Easy Street Discount Posterous Blog

http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/huxley/beta/?_cmpid=fp137

The Huxley: The Dystopia beta will be starting THIS WEEK! FilePlanet subscribers won’t miss a minute by pre-loading the game and getting ready to jump in at launch! Huxley is an "MMOFPS," A game that combines the white-knuckle action and player-vs.-player combat of your favorite first-person shooters with the persistent gameplay of your favorite online RPGs. Join the struggle for the future! Available to US and Canada residents only

Gameplay begins on 7/30/09! Pre-load the beta now!

How to Not Suck on Twitter from http://ow.ly/ipUk

July 28, 2009 ·

So I’m going to step outside of my normal “zone” (i.e. teen literary/film phenomena, Robert Pattinson, et al) for a moment here and talk about something that’s, well, probably equally as geeky: Twitter.

I have a love/hate relationship with Twitter. I actually joined Twitter roughly two years ago, before anyone knew about it, and it made no sense to me. (Isn’t it funny how our minds adapt or don’t adapt to rapidly changing technology?) So I deleted my account. Then I joined again back in January of this year, and I’ve been “tweeting” ever since.

I know. I hate using words like “tweet.”

At first it all seems really pointless and self-indulgent, and I can certainly understand why Twitter has its detractors. But what I’ve discovered (through quite a bit of reading and practice) about Twitter is that there are ways to make it work for you, and it can be a lot of fun. Now that Twitter has infiltrated the public sphere, so many little communities and niches have been created around common interests and people who are willing to share relevant information with others. I think it can be an incredibly useful tool – IF it’s used properly.

This makes me sound like a huge dork, I realize. But I’m on Twitter to connect with and learn from people, so I don’t want to be attached to someone who doesn’t reciprocate. When someone “follows” me, I don’t automatically follow them back. I go to their Twitter page with a few expectations and then make a decision. Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert on Twitter. However, I have noticed a few things some people do that go against what I think is the spirit of Twitter (or at least are big no-no’s if you actually want to engage with people).

No “tweets” and/or no bio.
Like I said before, if you follow me on Twitter I’m going to check out your page. If there are only one or two tweets (or worse, none at all), I’m going to think twice about following you back. That’s because you haven’t put much time or effort into building your Twitter profile; in other words, you haven’t created useful content that other people want to read. If you have no tweets, how will I know what kind of stuff you’re interested in, and if I’d be interested, too? Before you start following a bunch of people, you should update your page several times to get things going. Also, Twitter allows you to create a short bio that appears in the sidebar of your page (you can add a website URL, too). The bio is important because it lets me know what you’re all about, where you’re located, etc. If you’re located in my city, I’m more likely to follow you, but it doesn’t matter as long as you tell me a little about yourself. If there’s nothing there, I have a hard time caring.

Boring tweets.
Everyone who’s not on Twitter assumes that everyone who is on Twitter is just talking about what they had for breakfast. Sadly, sometimes this is true. I do not follow those people, however. Occasionally learning about other people’s daily lives is interesting, but if that’s all you tweet about I will not follow you. I mean, sheesh, that’s what LiveJournal is for.

Protected updates.
This irks me. Twitter allows you to protect your updates so that only your confirmed followers can see them. I understand that some people want their privacy (although, if you’re on the Internet in the first place, privacy is a quickly dwindling luxury). But Twitter is not about privacy, it’s about connecting and being open. If I don’t know you in real life, I will not follow you if your updates are protected. Again, how will I know what you’re all about? Why should I care? And what exactly are you saying that you don’t want everyone to see? I shudder to think.

You’re following 1,200 people, but only 7 are following you.
The people who fall into this category typically fall into the “no tweets” category as well. A large following isn’t built in a day – it can take weeks or months of steady work. This just shows me that you’re far too eager to get followers, and you’re probably not interested in taking the time to build an informative, relevant Twitter page. Next.

Tweets that all link back to the same page on your spammy website.
Plenty of spammers have discovered Twitter, and admin is fairly good about rooting them out eventually. But some normal-looking people are deceptive spammers. Their tweets seem informative, but if you click on the links embedded within them, each one goes to the same page on their website – and they’re almost always selling something. This is lame. Sure, a lot of people are trying to sell stuff, and Twitter can be a great brand-building tool, but this is not the way to do it. Being purely self-promotional is a huge turn-off. On Twitter, you must earn people’s trust. You must prove that you actually care, that you want to share and listen and converse with others. The minute you try to sell me your consulting services directly over Twitter, we’re done. There are major companies on Twitter who just plain don’t get this, but there are also companies that really do. And quite frankly, I have a little more respect for the ones who get it right. Will this translate into sales for them? It might.

