Is it REALLY Rosewood? Why buy branded goods?

The saying is that a Rose by any other name would smell as sweet... I don't disbelieve it. What I do feel is that a brand name is a 'Value Added' feature. Goods from the same manufacturer are not necessarily the same as they are when produced for a particular brand. They may be made of different materials, to different scale, specification, or simply not to the same standard of care. When you buy branded goods you are buying peace of mind with the customer care that goes with it - mind you, I'm only talking about GOOD brands here! Unfortunately there are sellers on eBay who are listing goods under a brand name, and selling manufacturer's own name items as being the branded items. It seems they don't understand the difference? Some even show "List price" for the item they "appear" to be selling, to show the discount! If the manufacturer's own name was really as good a selling point, then shouldn't they use their own? Rosewood goods have their own badge and individual number on them - if it doesn't say Rosewood, then it isn't! This isn't the only abuse of a brand name going on on eBay; Sony, amongst others, is ripped off left, right and centre. Don't encourage these sellers to carry on doing this! It is the buyers who lose!When you buy goods CHECK the listing carefully - then check information about the seller. Is there anything that would lead you to wonder about the items? There's no point calling the customer care line for the product you THOUGHT you were buying, and there may not be one for the product you have actually bought.Not all companies yet understand the eBay VeRO program, which is a shame. This allows brand owners to register with eBay, and have all listings that are showing their name removed when it doesn't relate to their products. Until the brand owners are more pro-active some less educated (or less scrupulous) sellers will continue to sell incorrectly.Don't be caught by them!

Some thoughts on buying a man's suit on ebay

I absolutely agree that used suits are a terrific bargain as pointed out by one of my fellow guide writers. That said, I feel I should contribute some additional thoughts for the unitiated because there's nothing worse then shelling out your hard-earned cash and receiving an unwearable rag. With that in mind, the following are some random thoughts on buying used/preowned suits.1) Brand is a strong indicator of quality. However, there is a danger. Keep in mind that most designer brands are stratified. It's kind of like Banana Republic, Gap, and Old Navy, which are owned by the same folks yet sell goods at different price ranges. In the same way, Armani Collezioni, Armani Exchange, and Emporio Armani are all Armani, but they're not all Armani in the sense of peerless Italian quality. This is because the bulk of the latter two ranges are produced outside of Italy as a cost cutting measure. So before you go to buy an Armani suit, make sure it's from the top range and actually made in Italy. The reason is that the Italian made garment is likely to be vastly superior and the price will only be marginally higher on ebay than the lesser-made items. For Italy, you can confirm origin of manufacture by looking at the large (about 2x2), white, standardized label in the breast pocket which gives you all the information you need. Ask to see a picture of that tag to verify authenticity, dont trust a random tag that says made in italy.The same applies to lots of other designer houses. They're only going to employ top materials and workmanship with their flagship labels so do your homework by checking out their websites before bidding. 2) Higher thread count is desirable. But maybe not. If you are lured by high thread counts like Super 120 or above, be wary of the age of the suit, or the miles on the odometer so to speak. High thread counts are indeed soft and beautiful, but they also wear much faster than lower thread counts, which are coarser and more durable. Ask to see pictures of the crotch area of the trousers in order to inspect for wear. 3) You can always have it tailored to fit properly as long as you buy the right general size. Well, yes and no. To really get a suit to fit properly, it will have to be drastically altered pretty much no matter what because absolutely nobody is an off the rack size. More than likely, you will have to have the trousers , sleeves, and sides altered at the very least, if you're lucky. More than likely, you will also have to have the chest adjusted so that the back doesn't bunch up around the collar. All these alterations cost money and nowadays, skilled tailors are few and far between (at least in the USA, less so in Europe) which means said alterations could be expensive and will likely double the cost of the suit. If you live outside a major city in the United States, it may be all but impossible to find a tailor skilled enough to carry out the required work. Furthermore, some alterations are so expensive that nobody bothers. Those would be along the lines of adjusting the length of the suit, relining, or altering the shoulders. 4) Here's some stuff to look for (in no particular order) that denote a top quality suit. You won't see this often but it's usually a good sign you're on to a sweet item. Sleeve buttons that actually unbutton. Indicates the suit was probably custom made and thus of superior quality. No belt loops is also a strong indicator that the piece was bespoke. The brand of the fabric as a separate label placed next to the actual brand of the suit. Indicates they outsourced the fabric from a reputable textile manufacturer. A lapel that is dotted and indented on regular intervals with matching thread. That means it was assembled by hand, or the manufacturer bothered to give the impression that it was assembled by hand.A new suit with white thread holding the pockets shut, white thread where the buttons should go, and white thread around the shoulders. This particular suit will often be missing buttons. These are measures taken by high end producers to prevent wear and damage on their product. Normally, the store will remove the thread and add buttons after the customers makes their purchase.5) Every country makes a different kind of suit employed towards different ends. Now if youre going to wear the suit for weddings and funerals, then I dont suppose it matters where the suit is from given that it will be subjected to light use. However, if youre going to wear the suit for work, I personally would not buy an Italian suit. Italian suits are beautiful, but that beauty comes at a price in terms of delicate fabrics and lack of structure. They wont hold up to the daily grind in my opinion (countless others would beg to differ, Im sure). English made suits are far tougher and designed to endure the abuse of daily wear. Keep in mind that the English invented the modern suit and have a pragmatic conception of its place in their wardrobe. Yes, German, Italian, and French companies abound with great looking suits, but Ive always felt that their pieces lack a tradition of hardiness. Moreover, each country employs a slightly different cut. In other words, the garment simply fits a certain body type better than others due to its inherent architecture. Zegna for instance, makes suits that best fit middle-aged men (of Europe). Brooks Brothers is for middle-aged men too (of the USA). Hugo Boss is for skinny folks. Take a field trip to your local department tore and try out different brands to get a feel for their house cut. It shouldnt take long to find a brand that fits comfortably on your frame. Admittedly, buying anything on ebay can be a roll of the dice. In my mind, great bargains are had alongside utter lemons, its just the nature of this world. Hopefully, the tips Ive given will steer you in the right direction and reduce the risk to a reasonable level.All right, best of luck on buying your ebay suit! May it fit perfectly straight out of the box!

Help Ebay combat the pirate dvd scammers !

First of all let me just say yes I have been subject to scammers who make out they are selling genuine dvds :o(

Pointers :

1.NEVERBUY if you are in doubt ! If we don't buy the seller is out of business !

2. Report the seller to ebay staff found on the help pages !

3. Ask advice from other sellers if you are unsure use the link saying ask seller a question.

4. If you are buying a disney etc check that the item carries a hologram.

These are just a few tips but remember ebay is full of non authentic items, Never accept it !!! It is illegal and you have the right to a full refund REPORT REPORT REPORT THEM !

They will be banned from ebay !

Sorry if this has been posted before but I have lost out for the last time !

Lets fight piracy !

Merry Xmas all !!!

Choosing a Reading that is Right for You

The Purpose of a Reading

Readings are often seen as just a bit of entertainment and Tarot parties are becoming more and more popular. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a good reading however they are also an excellent tool for analysis, especially if we are too close to a situation ourselves.

More often than not, a reader will only tell us what we already know, whether consciously or unconsciously, and it is this confirmation what allows us to move on and deal with what life has dealt us! However, a reading will not always make sense at the time and may seem totally unrelated to us and our situation. From personal experience I have found that even after re-doing a reading two or three times in this case,the information from the cards is the same every time. This is a case of either the readee not being prepared to accept the truth of a situation orthat the message from the cards is 'lost in translation'.

Telling the future is not an exact science and time does not exist in linear fashion in other planes of existence as it does here on Earth. Besides, we live neither in the past or the future we exist only in the present. Our present actions create our future and a reading can identify patterns of behaviour and give us guidance as to what situations we are drawing to ourselves. If we dont like what we see we can change it. The future is not written in stone and sometimes a good reading is one that doesnt come true!

Tarot

Perhaps the best known form of divination they are perfect for looking at many situations at once and in detail. They pull no punches though they are not necessarily as direct as Runes.

Angel Cards

Angel cards are best used for looking at emotional issues and for healing. They are much gentler than Tarot cards and are always positive in the messages they give.

They are not especially good for looking into the future but are more concerned with the present condition. They give a good overview of a situation and can be used to identify an issue which can then be looked at in more detail using the Tarot.

Crystal Gazing

A very intuitive form of divination, crystal gazing allows for a lot of information to come through in a very fluid way so can need some sorting by the reader to put in a form which can then be understood.

Often the information that comes through is in symbolic form. Though clear quartz is the most common form of crystal used, different crystals can be used for different types of question.

Egyptian Runes

These always answer that which is in the heart of the questioner, even though it is often not the question asked. If you truly want to get to the heart of the matter, these are a very good tool to chose.

Pyromancy

This is perhaps one of the oldest forms of divination yet is rarely used these days. Like crystal gazing, Pyromancy is a very intuitive form of divination.

Choosing a Reader

It is important to use your intuition when choosing a reader. This is not necessarily because one reader is better or worse than the other but simply so that you choose someone who is able to connect to you.

Some readers do not ask for any personal information others do. They ask for this information so that they can connect with the person they are reading for. It is about sensing your energies, connecting with your angels or spirit guides so that they can gain information which is relevant to you at this time and for your highest good.

All readers have their own methods. Some read cards literally, others use them as a focusing tool to access higher information and others can tap into the information and do not need to use any form of tool at all (the traditional psychic medium). Some readers focus on telling the future while others try to interpret what they see. Some use pattern breaking techniques which look at the possible outcome and then advise who this can be achieved or changed.

None of these methods are better than the other, but it is important you consider these so you can use a reader who is right for you and the type of question you have at this time.

Exchanging Tesco Vouchers for Clubcard Deals

I have noticed that most of the listings for Tesco Vouchers are stating that the seller will convert them and forward them to the buyer.

THIS IS NOT ESSENTIAL.

ANYBODY can enter the tesco voucher number when applying for the Clubcard Deal. This will then allow the Deal tokens to be sent directly to the applicant and in their name (in some circumstances).

You should also be aware that the Tesco Vouchers have an expiry date on them. Make sure that you ask the seller what this date is.

My friends and I have been combining our vouchers together for a long time now and when we have a substantial amount I make the application for the Deal tokens.

Fake Ebay E Mails - How To Avoid ??

As a ebay member you should expect to be targetted by hackers. Most usual way is through bogus emails which looks like they are from ebay but in fact they are not. Some hackers can even programas good that the messages seems to be received from ebay's servers and return address is a genuion ebay email address but they are not from ebay.

Most commonly in these emails you'll be either get a threat like your account is suspended , some has opened a dispute against you and so on.

