Tuesday, August 30, 2005

How to Buy Used Baby Clothes Online!

Australian Online Classifieds
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Sharlene Rollins

There are multitudes of ways to purchase used clothing for your baby. In this article I will cover only the online options available in the hopes that it will help you to maximize your spending money with the least amount of hassle, stress or risk. I hope to cover some of the key issues of buying used clothes online such as private sales versus online stores, the use of PayPal and other forms of payment, purchasing through ebay and non-ebay auctions or non-auctions alike, online classifieds and more all in the hopes that you will benefit from some of the things I've learned and avoid the mistakes that I as well as others have made.

First of all let's talk a bit about where to find used baby clothes online from private sellers. There are some areas on the web which allow you to post used clothing ads such as ebay and classified sites. Some classified or "for sale" sites are even specialized in either family or baby related items. Ebay, for those of us who are familiar but not necessarily all knowing about it, is a giant online auction with items being posted constantly in all possible fields and topics. Those selling can choose to list their items in an auction format in which the sky's the limit. Bids can start as low as one penny or they can choose to invite people to purchase the items out right by using a buy now feature in which they set a price for their items. As a general rule the buyer pays all shipping costs on top of the selling price and most payments are made through PayPal, which I will cover later.

Baby clothing on ebay tends to be mostly new with or without tags attached and is either sold in batches of items known as "lots" (grouped by gender and size) or individually as outfits. Since I am focusing on used baby items let's discuss those. Batches of baby clothing on ebay tend to get bid very high as there is a seemingly large number of people wanting to buy in this way and very few meeting the demand. I have found that items and batches of clothing of any note on ebay tend to sky rocket in price above what is reasonable for used clothing -- particularly if they toss in a few name brands such as Gap, Osh Kosh, Gymboree etc... and more often than not a bidding war ensues and you are inevitably outbid or worse you get caught up and spend more than you'd originally expected for items you haven't even seen and have no quality guarantee!

Auction and classified or selling sites other than ebay can be very chancy -- since ebay is established it has the ability to set down rules which keep most dishonest people out while the smaller sights haven't the same pull with those posting. Quite often these sites (this doesn't really apply to local purchasing) are riddled with people who are no longer allowed to post on ebay for one reason or another. I have had experiences myself in which items promised ended up being fewer than what I'd paid for and set a price based entirely on quantity! I can't tell you how upset that made me, and what was worse -- I was informed that three of the items had small stains when in truth about 50 fell into the stained category. So what had originally been a good deal turned out to be very disappointing!

There are of course no guarantees with a private seller, no return policy or customer service after the sale is closed and once the sale is complete you must find a new seller down the road when you need clothing again and you run the risks of stumbling across a swindle or a sour deal every time.

One rule to follow in all private sales is to use a traceable method of payment like PayPal. PayPal is a third party which will ensure payment and receipt of product from both parties. Do not use Western Union in any online transactions, or any other non traceable forms of payment! There is no guarantee you'll ever get the items you paid for when you use this method as it is meant to be untraceable!

So now let's discuss the second option of buying used baby clothes online -- the non private sellers or online used baby clothing stores. There are over 50 stores currently running online who specialize in selling used baby clothing. As with all things online there are stores which are shabbily run due to poor web design skills and such to no fault on the part of the store, they just don't have the skills to make the process simple and enjoyable for you. They have great items and competitive prices and if you don't mind a little extra effort when placing an order they do have more security than the average private seller -- especially since you know where they are going to be when you need them. There are a handful of sites which are a little better for service - for example you do not need to email them detailed descriptions of the items you'd like, mail them a money order or some such and then wait for them to receive it before they even send you the items these sites often have PayPal as an option and some even have shopping carts if a little confusing to use. There are an even smaller number of high service sights who offer credit card payment options, low shipping costs and things similar to those offered by online stores in general. Quite a few of all three levels of sites have quality guarantees for a week or so after you've received your order -- one even offers a full year quality guarantee! This ensures that the items you buy from them have been inspected thoroughly by people who have a more universal understanding of the words "in great condition" and it is in their best interest to satisfy as they ideally would like you to come back and tell others! Shopping with these stores can be fun and you can save tons while getting the quality you are looking for!