No @replies or RT’s
Twitter is like text messaging the Internet, so think of it as an ongoing conversation. You should be replying to people, retweeting (RT) what other people are saying, and providing your own input in order to create a good balance of information and a rich profile. It’s not a vacuum, so if you’re not speaking to people or trying to spread content that you find interesting, then what’s the point of being there?

These rules are pretty basic, but I think they’re the most important ones I’ve learned during my time on Twitter. Some people might say that Twitter’s jumped the shark, but I think that as long as you don’t mess with the celebredouches (I’m looking at you, John Mayer and Ashton Kutcher), you’ll find that there are some incredibly smart and interesting people out there. Twitter gives you an outlet to connect with them and even talk directly to them. So just be your awesome self, reach out a little, and they will find you.

Are you on Twitter? What do you think of it? What lessons have you learned on Twitter?

http://pages.ebay.com/sell/July2009Update/Details/index.html#1-2

Seller update: September 2009

Updates that impact your listings are now being consolidated with more lead time for you to adapt. These updates are scheduled to take place the weeks of September 22 and October 1, 2009.

1. Rewards for sellers delivering great buyer experiences
   • New way to look at DSRs
   • New eBay Top-rated seller status
   • New PowerSeller requirements and rewards
   • Highest rewards for sellers with great service
   • New minimum standard for all sellers
   • Changes scheduled with time to adjust
   • Enhancements to help you get good DSRs: Only domestic counts
   • New Selling Practices policy
   • No optional buyer charges for insurance
   • New Seller Dashboard

1. Enhanced search presents more relevant listings
   • Updates to Best Match
   • New Search Visibility tool
   • Auction-style listings with Buy It Now update
   • Some listing features discontinued
   • Product pages update; get exposure for your product pictures

1. Easier, more profitable selling on eBay
   • Faster process for unpaid items
   • eBay dispute resolutions for buyer claims: Seller update
   • Managing buyer emails
   • Exclude ship-to locations
   • Tracking for more carriers
   • Tracking more visible to buyers
   • Faster ways to edit listings
   • Update GTC listings with your return policy and handling time by September
   • Selling Manager Applications free trial
   • Category and Item Specifics changes
   • Stores sellers—now put all your Fixed Price listings on vacation

1. Rewards for sellers delivering great buyer experiences

Today's online buyers expect the best, and eBay sellers who deliver will enjoy even greater rewards—more visibility in search results for Fixed Price listings, discounted fees, a prominent badge on their item pages, and other great benefits. Quality is not a result of how big you are, but your dedication to doing right by your customers. The main focus of these changes is to give sellers the rewards, insights, and help they need to improve and succeed.

• New way to look at DSRs: Underlying all these changes is a shift in the way we look at detailed seller ratings (DSRs). Our research shows that low DSRs are a more accurate measure of the quality of buyer experiences provided by sellers on eBay. That's why we are evolving the way we measure quality, focusing more on how many low DSRs—1s and 2s—a seller receives than on a seller's DSR averages.
  • The 1s and 2s a seller receives are tracked for each DSR: Item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. Low instances of 1s and 2s will be the main quality requirement for the new Top-rated seller status and the PowerSeller program—and even continuing to sell on eBay. Sellers are encouraged to focus more on avoiding 1s and 2s than on getting more 5s or higher averages.
  • Only transactions with U.S. buyers will count for eligibility requirements on eBay.com. Repeat sales from your U.S. buyers will also count-good news for sellers who inspire repeat business from satisfied customers.
  • You can see a monthly snapshot now of your standing toward the new low DSR requirement through a link at the top of your Seller Dashboard. In October, you'll be able to see your standing updated daily.
    
    For more details on the change in focus to low DSRs and how DSRs are calculated, see Frequently Asked Questions.

• New eBay Top-rated seller status: It's not sales volume that distinguishes quality of service. That's why, starting in October, a new PowerSeller status—eBay Top-rated seller—will highlight and reward those sellers creating the best buyer experiences.
  • eBay Top-rated sellers will earn top rewards: 20% fee discounts, exclusive promotion in search results for Fixed Price listings, exclusive ability to purchase Featured First, and a prominent Top-rated seller badge on their item pages.
  • PowerSellers of all levels, from Bronze to Titanium, can qualify as eBay Top-rated sellers if they have at least 100 transactions and $3,000 sales in the past year, and low DSRs (1s and 2s) on no more than 0.50% of all transactions with U.S. buyers on each of their 4 DSRs.
  • To ensure that lower-volume sellers (fewer than 400 annual transactions) can be included as Top-rated sellers, two instances of 1s or 2s on each of the four DSRs will be allowed before the 0.50% requirement is applied.
  • The time period over which a seller's low DSRs are evaluated will depend on sales volume: For sellers with 400 or more transactions over the past 3 months, it's 3 calendar months. For all other sellers, it's 12 calendar months.
  • Until April 2010, the current PowerSeller discount structure based on average 30-day DSRs will also continue: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. PowerSellers will continue to get those discounts through April 2010 as long as they continue to meet the 30-day DSR requirements. This gives PowerSellers eight full months to keep those discounts while they evaluate and adjust their business practices to meet the new requirements.