The very first thing you can find out if it is a fake email is it will not contain your name. Alloriginal ebay emails starts from[eBay sent this message to Your Name (your ebay id)]. Fake emails will start with same line but instead of your name it will only say[ebay sent this message to You]. They will not have you name in it. But still you have to be very conscious there. If your email address is part of a mailing list of hackers it will not have you name, but if some one is personally trying to break in to your ebay account you may find your name and ebay id in email.

The purpose of these emails is to make you surprise and force you to quickly act upon them. They will all have link for you to log in to your ebay account. But in fact when you click such a button in email it takes you to a site which looks same as ebay but it's not ebay's web site. Once you enter your ebay id and password the hackers will have these details open to them which they can use to log in to your account and do what ever they want.

How To Avoid?

Most of the time you'll know straight away that email is bogus because it doesn't contain your name and ebay id.

Make your habit not toact uponemails even if they are from ebay. Always open anew browser window and go to ebay website. Log In,you will find any task need your action.

Whensome body asks question about your item, if you are replyingusing your email software/website, it will contain originalemail in reply which has your name in it. Delete this part of message or better you open ebay website in new browser window and use ebay's message service to reply.

Set your email servers security bit higher for spam, butalways keep aneye on yourspam email folder as it will some timescatch some original and necessary emails.

Mamas

For all new mums and dads out there or expectant mums and dads - I would just like to let you know what happened to us when we bought a Mamas and Papas Primo Viaggio Car Seat for a newborn. We bought our seat five months before our baby was born, and when we started to use it we noticed that our baby was flopping forward a little bit, but as new borns don't move around that much, we thought maybe it was the way our baby was lieing. After a month or so it became clear that the seat really was suitable for our baby, he was flopping forward, and the car seat was potentially dangerous if we were in an accident as our babies neck would have been injured or even broken, if he was pushed forward. I contacted Mamas and Papas about this problem and advised them that I was very concerned about what could potentially happen to our baby should we be involved in an accident. They said my purchase was out of guarantee because I had at that point had the item more than six months, and that their car seats met the European Safety Standards, and didn't appear thatinterested in the fact that my baby had been put at risk of serious injury.

I bought a new car seat for my baby, and would notrecommend Mamas and Papas,they charge a lot of money for their goods, which gives the impression that you are purchasinga quality safe item, but I would not class the Primo Viaggio car seat as a quality safe item - in fact I would not advise any parent to put their child into one. I also foundother customers on review websites whoalso had the same problems with the Primo Viaggio car seat- they also ended up having to buy new car seats, with no help or feedback from Mamas and Papas.

Buying a skateboard.

You need the foolowing items for a skateboard:

Decks

Obviously you need one, but the question is, which one is right for you? Well, you have many options. Size should definitely be taken into consideration when making your selection. Before you make that decision, determine what type of riding you do, or plan on doing. This is important. If you skate streets or do more technical tricks, you're going to want to look for a board in the size range of a 7.5" to 7.87". If you mostly skate pools and parks with heavy transitions, then you may want to consider looking for a board in the size range of 7.87" to 8.25". You also have to take into consideration you own size. If you are 5 feet tall, and weigh 80 pounds, you are not going to want an 8" deck. The deck will be hard to do flip tricks on. This scenario can also be reversed. Don't purchase something too small for you. Many manufactures have a specific concave for their deck shapes. Concave is basically the mold or the press that shapes skateboard decks. Predetermined steeepness on the nose and tail, along with the body of the deck can be deep, mellow or anywhere in between. This again reflects personal preference and experience. The graphic also may be an influence in your deck decision. Be sure not to base it all on the graphic because you may become frustrated skating if you get a board that is not sized right for you.
Trucks

You need two to ride. Trucks are fairly easy to choose when it comes to size. There are numerous brands and that choice is yours. Generally the axle width on the truck should be within 1/4" of the deck width. The height of the truck is also a key when selecting what trucks are right for you. The reason you would want to choose a higher truck is based upon your style of riding and selection of wheels (see step 3). Once you start selecting wheels over 56mm, you should consider purchasing high trucks. High trucks allow more clearance from the bottom of your board to the surface of the wheel. "Wheelbite" is something you definitely want to avoid. This is when a wheel comes into contact with the board stopping you dead in your tracks, most likely resulting in a painful digger.
Wheels

Roll with four. Skate Warehouse sells wheels in sets so this is more or less predetermined for you. You now need to decide what brand, graphic, size and durometer is right for you. Your selection of size is the most important. Smaller wheels are generally for more technical and street skating, where as larger wheels will ride better when skating parks and bowls or terrain with heavier transitions. The durometer of the wheel is a numerical value allowing you to determine whether the wheel is softer or harder. Most wheels are in the range of 97a to 99a. Basically the smaller the number, the softer, the larger, the harder. Larger wheels are generally a bit softer. Dual durometer is just what it means. There are two durometers for the wheel. The core is harder, while the outside surface area is softer. There are a couple reasons why. First, the internal area is called the "bearing seat" and by making this area harder, it protects the bearing from crushing or losing its shield. Bearings don't usually crush, but it is an option that some wheel manufacturers pass along to skateboarders. It's also good to point out that softer urethane generally slower than harder urethane. Depending on the durometer, it may make a huge difference or it might not make any difference at all. Cored wheels can also be lighter than a standard urethane wheel depending on the core construction.
Bearings

Bearings are sold in sets of 8, 2 for each wheel. Bearings are what actually allow you to have some movement. Obviously you need all the parts, but without bearings you won't roll. Two Bearings sit inside each wheel, and then each wheel is placed on the truck axle. Tighten the axle nuts and you're ready to go.
Grip tape

One 9" x 33" sheet of self-adhesive grainy grit is all you need. You have choices, but essentially it's all the same. Griptape is applied to the surface of the deck that you will be placing your feet on.
Risers

Risers are sold in pairs, but they are optional. Skate Warehouse includes risers into the cost of your complete, but you have the option to apply them to assembly or not. Risers are anywhere from 1/8" to 1/2" thick and their function is to give you more clearance between the bottom of the board and surface of the wheel. This again helps to prevent "wheelbite".
Hardware

Hardware is sold in a set of 8 bolts and 8 nuts. Hardware allows you to connect your deck to your trucks. Skate Warehouse has a large selection of sizes and brands. The choice is yours.

WARNING - Space Moon Rocket Memorabilia

Don't even think about buying/bidding on supposed 'Space Artifacts/Memorabilia' - IT IS ALL FAKE!

NASA have never given away/sold moondust, spacesuits,heatshields, rocket debris etc and yet you will see numerous items on ebay purporting to be the 'genuine article'.

The unscrupulous Traders that sell these items certainlyproduce an impressive looking product...but in reality you're paying hundreds, even thousands of pounds for a scam.

That moondust that you're thinking of bidding 150 for comes from someones back garden, the heatshield is an emergency heat blanket...and that small patch of spacesuit is just an old rag.

If in any doubt, email NASA and they will confirm this to you...I have informed Ebay on numerous occasions of these scammers, but still there products are listed and no action has been taken.

Too Good To Be True?

How many times have we seen a designer or hard-to-come-by item listed at a ludicrously low price? Plenty. You check the image of the item and it looks great. Hmm - maybe too great.Many people selling fake designer goods use images stolen from the designer or store's official website to advertise their fakes. Victims regularly include Tiffany, Abercrombie

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Opening an eBay Shop

eBay has three levels of shop, Basic, Featured and Anchor. This post considers the benefits of an eBay shop and compares the different packages.Reasons to get an eBay ShopAn eBay shop is a very cost effective way of having an online store with an integrated payment solution (PayPal) and (semi) guaranteed traffic. It is your foothold on the internet and a place where your customers can see all the items you have for sale and make additional purchases. The benefits of a shop (all subscription levels) are as follows:One place (unique URL) where all your items can be viewed and searchedCustom pages where you can tell your customers more about your productsCustomised web address. e.g.http://stores.eBay.co.uk/auctioning4u Promotion boxes for advertising products and special offersShop categories - organise your products into up to 300 categoriesCustomisation - brand the store with your logo and look and feelAccess to eBay store inventory format - cheap, long duration listingsPicture hostingPromotion when eBayers search for items in the related shop's linkCross-promotion boxes on your listingsEmail marketingPromotional materials (leaflets, business cards etc)Search engine keyword specification - specify the keywords for your shop to enable your shop to be found by the search enginesListing feeds - the shop inventory items are automatically submitted to Froogle - Google's shopping comparison engineTraffic reports. Track where how your customers find your itemsBasic eBay Shop - 6 per monthThis level is sufficient for most sellers, I would recommend it for all serious eBay sellers as it give you a foothold on eBay and the internet in general and allows you to list in shop inventory format - a great way to upsell to customers. The basic shop has all the benefits discussed above, with the following salient features:5 Custom pagesFree email marketing (100/month)Basic Omniture traffic reports1MB picture hostingFeatured eBay Shop - 30 per monthIf you are a high volume eBay seller then the extras available at this level make it worth considering. Furthermore if you add up all the extras you get with the subscription, it does not cost that much more.Free Sales Manager ProFree Sales Reports PlusBetter Placement in the Shops DirectoryMore in Depth Omniture Statistics (Traffic Reports)1000 emails per month10 Custom Shop pagesOption of Minimal eBay Header StyleIf you make use of Seller manager Pro (4.99/mth) and Sales Reports plus (3.00/mth) along with the 6.00 youd pay anyway for a basic shop then a Featured shop will only cost you an additional 16.01/mth and that is after VAT.Anchor eBay Shop - 300 per monthIf you are top eBay seller, you could consider an eBay anchor shop. The additional benefits are:-15 Custom Shop PagesShowcase Placement of your logo in Shops Directory Pages (http://stores.ebay.co.uk )More Free eMail Marketing (4000/mth)50MB picture hostingPretty expensive for what you get in my opinion. I once talked to someone from eBay who could not give me a decent answer for why anyone would want one.Full details of the subscription levels can be found herehttp://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/subscriptions.html Choosing Your levelWhich ever level of shop you choose budget it against your sales and the number of listings you have on the site.If you make 30 sales a month then a Basic shop will cost you 6.00/30 = 20p per saleIf you make 200 sales a month then a Featured shop will cost you 30.00/200 = 15p per saleIf you make 5000 sales a month then an Anchor shop will cost you 300.00/5000 = 6p per saleCheck your margins, work out the cost of your shop averaged across your sales, and decide whats an affordable cost for your business. Whilst the a featured shop is pretty cheap and therefore not really worth analysing in terms of sales, an anchor shop is a servious invesment by comparision. I would recommend trialing one for a month and seeing if it makes a difference to your eBay vital statistics.Do not make the mistake of thinking that paying for the most expensive shop will increase your sales significantly. If you have the money you can analyse you sales to see if changing to an anchor shop makes any difference, but the decision should be simply on performance and not based on an assumption that more expensive is better.If you found this guide useful please vote YES below to show your appreciation. Thanks!This Guide was written by Hello Baby - Please visit theHello Baby eBay Store

