Request: Selling on Ebay
Archived on 10/13/2009
Are there any eBay sellers on here? I am trying to begin selling on eBay, but I am wondering about setting the price for shipping. How do you figure the shipping cost?
By onetigger67 from OK
Feedback:
RE: Selling on Ebay
I don't sell on eBay, but had to mail some stuff to Alaska for my son. The place I took it to was a 'pack your stuff for you' place, and they did that for eBay sellers as well.
They will weigh your stuff, and tell you how much it costs, before you actually ship it. You could try that, before you post your items. (08/07/2009)
By fatboyslimsmom
RE: Selling on Ebay
I advise all newbie eBay sellers to crawl before they walk. In other words, register and learn how to bid on a few auctions before you jump in feet first and start selling.
Also don't set your own cost for shipping, be honest and don't make profits on shipping. I add the following disclosure on all my auction pages.
I don't make money on shipping, only on my sales. When you set up your auction and add the weigh of the item + all packing materials, eBay will set the cost of shipping for you automatically. (08/08/2009)
By MCW
RE: Selling on Ebay
Craigslist is a good alternative to Ebay. However, be VERY careful! I have had someone withdraw money using my debit card information from craigslist. Had to do the whole police report and deal with my bank, cancel my debit card, and finally got my money back. The local police told me to only deal with local people and only accept cash or pay in cash only. I still look on craigslist but haven't really tried to sell on there since that whole ordeal. Wouldn't it be nice if people were just honest?! (08/08/2009)
By tambri
RE: Selling on Ebay
I buy on ebay occasionally, and recently I bought something then took it straight back to the post office and mailed to a family member. I found out that I had been charged double the cost of the shipping. That has made me look a little closer at the shipping cost because it made me feel ripped off when I found this out. I will probably not buy anything else from this seller. (08/09/2009)
By notwrong
RE: Selling on Ebay
The easiest way to figure shipping is either use flat rate boxes or buy a postage scale and weigh the items, then look up the shipping weight etc. on the USPS website to figure the charges. (08/09/2009)
By crunchberry
RE: Selling on Ebay
First get a postage scale from eBay. They are cheap and so very handy for a lot of things. Next go on the internet on USPS.com and look up the weights and how much each costs. Remember if you are selling books you can use media mail, and it is much cheaper but takes approximately 2 more days to get there. Sometimes a box or envelope that is just a certain price that you can get at the PO is great and sometimes it is not cost effective.
Then sign up for a PayPal account. They will help you print a postage label to tape on the package. Look at some ads in the categories in which you would sell and go for it! It is fun but don't expect to get a million tomorrow. Good luck and good ebaying. (08/11/2009)
By sassier299
RE: Selling on Ebay
I suggest looking into pay pal if using eBay, it protects your identity. (08/11/2009)
By newmom429
RE: Selling on Ebay
Hi, selling on eBay is a lot of work but it is usually rewarding. Several things come to mind:
1.) Read ALL of the help subjects on eBay site. Do not waste your money on a "course" or book as everything is right there. Many sellers write about "how to" do everything on eBay. So read some of those also.
2.) Try to buy a few small items to get the hang of it and start selling with small inexpensive items. Buyers do not always like to buy from someone with no background (feedback).
3.) Go to the eBay Answer Center and read some of their posts and ask questions there also.
4.) New rules coming up with eBay and buyers cannot be required to purchase insurance as the SELLER is always responsible for getting the item to the buyer. PayPal has lots of rules and these HAVE to be followed. So read, read, read.
5.) It does NOT matter what you put in your ads about buying "as is" or "payment must be made in 2 days" as none of this will hold water when the buyers file a complaint with PayPal or eBay. Their rules are the only ones that apply. PayPal has all of their "rules" listed, so read.
6.) EBay does have a way to "block" certain bidders but you cannot block bidders with "less than 10 feedback" as someone stated. You can only block bidders that have things against them. This is complicated and as before - READ before you jump in.
7.) Shipping is very important and can be costly if not done properly. Use a scale and have the item in a box or envelope to get the correct weight. You can charge a modest fee (like .50 to .75 for your supplies AND should) because you will lose money quickly if you do not. Buyers expect to pay something above the actual cost. Just use calculated shipping and add a small fee. You will do well if this rule is followed.
