Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Why buy "printer" memory?

Lets face it, most people buy a printer, stick it on the desk, and never really give it much thought.


You often hear about people upgrading their pc, adding more memory to get better performance, but did you know, some printers can be dramatically improved by adding more memory?



The HP Laserjet range, including such great workhorses as the lj 4 , 5, and similar models all take similar memory, they come with memory built in, but they dont give you much as standard.


The standard memory on say a laserjet 4 will not allow you to print a black and white photo full a4 size, as it will complain about being out of memory. Complex prints often suffer the same fate... The lenght of time you need to wait for a page to come out can be lengthy with the normal standard memory installed.


Adding a additional memory simm, and the pages fly out faster,your print queue clears up quicker, and you can print full page photo's, drawings - anything really! The difference has to be seen to be believed.


Originally a memory upgrade would have cost hundreds, but now you can pick them up for a much more reasonable price, see my auctions as I have quite a few available (also check the feedback for satisfied customers!)



They are quite easy to fit, if you can fit a sim in a pc, you will have no trouble fitting one in a printer - a word of warning though, dont waste your time trying old memory out of you old computers in your printer (you can if you want to) as 99 times out of a hundred it wont work. HP printer memory is configured differently to most simms that were used in PC's, and will either be completely ignored by the printer, or fail the self test.


Paypal

a buyer bought goods from me and they were sent normal mail rather than any type of recorded mail a few days after posting the buyer contacted me and asked for the tracking number for the item i explained that i didnt have one and he then proceeded to tell paypal he didnt receive the goods now if this is the case where are the goods. paypal have just finished investigating the case and ruled in his favour ordering me to refund 25 but if i have no proof of postage theni have no proof that he received them so he could be in receipt of the goods and a full refund


how on earth can paypal make this ruling when its his word against mine and i have feedback in the 400s proving that i dont rip people off.


HOW IS THIS FAIR


i am looking for alternative online payments as i have been put on limited service until i pay paypal the 25 (i dont think so)

Damien Hirst

Buying Damien Hirst artwork on eBay.If you're a collector of Damien Hirst artwork or his signed books, then eBay is arguably the best place to get it, simply because of the variety and amount of Hirst stuff that is available. This guide will hopefully explain a few simple things, most of it common sense, to help you spot fakes or anything strange with the item. Unlike a gallery, with eBay you do not (usually) have the chance to physically see the piece first. You cannot pick it up, inspect it, scrutinise it for defects or ask questions regarding it's authenticity face-to-face with somebody. Unfortunately, there is fake stuff around - and it's getting much, much worse.
Contacting the seller before bidding.This is your only chance to get more information if you need it. Read the auction listing carefully, and if you are not completely happy with anything the seller says or if the seller has missed something from the listing (i.e. provenance!) then contact the seller. Most of the time you can get a 'feel' for the seller from how they respond to your questions. If they respond openly with lots of or more detailed information than you asked for, then this is usually a sign of a genuine seller without anything to hide.Personally, I would be wary of 'Yes/No' or 'Dont know' answers to questions and sellers who do not respond at all are a definite 'Do not bid' for me! Of course, take a look at the feedback of the seller as well in the
normal way, not only the total % feedback score, but both the
feedback left by previous buyers and the feedback left by the seller (sometimes this gives you more of an insight). I am also a wary of 'private auctions', where the bidders' IDs are kept private. Although I understand the seller's concerns regarding bidders' IDs when listing high value items, you cannot check for shill bidding.
Possible things to ask the seller:Provenance.This is a difficult area, but it is probably the most important information you can get from the seller. Ask the seller about how they obtained the item, where they got it from and who they got it from. Does their answer seem logical and feasible? Answers such as "Damien signed this beer mat for me when I met him in the pub last week" is simply not good enough! If the seller can provide any evidence at all in the form of signed letters, the original receipt, or even a photo of Hirst signing the item in question, all the better - although this seldom happens, if the seller can provide this they will usually be all to eager to tell you. Try to independently checkout the seller - for example if the seller tells you that they obtained the Hirst piece via their art gallery or via their place of work, then do a google search on them (most of the time you can get their name from their e-mail address or directly from the e-mail they sent to you) and see if you can find out if they actually work there etc. to try to corroborate their information.Hirst vary rarely signs anything for anybody anymore other than authentic, certified Hirst pieces, a signed book edition, a signing session in a gallery or if they're a friend of his. Provenance is a very difficult area, but a lot can be deduced from what the seller writes in their responses to you. Use your gut instinct and common sense. Obviously the provenance matters much more on a 4000 Euro Hirst gallery edition than a 40 Euro signed book edition. Keep all correspondence and print out seller e-mails, any extra photos and the eBay listing if you win. These will all help you to get a better price if you decide to sell the item later.Photographs.Some sellers provide lots of nice, big, detailed pictures on the auction listing. Most don't. Ask for more if you think it necessary or have any doubts about something at all. Ask for high-quality, close-up photos, especially of the signature or any marks/creases/problems with the item. Good sellers will not have a problem with this, and usually you can get some sort of rapport going with the seller with all the e-mail correspondence. Again, if there is no response, be very wary!Shipping, shipping costs

no postage cost

Be careful of winning onvery low prices.I say never bid on item that don't display any type of postage. I learn't my lesson, asthe item I won must have been less than half the shop price. thinking I got a bagin. untill I click on pay now. I was shocked to say the least. with the postage now added. I must have been three times more than the local shop would have sold it for. Make sure you see some indication to what the postage might cost. Now, I always email and ask