Boosting eBay sales through guides, reviews and Squidoo

eBay sellers want to drive traffic to their listings and make sales and everyone wants to be loved!Some new developments on the web and eBay may enable eBay sellers to combine these two aspirations. eBay has recently launched its reviews and guides section allowing its members to write articles about subjects of their choice. Another service, Squidoo, encourages people to create pages which show off their knowledge about a subject.Who are these services useful to?These services have the potential to be useful to all professional eBay sellers but I would suggest that they are most relevant to people selling collectible items, with an identifiable community for example collectable toy cars or records. Here are some suggestions as to how these services could be used:Collector. Squidoo Lenses on your specific subject and guides to purchasing itemsElectronics retailer. Buying guides and (profiles) reviews of specific itemsCD retailer. Reviews of titlesHow these services can help you increase salesDrive traffic to your salesQuite simply, any content you create which is external to your listings can act to drive traffic and has the potential to increase sales. This is true for both internal and external searches:Internal search within the subject area (the user searches within eBay reviews or Squidoo, reads your content and then clicks through to your sales)Search engine optimisation. Extra content on the web, especially on high pagerank sites will be picked up by the search engines, driving traffic to your salesIncrease trust, build your reputation (brand)eBay was built upon its community and these services act to strengthen that community. If people read something that has been written by you on a particular subject and find that article informative, they are more likely to view you as a reputable seller and purchase your items. You can use your guides to build your reputation (brand), complementing your feedback score. In the increasingly Long Tail of products, your reviews and guides act as filters, enabling customers to find the products right for them.The serviceseBay reviews and guideseBay guides allow sellers to contribute their wisdom to the eBay community. The articles can be linked to pages within eBay, allowing you to promote you products or shop.Writing a good guideI would recommend writing a guide which is relevant to your products, put not a blatant sales pitch. For example, if you sell digital cameras you could write a review on what to look for when buying in a digital camera.Consider a guide to be like a corporate white paper, it should contain useful information, with a reference to the individual who wrote it. Keep it short and sweet, no more than 5 pages of printed A4s worth and two is often enough. Remember that you can link guides together to improve the reading experience. Here is a suggested structure for a guide:Summary. A brief summary of the articleEstablish the problem which the article addressesEstablish the generic solution to the problemEstablish your specific approach to the problemGive suggestions for next stepsBrief profile of the writer with links to your eBay shop and about me pageIt is also important to include a sentence at the bottom of your eBay guide politely asking the reader to vote for your guide. This way the guide has a better chance of climbing up the rankings.SquidooSquidoo is a service which allows people to set up pages (called lenses) which act as a starting point for learning about a subject. Users can choose the content which they wish to appear on this page, for example link lists and amazon books. The idea is to provide a useful resource to browsers and persuade them to click through to your products.Writing a good Squidoo LenseI suggest including the following information in your squidoo lenseLinks useful to your customers - perhaps to eBay guides which you have written!Latest news regarding your productsAmazon books relevant to your productsLinks to your eBay productsItems from you blog if you have oneIf you found this guide useful please vote YES below to show your appreciation. Thanks!This Guide was written by Hello Baby - Please visit theHello Baby eBay Store

Herbs and their Magick properties - part 1

A Acacia : Protection, Psychic Powers, Money and Love SpellsAdam

Homemade Foam Modelling Putty

Foam Putty is the latest kids craze. It is a modelling material containing small foam lumps, for added texture. Foam putty can be used to cover many items, and once dried it sets in place.

The top brand of foam putty, which I'm sure you will have heard of, is rather expensive. Especially since it can be made cheaply at home.

So, here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:1-Tsp. Borax (available in laundry aisle at your grocery store)**-Cup Water (Tap water is fine)-Cup White Glue -Cup Water (Tap water is fine)1-Zip Lock Bag (1 qt. Bag is best)Food Coloring (Optional- but kids like colors) Styrofoam Beads (about 26 oz. for above)

DIRECTIONS 1. Dissolve 1-Tsp. Borax Completely in -cup (4 oz.) water. 2. In a separate bowl mix -cup (2 oz.) white glue and -cup (2 oz.) water. (1/2 cup each=1 cup of slime). Add a couple of drops of food coloring of your choice to this solution. 3. Pour the glue solution into a zip lock bag. Then add 1-Tbsp. of the Borax/water solution to the glue solution (Another recipe says add the whole borax/water mix, so see what's best!. At this point you will think that this stuff will never come out of this bag. 4. Add Styrofoam Beads to the mixture. These beads can usually be found at any craft store. 5. Seal bag and knead by hand until thoroughly mixed. Let stand about 15 minutes, and then knead by hand again. Take out of bag when the gel separates easily from the inside bag walls. It will have the consistency of dough.

barbie magic of pegasus collection

I would like to voice my opinions on this collection as i hate to see people being ripped off on EBAY. The magic wings from this collection i have seen on here for 15 in the shops i have seen them for only 5.99 and in Toys R Us they are only 7.49 and the dolls from this collection are only 6.99 for queen rayla and the guy Aiden i have seen for 2.99.

The shiver and brietta cuddly toys are in a shop near where i live in the north east for 2.99 just wanted to make ppl aware of this.

WHY Olive Oil Soaps

Olive OilOlive oil is known as one of the most benefitial oils for the human health. Eating olive oil has been found to reduce the incidence of cancer, reduce blood pressure, aid digestion, and delay the aging process of our organs and tissues. Olive oil plays an important role in the development of our brain with its abundance of Vitamin E. Diets rich in olive oils are common to the world's longest-living populations.Olive Oil contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are important in preventing cardiovascular disease and are particularly high in oily fish such as salmon and flax seed oil.Olive Oil SoapsOlive oil is also benefitial for the skin health. Skin and hair cleansed with olive oil soap retain moisture, resilience, suppleness and brightness. Dermatologists everywhere recommend olive oil soaps for dry and sensitive skin. Olive oil soaps are gentle for the skin and also have a moisturising effect.Olive oil soaps created with high quality olive oil (virgin or even better extra virgin olive oil) are the most benefitial for the skin health. Handmade extra virgin olive oil soaps enriched with essential oils are the best olive oil soaps. Try olive oil soaps and give your skin a treat!

SELLING VINTAGE SHOES on ebay

This guide if for those who are interested inselling second hand or vintage shoes and want some handytips. Some of the tips will apply to selling new shoes too.

The photograph you submit is your shop window. Some shoes and boots look better when modelled, others look great without, so experiment. Good lighting and a plain background really helps. You can get a good shot by putting on the shoes, lying down indoors and shooting your feet against a white ceiling!
Do make sure if you are having the shoes modelled that the feet are the right size for the shoes, CLEAN! and with a good pedicure. The sight of varicose veins and hard skin ain't gonna get buyers racing to buy your wares.
Make sure the shoes you are selling are clean and polished. A little silicone spray will give them an instant face lift. No one wants to see chewing gum or worse on the soles so take the trouble to clean them too.
Be honest in your description about the condition - used shoes for example often have marks on the heels which I like to call 'glitches'. 'Worn out' should mean 'have been worn outside' not ' completely knackered' so choose your terminology with care!
Re-heeling shoes can be very expensive so don't evenbother listing an average pair if they need this doing, as the new owner isn't likely to want the expense (except for a pair of Jimmy Choos perhaps!)
List the manufacturer in the title. The name may not mean a thing to you, but people will be searching by label and will be prepared topay several times more for a designer brand in good condition.
Don't forget to list the width measurement across the ball and the inside length too. Advise customers to measure a similar styled pair that fits them to determine the fit. Even so, you may wish to mention in your terms that you can't guarantee correct fit and think about your returns policy.
In photos, folkwant to see the front view, a side view showing the profile and a shot of the heels (front and side can be in a single frame to save money on the listing).
Sticky price labels inside or on solesshould be removed by peeling off slowly, or try putting a hairdryer on them to loosen the adhesive.
One way to brighten up shoes for the photo is to insert some coloured tissue paper into the toes - it makes them look well cared for too. Ifthe shoesare a bit shapeless, try putting shoe trees in overnight before photographing (remove before you take the shots).
Try and advertise the shoes as boxed. The shoe box need not be the original (state if it isn't though) and it will make the shoes look far better presented.
Wipe inside the shoes with an antisepticbaby wipe or similar if you are concerned about hygiene and odours.
Give UK, EU and US sizing where possible.
Be aware of suspicious correspondance from people posing as would-be buyers but who arefoot fetishist. They tend to ask for several shots of ladies high heels being modelled.
If the shoes have leather soles, do mention this in the ad - cheap shoes usually have synthetic soles so this can be a good indicator of quality.
Ladies court shoes look fabulous when modelled with seamed stockings. It's worth keeping a pair for the purpose.
Finally, when you have prepared your ad, take a look at the preview. Think 'would I buy these shoes, based on this ad?' If the answer is 'Yes, possibly' then you may be onto a winner!

Thanks for reading this. I do hope you will click on the yes box below to increase my overall rating. Likewise, if you read my other reviews.

from Dressing-2-Kill

HDTV Jargon Buster!

Need help with understanding HDTV's? Here is a little thing to help you.

HDMI:

High Definition Multimedia Interface: a digital connection that carries video and audio signals from HDMI-equipped DVD player to a TV/Projector. Better than DVI-D.

Component:

An analogue connection superior to RGB Scart, S-Video or composite. Consists of three coloured leads (red, green and blue).

Progressive Scan:

Delivers images in one hit, as opposed to interlanced, which staggers the information in alternate line. Results in the smooth, flicker-free picture.

Video Scaling:

Boosting a video signal to match the resolution of a display. Some budget DCD players can scale a standard DVD picture (576 lines of info) to 770p or 1080i. Some high-end models can manage 1080p.

HD DVD:

High Definition Digital Versatile Disc. Next gen, hi-def DVD format and rival to Blu-Ray. HD DVD's are made using a similar production process to standard DVD's and discs currently have 30GB max capacity.

Beware of different BMW pannier types

Panniers for 1150 Boxers come in two variations. Panniers for the RT, RS and S models are symmetricalwhilst those for the GS and R models have left sided panniers with a scooped out section for the exhaust. The right pannier is the same for all models.

4GB MP4/MP3 Ipod Style Players From Hong Kong/Far East

This is just a warning to anyone buying one of these players, if it claims to be any more than 2GB then the firmware has been altered to make the hard drive of the player look bigger than it is!I purchased 3 of these players from different sellers and all 3 show as 4GB, the trouble starts when you try to put more files on over the actual memory of the player. Of the three I purchased one is 2GB and the other two are only 1GB, you will get error messages on any files you try to put on the MP4 over the size even though it claims to have more memory.Dont get me wrong I think there great little gadgets, watching movies, listening to MP3 and most of them have at least 1 game and a built in radio...but dont pay for the extra memory as all your doing is paying for something thats not there!

