Join us today for a Starbucks and check out our Labor Day Weekend Sale. 
We are open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What is 230? We should know the answer tomorrow. (Courtesy of What is 230?)

It’s a busy time at the “new” General Motors these days. In fact, GM is trying a lot of different tactics to get people back into its showrooms. There are two separate happenings this week that I thought I’d mention — you know, just in case you missed them in the news. Both are scheduled to hit tomorrow. The first is GM’s partnership with eBay Motors, and the other…well, that will likely remain a mystery until it’s revealed on Tuesday.

It’s no secret that GM and eBay Motors have a partnership. Actually, that’s been in the works for some time now. But tomorrow, you’ll finally be able to see the results. If you want a quick overview of what you can expect, you can read all about it in this GM FastLane blog entry from General Motors Vice President of Vehicle Sales and Marketing, Mark LaNeve. The same post also provides a link to the company’s new online showroom site gm.ebay.com. Today, the link takes you to a “Coming Soon!” page (August 11 is the official launch of the program), but by tomorrow the Web site should be fully operational — if everything goes as planned, that is.

So, what’s the mystery, you ask? Well, I’m talking about those 230 ads that have been showing up everywhere recently. The ads are both “mysterious (and maddening)” according to Advertising Age writers Jean Halliday and Rupal Parekh, and the two bloggers have done a little detective work to reveal that they originate from GM; however, there’s still no word on what 230 actually means. A quick keyword search reveals that the Internet is full of speculation about 230. Most guesses seem to center around the 2011 Chevy Volt — miles per gallon or perhaps the voltage required to charge the plug-in hybrid? Again, no one really knows for sure. And those that do know aren’t telling. But the good news is that the rest of us don’t have long to wait. GM has a press conference scheduled for tomorrow, so hopefully we’ll get our answer then.

More related stuff:
How eBay Works
How Plug-In Hybrid Cars Work
2011 Chevrolet Volt Review and Prices
HowStuffWorks Videos – “How the Chevrolet Volt Works”

It appears that more than 225 General Motors dealers in California will sell vehicles through the eBay online auction site in a four-week trial.

From CNN:

Under the program, which begins Tuesday, consumers will be able to bargain with the dealers for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Pontiac cars and trucks from model years 2008, 2009 and 2010. The program ends Sept. 8.

The new car shopping website, gm.ebay.com, will feature a “wide selection” of up to 20,000 new GM vehicles at “competitive prices,” the companies said in a press release.

Customers will be able to buy cars outright at the advertised price using the Web site’s “Buy It Now” option. Alternatively, customers can suggest a price under the “Best Offer” option, which may then be negotiated with the dealer.

“Together with eBay Motors, GM and our dealers are reinventing the car-buying experience for our California customers,” said Mark LaNeve, GM vice president of U.S. sales, in a statement.

GM emerged from bankruptcy protection on July 10, concluding a 40-day stay in Chapter 11 with the sale of its key operations to a new company majority-owned by the U.S. Treasury. The company pledged to win back American consumers and taxpayers.

The automaker has sold certain new and certified-used GM models on eBay Motors in the past. But the scale of the new program marks a significant shift for the online auction house, which is traditionally focused on used cars and auto parts.

A recent story published by NYTimes.com tries to talk down a possible EBay deal with GM, but would this actually make sense for struggling dealerships? GM is no longer the leading auto brand within the USA, so a move towards online sales may show they have nothing to loose?
General Motors announced in May 2009, that around 18% or 1,100 GM dealerships would be closed by October 2010 and recently GM & Chrysler have had to fight to block legislation that would hamper their moves to consolidate their dealer networks.

General Motors said that many of these dealerships were losing money and were in danger of closing, and plans to eventually cull upto 40% of its dealer network.  While it is important that GM have a healthy, viable network of dealers to survive this massive market downturn.  The axing of loyal partners whose profitability failure is likely because of GM policies and corporate decisions not the local dealers may not be the best decision.