Should you choose the more dangerous route of shopping through private sellers with ebay and non ebay sites please take care and remember to never use a non traceable form of payment, don't be afraid to ask numerous questions -- if something seems off in their responses trust your gut -- there will always be another seller. Should you choose to explore the option of purchasing through an online used baby clothing store I wish you all the fun of shopping for baby clothes at bargain prices (doesn't that mean you can buy even more?!) with none of the hassle or risks associated with private sellers and the added benfit of quality guarantees! Happy Shopping! I will cover more on this issue in later posts.



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Sharlene Rollins owns and operates a unique second hand online store www.gentlylovedclothing.com

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Online Classifieds

Online Classifieds


Choosing a Classified Website and creating your advertisements.

The internet has opened a vast number of doors for people to market their products and services. Becoming self-employed and obtaining a national or global audience has never been easier. Many of these quality Classified Websites will provide Entrepreneurs with their own storefront. In addition, their is no or little programming knowledge required for a Website, as the administrator of the Classifieds Website will ensure modern and enhanced features, for consumers to find and purchase products or services. However, there are a few elements to familiarize yourself with, prior to deciding where you want to advertise.

Free Classified Ads

If you scout the Internet, you will find a variety of Websites that are promoting, "Free Classified Ads". Many advertisers will rush in and take advantage of these offers, without investigation. However, you should use caution when dealing with these types of Websites. If they do not provide a Privacy Policy, avoid them all together.

Always remember, maintaining a Website has a price. If they are not selling their advertisement space, another method is being used to generate income.

A common practice is the sale of E-mail addresses. In an online report by Tim Williams (Technical Services Specialist University of Arizona's Steward Observatory [http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/spam/]), describing how spammers obtain Email addresses, he found, "Many sites, when the dot-bomb implosion hit, realized a list of email address was an asset to be sold. The people buying didn't care if you only opted in one site they had your address used it and probably sold it off again". There is a big market for Email addresses. The value of an E-mail address rose significantly with the new legislation that enforced the, "Can-Spam Act". By opting in to a Website, and providing your E-mail address, you are opening the doors for E-mail Advertisers to safely market your address.

There are some Free Classified Websites that are legitimate. Some sites may advertise, "Free Classifieds," but charge for extended time-frames of the advertisements run. For example, an advertisement that will run for one week is free. In contrast, an advertisement that runs for one month has a fee. In addition, some free classified Websites may charge a fee for additional features. This may include Featured Advertisements, Bold Text, Placing your advertisement above all others within a category.

In any case, look for a Privacy Policy. Ensure that Website clearly states they will not sell, trade, or share your registration information.

Features to look for in a Classified Website

When choosing a Classified Website to utilize, take a look at some of the features they offer. A good advertising venue should focus on consumer friendliness. Navigation should be clear and simple for the consumer. They should offer features that help consumers shop and compare. This is what will make consumers comeback to the resource for their shopping needs.

Here are some basic features to look for:

Classified Search Engine: While some people enjoy shopping through the variety of Classified Ads, others want a Search Engine that will filter out the ads that are not of interest to them. The site should offer a search engine, and an advanced search engine that allows consumers to sort ads by item specific information. For example, a consumer should be able to shop for cars by the Manufacture, model, location, price range, Mileage, and other details related to the car they want.

Classified Watch List's: Watch Lists are a newer feature that will automatically notify a consumer when an item is advertised on the Website. This feature ensures that advertisements are targeted to consumers that are interested in the offering you have. In addition, it informs the consumer without the need to continually browse the internet.

Simple Navigation: The consumer side of the Website should have clear and central navigation. If a consumer needs to pass through several pages before seeing items for sale, avoid the site. Consumers will not enjoy having to click on a variety of links to find offerings. Classification of the items listed on the Website should be easy and direct.

Target Audience: The Website you are advertising has a Target Audience. If you are advertising something in England, it would not be practical to place the advertisement on a Classified Website for the United States. This will hold true for other countries that speak similar languages.

Other Content: In addition to a Classified Marketplace, Websites need to offer additional content to ensure that users enjoy the Website. Content is what keeps people coming back, or draws people to a Website.