IPOD MP3 MAINTENANCE, UPGRADES AND ACCESSORIES ADVICE

here is some advice on getting the most out of your ipod.

1) ditch the original headphones... the new headphones are terrible, and bring dwon the ipod's potential... invest in a pair of in-ear or wireless headphones. the sennheiser cx-3000's and etymotic er6s come highly recommended.

2) NEVER buy an ipod cassette adapter... they always make loads of noise in the player... you can't beat an itrip i'm afraid.

3) Return your ipod towards the end of its warranty to get a new battery. I find my battery life at the end of a year's heavy use is suffering, so apple will replace it without any quams.

4) Buy an ipod radio adapter... it makes all the difference in terms of functionability.

5) get a good arm/wrist carrier for sport, holding your ipod in your hand is a bit restrictive.

Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses Dressing Up Dress

Before bidding on EBAY for these dressing up outfits please be aware that you can purchase one in WOOLWORTHS for 20, Im not too sure if it is part of the deal buy one get one half price but i have looked at them and they are the same as the ones selling on here for around 30 they light up just the same and have all the accessories. I hope this helps some of you i hate to see ppl paying more than they need to.

DORA MAGIC CASTLE

Don't get me wrong I LOVE ebay but I do hate to see people pay too much for items that are readily available elsewhere. I have just bought my daughter a Dora magic castle WITH 2 sets of furniture included from Argos for 39.99. The castle itself is going for much more than this and the furniture sets which you can get from toy r us for 9.99 are going for up to 20. Christmas is expensive don't get ripped off. Rare collectors stuff I can understand paying over the odds, but sellers please don't treat us like dummies!!

How to use binoculars?

Our left eye and right eye can be different in their vision and focusing strength. Therefore, to use binoculars properly, we must compensate for such a difference, and centre-focusing binoculars have an adjustment mechanism to achieve this. You can find that all the binoculars listed in my eBay Shop (Longview UK) have one eyepiece (usually the one on the right-hand side) which is independently adjustable with a marked scale.

To adjust binoculars, first, use a lens cover or your hand to cover the right objective lens which is on the same side as the adjustable eyepiece (note: better to keep both eyes open to avoid distortion by squinting). Look through the binoculars and use the central focusing mechanism to focus on a distant object until it is sharp and clear.

Second, transfer the lens cover to the other lens on the left, again with both eyes open, but this time adjust the focus on the same object using the adjustable eyepiece only, until it is clear. Your binoculars are now properly focused for your use. Adjust the distance between the two eyepieces so that they in the centres of your eyes (i.e.,when thetwo cycles merge into one). You can now use the central focusing mechanism to focus on objects at different distances, but you should keep the adjustable eyepiece at the same focus setting unless it is accidentally moved or the binoculars have been used by someone else.

A wide selection of binoculars are now available at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Longview-UK.

UKlongview

Dont let scammers to rip you off.

Hi, i have experienced lots of scammers on ebay and internet at all. Thought it would be good to tell you one way you can make them dissapointed in the way they cant steal your money. First: i have noticed lots of mainly nigerian scammers will purchase your item and then send you fake paypal email saying that your item was paid for and you can send it with no worries. What you do is simply log into your paypal account and you will see if there is any payment or not. If there is not, just send them what ever you want "i mean very not nice email or so".Other option is when there is money but they came from email address which is not verified or is situated somewhere in Indonesia or Thailand or so. In this case i would wait around one whole week before sending the money, because it can happen that card was stolen and your money will be taken away from you. This is usually case of notebooks, mobile phones and expensive electronics generaly.Now something for buyers.If you use your card for paying through paypal, make on simple thing, go to your bank, ask them to open new current account where you cant go to the debit and simply top up this account with money only when you purchase something. It can stay out of money in the meantime. But in case someone will get your bank details, there will be anyway nothing to take from you and thats what you want. Make scammers unhappy if they cant earn money other way than steal them from you.Hope this will help, if you like this guide, please vote for me. Thanks.

Hasselblad Mag / Back - Dating, Condition

Having seen backs mis advertised on ebay I thought a little knowledge might be a good thing so have endeavoured to clarify to some extent the history, dating and what to look for regarding faults and evidence of use.

I have for the purposes of this only included roll film backs leaving out Polaroid, Digital, and bulk film such as the 70 on back as they are a whole different chapter.

The magazine or for the purposes of this guide will now be referred to as back was first introduced in its current fitting in 1949 to fit the 1000F and the 1600F and has had during its life several modifications the most major being in 1968 which I will describe later, and you must therefore consider that it could be nearly 60 years old.

To date use VHPICTURES substitute 1234567890 - transcibe RS being 1980

First came the 12 on in 1949 which ran to 1954 and then the C12 which ran from 1955 to 1968 , both of which were simular in design and were loaded by looking through a hole in the back - winding until "1" became visible and the reversing the counter to locate frame 1 for the purposes of use.

How can I tell them apart well that is simple - on the bottom of the right hand side looking from the back are two small windows the one on the left being the frame number and the one on the right being the exposed indicator (red exposed - white not so) . On the 12 on the film number window is to the left of centre of the wind on , whereas on the C12 in is within 1/4 inch of the exposed window to the right of the centre of the wind on , which incidentally is still where it is located on the latest design.

This back only came in 12 and 16 on derivatives but at one time could be used with 220 by resetting the counter after shooting frame 12 and using a rubber plug in the hole at the back, however, don't fall for the bit that tells you that it is possible now as its not as the plug has not been made for years and if you find one its going to be either hard or perished and 220 film has no backing paper so it will fog unless you tape up the rear cover with duct tape.

The A12 was introduced in 1968 the A meaning Automatic setting to frame 1 and untill today utilizes the same loading method - yes there was the E type introduced with electrobus connectivity in 1994 but unless you are using the F series 201F etc.. you would not need them but remember the E type will work on a 500 series but non E type will not electronically couple to the F cameras.

Faults

The most common fault is the light seals - not an expensive repair but in 99% of cases caused by damaged dark slides (sheaths) so if you see a magazine advertised with a damaged sheath its odds on the light seal has gone or if no dark slide the chances are it was thrown away for that reason and the same would most probably apply.

Next problem is that the film wind on gets a little on the stiff side this is ina lot of cases down to a small nylon ring which acts as a bearing on the wind on and is inexpensive to repair but can also be down to a need of a service / lubrication.

Third problem is that they have a tendency to fail to stop at frame 1 when winding in the film or mis space where in some cases you end up with irregular gaps and only shoot as little as 9 frames although 12 register and the last 3 are fired on the backing paper - not so great if its the cake shot at a Wedding. My suggestion is if you have any old out of date films or see them for sale load one in and mark frame 1 and then advance , shoot, remove back and slide and mark each frame in turn to confirm spacing, yes it may be a pain in the rear but can save problems later.

Evidence of Use

First place to look is on the mounting surface where the serial is stamped as it wears first and is a good guide as to how many times it has been on and off of how it has been stored in a kit bag and remembering that while you are checking the serial number the last three numbers are also repeated on the insert - When new thay are paired at the factory and wear together so if mismatched at a later date can cause problems with spacing , my advice would be to avoid mismatched backs and if the numbers are not on the insert ask why ?. I have over the years seen chrome backs with black inserts and vice versa which I personally would not entertain using, not forgeting the usual dings, dents and shrinking or missing leatherette.

On the rear of the early backs 12 on and C12 the film reminder and rear cover are one and should spring shut to the rear of the back if its sloppy or missing draw your own conclusion , likewise check for damage to the plastic film reminder dial on the A12 and remember if its missing its not too inconvenient or expensive to repair but there should be a spring steel plate for it to mount to, if this is not there it was attached by two small rivets which if not there is going to be a light leak, especially bad on 220 as film with no backing paper will be directly under that point.

On the A12 the wind on knob was prone to loosing its outer part with medium to heavy use (the small part you hold whilst winding on) and in some cases may even be missing - consider if this is the case - why ?.

The wind on assembly wascrimped into the outer case side cover and it is possible to become detatched without major force and I have seen them advertised on ebay with a comment only needs a new side plate, yes it is only a plate secured by three screws under the leatherette but as a spare costs over 60.00 to buy at Hasselblad ex works prices.

From around the mid 90's the release button on the back lost its -V- marking which stood for Victor Hasselblad and gained a number representing the exposures on the film , and the latest gained a handy dark slide holder but as a word of caution if this is in any way damaged it is secured to the magazine by 4 small screws directly through and if they are loose you have a potential light leak.

Derivatives A12 (12 on 6x6) A16 (16on 6x4.5) A16S (12 on 4.5x4.5) A24 (24 on 6x6) and A32 (32 on 6x4.5) , beware the 16S which was superslide to allow you to project transparencies in a normal 2x2 projector and remember the mask so you dont fill the frame.

Due to the advent of digital there is a decrease in the quantity of 220 films available and the price of those that are exceeds the cost of 2 off 120 films and can only see a further decrease in availability / choice and hence a decrease in the value of the A16 and A32 backs.

For Information

Please note frame one is actually a C12 - On the A16S i have idicated the S on the side which shows it to be the superslide version and have provided close ups of the type of wear to look out for. Incidentally this back is still fully funtional as I have replaced the light traps and neoprene seal in the wind on and lubricated it, but if you would have to send it to a repairer it may be a different consideration.

Non Hasselblad compatables

A final note regarding Russian backs - yes they do fit but personally I would not use them as they are all the early pinhole 12 on or C12 type and if your film plane is as little as 0.25mm out so is your focus, but I can suggest the prisms to be a good buy.

Hope this helps - good luck with your purchase.

Lighting Tricks

Here are just a few ideas to think about when you furnish your home with vintage lighting.
To make a low room appear taller.......


ensure lots of light is thrown onto the ceiling;

use fittings that project vertical beams;

make sure pendant designs are low hanging.
To make a small space appear larger......


illuminate all four corners of a room;

use uplighters to bounce light onto the ceiling;

install recessed or track lighting;

maximise your natural light: hang mirrors opposite windows.
To give a large or tall room a cosier feel......


add more lamps: group several together in a cluster or scatter lots around singularly;

prevent light from a projecting onto the ceiling;

use red or orange toned bulbs in lamps.

If you've found this guide helpful, please tick "yes" below - thank you!