The decision to launch officially with eBay Motors in California first makes sense as its the #1 auto market in the US. This market is essential for GMs post-bankruptcy survival as they fight to regain market share from Toyota, Honda & Ford.  The point that GM is missing is the huge demand for hybrid vehicles within California with around 24.2% of the nations hybrid market, are they trying to use eBay Motors to sell their low fuel efficient vehicles cheaper or are they pushing volume sales model again?

While the market in California is perfect for increased online sales as according to Californian Broadband Task Force 96% of residences have access to broadband, so an improved high quality auto portal would benefit GM.  They should to look to Ford who have an excellent online vehicle show room “Ford Direct” where you browse their range, build your own custom model or search their range of vehicles. The Ford portal is suited to broadband users with high quality graphics, dynamic content and virtual 360 degree views.

Ford the only US auto company not to receive federal bailout money understands there are only 4 key pieces of information that you want to filter its range by

• Price
• Fuel Efficiency
• Seating
• Towing Capacity

The important step that differentiates Ford is that the next steps feature “get an internet price” and “search dealer inventory”.  This important step offers a call to action for price conscious buyers and directly promotes its dealers inventory for your selected vehicle. This heavy promotion of the Ford dealer network helps build trust that they are not trying to kill the dealership model but also allows Ford to control direct engagement with consumers.

While Rob Chesney the VP of eBay Motors and Marketplaces said “We are excited about a potential new adventure that supports G.M.’s dealers by expanding on how they already reach consumers through new approaches.”

The main advantage is the transparency of the eBay model and that it will take a lot of pressure of dealers around the negotiation process with consumers. Tom Pyden of GM emphasised that it would be the dealerships that would list the new cars on eBay as they are not looking to sell direct to customers.

The advantage of eBay Motors is that it lets customers buy the cars at auction or use EBay’s fixed price “Buy It Now” option.  How much the “Buy It Now” price might vary from the manufacturers recommended retail price or GM might try to artificially inflate auction sale prices needs to be clear.

As with the efforts by GM to reduce their dealership network by 40% is that a smaller dealership will reduce possible delivery locations where customers can pickup their cars and may limit their potential market. This reduced local inventory may hamper GM and only benefit multi-brand dealerships and may fragment the GM dealership benefits.

To attract confidence buying a car online in Australia eBay Motors offers Vehicle Purchase protection upto $20,000.  This may protect you from fraud, breach of warranty or misrepresentation in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with your transaction.  This is only eligible for sellers that have this VPP logo next to their listings.

eBay Motors Australia moves to help buying a car online easier and safer with agreements with RACV and RACQ to purchase inspection services on cars they are considering buying. This helps as buyers can now inspect cars that are too far to inspect yourself with vehicle inspections.

What is a little embarrassing for eBay and shows that partnerships don’t always work out, both links from the map shown on eBay Motors to the websites of RACQ and RACV are dead.

Is eBay Motors just too general to be a solution for GM? The web marketing of eBay Motors interesting is that the domain is http://cars.ebay.com.au but the site is actually called eBay Motors and tries to be a complete place for anything that runs on gas.  eBay Motors advises that it sells cars, parts, accessories, motorcycles, scooters, caravans, boats, water craft, go carts, trailers, aircraft. Is a general market place the best place for a large brand such as GM or more suited to their dealerships that sell multiple brands?

We’ve officially rolled out our Preferred Owner Program. Receive discounts on car purchases, body shop work, service appointments or parts at Ken Pollock Chevrolet. No purchase necessary to become a preferred owner, just come in and sign up. It works like any other shopper club card, the more you spend the more points towards discounts you earn. There is literally no down side, so come in today and see what were all about.

What a bunch of asses. …

“According to former vice-president Dick Cheney, who reportedly admitted in a recent interview on Fox News that the Bush administration floated the $17.4 billion auto industry bailout package in order to give the outgoing administration enough time to exit and for the next administration to settle in before the house of cards in Detroit came tumbling down. According to Cheney, President Bush “decided that he did not want to be the one who pulled the plug just before he left office.”

via REPORT: Cheney says Bush left GM bankruptcy for the next guy.