Writing your Classified Ad

What many may consider the most important part of advertising is writing an effective ad. The information that you provide in your classified ad may be the deciding factor if it is successful or a, "bomb".

Create a variety of advertisements that utilize various approaches. Be prepared to revise your content on occasion. This ensures that you are demonstrating different aspects of your offering. In addition, you can promote your offering from different angles, to see what will achieve the best results.

Choosing the angle of your advertising may vary, depending on what you are offering. Writing a Classified Ad is not much different than writing an essay, with the exception of a literary work. There are three general angles that you should consider using to promote your offering. These are Expressive ads, Persuasive ads, and Informative Ads. However, you should always implement a call to action regardless of the angle you choose. Additionally, it may not be a good idea to mix any of the three angles. This is because advertisements need to have focus and be concise.

Here are definitions and examples for the different types of advertising:

Writing an Expressive Classified Ad

An expressive advertisement is very personal. Expressive ads may be a good idea for a small scale business, wanting to utilize a personal approach. When taking an expressive approach, think of writing an excerpt of the day in a journal. As the writer of the advertisement, you want to express your personal feelings, thoughts, or opinions related to the offerings. For example, a Business Opportunity may be advertised as, "I made over $100,000.00 in one year. I cannot believe how easy it was". This eliminates the need to use examples or testimonials, as the author becomes the example.

Writing a Persuasive Classified Ad

A persuasive advertisement is used to convince the reader or change their opinion. To be successful with a persuasive classified ad, the writer needs to have a firm, direct, and clear point. The goal is to evoke a reaction that causes the reader to have the same point-of-view as the Author. A very common form of advertising, that uses a Persuasive approach, is the Governments, "Register to Vote," Campaigns. They are generally direct and to the point. They provide a concise reason why you should register to vote, "Make your voice heard". By pointing out a simple benefit, they are achieving the task of the persuasive advertisement, getting unregistered citizens to register.

Writing an Informative Classified Ad

Informative advertising provides information to the readers and generally explains what is being offered. When constructing such an advertisement, the author should demonstrate observations, ideas, facts, statistics, or research data. This is becoming very common on the internet, as more people are becoming information hungry. Consumers want to know what they are buying. In addition, this is a wise choice, if consumers cannot physically see the item you are selling. An example of Informative Advertising is an Auto Manufactures advertisement for their vehicles (Not Dealerships). They generally print large advertisements that inform readers of the Vehicles Engine Horsepower, Torque, Maintenance Schedule, Improvements from prior models, available colors, Wheelbase, seating, trunk size, etc... All the information is based on facts and research. It allows consumers to compare their vehicles to similar Auto Models, without taking a test drive.

Headlines and Body of your Classified Advertisements

Headlines are often referred to as titles, and are very important in catching the readers’ eye. Headlines should always be typed in capital letters. In addition, use simple name recognition techniques. For example, if you are advertising a Car for Sale, input the Make and Model for the headline. In contrast, if you are selling Real Estate, you should use the street and Town the property is located.

Business advertisements should always use the name of the company. The more the name is seen, the better your Public Relations becomes.

Don't overextend the headline. An example of an overextended headline is adding, “Car for Sale,” when placing an advertisement under a, “Cars for Sale,” category. This text is simply not needed, as the consumer is already aware that they are looking at, “Cars for Sale”.

Consider what you see from professional journalists that writes columns in a newspaper. Simple and Straight forward, inform the readers what the Classified Ad is promoting. They never mention the words that already are in the columns’ header (Entertainment, Movies, Lifestyle, etc..).

The context or body of your classified is very important. First, the body of your advertisement needs to have proper grammar. Having a Classified advertisement with, "Typo's," gives a bad impression. Next, make sure the body is easy to read. This can be accomplished by using paragraphs with short sentences and avoiding all capital letters. Keep in mind, the body is not a headline; you already grabbed the consumers’ attention, as they are reading your advertisement.

The goal should be to make it pleasant at this point. Finally, end the advertisement with a call to action. How does a consumer proceed to accept your offer? What is the next step they need to take? Use power phrases similar to, "Call Now for Further Details".

Consider the season of your target audience (Dependent on the Offering). In the winter, people may have different motives than in the hot summer. In addition, take into consideration up-and-coming Holidays. Simply wishing a, "Merry Christmas," will evoke warm emotions when people are reading your advertisements. This may help take away the Hard-sell frame of mind the consumer has, while reading your advertisements.


