#then the seller needs to give me a discount or something

[fakescenariosbeforesleepblog]

You're mine, all mine Y/N.

Y/N x COD characters

What happens when someone tries to flirt with you and they don't have a clue that you're not alone?.

For this one I wanted to use Makarov, Soap and König.

Warning: images are not mine, credits to whoever they belong to! Spelling and grammatical errors everywhere, mentions of violence, murder but nothing specific, not a very good text but I hope someone likes it.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Makarov.

You're at the mall just walking while your boyfriend is buying a new pair of chemises as if he needed more, you stopped out of a jewelry store, there's a beautiful set of necklace, earrings and ring, incrustations of ruby and emeralds, it's pure luxury, of course you can ask Vladimir to buy it for you and for sure he will buy it because you deserve the best of the best, but, no, it's too much, too expensive in your opinion, one of the workers had seen you contemplating the jewelry and not only that, he's too focused on your beauty and that perfect body shape, oh god, he's devouring you with his eyes. You're ready to keep walking when he approaches you.

- Good morning, I see that you liked this ruby and emerald jewelry set, would you like to try it?

- Oh no, i bet it is too expensive, there's no need...

- I insist, you have a very long neck, come on darling, such a beauty like you needs beautiful accessories...

He actually doesn't even care if you buy or not he only wants to know you better, flirt, poor little guy, he doesn't have a clue of who your man is.

At the end he convinced you. You send a quick text to Vladimir to let him know where you are, while this guy asks you about your name, your work and other stuff, he thinks you're single, you already tried to mention your relationship status but he talks a lot.

Finally the necklace rests around your neck and looks beautiful over your chest, you're beautiful, you want it, of course you want it, you need to have it. But still, no, you still believe it is a lot of money for something like that.

- What do you think? Do you like it?

He runs his hands over your shoulders, you try to avoid the uncomfortable feeling of them.

- Of course I like it, but as I said before... (You sighed) I bet it costs a fortune.

- I'm not gonna lie, it is, but maybe I can give you a good discount, huh.

You look at him clearly in confusion, why would he do that?

- Why would you do that?

- Because you're very beautiful and because I have to sell it. So it's a way to help each other, don't you think?... Of course I will just ask you a little favor.

He presses your shoulder while he observes you with a malicious look.

- Excuse me?

You put the necklace carefully on the box where it was, this is not going in a friendly way, maybe it's time to mention Makarov.

- A dinner, that's all I ask in exchange.

- Oh I have a boyfr...

- Love?

Both turn back and Makarov is standing on the door. You walk to him and kiss his lips.

- Did you find something?

He asked, You try to avoid the uncomfortable moment with the poor seller and quickly you tell Makarov about the necklace and how expensive it is.

- It's beautiful... But the price doesn't convince me...

Makarov is observing the set cautiously while you explain, for a moment it looks like it's only you and him In the store, until the other guy speaks.

- Oh well, if you think it's too much I have some other cheaper if the money is the problem.

He looks pissed but not as Makarov, your man observes this guy as if it was a bug, ready to put his expensive pair of shoes over his throat to suffocate him.

You think he will punch this stupid guy, so without thinking you mention that he was talking about the discount.

- Babe, this... Young boy was telling me about a discount...

- Ahhh, really? In exchange of what?

Makarov looks at the young man in front of him, he's not happy, he intimidates just with that look.

- Sorry sir, I didn't know you were with (y/n)...

Fuck, you messed up, but you keep quiet. Vladimir looks like he wants to kill this man, how he dares to even call you by your name, where's the respect?.

- I see, well, the money is not a problem, I'll buy it...

- But, honey...

- Shh, you deserve it my love. Even better, I'll buy all you have in this store. Right now.

There are no words, Makarov looks pleased to buy you every object of the store, for a second you think he won't lose his mind killing this man or something. The bags and boxes are in the car, you don't think clearly, you're in shock. He opens the door for you and then he pretends he forgot something in the store so he asks you to wait.

Twenty minutes later he's back, once you're at home he's watching the news when you listen what happened at the mall.

«In other news, the mall will be closed this weekend, Police will be investigating the murdered and fire at the jewelry store, The owner can't explain what could happen, the cameras were sabotaged, the corpse found belongs to the seller on shift...»

- Vlad, what did you do?

- Love, You can't be serious. Do you really think I would let that guy alive? No one who doesn't respect you or me can live long enough.

Soap.

Johnny and you visit the local bar every time he's back in town, you're not the kind of person who enjoys places like this, but for love everybody needs to make little sacrifices.

Johnny leaves you while he quickly goes to get more beer, you're observing the group of men who are singing and playing the old piano of the bar, you can't deny it, it's a funny night, until...

- Hey, can I sit?

A man who you have never seen before is smiling at you, he doesn't wait for your answer and sits.

- Sorry, you can't sit here, I'm waiting for someone...

- Oh I bet he doesn't care, if he leaves you here alone... Anyway, Tell me, what's your name? Can I invite you a drink?

- No thanks, my bo...

- I don't see no one at the sight, come on, tell me your name or give me your number...

You have enough of this shit so you simply stand up, you're leaving the table when this man takes your forearm.

- Hey. Come on, give me something sweet, Dove.

You're ready to respond and curse him when Johnny appears behind you.

- Hey! That's my seat and she/he is mine too. So, fuck off.

- Man, don't be so rude, I think we can share, look at her/him, such a dessert. I wouldn't care about some relays.

This guy is stupid as hell and also very drunk, he doesn't have a clue of who he is provoking, In less than a second you're behind Soap while he breaks the beer bottle on the man's head, a bar fight, the Cherry on the cake.

Lucky for you, the bar owner is a good friend of your parents so at least you will not be kicked out of the place.

After a few punches Soap dragged that guy out of the bar, everybody is in silence, when he comes back he feels eyes on him.

He smiles and yells «Sorry for the inconveniences, but I can't handle well when someone touches my Y/n!»

And as if nothing happened everyone continues the party, the music plays again, the laughs and conversation filled the place again.

Once both are sitting and with beer on your hands again you simply look at Soap, he's a little blushed, he smiles at you and asks why are you giving him that look.

- Am I your (Y/N)?

- Shut up, you know you are, I hate that not many people understand or respect that tho!

You laugh loudly and give him a little kiss on his lips.

König.

König tries his best to not be insecure or jealous when you and him are out doing couple stuff together, he feels like he's too old for you, but you always insist age is just a number, he can't avoid the thoughts of people of your age flirting with you, taking you away from him, poor man, he really tries but some days he simply can't deal with that. And today is one of those days.

Both are at the supermarket, doing your weekly shopping. He went to look for his personal stuff, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, shaving cream, while you decide between two cereal boxes. He loves when you debate with yourself about the products you will take but sometimes you take too long, so he leaves and goes for other things while you finish.

You're observing all the boxes of cereal, you're sure you still have chocolate cereal at home, so the decision is between a healthy option or another sugar bomb.

You're debating In silence when a young man interrupts you.

- Hey, excuse me, can you help me? I don't know where to find the dish soap. I'm Tommy by the way.

- Oh, it's in the aisle 5.

That's all you say and you go back to your internal debate, when once again your thoughts are interrupted by this guy.

- Are you new in town? I think I've never seen you here before.

- No, I live here with my...

- NO WAY! I would remember that beautiful face.

You sighed, clearly annoyed but this man is not getting it. You don't continue the conversation, you simply put both boxes in your cart and continue walking. As a fly, Tommy follows close enough, asking stupid questions, your dry answers apparently don't affect him.

You find an offer about a big box full of heart shaped containers for meals but you can see it well because the box is placed on top.

You're getting angry, this boy keeps talking and asking and doesn't let you think properly. You're always too kind, you can't be rude, it's not in your nature so you try to read what the box of containers have.

Suddenly, a big shadow appears at the corner of the aisle, König is walking to you without paying much attention to what you're doing, he's reading the instructions of a new shaving cream he found.

- DADDY! Where have you been? I need some help here.

You're doing those puppy eyes he loves, so he approaches quickly, meanwhile Tommy is observing how tall your... Wait? You call him daddy, is he your father or is your boyfriend? These days it is hard to guess it.