For more details on qualifications for the new eBay Top-rated seller status and how low DSRs are calculated, see Frequently Asked Questions.

• New PowerSeller requirements and rewards: Starting in April 2010, quality requirements for all PowerSellers will be based on low DSRs, and benefits will be extended to lower-volume sellers who meet those requirements:
  • To ensure PowerSeller status rewards consistently good service, a minimum of 100 transactions in the last 12 months will be required for all PowerSellers.
  • To allow more sellers providing great service into the program, the sales dollar volume requirement will be lowered to $3,000 per year.
  • Also starting in April, PowerSellers can have 1s or 2s for item as described on no more than 1.00% of transactions with U.S. buyers and on no more than 2.00% for communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges.

For more details on the new PowerSeller requirements and rewards coming in April, see Frequently Asked Questions.

• Highest rewards for sellers with great service:
  • Starting in April, there will be a new structure for PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts, with the biggest rewards going to the best sellers: The maximum 20% for eBay Top-rated sellers and 5% for all other PowerSellers.
  • Until April, the current PowerSeller discount structure based on average 30-day DSRs will continue: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. This will give PowerSellers who continue to meet the 30-day DSR requirements plenty of time—eight full months—to keep those discounts while they evaluate and adjust their business practices to meet the new low DSR requirements.
  • Starting in October, Top-rated sellers will get the new Top-rated seller badge displayed prominently on their item and other profile pages. This summer we will also be testing the badge in search results. The current PowerSeller icon will no longer be displayed on buyer-facing pages like the item page and other member profile pages. The PowerSeller icon will still be displayed in My eBay, Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro.
    
    
    
    
    Top-rated sellers get the new Top-rated seller badge on their item pages.

• New minimum standard for all sellers: We're evolving the way we assess quality for all sellers on eBay:
  • The current 4.3 minimum average DSR requirements will be replaced with new requirements based on a seller's incidence of low DSRs (1s and 2s) on transactions with U.S. buyers:
    • In October, all eBay sellers will need to have 1s or 2s for item as described on no more than of 3.00% of transactions, and on no more than 4.00% for communication, 4.00% for shipping time, and 4.00% for shipping and handling charges.
    • In April 2010, the standards will be stricter. All eBay sellers will need to have low DSRs (1s or 2s) on no more than 1.00% of transactions for item as described, and no more than 2.00% for communication, 2.00% for shipping time, and 2.00% for shipping and handling charges.
    • To ensure lower volume sellers are not penalized as a result of one or two transactions, it will take at least four instances of 1s or 2s before consequences based on low DSRs are enforced.

•  
  • Sellers with more than the maximum allowed 1s and 2s will receive lowered placement in search and may face limits on selling activity until their ratings improve.
  • Sellers with excessively high rates of 1s and 2s or other low performance measures may be restricted from selling.
  • The current Seller Performance Standards policy will be updated with the new DSR requirement.

• Changes scheduled with time to adjust: We're giving sellers extra time to evaluate their selling practices in the light of these changes—and still take advantage of new rewards as soon as possible.
  • Starting in October, current PowerSellers of all levels—and sellers with $3,000 in sales and 100 transactions over the past 12 months—can qualify as Top-rated sellers and get all the rewards right away.
  • The current PowerSeller program discount structure will remain in place until April 2010. That means PowerSellers who don't meet the Top-rated seller requirements in October will be able to keep their discounts according to the current discount structure until April of 2010: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. That gives them eight months to adjust business practices and qualify for Top-rated seller status.
  • The new DSR requirement for all sellers and the enforcement of the new Selling Practices policy are also being phased in over time to give sellers an opportunity to understand the new requirements and adjust their practices and listings.
  • Get an at-a-glance overview of scheduled changes.

• Enhancements to help you get good DSRs: Sellers have been quite clear on changes needed to help them get DSRs in line with great service. Toward that end, we're making some key adjustments to the DSR system over the coming months:
  • Domestic only: International transactions will no longer count toward the PowerSeller requirements, including the Top-rated seller status, or toward the new standard for all sellers.
  • All transactions and DSRs from repeat buyers will count—great news for sellers who inspire repeat business from satisfied customers.
  • Strong measures will be in place to prevent buyer abuse.
  • New messages to your buyers about shipping in Feedback flow: When buyers go to leave you Feedback, they'll see your uploaded tracking information and a message indicating when your package was delivered. For listings with free shipping, they'll also get a stronger message encouraging them to leave a 5 for shipping and handling charges.
  • No shipping DSRs with local pickup: When the only delivery option in your listing is local pickup with no shipping charges, your shipping-related DSRs will be "turned off."

