access. For example, Superman can choose to share his work contact information with colleagues, though his home address and phone may only be available to Lois. By having complete control over which information is hidden or visible, Superman can decide who sees his private info and who doesn't.

Looking for Superman? Simply enter his AKA name (Superman) at AlwaysKnownAs.com and his current contact information will be displayed. Since he's already chosen his public and private information, he knows his personal information is safe.

You control which of your information is hidden and which is visible to the public:

Any user can request to view your hidden information. You choose which of your information is shared with any user. And you can block any user from seeing any of your information.

If you choose, public information may include nothing more than your name and city. You get to choose exactly who can see more of your info on a case by case basis. With this personalized filtering system, AKA protects you and your information.

Automate Your Address Book. AKA Connect is a family of software plug-ins for major e-mail applications that let you add to or edit your address book effortlessly. Simply type in a person's AKA, and all their current contact info is automatically entered for you. In addition, if their information ever changes, your address book will be automatically updated. Plus we've developed a special interface that will soon allow popular web-based address books and e-mail applications to integrate with AKA. Currently supported address books include Microsoft Outlook and Blackberry. Support for Palm and Mac OS 10 Address Book coming soon.

AKA Beginnings. Backed by experienced management with proven records of accomplishment, AKA is a creative and fast-paced online service designed with the user in mind. Founded in January 2005, Terry Anderson and Greg Sharp developed AlwaysKnownAs.com based on the belief that the world needs a simple and safe way to for people to stay in touch with each other. Anderson is a former CEO and founder of e.Media group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while Sharp is a former CEO and founder of Multimedia Productions Inc. (MPI) in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Sublime Solutions in Toronto, Canada.

"Everyone has been looking for permanence in a temporary world, for that one online ID that they can take with them anywhere. We believe this service is the right product at the right time," said Anderson.

Industry Facts. According to Internetworldstats.com, over 200 million people, or two-thirds of the American public are current Internet users. With the increasingly popularity of mobile devices such as smart phones, mp3 players, PDAs and the growing availability of WiFi access, the ability for people to stay current and connected has never been more important. AKA's services are developed to accommodate the fast-growing pace of Internet technology. New updates and additions will be made on an on-going basis.

I Want My AKA. The AKA service can be used by consumers and corporate Internet users over 18 years of age. Share your AKA name with others via e-mail, in a meeting, at a party, or printed on your business card. You do not have to be an AKA member to find out someone's contact details; however, to list your information on AKA, you must subscribe to the service. The cost is $9.95 per year, but for a limited time AKA is offered free for your first 12 months.

About AlwaysKnownAs.com
AlwaysKnownAs.com is a business offering a simple yet revolutionary online software service for consumers and corporate Internet users. The service, called AKA (short for "Always Known As"), is a new online service that provides a simple and secure way to always stay connected with your personal and business contacts. For your own AKA, go to www.AlwaysKnownAs.com.

#.# # #

CONTACT: Susan Evans, Evans Larson, (612) 338-6999
E-mail: susan@evanslarson.com

Hillary Clinton Outsourcing Is A Problem

Outsourcing is a problem: Hillary Clinton
Rediff - India
Top Democratic Presidential contenders, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, are of the view that outsourcing was an issue for Americans and favoured ...

RampRate Ranked in the Top 10 of All Outsourcing ITO Advisors in ...
dBusinessNews Los Angeles (press release) - Los Angeles,CA,USA
LOS ANGELES - RampRate announced today it has been ranked among the Top 10 Information Technology Outsourcing Advisors in the 2007 Black Book of Outsourcing ...

Wipro Leads In Global IT Infrastructure Outsourcing
EFYTimes - New Delhi,India
"Wipro was a pioneer in the India-based remote infrastructure service market, and now it has global command centres located in the USA, UK and the Middle ...

