eBay User Strike Quickly Losing Momentum

For several weeks I have been reading stories about an upcoming eBay strike among regular users that are upset about rising fees charged by the worlds largest on-line flea market. Of course, people at eBay don't call themselves a flea market, but in reality that is what they are. Millions of people around the world turn to eBay to buy and sell merchandise and for the most part these people on both ends of the transaction are satisfied with the experience.

The rules at eBay are not only changing to earn that company more money, but they are also designed to help curtail the rising amount of fraud that is committed by some unscrupulous buyers and sellers. I have never actually bought or sole anything on eBay, but I have visited their site many times in the past. Even for a non user like myself, it did appear that eBay would be a bastion for criminals to basically steal by taking the money from consumers and not shipping the product.

The last time I visited eBay, there were seller ratings on each item that was up for bids and that kind of a system seems like it would work most of the time. However, in a world where almost anything can be stolen electronically, there are bound to be thieves that stroll around eBay looking for their next victim. I believe what eBay is trying to do with their terms of service (TOS) changes is to try and run off a few bad apples that are giving their on-line buying service a bad name. As eBay has grown, so has their potential legal liability if something goes wrong.

While some people may strike eBay because of these new rules, most people will not strike and these new rules and fees will be merged into each on-line retailers cost of doing business. The eBay idea as an Internet business model was one of the best things to come out of the Internet explosion in the late 1990's. While many other good Internet business ideas have come and gone, eBay is still going strong and these new rules are just the price average people must pay if they want to do business with eBay in the future.

The sad truth for individuals that sell merchandise on eBay is that there are few real alternatives to this massive on-line retailing site. Yes, other web sites have started offering basically the same services as eBay in recent years, but none of them have the millions of daily buyers that use eBay each and every day.

Read more about the Economy:

Bear Market Out Of Hibernation, Big Bull Sleeps
Federal Reserve Stops Price Plunge For Now
BOA Joins Citibank With Huge Quarterly Loss
Fed Acting Like Enron In Some Ways
It's The Economy, Stupid All Over Again

February 11, 2008 Archives

Ford Expedition Recalled Along With Lincoln Navigator

Ford Motor Company (F) has recalled over 180,000 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUV's because of a potentially faulty spring on the inside door handles. While most small to medium sized cars provide small profits to automobile manufactures, large SUV's like the Expedition and Navigator are huge money makers. This recall only involves Expedition and Navigator vehicles made between March 3, 2006 through August 9, 2007.

While my current budge does not include either a Ford Expedition or it's more pricey sibling the Lincoln Navigator, one look inside these SUV's could make almost anyone desire to own one. From comfortable leather seats and plenty of leg room in all three rows of seats, the full sized SUV is a way to travel in style for the entire family. When I say my current budget does not allow for a Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator, the actual selling price of these SUV's is only the first reason why they would not fit into my budget.

The biggest reason why I cannot afford to own an Expedition or Navigator is because of their poor gas mileage ratings. With gas prices still hovering around $3 per gallon, any new vehicle I purchase must get above 30 miles per gallon fuel economy. That type of fuel economy is something neither the Expedition or Navigator come close to reaching. That said, if by some miracle I win the lottery – a Lincoln Navigator would be high on my list of vehicles to own. Every month I receive a nice letter from Ford Motor Company inviting me back into one of their showrooms to purchase a new vehicle.

Along with pictures of beautiful cars, trucks and SUV's there are payment charts that show how I could reduce my monthly car payment by purchasing a new vehicle. My current car, a Ford Taurus, is still in good shape and has low mileage – so trading vehicles is not something that is currently high on my priority list. That said, it is temping to consumers when they receive a letter from a car company offering to lower their current car payment by purchasing a brand new car.

The good news is that this current Ford Motor Company recall for the Expedition and Navigator does not seem to involve serious safety issues. Most likely, a non Ford supplier sold a faulty spring system to Ford and that is why this recall has been announced.

Read more about the Big Three:

Detroit Auto Show, Cars/Trucks Of The Future
Ford Motor (F) Falls To Three After Toyota Sales Surge
General Motors (GM) Faces Huge Challenges In 2008
Ford Motor Company (F) Reaches UAW Deal - No Strike
UAW Next Strike Target - Ford Motor Company

Obama Winning States As Clinton Fades Away

It was a good weekend for Barack Obama as he continued to win states after a virtual tie on Super Tuesday with Hillary Clinton. With victories in Washington State along with Louisiana and Maine, Barack Obama has momentum on his side going into the final stretch of campaign 2008. This week, contests in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia all favor Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton. Of course, Hillary could still win the democratic nomination for President. However, with each new state lost – that possibility is looking less likely.

Right now the democratic delegate count is a virtual tie, but Obama is expected to take the lead in pledged delegates by the end of the week. I believe Barack Obama is more than just a candidate for President, but instead his whole candidacy has become a movement for change in America. With the exception of social conservatives, almost everyone in the US is dissatisfied with the job performance of President Bush. That dissatisfaction with our current President has caused a ground swell of support for change in Washington and Barack Obama is seen as the agent of that change by most voters.

If by some miracle Hillary Clinton is able to wrestle the democratic nomination from Barack Obama, then she will prove herself one of the best politicians in the history of America. However, I don't think she will be able to beat the movement that is currently following Obama. This Barack Obama movement has yet to peak and it continues to grow stronger each day. Just like in the world of sports, it is almost impossible to defeat a team that has momentum on it's side.

The past two weeks, Hillary Clinton has publicly cried on more occasion than ever before. Some people believe that Hillary is crying in order to win more votes, since a crying episode was credited for helping her win in New Hampshire. However, I believe Hillary Clinton's tears are real right now because she is a smart woman that understands how hard it is to defeat a candidate with a huge amount of momentum on their side. The only real chance Hillary Clinton has at still winning the democratic nomination for President is for her to win big in Texas and Ohio early next month.

However, with weeks still to go before Hillary wins another primary, her chance of winning those two big states is looking less likely each and every day.

Read more about Barack Obama:

Oprah Helps Obama With Female Voters
Is Barack Obama Running Against Bill Clinton?
Will Barack Obama Win New York State Against Senator Clinton?
Hillary Clinton Barack Obama's Vice President?
Hillary Might Go After Barack Obama's Muslim Religion