We are giving away money to our valued internet customers. Submit a request through the internet and receive additional money off all 08/09 chevy new and pre-owned models. Take advantage of these rebates along with the current GM rebates running this month! We look forward to hearing from you. Remeber to Buy American Buy Ken Pollock Chevrolet!

Ken Pollock Chevrolet in Pittston, PA is grabbing inventory from everywhere in these times of turmoil. We just bought a Suzuki Dealer’s inventory and you won’t believe what were selling these cars for. SX 4’s and Suzuki Forenzas with under 200 miles for under 12k starting at 10k. You won’t find deals like this anywhere else. Even if your not looking to buy a car, come down to the dealership anyway. Have a seat in one of our nice leather padded chairs (I find many people sleeping in when waiting for service). We’ll also provide you with a free starbucks coffee from our very own starbucks coffee maker, as well as water, soda or popcorn. We want to make you as comfortable as possible. So come in today just to hang out if you want, there is plenty to do at Ken Pollock Chevrolet!

Ken Pollock Chevrolet was not one of the 1,100 dealerships shutdown by GM this week. We are still here and we’re going strong! Please don’t forget to come in today and make your deal for the car you want. It is the perfect time to buy, because dealers around the area are trying to get rid of all their new inventory. Prices on new vehicles are being slashed and our pre-owned vehicles never stopped selling. Come in today or visit our website or ebay store to see our inventory. Buy NOW!

As everyone has probably heard, GM will be closing down plants in order for dealers to get rid of new inventory before the 2010 models are out. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get a great new vehicle at a low price. Take a half hour out of your day and come visit Ken Pollock Chevrolet at 339 highway 315 in Pittston, PA. You won’t find a better deal anywhere else, you have to act fast though before the car you need is gone!

Ken Pollock Chevrolet is now on facebook and Twitter. We are “Ken Pollock Chevrolet” on facebook and KPchevy on Twitter, friend or follow us today! We also link to our ebay store fomr these sites. Check out our ebay store for some great bargains you won’t find anywhere else. The URL is http://stores.ebay.com/ken-pollock-chevrolet get your bid in today on these great vehicles. Stay updated on new ebay inventory either by viewing our gallery or following our facebook status updates and tweets. Hope to hear from some new people soon.

There is a follow up announcement by eBay Motors Vice President Rob Chesney about the retirement of eBay Motors home and search pages.

The announcement says:

“This is just a reminder that the original eBay Motors home and search pages will be retired on April 13th.

This means that on April 13th, all users who are currently using the original eBay Motors will be moved to the new eBay Motors, and will no longer have the option to search for Motors items using the original eBay Motors.

If you haven’t yet checked out the new eBay Motors, use the “Try it now” link at the top of the original Motors pages to take it for a test drive. If you have questions about the new eBay Motors, please visit our FAQ.

On behalf of the entire eBay Motors team, we thank you for your feedback and support.”

Here’s the link to the FAQs

http://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/faq/

eBay announced on Tuesday some big changes to eBay motors:  http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200903161359362.html

From the announcement:

With over 90% of Motors members now using the new eBay Motors,  we have decided that it’s time to fully transition to the new site experience. Starting today, you’ll see messages on the original eBay Motors home and search pages announcing that they will be retired on April 13th. 

We’re thankful for all the feedback and great ideas we’ve received to make the new eBay Motors even better.  Some of the more notable changes include:

• A faster site overall
• Tabs that make it easy to find what you’re looking for, including Local Classified listings
• Simplified, easier-to-use search pages
• A better way to search cars and parts by individual years or year ranges
• We’ve brought back the options to Search by Title & Description and Related Searches

The improvements don’t stop there – we will continue to make the new eBay Motors better, faster, and easier to use, with more innovative ways to search for cars and parts. So please keep sending in your thoughts and suggestions on the eBay Motors forum

I know many of us complain about change.  I personally believe that is because humans are creatures of habit.  But as sellers we should embrace change.  Sure at times this change can be inconvenient for sellers, but if the changes that are happening are intended to make it easier for buyers – then as sellers we should welcome the change.  After all, if a potential buyer gets frustrated when searching for your item he or she will eventually give up – wouldn’t you?

