Bangle Fitting Guide

ROUND FIT BANGLEA simple method for approximating comfortable Round Fit bangle size is to measure the length between the first three knuckles on the hand the bangle is to be worn on.Make a fist and measure the length from the outside of the first knuckle to the point between the third and fourth knuckle.This measurement equals the required diameter of your Round Fit bangle.for example, if the measurement comes to 65mm, then a 65mm (inside diameter) bangle should fit your hand.OVAL FIT BANGLEThe fitting measurements for oval bangles differ from that of round bangles.Please use the following formula to calculate your Oval Fit bangle size.Simply add 3mm to your comfortable Round Fit bangle size.For example, if a Round Fit 65mm bangle fits comfortably, add 3mm to this measurement to determine your Oval Fit size65mm plus 3mm equals 68mm.Note Oval Fit dimension is measured from internal widest point to widest pointThis method works in most instances, however we offer this tip as a guide only.

The biggest thing eBay can do to make people happy!

Happy 2009 everyone! I've been watching eBay go down hill the last couple of years, I thought I put in my .02 cents!It's not easy when a large company has growing pains that demand new changes. Since not every change is likely to be popular, things can get pretty dicey.What eBay has done with Australia in 08' and now in 09' here in America has had many damaging effects, almost too many for sellers to overcome. Higher fees, paypal "only", BS DSR's, and basically making everyone offer free shipping when buyers and you know who you are still resort to leave BS DSR's to make you miss the DSR powerseller discounts!There's no discounts folks this is just another ploy for eBay to line their pockets even more. Blame eBay management if they even have management!Management can be perceived as being in bunker mode, workers can get weary and confused, customers can get critical, critics can get rabid. Those things happen under the best of circumstances, if you hit a few extra bumps, watch out! Ebay, once the darling of the online auction industry has come under a lot of fire in the past couple of years for some dramatic changes it's made in it's fee structure and policy. Yours truly has been a pretty vocal, but fair critic of these changes. Rather than re-hash the plethora of events that have inspired everything from countless eBay alternative startups to the calling for the resignation of it's CEO, I am going to offer one simple piece of advice to eBay. We feel as a veteran eBay Powersellers with 13 years selling online, and as a licensed second generation professional auctioneer with over 35 years in the business, that we're well qualified to make a suggestion like this. I've called for this several times going as far back as over a year ago, and of course, I'm not the only one who's made it. But there has never been a better time to institute this. Ebay, split your selling platform, completely, clearly and definitively into 2 formats. 1) Fixed price, 2) Auctions. The number of problems this will solve will be uncountable. It would satisfy sellers of all walks, and bring most of the anti-eBay sentiment to a screeching halt. The bleeding of lost sellers and buyers will stop, your PR deptartment will have a chance to re-group, the moral of workers will balloon, management can relax. Why? Because eBay will be re-invented in the publics eye as a company who listened to it's customers. And because the auction model has worked so well, and really does define eBay.It's a way of having your cake, and getting to eat it too. Placing a few good experienced auctioneers in some position of power within such a new auction only branch, and shouting this to the community would allow eBay to take the focus off of the angst that's been aimed that the giant for the past 2 years. No one can bellow like a good auctioneer! With that breathing space it could re-group and get a closer look at how to make its fixed price platform the dominant player they are hoping it will be. It could, get much more out of it's auction business, and have the best chance of bringing eBay stock to the stratosphere. It looks like a tri-fecta to me. Take some advice from a big mouthed auctioneer on this one, not because I think I have all the answers, but because auctions online and off, are my life, I monitor the auction business the way Google does analytics, and all the information I have shows that your users want this.Thanks for reading, and thanks for making us a

MANTLE CLOCKS 1920's to 1970,s

MANTLE CLOCKS 1920s to 1970sThe common Mantle clocks sold in Australia from around the 1920s to 1940s usually were a rectangular shape with a square ot rectangular dial. In the 1940S they gradually changed to a doubled curved shape top and were commonly called Napoleon hat shaped clocks. Their construction consisted of a ply back and front with a veneer shape, nailed and glued to the sides to produce the top. A majority of these clock cases were imported into Australia from England and Germany before the Second World War. During 1940 to 1945 clocks and movements were difficult to obtain so the numbers available were low. After the war both complete clocks and movements started to appear in Australia again. These clocks were commonly given to people as a wedding present or a person leaving their place of employment, and also presented with an inscription plate for years of service to work or charity. As we nearer the 1950s quite a number of cabinet making workshops around Australia who produced veneered bedroom suites or wireless cabinets also made clock cases as they had off cuts of ply and veneer they could use up to produce these clocks cases. That is the reason why you see such a large variety of case designs. They then fitted an imported English of German movement and they were sold throughout jewellery shops in their local town or city. Common veneer used was walnut and blackwood. Majority of these clocks had a round opening bezel in chrome and a silvered dial with black painted numbers. Some of them had a chapter ring for dial that is no centre to the dial so the polished timber would show. The movements in these clocks were either a gong strike, one on the half hour and the counts the hours or a Westminster chime. These chime every quarter hour and count the the hour. This movement has three winding holes where the gong chime only has two winding holes. There is also the odd mantle clock that has a triple chime, that is Westminster, St. Michaels and Whittington. These movements are quite rare. All the above movements are of the newer design to the old American movements and they will correct their striking pattern within an hour of winding the hands forward.STRIPPING THE CLOCK CABINETIf you intend to restore one of these clocks the first step is to remove the hands and then remove gong and movement out of the case. The dial and bezel is usually screwed or pinned to the front surface. Most of these clock cases do not have any decorations on them. If it has a hinged rear door, remove it. The polished surfaces on these clocks are around 50 years old and have crystallized or crazed, therefore it needs removing. If it is crystallized, use a sharp chisel or scraper to remove the polish. It will come off easily. Scrape back to bare timber and then sand smooth. If it is hard to remove by scraping, washing in thinners may help dissolve the polish and fine steel wool soaked in thinners may cut through the polish. Smooth surface with fine paper. Nail holes and small imperfections need to be filled with a wood filler similar colour to the veneer. If the colour of the veneered surface varies, you may need to stain the case all one colour before polishing. Use a spirit stain for this purpose. Polishing can be achieved by spraying clear lacquer, brushing semi-gloss polyurethane or coats of shellac until you have an acceptable finish.OPENING GLASS BEZEL AND GLASSIf you are purchasing one of these clocks to restore for yourself, check that the dial and opening bezel is in good condition as replacement parts are usually unattainable. The convex glass can be replaced by purchasing one the correct size or getting a larger glass cut down to size. The silvered dial usually suffers from wear around winding holes, numbers and time ring. Silvered time rings are almost impossible to purchase, but there are a few gold dials that may fit. Most of these clocks also have brass grommets fitted through the winding holes. Clean the chrome or brass bezel with silvo or brasso. CLOCK ASSEMBLYFix the dial to the clock case with its screws or escutcheon pins, and install the winding hole grommets. After cleaning and oiling the movement, mount it back into the case and also fix gong in position. Replace minute hand and turn clockwise to each chiming position. When satisfied clock is chiming correctly at say 4 oclock, add hour hand and fix minute hand in correct position. Run the clock and adjust weight of pendulum bob to keep good time. Screw bob up to go faster, or down to go slower. If you are missing hands we do have replacements, but slight modification maybe necessary to make them fit. IF YOU HAVE FOUND MY GUIDE INTERESTING AND HELPFUL PLEASE CLICK ON THE YES BUTTON BELOW.

The Complete James Patterson Book List

I spend hours compiling and checking each of my guides before publication. It is my goal to be one of the top 25 reviewers in Australia. If you find this guide helpful in any way, please recognise my hard work by voting yes. I appreciate every helpful vote I receive.James Patterson is the author of more new #1 bestselling titles in the past five years than Dan Brown, J.K. Rowling, Tom Clancy and John Grisham put together. He is the creator of the Number One new detective series of the past dozen years, featuring Alex Cross and including the Hollywood-adapted Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, starring Morgan Freeman. I hope this list is of some help to you. If you wish tosearch please use CNTRL FAlex Cross Series in OrderAlong Came a Spider 1992Kiss the Girls 1995Jack

Australian import duty and tax

When buying overseas ,Australian import duty and tax ,there is none payable on items of less than $1000.Go to this url customs.gg

Save Big Dollars with Australian Shipping

A little-known and totally unpublicised anomally within Australia Post can save big dollars, for you or your customers!If you send items in a box(a parcel) to a customer within Australia and the total weight of the parcel exceeds 1kg the shipping price is calculated using cubic weight if this is greater than the actual weight. The cubic weight is the parcel's volume in cubic metres multiplied by 250. Cubing may also apply under certain circumstances even to parcels over 500grams.For example, if your parcel measures 450mm x 300mm x 200mm and weighs 1.5kgs the parcel would be 'cubed' and you would be charged as if it weighed 6.75kg 0.45 x 0.3 x 0.2 x 250 = 6.75If this '6.75kg' parcel were being sent from say Rockingham, Western Australia to Frankston, Victoria it would cost $26.95. ($2.70 x 7 + $8.05).Now, do you want to save some money? Okay, put your parcel inside a bag. Australia Post sell a GL Tough Bag for $1.80* or you can use any other form of 'bag'. You could even make one out of tough plastic sheeting! The parcel will not now be 'cubed', it will be weighed normally.You will pay only $13.45 for postage - that's less than half the price! Even allowing for the cost of a bag you are miles ahead. You may find that you do not even need to use a box. Many items can be shipped just inside a bag. If the itemsare fragile they can be wrapped in bubblewrap for protection. Bubblewrap is lightweight and offers far better protection than a box padded with old newspaper. I ship fragile camera equipment all over the world this way and have never had an item damaged. Now whether you decide to use this new-found knowledge to boost your bottom line profits or to pass the savings on to your customers is entirely your choice.All the best, Peter PickeringMy Ebay Store - Aden Camera* GL bags up to 40% discount if you buy in bulk lots of 100.