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About The Author

Michael Medeiros is an Entrepreneur with a background in Business and Advertising. He works as a Part-Time Real Estate Agent for Century 21 Hearst Realty, in Turnersville NJ . Michael Medeiros is also the founder of Mjmls online classifieds www.mjmls.com

Friday, August 26, 2005

Online Auctions: New Way of Shopping

List your Items @ Australian Auction Online


Description: Online auctions operate on the same principles as the real auctions, but they have the mass appeal, which reaches out to the ordinary Internet users. They are an easy and fun way to buy a product of your choice.

Hearing of auctions always used to bring up visions of a grand room, with the auctioneer standing on a raised platform, taking bids from dressed up people in a dignified manner, and slapping his hammer with a bang on the table every time some one won a bid.

It used to be something that one saw in a movie or a rich people thing, which the average middle class person could not associate with. But with the advent of Internet into every facet of our lives, be it keeping in touch with friends, shopping and even dating and marriage, auctions have also become a routine part of an average internet user’s life.

There are innumerable auction sites, selling everything from a pen to a used car and even houses if you want to bid from them. You think of what you want and you’ll find it on one of the auction sites. All you have to do is sign up, get registered and bid a price for that item.

As in real auctions the highest bidder wins the bid, but because the online bids take a long time to close, you have the advantage to checking if your bid has been surpassed and put a higher price on it again. The sites predetermine the increment that you can put on an existing bid. This ensures that the prices are not driven up and more people can stay in the bidding game.

The bids placed are binding so don’t bid on something just for the fun of it, the sites ensure to take your credit card details at the time of registration so you can’t back out. You will find the best deals on the auction sites and the price that you pay for the items by bidding on them will often be less than it’s market value.

Auction basics

There are a few simple rules that you can follow to get the best out of an auction deal:

1) Don’t stick to a single site- keep looking for better bids on the countless sites on the net.

2) Always bid on the auctions that will not stay open for a long period of time. Longer bids will automatically get more hits, thus minimizing your chances of staying ahead on it. Bids with shorter time limit, for example one that ends in a week are better.

3) Most of the items displayed on the site for auction could be misspelled, which means that not many would have got to that item and placed any bids. Always try to search for these items because the price would always be low on them.

4) Don’t bid a higher price than what you want to pay for a product, just because you don’t want to lose out on it. Remember that there are other sites, which will most probably have the item you want to buy.

A little online research and some patience can get you the product you want to buy, at a lower price than the market on an online auction site. Don’t wait, just sign up and have fun bidding!


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Tomas York
Editor: http://www.discounts-plus.net

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Looking For A Job In The Internet

Comprehensive Listing of Australian Job Opportunities
Ozfree


Depending on your specific line of work, looking jobs on the Internet could be a great way to find new and interesting opportunities. Whether you are looking for an academic or a technology job, a secretarial or a research position, there are many online resources that can help you find the job you need and the salary you desire. There are a wide variety of Internet job search sites that can steer you in the right direction at little or no cost to the applicant.

If you are looking for a job where you currently live, your local newspaper most likely lists its classified ads online. Because some papers make their Internet classifieds free, the online want ads might even include jobs that are not featured in the print versions. Rather than thumbing though the actual print paper, you can conduct specialized searches for the exact type of work you are looking for, saving you valuable time in your job quest. Gone are the days of highlighters and inky fingers. Now, you can find job opportunities with the click of a mouse.

Some job search websites have exclusively one purpose: linking employers with potential employees. There are some sites like Monster.com, which let job searchers post their resumes and their qualifications online free of charge. Who can view these resumes? Anyone or just certain prospective employers, that is up to you. Both possible employees and possible employers can search through the Internet. Potential employees can search through thousands of job opportunities online, cataloging them by kind of job, place or pay rate. On the other hand, employers will hunt through posted resumes to find matches for their job openings.

Many corporations also have online job sites, especially if they have multiple locations across the country. Computer companies like Apple, IBM and Dell all have job opportunities listed on their websites. Many of these companies pay for relocation, so if you are planning to move from your current location, you should search for a job first. That way, you might be able to get your moving expenses funded by your new employer.

