AuctionBytes-Update Number 28 - December 17, 2000 - ISSN 1528-6703

AuctionBytes-Update is a free newsletter for online auction buyers and sellers. Read reviews of online-auction products and services, tips on being more efficient, and information about antiques and collectibles. AuctionBytes-Update is published by email twice a month. (Print it out for easier reading.)

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IN THIS ISSUE:
1) From the Editor
2) Online Auction Users Association - What's It All About?
3) Reached Your (PayPal) Limit?
4) Priority Mail Packing: Squeezing an Elephant Into a Phone Booth
5) PriceRadar's Found in the Attic: Last Minute Holiday Shopping
6) COLLECTOR'S CORNER: Soda Pop Bottles for Your Vending Machine
7) eBay Motors Inks Deal with GM: eBay Motors Sellers Not Happy
8) This & That: Email Problems & Digital Photos
9) Newsflash
10) "The 12 Days of eBay" contributed by the Special Online ELVES!
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1) FROM THE EDITOR

The holidays are here! December has been an incredibly busy month here at AuctionBytes as we work on marketing the newsletter to round up more readers. I wrote an article about online auctions for FreePint that appeared in the December 14th issue <http://www.freepint.co.uk/issues/141200.htm>. FreePint is an email newsletter for researchers and librarians published in the U.K. with readers from all over the world. The article is a general overview of online auctions and the products and services that have sprung up for users.

I'm sad to report the demise of Gold's Auctions. This was apparently a husband and wife team who ran into financial difficulty running the auction site. The good news is that Dutchbid purchased Gold's Auctions and will operate the two sites in parallel. We'll keep you posted - be sure to check our Newsflash feature on the Web site for daily breaking news.

We have a great issue this week. Edith Reynolds tells us what the OAUA association is all about, David warns you about PayPal limits and also gives an entertaining primer on packing using Priority Mail boxes. And there's LOTS more.

Happy holidays to everyone! See you in the New Year!!!

Ina Steiner, Editor
email: ina@auctionbytes.com

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2) Online Auction Users Association - What's It All About?
By Edith Reynolds

In the case of the Online Auction Users Association, two truths converge: home-based sales is a lonely endeavor and buyers appreciate ethical standards on the part of sellers. The OAUA was created in response to this by Jen Hassler and approximately 15 other auction users who discussed ways to make trading online safer and fun. Their plan was to construct an organization and offer a free membership to individuals committed to sound business principles and a willingness to treat transactions fairly.

Members of the OAUA agree to abide by a code of ethics that include the principles where both buyers and sellers: use clear descriptions for items up for sale; act with reliability and honesty; use good packing practices; and comply to the rules of auctions. In addition, the code says members won't steal others' images; will pay attention to the terms of all sales; will pay for items promptly; will use feedback in a responsible manner; and will ask questions before an auction ends. In short, members promise to use good manners and some common sense.

Begun in September of 1999, the organization now boasts more than 2,100 members who use a variety of auction sites: eBay, Amazon.com, edeal, eHammer, MSN auctions, Yahoo auctions, and Out of the Attic. OAUA also provides forums to discuss dispute resolution, ways to identify items, mentoring, as well as the usual friendly chats.

Their Web site <http://www.auctionusers.org> is clear, easy to use, and sharp, giving the impression that a paid staff is on hand. No, says Hassler, the OAUA is 100% volunteer-run. She states the entire site was a collaborative effort by a group of dedicated charter members, "especially Don Benedict who began with limited knowledge and taught himself the skills necessary to make the site what it looks like." When asked about the level of commitment volunteers make and what OAUA currently needs, Hassler explains, "The typical volunteer gives us one to two hours each week with a couple of exceptions like membership verification and customer service. Sometimes people sign up for one task." The group currently needs an associate editor for the newsletter, writers, an accountant, researchers and someone to compile the announcements. Overall governance is the responsibility of a three-term eight-member board of directors elected by members. Funding comes from advertising revenue.

In return for signing up, members get more than the chance to chat with others. OAUA amassed member discounts and freebies for sites like: Collectible.com, Foo Dog Software, Easy Auction and free counters through Honesty.com. Member-to-member discounts have also arisen like mushrooms after a rain. Future plans include exploring group health insurance, mediation/arbitration, and credit union benefits.

Members also receive a newsletter edited by Raleigh Mercier. This month's issue features a good comparison of online payment services, "Walt's Whimsey's" toy train column, letters to the editor, a request for participants in an independent marketing research project and a new shipping service called nescrow.com.