FAKE, COPIES OF THE US MEDAL OF HONOR SOLD ON EBAY

The United States Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself " Conspicuously by gallant and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States" - because of the nature of its criteria, the medal is often awarded posthumously.For us mad military collector's ofrare Orders and Medalsrightly or wrong, it is the most highly prized out of all the world's military collectables. We, here at Elitemilitaria get asked at least once a week if we have a Medal of Honor for sale, mainly from collector's in the United States, that know that it is protected under United States federal law under the Stolen valor act of 2005, with a special task force within the FBI who's sole purpose is to hunt down anyone who illegally owns or sells a Medal of Honor, the fine being $100,000 USD or1 yearjail.There are4 main types of Medal of Honor's on the world collectable market today, which is only illegal for a citizen of the United States to buy, this law does not apply to collector's from the rest of the world, hence you constantly see the Medal of Honor for sale, mainly on German eBayand UK eBay, most of them being fakes made in Germany and China. We will get into the specifics in a minute.There is the ultra scarce andun-obtainable named with the recipients name to reverse, as awarded to a veteran by the US Government.There area few named originalsin private collections around the world, the collector's value for a genuine named Medal of Honor would be around $250,000 to $300,000 USD.The most common found in collections, classed as genuine 'illegal' version, is1 out of the 300 Medal of Honor's made by HLI Lordship Industries Inc., a former Medal of Honor contractor to the United States Government, which was fined and lost their Government contract in 1996 for selling 300 Medal of Honor's through the back door for $75.USD each, the US Government calls these fakes, us collector's class them as 'illegal originals' made by the same manufacturer that supplied the US Government, currently a cased HLI Lordship setsells for between $2200 to $2750.USD The current situation on mainlyGerman eBayis that a fake cased set of the US Navy Medal of Honor is being sold as an original tothe unsuspecting collector for up to 1000. Euros - every week on German eBay you see these up for auction. The Germans make the finest quality US Navy Medal of Honor, the strike and detail is near perfect as expected from German precision workmanship, only the US Navy Medal of Honor is copied, because it is just plain metal, with no elaborate green enamel work as found on the US Army and US Air Force MOH, so easy to copy, please view the detailed pictures provided of the German copy.GERMAN MADE COPY BELOW AS SOLD ON EBAY ORIGINAL CURRENT US NAVY MEDAL OF HONOR BELOW AS AWARDED BY THE US GOVERNMENTThen therearethe nastyChinese copies,who makecopies ofthe US Army Medal of Honor and the US Air Force Medal of Honor, again mainly sold on German eBay and UK eBay, the qualityand the detail is poor, the enamel work is terrible, the medals suspension system is a joke when you compare it to an original, theinscription on the reversea bigger joke andthe writing style and placement is incorrect'In the name of the Congress' last week on German eBay, some poor German collector paid over 600.Euros for one of theseworthless Chinese pieces ofjunk.CHINESE COPY BELOW OF US ARMY MEDAL OF HONOR AS SOLD ON EBAY ORIGINAL US ARMY MEDAL OF HONOR BELOW AS AWARDED BY THE US GOVERNMENT If you see a US Medal of Honor on auction on eBay please e-mail us before wasting your hard earned money, we will be more than happyto get back to you quickly, and tolet you know if it is worth bidding on. We just want to help you make the right investment desion,let's sort out these gangsters on eBay selling fake US Medal of Honor's once and for all.The United States Medal of Honor recipients deserve our highest respect and gratitude for their self sacrifice, together we will not stand by and let the fraudsters cheapen the honor of these American hero's.Was this guide helpful to you? If so please tick "YES" below. Thank you.

STOP THIEVES STEALING YOUR INTELLECTUAL PRODUCTS NOW!!

DOWNLOAD PAGE PROTECTORAre you Sick and Tired of having Your Intellectual Property Stolen?Discover The Quick And Easy Way To Protect YOUR Products From Internet ThievesBrand New Software Will Security Lock Your Download Pages In 2 Seconds FlatNo Scripts To Set Up - Everything Done Automatically By Simple Windows SoftwareIf you sell ebooks or software, you will almost certainly know about the problem of product theft.Lots of people will try to gain access to your product download (or thankyou) pages without paying, in order to steal your ebooks or software.People usually do this by trying to guess the name of your download page.You probably already reduce this risk by giving your download page a name that is hard to guess.However tests based on analysis of server logs have shown that some people will spend up to an hour trying to guess their way into a download page.Some now even use special hacking software, left to run overnight automatically trying millions of permutations to guess the name of your page.The fact is that simply giving your download page an unusual name is no longer an effective way of stopping those determined to steal your products.Download Page Protector quickly and easily protects you from this problem, by automatically adding a special script into your download page.The special script requires a security code to be included in the link for the download page.If the code is not included in the link address, the script will automatically redirect the visitor to your home page preventing downloading.This makes it much harder for someone to guess their way into your download page.Automatic Search Engine ProtectionA second threat to your products arises if your download page gets listed on a search engine.There are many ways that this can happen, including dishonest customers posting the link to a forum.Of course, if the link to your download page gets onto a search engine, its easily available to everyone.Your product is free to anyone who searches for it!Download Page Protector provides very simple protection from this problem by automatically inserting a special "robots meta-tag" in your page.Most of the leading search engines will not list pages containing this special tag, preventing this search engine problem from ever occurring.Unfortunately there are still a lot of search engines which ignore this special tag.Download Page Protector therefore offers a secondary search engine protection mechanism.Anyone coming to your download page directly from a search engine link will be automatically redirected to your home page, preventing them downloading your products.Although it is preferable to avoid your pages getting onto search engines, this secondary mechanism offers valuable protection if it does happen.Download Protector Software- Protect illegal DownloadsA Highly Versatile Protection SystemDownload Page Protector has been fully tested on the two primary payment services for ebook and software sales, Clickbank and Paypal.However unlike most other solutions, Download Page Protector is not restricted to these services and should work with any payment service.Your Quick And Easy SolutionTo show you just how easy Download Page Protector is to use, full instructions are included below.1. Click the Select File button and select the download page HTML file.2. Enable the Prevent access from search engines checkbox to install the secondary search engine security mechanism. (Normally you would enable this).3. Enter your web site name (such as www.****.com). You only need to enter this once as it is automatically stored for use next time you use the software.If someone tries to access your download page without the correct security code, their browser will be automatically redirected to this address.4. Enter a security code - any number will do - preferably between 6 and 15 digits long.5. Click the Update button.That's all there is to it!Your download page file will be automatically updated and saved in the same folder and with the same name as the original HTML file, but with extension ".php".You should upload this new php page to your website in the same way as you would upload any other web page,using your web site console or FTP program.Download Protector Software- Protect illegal DownloadsSoftware and ebook theft is a serious problem.Download Page Protector could stop you losing a significant proportion of your sales.Add to this the income potential from selling Download Page Protector to others and I'm sure you will agree that this is a valuable offer.I know I could charge a lot for all this, but I want to help as many people as possible put an end to the damaging activities of product thieves.So, I'm going to let you have Download Page Protector for just au$1.99This low price may be increased at any time, so please order now to avoid disappointment.I'm so confident in the value of this software, that I'm also going to give you a no risk, no questions asked, 90 day, 100% money back guarantee!There is simply no way you should miss out on this exceptional offer. The 100% no risk guarantee means you simply cannot lose!ORDER NOW FOR ONLY au$1.99(Normally Costs - au$29.95)Download Page Protector is for use on all versions of Microsoft Windows.The software has only been fully tested with Clickbank and Paypal, but the mechanisms used should work with any payment service. It is recommended that you always make a test purchase after setting up a new download page, to ensure it is working correctly, before allowing customers to use it.ONLY $1.99AUSTOP THIEVES STEALING YOUR PRODUCTS NOW!!*** INTRODUCTORY OFFER ***Check our items for sale if you are interested in purchasing.Hope we have helped you to understandthe importance of securing your intellectual property so you canbeat the thieves at their own game!!

A guide to buying Czech Firepolish Beads

Czech Firepolish beads are a must for any beaders bead box.They are thehighest quality manufactured glass faceted bead available. Wether you are buying Czech Firepolish beads at your local bead shop or the vast selection available on ebay knowing your option will helpyou pick the right bead for the right project. Let the following information help build your collection.A Brief History of Czech BeadsA tradition that has been passed on from one generation to the next, Czech Bohemian glass makers have a rich beading tradition dating back to the 14th Century. Earlier craftsman's competedmainly with Venetian bead makers.Famous for thereuse of rich colours,by 1860's they becamethe European leaders in glass bead making.It wasn't until the 19th Century, the industrial revolution thatthe Czech beading industrybecame the centre of glass bead making.They developed machines that enable pressing glass into heated moulds. Through constant innovation, improvementand perfecting this technique the Czech quickly became masters of pressed glass. Today the Czech's arein the fore front of the world bead market through therebrillance of colour and there every changing variety.(Reference the Centre for Bead Research)What are Firepolish BeadsFirepolish refers to the manufacturing process how the beads are created.The beads are first moulded and pressed. Angles are then created onall sides of the beads to createthe facets. The beads are then finished in an hot oven wheremelting the sidescreating a smooth shinny finish. This process results in a perfectly beautiful bead, but the edges aren't as sharp nor are the facets as exactly sized as machine cut crystal. Firepolished Beads shapes and sizes Firepolishbeads come in an amazing variety of shapes. The most popular shape is round.Sizes range from 3mm to 22mm, with the 4mm,6mm