König takes the box of containers so you can read better about what it has, while you read König finally notices Tommy's presence. With a dark look and clearly jealous he simply asks...

- Can we help you?

Tommy doesn't respond but you talk for him.

- Ah, Daddy this is... Mmm sorry I forgot your name, Bobby?

- Tommy.

- Ah, sorry, well, Tommy asked me if I knew where the dish soap was.

- So what? Can't he find it by himself?

- Yeah..., no, I mean... Well, I have to go... (He looks on your direction avoiding the jealous look König is giving him) but if your father doesn't mind can I have your number?.

He's brave... But an idiot too, looks so weak and tiny his body could easily break, that's what König thought after he heard that question. But wait... Did he say 'Father'?.

You and König look at each other and then you laugh, while König blushes and gets angrier at the same time. The young man does not understand why you laugh.

- Sorry, am I losing something?

- He is not my father, he's my...

- I'm her husband, now fuck off, rotzig. (snotty-faced)

The young boy quickly leaves without protest, meanwhile you look at König with your pretty puppy eyes full of joy and bright.

- Why are you making that face, Mein Schatz?

- Are you my husband now?

He smirks and then kisses your forehead.

- Ja! I'm your husband now, mein Leben.

- I wanna see the ring on my finger then! You're such a jealous man König, I love that.

[cameronspecial]

Before The Last Petal Falls (Part 2)

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings: N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 2.5K

Summary: It's always a funny thing to be invited to your ex-boyfriend's engagement party. It's an even funnier thing when it seems all his family members have something to say to you.

Masterlist

“How about Lace Place?” Lacey asks, flashing her hands in an ark to imitate the arch of the sign she is imagining. Y/N gives her a funny look at the words, “Babe, that sounds like you sell drugs. If you name your restaurant that, you’ll be attracting the wrong type of clientele. Although, if a stoner accidentally walks in, maybe you’ll get some business from the munchies.” Lacey cringes at the realization and nods. “Hey, you think I could sell some cookies at your bookstore? Maybe, it can help drum up some business,” Lacey suggests. 

“I don’t see why it would be an issue. Let me just read up on the regulations on it just in case we need a special license or something, but it’s such a cute idea. I can get one of those rollie carts and call it the Cookie Cart. Ooh, maybe I can give a free bookmark with each purchase of a cookie.”

“That’s a great idea. Then I could offer the same thing when someone buys a certain thing at the restaurant. Like, get a ten percent coupon for the bookstore. How do you feel about being a dinner special?” 

“Ahh, I love this idea. We are just two business girlies supporting each other. Soon, well, be girl bosses dominating the world.”

“Uhh, excuse me. Last time I checked, you were already a girl boss, who dominates the world. I mean In The Shadows has been in The New York Times Best Sellers for fifty-two weeks, now. You went on an international book tour for your debut book and you are writing the much-anticipated sequel as we speak. You made it, girl.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t discount your achievements though. You literally worked at a Michelin-star restaurant and graduated top of your class at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Now, you are opening your own restaurant at twenty-three.” 

The girls laugh at the little spiel they went on about being proud of their achievement and return to the paperwork they were going through for each of their respective businesses. In the five years since graduating high school, Y/N graduated from Oxford at twenty-one, but not before signing a deal with a major publisher for her book. A year later, her book is on the best sellers list and she is whisked away all over the world to promote it. She does recognize that her success may in part have to do with her mother and considered writing under a pseudonym, but decides against it when she realizes it wouldn’t really do anything. Using a fake name would mean she wouldn’t be able to make an in-person appearance out of concern for being recognized. It’s not exactly like her face has been hidden from her mother’s social media page. She really wants to have those moments to connect physically with her fans.

 On the other hand, Lacey had gone to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu, and then quickly got a job at the Michelin-star restaurant. She decided to quit her job there so that she could open up her own restaurant. 

——

Y/N has no clue where she is going. Mason had just told her to get dressed nicely and to get in the car. She couldn’t get a question out, so she followed his instructions and got changed. She put on tan-coloured pants and a light pink balloon-sleeved satin blouse. She wore a black belt with a gold buckle and golden jewellery to pull the outfit together. Y/N sulked as she walked to Mason’s car. Her pestering as to where they were going went unanswered. When she sees where he stops the car, she wants to literally jump out of the car and run home. “Why did you bring me here, Mace?”

“It’s their engagement party today. I wasn’t planning on bringing you, but Blythe called and she literally begged me to bring you today. She knows how much you meant to Rafe and wants to get to know you more. She hopes, maybe even, that you guys can make up.” 

Y/N gives Mason a questioning look, “She wants her fiancé to get along again with his ex-girlfriend?” Mason nods and gently moves to bring his sister inside. “Blythe is a sweet girl and she really loves Rafe. She feels secu-.” Realizing that what he was about to say may have made his sister feel bad, he quickly switches to a different path. “Blythe is really friendly. She makes it her mission to help mend broken relationships. Rafe told me that she got two girls who were best friends when they were younger to make up after they got into a two-year fight over a boy. Can you just go in? You don’t have to talk to anyone and I literally brought you a book.” Y/N isn’t too excited about going to her ex-boyfriend’s engagement party, but she does as her brother asks. 

The twins enter Tannyhill together and are immediately given each a hug from the excited bride-to-be. “Ahh, and in comes the best man. You are only a tiny bit late, Mace. Y/N, I’m so glad you decided to come. I just know you and Rafe will make up in a jiffy.” Y/N gives an awkward smile, “Yeah, I totally chose to be here voluntarily.” Mason discretely elbows his sister in the stomach with a smile on his face. Play nice, the action signified. Blythe doesn’t seem to sense the sarcasm in Y/N’s words and turns towards Mason. “We are going to take the wedding party pictures now. Come on,” Blythe orders, taking Mason’s hand and dragging him away. “Rafe, say hello to Y/N.”

Y/N hadn’t noticed that Rafe had been standing at the main entrance too. Blythe has a way of holding everyone’s attention in a room. He had been standing there quietly observing the greetings. He quickly murmurs a hello then goes off after Blythe before Y/N can return it. She isn’t sure what to do and seeing as the only people she knows at the party are groomsmen, she goes upstairs to read on the balcony. She knows she probably shouldn’t be up there, but the balcony was guest free and she really didn’t want to explain who she was to anyone else. 

The broken silence from the front yard causes her to look up from the book. She silently watches as it appears the party is being moved outside. Rafe’s arm is wrapped around Blythe’s waist as she makes a speech thanking everyone for being there. Once she is done talking, Rafe follows her around whilst she talks from guest to guest. Rafe and the older lady listen to something Blythe says and they both laugh their heads off. This is why Y/N had to break up with Rafe. She could never be the social butterfly that matched his need to be around people. She could never fake pleasant conversations with people she doesn’t know. She would never want any of the traditional things associated with a wedding. And Rafe deserves all of that. Watching Blythe be all of those things for him cements the idea into Y/N’s mind that she did the right thing for him. He was able to move on and thrive with someone much more like him. With someone who didn’t hold him back. 

“Why does it not surprise me that you are up here?” A voice breaks the silence. Y/N turns to see a much older Wheezie at the door of the balcony. “OMG, Wheez. Look how big you’ve gotten. You are such a dignified young woman. Are you driving yet?” Wheezie moves herself to go sit beside Y/N, “Thank you, but I only seem to have gotten bigger because you haven’t seen me in five years. And I am driving. Rafe and Sarah are too scared to be in a car with me though. Blythe lets me drive her but I think only because she wants brownie points with me.”

“It’s still nice of her though. Do you like her?”

“Yeah, but you would let me drive you because you believe in my driving. Not because you want me to like you. You bribed me with cookies for that. She does it because she wants me to like her. She’s nice, though. But you know, she doesn’t make Rafe’s eyes twinkle as much as you do.”

“Louisa, you can’t keep comparing me to her. She’s the one marrying your brother.”