There is too much involved to help you very much, so I wish you luck but the best plan is to read and follow rules. (08/11/2009)
By cybergrannie
RE: Selling on Ebay
I am a pretty active eBayer. For postage, I look in the closed auctions to see what others have charged for a similar item. I was told that some folks start bidding real low, but jack up the postage price because eBay doesn't get a cut of the postage, they only get a portion of the sales (and the insertion fees.) I agree - do some research (lots of helpful info on the eBays site), start small, make a few purchases (there is ALWAYS something good to buy on eBay- trust me- I am over 300 items, and most of those are purchases), get some good feedback, and you will be on your way. You can find such interesting things on eBay- I love it! (08/11/2009)
By Claudia-MD
RE: Selling on Ebay
I am an avid seller/buyer and all the previous advice is very good. I sell on Craigslist all the time, and have never been burned, while I have on eBay. Don't ever take a transaction other than cash, and never EVER let anyone come to your home. I used to sell a lot and met people next door at the KFC or if the item was too big, told them my hubby was making a change run.
Ebay has become too big for me. I don't like the fees, etc. However, you can learn from our mistakes and while it's great to sell across the globe, here are some things I have learned:
1. If your item is heavy, try just advertising within 50-100 miles of your city and offer to have people come and get it. You can do that on the left side, and people will only see it within those parameters. Of course, if you sell jewelry, that is better to sell nation or world wide, as shipping would be minimal.
2. Same thing with breakables. If you sell something that is fragile, you will no doubt come across the amoral people who will say the item is broken so they can get their money back. DO NOT send them a refund until they send you a photo. This way, the item is either not broken and they have to break it if they want their refund, or it really is broken and you give them a refund, or it's a scam and they won't bother you again. When you set up your account, make sure you put your refund policy in the auction, so no one is surprised.
3. You can make insurance optional, or required. Ebay will help you determine what to charge, etc. Here are some helpful points for selling.
If you sell, say fabric, please remember NOT to do this. I bought 6 fabric vest panels once, and the gal just folded them up, stuffed them (literally the envelope was ripped at the seam) without plastic protection. Anything that is vulnerable to dirt, water, or being caught on something sharp should be sealed in Ziplocs or at least a plastic bag then put in a box or waterproof envelope. When you do everything you can to protect the item you sold, your feedback will be very positive. If you get a negative, if they even do that anymore, you have a chance to rebut the comments.
Always spend the .35 for a gallery view. I never click on anything I can't see first. It would be like buying a book with no cover. If your item is small and you have a flat bed scanner, take a nice clean and close shot of it on the scanner. Fuzzy photos don't help us to see what we are buying, and we won't buy it for the most part.
There are two mistakes the newbies make; They either don't describe the item enough, or they make you read a book before they get to the good parts. Here is something I do that might help.
WHAT: Gold tone snail brooch with diamondelle eyes. It's 2.5" long with no flaws or defects.
WHERE: Anyone in (your town) is welcome to come get it.
WHEN: This auction is for 10 days.
WHO: This is a rare Hagen Renaker piece and can be seen in a value list book.
HOW: There is no reserve on this item and I ship within 3 days of final payment. Insurance is required on this piece.
If you end up selling say...15 pieces of jewelry, Ebay lets you sell a similar item, and you can keep this format but just change the photo, item description, etc. This can be like a template.
Read Feedback! Before you buy anything, look at their feedback. If they have 15 and have just started, read their feedback. New people are suppose to make mistakes. Nice people will steer them right and you will learn right along with them. Or, find someone who is knowledgeable and let them help. I have taught eBay to gals who paid my cell phone bill that month and took me to dinner, gift cards, etc. Barter is smarter so ask someone to help you out in the beginning for a nice dinner out.
Getting back to feedback, believe it when you read it. Ebay won't let someone get away with it, but they can't control everything. If someone has say 500 feedback but only 95% positive, read what the problems have been and be mindful. If their shipping is slow and you need it fast, keep looking. If they pay slow, don't sell to them. BUYER BEWARE is also SELLER BEWARE, so do your homework.
CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD MONTHLY. I can't be too clear on that. I just sent 4.00 to a person who, unbeknownst to me, had hacked into someone else's account and I am out the money, and the item. Now, you might be thinking it's only 4.00, but you multiply that by all the people who bought in that 5 days, and that person made a killing that the seller will never see.