But does the organization have any bite when members stray from the ethical path? Hassler explains that the OAUA membership screening process weeds out potential bad seeds from the start, but should someone suddenly adopt unscrupulous practices, "their membership is revoked, of course, and we work with eBay and other services to resolve problems." She stresses that the use of the OAUA logo and membership is a privilege earned, not bought.

"In a nutshell," Hassler stresses, "we want to be the Chamber of Commerce for online sellers." With the amount of work they've accomplished so far and the heart they've put into the endeavor, their goal seems within reach. For more information or to register, visit OAUA. And if you have a little time and want to ensure that the organization thrives and grows, don't hesitate to contact them at voluntr@auctionusers.org.

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Edith Reynolds is a former newspaper and magazine writer. She and her husband Dan own an antiquarian bookstore, The John Bale Book Company in Waterbury, CT. For the past nine years, they have specialized in early Americana and rare bindings. They are members of the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers of America Association), ILAB (International League of Antiquarian Booksellers), IOBA (International Online Booksellers Association), and OAUA (Online Auction Users Association). Edith manages online sales. In addition to their bookstore, they sell on eBay and at book fairs. Visit Edith's Web sites, http://www.taxter.com and http://www.usiana.com. eBay IDs: TAXTER , TAXTER2 , TAXTER3 , USIANA , BALEBOOKS

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3) Reached Your (PayPal) Limit?
By David Steiner

We've been hearing quite a bit lately about buyers who go to check their PayPal accounts or attempt to withdraw funds from them, only to find that they don't have access to the entire amount. What has probably happened is that you've reached the spending limit with the service and now have to decide if you want to attach a credit card or bank account to your PayPal account.

PayPal gives you a $250 spending limit with their service (some users are grandfathered into a $500 limit). That means if you exceed that threshold in payments over a 6-month period, you will have to upgrade your PayPal account if you wish to withdraw money or pay someone using PayPal.

You can upgrade by attaching a credit card to your PayPal account. You cannot use more than one PayPal account per credit card. Or you can verify your account by attaching a Bank account to your PayPal account. This allows you to do electronic transfers and also gives you a higher level of security. More security details are available at http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/protections-buyer-outs ide

If you find that you're unable to access all of your PayPal funds and you don't want to use your bank account or credit card, you can contact PayPal customer service by emailing them at checkwithdrawal@paypal.com or by calling their 24-hour customer service number at 888-221-1161. They will send you a street address confirmation via regular mail. This will contain a 20-digit code, which you must enter into the appropriate box on the PayPal site. Using this method, it is likely that PayPal will raise your limit without giving them credit card or bank account information. My account limit was raised from $500 to $1,000 using this method.

NOTE: To leave a rating or to review PayPal in the Online Yellow Pages directory, go to http://www.auctionbytes.com/bin/bizdirectory/biz-dir-search.pl?query=966 206040

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4) Priority Mail Packing: Squeezing an Elephant Into a Phone Booth
by David Steiner

You knew that online auctions would allow you the freedom to work flexible hours, give you autonomy and might even be lucrative...but did you know that it would test your spatial imaging skills and creativity?

Aside from all the fun you have finding treasures to sell, listing auctions and watching the money roll in, you are also gaining valuable experience in the field of shipping and packing! Think about it, if eBay ever goes south, you can become a Teamster!

Those of you who sell online regularly know the challenge of packaging items safely and trying to fit a wide array of oddly shaped auction items snugly into Priority Mail boxes. I frequently buy merchandise at Estate sales and flea markets that I'm excited about...until stop and think, "How the heck am I going to ship this"?

Since Priority Mail seems to be the overwhelming method of choice when shipping most items because of the 2-3 day shipping (usually), fair rates and most importantly, free shipping supplies, I thought it might be time for a primer on Priority Mail packing.

There is a wide selection of Priority Mail packages available. (http://supplies.usps.gov/ps/scripts/Showcase.idc?pouchno=3098932578.0 ) These packages generally handle most small items being shipped. However, as I mentioned, sometimes packaging an item with these supplies can be like trying to squeeze an elephant into a phone booth. With a little ingenuity, there ARE ways to combine Priority Mail Boxes to cover a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Here are a few suggestions and examples:

The Empire State Building: Great for long items that don't have much girth. Take a few #4 Priority Mail Boxes and slide them together. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg1a.JPG> Tape around the girth of the box and up the sides. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg2a.JPG> This will give you a package that can accommodate an item the shape of a baseball bat, golf club or any long, slender item. Make sure that you pad around the item with Styrofoam peanuts so that the item is immobilized in the center. Be aware that items packed like this MAY be charged a balloon rate by the USPS. That is an extra charge that applies when the combined length and girth of a package falls between 84" and 108" and the weight is less than 15lbs.