Infosys Named a Leader in Global IT Infrastructure Outsourcing
Prdomain Business Register (press release) - Navi Mumbai,Maharashtra,USA
This is a reflection of the strength of our benchmarked IT infrastructure outsourcing approach driven by our focus on IT service management" The Forrester ...

Ukraine IT outsourcing tops in Eastern Europe
Kyiv Post - Kyiv,Ukraine
by Lena Plekhanova, Kyiv Post Staff Writer Ukraine has become the most attractive destination for IT outsourcing in Eastern Europe, according to a study ...

The Philippines Is Hub Of Business Processing Outsourcing
IndustryWeek - USA
It has identified seven priority ICT and BPO target sectors: contact center, back office business process outsourcing, health information management, ...

Don't limit yourself in recruitment process outsourcing
ZDNet Asia - Asia
Q. I have been working in the Indian BPO (business process outsourcing) industry for the past four years, and for the last two and a half years, ...

Intellectual property development is not helped by the outsourcing ...
Korea Newswire (press release) - South Korea
At present, however, manufacturers are struggling to marry outsourcing with the need for innovation. Only a minority of respondents believes that ...

Indian outsourcers reject claim of US visa abuses
MarketWatch - USA
By MarketWatch India's outsourcing industry agency Thursday rejected allegations that its companies are abusing US visa programs, the Financial Times ...

Export orders last month rise on strong demand for notebook PCs ...
Taipei Times - Taiwan
"Strong demand for notebook computers and the continued outsourcing of orders by global manufacturers led to a pronounced rise in orders for information and ...

Italy's Galileo Avionica eyes Bulgaria as avionics repair ...
Dnevnik.bg - Bulgaria
Galileo Avionica, a Finmeccanica company focused on defence electronics, plans to build an all-aircraft maintenance center in Bulgaria, CEO Renzo Meschini ...

Beware of outsourcing myths, warns survey
OutSourcing-Pharma.com - Montpellier,France
By Emilie Reymond 25/06/2007 - A number of outsourcing misconceptions are luring companies into viewing offshoring as an easy process, new research reveals. ...

CSC Signs IT Outsourcing Contract Extension With General Dynamics ...
Earthtimes.org - USA
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 26 -- Computer Sciences Corporation today announced that it has signed an information technology (IT) outsourcing contract ...

borderless finance, trade, outsourcing, banking, politics in China ...
Indymedia Estrecho - Andalucía,Ceuta y Melilla,Spain
explore how to get best from internationalized economy, finance, banking, outsourcing, trade and politics. Learn vast opportunities from China, India, ...

Symphony Services Named One of the Top 50 Best Managed Global ...
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
Results of the annual survey of outsourcing decision-makers conducted by Brown-Wilson were published in association with the group's 2007 Black Book of ...

Future, Facts, and Fears on Pharmaceutical & Biotech Outsourcing ...
Earthtimes.org - USA
Key plenary sessions this year include a co-presentation on "New Drug Discovery and Development - Outsourcing in the Developing World" to be given by ...

Integreon Ranked #1 Outsourcing Provider Globally for Second Year ...
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
The company also ranked number two worldwide in the rapidly emerging full Legal Process outsourcing (LPO) category. Integreon was also ranked among the top ...

Which IT Outsourcing Company Gives Maximum Return on Covered Calls?
Seeking Alpha - New York,NY,USA
With the above tutorial on covered calls, let's see which IT outsourcing stocks would give maximum return on covered calls (assuming one wants to hold the ...

Work like an Egyptian: group pushes outsourcing
Ottawa Business Journal - Ontario, Canada
According to local experts, however, the Egyptians were modest in their requests, and recognizing that the face of international outsourcing had evolved. ...

RECRUITMENT OUTSOURCING
Recruiter Magazine - London,UK
During the year we have also expanded our service offering into areas such as human resource outsourcing and have won new business with organisations ...