If you prefer working for yourself rather than for a company, the Internet has made the world of freelancing much more feasible for the average worker. If you are a writer, software or website designer, graphic artist or consultant, many companies will hire you to do the modern equivalent of piecework. Rather than paying for a full-time employee, companies will contract individuals to complete projects, typically from home. This offers a lot of flexibility for both the company and the freelancer. If you prefer a flexible schedule and have the need or desire to work from your home or from a coffeehouse or library, freelancing may be the perfect job opportunity for you. Jobs that can be completed and turned in via email are the best types for freelancers, as they can be completed anywhere even if you are on the road moving from place to place.

The Internet has single-handedly revolutionized the workplace. Not only has it made finding jobs easier, but it has also contributed to the general mobility of the workforce. Rather than searching multiple newspapers for jobs in different cities, once can now access job databases all over the world from the comfort of your home. Finding opportunities requires less time and sometimes less networking than ever before. With quick transfer of information via email, employers can save time and money, and they have more flexibility in choosing their employees. These days, someone can live on the east coast and work exclusively for a west coast company. Through the Internet, work relationships are now built between people who have never even met.


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Abalh Noamudo is the proprietor of Jobs For You that is an expert resource for information about jobs.
http://www.ftsejobs.com.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

1,001 Deals and Steals: A Guide To Online Classifieds


"Buying was a snap. I was put in contact with the seller who closed the deal
with me right away. Excellent!"
Australian Online Classifieds


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Some naysayers way back in the 1990s predicted that online shopping wouldn’t last. Sure, and they said television was a passing fad, too! As we all know, just the opposite has occurred. There’s a television in every household, and more than likely, the homeowner bought their television online—along with his books, music CDs, clothes, and maybe even his home.

Internet shopping is bigger than ever. You can find anything and everything for sale online. Many times, you can find it cheaper online than anywhere else. Internet shopping offers so much more than a discounted price tag, though.

Imagine a shopping mall where there are no lines, where there are no jammed parking garages, and no pushy sales clerks. This is no land of make believe. It is the Internet, where you can discover unprecedented selection, convenience, and opportunities. Online shopping gives you the luxury of browsing hundreds of stores from your living room, while saving on time and frustration. It provides you the chance to compare prices to your heart’s delight on a near limitless selection of brands and models.

For even more benefits, try your hand at classifieds and auction Web sites. These sites are like yard sales and flea markets rolled into one. Unlike retail shopping sites, they offer:

Access to super secondary markets. Take your pick of secondhand or brand-new wholesale goods at steeply discounted prices. The vendors at classifieds sites can get away with it because they aren’t paying high rent for a storefront or a warehouse. And in many cases, you’re not paying taxes.

Tools to locate unique and rare collectibles. Imagine a classifieds site to be like a sunken pirate boat, laden with cultural artifacts, hard-to-find heirlooms, and priceless antiques. The Internet is your deep-sea vessel, sonar, and oxygen tank all in one.

Reach beyond your neighborhood. Search through the inventory of a vendor from your home town, or if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, try that fellow in California, Texas or Canada for that matter.

Close relationships with vendors. You deal with real people—not big, impersonal corporations—when you buy on classifieds sites. They can provide more details about the product, which you can then use to bargain for a reasonable price.

Despite this bounty of benefits, you might still be hesitant to dive into Internet shopping. Don’t be embarrassed. You have good reason to take your time and weigh your choices. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Internet fraud tops the list of the thousands of fraud cases that happen every year. In some ways, WWW could stand for the Wild West Web, in that anything goes. Vendors can be villains in disguise, and there aren’t any online Wyatt Earps to protect you from these bad guys. You’re on your own.

But give yourself some credit. You have the common sense it takes to survive the WWW. It is the same commonsense that helps you make the most of your money on your standard shopping trips. Become familiar and comfortable with an online vendor before jumping into a purchase. Ask questions and do a bit of research.

After doing your research, you’ll feel more confident in searching for your online booty. To refine your findings and whittle your list to only the exceptional sites, look for these additional qualities:

• A focus on local shopping, so you can feel more confident buying from neighbors.

• Free education and advice on safe purchasing.