How To Tile A Bathroom

Bathroom Tiles With an almost unlimited choice of patterns, textures and colours to please even the most fastidious tastes, bathroom tiles are the obvious choice for lining your bathroom or shower area. Although some people consider leaving it to the professionals, most bathrooms can be tiled in a weekend, even if you have had no previous tiling experience.Before you begin, here are the essential tools you'll need for the job:Tile CutterTile SawGrout SpreaderSpirit LevelTile NibblersAdhesive SpreaderTile-Cutting JigHomemade Gauge StickPreparationBefore you begin, it is imperative that the walls are clean, sound and dry. The surface should be as flat as possible and therefore you will need to remove any wallpapering and coat any flaking paint with a stabilizing primer. Now would be a good time to make your very own gauge stick, which will help you plot the position of the tiles on the wall. Find a piece of softwood and lay several tiles next to it (adding spacers if the tiles are square edged or butting together those with lugs) and mark off the position of each tile along the stick.Setting Out The TilesThe size and shape of your bathroom ultimately decides on how you set out the walls. Mark the bottom of the lowest row of tiles and temporarily nail a thin guide batten to the wall, aligned with the mark. Use the spirit level to ensure that this is perfectly horizontal. Marking the centre of the wall, use the gauge stick to set out the rows of tiles on each side of it. If the border tiles measure less than half the width of a tile, reposition the rows sideways by half a tile. Use the spirit level to place a guide batten against the last vertical line and nail it to the wall. If you have to tile around an object such as a window, use that as your starting point so that the surrounding tiles are of equal size. Cut tiles should be placed at the back of the window reveal. Again, use a temporary guide batten above the window to position the row of tiles above it.Applying The AdhesiveIt's important to always use a waterproof tile adhesive for areas that will come into contact with water. Most tile adhesives are sold ready-mixed, although some will require you to add water yourself. Apply the adhesive to the wall so that it covers about 1 metre square.Using the toothed edge of the spreader, form horizontal ridges in the adhesive. Take the first tile and position it in the right angle formed by the setting out battens at the skirting level. If the tiles do not have lugs, place plastic spacers between them to ensure that there is enough space for the grouting.Using a damp sponge, wipe away any adhesive from the surface of the tiles. Tile along the batten until the first rows are complete, ensuring that each tile is perfectly horizontal. When you are complete, allow the tiles to set before removing the battens.Cutting The Border TilesOnce you have completed the main area, the border tiles will need to be cut to fit the gap between the adjacent walls. Placing the border tile face down and with one edge next to the wall, mark where it is to be cut taking into consideration normal spacing between the tiles. Use a felt tip pen to transfer the mark to the face of the tile. Take the tile cutter and holding it against a straightedge, score across the face in one firm stroke. Stretching a length of thin wire across a panel of chipboard, place the scored line over the wire and press down on both sides to snap the tile. Alternatively, you can use a purpose-made tile-cutting jig. Using a tile sander, smooth over the cut edges of the tile.Fitting Around AppliancesWhen fitting tiles around a pipe, it's best to try and set them out so that you can cut a semi circle from the edges of two adjacent tiles. If this is not possible, mark the centre of the pipe on the top and side edges of the tile and draw lines across from these points. Using a coin, or something slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe, draw around where the two lines cross. Make a cut straight through the centre of the circle and then use a tile saw to cut out the remaining circle. To fit a tile against a curved shape, it's best to use a piece of thin card and draw a template of the exact size of the tile. Cut small, evenly spaced slits along one edge of the tile and press them against a curve replicate the shape. Transfer the gradient of the curve on to the face of the tile and then cut using a tile saw.Grouting And SealingIt is essential to use waterproof grout for any bath or shower surrounds. Grout comes in a pre-mixed paste grey, white or brown paste, although it is also possible these days to source coloured grouts that will blend in with your choice of tiles. Allow the tile adhesive to harden for 24 hours before applying the grout using a rubber-bladed spreader, ensuring that are the joints are filled. Using a sponge, wipe the grout from the surface of the tiles before it sets and smooth the joints with a blunt-ended stick. When it has dried, use a dry cloth to polish the face of the tiles and leave for about a week before using.Sealing Bathroom FittingsYou should not use grout to seal the gap between the shower tray or bathtub and the wall, since it can crack and lose its waterproof seal. It's best to use a silicon sealant compound, which you can buy in cartridges. The sealants are again available in a choice of colours to match your choice of tile. Trim the end off the nozzle and press the tip into the joint at an angle of 45 degrees. When applying the sealant to bathtubs, it's best to stand in the bath* since the join will accommodate your body weight. When you have finished, smooth over any ripples with a wetted teaspoon handle.

PEEL OFFS

Do you think Peel Offs are Fussy? Wish you knew how to use them? Don't know what they are or where to start?Well here's a quick and easy guide to having fun with peel offs!

Peel Offs are stickers, it's that simple! They are intricately cut stickers made from a durable, flexible material. Simply peel off the sheet and apply to any smooth, clean surface, such as paper, acetate, glass, plastic, metal and ceramics.

Pandora Battery and Services! Why Pay?

There have been MANY people on eBay currently selling the
Pandora Battery or the Service for you to send your own battery to them and
they will program it and send it back. The fact of the matter is: Your getting
ripped off!

The truth is they are charging you most of the time for the software or the
service of doing it for you when you can do it at home for Free with the
"Pandora Battery" Software if which you can type in on Google and
will find the software in seconds!

The Pandora Battery software allows you to upgrade/downgrade and recover
bricked PSP's and if you have a bricked PSP, its your Misfortune their picking
on. So avoid being misled into buying something thats Free!

Please Thank Me at the Bottom by Clicking Yes if this Guide has Helped You!

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CHEAPER READING AND LEEDS TICKETS

DONT LET THESE TOUTS ON EBAY CHARGE YOU 250 FOR A TICKET THAT SHOULD COST 155! LOOK ON THE READING AND LEEDSFESTIVAL WEBSITES AND THERE ARE WEBSITES SELLING THEM FOR LESS. STILL SLIGHTLY MORE BUT STILL LESS THAN 250. HOWEVER, MAKE SURE YOU DO ENOUGH RESEARCH, AS THERE IS ONE BASED IN BUDAPEST THAT NEVER ACTUALLY SENDS TICKETS.(readingfestivalonline couk) HAVE A LOOK. ALSO, GO ON THE DAY AFTER THE FESTIVAL HAS STARTED AND THE CHANCES ARE, TOUTS WILL BE LOOKING TO SELL THEIR TICKETS AT CHEAP PRICES. HAGGLE WITH THEM, MIGHT EVEN GET IT BELOW FACE VALUE. HAVE A LOOK AT RECENT EBAY LISTINGS AS SOMEONE MAY BE SELLING AT FACE VALUES. GET THEM BEFORE THE TOUTS DO. CHEERS, CHRIS

Sellers BEWARE of unconfirmed buyer details!

After being 'stung' a few times recently, I decided to write this warning for sellers. It has become on the increase the number of people purchasing items from me, without having a CONFIRMED address either with PayPal or eBay. Strangely enough, a large proportion of those buyers, after a short time ,reported the item not received, despite their items being posted. This appears to be more-so the case with international transactions. The problem is, if you post to an unconfirmed address, you have little or no protection should a dispute of goods non-receipt be opened, and you are likely to have to refund the buyer.Should you receive such an order for goods, (regardless of whether you've been paid), ask yourself one question.... WHY are they unconfirmed?Ebay seem to have noticed that this is a problem and have now added a facility to report buyers with unconfirmed addresses and this can be found under the payment not received dispute console, regardless of whether they have paid or not.It might be worthwhile changing your policy on this, either stating that you will not post to an unconfirmed address, or, stating that such orders will require that postal insurance is also paid. I have been stung, and largely on higher priced items, please be aware of this problem. Because sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers, this problem is likely to be on the increase, however, eBay also indicate that they are stamping down on problematic buyers, provided they are reported.Please be careful, and pass this on to fellow sellers.

WWE Rip Offs

Beware of sellers selling wwe figures/twin packs/triple packs stating that they are 'rare'. These wwe merchandise can be found inother major stores(such as the triple giants pack with undertaker,great khali and kane). I have seen this triple pack advertised for 24.99 plus postage, when you can find these pricedelsewhere for 14.99. What a price difference!

Tetra radios for sale

Quite a few sellers are offering TETRA radios for sale on eBay and a few are promising SECURE DMO transmissions. I am a serving MOD police officer and while not an expert on TETRA radios I have a working knowledge of the system (Airwaves)and would hate to see someone spend upwards of 300 on a defunct system or one that won't give whats promised.

TETRA is basically a Push To Talk (PTT) mobile phone, using the mobile phone network (O2 in UK), hence anauthorization code is required to use the system.

Any second userradios offered on eBay will not be authorized to use the system, as the codes will have been removed before the radios were decommissioned, so no national coverage or data transmissions.

Any radios released with the codes intact can be remotely disabled if an unauthorized user attempts to access the system. Some high end radios have GPS tracking systems, so an unauthorized user may get a visit from the authorities!!!

This leaves you with a basic hand held "walkie talkie".Most TETRA radios have a Direct ModeOperation (DMO), this is a fallback mode if the network fails and offers short range use between units. Some newerradios retain their digital transmission capabilities most revert to analogue.The power output is in the range of 500mw to max 1w, similar to 446 pmr. The car/base units can have up to 10w.

Note: even if the unit keeps it's digital capability in DMO, there are digital scanners available to the publicthat are capable of intercepting the signals ( yes, very expensive but available non the less), also the Security Services use highlysophisticated systems ( I've seen them and believe me, I know what they can do), so without the encryption your transmissions are NOT completely secure.

Now on to the claims of "secure encrypted transmissions". The radio manufacturers and The End Users spend millions of pounds developing these systems, hence the encryption keys and algorithms (E2EE, ETSI, TEA1, TEA2 etc)are a closely guarded secret. Do you really believe a radio is going to be decommissioned with these keys intact?, I don't !!!!. You may be lucky and get a US radio with the basicEnd To End encryption intact, but ANY TETRAradio designed to be usedin the UKand possiblyEurope WILL (I repeat WILL) have the encryption disabled. This leaves you with a300, 500mw, unencrypted walkie talkie on a non standard, illegalanalogue (possibly digital)frequency, not a good buy!

UPDATE: 02/10/08 Some IDIOThas just paid 3100 for a single Motorola handheld unit because the seller said it was popular with Government Agencies and it could be reprogramed to alltheir own needs, (hint, hint, you could listen to the police).Ifpeople are thatgullible then they deserve all they get!!!

NO TETRA RADIO AVAILABLE ON EBAY IS ABLETOAND NEVER WILLBE ABLETOLISTEN TO POLICE TRANSMISSIONS REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS MADE

Well that's my Two pennies worth. As I've stated I'm not an expert but I would hate to see buyers duped into buying a very expensive doorstop.

