I find this search engine strangely fascinating. Currently it lists searchable information for 75,000 completed auctions. What could you use this for? Price-setting in an online used goods shop? Cultural mining? Potential abounds with GoHook ( GoHook.com)

On eBay, spelling matters
We've come a long way from the plain black text on gray background days, but the Web remains a text-oriented medium. Need more proof? People who can't spell or write well make less money selling on eBay, according to the New York Times.

You order our services under false contact names and then have the
nervfe to create a user ID called "NOTSOHAPPY" on our forums?

Not happening.



MySiteSpace

Washington: Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark is auctioning on the Internet a widely ridiculed argyle sweater, on behalf of a charity located in New Hampshire, where he hopes to take the lead in January 27 primaries.

Genia:

The rule: You can't take someone else's trademark name and use any variation of it as your website address or business name. That's the shortened version of the rule. It couldn't get any simpler. You didn't take a variation, you used the trademarked name itself.

Pretty soon, you'll be hearing from the company, I'm sure. It's easier to find a new domain name now and start over, rather than build a customer base and have them shut you down later. Later, they'll wanna know how much money you've made off their name and they'll want their share of the profits.

thecountryowl:

Actually, they will take all profits, demand all accounting etc. I had hotwheelsdeals for about 3 days. Someone suggested to me it was a trademark violation. I changed it immediately to Hobby Wheels Deals. Nobody had to hit me over the head. Then, I forgot all about the domain. About a year later I get an email from the big shot lawyers from Mattel.

They demanded transfer of the name, all accounting from the site, and all profits made. Of course, after I explained I had change the name, had made no profits etc, they backed off. A quick check of my referrers made me feel better too.

But companies do protect their copyrights, when the violation is clear, and I don't really blame them, although at the time I was less then pleased. But that was my own fault for not thinking the name through clearly to begin with.

[b]MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - An attempt to auction off the state of West Virginia drew 56 bids and nearly enough promised dollars to fill the state's projected budget hole before eBay learned of the joke. [/b] Copyright AP 2003

[b]‘Grand Royal’, the record label owned by the Beastie Boys, is being auctioned on the Internet. [/b]

Boy, it's tempting, isn't it! Free Shipping!

People will see your proclamation of Freedom from the dreaded SHIPPING CHARGE (imagine agonized screaming here), and flock to your site to take advantage of THE INCREDIBLE SAVINGS! (Fanfare, people cheering).

Well, it’s true. In my experience, shoppers will check out an offer of free shipping before they commit to your competitor. Yahoo Shopping even lists Free Shipping sites as a category on their home page every once in a while, when they’re promoting their Shopping area. Do those sites get hits? You can bet they do. Are they doing better than you are? Probably not.

Internet Shoppers, as a rule, are not dumb. Although the Internet Shopper tends to be an instant-gratification junkie (like me), they will check around before pushing that all-important Order button. They’re going to go all the way through your order process, until they get the FINAL price. Then they’re going to cancel the order, and do some checking.

What are they going to check before they push your button? The same product on other sites.

Beginning Feb. 2, eBay will institute a new fee schedule that sharply increases listing fees for items with a starting price of $500. The change impacts the main auction destination and eBay Motors, a specialty site for new and used vehicles. [i]eBay Hikes Listing Fees[/i] Copyright InternetNews.com 2003

If you are concerned about receiving your order by a certain date, verify the product's availability, ask about the promised shipment date and shipment options, and educate yourself concerning the company's refund policy. Try to allow enough time for shipment and delivery. To protect your right to cancel an overdue order you should know the company's name, address, phone number, the promised shipment date, and the date of your order. Also, keep a copy of the ad or catalog from which you ordered, the order form you sent to the company, and a canceled check or charge account record.