Conclusion
To conclude this web essay, although eBay has been around for over 10 years now, it is still a new technology to a lot of people. eBay has and is continue to grow not only as a way to sell things, but as a way to communicate with others that under normal circumstances would not occur. Using eBay to sell and re-sell items will provide more of a potential profit simply because the site caters to a worldwide market, something that a real world garage sale just cannot do.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Gimmay Gimmay Mowah Gimmay Mowah Blog Stuff...
Feedback
eBay uses a feedback system that archives how smooth or rough past transactions went. A positive is represented with a green dot and can raise a user’s overall feedback percentage. Contrary to this a negative is represented with a red dot and lowers a user’s overall feedback percentage. A neutral is represented with a grey dot and neither helps nor hurts a user’s feedback percentage. Also eBay users earn different colored stars next to their feedback score depending on how much positive feedback he/she achieves as a buyer and/or seller. Naturally, most buyers and sellers prefer to get a positive feedback for every completed transaction instead of a negative, neutral, or no feedback whatsoever.
Although it is not mandatory, feedback is vital to tell others that use the site just exactly what kind of eBayer one exactly is. Furthermore, it is the final step in the re-selling process. Generally speaking, many sellers leave feedback after a buyer leaves it for them. While many buyers would expect feedback from a seller as soon as they pay for an item, a top 100 eBay reviewer tells why this should not be the case. Although the buyer may have paid for the auction and a seller shipped the item, the transaction should not warrant feedback just yet. A buyer must still keep in touch with the seller to let him/her know if there were any problems with shipping or if the right items were received. Once the buyer lets the seller know that he/she was satisfied through feedback, then the seller should return the gesture. This also prevents a seller from having their feedback from being held “hostage” from a fraudulent buyer. It is important for a seller to leave feedback last because eBay no longer allows buyers to receive negative feedback for a transaction and can only get eBay involved if a buyer is thought to be manipulating a seller.
In addition to the feedback system, the site has recently added the detailed seller rating structure. This gives sellers more of an incentive to satisfy buyers because after every completed transaction, buyers can anonymously rate a seller out of five stars on communication, item as described, shipping time, and shipping charges. Feedback is not only imperative in documenting that a particular transaction went well (or not), but in the case of re-selling an item, it builds a reputation as a seller.
eBay uses a feedback system that archives how smooth or rough past transactions went. A positive is represented with a green dot and can raise a user’s overall feedback percentage. Contrary to this a negative is represented with a red dot and lowers a user’s overall feedback percentage. A neutral is represented with a grey dot and neither helps nor hurts a user’s feedback percentage. Also eBay users earn different colored stars next to their feedback score depending on how much positive feedback he/she achieves as a buyer and/or seller. Naturally, most buyers and sellers prefer to get a positive feedback for every completed transaction instead of a negative, neutral, or no feedback whatsoever.
Although it is not mandatory, feedback is vital to tell others that use the site just exactly what kind of eBayer one exactly is. Furthermore, it is the final step in the re-selling process. Generally speaking, many sellers leave feedback after a buyer leaves it for them. While many buyers would expect feedback from a seller as soon as they pay for an item, a top 100 eBay reviewer tells why this should not be the case. Although the buyer may have paid for the auction and a seller shipped the item, the transaction should not warrant feedback just yet. A buyer must still keep in touch with the seller to let him/her know if there were any problems with shipping or if the right items were received. Once the buyer lets the seller know that he/she was satisfied through feedback, then the seller should return the gesture. This also prevents a seller from having their feedback from being held “hostage” from a fraudulent buyer. It is important for a seller to leave feedback last because eBay no longer allows buyers to receive negative feedback for a transaction and can only get eBay involved if a buyer is thought to be manipulating a seller.
In addition to the feedback system, the site has recently added the detailed seller rating structure. This gives sellers more of an incentive to satisfy buyers because after every completed transaction, buyers can anonymously rate a seller out of five stars on communication, item as described, shipping time, and shipping charges. Feedback is not only imperative in documenting that a particular transaction went well (or not), but in the case of re-selling an item, it builds a reputation as a seller.
Another chunk...1 or 2 more to go
Research/Marketing/Smart Selling
This section is designed to help ease the transition of re-selling an item on eBay after it has been purchased in the real world or on eBay. Selling on eBay can be tricky for first-timers and those who use the site infrequently, but the following information from the insights of internet experts and eBay users below could help maximize a potential profit in re-selling an item.
Before anything else, Kiersten Conner-Sax and Ed Krol who wrote “The Whole Internet: The Next Generation”, suggest that remembering to be honest and forthright can go a long way. Also, be sure to accommodate potential buyers' questions within a reasonable amount of time. Little things such as these will build a favorable reputation within the community as noted in the later feedback section.
One eBayer stresses the importance of researching what the product sells for on eBay.Understand competition helps drive prices down. See how many eBayers sell your product and find out the average price. Then decide if the estimated average price is worth the time and fees to put into posting a listing. The more items listed like the one being resold can give one an idea of what price it goes for, but it also gives buyers more choices in who to buy from. If the item being resold has no other sellers listing that product, it may or may not have a market for a buyer. Especially for items like these, the proper advertising is key.
Another eBayer, who is a top 1000 reviewer on the site, says that an item’s description must be perfect. Make the description stand out to include all the details. Describe the product as completely as possible while using abbreviations as well as the full word it represents. Include as much detail in the title as possible to get eBayers to notice the listing. The more detail there is in a description can result in more potential search views or “hits” for the overall auction.As apart of being an honest seller, include any imperfections with the product as it will prevent many problems in the long run. Also include a shipping cost or calculator and as many pictures needed to get all the details in. These factors will not only improve the potential search views and watchers for the item, but help the chances of receiving a positive feedback for the transaction.
In the final part to this section, a top 25 reviewer for eBay recommends timing the duration of the auction. To really get bidding wars on an auction, timing is essential. According to this eBay user, the most popular day to end an auction is Sunday, followed by Saturday then Friday. Seven day auctions suit best for many products, especially those that are not sold as much on eBay because it can generate more watchers and views from different time zones. On the other side of this, a researched item with a prominent market may be best to use the five or three day time span which are geared towards society’s mindset of want things right away. A hot item that will certainly command a higher price may be suited for a one day auction which attracts those with short attention spans. Also a buy it now or best offer option on prominent items would be a good appeal for those users with shorter attention spans and that would want an item right away. Try to end the auction around 10 p.m. Eastern time. This way it won’t be too late for watchers in the Eastern time zone to bid, and watchers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will have plenty of time to bid since it would be early evening.
This section is designed to help ease the transition of re-selling an item on eBay after it has been purchased in the real world or on eBay. Selling on eBay can be tricky for first-timers and those who use the site infrequently, but the following information from the insights of internet experts and eBay users below could help maximize a potential profit in re-selling an item.
Before anything else, Kiersten Conner-Sax and Ed Krol who wrote “The Whole Internet: The Next Generation”, suggest that remembering to be honest and forthright can go a long way. Also, be sure to accommodate potential buyers' questions within a reasonable amount of time. Little things such as these will build a favorable reputation within the community as noted in the later feedback section.
One eBayer stresses the importance of researching what the product sells for on eBay.Understand competition helps drive prices down. See how many eBayers sell your product and find out the average price. Then decide if the estimated average price is worth the time and fees to put into posting a listing. The more items listed like the one being resold can give one an idea of what price it goes for, but it also gives buyers more choices in who to buy from. If the item being resold has no other sellers listing that product, it may or may not have a market for a buyer. Especially for items like these, the proper advertising is key.
