Sunday, February 15th, 2009
Yesterday, I had to run out to Home Depot to get some stuff for a little project I was working on (I’ll tell you about it in the next post). While making my list, I remembered that I needed some saw blades for my reciprocating saw. Remember me telling you about that in the “Replacing The Exhaust On A 1999 Honda Civic DX” post? If not, you should go re-read that post. It is quite fantastic.
While at the Depot, after I did all my “project” shopping, I managed to make my way over to the tool aisle. I found the reciprocating saw blades and promptly put two nice metal cutting blades in the cart. I noticed that they were priced at $3.99 each. That didn’t really bother me because I had a bunch of gift cards in my wallet. I figured that $8 wasn’t too bad. Then, I happened to look up to see a nice Dewalt reciprocating saw blade kit for $25 and change. I said to myself, “That’s too much. All I need is a few metal cutting blades.” I picked the kit up anyway. The kit has 11 blades and one handy-dandy blade carrying “tough-case.” I did the math and just couldn’t help myself. I was sold on the carrying case. I am so bad. I rationalized it by telling myself that I was saving money because I was getting all those blades at so much less than I would if I had purchased them individually. You see? I actually “saved” money by going out any buying something. Incredible.
Here, take a look.
Dewalt reciprocating saw blade kit
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Jay G writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of AutoLeeg, a popular used cars for sale website.
Buying And Selling Cars with Ease
Whether you are buying a car or selling one, you know how frustrating it can be. You need to find a buyer or a car quickly, but there are so many marketing options available. Which ones are the most effective? How can you be sure you are getting a good deal or selling your car for what it is truly worth?
Choosing the Right Car
For those who are buying cars, the first step in finding the right car is to decide the type of vehicle you want. You can spend hours scouring resources full of used cars for sale, but if you do not know what you want or need, you are going to struggle to find the right vehicle. First, make sure that you find a vehicle with enough space for your regular passengers. This does not just mean enough seats. Many of the vehicles with three rows of seats have very little legroom in the rear, so if you are transporting adults on a regular basis, your passengers will not fit, even though there is a seat for them.
Next, consider the amount of trunk or storage space you need. Will you be using the vehicle for vacations, or just for driving to and from work? Also, make sure you consider the gas mileage on the vehicle. With the ever increasing cost of gas, you need a vehicle that is as fuel efficient as possible.
Once you have an idea in mind as to the type of vehicle you want to buy, consider visiting an automotive dealership that has used cars for sale and test driving a few. This will give you a chance to check out the actual space inside the vehicle, get a feel for the engine, and see how comfortable the controls feel. Narrow down your search after visiting the dealership before you begin searching auto classifieds for a vehicle. However, be sure that you do not buy on this first visit. Car dealers can be pushy and make you feel like the deal they are offering is the best possible deal you will find, so you need to be tough to avoid this pressure. You will want to take time to search on your own for the truly best deal.
Sources for Used Cars
You can find the right car through a dealership, by shopping online, or through a private seller. The route you take depends on your preferences and the asking price of the vehicle. You can find cars for sale from private parties, in newspaper and magazine classifieds or by shopping online. Most people find that the Internet allows them to comparison shop and get a better price on the car they want to buy. Shopping online also helps buyers see a larger selection of autos, since they are limited to the inventory on hand when shopping at a dealership. Most dealerships also register with online classifieds, making the Internet the most convenient place to begin when buying a used car. There are many online automotive classifieds that are great tools to use when shopping for a used vehicle.
Financing Your Purchase
You can finance your purchase through a lender whether you purchase from a private party or a dealership. The best way to ensure that you get the car you really want is to get pre-approved for financing before you begin actively shopping. This will, of course, require that you have a car in mind so that you know the approximate amount of money that you need. Once you have chosen a vehicle and know the price, approach a lender and apply for a car loan. Once you are approved, you will be given a pre-approval notice that you can show a seller if you are ready to make a purchase. If other buyers who do not have pre-approval are interested in the vehicle, the seller will be more likely to choose you because you have the money ready to go.
How to Determine a Car’s Value
Whether you are buying or selling cars, you need a way to determine the value of the vehicle. You can use many tools to help you set determine the value of a particular vehicle. One way to do this is to look in automotive classifieds to see what the asking price of similar vehicles is. Of course, you have no way of knowing based on classifieds alone whether or not the price a particular seller is asking is too high, but this can give you a general feel for the current market.
One tool you will want to use when determining the value of a vehicle is Kelley Blue Book. This guide, which is available online, allows you to see the average listing or selling price of a vehicle that is the same make, model, year, and condition as the vehicle you are either buying or selling. Keep in mind that Kelley Blue Book is a national guide, so the fair price in your location may be slightly lower or higher than the Blue Book value. The bottom line about the value of a car is that it is worth what the buyers in the market are willing to pay. If you are selling a car and have it priced just below Blue Book value, yet no one is willing to pay that, you have the car priced too high for your market.
