Internet
Last Minute Bidder - (Almost) Always Win the eBay Auction
A couple of months ago, I wrote about how eBay changed my life as a seller. However, much more often, people proclaim how eBay turned their lives around as consumers. They not longer get excited when they see a sale in the Sunday circular, look in the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart, browse a garage estate sale, or shop at the local Salvation Army. I mean, these low prices are a normalcy on eBay. The other day, my dad excitedly informed me that the Computer Show was coming to town. But I told him, “What’s the use? I can get even better prices on eBay. It’s not worth the gas money and admission fees.”
eBay is great and all, but who has time to keep up with an auction? Auction-style retail seems like such a waste of time if you’re considering petty items like Beanie Babies or computer memory. They only appear relevant for big-ticket purchases like computer systems, cars, and famous works of art. Because of this, I love eBay’s Buy it Now, Express, and Make an Offer formats. They allow bidders to just cut to the chase and flat out purchase the item without the mess of a long, drawn out auction. Unfortunately, the majority of eBay listings are still in the auction format.
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June 25th, 2007 | 1 Comment | Buying and Selling, Internet, Money, eBay
Nearly-unlimited Commission-free Online Stock Market Trade Investing
When I was in middle school during the late 90s, I was obsessed with learning everything I could about investing and stock trading techniques. I was pumped, ready to make my first real trade on penny stocks and watch my wealth grow out of nothing from dividends and capital gains. Sadly, when I saw the price tag on a single stock trade, my heart sank. I was even more disappointed when I read the minimum initial investment.
Despite the fact that discount brokerage firms were in vogue back then, the stakes were still kind of high. If you were lucky, you could carry out stock transactions at about $10 per trade. Alas, those discount brokerages wanted serious, wrinkled, grown-up investors who could easily pluck down the $3000 minimum initial investment at a moment’s notice. Come on! I was only in middle school! All I really wanted to do was to invest $25 and see what would happen.
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May 29th, 2007 | No Comments | Internet, Investing, Money
My Mom’s $700 Free Money: Find Your Unclaimed Assets With a Simple Search
I have a pet peeve about Oprah and her TV show: I absolutely despise the audience! I hate it when the camera focuses on the audience drinking in every word that flows from the “big O” as absolute. “Oprah said it, so it must be true!” Right? I hate when they laugh at her jokes or tear during a tender moment. Worst of all, I cannot bear it when they stand up, applaud, get excited, nod their heads (like they know what they’re nodding about), and praise their apparent god, Oprah Winfrey!
But there is one thing I cannot deny from Oprah. She always brings something new, fresh, and useful to the table. My sister was watching Oprah’s TV show one afternoon and the episode featured a company called FoundMoney.com. The guest discussed with Oprah how “THOUSANDS OF NORTH AMERICANS have UNCLAIMED CASH - and they don’t know about it!”
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