“And you are the one who still has a tighter hold on his heart even if he won’t admit it. You know I’m still angry at you for breaking up with him in the first place. But I missed you too much to be mad at you right now.”

“You gotta stop saying that. And I know you are mad. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have iced you guys out like that. I’m back now though and you can tell me all about your high school experience.”

“Yeah, yeah. We can talk about that later. Right now, I want you to sign my book.”

“You read my book?”

“Of course I did. You tell the best stories. You know Damian is an interesting character.” 

“He is, isn’t he? Don’t you just love a good demon love interest?”

“Yeah, that’s totally why I find him interesting…” 

Y/N doesn’t comment on Wheezie’s crypticness and follows the girl to her bedroom where the book sits. She signs the book and is dragged back downstairs to the party by the younger girl. Wheezie promises to come back and darts off to who knows where. Y/N is left alone in the kitchen she once used to make dessert cookies for her first date with Rafe. She resorts back to reading her book on the kitchen island. The sound of someone entering the kitchen causes her to look up from her book. Rafe is at the entryway staring at her with a scowl. “Where did you run off to, Y/L/N?”  

“I was upstairs on the balcony, reading.”

“You know, typically guests aren’t allowed upstairs during a party.”

“Wheezie didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”

“Yeah, well, she worships the ground you walk on so she isn’t exactly a non-biased host.” 

They stare each other down for a few seconds in silence before Y/N decides to break it. 

“You told me you wanted to get married at twenty-five.”

“And you told me that you wanted to be with me forever. I guess we are both pretty good at changing our life plan without telling the other.” 

“Haha, such a good retort. You really thought that would hurt me, Rafe?” Her words are only half true. The reminder of the choice she made stings a lot if she were to be honest, but she wasn’t about to admit that. Rafe just shakes his head and pushes past her to get to the fridge. He gets a drink out of it, “Whatever, I don’t have time to deal with this.” On his way out of the kitchen, he accidentally brushes her arm with his elbow and the scent of sea breeze and pool overwhelms her. The fact that he still smells the same after all these years causes her breath to hitch and tears to start to swell in her eyes. Rafe wants to pretend like he doesn’t see it. He wants to pretend like he doesn’t care, so he does. Now, she is left alone in the kitchen, wondering where the hell Wheezie went. 

Y/N goes in search of the younger girl, but it seems to be like playing a game of Where’s Waldo with the amount of other people in the house. Somehow, Y/N always seems to find herself in the same room as Rafe and it doesn’t go unnoticed by her that every time he spots her, he moves to another room. He’s avoiding her and she obviously understands why he would. Eventually, she gives up on finding Wheezie, but she soon regrets staying in the now-empty backyard. Because Ward Cameron is quick to make his presence known to the girl. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you here.” Y/N looks at Ward with critical eyes, it’s not every day she sees the human embodiment of her insecurities in person. Her hands go to hold her locket and plays with it between her fingers. 

“I’m not here out of my free will. The bride wanted me here and what the bride wants, she gets.”

“Ahh, yes. Blythe,” Ward begins, they both look at Rafe and Blythe through the window. “Isn’t she a much better fit for him? She went to UNC with him. She moved to the OBX for him. Look at everything she sacrificed for him.” Y/N watches as Blythe and Rafe interact with the guests of the party. She can’t listen to Ward’s insistent belittling of her, so she does what Rafe would argue she does best and runs away from Tannyhill. She runs as fast as she can back home without a care for her tired limbs. Once safely in the sanctuary of her room, she slams her back against her door and starts crying. She doesn’t know why she is; she’s over Rafe. She let him go, but something about Ward poking holes at all of her insecurities brought back some complicated feelings she always seems to want to repress. 

——

Rafe had seen Ward talking to Y/N through the glass and he watched confused as she ran off after something his father said. He had no idea what Ward said but he was sure as hell going to find out. The engagement party has finally come to an end. Rose and Blythe went out to do some wedding shopping, while Sarah and Wheezie went to go do sister things, leaving Rafe the perfect opportunity to interrogate Ward. “What did you say to my ex-girlfriend?” Ward turns toward his son in his desk chair, “Nothing she hasn’t already heard before. What does it matter? As far as I know, you didn’t want anything to do with her.” Rafe shakes his head at his dad’s callousness. “Really, Dad? Even after we’ve been broken up for five years, you still find a way to torment her,” Rafe argues. 

Ward gives a questioning tilt of his head towards his father, “She broke up with you. How could you still care for you?” “She may have made the decision to break up with me and I will always be angry at her for that. But I’m not oblivious enough to think you were a harmless observer in Y/N and mine’s relationship,” Rafe begins. “I know you probably said some things to her that set our break up into motion. I want to make something clear, Dad. Even if we are broken up, I don’t want you to get your claws into Y/N’s head ever again. She doesn’t deserve it no matter how much she hurt me.” Rafe finishes his threat and gets up from the chair he sits upon. He storms out of Ward’s office without another word. 

Taglist: @sublimepenguinpeach-blog @gillybear17 @f4ll-for-you @winterrrnight @maggiecc

[crazycookiemaniac]

hi can u give me dummy steps on how commissions work? What app do u use??? How does it link to ur bank account?? Can ppl see ur real identity when they pay?? What r the usual prices etc.... im in a bit of a bind, financially and i have quite a lot of time on my hands during my job where i can write i feel and i want to start commissions. Im technologically (and more importantly, w my bank) very incompetent iG pls help thamk you. Love ur work btw!!:)

Hello there! Let me try to help you:

First, make sure your clients can easily get in touch with you. For example, try to have the same username in different social media and allow your clients to request via any of them. In my case, I'm "crazycookiemaniac" on Tumblr, Twitter/X, Instagram, Gmail and I even made a website that's offline at the moment (though the website is completely optional. You don't need to go that far). You can also create a linktree and copy&paste the link on your social media bios so people know where to find you!

Second step is, decide how much you want to be paid for your work. This step is pretty hard because it depends on so many things, like how much time you spend working on your writing, what you're willing to write and what you aren't, how much in a bind you are and how much you actually want to earn with commissions.

Using my own case as an example, when I first started working on art commissions 12~13 years ago, my prices varied between $2 and $7 USD. Nowadays, I charge $70~$130 (per character, and charge almost the same prices for additional characters). Even now, I'm not sure if I'm charging correctly for my work, but I still get clients so I'm assuming it's fair enough. I also offer discounts every so often when I'm in need to earn more quickly. A tip I can give you is to look for how much people who offer similar work as you are charging and create your price sheet according to theirs. Reminder that you are allowed to charge extra if the requests are too difficult or something you're not used to doing often (NSFW, for example).

Third: How to accept payments. I personally use PayPal Business, because in this case people will only see my business name (CrazyCookieManiac Productions) instead of my real name. And one VERY important note: always send invoices. DO NOT allow people to transfer you money of their own accord, because if you do you won't be eligible for the seller protection and you might get scammed (happened to me a couple times). If you don't want to send invoices, you can open a ko-fi, link it to your paypal and allow people to pay you through there (it'll be like they're paying for a service, so you'll be eligible for seller protection).

Other important notes:

-> Make sure you're paid at least 50% before starting to work on a commission, especially if it's a new client. It reduces the chances of you being scammed.

-> Always ask your client if they have a deadline, or let them know in how long they can expect you to finish or deliver part of what they paid for. Communication is key for a successful commission!

-> Set an amount of times your client can ask for free edits. I'm saying this because it may happen that one of them asks for way too many edits and you might have other commissions to work on. Time is money!

-> If you can, come up with a FAQ (even if no one asked you anything lol). Write stuff about deadlines, permissions to use your work, what you're comfortable with working and not, if you can make exceptions or not, stuff like that!

And I think that's it? I'm sorry if this isn't perfect, I just wrote down how I usually deal with stuff. If there's anything else I can help you with, let me know!

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS (INCLUDING ETSY), March 2024

Since I wrote so many articles on Etsy in the past 2 months, it took longer than usual for me to get the full ecommerce update out. Sorry about the delay, but here it is!

For fresher and more frequent updates, please follow me on Bluesky or on LinkedIn, or become a member of my Patreon.