That is why the changes eBay is making to eBay motors sounds like it is going to be good for buyers, which means these changes will be good for sellers. These changes may become noticeable through an increased amount of traffic and sales.

AdAgencyOnline.Net is attracting automotive advertising agencies who share their vision to “blur the line between the real and the virtual automobile dealership showroom.” The free automotive advertising resource portal is hosted by Ad Agency Online, L.L.C., a national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies linked by an online operating system developed by Philip Zelinger, the President of Ad Agency Online L.L.C. and host of AdAgencyOnline.Net. Auto dealers are demanding that their automotive advertising agencies integrate online resources into their marketing plans to accommodate budget reductions dictated by a shrinking auto industry. According to Philip Zelinger, “eBayMotors.Com is an iconic Internet based automotive advertising platform that has earned a key position in any comprehensive online advertising strategy.”

eBay Motors is part of eBay Inc., the Internet’s largest marketplace for buying and selling all things automotive. The site offers everyday cars for everyday drivers, as well as collector cars, motorcycles, auto parts and accessories. eBay Motors is consistently ranked the No. 1 automotive site on the Web by Nielsen/NetRatings and the auto dealers that post with them are sharing in their success.

AdagencyOnline.Net , previously interviewed Clayton Stanfield, Senior Manager Dealer Training for eBay Motors, on their blog talk radio station, “WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.” Requests from his affiliated automotive advertising agencies and auto dealer clients motivated Mr. Zelinger to post an encore presentation of the interview on the “Automotive Advertising Experts” show that ran on Friday, December 12th between 12:00 Noon EST and 12:30 PM EST.

Site visitors were invited to listen and learn about eBay Motors unique automotive advertising platform. Interviews like this one, and the variety of other free automotive advertising resources offered on the site including an online Dealer 20+ Group and senior account executive consultations, have earned them a reputation in the automotive advertising industry as “The One Stop Site For All Of Your Automotive Advertising Needs.” The interview discussed “best practices” suggested by eBayMotors.Com with examples of the latest tricks of the trade being utilized by eBay Motors as well as questions called in by site visitors in a problem/solution format.

Philip Zelinger commented on his reasons for recognizing eBay Motors as a preferred automotive advertising vendor, “Many of our affiliated automotive advertising agencies and their auto dealer clients are satisfied customers of eBay Motors. Today’s tough economic times and reduced automotive advertising budgets have challenged us to offer more for less and to maximize the R.O.I. for all applications that we recommend to our automotive advertising agency partners and their auto dealer clients. Clayton has been a welcome guest on WAAOL many times and he always provides information that improves our use of their valued resources. Online automotive advertising is an integral part of any comprehensive automotive advertising plan and eBay Motors is a key vendor that we proudly present to our valued auto dealer clients.

Site visitors called in questions that included asking for word tracks to teach their staff as a guide drawn from best practices being used by the big Ebay dealers. Another caller had a list of questions that Clayton answered directly;

#1 As a small independent dealer, what is the most cost effective way to set up an eBay store.

#2 Can & how do I compete with the big boys? Will the competitive playing field be level?

#3 My goal is to sell 30+ cars monthly within 3 to 4 months of my eBay start up. Are my expectations too high since I have no budget for the hiring of a consultant to set this up?

#4 How/who do I contact to get started TODAY??

These questions were answered by Clayton and Philip with real world examples that supported their confidence in eBay Motors to solve these common concerns. Automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers were directed to join eBay Motors by going directly to their site, (www.ebaymotors.com) to post their inventory or they were invited to visit http://adagencyonline.net to request an account executive to assist them in the process.