Home >> Appalachian receives $169000 grant to study outsourcing and ...
Appalachian State University - Boone,NC,USA
"Faculty, students and members of the regional business community will all benefit with a deeper understanding of issues related to global outsourcing and ...

Why Tainted Toothpase Matters In The Outsourcing Discussion
InformationWeek - Manhasset,NY,USA
As a talent war escalates in India, many companies are looking to China as the next big opportunity for offshore outsourcing. ...

Mastek Ranked Among the Top 50 Global Outsourcing Providers
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
According to The Black Book of Outsourcing, Mastek was "rated number one by insurance vertical clients in large part for developing end-to-end mission ...

MPs condemn BBC outsourcing costs
ZDNet UK - UK
The BBC's £1.5bn IT outsourcing deal with Siemens Business Services has come under fire from MPs for over-estimating cost savings and for key projects ...

Outsourcing Contracts - Industry survey Reveals the Hallmarks of ...
Lawfuel (press release) - Wellington,NA,New Zealand
LAWFUEL - The Legal Newswire - Not maintaining strong relationships throughout the lifetime of an outsourcing project is a key reason why outsourcings fail ...

How Do You Ensure Value For Money In An Outsourcing Relationship
Mondaq News Alerts (subcription) - London,UK
A company embarking on an outsourcing project will often identify cost reduction and value for money as key drivers for the outsourcing. ...

Shyamal Majumdar: Person-to-person outsourcing
Business Standard - India
Coined by Alok Aggarwal, chairman of Evaluserve Inc, PPO means person-to-person outsourcing. The US-based Aggarwal, who is the co-founder of the global ...

 

Plastic Card Security Act

Minnesota Plastic Card Security Act advances

News Release - April 11, 2007 - The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection recommend the passage of legislation aimed at protecting consumers from credit card fraud on Tuesday. The Committee referred the bill, Senate File 1574, to the Senate's Judiciary Committee.

The legislation, authored by Sen. Mary Olson, DFL - Bemidji, prohibits companies or retailers from keeping the secure information stored on a credit- or debit-card's magnetic strip in their computer databases after a transaction is completed. The magnetic strips on payment cards contain sensitive information such as the customer's name, account number, PIN, card expiration date, and security code data.

"Credit card fraud can be devastating to consumers," said Sen. Olson. "It often takes months or years to completely resolve fraudulent charges, and to reestablish one's credit. Companies and merchants should not be allowed keep this information where it can fall into the wrong hands."

Currently, payment card industry standards prohibit companies from retaining magnetic strip information. Sen. Olson's bill would put these industry standards into Minnesota law, allowing the state to impose penalties on companies that are not securely purging their customers' private information from their computer systems.

Sen. Olson cited the recent security breach at TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, and several other retailers, as one of the primary reasons for bringing this bill forward. Investigators estimate that hackers gained access to private information from an estimated 45 million credit- and debit-cards in the breach, which TJX had stored in their computer system. Florida investigators have charged six people in connection with the breach, claiming they used this stolen credit card information to make over $8 million in fraudulent purchases.

"The TJX scandal confirms the need for this legislation," said Sen. Olson. "Consumers trust companies to protect their financial information. The state should take an active role in ensuring that companies take that trust seriously."

Sen. Olson's legislation also specifies that a company or retailer violating this provision is responsible for both notifying their customers and covering the expenses of potential fraud if their customer's information is compromised. Currently, the responsibility for notification and fraud repayment typically falls on the financial institution backing the credit card. This responsibility will only be shifted to retailers if they are found to have improperly stored credit card information.

The Commerce Committee took lengthy testimony on the bill, hearing from both banking and credit union representatives who issue cards and from witnesses representing the retail industry. After retailer representatives expressed concern about some provisions of the bill, Sen. Olson asked the Committee for an opportunity to resolve the differences between the two groups. After negotiating for several hours, Sen. Olson re-presented the bill late Tuesday night and offered an amendment that addressed practical difficulties the retailers raised with implementing the proposed legislation.