How To Get Maximum Benefit From Using A Spin Bike

If You Find This Guide Informative Please Click the Yes Button at the Bottom of the Page. Thank You.Spinning is a term for indoor, stationary cycling. Spin bikes have fixed racing handlebars, pedals with shoes straps so that you don't slip, adjustable bike seat and adjustable handle bar crank. This is great, because it's important that you are sitting in the right position depending on your height for maximum comfort and results. The intensity of your spinning workout session on the spin bike can be adjusted with either a resistance knob or gear lever. Depending on the type of spin bike you're looking at, some of the higher quality spin bikes come with a gear lever which offers up to 8 gear changes for harder workouts. While spinning classes are very popular, more and more people are buying spin bikes for home use as time restraints, and hectic lifestyles make it very difficult to get to scheduled spinning classes on time.While a typical spinning bike class lasts for up to 40 minutes, every minute working out on your spin bike does count! Remember...your muscles can't count time so if you've only got 12 or 5 or 17 minutes....go for a spin on your exercise bike! It will still make a difference! Like all exercise programs, start out with a warm up and gradually build up speed and resistance as your fitness levels increase! People of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy spinning on the spin bike and because the impact is so low, if you're after an exercise program that doesn't add stress to the joints, but still want to burn maximum calories, then a spinning exercise program may be what you're after!A spinning exercise routine using your spin bike will work out a few different muscles groups. These include the quadriceps (thighs), hamstrings (back of the thighs), hips, gluteus maximus (bum), and abdominal muscles. As you can see...your spinning exercise routine can really get great results if you go for it!Spinning indoors on your spin bike is a perfect way to exercise all year round because you never have to worry about the weather. You can watch TV, read a book or really ramp it up for an intense training session! It all depends on the outcome of your exercise session.I recommend investing in a pair of proper cycling shorts as after a while you may need the extra padding! For those looking for an exercise that really works your bum, spinning on a spin bike will give you great results here! By the way, make sure you drink plenty of water during your spinning exercise program. Very important!If you have any ailments, injuries or queries, firstly consult with your personal trainer, a fitness instructor or a physician. Make sure your seat is in the right position and the handlebars have been adjusted to suit you. Your knees should be slightly bent when positioned at the bottom of the stroke pedal. Your elbows should be slightly bent, with your arms a comfortable distance from the handlebars. Keep adjusting them until you've got it right!Spinning on your spin bike in the comfort of your own home is an excellent, safe and fun way to burn those unwanted kilos while increasing your fitness level. Because you can jump on your spin bike any time of the day (even if it's only for a few minutes), you will see results fast if you keep it up! Mixed with a healthy eating plan, spinning on your spin bike will have you feeling like an athlete in no time at all!My name's Amanda and I'm one of Australia's leading Personal Trainers, thanks for stopping by and reading my guide. For more information drop by my eBay store and check out what a qualitySpin Bike should look like.AmandaJoin My FREE NewsletterCLICK HERE For More Information About Spin BikesI'm eBay's Only Online Personal Trainer CLICK HERE To Ask Me A Question

Guide to Wake Rope and handles explained

WAKECOM'S GUIDE TO WAKEBOARD ROPES

Sniper/Bid Napping, last seconds bidding- Has its place

Since first writing a guide for eBay, I have seen an exponential rise in use of new last seconds bidding software tools (variously called sniper or bid napper etc) to place bids in the last seconds of an auction. As a seller this can be frustrating as no bids are placed early, innocent buyers think the item has a problem, visitor numbers are sometimes not shown in the listing and its can be discouraging for browsing potential buyers, (and sellers) even though there may be anywhere between 16 and 70 people watching an item (but only the seller can know this). Do your homework is the key in this situation. Know what the item is worth and how much you are willing to pay.There are various types of these programs available and all have varying costs some are a percentage of the final purchase price others are on annual subscription. Which ever you choose read all the small print, check the security certification and their privacy policy. Take as much care in choosing a sniper software tool as you would selecting a bank or a potential purchase on eBay. Use your favourite search engine with a few key words with a sign and the name of online auctionyou want to bid at and take some time reading about the options available. Don't just jump on the first one you see.Sniper bids take some of the fun out of the auction process but whilst eBay allows them and offers a group bidding service themselves then they can be very useful particularly if you are a buyer on a budget or do not want to sit up all night to bid on an item. These programs allow you to put in the maximum price you want to pay and then forget it. If it was meant for you you will get it and if it was not then you still have your money to selectively invest in another item. The really useful thing about these sniper services is that you avoid the emotional pressure in the last seconds of bidding and the frustration of refresh rate times that are really variable depending on a lot of factors, including your computer, the number of people using the internet at the time, etc even if you have the fastest connection currently available.The worst thing that can happen is being caught up in a bidding war and going over your budget and possibly over what the item is currently worth. Sniper or last seconds bidder software does at least give you a sense of security that should an unscrupulous seller employ a snipper software then at least you don't go over budget. Only bid what you are prepared to pay and check where the decimal point is in the number you enter as your maximum bid.CheersArtsite_Gallery

Identifying Fake Gameboy Advance (GBA) Game Cartridges

After a recent transaction where a seller sold me a fake GBA game, I have decided to write this help guide to assist everyone out there.The easiest way to identify a fake GBA game is to have a look at the base of the cartridge where the gold cartridge connectors are.If you shine a light inside this area, located at the back of the connectors near the plastic casing, you will see white text printed on the circuit board bearing various pieces of information.The text varies from cartridge to cartridge but generally has 'Nintendo', the year of manufacture and/or item serial number imprinted.All the fake cartridges I have seen thus far do not bear these official Nintendo identifiers.This is the only near fool proof way of identifying a fake cartridge since most pirated copies nowadays are so good that you cannot tell simply by looking at the quality of the label, instruction manual or box.So next time when in doubt, request a seller to email you a photo of the area described above to validate that it is a genuine item.If they refuse to, they obviously have something to hide!Without a doubt I will be copping alot of hate mail for writing this, but the truth needs to be revealed.If this guide is of help to you, please take the time to thank me by voting below.Here is a photo of the area:

Vinyl Decal Application Instructions

Note: These instructions are for vinyl decals only and do not apply to printed stickers.Understanding The DecalThis sticker is in three parts:The top layer is called the Application Tape The middle layer is the final product. The bottom layer is called the backing paper PreparationIf your decal arrives in a mailing tube, it is recommended that you unroll the decal and let it lie flat, face down for at least an hour before applying.Thoroughly clean the surface. The surface you are applying the sticker to, must be clean, dry

Hunting For Bargains On Ebay- The easy way

I absolutely ADORE ebay and spend alot of my time online shopping andjust surfing around the eBay website hoping to stumble upon a bargain.I shop alot for my kids on here, and if you look hard enough, you willfind an auction that everyone has seemed to forget about, and snap up areal great bargain!Explore ALL Options.Sometimes there will beauctions with no gallery picture and a really vague heading and youthink to yourself 'ahh nothing special... oohh look theres a cutepicture of a such and such' and forget all about that tiny little blotof writing which seems to disappear up your screen. You may be missing out on something reallyspecial. Some people are just inexperienced/new to ebay or do not wantto add a gallery picture because their item is something that is notworth ALOT of money, so, they hope their title will be enough toattract the high bidding buyers. Most of the time these items havelittle to no bids on them. I have personally found extremely goodcondition pumpkin patch or fisher price items on the site which i havebought for 99c! And theseitems sell for ATLEAST $10 . Don't just go for the items with the bigflashy, highlighted titles, take the time to hunt!Slow down and read the auctions carefully.Somepeople are easily detered by the words 'second hand' or 'slightlydamaged' and quickly hit the back key or close the window beforereading the entire auction. It pays to read an auction carefully as itmay just be something minor that may cost you a little bit of money tofix but possibly save you anywhere from $10 to $100 to even $1000depending on what your looking for! Some of the best items i havebought off ebay have been second hand, and buying them at a bargainmakes it an even sweeter victory!WAIT!Takea breath, calm down, and instead of stumbling across a bargain andbidding straight away, simply, wait and add it to your watch list. Onebay, there are alot of competative people and if they see somethingthey want and you've bid on it, they'll keep bidding until they beatyour highest price and then you'll end up paying more to get somethingyou wanted to get on the cheap! My tip? Wait until the last day andthen bid, less bids can be placed in a 24hr time frame then they can ina 48 or 120 hr period... true?Hunt hunt hunt hunt!If you come across a seller that is selling multiples of the one itemat different times in the auction format, watch a couple of theminstead of just one. If the one you were intending to bid on hasexceeded your budget, delete it from your watch list and see if theother one you've bookmarked is still at a lower price and keep goinguntil you win an item at the price YOU want to pay. That way your notblowing your budget on just one item!PostageIf a buyer is selling more than one thing that you are intendingon bidding on, ask how much combined shipping will cost you. The moreyou buy from the one buyer the more you can possibly SAVE BIG onshipping! For example. If you buy one top from one person and you buyanother from another one... you could be looking at around $9.50 juston postage ALONE (based on Aus Post shipping charges)! Whereas if youbuy the two tops from the one person you could look at paying just$4.75 for the postage and maybe even squeeze a few more tops or extrastoo! It pays to shop with the one buyer!I hope this has helped all of you in some way, it was fun to write and share my tips for ebay with you! Enjoy eBay!

Silver In Its Many Forms

Silver In Its Many FormsIf you find this guide useful please be sure to vote for YES at the bottom of the page.STERLING SILVERis 92.5% pure silver and will generally be stamped with 925 as a sign that it is sterling silver. Sterling silver may also bear the makers mark and be stamped with the country of origin, for instance ITALY. Theremaining 7.5% of metal in sterling silveris generally made up of copper to give the silver its strength because silver in its pure form is soft. When buying any sterling silver it is a good idea to check that it doesn't contain any nickel as it can cause irritations to anyone withsensitive skin, just because something is sterling silver does not necessarily mean your skin will not react to it. Silver will almost definitely tarnish how quickly depends on the enviroment the silver is in, for instance salt can cause silver to tarnish quickly so swimming in the surf or being present in salty air can speed up the tarnishingprocess as well as the the acids and fats released from your skin through perspiration.There are many ways to clean silver including toothpaste, baking soda and a good srcubbing with a fine cloth.Theeasiest and one of the bestoptions is a silver cloth with anti-tarnish chemicals in it, so when you clean your silveritwill alsostayclean for longer.If you want to go all out you can also have your silver rhodium plated which will stop tarnishing for as long the plating remains. It also combatsirritations some people may get from silververy effectively.All thesterling silveritems I sell are completely nickel free and are great for those people with sensitive skin.FINE SILVERis 99.9% pure silverand is normally only found in jewellery in the form of a plating - for instance I sell sterling silver jewellery and findings which have a fine silver plating. Fine silver is used because it has a great lustrous shine andreally brightensup the sterling silveras well as fixing any scratches or marks left from the construction process. SILVER PLATINGrefers to a pure silvercoating and unless the coating is pure silver then it shouldn't becalled silver plated instead it is just silver coloured - even though this isn't always the case. The base metals used under a silver platingwill vary greatly in quality with the better options being brass, copper, bronze and sterling silver. Metals such as iron are cheaper metals which are of a lower quality, it is also a good idea to check if the items you are buyingare nickel free to help prevent potentialallergic reactions.TIBETAN

Synthetic Winch Ropes

When considering converting to a Synthetic Winch Rope there are a fewthings you need to know.Firstly it is very important that the rope is protected from the heat generated by the drum. This can be extremely high and can destroy your rope very quickly. Quality ropes are shielded. (More relevant to low mount winches, but still worth noting)Choose the appropriate thickness and length to best suit your needs.It is better to choose a shorter length as you get the strongest pull from the first layer of rope on the drum. To winch over a greater distance you should use a winch extension. This is a lot easier on yourself and the winch.Visibility is also very important. I have seen many people trip over the winch line. Choose a bright colour if possible.Winch ropes (and all recovery gear) should be cleaned regularly. Items can be washed in warm soapy water. When dry, inspect and pack correctly.An Aluminium Fairlead should be used with synthetic rope. Steel fairleads tend to be a little rougher and may damage your rope.Always ensure there is at least one layer of rope on the winch drum.If you need any advice please feel free to contact me.Also, if looking at ropes from overseas, consider the added cost of exchange rate, freightand import duty. It can be a nasty surprise.Have fun in the bush and always practice safe techniques.