The auto industry is being forced to reduce production and advertising costs on all levels including reductions in staff and automotive advertising budgets. Bailout plans being considered do not directly address the issues being faced by auto dealers and automotive advertising agencies. The solution that has surfaced to survive in a shrinking auto industry has been to look to technology and the internet to leverage resources and to manage and monitor all automotive advertising applications to maximize R.O.I.

New Internet based automotive advertising vendors are being reviewed and recommended by the online networking community of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies that leverage their resources through AdAgencyOnline.Net. Mr. Zelinger explained the unique business model that he developed as Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. in December of 2001 that has matured into the online community now being supported by AdAgencyOnline.Net.

“Unlike auto dealers, automotive advertising agencies deal with files and intellectual properties that can be stored on a computer and distributed via the Internet. Our proprietary online operating system allows our agency partners to outsource the majority of their production requirements to our linked vendor partners. In addition, our leveraged negotiations with automotive advertising vendors that have developed cutting edge applications to improve selling processes using new digital technology have allowed us to reduce staff for our automotive advertising partners as well as their auto dealer clients. The resulting efficiencies on all levels provide a competitive product and price for our clients allowing them to survive in our troubled economy.”

Philip Zelinger hosts the blog talk radio shows on WAAOL to review automotive advertising vendors that promise to integrate proven real world selling process with new online platforms. The “Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising” is an open online business meeting that shares best practices among the affiliated offices of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. who are obligated to listen and learn from the invited guests. The show airs Monday through Wednesday, 12:00 noon EST to 12:30 PM EST on AdAgencyOnline.Net hosted by http://blogtalkradio.com/adagencyonline . The “Lunch With Ralph Discussing Automotive Advertising” has a more focused agenda and it is hosted by Ralph Paglia, the National Director of Digital Marketing for ADP and host of a recommended auto industry social networking site www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com (ADM). The site’s most popular program, “Automotive Advertising Experts” runs every Friday in the same 12:00 noon EST to 12:30 PM EST time slot.

AdAgencyOnline.Net has a growing list of “preferred automotive advertising vendors” that are featured on the portal. Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. is often engaged to help them market their products and services to site visitors, their affiliated automotive advertising agencies and auto dealer clients however, their services are optional and limited to non-competing platforms.

Current featured vendors provide a variety of services including DMS and CRM tools from ADP and BZ Results, conversion tools like chat programs from LeadConverter and real time customer interaction applications from Argistics offering a 2 way video platform –AutoTransaXion – that links a dealer’s website to his DMS and CRM. Other featured vendors on AdAgencyOnline.Net and/or vendor/clients of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. include; CarFolks.Com – an auto industry social networking site, Laser Stream Video – an Internet focused video production application with enhanced vSEO capabilities, SiSTer Technologies Video CarLot – an automated video application linked via a dedicated API with You Tube to provide a uniquely effective vSEO tool, Gumiyo – a universally applied mobile channel platform, DealMaker.Com – providing a new website that connects buyers and sellers in a real time market driven “many to many” online negotiation, Kihon Media – an online magazine and third party website operating as a database marketing tool for auto dealers, CityTwist – a DIY online email marketing application, Bulldog Marketing Technologies – a direct database marketing system with a unique filter, “ConsumerClense,” that eliminates customers who have already purchased a vehicle to save on marketing cost, Ai Dealer – an online transaction tool that offers a self serve desking tool f or website visitors, NeoSynergy – an automotive advertising portal with AOL Auto, Best Deals, allowing convenient updates to posted vehicle information to keep them competitive and EveryCarListed.Com – an inventory based automotive advertising website that offers a free listing to auto dealers and individuals with upgraded marketing packages that integrate a variety of state of the art conversion tools.

