So, you are afraid of the big, bad, scary internet seller.............May I ask "Why?". Most of the people that I have talked to about this problem say that they are afraid of being scammed, identity theft, getting thier bank accounts drained, rampant charges on their credit cards, etc. Well, all of you who are so scared of the internet seller are also the same group that think nothing of giving a waiter or waitress your credit card to carry up to the front in that fancy leather folder to charge your meal in that restaurant! Who is to say that the person you just gave your card to is honest? Ever thought about that? Hmmm... Kinda makes you stop and think doesn't it?
That person who just carried off your card could easily copy down all the information they needed to have to use your credit card for as long as they could get by with it. Think of all the times you use your card, handing it to people without thinking, but when it comes to the internet, you are terrified to purchase a $9.99 item. When you think about it in these terms it doesn't make much sense, does it?
Think of it this way-why should you balk at putting your information into the appropriate fields on an internet web site to purchase something, when you are handing your card, with no second thoughts, to someone you don't know and will probably never see again? Is is because you can SEE them face to face? Well, does that make them any more honest? No. Does that make your information any more safe? No.
Did you know that when that person takes your card, they basically perform the same actions with it that an internet seller would do. They transmit your information over either a telephone or computer line, get an authorization, and bring your card back to you. At least with an internet sale, your card never leaves your possession, and you don't run the risk of leaving it behind in some shop or restaurant that you can't remember later when you are looking for your card!
You probably never thought of it like that, now did you? Kind of makes you stop and think, doesn't it? Don't mistrust dealers on the internet just because you can't see them and you are afraid of the technology of the web. I have been an online seller and buyer for years now, and have NEVER had a problem! Not even once. I have found that most people are honest, and internet marketing is a great way for a stay at home Mom, or a disabled person to make a living and not have to be a burden on the welfare system, or live in poverty, or just pay those extra bills that always crop up. We are just like every other business person out there that IS honest. We are just trying to get by. If we cheat or scam someone, we are out of business. If we had enough money in the first place, we wouldn't be doing this! We are more dependent on our clients than our clients are on us, so it is in our best interest to be honest, ethical, professional and give the best customer service that we possibly can. We won't do ourselves much good by scamming people and getting put out of business, now would we? Plus, it is no easy feat to build an internet website! I personally spend 10-14 hours a day working. Why spend that much time, get situated with a reputable web mall, etc., only to self-destruct? We are liable to the same lawsuits, criminal charges, etc. that a "brick and mortar" business is liable to, should one of us decide to rip someone off. Therefore, the vast majority of us are not going to spend all that time, just to get thrown in prison for identity theft. Makes a little more sense now, doesn't it.
There is one more thing I would like to add. Now don't let this scare you, but it is a fact. All someone has to know about you is your name, basic location, and basic age, and within 1 hour can know everything from your criminal and civil court records, drivers license number, social security number, what your exact address is, who lives there with you, who lived there before you did, what your credit rating is and a HUGE amount of other information that you never though anyone would ever find out, unless you gave your permission! The really wild thing is, you don't have to be a hacker, have a special program or anything else to find all of this out! It is there for the taking, if you are of a mind to look it up. Online sellers, as a general rule, not only do not have the urge to do this, they do NOT HAVE THE TIME! Now, I am not saying there aren't people out there that will do this, but the majority of them are not owners of internet e-commerce sites. They are the people who really don't want to work for a living, they would rahter live off of other peoples money. Internet sellers are proud, professional business men and women, and we have our own reputations to protect.
Now that you know all of this, take some time to think about it and see if it doesn't make sense. Besides, what is better than being able to shop from home, in your pajamas, and not have to go out and fight crowds, waste gas, you have the whole world at your fingertips to find just the right thing, and to top it all off, you have an honest person like me on the other end, waiting to make your transaction a great one for you, because I WANT YOU TO COME BACK!
The “Hot” New Collectibles
A few months ago I wrote an article named “Signed vs. Unsigned - Buying Art, Pottery and Collectibles”. The basic premise of the article was my own opinion about “Should you pay the price for signed jewelry, art and collectibles, as opposed to buying what you love, whether signed or unsigned?”. Since writing that article, I have read in one of my many collectible newsletters and magazines that the “hot” new collectible trend is buying unsigned and unknown artist and artisan items. I personally think this is great! Not only does it help the collectibles market, in several different areas such as unsigned jewelry, studio art pottery and original artworks, who is to say what that “unknown artist” or unsigned item will someday be worth? Picasso received hardly any recognition while alive, but after his death, we all know where the prices went on his works, straight through the roof!
Collection of Jewelry from I800's through mid 1900's
A special collection of jewelry, some of European descent, from a New York Estate, has recently been offered to the public for sale. Quite a few extroadinary pieces, especially for collectors and researchers of the time frame are available. Body Copy: Recently "Ice Originals II", a collectibles and antique website, had the pleasure of acquiring a portion of a large New York Estate that includes jewelry items from the 1800's through the mid 1900's. Quite a few of the earlier pieces are of definite European manufacture, as they feature the European style clasps and hinges and definite European designs. There are some very interesting pieces, that appear as if they could have historic and research value, as well as the normal interest related to collectors.