Safe buying and selling - how to detect a restoration

For buyers and sellers of fine china, porcelain and ceramics- know your product, detect restorations before you list, understand your own limitations and learn the correct terminology - high feedback does not an expert makeClarice Cliff All sellers have to source their items from somewhere; fromestate or garage sales, flea markets or car boot sales, or from their local auction house. Rarely will a full and accurate history of the item in question accompany this sale so it is virtually impossible for a seller to announce, in absolute honesty, that an item is in original unrestored condition. A trophy, from the hunt for items to sell on Ebay, often ends up listed as in 'perfect' or 'mint' condition, which is as it appears to the untrained eye of the newly self-proclaimed expert in fine china and associated items. This description, when combined with the credentials of the seller in coloured-font hyperbole, adds a false authenticity to the item and the potential bidder accepts the stated description as fact. All too often an item described in this manner has imperfections a real expert might have discerned andmentioned for accuracy.There are many restorations, and very good ones at that, being sold as 'in perfect condition', albeit unwittingly, by those who have yet to learn the subtle nuances of paint and glaze finishes. Many professional restorations are difficult to discern with the naked eye, therefore, a magnifying glass is an essential piece of equipment for the gatherer and seller of fine china, Whether large or small, it is a useful aid in identifying china marks and examining pieces for damage or change. Remember the Ebay bidder does not have the opportunity to examine the item in person and relies on your description to be honest and accurate.The more advanced trader might also use a black light, an ultra-violet light most commonly used to check glassware for reproductions and detect repairs in porcelain, although not all restorations can be detected in this way.What to look for in a restoration:any changes to texture i.e. gritty spots of uneven sections in the glaze that can be felt with the handage crazing that is incomplete i.e. crazing on one part of the item with an area of unbroken glazesubtle shade differencein the coloursraised brush strokesany inconsistency to the patternany hint of chemical or varnish smellThese anomalies may be barely discernable, particularly with a dusty vintage item, and a good wash in warm soapy water might not only dislodge the dust, but also any amateur restoration.It is wiser to err on the side of caution and mention, in your description,any of the above that you detect, to alert the bidder of a 'possible' restoration. Restoration versus repair or gluing togetherThere have been many instances when a seller, in a bid to be honest, describes an item as having had a restoration, or a repair, when in fact it has simply had the pieces re-attached with a glue of some sort. This inaccuracy is misleading and I suggest the following definitions be used as a guide when determining a description.Restoration:This refers to an item that has been returned as closely as possible to its original form. It will not have any visible cracks or other damagenor bedetectable with the naked eye,. It may not even be detectable using a magnifying glass or black light.Repair:To repair is to return an item to sound condition after damage.Other terminology:Hairline - a very fine, barely discernible crack that may or may not penetrate to both sides of the itemChip- a piece broken off an item, usually up to 5mm, anything larger is considered a breakFleabite or nibble - a minute missing piece that is usually smaller than 1mmStaining - any mark that cannot be washed off with warm soapy waterCrazing- fine lines in the glaze that follow a crazy paving patternRestorations, when done professionally and expertly, can form a valuable part of any collection, indeed, most museums not only employ fine arts restorers, they also have many restored piecesincluded in their own collections, but the choice of inclusion should always remain with the buyer.Build your reputation as a trusted and knowledgable seller of china through consistent and well-informed description ot your items for sale.(c) Merlene FawdryI hope this guide has been helpful. Thank you fortaking the time to read this guide, which has been written to assist china collectors. Because there are a minority who negatively rate other people's guides to promote their own, before you vote for its usefulness please make sure your vote is genuine and you are not voting it as Not Useful just to send it lower down the rating scale. Thank you braddieboy

how to find the dress that flatters your figure

Wedding dress comes in many silhouettes. So how to choose the one that flatters your figure? Here are usually six styles as follows:Column: this style is straight and sleek, this often-strpless dress has no waistline.Who it flatters: perfect for the petite and short waisted women, a column's continuous line adds height to a small frame. Curvy girls should steer clear of its slender shape.Princess: a flared, vertically seamed skirt gives this dress a regal feelWho it flatters: this styke looks fantastic on most figures, but pear-shaped girls benefit most from this dress, which hides fuller hips while balancing the torso.A-line one: a fluid line gently flares from the underarm to the hem on this angular shape.Who it flatters: anyone can wear an a-line dress, but it's an especially savvy choice for thick-waisted or voluptuous women who want to minimize their curves. Mermaid: this sexy dress hugs the waist and hips, then flares from the knees.Who it flatters: if you are tall, curvy, or long-waisted, an hourglass-shaped gown is a showstopping pick.Ball gown: a close-fitted bodice meets a full,floor-length skirt in this formal bridal dressWho it flatters: short-waisted and pear-shaped girls should choose this style.Slipdress: super slinky, this lingerie look skims the body from the bustline to hemWho it flatters: you need to be in amazing shape to rock this slim-fit cut. If you think this is helpful, please click on the YES button.If you still feel confused, please feel free to email me. I'm willing to help you.

Become a successful eBay seller.

Ive recommended eBay to all my friends as a great way to sell almost anything. These seven eBay selling tips will help you get started selling on eBay successfully and get on your way to becoming an eBay PowerSeller.1. A picture IS worth 1000 words. Its old-fashioned, but people still like to see things before they buy them. For successful eBay selling, make sure any products you list on eBay are accompanied by professional quality photographs.2. Do your eBay research. When selling on eBay, before you list a particular product, spend some time researching other similar products on eBay and following the bidding process. This will help you gauge the interest for your product and help you determine how much your product might be worth.3. Learn all about shipping. Shipping is under the control of the eBay seller, but some methods of shipping are better than others when you're selling on eBay. You want to find the best method of shipping for your product in terms of expense and reliability and then specify that shipping method in your eBay listing. (And dont forget to include the shipping cost in your shipping information for potential buyers.)4. Pay as much attention to the writing of your eBay listing as to your picture. For selling on eBay, you need a powerful eBay listing. And the trick to writing a strong eBay listing is to combine search engine friendly phrasing with concrete details about the product in a way that will entice people to bid on your product. Take the time to craft your eBay listing just as you would any ad.5. Offer a full slate of payment options, including credit cards. The more payment options you, as an Ebay seller, offer prospective bidders, the more bidders your product will attract and the more successful your selling on eBay will be.6. Focus on getting positive feedback first. Feedback really matters when you're selling on eBay. If you have a consistent record of positive feedback, prospective buyers will both bid more often and be willing to pay higher prices. So you may want to hold back on placing higher priced products until you have a successful track record as an eBay seller established.7. Be business-like. Act professionally, provide the kind ofsuperior customer servicethat will build your reputation, and make sure that youre following all the business rules that apply, such asregistering your businessand properly charging and remitting taxes. Selling on eBay is just like any other business; to become an eBay success, you need to follow the rules and provide the kind of customer satisfaction that will translate into increased eBay sales.If you found this guide helpful please vote "YES" at the bottom of the page and help me to help other people with this review. Thank you for taking the time out to read my review.

buying a field/hunting /tactical knife

G'day to all since I first became a member on E-bay I've been shocked by the large number of no name knives claiming to be top quality. So I'd thought I'd write a guide based on my experience over the years, I've been making knives for 17 years now I'ts a hobby for me and often I've steered people to a knife that suits the task that it is required for eg: a person I know bought a Rambo style "survival knife " for hiking and camping he used it for chopping wood and no surprise it broke he bought the knife to me asking if I could fix it I advised him to thow it in the bin and buy a decent knife, he ended up getting a Becker companion knife.The Blade: Firstly look at the steel I prefer aus 8 used by sog {my preferance in blades} but the tops steels in my view aus 6, aus 8, ats 34 ,bg 42,D2 and some 440 stainless

SO YOU WANT TO BUY A PERSIAN RUG ?