The Sears Tower: same construction as the Empire State Building, but created with #7 Priority Boxes. This allows for shipping items that happen to be taller than a single #7 Priority Box. Again, slide the boxes together and tape all seams so that the boxes are firmly bound together.

The Bonneville Salt Flats: Great for shipping wide and long items that are flat, like a tennis racket. Take two 0-1097 boxes (11-1/4" x 14" x 2-1/4") and slide them together like the two previous examples. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg3a.JPG>. Tape them together securely < http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg4a.JPG>

One thing to keep in mind when building these boxes: Maintain the structural integrity of the package. As a USPS representative remarked to me, "When we ship, especially in freight airplanes, we put packages and mail into plastic containers that may hold as much as 500lbs of mail. Pack as though your box will be at the bottom of those 500 lbs".

There are also limitations on what you can do with Priority Mail Boxes. You CANNOT turn the boxes inside out and use them for other methods of shipping. Priority Mail boxes are stamped with special codes on the interior cardboard. If, for example, you try to mail a package book rate using Priority Mail supplies, you will be charged the Priority Mail rate or be asked to repackage your items. You SHOULDN'T cut up Priority Mail Boxes and use them as padding or to make compartments inside your package. The USPS probably won't know you're doing this but these are free supplies and shouldn't be taken advantage of.

Now for the packing itself: Use styrofoam peanuts, not newspaper. Styrofoam peanuts may be more expensive (however, you can probably find plenty of retail stores that just throw them out and would be happy to give them to you for free), but they immobilize an item much better than paper and they don't leave newsprint marks.

Here's my usual technique:
- Wrap the item in bubblewrap. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg6.JPG>. If the item is silver or some material that might have a reaction to the bubblewrap, I wrap it in paper first, then put the bubblewrap over the paper.
- Add a healthy layer of Styrofoam peanuts to the bottom of the box < http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg7a.JPG>
- Place the item in the box on top of the peanuts, making sure there is plenty of empty space on all sides of the item. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg8a.JPG >
- Pour on the peanuts. Don't skimp on this step. Make sure there is plenty of padding around the entire item and pack the peanuts in firmly. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg9a.JPG> The goal is to keep the item immobilized in the center of the box and as far away from the cardboard as possible.
- Add more peanuts to the top of the item <http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/pkg9ba.JPG> No part of the item should be touching the inside of the box!

The peanuts will give the box more interior strength to help it stand up to other mail being stacked on top of it. If you don't put enough padding in the package, your item will settle or shift, and it will find it's way to the bottom of the box, where it is more likely to be damaged.

A final tip: Use Delivery Confirmation with your Priority Mail packaging (with one exception). Delivery confirmation enables you to log onto the USPS Web site <http://www.usps.com/cttgate/welcome.htm> and track the item you've sent. This has saved my bacon several times, and is only 35 cents. However, if you are insuring a package for over $50, Delivery Confirmation might be considered redundant, because the recipient must sign for the item to take delivery.

These are just a few ideas for safely packing your items. I've spoken to some sellers who say, "I drop the packed item from 5 feet, and if there's no damage, I know it's ready for shipping". A little extreme, but if you have tips for packing items, email me at dsteiner@auctionbytes.com . I'm sure we'll be doing a follow-up to this article soon.

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5) PriceRadar's Found in the Attic: Last Minute Holiday Shopping
by David Steiner

There's not much time left to find that special Holiday gift for your loved ones! Here are some ideas for desperate shoppers at the end of their rope. You might even find a last-minute deal!

All searches were done with PriceRadar's Price Guide Tool. Go to
http://www.priceradar.com/default.asp?refID=101 and try your own searches!