Choosing A Belly dance Hipscarf

When buying a hipscarf you want it to look right! First and foremost the look of it will be what attracts you. Its nice to have a variety of colours as it adds more fun to your dancing!


There are many different types avaialble to suit your requirements.


Chiffon scarves, although very pretty, often catch on things, personally i tend to stay away from chiffon scarves for this reason. I want a hipscarf to last.


I would reccomend a velvet one, they are much more durable.


If the scarf has coins it will make a noise as you dance. This is useful for learning to keep in time to the music as the scarf will acentuaate each of your moves.


There are also scarves with circle sequins, these are really pretty and are ideal for when you dont want to make noise. These are good for workshops or classes with a lot of students and you cant hear the teacher for the jingling!


The weight of a scarf is also important. A professional quality scarf is more costly but it reminds you of the importance of posture! You do pay for the quaity of scarves, so although bargains seem great they might not be as high standards.


The scarf should be tied at your hips not your waist. This helps you see (providing you have a mirror!!) the dance moves very clearly.


Belly Dance Items


Happy dancing :D



Fake or replica football boots

Football boots are essential to all those who love a good kick about with a group or friends, or want to try and reach the top in the football world. When purchasing a pair of boots, you need to know that your money is going to be well spent. Recently, I bought a pair of football boots that were pictured as the adidas blue predators worth 119.00 . When they arrived, I knew they were fake. They were plastic NOT LEATHER. Always ask these questions:


How much is the retail price?


What material are they?


Will I get a refund should they be faulty?


Always be on the lookout, and compare the boots you receive to the item that was pictured!! Can you tell the difference between these two?



35.99


119.00

Paypal offers a rubbish service

Don't use paypal to collect money from buyers, they are running an effective monopoly, and when you do run into problems, try contacting them and try to speak to a real person, not a chance. I will never accept paypal again.

TRAINING YOUR CAT TO USE A LITTER TRAY

In order to train your cat to do anything, it is important that you establish
clear rules as soon as you get them, and are strict with them. If the cat is not corrected every time it pees on the carpet, or scratches the furniture, it can
become confused about what it is and isnt allowed to do. All cats should
be trained from a young age. If you have an older cat, it can be much harder to
train: the saying You cant teach an old dog new tricks can
also apply to cats!

When the cat does something that you dont want it to do, firmly say
no, and correct the cats behaviour. For example, if the
cat is peeing on the carpet, put it in the litter tray or if the cat is scratching
the furniture, put it by the scratching post. If you chase the cat away, it
may think that you are trying to play with it (especially if its a kitten)
which will encourage the behaviour.


Often, the mother will teach its kittens to use a litter tray, but in many
cases they dont learn. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as
having a neglectful mother or being taken away from their mother too early.
Quite often kittens from farm cats will not be litter trained as they are used
to living outside.


Firstly, make sure that the litter tray is placed in an easily accessible,
quiet corner of a room. It doesnt need to be full to the brim with cat
litter, but needs just enough for the cat to bury its business
in. Generally, the cat litter should be changed every day, but this can vary
depending on how many cats you have, and whether the cats are allowed outside
to do their business.


Begin by frequently placing the cat in the litter tray, especially when it
looks like it is about to go to the toilet. (You can usually tell if they start
scratching/trying to dig in a corner of the carpet, or if they crouch with their
tail up.)


If the cat goes in the wrong place, it is important that you clean the area
thoroughly, and dont rub the cats nose in it (!) Cats find their
toilet through scent, so if they can smell where they have been
before, they are likely to go there again.


Tips:


* Many cat owners remove solid waste from the litter tray quickly to prevent
odours.
* If the cat doesnt use the litter tray, it could be that it isnt
clean enough! Cats are very picky about cleanliness.
* Make sure the cats litter tray is somewhere private some cats
wont use the litter tray if they think theyre being watched (!)

Lexmark all in one printers

Lexmark X75

No Paypal, Paypal Sucks

Please visit'paypalsucks.com 'for reasons why NOT to use them when buying and selling on ebay. This site is very informative and quite disturbing!! I have many friends and colleagues whose accounts have been frozen for no reason and do not receive their money back for 90 - 180 days!!