Cricket bats: Fakes from India, supposedly sponsored

UPDATED: July, 2010: Tempted to get the same bat as Sachin Tendulkar or any other top international player from the sub-continent?Beware - Hero Honda is a motor manfacturer, they do not make bats for professionals. They sponsor international cricketers, who use their red and white stickers on high quality bats (most notably, the SS, SG and BAS brands)- but Hero Honda do not make pro bats, just cheap recreational ones because of an ICC ruling which states that an international sponsor must manufacture bats if their name goes on a bat. So Hero Honda bought a small bat company in India. Be careful with this as virtually all of the Hero Honda bats on Ebay are not the ones used by international players but cheap rubbish or even fakes (more on this here).Reebok do make bats but MS Dhoni does not use a Reebok bat, though Reebok pay him very well to endorse their products. Dhoni uses a very heavy SS but was also recently pictured with an SG... Same with Yuvraj Singh, who uses an SS bat.And as for Britannia, they are a biscuit company and also do not manufacture pro bats. If you have a Britannia bat, it's probably an el cheapo.A possible exception is MRF (tyre manufacturing company which owns a small bat subsidiary) - this brand of bat is sold in some Ebay stores as well as in private auctions. Personally, I would not buy one as some of them are made of Kashmir Willow (see my other guide on willow type and grades here). One of the selling points of the MRF range is that they are used by the likes of Brian Lara and Tendulkar - but even Tendulkar used MRF stickers on an SS bat.Also remember, some of these listings state that the bats are made of Grade A willow - there is no such thing as "Grade A" willow. There is only grade 1 through to grade 5 - with grade 1 being the best and running all the way through to the lowest quality grade 5... "Grade A" is just something some sellers have made up to confuse people into thinking it is somehow superior. Bat-makers do not recognise this grading and neither should you.A thought - there is nothing wrong with getting one of these "sponsored" bats (even if it is made of Kashmir Willow and is of an inferior grade) if you wish to play social cricket in the park - but be careful if it is for serious cricket at club or higher level. Don't pay top money for what is essentially just a novelty item.Sorry to burst your bubble, but did you know that the majority of the South African national team uses bats made by Bellingham and Smith, a small, privately run entity? The stickers you see on the players' bats do not matter - it's the quality of the willow. Most international players change the livery (stickers) every season to match the branding of their big sponsors but the bats are privately manufactured! Same story for the Aussies - many of their bats are made by Laver

UPDATE ON FAKE HOT PINK GHD'S

Hi, this is just an update to my previous GHD fake guide, I have received some emails from memebers who read my previous guide asking for my opinion, sadly if they had read it first they would have known what questions to ask prior to bidding, my previous guide was concerning the Pink MK3 version, the questions I have received are concerning the new MK4's, personally I wouldn't bother as the new version does not heat up as high as the Mk3 and for your own piece of mind buy from a reputable website, I am not 100% sure on the markings of the new Hot Pink version but there is one big give away, they come with a DVD, look closely around the edge of this, if it reads GHD then you have probably purchased a genuine pair, if it reads dvd/r/rw then they are fake, also if you have been naive enough to buy prior to reading the guides left by members then go to GHD's website to register them, after entering your personal details the next page will ask for the verification code on the irons, after typing this in hopefully you will get congratulations on registering your genuine GHD's if not then they will advise counterfeit.IN ANY INSTANCE OF WANTING TO BUY FROM EBAY, I URGE YOU TO USE YOUR BRAIN AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE BIDDING OR USING THE BUY IT NOW OPTION, FIRSTLY ASK THE SELLER FOR THE VERIFICATION CODE, IF THEY IGNORE YOU THEN DO NOT BUY, IF THEY SEND IT THEN CHECK STRAIGHT AWAY ON GHD'S WEBSITE, IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED AND HAVE ANY DOUBTS HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE USED PAYPAL, OPEN A DISPUTE THROUGH THEM AND ALSO REPORT THE MEMBER TO EBAY, THEY SHOULD BE SUSPENDED, AFTER ALL THEY HAVE NO CONCIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING PEOPLES MONEY

How to get a sig and use it.

First of all you will need to get yourself a photobucket account which you can do by going here:www.photobucket.comNow, there are restrictions on the sig you can have. The guidelines to the sig you can use are set out here:Signature Guidelines. Next you will need to find the picture you wish to use as your sig. You
can do this by searching Photobucket for the pic you want to use or you
can visit here:Diva's By Design Signature Thread. For visual aid to the following steps, please visit this page:Ebay ME Page. Now there is two ways to upload the picture you wish to use depending on where you got it.If
you are using the photobucket search facility, you can upload the
picture you want to use straight to your photobucket account by
clicking on the picture. You then need to click on "save image to my
album", this is located just above the picture. The picture will then
be added to your album and will be ready to use.If you visit
the tag thread and request a sig you will need to right click on the
sig when it has been posted for you and save to your computer using the
"save as" option. After you have saved the sig to your computer log
into your photobucket account. To upload the picture you will need to
click on "Browse" and then click on upload.Once the picture
has uploaded to your album you will need to use the HTML Code. Click on
the line marked HTML Code, then right click and copy.Once you have the HTML Code copied, come back to the Ebay Boards.At the top of each board on the right hand side you will see "Watches/Settings".Click
on settings. This will bring you to a new page where you will see a
little box. This is where you will insert the HTML Code. Click inside
the box, then right click and paste.Now, sigs are not allowed contain Link backs so you will need to remove some of the HTML code.The part you will need to remove is this:

SPOT REPLICA BUTLINS BADGES

SPOT REPLICA BUTLINS BADGES

How do you spot a replica badge from a genuine butlins badge,Actualy its not that hard to do .Firstly the replica badges were not made to fool you, they were sold by Butlins as part of a relaunch of thier badges.

If you can turn the badge over you can tell by the pin ,the picture with thge safty catchis the Replica, all replica badges have the safety pin, a lot also have the words REPLICA stamped on them....But on EBAY and other sites you cannot usually see the reverse. so how can you tell by looking at the front? One or more things can give the replica away . Firstly the colours ,normally a lot brighter on the replica, also a strange shine caused by the fact replica badges are not enamel but are coated in a resin finish The replica is on the right!!! see some more,

oooooooooooo

Did you spot the replicas.? see below for which real..,

replica real replica realreal replica

as you can also see the quality is not the same on the replica badges if you get stuck you can always email the seller and ask them what type of pin is on the back..... So good luck and happy EBAYing

Thanks for reading, Matt.

thanks to .

www bygonebutlins com

lots of good info can be found on butlins badges.

A Scuba Diving Instructor's Guide to Mask

A good Dive Mask lasts for years and unless it gets lost, you will probably never need to buy an other one.

MATERIAL SELECTION

Q: Plastic or Glass Lens?
A: GLASS LENS. Tempered Glass to be more precise. It means that the lens is very strong and if it breaks it cracks rather than splinters. (think windscreen) - though I have never seen one even crack.

Q: Two Lens Or One?
A: TWO one lense masks have larger volume capacity for air and for water too if the mask should ever leak. And it might if you smile underwater! Clearing the mask is easier if it's less flodded.

Q: Rubber, Plastic or Silicon Skirt?
A: SILICON SKIRT. Softer than plastic, moulds better to your face. The flexible nose-pocket will allow you to equalise by pinching your nose. (That is to relieve the pressure on your eardrums when you decend under water.)

SIZE SELECTION

Q: How Do I know If The Mask Fits?

Mask don't come in a great variety sizes, but some people may need special consideration.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

- Presciption Glass Wearers: Presciption lenses are available for dive masks, although if you can wear Contact Lenses do so. Make sure to shut your eyes while clearing water in case of flodding though. Your dive instructor will teach you how to clear your mask underwater
Moustache, Beard: One Word for you hairy men, Vaseline. Put on facial hair will help the sealing.
Fog Prevetion: SPIT this old time favorite is still the best. (and Free)

Now please do go to my shop and buy your mask there. I think I deserve you custom after all this :o))) Cheers!
Vicky
PADI Scuba Diving Instructor
CLICKing ON THE MASK below will take you to my shop!

KNITTING MACHINES

Anyone new to machine knitting will find the following tips helpful.

There are lots of Knitting clubs thoughout the U.K. find them by serching the web or look in local liberies for clubs.

There is also a mounthly magazineMachine Knitting Monthlyask at newsagents. This gives lots of patterns and good helpful informatin

So much help and freindlyadvice can be passed on from these clubs so that you can enjoy your machine to the full.

The Truth About Fruit Machine Emptier Guides (inc 2006)

I am writing this guide because not only am I sick of arcades taking all of my money, I am sick of eBay sellers selling useless Fruit Machine Emptier Guides in order to try to con Fruit Machine players all over again!

So, if you're thinking of parting with your cash for one of these guides, read this...and think again!!!

The Section 16 Emptier Guide will give you a whole lot of blurb about odds and the history of the machines (yawn). It will then suggest that you do a few things which are "guaranteed" to give you wins. Here's what they are:-

They are all to get the machine to play in free play or test mode, so that you supposedly play for free but are still able to collect large winnings. Sounds great, doesn't it? So, what do they say you need to do to get free plays? Again, they say it's really simple....just press and hold the collect button on the far right of the machine. Simple! Except that all players know that the collect button is on the left! Anyway, even if you overlook that, it doesn't work! And if it did, you're then expected to play with a "-" figure showing in your credit window all the time until you win enough for it to disappear!

Oh, and they tell you 2 great other ways of entering test mode....open the door or turn the machine on and off. Fabulous! Going to get away with that one down at the arcade, aren't you?!!

So, please feel free to email me through eBay and I will happily email you FOR FREE any other guides I have - they are for older style machines that aren't yet re-chipped. Why am I happy to do this? Because I don't like to see people get ripped off for useless information. Okay, I could sell a guide for a couple of quid on how not to get ripped off but what's the point? I'll only then be making money from the guides I think shouldn't be earning people money!!!

I hope this helps, please don't fall for these robbers - they are just trying to make money out of people who like a gamble. Not nice!

Thanks for your time. sthpk72fan.

Exporting - military goods

If you are offeringmilitary items for delivery abroad, for most of them you MUST obtain an export licence from the Dept of Trade and Industry. If you are caught without a licence the maximum penalty setis either an unlimited fine or 10yrs jail.

And people do get caught: An Essex companywas fined 10,000 on 23 March 2006 for exporting military-listed body armour to various Middle East countries without the correct export licences.

Direct links from here are not allowed, but go to the DTI website (dti.gov.uk)and search for Export Control Organisation. You can e-mailthem (see the contact webpage) or phone their helpline on 020 7215 8070. You can also do a websearch for the "UK Military List" - if your goods are on it, you need a licence.

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM HAYFEVER

This is now my 2nd guide and since my first guide is about how to protect yourself from fraudulent/scams on ebay and is a success which i believe has helped many people, I thought why not write a guide about how people can overcome Hayfever.I Myself am a hayfever sufferer and for others who have hayfever - I am asure you are aware how it can ruin your summer. Well follow my tips and i can assure you your next summer will be better than the rest.REMEMBER: Anyone can have hayfever. You can be born with it like me or you can develop symptons any time of the year (summer mainly). The common type of hayfever is allergic to pollen from grass but you do get others who are allegic to tree pollen as well.Preventions (when indoor):

Always close all windows and doors to prevent pollen from getting in. Even on a hot summers day where pollen count will be high. This is when it is good to have AC.
Try not to hang clothes outside to dry as pollen can stick to them but dry them inside.
Wash and change your clothes everyday especially when you have been outside.
If you've been outdoor, have a shower and wash your hair to remove any excess pollen.