"I'm pleased we were able to find common ground on this issue," said Sen. Olson. "This bill offers protection to consumers, while not placing unnecessary or undue hardships on businesses."

Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL - Minneapolis, is carrying companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The bill, House File 1758, has passed through several committees, and is awaiting a vote on the House floor.

For more information, please contact Sen. Olson's office at (651) 296-4913, or sen.mary.olson@senate.mn.

-3-0-
State Senator Mary A. Olson
District 04
124 Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Telephone (651) 296-4913
sen.mary.olson@senate.mn       

EBAY Users Survey By Consumer Reports Reveals Deception

Consumer Reports Survey of EBAY Users Reveals Online Auction Seller Deception and Pitfalls Can be Hard to Avoid

Consumer Reports August Issue Tells How to Bid Smart and Play Safe with Steps to Avoid Auction Fraud

Yonkers, NY July 2, 2007 -- With 100 million items on sale, eBay is the king of online auctions. But almost half of the eBay buyers that Consumer Reports surveyed encountered deceptions, according to a report in the August issue.

Buyers indicated that some sellers took their money and ran, failed to disclose key details about the merchandise, or overstated the item's condition. However, deceptions weren't the only pitfalls for folks to avoid when participating in an online auction. Although eBay prohibits trade in illegal goods, buyers can end up with unsafe products. CR's secret shoppers had no problem buying lawn darts, a game banned in the U.S., and they tracked down car seats, strollers and other child products recalled for possible safety defects.

"Ebay has 2,000 staff members policing its site around the clock, but with 6.4 million new listings per day, their employees can't find all the iffy auctions and shut them down instantly," said Tod Marks, Senior Editor for Consumer Reports. "Buyers must take precautions and learn as much as possible about who they are dealing with."

To help online auction buyers play it safe and win, the Consumer Reports National Research Center recently asked more than 2,500 subscribers to http://www.ConsumerReports.org about eBay purchases in the past year. Among the findings:

•Despite their complaints, 70 percent of those surveyed were highly satisfied overall when buying on eBay. About 90 percent of purchases arrived on time, were accurately described and were perceived a good deal. Nearly half of respondents characterized eBay as an excellent source of hard-to-find items.
•Forty percent of survey respondents termed eBay fair or poor for help and customer support. Most victims of unscrupulous sellers tried to fight back, but of those who tried to settle problems with the seller directly, which eBay recommends, only 38 percent were successful.
•PayPal, owned by eBay, was by far the most popular payment method and was used for 89 percent of the purchases in Consumer Reports survey.
•Complaining directly to eBay authorities satisfied 60 percent of survey respondents who took that action. But the most effective way to deal with dishonesty was among the least used: filing a formal complaint with PayPal. Although only 23 percent of unhappy respondents took that step, 66 percent of those who did said it worked.

A site for sellers:

•Sixty-four percent of the 700 survey respondents who sold on eBay in the past year were highly satisfied with their transactions.
•Twenty-seven percent of sellers said their auction ad cost far more than expected.
•Only about 10 percent of respondents said their freight costs exceeded those computed by the site's shipping calculator.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls:   
Online auction aficionados can't eliminate the risk when dealing with strangers, but they can lessen it. Consumer Reports offers the following tips to protect folks from traps and pitfalls:
Check Feedback. The most important step buyers told CR was to check feedback. More experienced buyers did extra research requesting more photos from the seller. EBay recommends trading with members that have a high positive feedback score. Look for at least 99 percent.

Avoid Shady Sellers. Go beyond the screen name to verify seller's identity by email and confirm address and phone number. Before bidding buyers should determine shipping cost, understand auction terms and return policy, and check whether the seller has changed identities. Only 13 percent of survey respondents said they always take this precaution.