SO YOU WANT TO BUY A PERSIAN RUG ? Historically Carpet Sellers have a Reputation for Dishonesty ! In many European countries to call someone a carpet dealer is intended as a slur on their integrity and, unfortunately, many modern day dealers in, so called, Persian Carpets, continue this tradition of deceit as if by right.Through more than a Century of Miss Use the words Persian Rug have become a Generic Term to mean virtually any hand made rug and sometimes any rug with a curvilinear design, often even machine made and for the Unwary and Uninformed buying a so called Persian Rug will usually result in disappointment. A Persian Rug must be Hand made and it Must come from Iran to bare this name. But do not be deceived into thinking that the best and most valuable hand made rugs come only from Iran.If you are interested in obtaining a Persian or other Hand Knotted or Hand Woven Carpet for your floor it is Necessary to do some Research before making a purchase and to have At Least Some Idea of what you are buying as, unless you deal with someone who has a long history of research and speciality in the field, even the sellers will not know anything about the rugs they offer accept what is written on the ticket by the exporter. AND ANYONE who has TRAVELLED ANYWHERE in the Middle East, Far East or Asia KNOWS that it is NOT SENSIBLE to BELIEVE what you are told about ANYTHING, especially where money is concerned.It is Imperative to have Some Way of Classifying Hand Made Rugs and Carpets before any Credible Description can be given or understood and it is also necessary to know in which geographic region they were made.Any Knowledgeable and Honest Dealer will Classify their Rugs by the Long Accepted Method of the Manner of Their Creation.TRIBAL RUGS Those Made in a Traditional Tribal Situation From Hand Spun Wool from the Tribes Own Sheep, On Horizontal Looms, Virtually Always Portable Due to Migratory Concerns and Using Design Motifs and Styles Passed Down from Mother to Daughter. Most Tribal Rugs Have a Hand Spun Wool Warp and Weft with a Wool Pile. In the Early 20th Century some Tribal Groups Like the Afshar and Bakhtiar in Iran began a semi-nomadic existence due to government intervention in their lifestyle and some of their output up until the 1950s is still credible and can be classified as Tribal even though it is made on cotton warps. Other examples of Tribal Carpets are Turkoman (Sub Groups Ersari, Tekke, Beshir, Yomud), Baluch, Kashkay, Khamsah and Kurd. Late 19th Century Yomud Turkoman Hatchli or Engsi Circa 1880.THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A NEW TRIBAL RUG. No Present Day Tribal Group has the Capacity to Live in a Traditional Environment and to Produce Rugs in a Traditional Manner so if you ever see a rug Described as a Tribal Rug which is New or Created in the Last Twenty Years you Know it is MISS DESCRIBED. There have been some programs among some tribal groups to encourage them to continue creating rugs but these are NOT TRIBAL RUGS as they are created under sub-contract conditions and the necessary evolution of design and weaving style has been broken and lost. Most look nothing like an Authentic Tribal Rug from the group.Late 19th Century Turkoman Ersari Beshir Jollar, Storage Bag FaceSome Tribal Groups in Afghanistan Continued to Spontaneously Create Traditional Rugs Until the Late 1970s but New Rugs From Afghanistan are Created in Workshops and are ONLY COPIES of Traditional Tribal Carpets. Some Rare Kurdish Groups survived until the Same Time but these Tribes were so poor and lacking in wool and skills that their output was very mediocre.If you want to own a Genuine Tribal Rug it is Necessary to Look at Rugs Made Before 1960, some Afghan examples until the Late 1970s, and in the case of Iranian Tribal Groups, Prior to 1930 and even then some will be copies. The Best and Most Desirable Tribal Rugs from Any Tribe or Region were made Prior to 1910 and Utilised All Vegetable Dyes. They are Unmistakable and Irreplaceable. Be aware that many dealers call Rugs Tribal When they are Mass Produced in a Workshop Environment and do not even include a Genuine Tribal Design. Nearly All Tribal Rugs will be asymmetrical in shape to some degree due to having been made on a horizontal loom which has been moved during the knotting or weaving process and virtually NONE will be in as new condition unless they have been in the hands of collectors or museums for many years.VILLAGE RUGSHistorically Village Rugs were Produced in a Number of Regions of Iran, the Caucasus and Turkey in the Homes of the Weavers and Using Designs and Knotting Styles Handed Down Through Generations. Each Village had its Dye Master and this Skill was also Passed Down through the family. This Evolution of Design Styles and Colours is the way in which they can be Dated. Early 19th Century Ghiordes Village Rug from Western Turkey Circa 1820During the 19th Century European designers and dealers had some input into style and size and Many Famous Persian Village Rugs (Those Made in Villages in Iran) have Been Named by these Designers, for Instance the Ziegler Mahal, a very rare and Valuable Example of this Type of European Influenced Village Carpet. Unfortunately this change in design made the rugs into Workshop Produced carpets rather than true village rugs. Other Well Known Village Rugs from Iran are Heriz, including Gorevan and Karaja, Hamadan, including Senneh, Tuisarkhan and Mazlaghan. Village Rugs from Turkey include Konya, Sivas, Ghiordes, Kirsehir, Melas, Mudjur and Ladik. Gendje Rug, Caucasus Mountains, Last Quarter 19th CenturyThe other Rare and Highly Desirable Group of Village Made Rugs were created in the remote Regions of the Caucasus Mountains. A Genuine and Authentic Caucasian Village Rug MUST have been Created Prior to 1930 and the Most Highly Regarded Prior to 1900. Most Rugs made in the Caucasus after 1930 were Organised Production in either sub contract village or workshop situations. Some Examples are Kazak, Shirvan, Kuba and Karabagh. In Armenia many village dwelling weavers continued to create kilims in traditional design and style until well into the sixties and these are usually described by the name of the village where they came from. Kurdish Village Rug, North West Iran, First quarter of the 20th Century.From the 1960s Production of Village Rugs in All Areas became organised and weavers were supplied with looms, patterns and pre-dyed wool so little individuality was possible. Some new rugs are still produced in a village situation but the output shows little credibility and the payment and working conditions of weavers is very poor. Credible Village Made Rugs Must Have Been Created Prior to 1970 and Most Prior to the Second World War. Those made Prior to 1910 are Very Rare and Highly Sought After.WORKSHOP RUGS

BONSAI - The easy basics for buying and growing bonsai

The first thing you need to learn about keeping and maintaining a bonsai is that aside from the many myths that surround this beautiful hobby, they are not that difficult to look after, you just have to follow advice from people who have been growing them for many years. I have been growing bonsai for over 15 years and have hundreds of them. I learned at a very young age from watching my mother with her collection, and have since learned from the masters in Australia.For the novice or a new person thinking of buying or growing bonsai themselves, the following is a good 5-point starter. What I have noticed about most people is they need strong simple points first, then elaborations later, so here goes. I will not complicate the basics by explaining styling, pruning, root pruning, etc. This will just be a simple guide on the basics of keeping your bonsai alive and healthy.1. Do not keep the bonsai indoors. This is the main reason a beginners bonsai die. A bonsai is a living tree, it requires an outdoors environment, just like you couldn't survive for long in the ocean. You can bring the bonsai inside for a day, maybe once every 6 months or so, but I wouldn't recommend any longer,because anormal environment for the bonsai is outside. If you really feel the need to display them, then just set up a nice viewing area outside, and your bonsai will appreciate it much more.2. Only water the bonsai when it needs water, not every day. This is the other main reason your bonsai will most likely die. Imagine someone is feeding you a large meal, then 1 hour later they give you another huge meal, and so on and so on ; eventually you would die. Ironically, the symptoms for over-watering a bonsai are exactly the same as those are when it dies from lack of water ; the roots become rotten from too much water and cannot properly feed the tree as they can't breathe, and thus they rot away.The best advice for new people is ; stick your finger halfway into the soil, then take your finger out. If a lot of soil sticks to your finger as you take it out, its still too wet. It should be fairly dry before you water, but not bone dry. In other words, if its damp about 3-4 cm down, its still too wet for another watering.Also, when you water, make sure you water the soil right at the base of the trunk a few times, just to ensure that the water isn't just dribbling down around the sides of the pot and not actually wetting the interior soil ball which is a common problem in older bonsai soil.3. Never let the soil of the bonsai become bone dry, especially before a hot day. A bonsai requires special care, because there is not much soil in the pot, so depending on how much sun your plant gets on your balcony/backyard, it may require watering about every day or 2nd day. The following is a rough guide, but ask me if you want advice on your particular bonsai species.Pine trees / fig trees / confiersrequire full sun and be careful not to over water Most Australian natives require full to half sun and average watering conditions, being careful not to overwater. A lot of tasmanian natives / Redwoods require half sun, and careful not to let the soil become dry. Often in the Australian summer, you can safely water every day without fear of overwatering.4. A bonsai needs sun.Depending on the variety, try for morning sun and if possible, its nice to have shade cloth over it, about 30 percent sun shade, but this is not a necessity. One of the best environments for bonsai is full sun with about 30 percent sun block, but if your bonsai is only going to get sun for half of the day, then compromise, and use about 15 percent sun block. Sun shade cloth is literally just cloth that lets through only a certain percentage of sun, such as only 10/20/30/40 or up to 50% of the sunlight through.5. Don't keep your bonsai on ground level. Put it high up on a table away from ants and bugs. Every couple of weeks, just inspect it, and look out for little critters or nastys eating your bonsai. The best defence is...wait for it...natural predators. If you find you have a spider living in your bonsai collection, or a beautiful praying mantis, praise yourself, because these wonderful creatures will eat all the bad guys that would otherwise treat your bonsai like dinner. Praying mantis's, spiders, lizards and cockroaches are the good guys, DON'T KILL THEM, they will help you. Below is a list of the bad guys.Scale is probably one of the most common pests you will encounter, but fortunately they are easy to remove, they usually attach themselves on the underside of the leaves, thus concealing themselves. Just lift your bonsai and look at the under side of the leaves closely, and you may notice a thousand little sucking things that you can just wipe off with your finger. They may also attach themselves to fresh growth of the ends of the branches where the flesh is supple and easily chewed on.