Preventions (when outdoor): If you are going out and you know your going to be going on grass or near follow these steps:

Have any medication first that your doctor prescribe or you bought over the counter - i found the benadryl allergy relief tablets to be the best and most expensive as well
Nasal spray/eye drops all these help
Get a good night sleep the day before. This is vital to help build a stronger immune system.
WEAR SUNGLASSES - This is probably the best help as it worked best for me on a hot day walking on grass - hayfever did not affect me and i am a strong sufferer but until they broke at the end which is when i suffered bad :(
Place a thin layer of vaseline around the inside of the nasal area (nose). Helps to stop the pollen going in any further.
Try Homeothapy - natural soutions to help cure hayfever. Try brands such as weleda. I have a spare one brand new not been opened for 9.99 if anyone is interested - contact me. Contains a nasal spray and some pollen tablets (2x100 tablets).
Have a teaspoon of honey in the morning about 1/2 months before when your hayfever starts.
Try red light. Its an expensive solution but helps to prevent runny nose. Does not do much for runny eyes though i believe.

Ill continue to add steps when i come accross new ideas and solutions. Contact me if you have any ideas you tried that have worked for you. AND DONT FORGET TO VOTE PLEASE - THANK YOU.

How can I tell if my Hard Drive is faulty ?

Thebest way to test it is to use a piece of software called Drive Fitness Test, this is a DOS application that runs from a Boot Floppy or a Bootable CD.

You cannot use Windows to test the drive.

If you do a Google search for ibm drive fitness test 4.05.

This simple program will allow you to test an IDE or SCSI hard drive, you cannot test :-

SerialATA (SATA) hard drives
CD Roms or Writers
DVD Rom or Writers
Flopticals
ZIP drives.

If you test fails then it is almost a certainty that the drive is faulty.

However, you should unplug a faulty drive and test it with another hard drive just in case one of the following components are faulty :-

Power Supply
Power Supply's Molex that plugs into the rear of drive
IDE Cable
Motherboard Controller
Floppy drive controllers (can affect IDE for hard drives)

If the replacement drive passes reconnect the old drive and re-test just in case there was a loose connector.

If it still fails then it needs replacing.

Do not throw it away as you may still be able to read some or all of the data when you plug it into the PC as a secondary hard drive.

If you have any further questions then please visit oureBay shop: Highridge Computers Ltd.

Please don't feed your cat Chocolate!

"Where's the harm? My cat seems to enjoy chocolate and it's onlya small piece."

Just because certain foods, such as chocolate, are enjoyed by us humans and are perfectly safe for us, it does not mean they are suitable for cats. Chocolate contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for cats and other domestic pets, these chemicals can, in rare cases, be deadly.

One problem is that cats in general find chocolate very tasty and so, it is important not to feed it to them, otherwise they will eat what you give them up to the point where it poisons them.

Chocolate contains the compound theobromine which is a diuretic as well as a cardiac stimulant. This can cause the pet's heart rate to increase or it may cause the heart to beat irregularly, both of which can be dangerous to the animal. The level of theobromine present in chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains higher levels than milk chocolate and so could pose a greater risk to your pet.

There are many problems that can result from feeding a cat chocolate. Chocolate is relatively high in calories so it can contribute to the development of obesity in your cat. A cat can lose its appetite for it's normal food if it eats chocolate. The largest problem isthough the fact that chocolate contains the chemical theobromine as mentioned above. If this chemical builds up in the cats system, it can be potentially lethal, and one reason for this is that cats cannot clear theobromine from their bodies as quickly as people can.

Many cat owners would simply expect their pet to develop an upsetstomach after eating a large amount of chocolate but few realize its lethal potential.

Further problems which can arise from chocolate poisoning are Diuresis (increased urine production), diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting,depression, and muscle tremors. These are signs which must be recognized by any cat owner so that the cat is not fed too muchchocolate.

Treatment for chocolate poisoning in its advanced stage can be very unpleasant for both the cat and the owner of the cat, so it is much better to be safe and to cut down chocolate consumption of your cat to a minimum. If you do have worries that your cat has consumed large quantities of human chocolate it would be wise to consult your vet - pronto. Spotting the symptoms early on can be very beneficial and can give the cat a much better chance of surviving any poisoning which may have occurred.

If you wish to feed your cat chocolate, there are alternate "chocolate" treats for cats which are produced by some pet food manufacturers. They will either use a vegetable substitute made to taste and look like chocolate, or they will take out the theobromine, or use greatly reduced, safe levels in the chocolate treats they produce. While a very small amount of chocolate may not be harmful to some cats, it is always safest to avoid giving any to them at all.

Our Venison Chunx and Tripe Pieces are also suitable for cats.

A Guide to identifying FIRST EDITION LADYBIRD books

Wills and Hepworth did not have the collector in mind when publishing their books and as a result, many first editions are difficult to identify. Many booksellers and new collectors to Ladybird believe that if a book states 'First published 19xx' and has no other date, then it will be a first edition, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Check the dustwrapper flap or catalogue listAll Ladybird books prior to 1965 were published with dust-wrappers and usually had a list of titles from the series on the rear flap. A true first edition will always be the last title listed or in a few books, it may not even be on the list at all. If your title is the last on the list, then it MAY be a first edition, but there are other points to check first. If the title appears in the middle of the list, then it is definately not a first edition.If your book is missing it's dustwrapper, you can check the catalogue at the back of the book. Up until 1955, most ladybird books were published with 56 pages rather than the standard 52, and one of these pages would sometimes be used to advertise other books (not necessarily from the same series). From this list of books, you will be able to date the last titles listed in each series and this usually gives an approximation of the date to within a year.

Dated EditionsSome early editions were produced with dates and edition numbers. This information was always found on the reverse side of the front flyleaf.Books published in 1940 and 1941 tend not to have any dates on their first editions, these were from series 401, 413 and 417. However later editions up to 1955 would often have the date and edition printed.

Copies fromthe late1970'shave a date printed inside the bottom of the first page in roman numerals.

Tally numbersBetween 1963 and 1974, some Ladybird books have a 'tally number' printed somewhere on the book, usually found on the back flap of the dustwrapper or on a matt edition can be located at the bottom of the back board. The tally number indicates the approximate number of titles published so far by Ladybird.100 = 1963 and 1964120-140 = 1965150-170 = 1966190-200 = 1967 and 1968210-225 = 1968230-260 = 1969270-280 = 1970 and 1971300 = 1972320-340 = 1973350-370 = 1974

Spine text directionAnother indication of age can be determined by looking at the direction of the text on a book spine and it's dustwrapper. All spine titles ran from bottom to top until 1959, after which Wills

Removing the Wig from an Antique Bisque Head Doll

You often need to remove either the entire wig (for packing the doll or to get access to the eyes) or just part of it (to check for markings underneath) this guide advises how to do it without causing damage to either the doll or the wig.

WARNING: Do NOT pull the wig from the head; you could tear the wig and pull chunks from the head. This guide is for bisque or china head dolls it is not suitable for composition heads.

You might try to gently lift the hair from the head, say, just above the ear; grasp the hair closely between finger and thumb as near to the head as you can and see if the hair lifts from the head. Sometimes the glue loses its stick and comes away completely without effort. If you can lift the hair away from the head, try to do the same with an adjoinng piece of wig and move carefully around the head lifting eventually as much as possible. Do not use any effort if it is stuck, keep reading.

The original glue used to hold the wig on is water soluble, so the best way to release the hair is as follows (do NOT dunk the head in water), use a sheet or two of wet kitchen roll folded into a sausage wetter than moist but not dripping lay the doll face down on a towel and gently move the hair up and away from the head, starting at the neck, place the kitchen roll on the join and leave for 10 15 minutes, the glue should be softening now and you might be able to gently pull the hair away from the head a little way (if not ready, leave a bit longer), once the soft glue has been parted from the head, lay the kitchen roll back on the join and leave again. Continue to do this until you have managed to part as much hair from the head as required. The aim is to wet the glue but not the hair and certainly do not get any water onto the body if composition.

If the glue is not original but more modern, you will need to try and identify what will dissolve it; you might need acetone (nail varnish remover but not acetone free) or some other solvent. You can try by putting a small amunt on a cotton bud and trying a tiny area first be careful, if the wig is synthetic you may dissolve or damage it, note also that the solvent might dissolve the glue holding the cotton to the stick. When you find a solvent that works you will need to work your way around the head and upwards bit by bit, gradully pulling the hair from the head as you dissolve the glue, until you have as much free as you need. The solvent will probably work quite quickly so you should only do a small area at a time and be prepared not to leave it but carry on until finished.

I hope this has helped if you need more advise please contact me and I will try to help.

BEWARE OF FAKE AUTOGRAPHED GOODS

Fakes Fraudsters Scams Scammers Con Artists Conmen Ebay Scams Beware Guide on Sports Memorabilia Football Shirts Signed photos handsigned memorabilia

Autographs avoid being duped by forgeries and fake signed handsigned sportsfootball memorabilia

UK eBay's first ever Sports Memorabilia Autograph Guide by 4D Sports

Don't buy a fake autograph on eBay - Do your research first before placing a bid - Do not bid on items that have private bidding id - Don't bid on sellers with Private feedback - Be careful - Look for providence where item was supposely signed - was it in-person - by post - purchased third party - Check sellers history - See what other items have been sold in feedback - check examples of autograph - do your research first - everything is not as it may seem - be cautious - who issues the COA - does the Certificate of Authenticy have sellers contact name and address details printed on the certificate

As an example we have only seen only 5 to 6 genuine Thierry Henry handsigned items in the past 12 months listed on eBay. And these items went for far less than the signed name numbered shirts you see all the while on eBay. Points to avoid.We use this guide purley based as a free help guide - we will not comment on other items for sale or items purchased. We will not authenticate items orprovide valuations on items - guide is intended as information assisting in and protecting the Sports Memorabilia and particularly autographed Sports Memorabilia hobby and a guidance for new collectors. This is also the first autograph guide on sports autographs on ebay and also we are the first to offer a guide on matchworn football shirts on ebay please feel free to check our guides id numbers to verify that this is true. Vote YES if guide was helpful more votes the more other ebayers will see.

Is your Sports autograph REAL or is it a FAKE.

When looking to make a purchase on a autographed item several factors should be taken into consideration. Please note all images on this guide are fake signed memorabilia.

Firstly - the authenticy of item, you will see many many autographs for sale of your favourite sporting legend, sports personality etc Ebay is a great place to buy and is quickly becoming the major web search engine catching up with Google and Yahoo. More and more people are buying from ebay instead of purchasing from the internet.Ebay is unfortunately flooded with mass amounts of fake autographs offered for sale from various sellers. If you are new to hobby you should be very wary of who you buy from and firstly do some research into autographs otherwise you may buy a worthless fake. See picture below of a fake signed Pele, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo Brazil shirt look at how similar the handwriting is on shirt all the same consistent style. Image isn't great but this was taken from an ebay auction on UK site fetched over 200 and isn't worth anything at all even the shirt is worthless as unfortunately the autographs are forgeries.