Another eBayer, who is a top 1000 reviewer on the site, says that an item’s description must be perfect. Make the description stand out to include all the details. Describe the product as completely as possible while using abbreviations as well as the full word it represents. Include as much detail in the title as possible to get eBayers to notice the listing. The more detail there is in a description can result in more potential search views or “hits” for the overall auction.As apart of being an honest seller, include any imperfections with the product as it will prevent many problems in the long run. Also include a shipping cost or calculator and as many pictures needed to get all the details in. These factors will not only improve the potential search views and watchers for the item, but help the chances of receiving a positive feedback for the transaction.
In the final part to this section, a top 25 reviewer for eBay recommends timing the duration of the auction. To really get bidding wars on an auction, timing is essential. According to this eBay user, the most popular day to end an auction is Sunday, followed by Saturday then Friday. Seven day auctions suit best for many products, especially those that are not sold as much on eBay because it can generate more watchers and views from different time zones. On the other side of this, a researched item with a prominent market may be best to use the five or three day time span which are geared towards society’s mindset of want things right away. A hot item that will certainly command a higher price may be suited for a one day auction which attracts those with short attention spans. Also a buy it now or best offer option on prominent items would be a good appeal for those users with shorter attention spans and that would want an item right away. Try to end the auction around 10 p.m. Eastern time. This way it won’t be too late for watchers in the Eastern time zone to bid, and watchers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will have plenty of time to bid since it would be early evening.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Yep...Some More
Smart Buying in the Virtual World
The second path to the road of re-selling would be acquiring items through the virtual world. By virtual world we mean items that cannot be examined in person before being purchased, but rather seen and described by means of the internet and more specifically in this case eBay.
The good thing about buying virtually is that the selections are much more vast than in the real world because rather than buying in a certain location (ex. the closest mall or department store), one can buy something basically anywhere in the world. Much like a real world department store though, one uses reputation as a means of building trust in buying item(s) from a seller. A seller's feedback is located in the upper right section of an auction. Clicking on their name or number will lead to a page filled with more detailed feedbacks as to what other buyers and sellers have thought of past transactions with this eBayer. Watch out for any negative feedback as sometimes they could have been for minor things that could have been worked out or major things such as an item being reported as not received. Reading a seller's feedback will give one an idea as what to expect if he/she decided to deal with the seller. The more feedback the better.
One of the most important things regarding smart buying is knowing exactly what is being purchased. Know every detail about the auction and everything in the description. One eBayer gave a five step process as what details were vital to look for in an auction.
-Be aware as to where the seller ships. If one is buying from someone outside of the country make sure the auction states they ship internationally. If not, it is a good idea to message the seller about the issue and see what he/she can do to accommodate.
-Next one should read the description thoroughly as many of the words may not jump out at one look. Look for things like the condition of the item, any flaws, sizes, colors, and if it is in working condition or not.
-Pictures provide a better visual than one's imagination as to what the item looks like. Although it is better for an auction to include pictures, don't completely disregard the auction if it doesn't. Message the seller for any pictures and questions about the product if there is reasonable doubt or double check the seller's feedback to calm worries.
-Understand the seller's policies. Some sellers allow returns within a certain period of time while others have an "all sales final" policy. Also know the payment methods that sellers accept. Most sellers accept Paypal, which is an eBay affiliated site that transfers money from a buyer's bank or credit account to the seller's bank account. This is the most popular method of payment because of how safe it is. Sellers cannot see the buyer's information and everything is done virtually so nothing can be misplaced. Not only is it the fastest method of payment, but most auctions that accept Paypal offer a buyer protection policy (depending on how many feedback the seller has) from $200-$2000. Other methods that may be accepted are money orders and personal checks, which don't offer the same protection as Paypal. If a seller only accepts these payment methods instead of Paypal, use their feedback as an indicator of trust or message him/her ahead of time if they would be willing to accept Paypal.
-Finally, realize the shipping methods being used. Some are faster (more expensive) or slower (less expensive) than others. If both are offered, choose the one that best addresses one's needs.
Make sure to check out not only the auctions, but eBay stores for the best price as well. Stores offer a fixed rate as if one was buying from a department store. Also many items being auctioned off are from uneducated or inexperienced sellers. Some sellers do not even include what is being auctioned in the title for example this seller was auctioning an original Nintendo system, but never stated that in the title. The word “Nintendo” was only located in the description. The result yielded only 15 hits on a product that should have earned more. To find items like these, check the box that states search title and description under the search bar.
Being fully aware of your "virtual surroundings" so to speak within in an auction is certainly important in smart virtual buying. The next section will show how marketing and smart selling tactics on eBay are essential in the quest for getting the highest potential profit on an item.
The second path to the road of re-selling would be acquiring items through the virtual world. By virtual world we mean items that cannot be examined in person before being purchased, but rather seen and described by means of the internet and more specifically in this case eBay.
The good thing about buying virtually is that the selections are much more vast than in the real world because rather than buying in a certain location (ex. the closest mall or department store), one can buy something basically anywhere in the world. Much like a real world department store though, one uses reputation as a means of building trust in buying item(s) from a seller. A seller's feedback is located in the upper right section of an auction. Clicking on their name or number will lead to a page filled with more detailed feedbacks as to what other buyers and sellers have thought of past transactions with this eBayer. Watch out for any negative feedback as sometimes they could have been for minor things that could have been worked out or major things such as an item being reported as not received. Reading a seller's feedback will give one an idea as what to expect if he/she decided to deal with the seller. The more feedback the better.
One of the most important things regarding smart buying is knowing exactly what is being purchased. Know every detail about the auction and everything in the description. One eBayer gave a five step process as what details were vital to look for in an auction.
-Be aware as to where the seller ships. If one is buying from someone outside of the country make sure the auction states they ship internationally. If not, it is a good idea to message the seller about the issue and see what he/she can do to accommodate.
-Next one should read the description thoroughly as many of the words may not jump out at one look. Look for things like the condition of the item, any flaws, sizes, colors, and if it is in working condition or not.
-Pictures provide a better visual than one's imagination as to what the item looks like. Although it is better for an auction to include pictures, don't completely disregard the auction if it doesn't. Message the seller for any pictures and questions about the product if there is reasonable doubt or double check the seller's feedback to calm worries.
-Understand the seller's policies. Some sellers allow returns within a certain period of time while others have an "all sales final" policy. Also know the payment methods that sellers accept. Most sellers accept Paypal, which is an eBay affiliated site that transfers money from a buyer's bank or credit account to the seller's bank account. This is the most popular method of payment because of how safe it is. Sellers cannot see the buyer's information and everything is done virtually so nothing can be misplaced. Not only is it the fastest method of payment, but most auctions that accept Paypal offer a buyer protection policy (depending on how many feedback the seller has) from $200-$2000. Other methods that may be accepted are money orders and personal checks, which don't offer the same protection as Paypal. If a seller only accepts these payment methods instead of Paypal, use their feedback as an indicator of trust or message him/her ahead of time if they would be willing to accept Paypal.
-Finally, realize the shipping methods being used. Some are faster (more expensive) or slower (less expensive) than others. If both are offered, choose the one that best addresses one's needs.
Make sure to check out not only the auctions, but eBay stores for the best price as well. Stores offer a fixed rate as if one was buying from a department store. Also many items being auctioned off are from uneducated or inexperienced sellers. Some sellers do not even include what is being auctioned in the title for example this seller was auctioning an original Nintendo system, but never stated that in the title. The word “Nintendo” was only located in the description. The result yielded only 15 hits on a product that should have earned more. To find items like these, check the box that states search title and description under the search bar.