Previous interviews posted on AdAgencyOnline.Net besides Clayton Stanfield from EBay Motors included Mark Boyd and Mark Dubis from CarFolks.Com, Jared Hamilton from DrivingSales.Com, Dale Pollak from vAuto, David Wassmann from NeoSynergy, Jerry Daniels from Automotive Broadcasting Network, (ABN), Terry Alling from Kihon Media, David Marod from LeadConverter, Mike Parsons from Laser Stream Video, Brian Hoecht from Ai Dealer, Ralph Paglia from ADP and host to the auto industry social networking community ADM, Jim Ziegler, motivational speaker and consultant to the auto industry, Jeff Kershner, ecommerce director for The Mile One Automotive Group and host of the auto industry social networking forum DealerRefresh.Com , Jeff Raab from the Detroit Trading Company, (DTX), Tim Zierdon from JMsolutions AAX™, Mike DeCecco from Dealer.Com, Ken Schwartz from CityTwist, Michael R. Spadafore from R. L. Polk & Co. and most recently Kevin Schwartz and Rick Rochon from AdSymetrix.

These nationally respected automotive advertising vendors are able to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of staff for automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers at a time when shrinking bottom lines leave little choice. The online automotive advertising agencies that support AdAgencyOnline.Net have a shared philosophy that “a rising tide floats all boats” and they are looking for new resources and applications to share with their site visitors.

Automotive advertising agencies are invited to join Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. as an affiliated agency, automotive advertising vendors are welcome to apply as a preferred vendor and auto dealers are being advised to visit AdAgencyOnline.Net to listen and learn from the auto industry experts featured on WAAOL to help navigate through today’s troubled economy. For additional information contact Philip Zelinger directly at pzads@bellsouth.net, call him at 888-796-2228 or visit AdAgencyOnline.Net at http://adagencyonline.net. To quote Philip Zelinger, “Help is only a click away!” ###

Ad Agency Online, L.L.C. is a well respected automotive advertising agency headed by Philip Zelinger, a former auto dealer and nationally recognized consultant to the auto industry. Mr. Zelinger and his network of affiliated automotive advertising agencies rely on Internet based automotive advertising applications and strategies to capitalize on the superior R.O.I. that the Internet provides vs. conventional automotive advertising.  Applications that integrate proven real world selling processes with auto dealers’ online showrooms are preferred and a shrinking auto industry demands that automotive advertising agencies deliver more for less.  Email is a direct marketing tool that automotive advertising agencies trust and CityTwist has developed an online email application that delivers exactly what auto dealers are looking for.

CityTwist’s “DIY” online email application has been approved by AdAgencyOnline.net  - a free automotive advertising resource portal hosted by Ad Agency Online, L.L.C.  The audience of the portal consists of automotive advertising agencies, auto dealers and O.E.M. representatives anxious to listen and learn from the automotive advertising experts that are interviewed on the blog talk radio station featured on the site, WAAOL – All Automotive Advertising News All The Time.  CityTwist’s founder, Ken Schwartz, was recently interviewed by Philip Zelinger on the “Lunch With Phil Discussing Automotive Advertising” show.  Ken explained that CityTwist draws from a database of 250 million opt in email addresses coupled with a self serve email production platform that allows an auto dealer to produce and deliver an email to a targeted local customer in twenty minutes with performance analytics that manage and monitor the results in real time to help maximize the R.O.I. for the auto dealer.  

Other blog talk radio shows on WAAOL include the “Lunch With Ralph Paglia Discussing Automotive Advertising” and “Automotive Advertising Experts.”  A number of automotive advertising applications have been reviewed by AdAgencyOnline.Net on these blog talk radio shows and they are now featured as “preferred automotive advertising vendors” on the site.  The most recent automotive advertising vendor to join the portal was Bull Dog Marketing Technologies with their robust database marketing system featuring, “ConsumerClense.”  This proprietary application filters out customers from an auto dealers’ database that have already purchased a vehicle to prevent wasted automotive advertising dollars.  CityTwist and Bull Dog Marketing were followed onto AdAgencyOnline.Net by Argisitics and their two way video customer interaction program – AutoTransaXion.  This unique conversion tool replicates all of the selling processes of a real world dealership allowing real time negotiations with site visitors as an online transaction tool.