• New Selling Practices policy: A new Selling Practices policy will define clear standards for accuracy and professionalism in listings and listing descriptions, and for all stages of a transaction. Adhering to the new policy will be required for eBay Top-rated seller status in October and for all other sellers in early 2010. In short:
  • Information within a listing such as item condition and seller terms and conditions need to be consistent.
  • Sellers will be expected to follow through on their stated terms through all stages of a transaction.
  • Also, comments that undermine confidence in eBay sellers or misrepresent a seller vs. buyer's responsibility in a transaction will not be allowed in listings.

• Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance removed: The insurance option creates the perception that buyers need to purchase shipping insurance as a protection on eBay, an experience they're not accustomed to on other ecommerce sites. In fact, sellers have always been responsible for their items until they arrive safely in their customers' hands. That's why shipping insurance will no longer be included in the purchase flow as either an option or requirement for buyers.
  
  Of course you can choose to purchase insurance on shipments, but not ask buyers to buy insurance separately. In some categories like Antiques, Collectibles, and Jewelry, shipping insurance for sellers is essential. When appropriate, you can include the cost of insurance in your item or shipping price.
• New Seller Dashboard:
  • Get a snapshot of your current 1s and 2s now, updated monthly, from a link at the top of your Seller Dashboard.
  • In October, you'll be able to track your 1s and 2s on a daily basis in your Seller Dashboard and get insights about the specific business practices contributing to low DSRs.

2. Enhanced search presents more relevant listings

We're introducing a number of changes specifically designed to surface your relevant listings to more of the right buyers.

• Best Match update: We're continuing to refine and improve the technology for surfacing the most relevant, best-quality listings from sellers providing the best buyer experience at the top of search results—and give you the information and tools you need to get the best possible exposure for your listings.
  • As of July 27, 2009, raising the price or changing the title will not automatically reset your recent sales. We're making this change to the way Best Match works because we understand that actively managing prices provides a competitive advantage in some markets.
  • Listing performance score for Fixed Price—Impressions count: When only a few people view a Fixed Price listing and the item is snapped up quickly, it's a fair indication that the listing is more relevant to those who see it than a listing with thousands of impressions and no sales.
    
    That's why in the improved Best Match, launching in September, Fixed Price listings will have a listing performance score based on the listing's recent sales in relation to the number of recent impressions it received. An "impression" is any time a buyer sees a search results page that includes the listing.
    
    For example, in the new Best Match, a listing with 100 recent impressions and 10 recent sales will score higher than a similar listing with 1,000 recent impressions and 10 recent sales.
    
    This listing performance score will be a more accurate measure of how buyers perceive a listing's relevance than recent sales alone.
  • New multi-quantity and single-quantity Fixed Price listings will be given exposure in Best Match even though they have no sales history. These listings will be given a certain number of initial impressions based on the performance scores of similar listings. This change will improve the exposure of new Fixed Price listings that are relevant to buyers.
  • Titles count. Relevant titles will be more important than ever in getting the best position for Fixed Price listings. Since a good listing performance score is basically a close ratio between your impressions and sales, in some situations a title that is too general could bring you a short-term gain in impressions, but end up giving your listing a lower listing performance score.
  • Seller performance counts: Top-rated sellers will get promoted in Best Match for Fixed Price listings. Sellers not meeting the new minimum standard will be demoted for both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings.

Mom installs 98-inch screen in son's bedroom ceiling, deservedly garners award nomination

Thought you had it all set with a 14-inch TV and an NES in your room as a kid? Then you might want to look away for a minute, lest your childhood memories be diminished. Everyone else can take a good look at this 98-inch screen that Patti Deni had installed flush in the ceiling of her son's bedroom. At the center of the setup is an NEC projector paired with some Draper projection mirrors, which fills that 98-inch StarGlas60 display with some full HD images than can be viewed from just about any angle. As you might expect, however, this wasn't exactly the easiest of installs, and apparently even involved reframing and reinforcing the ceiling. No word on any mom of the year awards just yet, but the setup itself has at least attracted the attention of Electronic House's Home of the Year awards.

Follow us on Twitter www.Twitter.com/EASYSTREETD For YOUR chance receive Cheap & Free Items as well as Other Fun News!

Current Code is 25% Off total Purchase (only 9 left) ESD0001 USE HERE