July 26, 2007
Read the press in the UK at the moment and you will probably know that the big 3G mobile telephone operators are touting video as the killer application to launch 3G mobile telephones (3G - third generation) onto the market. Spurred on by the successes of the English cricket team in this summer’s ashes series, and the trials and tribulations of following our national football (soccer) team, it seems that thousands of us were prepared to put up with the poor pictures and slow downloads of current GPRS video phones. Therefore, with the dramatically improved bandwidth of the 3G mobile telephone networks and the strides in mobile phone technology, it seems we are all going to dash out and buy 3G video phones for Christmas.
That may all very well be true. The service providers need to start seeing returns on the enormous payments made to obtain 3G mobile telephone operating licences. It is in their interests to talk up the merits of television over the telephone. Video may well be the killer application for the consumer market.
Things are different for businesses. You really can’t see large corporates being too happy at large chunks of their mobile telephony budgets being squandered on the dubious pleasures of following the English football team.
As with anything else, large companies need to see the return on investment possibilities before committing to the large scale purchase of 3G telephones. And as much money as there is to be made in the consumer market, the big bucks come from selling to businesses.
In the short term businesses may well find the case for 3G telephones rests with more prosaic applications. Simple things like being able to carry a permanently up to date appointments diary in your shirt pocket. A diary that remains up to date with all those appointments your colleagues or assistants make for you while you are out with clients. A diary that gives you the ability to see all your colleagues’ diaries and schedule appointments for you all at mutually convenient times. Now add in such simple things as being able to see all your contacts details wherever you are. And how about being able to access and work on all your Microsoft Office documents no matter where you are?
These are the elements of a killer application for businesses. And they’re available today in the Intelligent Diary.
The Intelligent Diary runs on a standard pocket PC smart phone from Imate. It is available now using the GPRS network and supports WLAN, Bluetooth, infrared and triband GSM. Oh, did I mention that you can also get video on it?
And it’s a camera, MP3 player…
Makes the Blackberry look a bit like a one trick pony doesn’t it?
Keith Longmire is director of Intelligent Diary. His basic philosophy is ‘technolgy without business benefit is useless’. Find out more at Intelligent Diary.
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As a serious seller on eBay you’re familiar with their fee circumventing rules. If not, visit: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-circumventing.html.
In a nutshell their rule is that you are not allowed to put an item up for bid for a penny and charge $100 for shipping and handling (S&H) in an attempt to avoid the transaction fee. Since we are not trying to avoid fees we all follow the rules – right? To a certain extent yes, but many sellers are still stretching the bubble by over charging for S&H in an attempt to maximize their profits and losing bidders in the process - the end result is the opposite of what they hoped for. Ultimately they reduce their sales and although these efforts fit within eBay’s policies, when extreme, they are considered an unfair practice by many buyers.
I’ll give you an example. I play in a Texas-No-Hold-Em poker game once a month - just a bunch of friends who get together, play a little poker, talk about their lives and have some fun. I thought it would be nice if we had some ‘professional-style’ poker chips so went to eBay to buy some. I like to think of myself as an intelligent eBay shopper so I watched the auctions for a few days and noticed that the final price averaged $60 for the chips I wanted (retail is about twice that at a local store). The market was determining the price, or was it?
As I watched these auctions I noticed an interesting problem, the shipping charges varied greatly. For the sake of this example let’s say one seller was offering S&H at $20, another at $30 and one $50. We’ll call them Seller A, Seller B and Seller C. As a buyer, if I was willing to accept the price determined by the market – in this case $60, then the final cost of the item from each of these sellers would be:
Seller A: $60 + $20 = $80
Seller B: $60 + $30 = $90
Seller C: $60 + $50 = $110
I did some additional homework and discovered the package would weigh 17 pounds, the size would not increase shipping costs and the sellers were all in my state. I went to the UPS and Fed-X web sites and plugged in the needed information for shipping cost estimates. The results were $11 and $17. All things being equal the total cost of the chips should be around $71-$78. So which seller’s auction did I bid on? Only one – Seller A – and I got the chips for $52, plus S&H ($72). If I hadn’t won that auction I may have bid on Seller B’s but probably would have lowered my total bid amount by $10. Seller C’s auction closed without a singe bid.
Seller A got my business, Seller B may have, and as far as I was concerned, and apparently other bidders, Seller C can go pound sand. The outcome of this example should be pretty clear and it should be obvious by now that you don’t want to be Seller C. Although you may get an occasional windfall with less savvy bidders, in the long term your sales will be much less than that of other sellers of similar items.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t recoup your shipping and handling costs in the process. We’re not in business to lose money, but make sure you are not trying to pad your ‘profit’ at the expense of loosing bidders and ultimately sales. Take the time to do similar research on your own items and market niche and find out where you stand with your shipping and handling charges. If you’re fair to your customers they will think better of you for it and in the long run your sales will be better.