Don't believe everything you read. I can right click on the eBay logo and send anyone a letter stating I needed personal information. If you send it to me, you will be hacked. Ebay never sends notices to you that they don't call you by your first name, and they don't need information that they already have, so if you get something that makes your eyebrows go up, forward it to ebays fraud dept. They are relentless and will find them.
And yes, start out slow. Dip the toe in before you cannonball! Good luck and happy selling. (08/12/2009)
By Poor But Proud
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Request: Selling on Ebay
Archived on 08/07/2009
I am new to eBay and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best time of day or night to target buyers by age, gender, and sex? I am so new that I haven't even sold anything yet. Thanks. Hannah from Asheboro, NC
Feedback:
RE: Selling on Ebay
I have been selling my handmade seamstress items now on eBay for about 5 years and do really well. After the first 1-2 years of selling, people would buy certain items they liked and then started custom ordering from me of those things. So now I have about 30 repeat buyers who will custom order from me. It really depends on what your selling.
Before I list any item, I search for an item like it or similar and watch it to see how it did, how many times it got viewed, what category it was listed in. I think that the key to a good sale is the right category. There are millions of categories for listing something. It is true that penny starting bids or 99 cent starting bids will encourage a bid for your item, but you have to take into consideration what you have in the item your selling as to not loose money on it. The goal is to make money on it or at least break even not loose money on it and go in the hole.
Since I make and sell fabric items I keep a log book here at my at home studio room that lists my cost for fabric per yard and each sewing notion I buy like zippers, elastic, batting, etc. And each time something is made and finished I figure out what cost from each of those supplies I have in that item so I can know what my selling cost will have to be. So if I know I have say $5.99 in the complete item as cost I know I would want at least $10 from the item if possible. So I start my bid out at $5 which is what I have in it and if it goes no higher than the $5 then I only made what I had in it and did not loose money, just broke even.
But most times because it is a one of a kind item that people like and know they cannot find elsewhere it sells for the price I hope for or more. I saw on a craft show that it said you are supposed to figure up the cost you have in something you have made then set your sale price at 3 times that. But on eBay I have found very seldom do things sell at "buy it now" for the exact price I would ask for. So I feel auction style is best.
And buyers always pay for shipping not you. Unless you offer free shipping which is a way to encourage them to buy, but again depending on the weight of the item you will loose money if it is heavy and cost a lot to ship. Be fair and accurate on shipping when the buyer is paying or they will not come back to you again. I bought a postal scale and I weigh the item after it is wrapped in poly bags. I figure the weight of it going to California from my location and name that price. Or you can list the weight of it and they use the shipping calculator which shows them exactly what it will cost them.
I feel that listing an item on a Thursday night or Sunday night is best in the 7 free days you have to list. That way you get 2 weekends almost for it to be viewed. And paypal is free to set up as your payment method. You get your money right then from your buyer just specify when payment is due in your description. I make mine 2 days. And a paypal debit account and card is free. As they pay with paypal the money will go into your account and you can either use it at stores, etc. using your paypal debit card or opt to transfer your funds to your own checking account which is free, but takes 3-4 days.
I use online mailing with paypal, too. I use to have to go to the post office to mail things, but with online mailing of printing your labels there is no driving which saves you gas cost. All you do on that is after your item sells and they have paid with paypal you just click on print shipping label and it will bring up the USPS web site (or you can pick UPS carrier if you like) and it will as you the weight, etc. Then you just print out the shipping label and add it too your item. Then put it in your mail box for pickup or even schedule a free pickup with your carrier if its a big item. Using paypal to print the shipping label always gives you free delivery confirmation. I use to buy self adhesive shipping labels, but now I just print on plain typing paper and tape it to my items to ship.
The winter and fall months are the slowest months to sell on eBay, depending on what your selling of course. I wish you good luck. I would try it and see how you do. (02/21/2009)
By theseamstress
RE: Selling on Ebay
People just aren't really buying right now. For impulse buys the best time to list is probably late night Friday, Sunday, Monday. Monday morning is another of the times when people are just surfing. For more direct buys: be sure to fill the title with search words. Pair similar things in a "lot", buyers like to save on shipping and eBay can only charge you once.
