I do not own stock in either Amazon or eBay - so my interest in these two entities is as a seller -

So ebay blamed it's poor performance onthe degraded state of the dollar - the recession ?? the milkman (oh wait, he got laid off long ago). Their sales increased only 4% YOY (year over year meaning 2009 vs 2008 PS, the reason accountants talk like that?? YOY is so neither WE nor the investors (aka US) will understand them.)
http://www.thestreet.com/quote/EBAY.html.

Amazon- the model eBay "wants" to be...and isn't??

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10615730/1/amazon-wins-big-with-kindle.html

And http://www.thestreet.com/quote/AMZN.html

Ok, I rest my case - eBay had a USP (thanks OSIROCKSTARS for the terminology) also known as a Unique Selling Position. But they drove off,pissed off or kicked off many many sellers- maybe half. (OH WHAT THAT is another story HALF.COM...they killed that off pretty much. I haven't had a sale on there in 6 mos)....

So like I said, I rest my case. Where o Where is the eBay Board of Directors and why do they not care that these people running ebay don't know their A**from a hole in the ground??

BlingMyBra new slide show!

Today's Soapbox - Google, amazon and booksellers at war

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/173749/google_online_bookstore_fuels_ereader_war.html

Ok, I get that books ARE a big business on the internet - sales used to be in the gadzillion dollar range and competition is fierce.  That's why eBay bought and smothered Half.com. It's why Amazon was smart enought to co-opt us all by letting us be 3rd party sellers.

But frankly, even though this blog resides on Google's BLOGGER site - (and will soon move) THIS story just pisses me off.

I can see why it's google doing this - they have no 3rd party sellers.  And they are the 800 lb gorilla that can do whatever they want.... but really - what is their point in this?? WHY are they putting all of us little guys out of business??

If they keep this us, none of us will be able to afford computers or internet access and then WHO will using Google??? not me! not you!

I've already moved some things away from google because of the stupid internicene war with eBay.  Those two should be arm in arm, lock step - their attitude is the same.... We don't need no stinkin' sellers. 

Frankly, I can't see why any of us are still using Google? WHERE exactly are our best interests?? NOT with a search engine that wants to be the Supreme Ruler of the World.

PS (Amazon wants that too - Supreme Ruler of the Internet Market Place. ).  Time for a real "tea party" and throw the bastards out.  Let's go find a small search engine and make them big....remember what we did for Google. It wasn't them that made them big...it was us usinging.

On My Soapbox - Episode 1 - Voicemail systems

Ok, so I get just as riled as anyone and figure I will vent here about those things. And today's rant is about answering systems - particularly those at government websites. 

Call Paypal - try to speak to a human being. I'm not even qualifying it as a human being within the bounds of the USA. Just a PERSON. Even if they don't really speak English but they try.

WHY do I have to keep saying AGENT like I'm calling the CIA??


Even worse is Comcast - to get to ask a question like - why is all of my cable and internet OUT ?? and I have to go thru a stupid telephone tree asking me if I'm interested in the wrestling special, the boxing match special etc and then do I want to hear my balance (NO in fact I don't) and do I want to upgrade?? YEAH to A WORKING SERVICE but not you.

And don't even get me started on the Social Security phone message system or the Medicare one. And the stupid person who gave me attitude throughout the call after it took me 1/2 hour to work up to a human.... sorry I disturbed your crossword puzzle Laura S.  next time stay home when you don't feel like working.


SO if you'd like to get something off your chest, write it out and I'll post it as a guest blogger. Unless I know you personally in which case I'll just give you rights to post it yourself.

Bling My Bra Campaign in full swing so to speak!

BlingMyBRA Fundrasier on eBay

During October, a group of my friends are raising money for Breast Cancer Research. We're doing auctions of Art Bras every day of the month - sometimes 2 or 3 a day. 100% of the proceeds are being donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure. I'm running most of them and I'm not taking one cent out of the proceeds or shipping - EVERYTHING gets donated.

Art bras are lovely confections - well sometimes they are comical, or sexy or just fun!! Many of these are actually WEARABLE art but with a little glue or a couple of quick stitches they can become Wall Art too. Whether you mount and frame them or wear it for sun bathing or ??? or Halloween!! these are fantastic. And the cause is good!! AND besides the bra?? we're including SWAG!!

You know you see those Hollywood stars go to the premieres and the awards shows and get something just for showing up?? Well for showing up for us and bidding to win, YOU will get some swag too!! So how can you lose??
Here are the urls and also links to the individual bras!!

Come on IN and Browse!!
And Bid generously - we need to find a cure for Breast Cancer sooner - not later.
This link is for the category page and you can see ALL of the bras at one time

http://tinyurl.com/yh8spg9



AND for the others:
The Bra is called - Tiny URL
Uncle Same Wants You Uncle Sam Wants YOU!
.
Jason's bra - comicbook queens
Racing For a Cure Nascarbra
EbayLive Bra From eBay's Trust&Safety Queen Susan!
Pretty in Pink SnowBoobs
Pink Switchflops Switchflops
Palms Bra Palms
SheSellsSeaShells Seashore
Support the Military Bra with John SupportOurMilitary

Pacific Pearl Pacific Pearl
Pirates For a Cure Pirates
EbayByTheBay ByTheBay

Now - there are more- Almost 30 more...Not all of them are listed yet but...you don't want to look back at the end of the month and think "Gee I should have bid on that one" so Please come bid - bid generously!!