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

Etsy’s fourth quarter 2023 financial results came out February 21; I did a deep dive into all the announcements here. In short, there are a lot of new things coming, and some changes that may have affected some sellers already, including:

plans for more predictable shipping costs for buyers and sellers (what does that mean?)

Etsy Ads are now localized outside of the United States

search will be shifting to boost "high quality" items, going from highlighting what shoppers are most likely to buy to what shoppers are most likely to love

a buyer loyalty program is coming

the goal of “shortening our estimated delivery dates this year by at least 2 days”

This recent post on Bluesky indicates that Etsy is surveying buyers on what they would pay for shipping, which could be related to the “predictable shipping costs” mentioned. A recent Etsy presentation at an investor conference provided a few clarifications on points discussed during the 4th quarter call, and in previous interviews and announcements.

“Our research showed that 10% off is a waste in this market. It's not enough to drive an incremental conversion, so all you did is give up margin. So recently, you've seen us both change the default and talk to sellers about how if you're going to put something on sale in this environment, it needs to be at least 25% off.” [my emphasis] Silverman has previously mentioned that buyers want discounts these days. 

Since the information sellers provide when listing (i.e., titles, tags, descriptions, attributes) “is not always very reliable”, Etsy uses image recognition to classify items as well

They are working on improvement for international fulfillment

Most orders on Etsy aren’t impulse buys; 70% involve 2 or more visits, and 50% involve 4 or more visits

“only one out of every three women in the United States bought something on Etsy last year…. only one out of every 10 men bought something on Etsy last year.”

Etsy’s use of AI in places such as Gift Mode is not in-house. (We already knew they used OpenAI’s GPT-4 for Gift Mode.) 

eBay increased the transaction fee from 30 to 40 cents as of March 15, for all orders over $10. 

An Etsy fee increase of some sort is likely coming soon, as Etsy has surveyed sellers on which options they would most prefer. While I was not picked to take the survey, a few people who did have contacted me with screenshots and details, which I wrote about in some detail. 

Packaging laws are becoming quite onerous for some ecommerce microbusinesses, but fortunately the Etsy forum crew has helped out with a recent summary of which countries in Europe require registration or payment to ship into the jurisdiction. Thanks to Claudia of https://www.etsy.com/no-en/shop/DoceVikaVintage for doing most of the legwork. 

ETSY NEWS 

Etsy is once again changing some sellers’ processing days, adding Saturday or Sunday into the mix when the shop owner only selected Monday to Friday. Some are seeing a notice on their dashboard, while others received an email.

Remember, in the 4th quarter 2023 earnings report, Silverman said “shortening our estimated delivery dates this year by at least 2 days” was a goal, and unilaterally changing your processing times is one step towards that goal. Please check your shipping settings, as this could mean you need to ship earlier than you realize, and Etsy could put you on reserve, remove your Star Seller badge, and deny you Seller Protection when you ship later than Etsy thinks you should.

If that wasn’t bad enough, some sellers are reporting that Etsy has changed the timing of sending the Abandoned Cart discount to almost immediate, and changed the official Help file on the topic to say the coupon was sent just 2 hours after the listing was carted, down from 24 hours. Others say they can no longer deactivate these coupons, and that Etsy Support told them it was a known bug. 

If you want to learn how Etsy's algorithms work and what they favour, the company has added more details on "recommendations" modules we see all over the site to the legal policy page. I've written a short piece highlighting what sellers should pay attention to if they want visibility on Etsy.

Etsy is adding Regulatory Operating Fees to orders in India (0.29%) and Vietnam (1.24%) as of April 1, 2024. On the same day, the Regulatory Operating Fee in Spain will increase to 0.72% (from 0.4%), and the fee for Türkiye goes up to 2.27% (from 1.1%).

The Prohibited Items Policy has been updated in several places, as of March 5 2024. Some of the new sections are covered in this article. As always, the most important parts of these changes will be how Etsy chooses to interpret them, so for the moment I don’t have any further comment, other than to say these types of changes are sometimes driven by law, and sometimes by previous incidents in which Etsy is unhappy with the outcome. 

Looks like businesses in China will soon be able to use Etsy Payments, meaning new shops in China may be able to open for the first time since 2021. (It's not unusual for Etsy to beta test new countries before announcing them officially; it’s hard to say if that is what is happening here or not.)

Etsy's forum restrictions - requiring a signed-in seller account to view most posts - will start on March 26. Only posts in the Announcements and Technical Issues sections will still be visible to everyone. 

There has been some speculation that this is to reduce spamming of Etsy sellers after they post, but the change will also have the bonus of journalists, investors and others not being able to read Etsy sellers' complaints about the platform.

It’s possible to have your product photos featured on the persona page of Etsy's Gift Mode but not have the product available for sale in Gift Mode. I’ve checked several times, and have never seen that seller’s embroidery piece in the featured listings. If you missed my blog post on Gift Mode, check it out here. Note that Etsy seems to have made some changes since I originally released the post. Among other Gift Mode promotions, Etsy employees rang the opening bell at Nasdaq the day after the Super Bowl. Did you know that this year’s Super Bowl was the most watched show in the US since the 1969 moon landing? Etsy hired Drew Barrymore to promote the corporation's new gifting push, which will continue all year. And the company has also released a new “gift teaser” email that buyers can have sent to recipients, which is useful for last-minute shoppers. 

Elliott Management now owns 13% of Etsy shares and options - making it the largest investor -  and now has a board member at the corporation. Known as activist investors, they usually force companies to cut costs ; for example they pressured “Salesforce, in which it has a multibillion-dollar investment, to harsh new policies for engineers and salespeople aimed at reducing headcount.”

Newly-opened Etsy shops will soon be subject to stricter ID requirements, a $15 fee, and longer holds on their early sales; I covered the details we know on LinkedIn. 

If you use the new listing form, you may see a new pricing tool pop up. (It’s not on the old listing form.) Ridiculously, Etsy calls it an “estimated profit calculator”, when really, it’s just an Etsy fee calculator, and not a good one at that. It includes the lowest processing fee possible (some countries have a range of processing fees) and also excludes taxes you may pay on your fees. I don’t know if it includes country-specific fees such as regulatory fees, as Canada does not currently have those.

Etsy has several sales events coming up, including the “spring refresh” which has already started and continues until April 15. 

There are reports of Etsy now advertising its commercials in Canada, which is a first as far as I know. 

Struggling to update your tax information on Etsy? One tip is to use a different link to enter the updates. Another is to use a pdf or png file, not a jpg, when uploading documents, and to combine multiple documents into one. If Etsy is asking your LLP/LLC or corporation to upload ID, I’ve had multiple people report that personal ID should work, even if the wording of the page says it won't. 

If you are frustrated by the recent Etsy test removing the total number of items in a search, I explained here how to determine the exact number of results if there are less than 16,000 listings. Also, you can just try another browser or device because it is a test (I do not have it on desktop). 

Remember when The Smiley Company sued tons of small sellers for trademark infringement, and asked for damages? Some Etsy sellers fought back - and won.

Who is removing Taylor Swift-themed items from Etsy - the artist, or the marketplace?  Swift has sent cease and desist letters to Etsy shops in the past. 

The articles about Etsy being awash with non-handmade and counterfeit goods never end. Here’s one from Australia. Here’s one about Etsy sellers publishing fan fiction that is already free on the web and charging a huge amount. And the media attention to deepfake porn on Etsy also continues. AI use is also subject to media scrutiny. 

TikTok’s push to attract more sellers apparently involves approaching Etsy shop owners. [soft paywall; Modern Retail] 

Josh Silverman has sold off most of his remaining Etsy stock. 

I did a short report on who Etsy laid off in December. 

The scammers advertising a fake Etsy customer support phone number on Google are catching buyers too - why can't this be stopped? "Anyone looking to contact Etsy for customer service issues should be aware that there is no phone number to contact for Etsy support." It’s a big problem that Google seems unable to control, given this study on other fraudulent Google Ads.  