Poo-Chi (Robotic Dog)
Number of Items Sold: 61
Number of Items Unsold: 106
Sellthrough Rate: 36.53%
Highest Priced Item: $76
Lowest Priced Item: $15
Average Price: $36.79

Ping Golf Clubs
Number of Items Sold: 2
Number of Items Unsold: 2
Sellthrough Rate: 50%
Highest Priced Item: $450
Lowest Priced Item: $280
Average Price: $365

14k Gold Diamond Ring
Number of Items Sold: 13
Number of Items Unsold: 247
Sellthrough Rate: 5.00%
Highest Priced Item: $2,346
Lowest Priced Item: $51
Average Price: $352.38

MP3 Player
Number of Items Sold:143
Number of Items Unsold: 653
Sellthrough Rate: 17.96%
Highest Priced Item: $450
Lowest Priced Item: $2
Average Price: $139.66

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AUCTION FORECAST:

David's auction forecast calls for a mixed day for Sunday, December 17, 2000:
5-day auction: Fair
7-day auction: Holiday (will end Chrismas Eve)
10-day auction: Bad

Click here for an extended auction forecast:
<http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/calendar/calendar.html >

Brought to you by AuctionBytes Yellow Pages at
<http://www.online-auction-directory.com>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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6) COLLECTOR'S CORNER: Soda Pop Bottles for Your Vending Machine
by Ina Steiner

Need bottles of pop (or soda, as we say in Massachusetts) for your vintage vending machine? There is a store that carries glass-bottle sodas that will fit in old soda machines. Ifs Ands & Butts is a retail store in Texas with a mail order department that helps customers determine the type of bottles their machines can handle. The store has an incredible selection of soda pop, offering 135 varieties of gourmet, nostalgic, imported and unusual non-alcoholic soft drinks in glass bottles. And they ship worldwide.

Hamilton Rousseau is the owner of Ifs Ands & Butts <http://www.ifsandbutts.com>, a micro-soda bar, used book store and smoke shop all in one. The retail store is located in an historic district of Dallas. "The inviting cosmopolitan interior of the shop is arranged and decorated to serve variously as a smoking room, reading room and conversation room."

If you can't make it to Dallas, you can still get old-fashioned service by telephone, according to Rousseau. He is an expert in the types of soda bottles that will fit in vintage machines.

Rousseau explained, "The very old machines sold only the small Coke-type bottles (6.5-to-8 oz)." Two of his top sellers fit these machines. The original sugar Coca-Cola old-style heavy glass refillable bottles that he gets from the Netherlands (called Dutch Coke), and the original sugar Dr. Pepper in small Coke-size no-refill bottles made in Dublin, Texas. These Dr. Pepper bottles have the old 10-2-4 logo, an Imperial Pure Cane Sugar emblem and a 'Made in Dublin TX since 1891' seal of authenticity.

Rousseau's shop also carries a wide variety of long-neck glass-bottled sodas with the old-style metal crimp-top crown, including many of the famous old names: Coke, Pepsi, RC, Nehi, Crush, Nugrape, Dads, A&W.

These long-necks will fit most machines made for the 10-to-12 oz sodas that were very popular in the fifties. Many Micro-bottlers and regional brands also use these long-neck light and heavy glass bottles, which means many of them will work in the 'newer' machines as well, even the ones that have bottles hanging on tracks along which you slide the soda of your choice.

You can get gift certificates, gift packs or just order for your own consumption. Most sodas cost $10.95 per 6-pack or $39.95 per case of 24. The shipping & handling charge is $9/6-pack and $20/case for continental U.S. orders (non-US S&H is extra).

Check out the site, and see if you would be tempted to drink a soda pop that is called "Vanilla Egg Cream"!

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7) eBay Motors Inks Deal with GM: eBay Motors Sellers Not Happy
by Ina Steiner

General Motors and eBay have formed a strategic marketing relationship that will include online and offline promotions. GM will showcase services that complement eBay's existing array of auto-related services. For example, eBay users who buy GM collector cars on the site may link to GM Restoration Parts to find new parts for vintage GM autos. Images of GM cars with links to detailed product information will also be available. GM will advertise its products and services on eBay, and GM is now the exclusive automotive sponsor of eBay subsidiary Kruse International's live auction events.

We've mentioned in past issues that sellers on eBay Motors have been extremely dissatisfied with recent changes brought about in the automotive section on eBay. <http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/10/11/12/13/15.html#mot ors > So how did they react to this week's announcement that GM would be advertising on eBay Motors? One seller sums it up as follows:

"Why can't they improve what they already have - and make it as successful as they BOAST it is...but in reality, is not. Ebay Motors has the ability to be the number one auto-related auction site on the Internet....They REFUSE to make the site better....but they'll merge businesses/fortunes - and make it worse. Can SOMEONE come up with a logical explanation?"