Being fully aware of your "virtual surroundings" so to speak within in an auction is certainly important in smart virtual buying. The next section will show how marketing and smart selling tactics on eBay are essential in the quest for getting the highest potential profit on an item.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Guess what? More blog
Sample Listing – Research from real world
The sample listing section is a demonstration for putting everything mentioned in this web essay to use. The route taken for this particular example was buying an item in the real world and researching its value in both the real world and through eBay. I've personally used all this information and was involved in a buy from the real world/re-sell on eBay situation as an example.
The buying process occurred at a Marshall’s department store. Many of the items here as you may or may not know are on clearance. I happened to find in the men’s clothing section an authentic NBA jersey. It was a size 56 New Jersey Nets home jersey for Alonzo Mourning. Since I collect jerseys I knew that the material was top of the line and considering that Alonzo Mourning no longer plays for the Nets and is a potential hall-of-famer, it is rare. I knew this type of jersey can typically run for $160 in retail stores and at the $19.99 price at Marshall’s I decided to purchase it and re-sell it on eBay.
Many people use eBay to find deals. I knew going in that I wasn’t going to get $160 for this jersey because through my personal research, although still slightly expensive NBA jerseys typically go for a little less than half of the retail price. I decided to do a five day auction but instead of create one for bidding, I created one for best offers. I set the buy it now price slightly high at $69.99 plus the shipping costs. Since at the time there were no authentic Alonzo Mourning jerseys being auctioned off at the time, I thought it was best to determine the value of this based on what people would offer for it.
I included the vital information in the title (name, size, and condition). Also I added a subtitle to catch the potential buyers’ attention to let them know I accept offers and would offer free shipping if the buy it now function was used. I took two pictures of the jersey (front and back) which unfortunately is unable to properly load for this web essay because it wasn’t a recent auction of mine. The description included a background on the quality of the jersey and the type of player Alonzo Mourning was. I also capitalized any word of phrase that I thought would jump out at a potential buyer. The auction resulted in 74 hits for a five day span and a best offer of $55 (shipping included). Considering the offer was made towards the end of the auction, I decided to accept it considering it was the only serious offer and that all in all, I nearly doubled my money.
The sample listing section is a demonstration for putting everything mentioned in this web essay to use. The route taken for this particular example was buying an item in the real world and researching its value in both the real world and through eBay. I've personally used all this information and was involved in a buy from the real world/re-sell on eBay situation as an example.
The buying process occurred at a Marshall’s department store. Many of the items here as you may or may not know are on clearance. I happened to find in the men’s clothing section an authentic NBA jersey. It was a size 56 New Jersey Nets home jersey for Alonzo Mourning. Since I collect jerseys I knew that the material was top of the line and considering that Alonzo Mourning no longer plays for the Nets and is a potential hall-of-famer, it is rare. I knew this type of jersey can typically run for $160 in retail stores and at the $19.99 price at Marshall’s I decided to purchase it and re-sell it on eBay.
Many people use eBay to find deals. I knew going in that I wasn’t going to get $160 for this jersey because through my personal research, although still slightly expensive NBA jerseys typically go for a little less than half of the retail price. I decided to do a five day auction but instead of create one for bidding, I created one for best offers. I set the buy it now price slightly high at $69.99 plus the shipping costs. Since at the time there were no authentic Alonzo Mourning jerseys being auctioned off at the time, I thought it was best to determine the value of this based on what people would offer for it.
I included the vital information in the title (name, size, and condition). Also I added a subtitle to catch the potential buyers’ attention to let them know I accept offers and would offer free shipping if the buy it now function was used. I took two pictures of the jersey (front and back) which unfortunately is unable to properly load for this web essay because it wasn’t a recent auction of mine. The description included a background on the quality of the jersey and the type of player Alonzo Mourning was. I also capitalized any word of phrase that I thought would jump out at a potential buyer. The auction resulted in 74 hits for a five day span and a best offer of $55 (shipping included). Considering the offer was made towards the end of the auction, I decided to accept it considering it was the only serious offer and that all in all, I nearly doubled my money.
More Blog Stuff (This one is good)
Sample Listing – Research from online
The sample listing section is a demonstration for putting everything mentioned in this web essay to use. The route taken for this particular example was buying and researching items through eBay. I’ve personally used all this information and did a buy/re-sell situation on eBay as an example.
First I had a need for a particular video game system cable. Rather than purchase a third party cable for roughly $5-$7, through research I found a seller who auctioned off three brand new first party cables for $9.95 (Researched Auction). First party brand items are those that are made by the original maker of the system whereas third party branded items are those that are made by companies outside of the original maker. I was the only one who bid on the auction and as a result I was able to win the auction without a fight.
Now I have the cable I needed as apart of a bundle for a separate future auction that I was planning, but I also have two additional cables that I have no need for. This is where the re-selling portion comes into play. I decided to use a five-day auction and sell each cable separately. For the first auction (1st eBay item), I earned $13.50 (shipping price included) and the second auction (2nd eBay item) I earned $11 (shipping price included). Both auctions included multiple bidders.
There are many reasons as to why my auctions were more successful than the auction I won. In analysis of the original auction, there were only 38 hits within five a five day period (This number is located right under the picture). Reasons for this could be the short description given as well as the lack of wording in the title (Ex. “Audio-video” instead of the more popular “AV”). Also, there’s a good chance many buyers searching for these cables may only need one rather than three.
For each of my auctions I received 79 hits and 98 hits respectively within five day periods. A reason for the higher number of hits on the second auction could be because a bidding war drove the price higher in the first auction sooner than in the second. Rather than auction them both at the same time which could compromise a higher priced auction, I spaced each out a week apart and had each end on a Sunday evening.
My description was also more thorough and also included a number of key words associated not only with the cable, but with different video games in general as well. The title included AV and RF (another form of the cable) to help assure more hits. The term audio/video was saved for the description. The picture of the item showed the front as well as the back of the item (as opposed to strictly the front in the previous auction). Although a little more time-consuming, this process helped me gain the cable I needed as well as make a small profit through using the information in this web essay.
The sample listing section is a demonstration for putting everything mentioned in this web essay to use. The route taken for this particular example was buying and researching items through eBay. I’ve personally used all this information and did a buy/re-sell situation on eBay as an example.
First I had a need for a particular video game system cable. Rather than purchase a third party cable for roughly $5-$7, through research I found a seller who auctioned off three brand new first party cables for $9.95 (Researched Auction). First party brand items are those that are made by the original maker of the system whereas third party branded items are those that are made by companies outside of the original maker. I was the only one who bid on the auction and as a result I was able to win the auction without a fight.
Now I have the cable I needed as apart of a bundle for a separate future auction that I was planning, but I also have two additional cables that I have no need for. This is where the re-selling portion comes into play. I decided to use a five-day auction and sell each cable separately. For the first auction (1st eBay item), I earned $13.50 (shipping price included) and the second auction (2nd eBay item) I earned $11 (shipping price included). Both auctions included multiple bidders.
There are many reasons as to why my auctions were more successful than the auction I won. In analysis of the original auction, there were only 38 hits within five a five day period (This number is located right under the picture). Reasons for this could be the short description given as well as the lack of wording in the title (Ex. “Audio-video” instead of the more popular “AV”). Also, there’s a good chance many buyers searching for these cables may only need one rather than three.
For each of my auctions I received 79 hits and 98 hits respectively within five day periods. A reason for the higher number of hits on the second auction could be because a bidding war drove the price higher in the first auction sooner than in the second. Rather than auction them both at the same time which could compromise a higher priced auction, I spaced each out a week apart and had each end on a Sunday evening.
My description was also more thorough and also included a number of key words associated not only with the cable, but with different video games in general as well. The title included AV and RF (another form of the cable) to help assure more hits. The term audio/video was saved for the description. The picture of the item showed the front as well as the back of the item (as opposed to strictly the front in the previous auction). Although a little more time-consuming, this process helped me gain the cable I needed as well as make a small profit through using the information in this web essay.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Another part of Blog 11 (or 9 or 10 for that matter)
Strategies for buying in the Real World
There are two buying routes that one can take that leads to the road to re-selling. This section will talk about buying items in the real world. By real world we mean items that can can be seen and touched in person rather than purchased online based on a description.