Speaking of scammers, there is a new version of fake copyright takedowns affecting numerous sellers; the person who files the DMCA then offers to remove it for a fee, or even file takedowns against your competitors for a bigger fee. Etsy did fix the first round after 3-4 days, but the perpetrator then filed new DMCAs from a different email address. 

ECOMMERCE NEWS (minus social media)

General

Michael’s Makerplace is beta testing selling third-party items in Michael’s brick and mortar stores. “Michaels says that MakerPlace garnered interest from thousands of sellers during its initial beta period, mainly through word-of-mouth. The company declined to disclose how many sellers are on the platform currently and is now focused on growing customers for those vendors to sell to. Buchanan says the next month will be "critical to make sure [the platform gets] some mass engagement from a buyer perspective."

Some Depop sellers had issues with deposits recently, with the money never being sent to their bank accounts, and instead the deposit was continually rescheduled for the next day. This may or may not be related to similar issues on Etsy. Depop is also immediately scrapping seller fees for the UK (as long as the account sells in GBP), but is adding a 5% fee for buyers in the UK as of April 15. Clearly the site thinks it has more UK demand than UK inventory, and that at least some of those buyers will pay for the ability to buy second-hand. Depop press release. 

Beni is a new “secondhand search engine” that pulls up used apparel from multiple different marketplaces such as eBay, Poshmark, and ThredUp. It offers an app and a Chrome browser extension. 

Temu is subject to a class-action lawsuit claiming that the company’s app is highly intrusive and can read "literally everything on your phone." Also, businesses in the United States can now sell on Temu. 

There are many different platforms and marketplaces to sell digital products such as ebooks, templates and courses; here are 20. 

Amazon

If you sell on Amazon, make sure you have 2-factor authentication set up, as it will be a requirement starting March 28th. Users will need a mobile number or authenticator app. 

Amazon is using generative AI to create new listings for merchants who enter a link of the product on another site. “The goal is to help sellers reduce the time it takes to bring the product from a different website onto Amazon.”

If you don’t use at least 3 images per product page, Amazon will now add in photos from other merchants on the site. 

Amazon had a strong fourth quarter in 2023, beating all estimates.  Amazon Lending has been discontinued, but existing loans do not change until the term ends.

eBay

eBay agreed to a $59 million settlement in the US Department of Justice’s case regarding the selling of tools to make counterfeit drugs. The company must also modify its restricted items policies. 

eBay joined the layoff race on January 23 when it let go 9% of its staff (~1000 people). Those layoffs were spread throughout the company, including plenty of engineers, legal and PR staff, and several recruiters, as well as authentication staff. The company also made upper-management changes. 

eBay’s 4th quarter financial results were up a bit, but active buyers keep dropping. 

Jewellery sellers in the UK faced an across-the-board fee hike as of March 7, adding 2% to the final value fee. This appears to be related to covering the authenticity process, which only applies to certain items above £500. 

Be careful when you confirm your Promoted Listings Standard campaign on eBay - a few sellers report accidentally upgrading to a far more expensive Advanced Cost Per Click campaign.

Walmart

Walmart is offering discounts for new sellers, covering part of fees for up to 90 days. 

If you sell on the Walmart marketplace, beware of the new rules on making authenticity claims.

Payment Processing

Klarna is now offering a monthly subscription to be able to use it at brick and mortar retailers without additional fees. The Verge speculates this may be related to Klarna’s rumoured pending IPO. The company has also employed an AI chatbot to do the work of 700 customer support employees. 

A US study reports that at least 20% of US consumers have used buy now, pay later options at least once. 

PayPal joined the tech layoff trend, getting rid of 9% of staff in January.

Venmo settings are public by default; here’s how to change that. [Washington Post gift link]

Shipping 

Is “free shipping” becoming less common? It appears so. [soft paywall: Business Insider]

Apparently USPS has significant delays in the Atlanta area, leaving packages in limbo for weeks. (Strangely, I had a shipment held up in Atlanta in late January even though the new processing centre did not open until February 24, and that package was finally delivered last week.)

Good basic post on return policies (from a Canadian perspective). Note that half of those surveyed say that return policies affect their purchase decisions.

Canada Post has sold its logistics and IT companies as it struggles to become profitable, and may be looking towards more ecommerce options. 

UPS will be laying off 12,000 employees this year, to save around $1 billion. The company is also starting to deliver to homes on Saturdays in major Canadian cities by March.

That's it for now! I hope to have the full SEO & marketing report out next week.

[doctorsiren]

Careful on your Etsy they take huge cuts. Like 20% off when people see your stuff on Etsy ads and they'll take shipping charge even if you ship it yourself

For the offsite ads thing, I know you can opt out of having your listings be shown, which I’ll do once my shop is set up.

As for the shipping thing, I don’t quite get what you’re saying? I work in a post office that deals with USPS, FedEx, and UPS, so I’ll explain from what I can understand. With Etsy and really any online vendor like that, when you make a sale, the shipping cost goes towards creating a prepaid shipping label that the seller will print out and put on the outside of the package. The cost of shipping wouldn’t be profit because it’s the cost of purchasing a label / correct postage and you wouldn’t need that money to use to buy the correct meter / postage for the package because it goes towards the purchase and creation of this shipping label that the seller prints out.

This differs from a sale or the shipment of something that does not have a prepaid label. For that, you would bring it into the post office, weigh it, and choose from your options depending on how fast you want the package to get there, pay for it, and then the clerk will print out a meter or a label (in my particular PO, we print labels for FedEx, but print meters for USPS)

On Etsy, from what I can gather, the seller of the shop can purchase the shipping labels through Etsy itself. My labels will be USPS first class (the cheapest method of shipping and the method used for packages underneath 13 ounces) since my packages will be typically pretty light. Etsy says that purchasing the labels through them for USPS gives a 30% discount on the price of the label compared to the PO price, which is pretty nice. My PO gets discounts with FedEx, not USPS, so I’ll most likely be using Etsy’s shipping label service. It says that there’s no additional fee to use it from what I can tell.

If I’m wrong about this, don’t hesitate to tell me haha

But hey! Thank you for the message about it /gen ! I never would have known about the offsite ad thing if you hadn’t said something, and I’m glad this is kind of forcing me to sit down and read policies and stuff like that haha

[ohsochill]

i used to think working at a bookstore would be the perfect vibe for me.

love books. love reading. love bookstores. nice discount. why would this not be a good idea for me?

then, in my 20s, i got a job at barnes and noble and i hated it.

the store i worked at was very hell bent on selling memberships to customers. as cashiers, we were taught how to upsell a membership and i could only RARELY for the life of me, get someone to bite the bait. the membership gets you free shipping online, i think 40% off of hardcover bestsellers, some percentage off in the cafe, and 10% off anything else in the store. only for an annual/sign up fee of just $25 (which now seems like PENNIES. 25 bucks for a whole year for you rich mofos that spend $100+ dollars in here regularly? now that i have a real day job even i would sign up - if i didn't prefer just getting used books on amazon)

the only time i could get someone to sign up would be if they had spent $250 or more on their purchase, because signing up got you 10% off your order, and the membership was literally free at that point. i had a few instances where this happened and people still told me no.

i didn't care to haggle people to buy a membership. i would have preferred to ring them up normally and not even bring it up. and even though i was the lowest seller of memberships, the managers refused to stick me anywhere else. i would have been so much better at shelving books or doing inventory in the back, but they felt like i needed to get better at upselling first. which made no sense to me. if im not good in one area, just put me somewhere else. is that not common sense? i had this job during the time i fell into my first depression, and one day i could not hold it together. i was fighting back tears while ringing up a customer, so i went and asked the manager if i could be given a task in the back - something that didn't require me to talk to customers because i couldn't keep it together. instead she told me to go home. this was the better option anyway, but they just never wanted to show me how to do something else and i didn't get why.

i started to feel like the treatment was somewhat discriminatory. the bookstore was in a somewhat affluent area, in a shopping center with alot of pricey retail shops. 90% of the customers were white, and i was the only black girl on staff, so you can imagine. customers asking me a question, then asking a white employee, only for them to give the exact same answer i did. the latter time being sufficient somehow. any time i tried to speak up for myself, or just correct someone, - at a normal and sometimes low volume, people would respond as if i had yelled at them. when all i did was have the courage to speak directly. the same way they spoke to me.

something about working minimum wage jobs amongst teens and being spoken to and treated like one, even though you're an actual adult, bothered me. along with the microaggressions and refusal to train me on something else. i quit after about 6 months.

moral of the story:

things aren't always what they seem. &, any job involving sales is not a job for me.