As a seller for the last 5+ years, eBay is not the best way to get money. You will still get charged eBay fees if it doesn't sell. If it does sell they charge you more money still, as does paypal, the only payment allowed in eBay. For each item you sell (under $10.00) you will have a fee total of about $2.00. On top of that you have to ship the item and make sure you charge the right amount or you will lose more money. But the catch is buyers don't want to pay for "high" shipping costs and you still have to buy packing tape, find boxes, and packing peanuts.
You will make some money selling goods, but you will not get your money back from what you spent on the item originally, and if you do, you will still lose money on unsold or undersold items. And there is the feedback you need to worry about, they can give you a bad rating and you can only give them a good one. And the Postal service will lose your packages. Then the buyer will get their money back and you will have paid shipping and fees for nothing.
I don't mean to be so negative, just a warning. Try www.craigslist.org first. You can list online, with photos and it is free. You can sell to locals (they pick up) or you can ship wherever. I really do wish you the best of luck. eBay can be very stressful. (02/21/2009)
By Starchild in VT
RE: Selling on Ebay
eBay is only stressful if you do not do all you can to be honest with your interested buyers. It is true that paypal takes out fees, but it is easier than taking money orders or checks from buyers who may rip you off. With paypal it is safe and you as a buyer or your buyers can get their money back if both parties agree. But if you state clearly in your description (as eBay requires now) about your return or refund policy then you are covered. I do not give returns or refunds. And I clearly state that both in my description and the listing fields required when listing and state "As Is Sale".
Make sure you also add to your description, " Ask all questions prior to bidding". If it is something like used VHS movies or clothes or even like new items like cookware, etc. It is true you will never get what you paid for them after selling them. But if you are going to get rid of them anyway, like clothes your kids have outgrown, then just add the fees up as you go and make sure your starting price has included the eBay fees. That way you will make that price or higher and not go in the hole.
The key thing to selling on eBay is be honest and fair especially with shipping fees. If you do that you will not get negative feedback. It tells you as you list an item what the fee will be. And it even tells you what fee will be deducted from the selling price when sold. So as you're listing the item you can opt to stop at that point if you do not agree or think it is to high.
eBay only gives you 1 free picture per item. And if you do the cheapest way of listing your item it only cost 35 cents for a 7 day run. Its the sellers who go for the gusto and list an item with too many bells and whistles and when the item does not sell they complain.
I discovered "auctiva" about 2 years into selling on eBay and I love it. They team with eBay and its free. But again just use the free basic "auctiva" and it helps your things sell. They give you 10 free pictures per item, they have thousands of free templates to use in your items auction. All you do is sign up free with "auctiva", make sure your signed in to eBay as you list an item. Listing it through "auctiva" you will get so many more hits and people can see your 10 supersized pictures.
Also after you get your eBay user name and begin to sell, if you look you will see two things (tools) you can use on your eBay account to help buyers when they search for items on eBay. It is called "tag items". And you should do both the " Me page" and the "Myworld page" on your eBay user name. Both of them, when you fill out those categories telling what you sell often will be listed there so that when a buyer searches for that item in the search field it will bring you up as a seller with that item so they see it.
It is very important to list in the items subject title exactly what it is so each word will be found when they search for it. For example if are selling your kids used clothes in a lot of 4 pair of jeans, don't just put in your title "4 jeans really cute" or words they will not search for. List it like this specifying the size color and amount and by putting in the word "lot", because people search for lot you get more hits. So you would put it like this "Lot of 4 jeans Old Navy, girls Sz 6 mths." That way if they are looking for a certain brand they will find it faster through search and abbreviate words like size which saves your amount of letters you are given per title.
Etsy.com is a great place to sell also. They offer lots of free and extended things per sale item. But I feel eBay is a better place that gets more people. As far as the shipping tools go that you will need like boxes, etc. to ship items in, my fabric items I make are lightweight so I use white polybags for shipping. They are sold anywhere, but I buy mine on eBay and get 100 bags for like $5 and they last me forever.
If it is bigger items then just start collecting boxes and recycle them with using newspapers etc. if shipping parcel post. If your shipping priority then those boxes are free, just while on line and you are scheduling an "at home pickup" from your carrier, also mention in the note field there how many and what size priority boxes you need and they will leave them with you free. If you do online paypal shipping printing labels delivery confirmation is free so you can track when your package arrives to the buyer. Seldom do the items get lost at the USPS.