• No-cost and easy browsing through available merchandise.

• Search tools that let you prioritize items by category, location, and distance.

• A straightforward pricing system that avoids the haggling and risk of auction bidding.

• Quick price comparisons among different vendors.

Unbelievably, a few trustworthy, practical, and exciting Web sites exist that have all of these features. To find these websites, simply browse through Yahoo’s directory under the classifieds category. The best of the online classified sites offer these services free to buyers such as you. Some of these sites can link you at no charge to your neighbor selling the antique lamp that you’ve been hunting for or that retiree looking to unload an incredible piece of real estate—or the cowboy looking to sell his big-screen television.


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Donald Lee is a public relations manager at BSCCOM Inc. BSCCOM Inc. provides free online advertisement services for Canadian and U.S. regions. For more information please visit: http://www.buysellcommunity.com

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Upgrading and Customizing the Honda Civic

Complete List of Previously Owned Honda Civic Cars

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by: Terry Brown

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular and successful car models in the world. Many people regard the Civic as a good value for money, offering a combination of excellent performance, fuel economy, reliability and a good number of standard features. The Civic appeals to many people, from college students to elderly professionals because of its flexibility, dependability, and excellent performance. Because of the popularity of the Civic, it is relatively easier and cheaper to customize or upgrade this car due to the wide availability of Honda Parts and Accessories. Most Honda Civic owners are happy and content with their cars. On the other hand, many Civic owners would not mind a few alterations, either cosmetic or in the engine, to enhance either the performance or the look of their vehicles. There is a huge variety of options when it comes to enhancing the Honda Civic's performance or appearance.

If you want to upgrade, modify or customize your Honda Civic, you will find that there are many ways to do so. The three main reasons that Civic owners upgrade their cars are performance, looks and style. In terms of style and looks, you can transform your Honda Civic from a car that looks similar to thousands of other Civics on the road to one that could look like a completely different model. You can achieve this by installing performance body kits to your Civic. Body kits are accessories, such as bumpers, side skirts, and rear valance that you add on to your Civic to create a more muscled, aggressive look. Performance body kits give the Civic the look of a racecar. The drawback of performance body kits is that they can be very costly. However, body kits are merely cosmetic alterations. If you want your Civic to look good on the outside, then you must also want your car to perform as well as it looks. Interior modifications include everything from engine upgrades to audio systems.

Nevertheless, if you are on a tight budget, you can still achieve a fresher and more updated look for your Honda Civic without spending too much. There are inexpensive Honda Accessories you can use to create a more personalized look for your car. A new Honda Civic Bumper, either chrome or monochromatic, can certainly give your car a sharper facade. You can even add in a new Honda Spoiler for a sportier look. One of the best ways to customize subtly the way your car looks is by installing Honda Hubcaps or wheel covers. With the wide variety of designs and styles available, you can surely find the perfect set for that perfect look you envision for your car.

Honda Accessories are available in various auto parts dealers all over the country, However, there is an easy and convenient way to shop for Honda accessories and other Honda Parts without having to pay a visit to your auto dealer across town. Online auto parts stores now offer a huge array of Honda auto parts and Honda accessories. They offer everything from Honda A/C condensers to Honda Wheels. They also offer essential auto parts such as Honda headlights, Honda fuel tanks, Honda radiators, Honda grilles, Honda hoods and many other Honda parts. It is better to shop for auto parts from a company that knows its business thoroughly and is a known expert in the field. http://www.innerauto.com is a renowned source of useful and relevant automotive information. They offer a comprehensive resource of everything about the automobile – the systems, its history, and other relevant topics. The good news is that Inner Auto Parts now has an auto parts store offering high quality Honda parts and accessories. Now you can easily find the high quality affordable Honda accessories you need to customize or upgrade your Honda Civic.


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Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto related. He is currently employed as a market analyst by one of the top car parts company in the area. His automotive articles provide valuable source of information for auto enthusiasts like him as well as to those in need of automotive research.