Many of the automotive advertising vendors listed on AdAgencyOnline.Net have hired Ad Agency Online L.L.C. to market their products and services to the auto industry through their national network of independent affiliated automotive advertising agencies.  Other automotive advertising vendor/clients of Ad Agency Online, L.L.C on AdAgencyOnline.Net include; LeadConverter, DealMaker.Com , EveryCarListed.Com , SiSTeR Technologies  and Colliers Abood Wood-Fay Real Estate automotive real estate services group – CARS.

AdAgencyOnline.Net is known in the automotive advertising community as “The One Stop Site For All Of Your Automotive Advertising Needs” and their interviews with automotive advertising experts on WAAOL have included senior managers from nationally recognized automotive advertising vendors such as:  David Marod from LeadConverter, Brian Hoecht from Ai Dealer, Mike Parson from Laser Stream Video, Terry Gibson from BZ Results,  Mark Dubis from CarFolks.Com, Shuki Lehavi and Richard Abronson from Gumiyo, Dale Boone and Darrell Campbell from EveryCarListed.Com, Brian Ferris and Spencer Sterling from DealMaker.Com, Tomer Alpert from SiSTeR Technologies Video CarLot , Ken Schwartz from CityTwist, Jeffery Bennett and Bruce Cerbone from Argistics,  Jeff Raab from the Detroit Trading Company, Michael R. Spadafore from R. L. Polk & Co., Clayton Stanfield from EBay Motors, Jared Hamilton from DrivingSales.Com, Dale Pollak from vAuto, David Wassmann from NeoSynergy, Jerry Daniels from Automotive Broadcasting Network, (ABN), Terry Alling from Kihon Media, Ralph Paglia from ADP and host to the auto industry social networking community ADM, Jim Ziegler, motivational speaker and consultant to the auto industry, Jeff Kershner, ecommerce director for The Mile One Automotive Group and host of the auto industry social networking forum DealerRefresh.Com , Tim Zierdon from JMsolutions AAX™, Mike DeCecco from Dealer.Com, Ken Schwartz from CityTwist, Kevin Schwartz and Rick Rochon from AdSymetrix , Len Critcher from ecarlist, Scott Broomfield from Veeple and Scott Davis from Bull Dog Marketing Technologies.

For additional information on AdAgencyOnline.Net, and/or to apply as a preferred automotive advertising vendor, automotive advertising agencies, auto industry vendors and auto dealers can visit the portal at http://adagencyonline.net , contact Philip Zelinger directly at 888-796-2228 or email Philip at pzads@bellsouth.net.  To quote Philip Zelinger, “Help is only a click away!” ###

During these trying times for everyone there are ways that we can supplement our incomes incomes very easily and eBay is a good way to do that.  Ther are many ways to learn how to use eBay and then you can clean out you garage and attic and sell those items on ebay.  It has been said that every family has at least $1000 worth of no longer used items such as cameras, bicycles, audio equipment, sports equipment and any number of things.  This may be the time to clean with meaning. 

This blog will address all the issues of becoming proficient in the use of eBay.  This is not a get rich scheme but it may be an idea who’s time has come for some of us.  And who knows it may even develop into a profitable business.

I’v been told that over 1.3 million people now make a living on eBay.

I am an eBay Education Specialists, which means that I have been trained by eBay to help others in learning how to use ebay, the right way.  In addition I am an eBay Trading Assistant which means I help people who don’t want to learn how to do it themselves to sell items on eBay for a fee.

The area I have specialized in is Classic Cars.   I have been very successful in selling classic cars on eBay for others.  This past year I have sold over $1.2 million in classic cars primarily.

I will bring all my expertise to these areas in this blog and hope that you can benefit from my expertise.  I can help answer those pesky questions that eBay and others may not be willing to address.