Sega Dreamcast Buyers Guide

IntroductionThe worlds first 128 bit game console, Sega's Dreamcast, was released in Japan on the 27th of November, 1998. It was the first console to come standard with a modem for use on the internet, as well as sporting a new type of disk format, the GD-ROM, which could hold up to 1.2 gigabytes of information. Another notable feature is that it has a Microsoft Windows CE operating system, which was mainly used for web access purposes. Although this console had a very short lifespan compared to many others - being discontinued on the 31st of January 2001 - it still has many followers. This is most likely due to the large assortment of quality games released, ingenious accessories such as the Visual Memory Unit, and as well as being capable of producing graphics and sounds that are still considered impressive today.After you finish reading this guide, please take the time to rate it.If you find this guide useful, please press the 'yes' button at the bottom of the page.System UnitDreamcast Consoles on eBayThe PAL version (Europe, Australia and New Zealand) of the Dreamcast is easily identified by a blue dreamcast symbol on the lid of the console. The NTSC version (USA and Japan) of the dreamcast is distinguished by a red symbol on the lid of the console. For the NTSC consoles to work in Australia, you must first make sure that your television supports NTSC, and that you purchase an appropriate stepdown transformer to handle the differing power supply voltages. Above Image: The red dreamcast symbol was used with NTSC models, and the blue with PAL..System Specifications128 bit Hitachi RISC Processor running at 200 mHZ 16 Megabytes Main RAM - 8 Megabytes Video RAM - 2 Megabytes Sound RAM NEC PowerVR Series II Graphics Processor 64 Voice Yamaha Super Intelligent Sound Processor 12 Speed GD-ROM drive which can store up to 1.2 Gigabytes of information. Resolution of 640 x 48016.7 Million coloursIssues with these consoles include overheating, which causes the system to reset itself, and GD-ROM drive problems. Parts such as power supplies and new GD-ROM components can be purchased to rectify most issues, however, sometimes it is more economically viable to invest in a new system. One may also be able to find resources on how to repair Dreamcast consoles online. However, as you are working with high voltages, it is not generally advisable to open the case of a Dreamcast under any circumstance.It is best to purchase a console which comes with its original box; although this is not a reliable way to judge the condition or the way the console has been treated, it indicates that the owner was careful enough to preserve the box in order to maintain the value of the system.There are also a considerablenumber of special edition consoles which have become quite collectable; such as the black Sports edition orthe transparent pinkor blue 'Hello Kitty' editions, etc.AccessoriesDreamcast Accessories on eBayThe dreamcast came with a large range of accessories, some such as the VMU and the fishing rod, were quite unique for the time. The following is an introduction to a few more common accessories, however this list is not exaustive. Others controls and accessories that have been released are, for example, arcade sticks, dance mats, maracas, microphones, web cameras and broadband adaptors, even a train driving control for one Japanese train driving simulator.Standard Control PadThe standard control pad is very comfortable to use, and features both analogue and digital directional controls, two analogue triggers, a start button and four multipurpose buttons on the right side of the pad marked A, B, X, Y. The control pad also has two expansion ports, in which you would plug a VMU and a vibration pack.Visual Memory UnitThe Visual Memory unit plugs into the control pad's expansion port. It features an LCD screen, 200 blocks of memory (128k), as well as four buttons and a directional pad. Whilst plugged into the control pad, the VMU can save and load game data, as well as display extra information about a game. The most interesting feature of this device is that when you remove it from your control pad, you can play minigames on it. For example, Sega GT has a minigame which you can load onto your VMU which allows you to race and win more money whilst away from your console. Sonic adventure has a minigame in which you raise a tamagotchi style creature called a Chao. The dreamcast VMU has also attracted the attention of 'Homebrew' developers, who have created many more applications and games from the VMU. A search of the internet will find you all that you need to keep yourself amused.Other memory units are available in larger capacities without the visual capabilities.Vibration PackUnlike the Playstation and XBox, the Sega Dreamcast did not have vibration built in to their controllers. Vibration was achieved through the use of a vibration pack, which clipped into an expansion port on the control pad, or a control such as a steering wheel or light gun.Keyboard/MouseThe keyboard and mouse can be used mainly for internet access, although there are some games which are compatible with these peripherals.VGA Converter The VGA converterallows you to play your Dreamcast through a computer monitor or a high definition television.Steering wheelsThere are a variety of different steering wheels available on the market, some of which have foot pedal controls, and built in vibration packs. Most are VMU compatible.Light GunThe original Sega light gun can be used with any compatible game, such as house of the dead 2, and is also compatible with the vibration pack and visual memory unit.Fishing RodThe fishing rod was created for the game Sega Bass Fishing. As you move the stick, the inbuilt motion sensor controls the movement of the virtual fishing rod. The fishing rod also vibrates when a fish has been hooked, making this experience almost like the real thing.GamesDreamcast Games on eBayThe Dreamcast has hundreds of great games available, and games in every genre imaginable. From driving, platform, boat racing, platform, adventure, even a game where you interact with a fish with a human face.When purchasing Dreamcast games, you must ensure that the game is the correct format for your system. An NTSC game will not work on a PAL console, although this can be worked around by using the following methods. To play NTSC games on a PAL Dreamcast, or vice versa, you will need to either purchase and install a mod chip, or simply download a boot disk program such as Utopia from the internet. When you have downloaded Utopia, simply burn it to a CD-R (not CD-RW, as the Dreamcast is not compatible with CD-RW disks), and insert it into your Dreamcast. A title screen will be displayed; then simply take the Utopia disk out and insert the game disk to playYou should also ensure that the games are not overly scratched, and especially not damaged on the top side of the disk where the data is stored.. I have found that some games are more susceptible to failure due to scratches than others, and it is preferable to purchase a disc which is in excellent condition, or has been thoroughly tested. If it is not explicitly stated, always check the condition with the seller.The cases in which the games are packaged haveafront and rear door; the front generally for the disc, and the rear doortohouse the instruction manual.These cases are notorious for having broken hinges and spindles. NTSC games usually come in regular slimline 1 or 2 disc CD cases, and are a lot easier to replace when damaged.A good idea when purchasing games is to check online reviews so as you can read about the game, and view some sample graphics before you buy. Some review sites also contain in-game video footage.The following is some sample graphics from some of the more popular Dreamcast Games.Shenmue - Extremely popular action adventure game. In this game you can talk to people, explore towns, buy products fromvending machines,work driving a forklift, play arcade games, and even play a Sega Saturn in the main character's bedroom.Ferrari F355Challenge- Realistic driving game.Soul Calibur - Arguably the best fighting game on DreamcastEmulation on DreamcastThe Dreamcast is a very powerful unit. This is shown by the fact that it can actually play and enhance the graphics of Playstation Igames via an emulator called Bleem. There aretwo types ofBleem discs available; the commercial product with different versions available which areenhanced to play a particular game such as Tekken or Gran Turismo, or the hacked version, which will play most Playstation I games -with varying degrees of success.The Dreamcast has other emulators for systems such asthe Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive, Super Nintendo, Nintendo Gameboy, Neo Geo, Atari 2600, 7800 and Lynx, Apple IIE, Commodore 64 and Amiga, and a few more. I have personally used the Sega Master System emulator, which is excellent, as well as the Amiga emulator which is also quite good.A quick search of the web for DC Emulation will reveal a new side of your dreamcast - one you may have never expected. The actualburning of emulators and roms can be quite daunting at first; however, there are many tutorials available that will guide you through the process.

Metal detectors

There is a big difference between the Toy type metal detectors and serious hobby or professional type detectors. We see a lot of Chinese import detectors that sell for vey cheap prices and other similar looking detectors that sell for $500 and up. With metal detectors you will get what you pay for. A metal detector that is under $100 is most likely a toy that might find a coin at 2 or 3 inches in the backyard but will not be able to be used at the beach as the circuitry cannot cope with minerals in the Sand giving a false target response. The expensive detectors have Discrimination that allows for some junk targets to be ignored by the metal detector and this saves a lot of digging. If you want to detect in the shallow water in the beach then you will need a water proof P.I or BBS type detector such as those made by Whites or Minelab. Toy detectors will most likely stay in the box once you try to use it. The better detectors go far deeper into the ground and can handle the ground mineralisation.Scan the web for metal detector tests and read the metal detecting forums to get an idea on how the detectors perform. This can save you from buying a sub standard machine. There are also things called long range locators, these are a total scam, they will only locate your Wallet and the only winner is the seller.also have a look at http://detectormods.comResearch is the key to being a happy customer.

Tips for a succesful

As much as we all like to buy

How to buy correct size

Frustrated with ill-fitting garments? Would you like to know how to buy clothes on eBay that fit just right? Here are a few tips.Tip 1 - Find out: Where was the garment made? Are you familiar with the brand?Garments sold in Australia do not have standard sizing. The sizes vary greatly from Australian made to imported garments. Generally, Australian made garments are more generous in their sizing, the imported brands tend to be much smaller. Australian manufacturers don't have standard sizing guidelines. You will find that if you purchase garments from a mass produced generic brand, they tend to be larger in sizing and offer a large size rannge then if you purchase upmarket designer brands - these usually carry sizes 6-12 only, tend to be a smaller cut and a snug fit. I'm sure you have all experienced this before. You may go to one of the large chan stores and try on something a size 10 that will fit you, then go next door to a boutique and find the size 14 fits best. The only way you can be sure something you purchase on eBay will fit, is to check the actual measurements of the garment. Tip 2 - Be realistic about your size

DVD Box Set Guide - How to pick a fake boxset box set

Buy the Genuine Article: How to pick a fake or pirated DVD box setI know buying DVDs online can be sometimes a daunting

More 1973-1993 Old Country Roses English backstamps

(Part2 of a five part series)As Ebay's limit is 10 pics per guide,this guide should be read after Part 1. How to buy Old Country Roses - Royal AlbertPlease note the difference between these two English produced backstamps is in the Copyright wording...the last line of the backstamp starts (c) ROYAL or (c) 1962It is not known at this stage which came first, however because both use the name ROYAL ALBERT without the (r) registration mark, we can safely assume it was after 1973 and before 1993 which was the year ROYAL ALBERT was registered as a trade mark.The company of TC Wild

Buying kids clothing bargains on ebay

Do you love to nab an ebaybargain? Here are a few tips that I have picked up along the way...* Buy out of season - all kids grow, and they grow fast too! If you want to get a great bargain, then you need to minimize your competition ie other bidders. Buy your kids Summer gear in Winter and vice versa. For example - if your little girl is wearing size 0 in June, then by the time the height of Summer rolls around she will probably be in size 1. If you keep that in mind you can beat everyone else to the sale and nab a great bargain.* Know your brands and the sizing systems in place - a bargain is only a bargain if you can get good use out of an item at a great price so you really need to know what to target. Certain brands are made larger than others. Bonds is traditionally a very small make, while Big Softies and some brandsfrom Best and Less, for example,are quite generous. Make sure you have a very good idea of what sizes your little one needs and you won't be wasting your money on things that will never get worn! Better still, items like jumpers and t-shirts usually can be worn a little oversized and there fore can last 2 seasons!* Have a good idea of RRP - RRP is the recommended retail price for an item. But remember, just because a manufacturer 'recommends' that their item is worth $20.00 doesn't necessarily mean that that is what it costs. During clearance sales and through discount outlets, many items can be regularly purchased at less than RRP so you need to be aware of what an item or similarcan be purchased for at a store near you. * Get a handle on postage charges - If you go to your local Post Office, they can give you a small booklet that explains postage charges. Forewarned is forearmed! Once you know how much different weight costs to post, you may be able to combine multiple purchases from the same seller and get a discount on postage and handling costs. Remember to ask the seller first, before committing to bid. It can also save you money by buying bulk packs on ebay. Pre-paid satchels are avilable from Australia Post and can hold up toeither 500grams or 3kgs for the same fixed cost. Why not see if a seller has other items that you like and get them to send them all together. It will be like paying postage for the first item and getting the rest sent for free!Happy shopping!If this has been helpful to you, please take a moment to vote! Thanks