Comparison Shop and Read Between the Lines. To determine if a new item is a real bargin, consult Web sites such as Shopzilla and Yahoo Shopping. Older collectables generally have at least one reputable source for information. If needed, consult an appraiser. Insist that the seller provide proof of authenticity and condition. Some sellers might dangle words such as "genuine," but look for terms such as "inspired by," indicating the product is a knockoff.

Bid Smart. Establish a top price and stick to it. Survey respondents cautioned about overbidding, reasoning that the object of their affection would probably turn up again. Proxy bidding can make it easier to stick to a budget. It may have helped the 40 percent of respondents who said they lost track of an auction deadline during the past year.

Keep your reputation. A bid is binding. Retractions by buyer or seller are allowed only under special circumstances. Those who back out of deal could have their accounts suspended and their feedback reputation damaged.

Don't bite on phishing schemes. E-mail messages that appear to be from eBay and ask for sensitive information are designed to hack into your account. Don't click on any link and don't respond. EBay never makes such e-mail requests and the site provides Account Guard downloads to help folks avoid getting stung.

The complete report, with more helpful information for online auction buyers, tips for eBay sellers, and advice on the best ways to pay for items you've won is available in the August issue of Consumer Reports, on sale July 3. A portion of the story is also available at http://www.ConsumerReports.org.

August 2007
© Consumers Union 2007. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. Consumers Union supports itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.

#-##

Press Contact: C. Matt Fields
Company Name: Consumer Reports
Phone: (914) 378-2454
Website: www.ConsumerReports.org

More Information: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2007/7/prweb537439.htm

Anyone Can Get An iPhone

iPhone Accessible to All With Cellswapper.com

For most people, CellSwapper.com is the only way to get an iPhone without having to pay early termination fees of up to $250 when breaking an existing cell phone contract. Established in June 2006 by a team of envisioned solution seekers, CellSwapper has helped thousands in the US, Canada and the UK get out of unwanted cell phone contacts.

(PRWEB) July 1, 2007 -- Millions of consumers want the iPhone and yet most are locked into an existing cell phone contract. According to the US Public Interest Research Group, nearly half of all US cellular phone customers would switch, or consider switching, their current service carrier if they did not have to pay an early termination penalty of up to $250.

Cellswapper.com offers cell phone subscribers a way out of their current contracts by finding others who are more than happy to take over the remainder of the contract as a short-term commitment. This leaves the subscriber contract-free and significantly lowers the cost of buying the iPhone.

In anticipation of the iPhone launch, thousands of non-AT&T plans have already been posted on Cellswapper.com in the hope of getting contract-free before the pending release. The iPhone is expected to be one of the most demanded consumer electronic devices ever released. However, according to Harris Interactive, as many as 17 percent say they will be forced to wait for their current wireless contract to expire before purchasing.

"Using Cellswapper.com, the iPhone becomes accessible to anybody, even those who are currently locked in a non-AT&T contract," CellSwapper's co-founder Jeremy Greenberg asserts. "Early termination fees are a major barrier to widespread iPhone adoption and it seems the solution lies exclusively with Cellswpper.com".

Cellswapper.com also offers exclusive short-term contracts with terms as short as one or two months. Many of the plans on offer are unavailable anywhere else. Many of the plans are bundled with free phones and cash bonuses. Taking over a contract is 100% free, and the buyer also saves any activation fees usually associated with a new service contract.

About CellSwapper.com

CellSwapper.com is the online cellular marketplace that helps consumers get out of their cell phone contracts, without incurring any early termination fees, by finding an interested party take over the remainder of their contract. Established in June 2006 by a team of envisioned solution seekers, CellSwapper aims to serve the interests of US cell phone users and carriers, being committed to offering a revolutionary service of exceptional quality. Cellswapper has been featured in the New York Times, WSJ, Boston Globe and on ABC, NBC and CBS News, and in PC World magazine.

For additional information, please visit Cellswapper.com

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Press Contact: Adam Korbl
Company Name:
Phone: 917-779-8317
Website: http://www.cellswapper.com