Of course one can buy an item at a retail store for example and re-sell it on eBay. This strategy would work well on hot items such as a Nintendo Wii or hard-to-find items such as a chase piece to an action figure set. Also, it may be a good idea to scout out the clearance sections of different stores mainly because purchasing items on these racks are a lower risk/possible higher reward type of bargain. Chances are though, outside of these scenerios it won't make much of a profit due to the fact that the item being purchased at the retail store is more likely being purchased at regular price.
A different and more practical approach to buying the real world can be achieved by going to various garage sales. According to Suzanne Arant-Wells, an eBay Powerseller as well as an eBay consultant, although garage sales vary in items they are more than likely to be easier on the pocket than the retail store strategy.
She notes that timing is an important factor for this strategy. Garage sales should be searched for on places like craigslist (A Friday sale will usually make a post on Tuesday) and local newspapers. It is equally important to arrive as early as possible in order to get a better selection. The biggest difference from buying at department stores though is the ability to bargain. Retailers are looking to make a profit, whereas most people holding garage sales are looking to get rid of "junk" for a meager price. Although items at garage sales can be completely random, the potential reward more times than not can outweigh the risk.
(http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Find-Items-to-Sell-on-Ebay-at-Garage-Sales&id=654755)
There are two buying routes that one can take that leads to the road to re-selling. This section will talk about buying items in the real world. By real world we mean items that can can be seen and touched in person rather than purchased online based on a description.
Of course one can buy an item at a retail store for example and re-sell it on eBay. This strategy would work well on hot items such as a Nintendo Wii or hard-to-find items such as a chase piece to an action figure set. Also, it may be a good idea to scout out the clearance sections of different stores mainly because purchasing items on these racks are a lower risk/possible higher reward type of bargain. Chances are though, outside of these scenerios it won't make much of a profit due to the fact that the item being purchased at the retail store is more likely being purchased at regular price.
A different and more practical approach to buying the real world can be achieved by going to various garage sales. According to Suzanne Arant-Wells, an eBay Powerseller as well as an eBay consultant, although garage sales vary in items they are more than likely to be easier on the pocket than the retail store strategy.
She notes that timing is an important factor for this strategy. Garage sales should be searched for on places like craigslist (A Friday sale will usually make a post on Tuesday) and local newspapers. It is equally important to arrive as early as possible in order to get a better selection. The biggest difference from buying at department stores though is the ability to bargain. Retailers are looking to make a profit, whereas most people holding garage sales are looking to get rid of "junk" for a meager price. Although items at garage sales can be completely random, the potential reward more times than not can outweigh the risk.
(http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Find-Items-to-Sell-on-Ebay-at-Garage-Sales&id=654755)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Part of Blog 11
Statement of Purpose
Is it possible for a person to earn a profit through online selling? More specifically, is it possible for any person in the country to buy something on eBay and make more money on the same item by re-selling it on eBay? One must be wondering how it is possible for a person to be able to make more money selling the same item on eBay unless it is a scam.
This web essay will show how re-selling in the virtual world (eBay) will maximize a potential profit more so than re-selling in the physical world-----without a single scam involved. This essay will also demonstrate the importance of buying in the physical world as well as the virtual world.
Ebay History
Pierre Omidyar founded the company in 1995 when it was known AuctionWeb. This online auction concept was apart of a larger web site he personally created for information on the ebola virus. What started out as a minor project blew up into a worldwide phenomenon---and it all started with a broken laser pointer. It was the very first item Omidyar sold as apart of his project which in his disbelief, fetched $14.83. Omidyar e-mailed the winner to be sure he realized that the laser pointer was broken and not new. The winning bidder told Omidyar that he was a collector of broken laser pointers.
Knowing he was onto something big, Omidyar threw his focus on building AuctionWeb, which he soon renamed as Ebay, short for Echo Bay which was the name of his consulting firm. Ebay soon expanded internally with a business team, as well as externally through more buyers and sellers. This eventually led up to the company's 1998 debut on the stock market. (http://ebay.about.com/od/ebaylifestyle/a/el_history.htm)
Currently, eBay is one of the most recognized online marketplaces. It started as an experiment and became a way for people to sell nearly anything to anyone in the world all virtually. Ebay has evolved into a concept that breaks barriers so to speak by using the internet to connect groups of people based on his/her wants and needs. (http://news.ebay.com/about.cfm)
Is it possible for a person to earn a profit through online selling? More specifically, is it possible for any person in the country to buy something on eBay and make more money on the same item by re-selling it on eBay? One must be wondering how it is possible for a person to be able to make more money selling the same item on eBay unless it is a scam.
This web essay will show how re-selling in the virtual world (eBay) will maximize a potential profit more so than re-selling in the physical world-----without a single scam involved. This essay will also demonstrate the importance of buying in the physical world as well as the virtual world.
Ebay History
Pierre Omidyar founded the company in 1995 when it was known AuctionWeb. This online auction concept was apart of a larger web site he personally created for information on the ebola virus. What started out as a minor project blew up into a worldwide phenomenon---and it all started with a broken laser pointer. It was the very first item Omidyar sold as apart of his project which in his disbelief, fetched $14.83. Omidyar e-mailed the winner to be sure he realized that the laser pointer was broken and not new. The winning bidder told Omidyar that he was a collector of broken laser pointers.
Knowing he was onto something big, Omidyar threw his focus on building AuctionWeb, which he soon renamed as Ebay, short for Echo Bay which was the name of his consulting firm. Ebay soon expanded internally with a business team, as well as externally through more buyers and sellers. This eventually led up to the company's 1998 debut on the stock market. (http://ebay.about.com/od/ebaylifestyle/a/el_history.htm)
Currently, eBay is one of the most recognized online marketplaces. It started as an experiment and became a way for people to sell nearly anything to anyone in the world all virtually. Ebay has evolved into a concept that breaks barriers so to speak by using the internet to connect groups of people based on his/her wants and needs. (http://news.ebay.com/about.cfm)
Survey Thing
On a daily basis the media I use includes:
Computer
T.V.
Radio
Ipod
Magazines
Cell Phone
Video Games
This is certainly different than when I was five because my media was primarily T.V. cartoons and coloring books. When I was 10 my media usage was T.V. video games, and kiddy magazines. At 15 it was everything at 10 plus the
computer as well as an interest in music.
I would say I spend a total of 2 hours in intervals on the computer throughout a day. T.V. would be slightly less than that and is mostly done at night. Radio would be probably 20 minutes tops (unless I have my iPod) or however long I drive for. My iPod I would say an hour to an hour and a half because I use it in the car as well as at the gym. My cell phone I would say it varies on the day but it could be between 10 and 35 minutes. I really don't use my cell phone the way most women do. Finally, magazines would be again maybe 10 to 20 minutes depending on how new it is, the free time I have, and what puzzles are in it.
-Doing math or calculation homework I would probably have some music playing in the background. It used to be the radio, but would probably now be
music on Youtube.
-For reading assignments I would either have a very faint sound from the radio on or at times nothing at all.
-For writing a paper I would be on the computer with music on from either my playlist or Youtube and periodically surf the web for headlines during breaks in my work.
-Studying for an exam I either would be in my room much like a reading assignment or in the family room with a movie on.
-For driving I will either listen to the radio and sing or listen to my iPod and you guessed it, sing. It's like pick your poison when I'm in the car.
-Eating a meal I have to be doing something else whether it be on the computer checking headlines or going through the paper and circulars.