PAL

Let me start by saying there are THREE GAME CONSOLES FORMATS, not two that every other guides tells you about. The three formats are: NTSC-J (Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, other south east Asian countries.), NTSC (USA, Middle East, Canada, and the rest of the world.), and PAL (Australia, Europe, New Zealand.)I cannot stress how important that the buyer read the ebay advertisment over and over again until you have memorized it by heart. 5/10 times the buyer missed the most basic information regarding the item they are purchasing, such as what comes with the item; manuals? original box? if the item is PAL, why does it have a NTSC box in the gallery? (maybe the seller can't find a pal version of the box art as most promotional gear is released with USA in mind). A good seller will list all the faults, and conditions of the item they are selling. For Example look at my advertisement.Again to recap, I will say, read read and read the advertisment some more, just because the picture say it is NTSC, it could be that the seller cannot get a picture of the item with the pal lable on it, the rest of the advertisement will clarify that for you, as in which country is it listed, does the seller mention the item to be pal or NTSC at least in 3 other places. If there are things you still want to verified, then send the seller an email and ask, if a seller does not take the time to answer your email, you should not buy from them, period.Ok, Lets get to the game console's format part. How do you tell the formats apart from each other? and what happens if you bought something by accident, is there anyway to use it on your machine?NTSC-J: This is the easiest one to tell apart from the others, NTSC-J means that it is a Japan release of the game, which means the box art of the item is full of japanese wording that you cannot read. NTSC-J are usually sold in ebay USA, and ebay Hong Kong, or Singapore. For example:This is the NTSC-J release of the Naruto : Ultimate Ninja game. NTSC-J stated on the top right hand corner, no censorship rating on the box, and got a line of japanese wording you cannot understand. The box is made of cardboard instead of plastic.NTSC: This is USA, Canada, and the rest of the world's release, which means the box art of the item is in english, with a censorship lable on it based on , T, M, E etc etc).NTSC are sold on Ebay USA. For example:This is theNTSC version of the game.NTSC is stated on the top right hand corner, censorship is stated on the bottom left hand corner, and english is the only language on the box art. The box is made of plastic.PAL: This is Europe, Australia, and New Zealands release, which means the box art of the item is in english, with a censorship lable on it just like the Australian movies (G, PG, MA, or based on numbersetc etc). Pal are sold on Ebay Australia, New Zealand or Europe. For example:This is the PAL version of the game. PAL is stated on the top right hand corner, censorship is stated on the bottom left hand corner, and english is the only language on the box art. The box is made of plastic.WHAT IF EVERYTHING WENT VERY VERY WRONG?If you boughtitems like thisby mistake, there isthree things you cando; 1. Ask the seller nicely for a refund, and explain YOUR mistake. 2. Resell the item on an ebay that have similar items selling on it, NTSC-J usually sellon south east asian ebay, or ebay USA. NTSC usually sell on ebay USA, Pal usually sell on ebay Australia, and New Zealand.3. Make the game work on your machine with third parties items, like mod chips, and freeloader. (This will cost more, and also voids warranties 6/10 times.) There are number of articles that you can find on the internet that deals with this issue, so I will let you do the research yourself.For those people who still have questions or still seeking more advice, just message me with the ebay inhouse messaging service, and I will give you an answer asap. Until then, just read every advertisment slowly to avoid mistakes. =)

What is the best Golf GPS for golf? SkyCaddie Sureshot

What is the Best Golf GPS System on the Market? SkyCaddie, Sureshot, IGolf, Golf Guru, Golf Buddy orGolflogix?So what is the best Golf GPS system in the market? Well from having done extensive research into just about every golf GPS available, including all the major brands, SkyCaddie, Sureshot, IGolf, Golf Guru, Golf Buddy and Golflogix.The question you should really be asking is, 'What is the best golf GPS for me?' With ranging prices, features, benefits and a constantly changing market with our technology advancing like a speeding rabbit, its hard to rememeber the reasonswe intended to buy a GPS for. So Im here to tell you the best golf GPS system is actually the one that best fits you, you needs and your desires.Therefore the best way to find the most appropriate golf GPS system for you is to find out exactly what you want it to do and identify any specific requirements you may wish it to have.Moreover, why dowe even want a golf GPS unit? The initial reasoning behind the invention of golf GPS unit was to give the golfer accurate distance readings from any position on the golf course to any position they desired so they wouldnt have to painstakingly judge the distance or walk it. Thus the GPS system would increase the speed of the game, eliminate the boring bits and help you make better club choices and ultimately lower your handicap. Hoorah for golfers! Over the years, this basic fundamental reason has not changed except for manufacturers developing a few expensive bells and whistles to distinguish themselves from the competition.Consequently, the basic features we need in a golf GPS device is:Needs to accurately tell us the distance to the front, centre and back of the green and other hazards.Have the Shot Distance feature to allow you to know how far you hit with each of your clubs, to determine the best club to use in every situation.Be easy, quick and convenient to use.And thats more or less the basis on what you need in a golf GPS unit.Now in todays models, there is a great array of features available to golfer. Here a few:Plotting individual points not previously mapped. Recording personal statistics such as fairways and greens in regulation, putts per round etc. for later analysis. Colour screens. Shot distance feature which tells you exactly how far you hit each club in your bag. (as above)Incredibly clear graphics. One model even offers a video flyover view its like sitting in a helicopter and flying over the hole. Number of courses that can be stored on the unit itself. This ranges from 5 to an incredible 20,000. Digital scorecards holding a multiple number of player's scores in each round. Sophisticated software to show the exact outline of the green. In some cases you can even "move" the pin on the green to give and even closer reading than the standard 'front, centre or back' of green readings.All kinds of wacky features to keep you amused for 15 minutes.Furthermore before jumping in the deep end, the next thing to do is to consider your budget. The following are a few things to consider:Annual Fee's :Some companies offer an annual fee which entitles you to certain benefits. Some don't have an annual plan at all and others are compulsory. What is it power source and how long will a full charge last? This can vary quite a lot from model to model. It is important to know you won't run out of power before completing your round. Where can the GPS be used? Just about all of them can be used anywhere in the world whilst there are one or two that cater only for the North American market. How easy is the GPS to use? Simple, easy, straightforward or just too damn confusing? If it look like some gameboy of the future withmore thanenough buttons and cables to keep you busy for a month, be wary.Try focusing on more basic layoutswith user friendly operations. They tend to be a lot easier to use and are more suited for thenon-technological savvy user. How large is the course library from which to download courses? Most are pretty extensive and all companies are happy to plot courses on request. As such these libraries are growing daily. Customer service. This is an important issue and one that should not be overlooked. In a highly competitive market if the company is not looking after you when you need assistance it may be time to change.The price of dedicated golf GPS models range from $149.95 up to $850.00. However some software is available for use on your mobile phone. This is sometimes free or a lot cheaper. The accuracy of the given distances. This is determined by the method of mapping and by the number of satellites that the unit can access. However most models are accurate enough for the average golfer. Now you can start to see how the best golf GPS for someone else, isnt necessarily the best one for you and your individual circumstances. The problem is, new models are coming out regularly and existing models are undergoing consistent updates and improvements quicker than we can play a round of golf. My point is, with todays top models most likely being obsolete in 6 months time, is it really worth spending a small fortune to have the very latest and greatest? The answer maybe yes for some, but those who see the greener grass on the other side will get the device with the most bang for their buck, and then wait the six months if the bells and whistles are really worth it.When asked what is the best golf GPS on the market, I always tell people to start with a budget. It is far easier to narrow the field of the devices your comparing with price range first and then their features. Comparing apples and apples has always easier than apples and oranges. The next thing to do once you have decided your budget is to decide on the features youre looking for. We have already discussed some of the must haves earlier, without these youre wasting your money. Categorise the features into must haves, would be nice but not essential and under no circumstances. For example, a must have would be the shot distance feature, a colour screen would be nice but not essential and a compulsory annual fee would be under no circumstances. A good tip to remember, some colour screens are not as easy to see in full sun and are a heavy drain on the batteries. Black and white screenscan provide more contrast and tend to stand out easily out on the course. Colour screens may look great indoors, but out on the course they may do you a dis-service.P.S. Buying any golf GPS that has compulsory annual fees such as Sky Caddie is not a wise decision. Whats more unlike other systems, any maps downloaded will be disabled if you refuse to pay their annual fee, rendering the device useless. Think twice before spending half a grand on a dust collector.The VerdictAlthough if I had to choose a golf GPS that would satisfy most golfers I would have to pick the iGolfNeo GPS from iGolf. I have chosen this device on the basis that it does the essentials very well comparing to the top end models and atquarter the price.To name a few reasons why I chose the iGolfNeo GPS:Sky Caddie is a well renowned golf GPS brand for its accuracy, however it comes with a big price tag and a bigger compulsory annual fee. The iGolfNeo GPShas been reported by many golfers around the world that their accuracy is comparable; thankfully their price tag is not.The iGolf Neo GPS has most of the features the top end models have.No compulsory annual fee. Furthermore, if you decide not to continue your annual subscription you get to keep all your maps!Its a small and convenient device to use that fits nicely on your belt or in your pocket. Devices such as laser rangefinders and others are quite cumbersome.Less than Half Price to Sky Caddies $400-550 and likewise with Sureshots $400. Yet has their best features.iGolf has the largest golf course map selection in the world.The iGolfNeo GPSHolds up to10 golf courses. A recent survey found most golfers reported that they wanted their golf GPS to hold more than 5 golf course maps. Most devices, including Sky Caddie can only hold anywhere from 0-10. iGolf has this one in the bag.Able to input up to4 custom points on each hole. Many users and I felt that Sky caddie wasn't quite adequate supporting up to 3 user defined points.To find out more about golf GPS devices, the iGolf Neo GPS or other golfing articles please check out my other guides and my listings.Thank you for reading and if you found guide helpful or interesting please click yes below so I will know if you would like to know more.

Direct Deposit refund from the Bank?YES IT'S POSSIBLE!

