Dishing Out Feedback About eBay's New Pricing Structure and Policy Changes

By MoneyBlueBook

If there's one group of zealots you never want to upset, it's the eBay sellers. Ever since eBay announced several key changes to its pricing and feedback policies over a week ago, eBay sellers have been flipping out and storming the discussion forums to express their outrage over the impending doom and gloom. A great number of them have become so upset that they've banded together to plot a futile boycott of eBay's auction services around the February 20, 2008 launch date to protest the new fee hikes and feedback policy changes.

Here is an overview of the key controversial eBay pricing and system changes that have sparked such emotional reactions as well as my own thoughts on the matter. You can view the actual eBay price structure changes (here).

1) Listing Prices Will Be Reduced But Final Value Fees Will Be Increased
The new eBay pricing changes will cause up front listing costs such as Insertion Fees and Fixed Price Listings to be reduced. This upfront listing fee reduction is to encourage more listings since eBay auctions have been stagnant for years now as auction interest has waned. Although it used to come at a small cost, eBay now plans to make Gallery picture listing free - a nice free addition that will save a few cents and dollars for some, but it's basically a trivial bonus. It's nothing that will greatly benefit eBay sellers, but with the way eBay has been cleverly marketing the changes by

By MoneyBlueBook

Despite what some people may think, many people still visit public libraries - such as myself. Although the societal trend seems to be shifting towards an entirely digital world where the internet dominates the information landscape, traditional brick and mortar library branches still serve their useful purpose.

Other than studying at the school library during college or university, the last time most people were inside their local public library was probably during high school. These days, your local public library branches are a bit different than those that are affiliated with schools. Rather than focusing on academic research type resources, many cater more to community and family needs. Today they offer a wealth of free services that should be part of everyone's everyday frugal living strategy. Instead of buying expensive books, movies, video disks, or audio tapes without sampling first, you should think about test driving them out at the local county or city library before committing.

Here Are Some Free Services Your Local Public Library Likely Provides That You May Or May Not Be Aware Of:

By MoneyBlueBook

For the last few weeks I've been receiving incessant phone calls several times daily from some unknown toll free number - specifically 1-800-261-1646. Because I have a habit of screening my calls and not picking up my cell phone if I don't recognize the caller ID, the missed calls kept coming in. The unknown calls were perplexing because I recalled signing up my number for the National Do Not Call List. Eventually I gave up and chose to call the number back to see what was up.

The Verizon Wireless Sales Pitch - May We Bind You To A New Multi Year Contract With Just A Few Freebie Offers?

When I called the number, at first there was dead air and I wondered if I had called a scam number, but then a voice over the phone introduced himself thanking me for my interest in Verizon Wireless and requested my cell phone number. I was a bit suspicious but since my cell phone was indeed serviced through Verizon Wireless and I figured my cell phone number wasn't really confidential information, I gave him my information. If he had inquired about the last 4 digits of my social security number I might not have readily given him the number, since I was still a bit suspicious at that point. But with my phone number information, he immediately ascertained my name so I figured he was at least somewhat legit.

Immediately he launched into a sales pitch to get me to sign up for a new binding multi year

By MoneyBlueBook

Warning - alarm - I am about to drive off the personal finance road and head into the entertainment marshes.

Well it's been months since I rambled off topic but I think after having watched this year's 2008 Super XVLII, I feel compelled to comment on the deteriorating quality and excitement of the once highly anticipated half time musical performances. It used to be that I always looked forward to watching the Super Bowl half time shows since they used to feature pretty good superstar performances. But unfortunately, what was once an exciting party bash has in recent years turned into a safe and cautious yawn fest.

Tom Petty's Performance Was Decent But Too Safe For A Super Bowl Half Time Show

This year's half-time show featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a band that probably caters more to the older generation than today's kiddies, myself included. While I will admit he did pull of a pretty skillful performance and sang some great songs, I've never been much of a fan of his band's music. I wasn't really moved or pumped up by their performance as it wasn't really much of a performance - mostly just a karaoke selection of his greatest hits.

I think future shows need serious tuneups. Ever since the whole Janet Jackson alleged wardrobe malfunction episode of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, the quality of the halftime shows have been sliding downhill. We really need MTV to bring back the excitement that the event once had or I think we're going to start

By MoneyBlueBook

One of the ways to maximize your money is by taking advantage of the higher cash back credit card rewards that many reward credit cards offer for purchases made at special bonus reward locations that include - supermarkets, drugstores, and gas stations. What some people might not realize is that many, if not most of these three brick and mortar locations also sell gift cards that can be used towards other major retailers - everything from places like Home Depot to Bed Bath & Beyond. By buying these retail gift cards at the bonus reward locations, cardholders have the potential to earn up to 5% or more cash back through credit card discounts and rebates through a process that's essentially a mild form of gift credit card arbitrage.

Purchase Gift Cards At Rebated Prices And Use Them At Places Like Department Stores, Restaurants, and Online Retail Websites

While there is a multitude of specialized reward credit cards out there (everything from airline credit cards to restaurant credit cards) offering all sorts of credit card offers and usage perks, the majority of these rebate cards reserve the highest cash back percentages for purchases made at what I'd like to call "the big three" - supermarkets, gas stations, and drug stores. Credit card terms do vary, but they usually offer much lower rebate rates (usually 1% back) for everyday purchases made at non "big-three" locations like department stores, clothing shops, restaurants, and online stores.

The trick to earning the maximum reward percentages even when

By MoneyBlueBook

I think it's time all market investors learn to turn their backs on the daily stock ticker blips coming out of Wall Street - not completely, but just enough to regain their emotional composure so they can properly implement the correct long term investment strategy.

Don't Gamble Your Money Away - Invest For the Long Term

Not too long ago, I wrote about one of the biggest dangers to rational investing - emotional trading based on panic buying and selling. The wise and prudent investor should put aside irrational emotions, and always invest for the long term if they can help it. Unless you are very close to retirement, your investment plan should be to hold for the long haul. When you invest for the short term and try to make some fast money, you cease to become an investor and transform into a gambling market timer. But financially, day traders and gamblers live and die by the sword. Yes it is certainly exciting when you occasionally can make a quick 50% profit in one fell swoop, but like all gamblers, their desire to constantly make fast money inevitably causes fatal missteps that will ultimately result in financially devastating losses.

Years ago I tried out the gambling day trading strategy. It was during the dot com boom. Yes I made quite a bit from very short term trading bursts, but overall, my losses outnumbered my gains. My short term investing strategy led me to essentially buy high and sell low. My emotions caused me to jump