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Auctionbytes-Update, Number 53 - November 03, 2001 - ISSN 1528-6703
This & That
1) eBay Changes to Checkout
By Ina Steiner
Last week, we wrote about the many problems buyers and sellers were having with the new Checkout feature that eBay implemented recently. http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/51/52/52.html#editor
In Friday's NewsFlash newsletter, AuctionBytes reviewed some of the changes that eBay is making to its new Checkout feature to try to minimize confusion on the part of its members. http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/newsflash/newsflash.html
2) Amazon Introduces Virtual
By Ina Steiner
Amazon.com introduced the Amazon Credit Account, a virtual, cardless credit "card" for use when shopping at Amazon.com. Available now, the Amazon Credit Account is the online equivalent of a department store credit card and provides shoppers the opportunity to buy now and pay later when shopping at Amazon.com. It makes it possible for people without a bank card or credit card to shop online at Amazon.com.
The account does not apply to purchases made from Amazon Marketplace, Auctions, zShops, Circuit City, purchases of gift certificates or deposits made for cell phone service in the Amazon Cell Phones & Service store.
Customers who sign up with the Amazon Credit Account will enjoy three months of no payments and interest-free holiday shopping on orders over $200 placed through January 31, 2002. Finance offer applies only to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older. Offer is for individuals, not businesses. (See other fine print on the Web site.)
http://www.amazon.com/credit
3) TIAS Introduces Classifieds
By Ina Steiner
The largest email newsletter for the antiques and collectibles world is now offering classified ad space to its readers.
You can place a 60-word classified ad with 4 pictures on the TIAS.com Web site. Your ad will run for one month, and your item will show up in the TIAS search engine. The ad will be also mentioned with a link to it in one issue of the TIAS newsletter, "The Collectors Newsletter."
The cost is $10. For more information drop a note to support@tias.com.
4) Bidz.com Sells Jewelry Online
By Ina Steiner
An online-auction site that resembles the uBid model more than the eBay model was recently brought to my attention. Bidz.com sells mostly jewelry that it has purchased from suppliers, so the company is selling its own goods on the site. It obtains inventory through its wholesale purchasing division utilizing a "network of domestic and international sources for jewelry, watches, gold, and other specialty items."
Auctions range from 10 minutes to seven days. Most goods open with a $1 no reserve price. Bidz.com says that the merchandise is verified by certified gemologists who analyze the grade, quality and value of all items and offers a 15-day money back guarantee. A company spokesperson told me that Bidz.com has close to 2 million registered users. http://www.bidz.com
5) Retro Clothing Site Debuts
By Ina Steiner
Vintage Trends, a leading distributor of vintage, military and recycled clothing, has announced the launch of VintageTrends.com.
This unique online boutique showcases retro and designer fashions for men, women and children dating from the 1930s to the present. The site features clothing from 1940s swimwear and 1950s wool cardigans to 1970s polyester bellbottoms and never-worn designer gowns.
- The site showcases as many as 100,000 garments and accessories at any given time, with each item conveniently categorized according to era, gender and size. There are five virtual "dressing rooms"
- New Fashion, Recycled, Vintage, Military and Auction. To ensure a perfect fit, specific details such as waist, hip and length measurements are prominently featured.
VintageTrends.com is also the exclusive online distributor of the Riley collection, a recognized name among Hollywood's top stylists. The Riley line blends vintage materials and embellishments with new fabrications, silhouettes and stylish alterations to create its widely recognized, street-smart "reconstructive" look.
VintageTrends.com is the online extension of several successfully established, brick-and-mortar fashion distributors based in Southern California. With exclusive relationships and high-volume commitments with dozens of wholesalers nationwide, Vintage Trends boasts an inventory of more than a million vintage and designer pieces. Only the "best of the best" of this vast inventory appears on VintageTrends.com, according to the company.
To ensure 100% authenticity, every featured item is "Vintage Trends Certified" by a team of expert fashion consultants. The thorough certification process includes determining the original date of manufacture, examining the condition of the fabric, professional cleaning when necessary, noting any previous alterations, and overseeing minor repairs designed to maintain the integrity of the garment, such as replacing buttons and broken zippers. Each article of clothing or accessory is priced according to its overall condition and uniqueness. Prices range from as low as $10 to more than $5,000 for especially rare pieces. http://www.vintagetrends.com
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