GIVE IT A GO!! IT WORKED FOR ME!! I'm not sure if this will pertain to international Ebayers as the incident occured in Australia, but here we go. Recently I won the bidding on an item which didn't actually exist. 2 days after I had already payed for the item viaDirect Deposit, at theSellers bank of choice, I was informed by Ebay that the Seller had been suspended from trading and thatthey could not supply me with theSellerspersonal info as it was false. After repeatedcontactwith EbayI was still unsurewhether or notI wouldbe recieving compensation for my loss. Unsure of what to do next,I then decided tophone the Manager of the Bank where I had made the payment to see if there was any way they might be able to help me out of this situation. After explaining myproblem to him and providing him with copies of all emails (highlighting necessary information) from Ebay regarding the fraud. Then to my surprise heaccessed the Sellers Account andwasable to cancelled the original transaction, andkindly refunded ALL my money. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!This process took 3 days but only because the original deposit slip had to be retrieved from Head Office.So you see, thereARE other methods of obtaining a refund onbogus items listed by Sellers. Mind you, it would need to be a similar situation where the Seller had been suspended and you are able to supply the Bank withOfficial Ebay documents which state that.These documents were the emails that Ebay sent to me personally and contained all the relevant informationwhich wasdefinite proof of the fraudulent activity from Ebay. I gave the Bank Manager every page of every email I sent and received from Ebay so as to disclose nothing. OPEN AND HONEST. If youwish to beselective on the info you give out, make sure you select emails that state:1. Your name.2.Proof of Auctioned item.3. Payment details from the Seller.4. Bank Account details of the Seller.5. Suspension notification from Ebay.6.Any other relevant information provided to you from Ebay.AND MAKE SURE YOU RETAIN YOUR ORIGINAL DEPOSIT SLIP BUTT OR RECEIPT.GOOD LUCK!!!

Buying a knife

Searching start to finish on ebay I found 3 out of 400 possible knives I'd be prepared to bid on. The rest were crap.The ones I did find were a massive F.Dick splitting knife - strictlyfor the pros, and an online shop stocking Furi and Global knives.For the average home cook a 15 - 20cm chefs knife and a 6-9cm paringknife is all you will ever need. Furi are heavy for their size, Globalare lightweight for their size. Men will be happier with the Furis, women tend to prefer the Globals, but there are plenty of exceptions.

Krugerrand - One Ounce Investment Gold Coin

Krugerrands - The World's First and Most Successful One Ounce Gold Bullion CoinKruger Fact FileEverything you need to know about krugerrands.One Ounce of GoldIn1967, the South African Chamber of Mines had an inspired idea to helpmarket South African gold. It was to issue a one ounce bullion coin, tobe sold at a very low premium over the intrinsic gold value.Please spare two seconds to click the YES link at the end of this pageif you find our guide interesting, useful, or informative. It make allour effort feel worthwhile, thanks.Back in 1967Krugerrandswere first minted and issued in 1967, and have been produced every yearsince. They have legal tender status in South Africa, which allowedthem to be imported into many, but not all, countries without importtaxes, duty or VAT.The Krugerrand FamilyOriginallyonly one size was issued, which contained one full troy ounce (31.1035grams) of fine gold. This was originally known as a krugerrand, orkruger, for short. From 1980, three other sizes were introduced, namelya half, quarter, and tenth ounce size. Because of these, the originalkrugerrand is sometimes referred to as a "full" or "one ounce" krugeror krugerrand, although within the trade, the word kruger or krugerrandis understood to be the full sized original one ounce version.British Investors Missed OutAtthe time of the kruger's introduction, it was not legally possible forBritish residents to acquire bullion gold coins, so that the krugerrandwas almost unknown in Britain until 1971.Low Premium Over Gold ContentAccordingto the publicity at the time, the kruger was to be made available toworld bullion dealers at a 3% premium over the current gold fix, sothat after distribution costs, the coins would be available toinvestors in quantity at about 4% to 5% over intrinsic gold values, andpossibly 10% premium for single pieces.Higher Premium on Smaller SizesThefractional sizes were issued at higher premiums to bullion dealers of5%, 7%, and 9% respectively. The fractional coins have never been aspopular as the full one ounce coins, usually only being purchased assingles, so that in practice, it would usually cost 10% to 15% premiumfor the half and quarter ounce, and from 20% to 50% premium for thetenth ounce, most of which seem to have been used in jewellery. Mostbullion houses do not want the bother of handling small quantities oflow value coins.As an example of this, in the 1970's we, as a smallprovincial dealer, would frequently handle 500 krugerrands in a singleday, but a purchase of 100 tenth krugerrands was a major event, yet itwas only 1/50th the size of deal!Not a Pretty SightKrugerswere never intended to be an aesthetically pleasing coin, just a lumpof gold with a known weight and value. They certainly cannot be calledpretty.Collectors seeking aesthetically attractive coins would bebetter looking at British gold sovereigns, or some of the newer bullioncoins.VAT Introduced in 1973In Britain VAT was imposed on all coins, except antiques.InJanuary 1995, this was relaxed on almost all second-hand goods,including gold coins. This means that existing privately owned coinscan be traded by dealers under a "special scheme" whereby the only VATchargeable is on the dealer's margin, which is negligible. Because VATwas still payable on any "new" coins, it remained more difficult andexpensive to buy and sell large quantities of bullion coins.All"Investment Gold", including krugerrands, were made exempt from VAT notonly in the UK, but also in the entire EU, from 1st January 2000.Technical SpecificationsWehave not included the full specification table, as shown on ourwebsite, as eBay's system will not allow us to format it as a table. PricesGoldbullion prices fluctuate constantly. A number of websites show live orspot gold prices,. Our own "Tax Free Gold" website shows gold prices in12 different currencies.Expect to be able to buy a singlekrugerrand for about 7% premium over gold, and perhaps 4 to 5% premiumfor quantity, over the intrinsic bullion price. Was This Guide Useful?Ifyou found this guide interesting, informative or useful, please sparefew seconds of your time to vote for it by clicking on the "Yes" buttonbelow, thanks.Other GuidesYou may be interested in viewing our other guides:-London Gold Fixing PriceGold Bullion Bars For Investment How to Photograph Coins - Advice, hints, tips

BEWARE THE POSTAGE SCAMMERS

A reminder to buyers to be very careful of sellers who list items as "Buy it Now" for .99c and then load up the cost of postage. I recentlybought 16 small items for around $21. The items weighed under 3kg andwould have easily fitted in to a pre-paid Australia Post satchel ($9.50). The seller wanted to charge me FORTY DOLLARS postage - East coast to West coast. I settled for $30 postage, even though that was still an unashamed rip-off. The items arrived in a box weighing 2.1kg. The Australia Post charge for postage would have been NINETEEN DOLLARS 35c. Pretty GROSS huh???

Graphics Tablet Buying Guide

Graphics Tablet Buying GuideA GRAPHICS WHAT?Agraphics tablet , pen tablet, or digitiser, is a small board which enables you to use a "stylus" (pen) as input to your computer. You use the stylus to draw or write on the tablet with the same actions you would use with a normal pen, and your work appears on the screen (nothing appears on the tablet itself). There are many different uses for a graphics tablet, some of which I will outline below, before giving advice on choosing the best tablet for your needs, as well as tips on how to use them.

French Carriage Clocks General info and Buying Guide

French Carriage clocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes.They may be time only in which case they are more accurately called a timepiece.There are also striking clocks, alarm clocks or a combination of both.Some and the most valuable are know as repeaters. Repeaters strike the time and with the press of a button will repeat the time by striking a variety of bells and gongs, some to the nearest minute.These clocks were carried around the country side by the more well to do and were protected by a timber and leather outer case, it is rare to find the original case with the clock but it does happen.Most French Carriage clocks were made around 1890 to 1920. Genuine Antiques.They can be fitted with a variety of Escapements mostly Cylinder or LeverThey keep reasonably good time, but expect some adjusting.They are made from brass and either polished and sometimes lacquered or gilded.The glass panels that allow you to see the movement are made from beveled glass, as these can get chipped and broken it's not uncommon to find one or more of these replaced with Acrylic.One important point of recent note is that the Chinese have taken a shine to these clocks, and are mass producing copies/fakes.Some of these clocks are very good copies, and can be difficult to spot.If the dial bears the words Made in France in a rather larger font than you would expect, then be suspicious.If the clock has Enameled side panels with pictures of Cherubs with butterfly nets, again very suspicious.Do a search and see how many clocks say, location From China in the postage section look closely at the clocks and compare them to the one you're interested in.Genuine French Carriage Clocks are a nice to collect are very pretty to look at and have a nice architectural appearance. Some general clock information. You will often see the comment clock seems to be over wound, what this really means is the clock is either so gummed up with old oil that it will not run, or something is broken.All the best and good luck bidding

What are Apple Refurbished iPod's and Mac's?

There are somanyeBayer's selling Refurbished iPod's and Mac's these days. I thought I would write a guide to inform the buyer's of the eBay community, many who don't really know.This info was taken from a recent iPod listing of mine:"Apple Certified iPod's have been returned to apple usually due to technical problems. Apple Certfied Technicians have replaced the problem parts with new genuine apple parts. All parts have been checked, cleaned and fully tested and is basically a brand new item. Refurbished iPod's go through the same testing and resell process, just as all new iPod's do.They look and feel just like brand new iPod's do.Backed up with a one-year apple warranty.Save your self alot of money and buy an Apple Certified Refurbished iPod.All Accesories are also brand new" The same information applies to Macs.Note to Sellers: Please be respectful and not copy this info in your listing.So like said in this listing. Apple refurb's are products sent in by the consumer that had minor problems, a few examples like the iPod just wouldnt turn on, or the click wheel wouldn't click, the play/pause didn't work etc. The iPod is sent into their local apple store, and then fixed by a apple technicianwith new apple genuine parts neccesary to get it working again. The case is usually replaced with a new one, without scratches or marks. It then goes through a strict testing procedure so it is ready to go back on the market again. It get's cleaned (dust, dirt etc), tested to see if everything is working and sent off to be re-sold again. The iPod's usually never have any problems, Ifirstbought a refurbished iPodnano three years ago, and I havent had any problems with it so far.All refurbished iPod's shouldcome with a 12-month apple warranty (unless stated otherwise), to make claims you must ask the buyer for the invoice. The earphones, dock adaptorand all other accesoriesare all new and are sealed with plastic film (unless stated otherwise). Refurbished iPod's are cheap and reliable. Isee no reason not to by one.Refurbished iPod's are packaged in non retail packaging.So I hope this help's people out, with their decision to buy a refurb iPod. I also sell refurb iPod's, so if you need one, buy one from me! If anyone has anymore question's about refurbished iPod's, don'thesitate to ask. customerservice@kickitdeals.comAlso one more thing, always read the listings carefully when looking for one, alot of listing's sometimes have "NEW" in their listing's, and factory sealed etc. This may confuse buyer's into buying an brand new iPod, but just remember if it has tag's like refurbished, reconditioned, certified I assure you that you are buying a refurbished product.Note: Please don't copy this guide.If you have found this guide useful please help others to see it by clicking the YES button below. Your vote willinform more people about refurbished ipods.