[turboautoparts1]

How to Save Money by Buying a Used Engine Online

If you're looking to replace your car's engine without breaking the bank, buying used engines online could be one of the smartest decisions you make. Purchasing a new engine can be incredibly expensive, but going the used route gives you the performance you need without the high price tag. With a little bit of research and know-how, you can save a significant amount of money. Let me walk you through some of the best tips for saving money when buying a used engine online.

1. Research, Research, Research!

Before making any purchase, it's important to do your homework. Not all used engines are created equal, and you want to make sure you're getting the best deal. Look for reputable sellers with good reviews, and make sure the engine you’re buying fits your specific vehicle's make and model. The last thing you want is to get an engine that doesn’t work with your car. Compare prices on multiple websites to ensure you’re not overpaying. Many online retailers offer competitive prices, and you might find that shopping around could save you hundreds, if not thousands, on your used engine purchase.

2. Check the Engine’s History

This is a big one. You wouldn’t buy a used car without checking its history, so why would you buy a used engine without knowing where it came from? Look for engines that come with a detailed history report. This report should tell you the mileage on the engine, any prior issues it may have had, and whether it’s been rebuilt. Engines with fewer miles and a clean history are likely to last longer and give you fewer problems in the future. This step alone can save you a ton of money in repairs down the line.

3. Ask About Warranties

Even when buying a used engine, some sellers offer warranties, which can provide peace of mind. You should always ask about any available warranties or guarantees on the engine. A short-term warranty, even if it’s just 30 to 90 days, can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong after installation. A warranty could save you from unexpected repair costs if the engine turns out to have hidden problems. Always prioritize sellers who offer some form of warranty on their used engines.

4. Consider the Shipping Costs

One thing that people often forget about when buying a used engine online is shipping costs. Engines are heavy, and shipping can add up. Some retailers offer free shipping, so keep an eye out for that option. In other cases, it may be more affordable to buy locally if you find a seller near you who allows for local pickup. Always factor in shipping when comparing prices so you don’t get blindsided by additional costs.

5. Know What You Need

Before you even start shopping for a used engine, make sure you know exactly what you need. There are different types of engines, and some may not be compatible with your vehicle. Take down your car’s VIN number, engine type, and any other specific details to ensure you’re getting the right part. Making a mistake here could cost you more in the long run. The clearer you are on what you need, the less likely you’ll have to deal with costly returns or wrong orders.

6. Look for Discounts and Deals

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Many online platforms offer seasonal discounts, bulk purchase deals, or promotional codes that can bring down the cost of your used engine. Keep an eye out for flash sales or subscribe to seller newsletters so you can be the first to know about any discounts. A simple promo code could save you a chunk of money!

7. Don’t Forget Installation Costs

While the main focus is on saving money by purchasing a used engine online, don't forget about installation costs. Once you receive your engine, you’ll likely need a mechanic to install it unless you're doing it yourself. Ask for quotes from local mechanics before you buy so that you can budget for installation. Sometimes, a mechanic may even be able to help you source the engine, saving you even more money.

8. Avoid Scams

This might seem obvious, but it's critical when shopping online. There are plenty of reputable sellers, but unfortunately, there are also scams out there. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you are buying from trusted sellers with good reviews. Also, double-check the seller's return policies and read the fine print to avoid getting stuck with a bad engine. Stick to well-known platforms or websites that have customer protection policies in place.

9. Use Forums and Groups for Recommendations

Car enthusiast forums and groups can be a goldmine of information when you’re shopping for a used engine. People who have been in the same situation can point you to reliable sellers, recommend where to find good deals, or even warn you of sellers to avoid. Getting personal recommendations can sometimes be more reliable than reading through seller reviews, especially if you're new to buying car parts online.

10. Buy from Certified Sellers

When possible, try to buy from certified sellers or suppliers. Some sellers specialize in reconditioned or tested engines and offer more thorough quality control than private sellers. Certified engines often come with a bit more assurance that you’re buying something that has been inspected and is in good working condition. Yes, they may cost a little more upfront, but they can save you from the risk of buying a faulty engine, which could end up costing more in the long run.

Conclusion

Buying a used engine online is a fantastic way to save money, but only if you do it right. By following the steps above—researching your engine’s history, looking for warranties, considering shipping costs, and being mindful of scams—you can ensure you’re getting a great deal without sacrificing quality. When done correctly, purchasing a used engine online can be one of the best investments you make in your vehicle, saving you money and keeping your car running smoothly for years to come

[just6f]

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[askshivanulegacy]

/rant ahead

You know, I'm a suuuper lazy person. When I order stuff in the mail, I don't care when it arrives, just that it DOES. I'll wait months. It's fine. I love Kickstarters and I don't care how long it takes them to start shipping stuff out. I love independent crafters and sellers and I know people have lives. All I want is my stuff while I still remember that I ordered it.

I draw the line at two. fucking. years.

And this isn't even a Kickstarter, you know, because for Kickstarters I don't care. This is. A normal fucking website, where you place an order like a normal person. Like Etsy. Like Amazon.

It had hands-down, THE nicest, prettiest, most gorgeous selection of ultra detailed enamel pins I have ever seen. These were ART. Dragon pins. Fantasy pins. Pokemon pins. All the pins! Not just one or two, no, I'm talking the PIN MOTHERLOAD of GORGEOUSNESS.

I placed a very generous order and was looking forward to new releases and going back for more.

And then they proceeded to string me along for two years. Every time I turned around, there was some other "emergency." And it's not even like I was bugging them about it. I waited for holidays. I waited solid MONTHS between reaching back out. But every time, it was something new.

Meanwhile, other people were receiving their orders and they were still sending out website updates and advertising their Patreon, and the website constantly said "still taking orders!" across the top.

I'm sorry. Going on two years for my single order and you're still accepting payments from people and fulfilling their orders, but for some reason, you can't do mine??

Maybe you need to stop taking people's money if you can't keep up, and fulfill your existing obligations.

I WAITED for any kind of apology. I waited for them to say they would give me a discount. Or a refund. Or throw in some freebie pins.

I have the entire email trail and not a single time was I offered any kind of apology. It's just a pure string of excuse after excuse after excuse. Like, at some point, as a business person, it literally doesn't matter if you feel sorry or not, but you are obligated to say it. If you actually care about your customer service, if you actually care about your customer being sympathetic to your life events.

These people clearly did not.

So, after two years, I finally opened up my package and got my lovely two-year-old pins. Do you think there were any freebies thrown in? Pins? Stickers? Prints? Cheap apologetic garbage???

No. There was nothing. And not once was I offered any kind of a discount. At this point, you know, 5% would have been expected. 25% would have been realistic and reasonable. PLUS one or two free pins, especially if they ever wanted me to come back, given my sizable order in the first place.

Anyway. I thought about calling this shop out just to warn people off of it, but the pins are just that good that even if I did, it would only give them more business. Which I don't want. I even went back and browsed their entire website and there are whole handfuls of premiumly priced pins that I would throw money down for right now, if I hadn't just had to wait two years for them to find their own asses and deliver after constant lies.

So I'm not going to say who they are. If you ask me to name them, I cannot in good conscience tell you. But if you see an independent pin website out there with a "hiatus but still accepting orders!" banner across the top, then order at your own risk. You can privately send me the name of a place and I will say yes or no.

But that's it. This shop is dead to me. I wish it wasn't. I would order again. For any sellers out there, take note: if you screw up THAT royally, you need to be acknowledging it, and you need to be offering freebies and/or discounts. I would have come back if they had just thrown me a damn bone. I wanted them to. I was waiting for it. It was so, so, so, so obvious that, two years later (!!!!) maybe even a small kind word would have been warranted!