© Copyright 2005 Steven Woodward - All Rights Reserved
About the Author:
Steven Woodward is the owner, editor and publisher of the Auction Sellers Network (ASN); a web site for individuals and companies who are serious about utilizing the online auction marketplace for their business. In addition to topical articles, ASN provides an extensive resource center, news feeds, member forums and classified ads. For more information or to become a member please visit http://www.AuctionSellersNetwork.com.
No permission is needed to reproduce an unedited copy of this article as long the About the Author tag is left intact and included. We do request that we be informed where it is posted and reciprocal links will be considered.
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Dealing with someone’s estate after death can be difficult.
Here’s a quick guide to probate in the UK.
When a person dies somebody has to deal with their estate (the
money, property and possessions left) by collecting in all the
money, paying any debts and distributing the estate to those
people entitled to it. The term probate often means the issuing
of a legal document which is called a grant of representation,
to one or more people authorising them to do this.
Organisations holding money in the deceased’s name need to know
to whom that money should be paid, and the grant is proof that
the person named in it may collect the money. The estate left
when a person dies passes to the people named in his or her Will.
If there is no valid Will it passes to his or her next of kin.
The distribution of the estate to the correct people is the
responsibility of the person named in the grant. The grant is
proof to anyone wishing to see it that the person named in it is
entitled to collect in and distribute the estate.
The Executors will need a grant to transfer or sell a property
held only in the deceased’s name.
There are organisations who may release the money to the
Executors without a grant if the amount held is small and there
are no complications. Among these are Insurance Companies and
Building Societies.
Obtaining probate can be up extremely complex. For this reason,
it is worth appointing a professional executor to handle your
estate on behalf of your other executors. You can then rest safe
in the knowledge that the administration of your estate will be
dealt with by experts in a professional, efficient and caring
manner.
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We all know that acne product manufacturers take advantage of the social stigma and suffering people have to go through because of acne. They can charge premium prices for their acne products because people like you and me are desperate to get a clean and healthy looking skin that we see every day in TV.
Luckily now there is a place where you can find thousands of acne products at incredible rates. I’m sure you have already heard of it.
Read on and I’ll tell you more.
Huge selection of products
The acne products selection is truly mind blowing. Currently there are more than 4000 listings for acne products. With so many products at one place you can be sure to find the product you are looking for quickly and easily. No need to waste time by surfing many different sites comparing prices.
One of the best things is that you can find many items that you haven’t even heard of yet. If none of the products you currently know have helped you can find new products there to try.
Maybe you have a favourite acne product, but it’s sold as a kit and you don’t like some of the products in that kit. So you always end up wasting that product and the money that you paid for it. Well at this place people are selling lots of single products that companies usually bundle up as a kit to sell you more of their stuff.
Incredible prices on acne products
Here are some price examples that I found while browsing this place:
- Proactiv toner & repairing lotion + bonus set $5.50
- Proactiv 3 piece kit $19.90
- Proactiv 6 piece set $35.52
- 6 months supply of Acuzine &125.00
- Murad complex acne kit (60 days) $36.00
You can also save money by buying in bulk. If you have a favourite acne products that works for you and that you are going to use long time you might want to consider buying it in bulk. You end up getting the products cheaper but you also save in shipping. Plus you don’t run out of your favourite acne products just before an important date or an event.
Yet there is are even more ways that this incredible place can save you money. You can find many generic versions of branded acne products there. Did you know that marketing expenses are a huge part of products price? Why pay for those annoying infomercials when you already know what you want?
Are you ready to save $240 or more on acne products?
Click here to save money on acne products plus tons of tips and tricks on how to find the best deals on acne products.
Seppo Puusa used to suffer from acne for more than 10 years. After countless failed attempts to cure his acne with Accutane and other acne products he discovered simple methods that anybody can follow and cure their acne within a week.
At his web site he shares the knowledge that has finally set him free and ended the shame and frustration. To find out what you can do today to cure your acne visit http://www.natural-acne-solution.com
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Taking on a property in addition to your home can be a time consuming and complex matter. Before you become a landlord (or lady), make sure you’ve thought it through!
Tenants
While you may be lucky and find the perfect tenant by chance, it’s a good idea to interview potential tenants first. You can ask for references from previous landlords or employers to reassure yourself that they are trustworthy and solvent. While students provide a large part of the tenant market, bear in mind that young people are not always as responsible as they should be!