Some concerns that sellers have raised on car chat-forums:
1) The agreement will make things more complicated and will cause even more confusion
2) GM will be advertising its Web site and products on eBay Motors, therefore competing with eBay sellers!
3) Seller's auctions will take even longer to load

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8) This & That: Email Problems and Digital Photos

"The Dog Ate My Homework" - Email Problems CAN Happen
If you do online auctions, you've heard all the excuses imaginable to explain why you haven't heard from a buyer or seller. If you've ever heard the one, "I didn't get your email message til today" and snorted in disbelief, read on. Many times there are hiccups in email systems, and Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic)'s DSL service demonstrated a major case of indigestion this week. For over a week, Verizon DSL customers have been unable to send or receive their email due to overloaded mail servers at Verizon's facilities. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62460-2000Dec12.htm l > I guess that sometimes the dog really does eat homework!

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Digital Photos

CNET has an interesting email newsletter: Digital Photo Center Dispatch
<http://home.cnet.com/subscription/0-16335.html>.

Note that by the end of 2000, digital photographers will swell to more than 10 million U.S. households, according to a Gartner Group study. New photo kiosks allow consumers to input digital images or scan photos to print, upload to a Web page or otherwise communicate their photos.

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9) Newsflash Highlights - See Web Site for Full Details and Continuous Coverage
< http://www.auctionbytes.com> and click on Newsflash.

Dutchbid.com, which bought the assets of GoldsAuction.com, (December 8, 2000) plans to run the two sites in parallel. (December 17, 2000)

PayPal Reaches 5 Million Registered Users (December 15, 2000)

General Motors and eBay have formed a strategic marketing relationship that will include online and offline promotions. (December 15, 2000)

Online Auctions Costing Corporations $6.5 Billion
(December 14, 2000)

eBay to Provide Opportunity for Community Mentoring (December 13, 2000)

Ebay's Half.com to Acquire Deja.com (December 12, 2000)

Peer-to-Peer (Napster-like) Technology Hits the Auction World (December 8, 2000)

eBay Offers Content with Themestream after Demise of eBay Magazine (December 7, 2000)

BE SURE AND VISIT OUR WEB SITE FOR COMPLETE DAILY AUCTION NEWS!
The "Newsflash" column brings you DAILY online auction news. Go to
http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/newsflash/newsflash.html for the latest online auction news and announcements.

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10) The 12 Days of eBay
by The Online Elves

'Tis the holiday season, a time for Peace on Earth and Good Will toward man...and also a time to pull yourself away from the computer, put down the packing tape and be with family and friends.

If you find yourself sneaking away from Christmas dinner to check your auctions, then you might want to read the following list compiled by a special group of online Elves. If more than half of these describe you, then maybe it's time to start thinking about what your New Year's resolutions should be!

Day 12) You open your Christmas present (from out of state Mom) early because you need the box.

Day 11) Book values are dancing in your head instead of sugar plums.

Day 10) Instead of going out to the stores to do Christmas shopping, you do Christmas sniping.

Day 9) You ask the checkout person at Sears if they accept PayPal.

Day 8) You get your Christmas decorations out and decide to sell them on eBay rather than decorate your house.

Day 7) The gifts you get (especially from out of town relatives) get put into the "keep" or "sell" pile!

Day 6) You set up an ebay ID that your family doesn't know about to sell the "sell pile".

Day 5) You can no longer accept house guests for the holidays because your spare bedroom is full of eBay items.

Day 4) At holiday dinners with family or friends, you unobtrusively lift all the china to read the backstamp.

Day 3) When you're standing in line at the post office with your stack of #7 boxes, customers that walk in behind you, roll their eyes, turn around, and walk right back out.

Day 2) You tell all of your friends to save the packing peanuts from their packages.

Day 1) You have auctions ending on Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays, and thanks to the special online elves - you know who you are.

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Please use the AuctionBytes Yellow Pages when you are shopping for supplies and services for online auctions and collectibles!
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AuctionBytes-Update ISSN 1528-6703
AUCTIONBYTES.COM CONTACT INFORMATION
Editorial: ina@auctionbytes.com
Advertising: advert@auctionbytes.com or 508-655-5697
Letters, Comments, Suggestions: feedback@auctionbytes.com
Want to Write for AuctionBytes-Update? Go to http://www.auctionbytes.com and click on "write for us" to view author guidelines. If you are interested, send email to ina@auctionbytes.com.

Ina Steiner, Editor, Publisher and Co-founder: ina@auctionbytes.com
David Steiner, Webmaster, Technical Editor, President and Co-founder:
dsteiner@auctionbytes.com
Michele Alice, Contributing Editor
AuctionBytes.com
c/o Steiner Associates
PO Box 668
Natick, MA 01760
508-655-5697
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Copyright 2000 Steiner Associates

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