For eBay training I use the eBay provided course materials and for training on eBay Motors I use training materials that I have developed.  I wrote a book on how to use eBay motors and am developing that into a full course that will be available soon.  Along with this book I have written a companion book on how to do professional quality potography for your listings.

This is my first attempt at a blog so lets see how it goes.  Pleas give me feedback and let me know what areas of interest we can focus on in the near future.

Thanks

Paul

If you hope to own an eBay business, and make a
full time living at it, you can easily make that dream
come true – even if you don’t have a product of your
own to sell. eBay provides many people who want to
quit their corporate nine-to-five jobs with a way to
make a good living, without having to put up a lot of
start up capital. This is made possible with the help
of drop shippers. Drop shippers send merchandise to
the customers of business owners. If you have an
eBay business, you are a business owner. This will
allow you to offer a wide variety of stock in your
eBay store, without having the need to warehouse
all of those products!

All you have to do is set up your auction, and sell
the product. You then pass the customer’s
information on to the drop shipping company. The
drop shipper does the rest, and they will even use
your company information, as well as your company
logo if you have provided it to them. When the product
arrives at your customer’s home, they will have no idea
that your company didn’t send it. The drop shipper
will package, label, and ship the products that you
sell, allowing you more time to set up even more
auctions, for greater profits.

You must establish a relationship with several drop
shipping companies in order to become successful.
In the beginning, most companies will require you to
pay for the items that your customers order before
they are shipped. You need to fill orders in a
timely manner, so you should pay for the items with
a credit card for speedy service. Eventually, you will
be able to have the drop shipper fill your orders, and
then bill you for them later.

When you set up your eBay auctions, make sure
that your reserve price is set higher than the price
that the drop shipper will be charging you for the
item. The idea, of course, is to earn a profit!
Depending on the item you are selling, a markup
of about 10% should be about right, but you should
do some research to see if the item is selling for a
lower price in another eBay auction, or through
other online sources.

By starting an eBay business using the drop
shipping method, there is essentially no financial risk
involved. The product will be sold before you pay the
drop shipper for the item. This is one of the few
businesses where you can actually turn a profit
before you have expenditures!

If you are running an eBay business,you may not
realize that the need for great customer service still
exists – even for online auctions. When a buyer
receives quality customer service from you, they
will potentially do one of two things – or both. They
will give you great feedback, and they may look for
more of your auctions in the future. If you hope to
make a living from eBay, you have to stop thinking
of it as an ‘auction’ and start running it like a
‘business.’

If you owned a brick and mortar business, how
would you treat your customer while they were
standing at your counter, waiting for you to finish
ringing up their order? You would be helpful and
respectful of course! You would do everything that
you could to guarantee that customers return to
your establishment in the future. You would bend
over backwards to make sure that their buying
experience with you was both satisfactory and
enjoyable. Why would you do any less at the
close of one of your eBay auctions?

First, act quickly at the close of your auctions.
Contact the winner, and congratulate them. Describe
the item they have won and how the item will be
shipped – even if this information is already part of
the description for the auction. Remind them of their
winning bid amount, and give them payment options
and instructions. Let them know when the item will
be shipped.

Close your email by thanking them for participating
in your auction. You might even take this opportunity
to tell them about other open auctions that you have
as well. Think of this contact with the winner as a
conversation that you are having with a customer
who is standing at your counter in that imaginary
brick and mortar store.

Once the payment and shipping details have been
taken care of, contact your buyer again. Let them
know when the item was shipped – the exact date
and time – and when it is expected to arrive on their
end. During this contact, let them know that if they
have any problems or questions, that they should
contact you through the eBay site. If they do
contact you in the future, make sure that you
answer promptly, and that you do all that you can
to make them happy with their purchase – even if
it means issuing a refund.

Yes. You should be open to issuing refunds,
depending on what the item is. Furthermore, you
should issue refunds promptly. Of course, it is
reasonable to expect the buyer to return the item to
you, at your expense, before the refund is issued –
but once you receive the item, issue the refund
promptly. This is just good business!