But they didn't.

[tomreview]

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[captainmdhridoyhossain-blog]

[ad_1] So let's first look at how amazon fba actually works so let's say i want to make some money by selling products on amazon well the first thing i need to do is to find a product that would be actually good to sell on amazon and i'm going to show you Exactly how to do that in the product research phase then once i found my product i'm gonna go and look for a manufacturer a supplier for this specific product who can make that product for me because we're not gonna create the products ourselves once i found a good Manufacturer i'm going to order a specific amount of products from that specific supplier then the supplier is going to create the products they're going to manufacture the products for us and once those products are manufactured we're gonna tell our supplier to send those products into an amazon warehouse called amazon Fulfillment center then once our products arrive in the amazon warehouse we can create a listing for our product on amazon and then people can actually find our product on amazon and go ahead and buy it once they buy our product amazon will take care of the rest they Will ship the product to the customer they will take care of the returns and also of the customer support once our product is listed and it's getting sales on amazon all we need to do is to make sure to continue ordering new products from our supplier tell the supplier to Send them in the warehouses so we don't run out of stock and we can continue selling the products on amazon so fba stands for fulfillment by amazon because once somebody goes to our listing and buys our product amazon is going to be responsible to fulfill that specific Order and ship that product to the customer there's also something called fbm which stands for fulfillment by merchant if you go with the fbm model then once somebody orders your product on amazon you as the seller are going to be responsible for shipping that product to the customer so you're going to be Responsible for the fulfillment now for this video we're going to focus on fba so fulfillment by amazon now let's go over the four main business models how you can sell on amazon the first one is wholesale if you do a wholesaling then you're basically buying a lot of Products in bulk from established brands and you're reselling them on amazon to make a profit the second one is retail arbitrage if you do this business model then you're just going out and find discounted products from retailers and you're listing them on amazon to sell Them for a profit you can also do drop shipping if you're going to be drop shipping you're going to create a listing for a specific product on amazon and then once somebody buys that product you're going to tell your supplier for that product to sell it directly to the Customer and then the fourth business model is private labeling this is going to be the business model that you're going to learn how to do in this specific video so with private labeling what we're basically doing is we're going to go out and look for products that are already selling on amazon and Then we're going to sell the exact same product or a better version of it with our own logo and branding and because we're selling a high quality and branded product we're able to sell it for a very high price point also giving us a very good profit margin and making us a lot Of money here you can see some examples of private label products take for example this head shaver right here this is probably manufactured somewhere in china for like 30 but because this is branded and there's actually a logo on the product they're able to sell it for a hundred and ten Dollars giving them a very high profit margin and they're probably also making a lot of money and it's basically the same thing with these resistance bands or this water bottle now what are some advantages and disadvantages to start an amazon fba business the by far biggest advantage of starting an amazon business Is that you're

going to be able to leverage the brand and infrastructure off amazon amazon is the biggest e-commerce platform on the planet and they already have millions of customers buying from amazon every single day and you're going to be able to access those customers if you put your product on Amazon you'll also be able to take advantage of the infrastructure of amazon meaning you don't need to rent a warehouse and ship the products to the customers yourself amazon is going to do all that for you they're also going to manage a lot of the customer support and Handle their returns and your products are going to get to the customer as quickly as possible with prime shipping now another advantage in terms of this specific business model is that once it's running it can be very passive so once your product is listed and it continually gets clicks in the amazon Search engine then all you need to do is make sure to send more products from your supplier to the amazon warehouses and everything else will basically run on autopilot so it's really kind of a passive business once it's actually running and that's also why amazon fba is a great business Model to start as a side hustle and then once it grows big enough you can do this full time and grow a million dollar brand another great thing about this business model is that you're going to have location independence all you need to run this business is a computer and An internet connection so as you can see there's a lot of advantages of starting an amazon fba business and leveraging the amazon fba platform however you're also going to need to play by amazon's rules if you want to sell on their platform because eventually it is their platform and it's also their customers So this could definitely be considered a disadvantage of selling on amazon that you're basically going to be dependent on this specific platform you're also gonna need to pay fees for every sale that you make directly to amazon and it's also very hard to build a customer list from people who actually buy your Product because amazon really wants to keep all the data for themselves now with all that being said i do think that amazon fba is one of the best business models you can start right now especially if you are a beginner and now let's go over some of the most asked Questions about amazon fba the first one is how much money do i need to start this business and a good range would be two thousand to five thousand dollars as a starting budget because in order to sell on amazon you're gonna need to order a specific amount of units Of your product and sell that to the warehouse before you can make your first sale and you're gonna have to pay that upfront to the supplier also you're gonna have to pay for shipping those products into the amazon warehouse that's why i need a starting budget of two thousand to five thousand dollars Obviously the more the better if you have less than two thousand dollars then it's better to make some more money and start the business the right way once you have enough money how long will it take to make money so usually it takes three to six months to make your first Sale on amazon with your new product reason being is because you're gonna need to take some time to find a good product then you need to find a supplier for that product and once you have found a supplier for a good product to sell that supplier obviously needs some time To manufacture those products once they're manufactured you need to send them to a warehouse which depending on your shipping method can also take like a month and that's why it takes a couple of months to get your first sale on amazon but obviously the more time you spend on Your business in the beginning the quicker you'll be able to get it running how much money can i make with amazon fba so actually there's really no cap of how much money you can make obviously it depends on what product you're selling your profit margin how many products you're selling and how

Big your brand eventually is but as a beginner i would shoot for somewhere in between three thousand and ten thousand dollars per month in profit then can i do this from anywhere yes we already talked about this and is amazon fba already too saturated the answer is no obviously there are Some niches where the saturation is quite high and it's going to be very difficult to get in that market as a beginner however there still are a lot of markets where you can still get in where it's not too saturated and honestly if you have a good listing a High quality product and good branding it's not that difficult to outperform all the other products that are already selling on amazon and that's what you're gonna learn exactly in this video how to find a great product how to brand that product and how to create an amazing Listing where the customers are going to choose your product over all the other ones [ad_2] #Amazon #FBA #Simply #Explained #Minutes For More Interesting Article Visit : https://mycyberbase.com/

[chelseafcwmemes]

hii 👋

sabs sent me your way...I'm looking for your tricks in buying west end tickets cheaper. any advice ?

Hello!

She sent you a great way haha. Are there any shows you are specially interested in, I would love to know?

I’m so sorry for the length of this! But feel free to sent an anon more or a dm, i’m more than happy to help :)

First an overall tip: always recommend going to seatplan.com and search for the show, they have reviews with pictures from almost every seat at any show and there’ll be a good description of the view - it’s the best tool!

There’s a few tricks for cheap tickets:

The first one is a little obvious and boring but that’s booking a little in advance. There’s always cheap(er) tickets around £15-35 though they say restricted view, that usually isn’t the restricted. I almost always buy the cheapest ones and they’re fine only with a little less legroom - i’ve seen almost every show or been to almost every theatre and have not experienced anything completely awful yet. I’d say 3-4 weeks prior should give you a good variety of seats (unless it’s Heathers then 6 weeks). Seatplan.com is your best friend while booking these tickets

Other than that the better ways are a little risky, there’s something called TKTS, which is the official Theatre of London company and they have on-the-day sales where you can buy discounted remaining seats for shows. You can either do that online or at their official booth at Leicester Square (I prefer this.) There’s usually seats for every show but they are discounted from their original price, so fx £40 might seems like a lot but you’re getting a seat worth £80+ for it. It’s of course a little more tricky as nothing is guaranteed. I usually don’t experience anything below £20 but you can get insanely good seats for 50% to big shows like Les Mis. I would NOT use the unofficial sellers around the West End but that’s just a personal thing.

The other way is by lottery. A few shows like Matilda, Moulin Rouge, Cabaret and Hamilton does weekly lotteries, where you enter a chance to buy cheap tickets. The first three are for £25 and for Hamilton it’s £10! I just entered the Hamilton one and for that you need to enter Wednesday the latest the week prior to your trip and you’ll get an answer Thursday and a chance to purchase tickets, should you be selected. Of course a lot of locals also do these lotteries so the guarantee is quite slim - specially for Hamilton. There’s more information about these on their websites - however this is probably the most uncertain of ways.