-Eat with my family we usually have the T.V. on, but with my friends its usually out with the music or multiple T.V.'s on.
-Household Chores like cooking breakfast I would have the T.V. on, but cleaning my car (A long time ago) it would be the radio being on.
-For my free time I like to work out at my gym and I'll have my iPod with me; watch ESPN highlights on T.V. at night, and check headlines and eBay auctions on the computer.
Computer
T.V.
Radio
Ipod
Magazines
Cell Phone
Video Games
This is certainly different than when I was five because my media was primarily T.V. cartoons and coloring books. When I was 10 my media usage was T.V. video games, and kiddy magazines. At 15 it was everything at 10 plus the
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I would say I spend a total of 2 hours in intervals on the computer throughout a day. T.V. would be slightly less than that and is mostly done at night. Radio would be probably 20 minutes tops (unless I have my iPod) or however long I drive for. My iPod I would say an hour to an hour and a half because I use it in the car as well as at the gym. My cell phone I would say it varies on the day but it could be between 10 and 35 minutes. I really don't use my cell phone the way most women do. Finally, magazines would be again maybe 10 to 20 minutes depending on how new it is, the free time I have, and what puzzles are in it.
-Doing math or calculation homework I would probably have some music playing in the background. It used to be the radio, but would probably now be
music on Youtube.
-For reading assignments I would either have a very faint sound from the radio on or at times nothing at all.
-For writing a paper I would be on the computer with music on from either my playlist or Youtube and periodically surf the web for headlines during breaks in my work.
-Studying for an exam I either would be in my room much like a reading assignment or in the family room with a movie on.
-For driving I will either listen to the radio and sing or listen to my iPod and you guessed it, sing. It's like pick your poison when I'm in the car.
-Eating a meal I have to be doing something else whether it be on the computer checking headlines or going through the paper and circulars.
-Eat with my family we usually have the T.V. on, but with my friends its usually out with the music or multiple T.V.'s on.
-Household Chores like cooking breakfast I would have the T.V. on, but cleaning my car (A long time ago) it would be the radio being on.
-For my free time I like to work out at my gym and I'll have my iPod with me; watch ESPN highlights on T.V. at night, and check headlines and eBay auctions on the computer.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Blog 10
I've got some pretty good ideas and sources for the web essay. Unfortunately we didn't get the walkthrough in class on front page so hopefully next class we will get that. I plan to get most of the writing out of the way before throwing my focus on the setup. I also came up with the idea to use personal auctions that I have won and sold from and dissect them pointing out why I chose each one and the stratagies behind each one for getting the best price possible.
Reflections on Copyright
I thought the Disney video on YouTube was cute. It was jab towards Disney using their own words against while citing each movie as a source. I think it was a controversial move but yet a clever statement. If I created a successful idea, I certainly wouldn't want anyone deliberately earning money on it, especially if it was directly on my authentic works. On the other side of the coin, I think all new ideas and concepts evolved from an established idea and it takes one established idea to sprout new ones. So in some ways copyright restricts possible new ideas that could spawn creativity.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Blog 9
Last class I talked about the structure of my web essay and the different avenues that I will take to get there. I plan on getting a lot of the writing in these next few weeks and will incorporate my wikipedia post as well. In terms of research, I will certainly research things for example as specific methods of selling on eBay that are shown to work better than others (ie starting an auction out with a low bidding price and a high shipping price vs. an auction with a low bidding price and a low shipping price).
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Blog 8
My Wikipedia user name is Ricky620 (No particular reason for the 620, just seemed like a number that flowed). I first made my Wikipedia entry on the last day of class before Spring break.
It was as follows:
Tips for Selling
Selling on eBay can be tricky for first-timers and those who use the site infrequently, but following the tips mentioned below through authors and first-hand sellers could help maximize a potential profit.
-Before anything else, always remember to be honest and forthright. Be sure to accomodate potential buyers' questions. Little things such as these will build a favorable reputation within the community.
- Research what the product sells for on eBay ∙ Understand competition helps drive prices down. See how many eBayers sell your product and find out the average price. Then decide if the estimated average price is worth the time and fees to put into posting a listing.
- Make you description stand out to include all the details ∙ Describe the product as completely as possible while using abbreviations as well as the full word it represents. Include as much detail in the title as possible to get eBayers to notice the listing. The more detail there is, the more the potential search views there can be. ∙ Include any imperfections with the product, a shipping cost or calculator, and as many pictures needed to get all the details in. These factors will not only improve the potential search views and watchers for the item, but help the chances of receiving a positive feedback for the transaction.
-Time the duration of the auction ∙ To get many potential bids on an auction, timing is vital. The most popular day to end an auction is Sunday, followed by Saturday then Friday. ∙ 7 day auctions suit best for many products, especially those that are not sold as much on eBay because it can generate more watchers and views from different time zones. ∙ Try to end the auction around 10 p.m. Eastern time. This way it won’t be too late for watchers in the Eastern time zone to bid, and watchers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will have plenty of time to bid since it would be early evening.
The link to this is
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EBay&diff=prev&oldid=197776291
Unfortunately, approximately one minute and sixteen seconds later, it was removed under the good faith edits (Meaning I meant well but went against what wikipedia stands for). I was thinking of ways to repost this in a different fashion, but was told that this information was primarily like a guide of sorts and wouldn't be useful for the site's purposes. The eBay page was also guarded like a hawk so I was lucky to even change the page for even a minute.
Wikipedia is interesting because to me it is like a digital grapevine. Some things may be stretched a bit with many users trying to make their mark on something, but just about everything has some sort of truth to it.
It was as follows:
Tips for Selling
Selling on eBay can be tricky for first-timers and those who use the site infrequently, but following the tips mentioned below through authors and first-hand sellers could help maximize a potential profit.
-Before anything else, always remember to be honest and forthright. Be sure to accomodate potential buyers' questions. Little things such as these will build a favorable reputation within the community.
- Research what the product sells for on eBay ∙ Understand competition helps drive prices down. See how many eBayers sell your product and find out the average price. Then decide if the estimated average price is worth the time and fees to put into posting a listing.
- Make you description stand out to include all the details ∙ Describe the product as completely as possible while using abbreviations as well as the full word it represents. Include as much detail in the title as possible to get eBayers to notice the listing. The more detail there is, the more the potential search views there can be. ∙ Include any imperfections with the product, a shipping cost or calculator, and as many pictures needed to get all the details in. These factors will not only improve the potential search views and watchers for the item, but help the chances of receiving a positive feedback for the transaction.
-Time the duration of the auction ∙ To get many potential bids on an auction, timing is vital. The most popular day to end an auction is Sunday, followed by Saturday then Friday. ∙ 7 day auctions suit best for many products, especially those that are not sold as much on eBay because it can generate more watchers and views from different time zones. ∙ Try to end the auction around 10 p.m. Eastern time. This way it won’t be too late for watchers in the Eastern time zone to bid, and watchers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will have plenty of time to bid since it would be early evening.
The link to this is
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EBay&diff=prev&oldid=197776291
Unfortunately, approximately one minute and sixteen seconds later, it was removed under the good faith edits (Meaning I meant well but went against what wikipedia stands for). I was thinking of ways to repost this in a different fashion, but was told that this information was primarily like a guide of sorts and wouldn't be useful for the site's purposes. The eBay page was also guarded like a hawk so I was lucky to even change the page for even a minute.
Wikipedia is interesting because to me it is like a digital grapevine. Some things may be stretched a bit with many users trying to make their mark on something, but just about everything has some sort of truth to it.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Blog 7 (I think this is suppose to be it)
eBay entry article for Wikipedia?