The football boot is signed by David Beckham at a buy it now price of only 45 amazing as a undedicated card signed by Beckham would be valued at 40 - 60. Look at how perfect Beckham's signature is did he sign this? Of course not if he did you would expect item to fetch 150 plus also Beckham is under contract with Adidas and this boot is made by Umbro - you could say he wears an England Umbro shirt but hardly likely you would get a signature like this on a cheap Umbro boot.

Always ask questions if you are not 100% confident in placing a bid or using Buy It Now. Remember the seller should be proving the authenticy NOT you, if they avoid questions or can't state where/when its was signed this is no good would you buy a second hand car from them - certainly not -the salesoley relies on honesty from seller!! Look at price - look at what other items are for sale - look at previous sales - avoid sellers offering all the big names and in vast quantities. Sellers may say it was purchased from UACC registered dealer if so they should give you the name ofdealer and also their membership number this can be checked on UACC website. The UACC has several UK guys monitoring eBay at present, you can report suspicious members to the UACC, they are doing there very best to monitor its members. If somebody is saying they are a member they should be advertising there full name and UACC membership number and also they are not allowed to use private feedback or private bidders identity if they are report them to UACC. Check this first as alot of autograph sellers state they are registered dealers when in fact they are not. Some sellers are saying they are members and they are not even a member.

NEVER EVER buy an autograph based on a seller being a member of any autograph club/association this doesn't mean anything or in no way guarantees authenticy at all. It can be reliable to buy from registered dealers from a certain famous autograph club but that doesn't guarantee totalauthenticy aswell. There's only one real guarantee and that's to get autograph yourself only method of guaranteed authenticy you yourself will know its real as you were there when it was signed. There are alot of bogus sellers about ready to con you out of your hard earned money including con merchants who basically copy the original autograph onto a football shirt/card/boot/photo somebody who doesn't know sporting autographs is easy picking. NEVER EVER buy an autograph based on how great the seller is either i.e Silver Powerseller 100% feedback etc Autographs should mainly be purchased in our opinion on authenticy ONLY and providence helps support the authenticy. How reliable and honest the person/s are selling the autograph with back up support such as a contactable address and name if anything should go wrong. Its very awkward but research before hand is the key and we have probably made you very wary of buying an autograph on eBay - not all sellers are selling fakes - the one's who are reliable and honest are always happy to assist in any questions. Do your research first before buying an autograph check examples ask questions.

Purchasing autographs are totally about authenticy.Whatever Else !!

Avoid products we call Manufactured Memorabilia these are basically perfectly and expertly produced autographed items that are produced to target a market i.e Ryder Cup, Rugby World Cup, The Ashes etc An example is the England 5 Germany 1 limited edition signed shirts by Owen, Gerrard and Heskey all autographs on most of these shirts are fake and Eric Cantona Kung Fu kick photo's.

We have only seen a handful of genuine signed England Rugby World Cup shirts been sold on eBay its unbelievable how much travelling it takes and time to get a fully signed shirt world cup england rugby shirt. Several stars inc Johnny Wilkinson will not sign without a dedication - the forgers are now aware of this so are offering still multi signed shirts without Wilkinson's autograph so as to not raise any suspicions!!One other Sports Memorabilia dealer we would highly recommend for genuine Rugby autograph's and memorabilia are Legends International. They represent many stars from the finaland have excellent links with Leicester Tigers.

Several memorabilia companies do supply official memorabilia on behalf of stars so limited edition handsigned prints are produced and one well known company bigbluetube supply Wayne Rooney's official memorabilia these are the companies to use to guarantee you are getting an authentic item as they work closely with player's and player's agents. Unfortunately, Big Blue Tube have gone out of business now but A1 Sporting Speakers have acquired the company now, A1 is run by Terry Baker who is official memorabilia agent for quite a few of England 1966 World Cup winning squad. Terry is also a good person we would recommend for Pele and Diego Maradona as he organises signing sessions with these two football legends for many UK dealers.

Never take a sellers word treat it as if its a double glazing salesman don't be rude alwaysaskquestions if your unsure about something. Customers can be a pain but if the question is a reasonable one then most sellers will answer - most authentic sellers are happy to answer any queries as we have nothing to hide its only when you receive some silly questions!! Silly questions are like if you list item as being handsigned and somebody asks a question has this been signed - Yes that's why we say handsigned. Several pointers to look out for are definately proof, and definately providence, sellers feedback. NEVER BID ON PRIVATE BIDDERS ID or PRIVATE FEEDBACKavoid at all costs why is the need for seller to hid these details from potential customers - either the seller is secretly bidding which you can't see in history to up the price or has had some bad comments left by previous customers that question authenticy of item. Regarding autographs ask where it was signed, how was it signed, date, location, any pictures takenat time of signingand do you have any supporting evidence to support claim.Its always good to have history to go with autograph aswell. It is possible to obtain autographs from writing letters to players or via agents if it was obtained via post then no harm in saying so.Look at other examples of autograph that are being sold and compare - the genuine items are always more expensive with a high reserve as they simply are GENUINE that's why they are more expensive - a fake can be sold at no loss to seller as he/she can simply write another photo/shirt out!! Its amazing how many signed items by cat A stars are about Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Pele, Diego Maradona, Erc Cantona, George Best etc only a small percentage are infact real!!Never listen to nonsense reagarding I'm a Powerseller awarded by Ebay Silver level etc This is rather frustrating as this simply means that they have been awarded this status by ebay by how much money they have made from selling fake autographs!! Most of these sellers haven't even been to a football match never mind a training ground!! And couldn't tell you who was playing who at weekend!!

Certificate of Authenticy COA's, holograms, money back guarantee are all great but will the seller be contactable afterseveral years when you find its a forgery or even afterseveral months!! We agree with Certificates being issued as all the sellers personal details should be on certificate so acts as a receipt for item always keep the certificate. If you find out its a fake latter on then you have all the details regarding the sale and supporting evidence of item. Majority of honest/reliable/genuine sellers are facing a constant battle against fakes/forgery's being sold as they always offer signed photographs, limited edition signed shirts, signed captains armbands, trust our word if you offered a football boot to be signed by Thierry Henry he would mumour something in French and stroll off!! If he DID sign it would be very unlikely he would just scribble he would ask for your name - a majority of top sports stars will not sign without dedicating THAT IS A FACT - Mr David Beckham is impossible to obtain un-dedicated now aswell as Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Jonny Wilkinson.We recently attended a location in West Midlands where football legend Eric Cantona was present we offered several Kung Fu kick photographs for signing by Eric and Eric Cantona looked at items he started talking to his brother Joel and said "No" - we latter learned that Eric does not want any memory of that incident and is still embarrassed. We can confirm this is true and will not give out location/date as this will be used by rogue sellers to sell Cantona items. A few autograph collectors we know from St Andrews, Villa Park, NECwere present and can confirm this one of these collectors is also a seller on eBay. Due to amount of money that is being made from sports memorabilia market this is where fakes/forgeries are being sold its the same as within music area. Englands recent success in cricket is another area to be targetted. England won the Ashes and within24 hours a HANDSIGNED Freddie Flintoff Ashes photo from final test appeared on Ebay not one but from 5 different sellers. No location or supporting evidence was provided if you took a photo of Freddie signing it would sell for 300 instead of 100 so its worth getting a photo took also these sellers have 10-20 in stock all the while this is the same for Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Pele, Diego Maradona even Bobby Moore have been targeted. This also happened when England won the Rugby World imagine all the fakes if England won the world cup again! If you want to collect 1966 World Cup signed autographs best advice is to ONLY buy with picture proof being shown or come to Sporting Memorabilia at the NEC in Birmingham, its an autograph show where a majority of 1966 team appear it will cost you entry fee and also a charge of usually 10 but you can collect all autographs IN PERSON and meet your heroes in the flesh.

See our other guide page on - What to watch out for when purchased matchworn player issue football shirts this is another area unfortunately targeted by fakes same as fake replica football shirts.

When you have been collecting for a while you will see who the genuine sellers are from the dodgy one's just by looking at autograph alone. It takes years and years of collecting, knowledge to attain a vast knowledge of autographs you know which stars are hard signers i.e Alot of cat A stars will not sign anything un-dedicated without asking for your name. We are still learning like other sellers all the while no one seller/person is an absolute expert on autographs its impossible to attain every single knowledge on every autograph - can you imagine how many autographs there are!!!!

We have been rudely ignored several times by Thierry Henry and David Beckham they know you are selling for profit so avoid you at all costs. You may be lucky to get something signed but not 20 or even 3 items at a time by cat A players. If you do you are very very lucky or have a regular team obtaining autographs all the time. Dodgy sellers all have the same style handwriting so its easy to spot a dodgy seller as MULTI SIGNED shirts all have a similar style of handwriting. Look at one shirt by a certain team then look at another team ask for close up scans to be sent if Ebay picture is too small and not very clear.You can spot these by simply looking at auction always have multi signed Chelsea, Arsenal, England, Man Utd, Brazil, Pele, Maradona, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Signed legends shirts by Eric Cantona, George Best. You are lucky if you ever got one of these in a lifetime of collecting in-person and we never see lots of pictures of players signing these shirts supplied by sellers no dates/ no location nothing.

Look for sellers of sports autographs who hold private signings and show you lots of proof ofcelebrity signing aswell as date and locationor offer alot of PICTURE PROOF and VIDEO PROOF but not same proof all the while sellers will place text over signing pictures to stop rogue sellers using as authenticy for passing of to sell their fake items. Ask questions - don't be shy - if you don't get any replies - simple don't bid - ask before bidding. Avoid fly by night sellers on ebay these are new sellers that are selling all big names and have hotmail/yahoo/msn emails these are email accounts are that are mobile whereas a email such as btinternet/tiscali/wannadoo are fixed email address registered within UK. These are trackable to person.

Unfortunately, Ebay are not specialised in this area to know who is breaching criminal law. It is up to you the general public to report these people to local trading standards office who will conduct a report to the police. Provide all relevant details with ebay auction, name, address, item number, cost etc and your reason why it is a fake. Trading Standards are really jumping on fake autographs at present and recent media has shown several high profile cases involving ebay sellers supplying fake autographed sporting memorabilia. Do your bit - report these people - destroying a beautiful hobby - it will send a warning to others - they are quite simply criminals

Be Careful - Be Vigilant - Avoid Private Bidders sellers - Avoid Private Feedbacksellers - Avoid sellers with all the big stars multi signed.

Enjoy the hobby of collecting autographs

Ihope this has helped you, if you found this guide helpful please click the yes link below, best wishes jamedirvine1954