Sunday, August 14, 2005

How To Jump Start a Dead Car Battery

Take a look on some previously own cars @ Cars For Sale

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Here are few tips and instructions on jump starting a dead battery. First things first, though. You need to inspect the dead battery. If you see any damage such as leaks or cracks. DO NOT go any further. Put away the jumper cables and call a wrecker. A damaged battery can explode and really hurt you. If the battery looks ok, then park the cars close enough to each other for the jumper cables to reach and shut off both engines. Now make sure the terminals are not caked with corrosion. Try to clean them off as best you can. A corroded terminal will make it a lot harder to jump the battery. At this point you are ready to hook up your jumper cables to the batteries. (Normally, the red cable is (+) positive and black cable is (-) negative)

They must be connected in this exact order:

1. Connect one end of the (+) positive cable to the (+) positive terminal on the dead battery.

2. Connect the other end of the (+) positive cable to (+) positive terminal on the good battery.

3. Connect one end of the (-) negative cable to (-) negative terminal on the good battery.

4. Connect the other end of the (-) negative cable to the engine block of the dead car.

You are ready to start up the good car’s engine and charge the dead battery. First of all, shut off all electrical equipment on the good car. (head lights, radio, etc.) Let the good car’s engine run for a minute or so before you attempt to start the dead one. Now get in the dead car and attempt to crank it. If it sounds like it wants to start but won’t quite get there, give it some more time and try again. When the dead has started and is running, it is time to remove the jumper cables. This must be done in reverse order.

Here are the steps:

1. Disconnect (-) negative cable from the engine block on dead car.

2. Disconnect (-) negative cable from the (-) negative terminal on the good battery.

3. Disconnect (+) positive cable from the (+) positive terminal on the good battery.

4. Disconnect (+) positive cable from the (+) positive terminal on the dead battery.

After the dead car has been running for a while, turn it off. See if will start on its own. If it does, you should be ok on the drive home. If not, jump it again and have someone follow you home. When you arrive at home, you can then put a battery charger on it all night and see if it cranks in the morning.


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About the Author:
Jason Miller is the webmaster for Red Hill Supply - Online Air Tools
Battery Chargers, Battery Boosters and More

redhillsupply.com

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Hands Up At The Pump

Recent New Car Articles @ OzFreeOnline Cars For Sale

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Searching for evidence of cause and effect probably is futile, but oil industry analysts are suggesting that motorists will just have to get used to paying a little more each time they fill up.

The prospect of $3 a gallon gasoline, once a doomsday prediction, doesn't seem far-fetched. The only good news, analysts say, is that gas probably will be available without shortages - if you can afford it.

Along with continuing record prices comes the bleak realization that the President and Congress have once again failed to take any action that might conceivably ease the burden on motorists. The $12.3 billion legislation they've been working on for four years is mostly a collection of tax breaks for the energy industry, which is already enjoying record profits.

"This bill is not going to solve our energy challenges overnight," Mr. Bush admitted at the bill-signing ceremony in New Mexico. "It's going to take years of focused efforts to alleviate those problems."

If you're tired of hearing that excuse, well, it's no wonder. Mr. Bush and his White House predecessors have talked a good game on energy for more than two decades but have done little.

So the nation's foolhardy dependence on foreign oil has risen from about 45 percent 10 years ago to 60 percent today.

Energy conservation, the only realistic solution to this unquenched thirst, remains largely an afterthought. The bill includes tax deductions for buyers of hybrid and diesel cars, but no required improvement in the government's Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, little changed since they were first adopted in 1975.

Dropped from the bill, thankfully, was an unconscionable liability shield for the petroleum industry from lawsuits connected to groundwater pollution from MBTE, a toxic gasoline additive.

A provision to allow oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge also was dropped, but only because Republican leaders intend to ram it through later this year by plugging it into budget legislation that cannot by law be filibustered.

By and large, however, the 1,745-page bill undoubtedly consumed more energy in the drafting process than it will ever make available to the American public.

Among its collection of tax breaks for industry, even the subsidy for corn-based ethanol as a fuel supplement was included in the legislation less for its energy implications than because much of the crop would come from Midwestern farm states such as Ohio, where a lot of votes are up for grabs in next year's midterm elections.

In the meantime, motorists feeling a sharper pinch in the wallet each time they fill up their gas tank needn't bother asking what the Bush Administration and Congress have done to help them.

The answer, obviously, is not much.

Copyright (c) 2005, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

Source: http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_news001/