|
Hi !! Glad you stopped by
the website.
UniqueBruce is a nano-business offering great collectibles and fine goods at auction and through this site. I have created this site to explain how we do stuff and to answer any questions you might have about the merchandise we offer or how we do things. Ebay is big and still growing. The number of auctions out there is tremendous. Literally there are millions of auctions at any given time. That means millions of little shopkeepers or more specifically auctioneers. Sellers of one kind of merchandise or another. As with all things in this world there is good and bad. Good merchandise, crappy merchandise, good sellers, bad sellers, good bidders, bad bidders, good feedback, bad feedback........ just like everywhere else. Although somewhat of a rookie (I've only been doing this for three years at this writing) I have found no real sleezeballs. Although at times it seemed I was getting the short, sticky end of the stick it all worked out satisfactorily. Patience and tolerance for amateurism and a dose of humility seems, so far, to keep me on an even keel without stressing. To help ease your mind about any problems you might perceive with either the Ebay auction process or our particular little nano-business I will try and explain our world as I know it. I have broken the site up into several sections that should help. Auctions, which includes information on how to get set up at Ebay as buyer and/or seller, how to learn more about auctioneering from both a selling and buying perspective, the current UniqueBruce auctions that are going on now, and some odds and ends regarding auctions generally. Shipping, which deals with the when, where, how, and how much and tips to help. Payment, which details what kind of payment is possible, how to go about it, and the services involved. About Us, which let's you get to know UniqueBruce a bit better and also details our feelings and operational procedures on Privacy. Contact, which gives you an opportunity to connect directly with us. Feedback, which is very important in the Ebay world of auctions for both you and me. It is basically the built in testimonial process involved with auctions where you can find out what customers are saying about any given buyer or seller. Startup is for those who enjoy auctioneering well enough to want to start up as a business on the Web. We try and journalize the process as a continuing project as well as something like a trial and error blueprint. Our home page is our "what's coming up" and an all around newsy update. It starts off right below.
|
News, Views, Rumors, Slander, and Other Pithy Stuff
Jeez, I hate being the example of what "not" to do. Since I have a semi-firm resolution to function as a nanobusiness, I have no one else to blame when I just don't keep up. My only chance at an excuse is that there is only 24 hours in a day and I simply forget things.
We, of the very small business set, do everything ourselves and our major efforts are selling our products and services to those who want and need our stuff. It is what we do. If it was a store or office we would probably not add sprinklers, or change the inventory system, or upgrade the alarms as often as we should because there are only 24 hours in the day and we were focused elsewhere.
It is always a matter of priorities. The same goes for an online business. There are a bunch of things we all know we should do but it is a number two priority chore and I haven't finished all of the #1 priority list. The end result of this negligence is reacting to the crisis instead of heading it off through proactive means.
These tasks are usually those maintenance duties that just slide over time. You know, how often do you really back up all your programs and work? How many back-up cd's did you burn that are 2, 3, or 4 months old. When you had your crash everything was backed up and you just reloaded your back-up on the new hard drive!! Yeah, sure. You haven't had a crash? As Yoda tells us, "You will.......You will!!"
Is your firewall and security program updated and current with all the new worms and viruses that are circulating? Do you have anti-virus software installed?
Well folks, the point of this is "I got hit". I have been putting off getting new anti-virus software because other things kept happening that needed my attention. (cheap excuse) I didn't have a functional anti-viral program in place and when this thing downloaded into my computer I was skunked. Listen here my friends, this is a nasty piece of work. It is called Klez H (or A, B, C, D, E, F, G or now H) and it is uncleanable so to rid yourself of this pest you must delete files that it attaches itself which is why I mentioned backing up your files and programs. We will first look at the formal information and then what empirical stuff that might be helpful. Click here to get the scoop.
USPS Update-
Well here we go again with the increase in postage. Although this rate increase will have significant effect on my business shipping policy, it might affect y'all a bit more if you use priority mail for packages over 1 pound. It all goes into effect on June 30, 2002 so use up all those $.34 stamps before you have to add the new 3cent stamps to all your letters.
Everything is going up and for those that depended on relatively inexpensive priority mail for those packages from one to two pounds, you are about to be suprised. Priority Mail above one pound is now rated by zone. Local, and zones 1,2,and 3 are $3.95 but if I ship a 1.5 lb. package with $50 insurance to California from here in Florida we are talking $5.75 plus $1.30 for insurance (yeah, insurance for 50 bucks which is the minimum went up 20 cents too) which is less than UPS three day rate but it sure is closing the gap.
Delivery confirmation for prioity went up a nickel to $.45 which we use on all our packages (helps to get them there quickly because they have to write the time and date down on their rounds sheet). On first class it is now $.55 for delivery confirmation.
To check out these new postage rates go to:
http://www.usps.com and then click on rates
For the zone rates for priority mail go to:
http://www.usps.com/ratecase/html_rates/R100.htm and scroll down to priority mail section #9.0
To get your zone chart for your 3 digit zip code go to:
http://www.usps.com/ncsc/addressmgmt/zonechart.htm
This has changed my business shipping policy because of the changes significantly. Fortunately, 95% of UniqueBruce's shipments are under a pound but many buyers will be bent over the new rates for shipments over a pound and a long distance from the seller.
I have put the zone rates and the zipcode zones chart with the full article here, so click it already!!
The truth is that for most of our little nano-businesses the USPS "is" our shipping company. We depend on them to get our product to customers in a timely, safe, and secure manner. Like a big business with their own shipping division, I depend of "my" shipping company, the USPS. If they flub up a delivery it reflects directly on me and my company. My customers don't see it as a mail problem but as a problem for MY COMPANY. I took their money and they paid for shipping so they figure it is my problem to get the product there. They are right!!
Get to know the postal service, UPS, FEDEX, and any other shipping service you may use or be receiving goods from regularly.
Shipping Costs Explained
I get emails from time to time complaining about shipping costs for some of my auctions. I have tried here to explain shipping using real numbers. Hope it makes sense to y'all. Click here for the real scoop.
Well, I guess that is enough venting for right now. Soon we will have a bulletin board to let you vent too or tell me I'm crazy. For now. if you got a gripe click here to send it to me and maybe we'll print it here.