How to Advertise a Used Car for Sale
Sellers have basically three options to use to advertise their cars. The first is to place a sign in the window and drive the car around town or park it in a visible location. The second option is to advertise in paper classifieds, such as automotive publications or the local newspaper. This can be an effective way to sell a vehicle, but it can also be quite pricey. The third option is the use online classifieds.
Sellers can benefit greatly from using the Internet to help them sell their cars. Just as shopping online provides the buyer with more cars to choose from, selling online provides a wider customer base. There are many free and low cost automotive classifieds websites that advertise used cars for sale. This makes the marketing simple, as the owners of the classifieds sites will promote their sites and draw in the buyers. All the buyer has to do is set the price, submit the information, and then sit back and wait for the vehicle to sell.
Finalizing the Sale
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, finalizing the sale of a used car is basically the same. Once the buyer and seller have agreed to a selling price, the buyer will present the money, usually in the form of a check, to the seller. The seller will then sign the title over to the buyer. At this point, the vehicle is considered sold, and the buyer can drive away in his new vehicle.
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Monday, September 15th, 2008
This article was written by Jay G on behalf of Biddew Online Auction , a popular online auction website.
Online auctions provide a wide variety of products at prices that can’t be beat. Look around at a few online auctions and see for yourself how low the prices are.
Find What You’re Looking For In An Online Auction
If you’re limited on cash but really need a vehicle, what are your options? Scouring the used car lots seems to turn up a lot of overpriced junk. You might find a pretty good deal, but when you take it home and it turns out to be a lemon, you’re stuck with four years worth of car payments for a useless heap. So what is a person to do in this stagnant economy? One of the best ways to find great deals on used cars and more is by perusing online auctions.
Online auctions provide a wide variety of products at prices that can’t be beat. Look around at a few online auctions and see for yourself how low the prices are. Buying a relatively new used car is affordable for anyone, as long as they know how to find the right auction.
Online auctions aren’t limited to automobiles, though. Perusing a few auctions shows you how many products are available. Are you a home recording enthusiast? You can beef up your home studio with microphones, digital audio workstations and top-of-the-line tube preamps for a fraction of the cost. Perhaps you have other hobbies that you want to invest in, but don’t have the money to buy everything new. Whether you’re a model train collector or a dog lover, online auctions have something that you’ll be interested in for a relatively inexpensive price.
Personally, I’m searching for a nice laptop computer so that I can work wherever I go, but I don’t want to pay for a new one. Since discovering the beauty of online auctions, I’ve been able to buy a high-quality computer that works great. It’s only two steps down from the current leader in processing speed, and it has a hard drive large enough to hold all of my business files, my entire music library and even a film or two. It’s great, and I bought it for a quarter of its original price.
Online auctions work similar to live auctions. A minimum price has to be met, and a deadline is set for the auction to end. People bid on the item, outbid each other and the lucky winner gets the prize. If you fail to win the auction, don’t despair. There are often multiple items on the same auction ticket. If not, keep checking the website to see when another auction is posted with the same item.
In general, shipping and handling are pre-arranged and listed with the item. Sometimes, in the case of larger auctions, the item is pick-up only. For example, if you buy a piano in an auction, the shipping and handling would be very expensive, so you typically have to pick it up. Make sure that you understand the terms before you bid. Also, make sure that you know how payment is accepted, whether it’s through an online service, COD or check.
From watch collectors to shoe collectors, online auctions contain something for everyone. If you’re on a tight budget or just like to shop around, online auctions can provide what you desire and save you money at the same time. Keep looking and happy bidding.
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Monday, September 15th, 2008
This article was written by Jay G on behalf of BizLeeg, a popular business directory.
In the ever-expanding Internet age, it is sometimes difficult to sort through useless web pages to find the information you need. An online business directory helps you find the information you need quickly and easily on one convenient page.
Looking for a Specific Type of Business? Try a Local Business Directory
Are you looking for professional beekeepers or local florists? How about a seamstress to make you new custom drapes for your home? If you know the specific type of business you want to find, look no further than a handy online local business directory.
In the ever-expanding Internet age, it is sometimes difficult to sort through useless web pages to find the information you need. An online business directory helps you find the information you need quickly and easily on one convenient page.
If you are looking for a photographer or some other type of service that requires you to call multiple businesses to obtain price quotes, look to an online business directory. Because many different businesses are listed by category, you can quickly and easily find numerous photographers in your area all on one web page for your convenience.
Everything imaginable is listed on an online business directory, thanks to advertising from local merchants. Carpentry advice, legal forums, recipes for cooking, aviation information, real estate information and more can all be found on one handy site.
If you are a business owner, an online business directory is the ideal way to expand your advertising reach on the Internet. Some sites offer free membership that simply involves creating a user name and password. If you are really serious about expanding your online impact, upgrade your membership to reach more of your target market.