Tips for Selling
Selling on eBay can be tricky for first-timers and those who use the site infrequently, but following the tips mentioned below could help maximize a potential profit.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/twi3/chapter/ch06.html
-Before anything else, always remember to be honest and forthright. Be sure to accomodate potential buyers' questions. Little things such as these will build a favorable reputation within the community.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Margin-Killers-The-Frustration-of-Ebay_W0QQugidZ10000000000020559
- Research what the product sells for on eBay
∙ Understand competition helps drive prices down. See how many eBayers sell your product and find out the average price. Then decide if the estimated average price is worth the time and fees to put into posting a listing.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Writing-the-Perfect-Description-for-Your-eBay-Listing_W0QQugidZ10000000000087204
- Make you description stand out to include all the details
∙ Describe the product as completely as possible while using abbreviations as well as the full word it represents. Include as much detail in the title as possible to get eBayers to notice the listing. The more detail there is, the more the potential search views there can be.
∙ Include any imperfections with the product, a shipping cost or calculator, and as many pictures needed to get all the details in. These factors will not only improve the potential search views and watchers for the item, but help the chances of receiving a positive feedback for the transaction.
http://reviews.ebay.com/When-to-list-your-auctions-TIMING-can-be-everything_W0QQugidZ10000000001313931
-Time the duration of the auction
∙ To really get bidding wars on an auction, timing is vital. The most popular day to end an auction is Sunday, followed by Saturday then Friday.
∙ 7 day auctions suit best for many products, especially those that are not sold as much on eBay because it can generate more watchers and views from different time zones.
∙ Try to end the auction around 10 p.m. Eastern time. This way it won’t be too late for watchers in the Eastern time zone to bid, and watchers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will have plenty of time to bid since it would be early evening.
Tips for Selling
Selling on eBay can be tricky for first-timers and those who use the site infrequently, but following the tips mentioned below could help maximize a potential profit.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/twi3/chapter/ch06.html
-Before anything else, always remember to be honest and forthright. Be sure to accomodate potential buyers' questions. Little things such as these will build a favorable reputation within the community.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Margin-Killers-The-Frustration-of-Ebay_W0QQugidZ10000000000020559
- Research what the product sells for on eBay
∙ Understand competition helps drive prices down. See how many eBayers sell your product and find out the average price. Then decide if the estimated average price is worth the time and fees to put into posting a listing.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Writing-the-Perfect-Description-for-Your-eBay-Listing_W0QQugidZ10000000000087204
- Make you description stand out to include all the details
∙ Describe the product as completely as possible while using abbreviations as well as the full word it represents. Include as much detail in the title as possible to get eBayers to notice the listing. The more detail there is, the more the potential search views there can be.
∙ Include any imperfections with the product, a shipping cost or calculator, and as many pictures needed to get all the details in. These factors will not only improve the potential search views and watchers for the item, but help the chances of receiving a positive feedback for the transaction.
http://reviews.ebay.com/When-to-list-your-auctions-TIMING-can-be-everything_W0QQugidZ10000000001313931
-Time the duration of the auction
∙ To really get bidding wars on an auction, timing is vital. The most popular day to end an auction is Sunday, followed by Saturday then Friday.
∙ 7 day auctions suit best for many products, especially those that are not sold as much on eBay because it can generate more watchers and views from different time zones.
∙ Try to end the auction around 10 p.m. Eastern time. This way it won’t be too late for watchers in the Eastern time zone to bid, and watchers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will have plenty of time to bid since it would be early evening.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Blog 6 - Research Plan
Research Question
Is it possible for a person to earn a profit through online selling? More specifically, is it possible for any person in the country to buy something on eBay and make more money on the same item by re-selling it on eBay? How is it possible for one person to be able to make more or less money selling the same item on eBay?
Statement of Purpose
This guide will demonstrate the importance of buying in the physical world as well as the virtual world. It will also show how re-selling in the virtual world (eBay) will maximize a potential profit rather than re-selling in the physical world.
List of Information Needed to Gather
For this project, I would need to get sources about how eBay works, safe and smart buying and selling tips, information about the different kinds of buyers and sellers, and different marketing techniques.
List of Premliminary Sources
http://netforbeginners.about.com/cs/buyingselling/a/eBay101.htm - This is like an eBay for dummies guide.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/twi3/chapter/ch06.html - This source gives information on buying and selling online.
Plan for Gathering Information
I plan to find information through search engines such as google and yahoo, reading e-books, and reading through eBay guides made by buyers and sellers who have experience in my topic.
Is it possible for a person to earn a profit through online selling? More specifically, is it possible for any person in the country to buy something on eBay and make more money on the same item by re-selling it on eBay? How is it possible for one person to be able to make more or less money selling the same item on eBay?
Statement of Purpose
This guide will demonstrate the importance of buying in the physical world as well as the virtual world. It will also show how re-selling in the virtual world (eBay) will maximize a potential profit rather than re-selling in the physical world.
List of Information Needed to Gather
For this project, I would need to get sources about how eBay works, safe and smart buying and selling tips, information about the different kinds of buyers and sellers, and different marketing techniques.
List of Premliminary Sources
http://netforbeginners.about.com/cs/buyingselling/a/eBay101.htm - This is like an eBay for dummies guide.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/twi3/chapter/ch06.html - This source gives information on buying and selling online.
Plan for Gathering Information
I plan to find information through search engines such as google and yahoo, reading e-books, and reading through eBay guides made by buyers and sellers who have experience in my topic.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Blog 5 (More) Search engine thing
Who uses the site?
1. http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/twi3/chapter/ch06.html - Those who want to be educated on buying and selling on the internet.
2. http://netforbeginners.about.com/cs/buyingselling/a/eBay101.htm - Beginners on the internet.
Where are they?
1. Wherever there is access to a computer.
2. Wherever there is access to a computer.
What do they want from the site?
1. Tips on safe buying and selling on the internet
2. The beginning of and tips on safe buying and selling on eBay.
How does the text of the site address the users?
1. The text is from the book “The Whole Internet: The Next Generation”.
2. The text is a guide about eBay’s beginnings, do’s and don’ts, and what a transaction is like.
How do the graphic elements of the site address the user?
1. The article shows graphics of the book and of various buying and selling sites.
2. The article was more with text and a few advertisements not regarding the topic.
1. http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/twi3/chapter/ch06.html - Those who want to be educated on buying and selling on the internet.
2. http://netforbeginners.about.com/cs/buyingselling/a/eBay101.htm - Beginners on the internet.
Where are they?
1. Wherever there is access to a computer.
2. Wherever there is access to a computer.
What do they want from the site?
1. Tips on safe buying and selling on the internet
2. The beginning of and tips on safe buying and selling on eBay.
How does the text of the site address the users?
1. The text is from the book “The Whole Internet: The Next Generation”.
2. The text is a guide about eBay’s beginnings, do’s and don’ts, and what a transaction is like.
How do the graphic elements of the site address the user?
1. The article shows graphics of the book and of various buying and selling sites.
2. The article was more with text and a few advertisements not regarding the topic.
Blog 5: My Topic/Class Feedback
I am thinking about doing my project on buying and selling on the internet, specifically on eBay. This is an interest of mine right now because it enables me to get certain things I may want and re-sell things I don’t need. I guess I would talk about the different strategies about smart buying and selling, and then relate it to good marketing and how to make a profit. I can also tie this to Bolter and Grusin’s article and show how buying and selling have evolved from being in the physical world to being in the virtual world as well.
Comments: I like your topic. Buying and selling on the internet is a common practice that many people these days have become familiar with. It has revolutionized the way people live.
Question: Are you also going to cover the issue of SCAMS on Ebay? I actually lost money, when I sold a book on ebay. Two months after I sold a book, the buyer claimed he never received my book. After two months, I didn’t have my tracking number anymore. Ebay took out over $100 from my account. – A.C.