I know Matilda have student discount tickets for £15 but you have to show up at the theatre on the day of the show to purchase tickets (first come, first serve)

Hope this helps a little, unfortunately after COVID it has gotten a lot more expensive, prior Wicked had £17.5 tickets and now their cheapest are around £30

Here’s the link to TKTS:

[homebuyersjit]

Are you looking best guide for selling your house fast in cash

If you need to sell your house fast for cash, me recommend taking three steps to ensure you get a fair price for your home while selling on your timeline. First, identify all the iBuyers and cash buyer companies in your area, then submit your information to each home buying company to see how much cash they'll offer. Both iBuyers and cash buyer companies typically provide free, no-obligation cash offers and give homeowners a grace period to think things over before committing. Next, arrange listing presentations with several real estate agents in your area to discuss your home's fair market value and how quickly you can sell your house on the open market.

A real estate agent can also help you decide whether the offers from cash buyers or iBuyers are fair. Once you have all of your options in front of you, choose the one that offers the best combination of speed and profit for your specific home selling goals. The easiest way to get the process started is to use Clever Offers to request free, no obligation offers from local cash buyers. Clever will match you with a great local realtor, who will bring you quotes from iBuyers and other house buying companies in your area. You'll also get a free home valuation, so you can see what your house is worth on the open market and be sure you're getting a fair price. please go here to this link https://www.jithomebuyers.com/ and know more about for selling your house fast in cash.

Know the Value of Your Home:  It can be difficult to know the precise value of your home. This is because your house is exactly worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. However, it is possible to identify a range of how much your house is worth. There are multiple different websites you can look at that will have estimates for the value of your house. These websites will likely all have different amounts, but they can give you a ballpark of what the value generally is. When you sell to a home buying company, they're likely going to make you an offer on the lower end of the price range. This is because they are almost always buying the house 'as-is,' and because they are leveraging their ability to buy your house fast for a discounted price.

Determine If You're Selling It 'As-Is:  As stated earlier, many cash purchases by home buying companies involve the home being bought 'as-is'. This means that the current state of the home is what the buyer will be purchasing. The seller won't be fixing any problems as a part of the deal. That doesn't mean that you don't have a responsibility to disclose known issues with your house, however. The laws regarding disclosure differ from state to state. All states do, though, require that the seller be honest in answering questions about the home.

When you fix issues in your home ahead of selling, such as structural issues, asbestos, or a leaky roof, it can improve the value of the home. This, of course, slows down the selling process as you have to take the time to remedy the problems. It also means you'd be putting money into the home before selling it. Before listing a house on the market, many sellers will fix big and small problems. They'll also work to make sure that their home is well-maintained and often re-paint it and do some landscaping to boost the curb appeal. Some will even hire house-stagers to make the home as appealing as possible to buyers. If you're looking to sell your house fast for cash, you can avoid all of this hassle and expense. It will, however, reflect in the purchase price.

Your Sale Can Go Through Quickly: If you put your house on the traditional market, selling a house is a lengthy process even if you don't run into any bumps in the road. Homebuyers are typically receiving financing in order to buy a house. The process of having your house under contract before the closing typically goes on for at least two months. At any point during the process, something can go wrong and the deal can fall through. On the other hand, when you sell to an investor for cash the process is much quicker. Each home sale is unique and nothing is ever guaranteed. That being said, cash sales can often be over and done within a week or two.

Companies Can Be Shady: People offering to buy houses for cash are worthy of some suspicion. There are certainly scam artists and bad companies out there that are willing and able to take advantage of people when they see an opportunity. Don't let them. Sell your house fast for cash to the right company that you feel great about. That being said, there are many amazing and fair real estate investors out there. Make sure you vet any company or investor that comes your way. If you spot potential red flags stop and look for another buyer! It should be a win-win situation for everyone involved.

[nodelong]

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If you want one as well, head over to the Newegg shuffle and try you luck.

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I was blown away with the out of the box performance and the experience only got better with the most recent driver updates and some tweaks. I was hoping for a top of the line card to complete my build and needed something that would crush all my games at 1440p ultra settings. Overall Review: Overall, I am happy with this purchase.

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Size: Medium and large PC cases will not have an issue with the size of the card, but for anyone wanting to purchase this with a small or gear-cramped case, you may want to upgrade you case size before buying. This does not happen right away, but it is something that will happen as time goes on. Needed to purchase extra support stand to help keep the card from slumping. Power draw is reasonable for what you are getting.Ĭons: -Cost: this card is top end, but $1400 retail price is pretty steep. Design is sleek and RGB can be tweaked with available tools for custom looks. No tweaking needed for most titles unless you need more power. Pros: -Frame rates are nuts in most games (100+ at 1440p) right out of the box. Overall Review: I would purchase this card again in a heartbeat. It's a perfect and beautiful card sitting in my case. Although the card can handle 450 watts under load, I don't really see the point. I want to enjoy my gaming sessions which I'm doing without the fans going nuts. It's built to do that but I don't see the point with 75% fan speed. Under-volting gives me great peace of mind knowing that I'm not over heating and stressing the card out. EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming Graphics Card 12GB GDDR6X, PCIE 4.0, 3X Fan, Upto 1800MHz, 2.75 Slot, 3X Display Port, 1XHDMI, 300mm Length, Max 4 Display Out, 3X 8 Pin Power, 750W Or Higher PSU Recommended 12G-P5-3967-KR. The card kicks all kinds of but and under-volting was the way to go. For me, this is the sweet spot for performance, thermals and fan noise. The fans barely if ever his 50% and the card rarely goes over 60c. The wattage never comes close to 350 watts and averages around 260 watts. By doing this, the card never goes over 950Mv. From there I raised the frequency up to 1950MHz, locked the frequency and it ran stable. I dropped the frequency curve on MSI Afterburner down to 1000 and locked the voltage in at 950mV. This was too loud for my ears and the wattage was boosting near the 450 watt range under stress testing. The issue was the fan speed which was running at about 75% when I did this. Pros: I was able to get a +130 OC 2090 MHz and +1k memory OC stable. If you wish to cancel your order, it is subject to a 10 cancellation fee. Supports 4K 120Hz HDR, 8K 60Hz HDR and Variable Refresh Rate as specified in HDMI 2.1Īdditional Information Date First Available Due to demand and holidays, please allow 5-7 business days for your order to be shipped out. Three available 8-pin or 6+2-pin PCIe power dongles. EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB FTW3 Ultra Gaming, 12G-P5-4877-KL, 12GB GDDR6X, iCX3 Technology, ARGB LED, Metal Backplate, LHR 276 ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Trinity OC 12GB GDDR6X 384-bit 19 Gbps PCIE 4.0 Gaming Graphics Card, IceStorm 2.0 Advanced Cooling, Spectra 2. PCI Express, PCI Express 2.0, PCI Express 3.0 or PCI Express 4.0 compliant motherboard with one graphics slot. So depending on your location, our prices can actually be cheaper than major retailers if you're lucky enough to reside in those states by not paying online sales tax.Learn more about the EVGA 12G-P5-3967-KR Best Seller Ranking However, we currently only charge tax to eight states: CA, GA, WA, TX, IL, NJ, KS, and FL. However, we have shipped over 90 GPUs in one month! You can check our IG and our discord for customer pics. We don't have the luxury of buying thousands of GPUs at a discounted rate like major retailers. The prices are higher because we have to buy in small quantities straight from the distributors. Why are our prices higher than BestBuy or NewEgg? If you wish to cancel your order, it is subject to a 10% cancellation fee.ĮVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING Video Card, 12G-P5-3967-KR, 12GB GDDR6X, iCX3 Technology, ARGB LED, Metal Backplate Due to demand and holidays, please allow 5-7 business days for your order to be shipped out.

[elephantbitterhead]

paradigm shift

Having looked at ~2000 unacceptable bathroom mirrors, I’m beginning to think the real solution is NO MIRROR.