Before you even sell your first item use your blocks on eBay like: buyers with less than 10 feedback, no one with paypal, etc. And I only ship within the US which eliminates the red tape of filling out forms etc. Most over seas has no tracking method, also. If you see someone has bid on your item and you have read their feedback and see they are a person who pays late, etc. You have the right at anytime to cancel that bid before the auction closes. To sell from home on the specialty items you can provide like I do. Even just selling your books, etc. or kids clothing it's a way to sell from home and make money from them if you did not want anymore anyway in order to make extra money.
Also, I watch my bill that has to be paid to eBay each month and pay as it builds up from my money coming in, as to never be in the negative. I would not get discouraged from others saying to not do eBay. I would try it at least a few times to see what you think. I sell my fabric items now, but the first thing I ever sold was 5 old war pictures that sold for $130 which I could not believe, after 37 bids on them that I began my bid out at $1.99. Most likely will never happen again, but sure was nice then. Good luck. (02/21/2009)
By theseamstress
RE: Selling on Ebay
I've been selling on eBay since Sept. 02. I strongly advise that you start crawling before you start to walk. Start bidding on eBay and win a few auctions here and there. Give yourself at least 6 months to one year before you become a seller. The best time to start auctions is on a Sunday night, so that the auctions will end on the following Sunday night. I used to add a small handling fee on to the shipping cost, but no longer do that since USPS has to raise their rates, because of rising fuel costs.
What the post office charges me, is what the buyer pays. I don't make any money on shipping because it's not fair to the buyer. I also refund money back to the buyer if I overestimated the cost of shipping their package.
I do require USPS shipping insurance on all my auctions. If the package gets lost or destroyed in the postal system I can file an insurance claim. I no longer give the option to the buyer. It is my responsibility as a seller to make sure that the buyer receives their package. I've read on many an eBay message board of how sellers have argued that once the package leaves their hands and has been mailed, they are no longer responsible for their package, hog wash.
Let me give you an example, you order some items over the internet, pay for them with a credit card. The company ships the package to your house, and you never receive the package. Who is held responsible for your package? Surely not the buyer. The company has to make good, because you never received your merchandise. That's why I require shipping insurance. I had to learn the hard way when a few packages got lost in the postal system. USPS will not trace a lost package if it was mailed without insurance.
Also when the buyer receives the package and they discover that a fragile item is damaged in transit, according to USPS, the carton, item, and all packing materials have to be brought to the post office for close inspection. The post office can evaluate whether it was the fault of the seller or USPS. Years ago my husband won a ceramic cup on eBay and the seller wrapped the cup in one piece of newspaper, put it into a box and shipped it that way. My husband contacted the seller and he got his money back. Then the seller had the audacity to blame the post office for breaking it.
(02/21/2009)
By MCW
RE: Selling on Ebay
Be very careful using paypal. We had someone hack into our account from another country. They tried first to access our checking account. When our bank blocked the transaction, they tried to do a Western Union transfer for $1000. We didn't answer any bad emails. Had to contact the police and file a report. Be very careful with Paypal. (02/22/2009)
By 79 kokomo
RE: Selling on Ebay
Take a good look at what you're selling. For example, I'm starting an auction for baby shoes. Now, who's going to buy them? Young mothers and grandmothers, most likely. When would they most likely have a few free moments to check my auction and raise their bid, if necessary? Well, there are 2 times identified as the "best". One is to have the auction begin at 1 p.m. EST on Saturdays. The theory is that dads might be home, helping Mom out a bit and she'll be clear headed to hit the eBay site.
The other is to have the auction begin at 8:00 pm EST on Sundays. Most families are home on Sunday evenings and those who attend church meetings would likely be home by this time. On the West Coast, the busy California Mother is preparing dinner at 5 p.m. and can hop on the internet at this time. I think it's a manner of common sense. I sure wouldn't start an auction that will appeal to men mid-day during the week as many will be working and will not have legitimate access to e-Bay.