-This is a good topic because everyone is familiar with EBAY and online shopping so when talking about it, your audience will be familiar with what you are talking about and will be able to use the information you come up with. I like your take on showing how buying and selling has evolved from a physical world into a virtual world, you could definitely use the concepts we talk about in this class for that.
QUESTIONS:It will be interesting to see which strategies you choose for effective buying and selling, will you be highlighting the negatives as well as the positives? –M.A.
I think you should talk about the negatives onbuying and selling on eBay too. The first and last time I ever used eBay (years ago), I bought a 112 CD and it never came in the mail. The guy got my money but then deleted his account somehow. He had good feedback too. Then there is my brother who buys and sells off eBay almost everyday. This connects perfectly with our class.
Comments: I like your topic. Buying and selling on the internet is a common practice that many people these days have become familiar with. It has revolutionized the way people live.
Question: Are you also going to cover the issue of SCAMS on Ebay? I actually lost money, when I sold a book on ebay. Two months after I sold a book, the buyer claimed he never received my book. After two months, I didn’t have my tracking number anymore. Ebay took out over $100 from my account. – A.C.
-This is a good topic because everyone is familiar with EBAY and online shopping so when talking about it, your audience will be familiar with what you are talking about and will be able to use the information you come up with. I like your take on showing how buying and selling has evolved from a physical world into a virtual world, you could definitely use the concepts we talk about in this class for that.
QUESTIONS:It will be interesting to see which strategies you choose for effective buying and selling, will you be highlighting the negatives as well as the positives? –M.A.
I think you should talk about the negatives onbuying and selling on eBay too. The first and last time I ever used eBay (years ago), I bought a 112 CD and it never came in the mail. The guy got my money but then deleted his account somehow. He had good feedback too. Then there is my brother who buys and sells off eBay almost everyday. This connects perfectly with our class.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Blog 4 (Part 3): My Interests/Future
I enjoy eBay. Alot. There is just something great about being able to find things that I like such as basketball jerseys, DVD's, and even older video game systems for great deals. This in turn gives me more bang for my buck. And bragging rights. Also I would find things for cheap and re-package and re-sell them for a profit because these angelic clowns (I use the word "Angelic" because only an angel can give me such fantastic deals; and "Clowns" because only a clown would sell these things to me a such a low cost) didn't know how to market it correctly.
I also enjoy playing and watching sports. More so watching now than playing when I was in high school. I enjoy watching basketball, football, and some baseball. I like to bowl (I bowl Wednesday nights with my Dad) and playing pool (I'm actively looking for a table on eBay. I found an auction so cross your fingers and hope I win it at a ridiculously low price). I like to lift at the gym (I've been there for over 3 years). I also enjoy hanging out with my girlfriend and being or watching anything funny (Comedy Central, YouTube).
As far as my future, I am a communications major and I want a job that involves utilizing my writing skills. I want something that gives me a sense of security. Also very importantly to me is being able to entertain people in some sort of capacity. I enjoy satire because it is writing with humor, yet it has a point to it. I also realize the classes like Marketing, P.R., and Interviewing helps me in how not to sell myself short. Writing in Cyberspace is vital to my writing because I realize that the internet is the future and anything to educate me more about it now will be allow me to embrace it more in the future.Possibilities I could write on are maybe about smart buying on eBay as that has been a major interest for me as of late. Another thing could be about satirical writing or anything satirical or humorous for that matter and relate it to the internet (YouTube).
I also enjoy playing and watching sports. More so watching now than playing when I was in high school. I enjoy watching basketball, football, and some baseball. I like to bowl (I bowl Wednesday nights with my Dad) and playing pool (I'm actively looking for a table on eBay. I found an auction so cross your fingers and hope I win it at a ridiculously low price). I like to lift at the gym (I've been there for over 3 years). I also enjoy hanging out with my girlfriend and being or watching anything funny (Comedy Central, YouTube).
As far as my future, I am a communications major and I want a job that involves utilizing my writing skills. I want something that gives me a sense of security. Also very importantly to me is being able to entertain people in some sort of capacity. I enjoy satire because it is writing with humor, yet it has a point to it. I also realize the classes like Marketing, P.R., and Interviewing helps me in how not to sell myself short. Writing in Cyberspace is vital to my writing because I realize that the internet is the future and anything to educate me more about it now will be allow me to embrace it more in the future.Possibilities I could write on are maybe about smart buying on eBay as that has been a major interest for me as of late. Another thing could be about satirical writing or anything satirical or humorous for that matter and relate it to the internet (YouTube).
Blog 4 (Part 2): The Vocabulary of Comics
In his work "The Vocabulary of Comics", Scott McCloud talks about the idea that images are not what we think they really mean. He also expresses himself not through a traditional essay, but through comics. He basically says that we the reader put ourselves into what we see to in other words fill the gaps. This explains why we see a detailed character in a comic and a basic character in comics as human--because we see human qualities to them. This can also explain why we relate to more basic characters that the detailed ones in that we see the basic ones expressing the raw emotions that the detailed ones try to convey in a more direct manner.
From a philosophical standpoint, we as readers cannot confuse words and symbols with what the actual concept is. For example a wedding ring represents marriage, yet if one throws the ring away, it doesn't neccessarily mean the person throws the marriage away. Words and symbols can confuse people about what the thing it stands for actually means.
From a philosophical standpoint, we as readers cannot confuse words and symbols with what the actual concept is. For example a wedding ring represents marriage, yet if one throws the ring away, it doesn't neccessarily mean the person throws the marriage away. Words and symbols can confuse people about what the thing it stands for actually means.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Blog 4 (Part 1): Why Heather Can Write
Harry Jenkins's article talked about the "Potter Wars" which consists of a. Teachers and librarians fighting against religious groups' wishes to ban the books from libraries and classrooms; and b. Warner Bros. attempt to ban fan fiction because they believe it is a copyright infringment. The idea of fan-fiction was brought up which in this case, takes the Harry Potter characters and puts them in a cherished environment that helps the writer deal with their own life issues. It is like a therapy for some writers who want to create their own scenerios for their favorite characters.
Heather Cowver started "The Daily Prophet" on the web as a fan-fiction site for Harry Potter. The issue that many have about fan-fiction is where to draw the line from a legal standpoint. We do have freedom of speech and press so I believe that fan-fiction should be allowed to be written at least for personal use. It should be allowed to be shown to others (in the real world like friends). Finally it should be allowed on the internet for other fans to see as long as there is no money being made. It crosses the line of infringement when these articles are published for money or not in the real world because anything published in the real world will result in someone making money. I.E. A writer donates their work to a magazine, but people give money to buy the magazine so the magazine in return can theoretically make money on this.
Heather Cowver started "The Daily Prophet" on the web as a fan-fiction site for Harry Potter. The issue that many have about fan-fiction is where to draw the line from a legal standpoint. We do have freedom of speech and press so I believe that fan-fiction should be allowed to be written at least for personal use. It should be allowed to be shown to others (in the real world like friends). Finally it should be allowed on the internet for other fans to see as long as there is no money being made. It crosses the line of infringement when these articles are published for money or not in the real world because anything published in the real world will result in someone making money. I.E. A writer donates their work to a magazine, but people give money to buy the magazine so the magazine in return can theoretically make money on this.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Blog 3 (Again) Rheingold "Smart Mobs: The Power of the Mobile Many"
This article talked mainly about the idea of smart mobs in relation to technology. In the Philippines the then president Joseph Estrada was peacefully overthrown by smart mobs of the country. Basically citizens of the country who were dissatisfied with Estrada's policies got together through text messaging and organized a time and place for a rally against him.