Using an online business directory for your advertising needs is a very cost effective way to get the word out about your goods or services. When people in your area need information from the directory, an ad for your business entices them to link to your page directly. This puts a prospective buyer in touch with your business immediately at any time of the day or night.
From retailers to service providers, to links that provide information on local weather and government offices, an online business directory has loads of content to attract visitors and drive traffic to your website. Usually, an online business directory also has a search feature, so users can specifically hunt down the type of merchant or service they are looking for in their area.
An online business directory is a trusted vehicle for your advertising message because it connects browsers with specific solutions. The prospective shopper is already in the market for the items or services you offer, so your ad simply serves as a well-timed suggestion in front of someone with an already present need.
As a forward-thinking business owner, it is important to take the time to add your website to prominent local business directories in your area. Keep in mind that if your competition is listed in a directory and your business is not, you are likely losing out on a percentage of new business because of a lack of visibility. Being at the top of your prospective client’s mind is more than half the battle when it comes to recruiting new business.
The best way to stay at the forefront of your market’s collective consciousness is to be visible at all times. This is especially true when a potential customer is ready to make a buying decision. Positioning yourself well in online business directories allows you to stay at the top of the short list of merchants that will ultimately get the job.
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Friday, March 21st, 2008
The more I look around, the more I learn that the domain name business is big business.
As I told you yesterday, I am trying to scoop up a bunch of different extensions for the domains I already have. It’s working out pretty well, but I have hit a little bump. I already bought up most of the available ones and now I have to enter the market of second (or third) hand domains. That is when it gets expensive.
Let me give you a little example…a guy called me a few years ago to offer a .com domain that he was selling. This was a hot name and he was looking for $50,000 for it. I almost started laughing when he told me that. I think I offered him $300 and went off and did something else. As it turns out, I am kicking myself. I have a feeling I am going to be seeing this domain in action soon because someone out in Las Vegas just purchased it at auction for $135,000. Why was, or is, it worth so much? Well, it was first registered in 1996, so it has some age. Also, it rolls off the tongue extremely easily and is two very powerful keywords. It’s also quite descriptive. Those things alone give it a lot of value. I talked to the seller last night and he mentioned that he does have another .com for sale that I would be interested in. He wants $50,000 for it. This one is definitely not worth what the other one was, but it does give me pause. Honestly, if you can get a well known .com that was born back in 1996, $50,000 is not too much. You do need to do a little research first.
Yesterday, I put a bunch of bids in for multiple .com and .net addresses. I did receive an email back telling me I could buy a .net for $2,688. I am going to have the name appraised today to see if it has been blacklisted or anything like that. I believe it was first registered back in 2002, which isn’t bad.
What’s the benefit of purchasing a used domain name? The answer is Google. Google likes “aged” domains. You can set up a site and not have to wait for Google’s aging filter to do its thing. Also, there may be links to the domain already. So basically, if you get a used domain, you could set up a site and have it indexed very quickly to start making money fast.
I am going to buy a few more today and then call it quits for a while. The guy I spoke to last night is also looking for $50,000 for a little known extension that will become very popular. This is for the same domain as I was talking about above.
What I do know is this…if I buy a bunch of these names now and sit on them for a few years and let them age, I can send them to auction and sell them for some $$$. From what I have been learning, I do have quite an investment already. Just remember…if you are going to get into this, you need to buy domains that people will actually want in a few years. I am not sure how many people would be interested in kwaree.com. There are also huge price variations with what the name consists of, like one word, two words, hyphens, etc…
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Thursday, March 20th, 2008
I have been purchasing quite a few domain names lately. At last glance, I own 78 of them. Over time, I am taking any confusion out of who owns the real domain by scooping up as many different extensions as I can. I have noticed a disturbing trend of domains being bought and sat on…or cyber squatted. Well, this has been going on forever, but now they are buying even the not-so-popular ones. Little by little, I keep on buying them, until I have them all. Sure, it may take years (it already has), but I will get there. I check what’s available every so often.
I do limit myself to the more popular ones though. I go after .com, .net, .org, .us, .info and .biz. I also grab often mistaken spellings of the same extensions. Some may think this is a bit extreme, but I have stopped listening to people. My extremeness has gotten me this far.
Anyway, today I bought eleven new domains. They were .info and .biz. As I shop for these things, I often wonder what they mean. Are they for specific purposes, like they used to be? I will admit, the requirements to purchase a particular domain extension are becoming quite relaxed. I learned a bunch by looking through the list of internet top level domains.
If you take a look at this list, you will notice that extensions that used to be for a particular purpose is now open to everyone. The .govs are still for the government though. I think that anyone can buy a certain domain extension, but if challenged in court, you need to provide proof that you are what the domain is meant for.
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