Below are the 3 most recent journal entries.

	2011.08.24  13.18 Online Shopping with Auction Websites In most cases online shopping is very similar to shopping in traditional stores with the need to have an item shipped after making a purchase instead of being able to walk out of the store with the item in your hand. However, there are times when online shopping is much different than shopping in a regular store. This difference occurs in cases in which the online shopping is being done on auction websites. Although using auction websites can be very similar to online shopping in some ways there are some differences which online shoppers should be aware of before making purchases through auction websites. Some of these differences will be discussed in this article and include the need to do research on appropriate prices before making a bid, understanding the bidding process and knowing the return policies. Doing Research before Making a Bid The need to do at least a minimal amount of research before making a bid when using auction websites for online shopping is quite common. Although online shoppers who utilize retailers to make a purchase should still do some research before making a purchase to ensure they are selecting the best deal on the item they truly want, the type of research when using auction websites is different. Online shoppers using auction websites should carefully research items such as the feedback for the seller and comparable items which have recently been sold on the auction website. Carefully investigating the sellers feedback is very important because it can help to prevent the buyer from purchasing poor quality items or items which differ from the description provided in the auction. Most online auction websites allow buyers and sellers to provide feedback for other users from whom they have purchased an item or to whom they have sold an item. Before bidding on an item at an auction website, the buyer should review this feedback to determine whether or not the seller is reputable. In general a reputable seller is one who has a substantial amount of feedback and the majority of the feedback is positive. Buyers should be wary of sellers with no feedback, very little feedback or a great deal of negative feedback. Online shoppers using auction websites should also spend some time researching recently sold items comparable to the one they wish to bid on before making a bid. This is important because it will give the buyer a good indication of a fair price for the item. This will help the buyer determine how much they are willing to spend on a particular item. It will also give them an indication of how many of these items are in circulation. This information may be useful because if there are many items available the buyer may tend to bid lower simply because they will likely have several opportunities to bid on a similar item while if the item is pretty rare the buyer may opt to bid higher because it may be his last opportunity purchase a particular item. Understanding the Bidding Process Online shoppers who use auction websites should acquaint themselves with the bidding process before starting to bid on items. This is important because it can help the buyer to avoid making mistakes in the bidding process which could result in them overpaying for an item or not winning an item because of a mistake in the bidding process. It is also important to understand the bidding process because it can help the buyer to develop a bidding strategy which can help them to win items they desire. The bidding process may be different for different auction websites so online shoppers should review this information for each new auction website they use. Returns When Online Shopping with Auction Websites The issue of returns when online shopping with auction websites is a very valid concern for online shoppers. Online shoppers who are concerned about whether or not it will be possible to return an item purchased through an auction website should carefully review the bid description for any information relevant to the seller’s return policy. If no information about returns is provided the buyer should inquire with the seller. The buyer should also review the website’s policy on returns to determine if the website will provide any protection if the items purchased are defective or do not match the description provided by the seller. See: Copart.com Review Auction.com Scam

	2011.08.24  13.18 Research You Should Do Online Before Attending A Used Car Auction Are you in the market for a new used vehicle? If you are, have you ever thought about attending a used car auction before? Used car auctions are a great way to find a large selection of affordable, yet quality used cars for sale. If this is your first time attempting to buy a used car from a used car auction, you may not necessarily know that you should first do a little bit of research online. When it comes to doing research online, before attending a used car auction, there are many individuals who wonder exactly what it is they should research. In all honesty, it depends. If you have yet to find a used car auction to attend, you may want to research local used car auctions online. You can also research used cars online. This is nice, as it gives you to opportunity to learn a little bit more about some of the cars that may be sold at a used car auction. As previously mentioned, if you have yet to find a used car auction to attend, you may want to research local used car auctions in your area. One of the many ways that you can go about doing so is by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, it is advised that you perform a standard internet search with your location in mind or the locations to which you would be willing to travel. For instance, if you would like to attend a Chicago area used car auction, you may want to think about searching with phrase like or similar to “Chicago used car auctions,” or “Chicago auto auctions.” When visiting the online website of a used car auction house or company, it is advised that you thoroughly read through any information given to you. You will want to learn when the auctions are held, if inspection sessions are offered, if there is an admission fee, and what methods of payment are accepted. The sooner that you familiarize yourself with a local used car auction, the easier it would be for you to ask and get answers to any questions that you may have, particularly before the auction is scheduled to take place. Depending on the used car auction house or company in question, you may also be able to find information online about the used cars that they plan on having available for bidding at their next auction. If you are given this information, you are advised to look it over. Many times, it is common to find pictures of the vehicles being auctioned off, as well as detailed descriptions; descriptions that may include the year and make and model of the vehicle in question, as well as the mileage. In addition to just reading the vehicle information that you are given by a used car auction company or auction house, you may also want to do a little bit of your own research. When it comes to doing your own used car research, you may also want to rely on a standard internet search. Once you have the year, make, and model of a used car, you can learn more about the car in question. For instance, you can see if the car has a history of needing repairs. You can also find out if any recalls have been issued on the vehicle or vehicles in question. It may also be a good idea to find a website that allows you to examine the value of used cars. Having a used car value in mind is nice, as it may help to prevent you from bidding too much on a used car. On the other hand, having the estimated value of a used car can also let you know when you may get a “steal,” at a used car auction. In short, the more research that you do, the more you should be able to benefit from attending and possibly buying a used car from a used car auction. If you live in or around the Chicago area, you may want to examine North Shore Auto Auction and the many scheduled used car auctions that they have, many of which include fifty or more used cars. See: Foreclosure.com Reviews Bidcactus.com Review

	2011.08.24  13.18 Online Auction Sites: Oh The Possibilities! Online auction sites are set up in such a way that they can be very profitable both for you and for the auction house itself. But, what most people do not realize is that there is a world that is beyond that of Ebay! Yes, there are many other online auction sites for you to consider. Take a look at your options and see just what they offer you before you get started bidding on the web. Let?s face it, Ebay is the largest online auction site. It has become so very successful because of its vast marketing plan and the ease of use it offers its users. Everyone knows that if you can find something in the local retail area or you can find it online that you will likely find it too right on the Ebay auction site. So, how does it all work? Online auction sites are set up to allow for a meeting place of bidders and sellers. They do not sell products themselves but provide a meeting environment for you to find the people you are looking for. Of course to list a product to be sold, or in some cases to purchase a product on the web, you will be charged a fee. This is a necessary part of doing business on these websites but in cases like Ebay, it has become an excellent source of revenue as well So, who else is out there? There are other online auction sites that you should take a good look at. These include the following: ? TradeMe ? Yahoo! ? EBid ? Internet Bargain Center ? Marktplaats ? Bidville as well as many more There are many benefits to using these online auction sites including the ease of connecting with prospective buyers, the use of 24/7 availability, and worldwide exposure to say the least. Many people find excellent reasons to get into the online auction site as a business as well. There is no limit to what can be found on these websites. Taking a look at those that are less well known can be an excellent opportunity as well. See: Quibids.com Review Beezid.com Reviews