In class we had the pleasure to do a search on the different stories about smart mobs. I came up with the fact that these groups usually are meant to be secretive although governments have now become more educated and aware of them. Also, although there are some serious smart mobs that serves a purpose, most of the ones I found were all done in humor.
In class we had the pleasure to do a search on the different stories about smart mobs. I came up with the fact that these groups usually are meant to be secretive although governments have now become more educated and aware of them. Also, although there are some serious smart mobs that serves a purpose, most of the ones I found were all done in humor.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Blog 3: Glister Summary
"The Nature of Digital Literacy"
Glister's article "The Nature of Digital Literacy" starts off with the means of how information traveled in the past. People who could afford them gained knowledge through books. This became more widespread with Johannes Guttenberg's invention of the printing press. Glister argues that the internet only helps further the power of printed material instead of taking over it by calling it "the double helix of the twenty-first century's intellectual revival". Glister feels that digital literacy is a way to contact other people who would either not connect in a quick manner or not connect at all. An example is how people respond sooner to e-mails rather than phone calls because it is easier and more convenient. He says that digital literacy can take things like print material, photos, and music and can condense all of it to store in less space than print can. Digital literacy takes print literacy to a more up to date level by understanding a wide variety of formats. Glister uses the idea of a paradigm to explain that people will shift their ideas about finding information in print materials and incorporate that with finding information on the internet.
Glister's article "The Nature of Digital Literacy" starts off with the means of how information traveled in the past. People who could afford them gained knowledge through books. This became more widespread with Johannes Guttenberg's invention of the printing press. Glister argues that the internet only helps further the power of printed material instead of taking over it by calling it "the double helix of the twenty-first century's intellectual revival". Glister feels that digital literacy is a way to contact other people who would either not connect in a quick manner or not connect at all. An example is how people respond sooner to e-mails rather than phone calls because it is easier and more convenient. He says that digital literacy can take things like print material, photos, and music and can condense all of it to store in less space than print can. Digital literacy takes print literacy to a more up to date level by understanding a wide variety of formats. Glister uses the idea of a paradigm to explain that people will shift their ideas about finding information in print materials and incorporate that with finding information on the internet.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Summary of Woolley
Woolley’s article sums up everything that makes up what the idea of “cyberspace” is. First he goes into the concept of the global village where time and space is not needed to carry information, but rather electricity. He described technology as an extension of the body and the idea of networks, which help carry information from one area to another, as an extension of the nervous system. Networks found there way in projects such as ARPAnet and in NASA. Secondly, Woolley compared a computer virus to AIDS in that it is a code that affects the insides of a computer much like AIDS does to an immune system, and can spread through a global village much like AIDS can between people. Next, stocks via computers proved to be more unpredictable as compared in two different situations in 1987 and 1989 showing that no one person is in control. Finally, he talked about how gold and money can be expressed through electronic symbols and currencies can now float without having to be tangible.
1st (Real) Blog
Writing in cyberspace certainly differs from writing in meat-space. If someone wrote a journal in meat-space, it hypothetically only involves the person writing it where that person can put more personal thoughts down knowing others cannot see it. A blog online can be considered remediation as Bolter and Grusin described, of a personal journal. It can involve more graphics and texts and more people can view it. But the blogger can choose how personal it can be for others to see. If I had an urge to expose a personal thought, I would write it in a notebook rather than post it online or on a website like Myspace. The thing about the internet is it's no-holds-barred. People can say whatever they want like in on eBay for example, a person can leave a negative feedback filled with expletives whether it is true or not for another person knowing that nothing will happen as opposed to someone saying the same things in person to a seller at a store. This kind of ties in a couple of Wooley's ideas. Nothing is regulated the internet.
Blog 2: Summary of Bolter and Grusin
In Bolter and Grusin's article "Introduction: The Double Logic of Remediation" the duo goes into the idea of how society wants to multiply and erase mediation. This occurs when it erases media by multiplying it. An example of this is how society used storytelling through word-of-mouth and tried to erase through a new form of storytelling in books. The next advancement in this chain would be audio books and then movies and so on and so forth. Each form of media fight to stay around by using techniques to make a person feel as if he/she was there.
Another form of remediation occurs in newscasts for example. When newscasts began it used to be an anchor informing people of stories in society. Now it has turned into a high-end type of show that features hypermediacy, which consists of graphics and texts while the anchor reports. This leads to Bolter and Grusin explaining the concept of immediacy, which is where a person can get an immediate sense of an idea without any interruption. Different forms of media strive for immediacy to get people to use their form whether it be verbal storytelling, reading a book, or watching a movie by hypermediacy to get the person (s) to feel a certain sense of liveliness.
Another form of remediation occurs in newscasts for example. When newscasts began it used to be an anchor informing people of stories in society. Now it has turned into a high-end type of show that features hypermediacy, which consists of graphics and texts while the anchor reports. This leads to Bolter and Grusin explaining the concept of immediacy, which is where a person can get an immediate sense of an idea without any interruption. Different forms of media strive for immediacy to get people to use their form whether it be verbal storytelling, reading a book, or watching a movie by hypermediacy to get the person (s) to feel a certain sense of liveliness.
Part of Blog 2: Summary of Heim
In Michael Heim's article "VR 101", his focus is about is over use of virtual reality and what it truely is in its technical sense. Many things are virtual such as cell phones, internet chat rooms, and e-mail all have become apart of a "universal vocabulary". Yet Heim says that the strict definition of virtual reality pulls together the meanings of the word in this "universal vocabulary". "VR" as he calls it is first a technology before a confusing idea. Since the "universial vocabulary" of VR is apart of our culture, a broad definition of it is dominant in our society based on the experiences of our society.
Heim says VR in a strict sense "creates an experience made possible by fast computers". The three characteristics of VR Heim mentioned were immersion, interactivity, and information intensity. Immersion isolates one's senses to make a person feel as if he/she were in another place. Interactivity is where a computer can change a scene's viewpoint as fast as a person can change their perspective. Finally information intensity is the sense that a virtual world can create an artifical existence with intellegence. Heim says this also spawns the idea of telepresence, which is a technology that make a person feel present in another place by using his/her senses. For example the telephone is a weaker sense of telepresence because it involves only two people and sound. A stronger example would be a conversation over the internet with a camera and a microphone because it involves more people, sound, and sight.
Other things Heim includes about VR are Helmets, which are head-mounted devices that allow a person to look anywhere in the virtual world. An alternative to the helmet is the CAVE where a person is in a room with surround sound and a screen all around to emulate an environment. Networks and simulators give a better feeling of presence as well as interaction. Heim gives many examples of clarifying what a true sense of VR is as opposed to what society's version is.
Heim says VR in a strict sense "creates an experience made possible by fast computers". The three characteristics of VR Heim mentioned were immersion, interactivity, and information intensity. Immersion isolates one's senses to make a person feel as if he/she were in another place. Interactivity is where a computer can change a scene's viewpoint as fast as a person can change their perspective. Finally information intensity is the sense that a virtual world can create an artifical existence with intellegence. Heim says this also spawns the idea of telepresence, which is a technology that make a person feel present in another place by using his/her senses. For example the telephone is a weaker sense of telepresence because it involves only two people and sound. A stronger example would be a conversation over the internet with a camera and a microphone because it involves more people, sound, and sight.
Other things Heim includes about VR are Helmets, which are head-mounted devices that allow a person to look anywhere in the virtual world. An alternative to the helmet is the CAVE where a person is in a room with surround sound and a screen all around to emulate an environment. Networks and simulators give a better feeling of presence as well as interaction. Heim gives many examples of clarifying what a true sense of VR is as opposed to what society's version is.
Monday, January 28, 2008
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