The property
When looking for a property to buy, try to focus on suitable areas where you are likely to find a ready supply of tenants – close to a university, for example, or in a city centre near businesses are safe bets for students and young professionals looking to rent. Check out local transport links and shopping facilities too. You should also consider the resale aspects of the property – you may not want to keep it forever, and a large part of your investment is the equity of the property. This is called capital growth – sometimes it may be worth buying in a more downmarket location where the rent will be lower, if you consider that property prices are likely to rise. If, however, you want to maximise your income, the more expensive areas of town might bring you higher rent. Leasehold properties are subject to ground rent.
Agents
A letting agent will charge around 10% of the monthly rent to take care of finding tenants, and if you want a full management service to minimise the work you do, expect to pay around 15%. It’s advisable to choose an agent that is a member of the ARLA – check www.arla.co.uk for details.
Tax
You can make tax deductions for the maintenance of your property, including general ‘running costs’ like insurance, cleaning, and agents fees. Home improvements are not tax deductible, nor are initial costs of furniture and fittings. However, you can claim a wear and tear allowance of 10% of the rent you receive.
Mortgage
Often a buy to let mortgage is assessed on the anticipated rental income from the property – the rent potential. Expect to pay slightly higher interest rates, and provide a larger deposit on the property. Lenders usually require 20% to 25% of the value of the property.
Joseph Kenny writes for the Personal Loans Store which offers information on loans and other loan types including home loans, secured loans and others.
Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk
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If it seems as if all investors are
selling, who is buying?
If trading has become entertainment
for you, it may be time to refocus
on profits.
If your stock has reached an annual
low, can it go any lower?
If your stock has reached an annual
high, can it go any higher?
If all the television analysts jumped
off a bridge, would anyone care?
If your portfolio is based solely on
fundamental analysis, perhaps it
is time to learn technical analysis.
If I said you had a beautiful portfolio,
would you hold it against an index?
If you are tired of losing value on the
long side, perhaps its time to learn
both sides of the market.
If you do not have a written financial
plan, you should.
If you could put aside $205 at the
beginning of each month for thirty-
five years, with an 11% annualized
return you may save over $1
million.
If you have stopped looking at your
portfolio statements, does that mean
your game plan is off?
If a fool and his money are easily
separated, who introduced the two?
If buy and hold is your philosophy,
why do you need a broker?
If a tree falls in the forest, does it ruin
the stock market for the day?
If someone invented a computer
program for investments that proved
100% correct all the time, we would
never know about it.
If you think the market capitulated,
you are not in a state of selling
hysteria.
If 1,000,000 lemmings jump, can they
all be wrong?
If you want to know what Greenspan
thinks about economics, count the
times he smiles.
If you expect nothing of your
portfolio, you will not be
disappointed.
If you are a rational investor, can you
benefit from an irrational market?
If you managed your money like the
government, you would take money
from your neighbor and spend it on
stock options that expire this week.
If you are confused with the opinions
of the media, create your own.
Wardlaw has been involved in the fields of investments and insurance for over twelve years. The author’s belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com.
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After working hard all year long, everyone deserves a vacation to relieve all the stress and to enjoy time with friends and family. This is why it’s important to choose a destination that will fulfill all expectations…Disneyland!
As many go on holiday with family, it is essential that there is something to enjoy for all members of the family, and this is certainly the case at Disneyland. Surprises are always welcomed, but if you have children and you decide to spend your vacation in a city that has nothing fun to offer them, then the surprise turns into a nightmare. Going away from friends, even if for a week, seems to children something that requires an effort, so try and make then want that vacation by offering them exciting with plenty of things to do, things that can combine education and pleasure.
The choice of Disneyland vacation destinations is entirely yours. Depending upon a number of factors you may choose to visit Disneyland in Paris, Florida, California, or Tokyo. This will depend on how far you are willing to travel, your vacation budget, and if there are any other attractions that you may wish to visit whilst there. All offer great features for kids and adults to enjoy, and there is always plenty going on at all times of the day to ensure that no-one gets bored.
Maybe Disneyland isn’t for you, but of course there are wonderful places to visit all around the world. If budget allows it, you can make a trip around the world to visit the seven world’s wonders, which will be something that you will never forget. The Pyramids for instance are mysterious buildings, dated since the ancient Egyptians, enclosing a technology and architecture that can hardly be matched even in today’s world. Go and walk through these world wonders to try and understand the mystery, to see for yourself the simplicity of the people and the splendor of the country.
Vacation can simply be spent at home also. We can just relax and catch up on lost sleep if we feel too exhausted to travel. Meeting friends, having barbecues, sitting by the pool and playing with children will make us forget the hard year that passed. However, make sure one of your vacations is spent at Disneyland; it really is a “must-do” vacation that shouldn’t be missed!
Disneyland Tickets provides some great information on a variety of Disneyland topics including the Disneyland hotel. Be sure to stop by the site and have a read through the information available.