Just go slow, read every tutorial put out by eBay for new sellers, and follow what they say. If you admire an ad by a particular seller, write them and tell them so. Explain that you are brand new to selling and would wonder if they could give you answers to just a couple of questions due to their obvious class, professionalism, and success. Every time I've done that, the person has immediately written back and we've been friends now for years. Sellers are kind and very helpful. A good seller knows that there's plenty of business for everyone.
Good luck. (02/22/2009)
By BarbMarch58
RE: Selling on Ebay
When the end of the auction is near, you want people to be awake and not distracted, so they can get into a bidding war if that is what they want to do. So, I usually begin mine around 7:00 pm, so they will end there. I often start on a Sunday, so people will most likely be at home.
Avoid breakable things, and never, I mean never, return money for anything breakable, unless the buyer provides a photo. I had a gal once say the cups I sold and shipped were broken, but she wouldn't provide evidence. Those people just want the item and their money back.
Small things sell faster. You can sell larger, but confine the auctions to within 50 miles of your home town. You can offer to deliver it or have the buyer pick it up, saving a lot of money and time.
I suggest letting eBay survive on it's own, and sell on Craigslist. It's free, you get four photos, it's on for 45 days, and people come to you with money. No shipping, negative feedback, or expense.
Good luck. (02/23/2009)
By Poor But Proud
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Request: Selling on Ebay
Archived on 02/20/2009
I am trying to make some extra money by selling items on ebay. So far I have not had a lot of success. Can anyone give me some pointers as to how I can make my items stand out and create real interest? TIA
Cookiepom from Owensboro
Answers:
RE: Selling on Ebay
I have sold a lot of "stuff" on ebay and have been moderately successful. Take good clear pictures. Use as few words in your title as possible, but say as much as you can. Be honest. Thank the person for looking at your item. Tell them that you may have other companion pieces or whatever listed that they might be interested in. Is the item rare? Say so in capital letters. Write in the description how you happen to have it, the history of it, why you want to sell it. Measure everything accurately. Is it a vintage item? Say so in your title.
Be as honest as possible in telling the age of the item and the condition. Is there a little chip? Focus in on that in a picture so they know you aren't trying to sell a faulty item. Take a picture of your actual item, not a photo out of a magazine or catalog. Say it is a "stock photo". I've heard more and more lately about people posting a catalog picture of an item, then packing a broken item, insuring it and sending it, effectively trying to rip off the post office.
Not cool because they won't always honor the insurance. They have in my case, but maybe I was just lucky the couple of times it happened. When I mail something fragile, I line the box with empty pop cans - laid end to end or side by side, they provide excellent light packing. I've had lots of comments on my unusual packing, but it works, and it recycles them, too. If you are selling clothing, be honest about rips, tears, holes, snags, etc. I can sell a "10" crockery bowl" or I can sell a "vintage 10" crockery bowl with rare floral design, like new condition".
Hope this helps!! (12/05/2006)
By Marlene
RE: Selling on Ebay
Think carefully about the title you use and the description of the item. You need them to be effective and to grab a potential buyer's attention, they are marketing tools. Personally, I use every character available when writing a title. When buyers do a search for an item, usually they are just doing a title search, so you want to include as many possible keywords as you can. Also, sometimes people make spelling errors and seasoned buyers have learned to look for misspellings (for example, hershey's collectibles sometimes appear as hersey) because they aren't getting as much search exposure and usually sell for less.
I sell mostly children's clothes or items around the house and have been pleased with the results thus far. I start all of my items for $ .01 and let buyers bid up from there. So far, it has worked pretty well. Every now and then somebody gets a really good deal, but most of my items have sold for more than I anticipated. Also, it's a good idea to keep shipping reasonable. Add in a very minimal handling fee to cover any expenses you may have if you'd like, but trying to make lots of money on marked up shipping costs doesn't pay off in the long run. You can get free priority mail shipping boxes sent directly to you (order on the ebay website). It saves time and effort to have them on hand and a nicely packaged item will garner better feedback from your buyer (and again, they are free).
Finally, review your descriptions carefully. Include any info needed to cover yourself in the case of a grumpy person with buyer's remorse. Clearly state your return policy and note that insurance is the responsibility of the buyer, but recommended (some seller's require insurance, it's up to you). I offer very detailed, honest descriptions of my items and use several very clear pictures, but still note that all items are sold "as is". Any additional questions or concerns should be taken care of before bidding. Good luck! (01/23/2007)
By ceceh
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