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How good can life get? Well that’s the question we all strive to figure out. “Life Skills – Improve the Quality of Your Life with Metapsychology” addresses this question on the emotional, mental, and physical levels. It also spends time on how we can improve the quality of our relationships. “Life Skills” highlights key factors from metapsychology (as developed by Frank A. Gerbode, MD) and shows how these factors can be used on a daily basis for improved overall quality of life.
For those like me that are new to this subject, “Life Skills” begins with a description on how to use the book and get the most out of it. It then continues with the goals of the book, and as you’ll see these are goals most of want in our lives:
to be fully present to increase your knowledge and awareness of how life works to bring about positive change in your mental and emotional world, which makes bringing about positive change in the outer environment much easier to do to accessing more of your potential change in the outer environment much easier to do to access more of your potential through practical exercises
Early in the book I found the exercise on recognizing (and getting a handle on) our judgments of others and feelings of envy or jealousy interesting and enlightening. I also found the discussion on “life as a journey” versus living “life as art” very relevant to my own world.
The book is broken into a few paragraphs about a particular point from the chapter topic, bullet items to ponder (or write about), and an exercise to do (or just think about) to reinforce the lesson. Finally, the end of each chapter summarizes the topics covered.
The book is sprinkled with humor throughout to ease the reading along. Best of all, there is no wrong way to do the exercises in the book. All exercises are meant to help increase your own awareness about particular areas of your life. I found I got as much out of thinking about the exercises as I did writing them out.
“Like Skills” doesn’t try and change you, but encourages you to just first observe your life (and provides helpful hints on how to do that) and pay attention to what is working. Along that line, I found the emotional scale discussed in Chapter 3 very helpful and applicable to several situations I had going on currently in my life.
I also appreciated the recurrent theme throughout the book that encourages us, in becoming happier, more emotionally stable people, to get along with others as part of that involvement. Too often self- improvement books focus only on ourselves – and perhaps even to the detriment of others. This book doesn’t take this type of view, and it’s refreshing.
There is a discussion on repairing breakdowns in communication I think every reader will find useful. Who among us hasn’t had an odd misstep in communication with someone we care about? As we know this type of problem can lead to something much bigger if left ignored, that is, if the communication doesn’t continue to move forward. This book reinforces reasons why you don’t want to hold back communication during these types of issues, and why doing so can just make things worse.
Perhaps what is most appreciated about this book is that is uses examples from everyday life – things that each of us deal with and encounter all the time – to guide us through the exercises. So often when we’re happy with the normal everyday things in life, we’re able to handle the bigger challenges with grace and humility. When we’re content with ourselves we’re also able to help others during times of distress.
“Life Skills” provides some additional thoughts in the afterward section to help conclude the book, as well as a glossary to define any terms the reader may not be familiar with. I’ll have to admit that before I read “Life Skills,” I was not at all familiar with metapsychology and therefore not sure what to expect. However, I was quickly drawn in to the book because of its no-nonsense approach and real-life application. This really is a book that anyone, regardless of their current situation in life, can benefit from.
Life Skills – Improve the Quality of Your Life with Metapsychology
Marian K. Volkman
Loving Healing Press (2005)
ISBN 1932690050
Reviewed by Cherie Burbach for Reader Views (4/06)
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Some people call them Nerf Bars, others call them Step Bars; my mother calls them “those shiny tubes.” Whatever you call them, they’re an item that many people overlook in their quest for truck greatness.
Whether you’re looking for convenience, protection, or looks, installing a set of custom step bars on your ride is always a good decision.
Nerf Bars; Attitude in a Box
In addition to the fact that they make vehicle entry easier, nerf bars add to your truck’s aggressive attitude. Nerf bars fill the gap between the ground and your vehicle’s rocker panel; creating an illusion that your truck stands taller than it actually does. Combine step bars with a suspension lift and/or body lift kit and we’re talking serious intimidation.
Nerf Bars; Your Bodyguard
Another benefit of installing nerf bars is protection. They mount several inches from the side of the vehicle. Therefore they are your first line of defense for anything that could cause body damage. Whether it’s a boulder you try to drive over while off-roading or a stray shopping cart at the local supermarket, these babies have got your back.
In Conclusion
Not all nerf bars are created equal. There are different brands on the market with different finishes and warranties available. The Westin Platinum Step Bars have a lifetime warranty as do the stainless step bars available from Smittybilt.
Will Mahoney is an automotive junkie who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. He likes racing autocross and tinkering with trucks and cars. He currently writes online content and articles for Stylin Concepts, a leading retailer of truck accessories, suv accessories, seat covers, floorr mats and any other aftermarket truck and SUV accessories.
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