Cheers


Dr-Nookie

DVD's

Dear Readers,


Be careful when purchasing DVD's on ebay. Many items are copied especially foreign DVD's.


The copies may be poor and the sound quality is likely to be poor.


Always check with the seller and cover your back basically.


HOPE THESE SMALL WORDS OF WISDOM HELP


Regards


VIEW MY ITEMS - CLICK HERE !

Hooking Up Tow Ropes, Harnesses, and Tubes

Hooking Up Tow Ropes, Harnesses, and TubesWhat you need to know about hooking up Tow Ropes and Ski Tubes!


Ok, this may seem basic, but there are lots of different kind of boats out there and various options of how to hook them up to ski tube tow ropes. The first place to start is to make sure that youuse a dedicated tubetow rope foryour Ski tube, our ropes will support up to a three man tube are fully floating and have factory installed loops at each end. We even have colour chioces!


Now take that appropriate ski tube tow rope and loop it through the eye on the end of the ski tube and back through itself. Some ski tubes have plastic quick connects on them to attach to the eye in the end of the line. For ski tubes like these pass the eye in the end of the line through the hole in the center of the quick connect and then loop the top of the eye around the sides. Here is a picture of this done properly. With the heavy duty tow rope you will have to twist it as you try to push it through, but it will go!


Now the line is ready to be attached to the boat. If you boat is less then 10 years old and is NOT an outboard you most likely have a ski ring. It may be on a pole or attached to the back of your boat. Here is a picture of what one looks like.If you have one just pass the loop through the ring and the pull the top of the eye down over the sides and your all set to go.


If you boat is over 10 years old or you do have an outboard engine you most likely do not have a ski ring. Instead you will have two lifting eyes on either side of the back of your boat. You will need a tow harness/bridle to attach to these points with clips. You can then loop the end of the tow line through the quick connect on the harness just like you did with the quick connect on the boat tube above.Notice we never used a knot to complete either of these set ups. Knot are bad as they weaken the strength of the line by as much as 80%!


memory foam mattresses

Its always a good idea not to use a waterproof mattress protector as these definitely warm up a memory foam mattress even more! if you suffer from being hot whilst sleeping look for a memory foam mattress with a coolmax cover this will considerably cool the sleeping surface.Also its a good idea to do a bit of research regarding memory foam mattresses in general.A solid foam/memory foam will feel completely different to a sprung memory foam mattress.If you have never slept on a solid foam mattress go for the sprung memory foam it will feel more like a regular mattress.

Weed out the fakes and the 'replicas'

If we did not buy fake goods, Ebay sellers would not sell them. If you want a fake Rolex, that's fine; but you may not want a fake item of clothing, or sunglasses or shoes. Here is my 10-point rule of thumb chart to weed them out - no matter what category they sell in. This guide applies to those selling Designer Goods.1. If it is too cheap, and claims to be new, it's a fake. Look at the average price of the real thing and use your head - why would this seller sell so cheap if it was genuine?2. If it does not say in the advert that it is authentic, it's almost certainly a fake.3. If your seller will not offer a money-back guarantee on the authenticity of the item, it's definitely a fake.4. If the seller keeps the feedback private - then it isn't becasue it's too good to be read! It's to stop you seeing what he has previously sold, and to avoid you reading the negative feedback.5. Email the seller - ask them directly, "can you guarantee this is 100% genuine and authentic". No reply? It's a fake.6. If the seller is from China or Taiwan, it's probably a fake.7. Will your seller give you a name and postal address? No? It's a fake.8. If, despite your best efforts, you end up with a fake, report the seller to Ebay, the police and trading standards - stop them doing it to someone else.9. Use Paypal unless there's a very good reason not to.10. Read Feedback. Has this seller sold these or similar items in the recent past? Has the seller a good track record in these items? If the seller is switching from CD's to trainers at bargain prices, it's a fake unless the seller is selling his designer Nikes that he got as a present.. If buyers on Ebay act collectively to squeeze out the fakers, they will eventually wither. If we are willing to send money to scammers, they'll come back for more. Think before you click!

Mens Guide to Buying Lingerie Without the Red Cheeks!

Help and advice for purchasing underwear for your loved one!

I have talked to some men about this problems - they feel they are on a dangerously slippy slope if they get this one wrong! If you buy it too large, she may be upset because she will think that you think she is bigger than she actually is. But, buy it too small, it could go either way! Either she is fuming because you clearly couldn't be bothered to find out the right size, or, she is 'secretly' very happy, because you are blissfully unaware of her real size and she will be able to return it for her correct size.


But, does it all need to be like this? There are loads of hints and tips out there, and amongst them are:



When she is out, go through her drawer and pick out some underwear that you have seen her wearing recently. Did it look right on her? Was it too tight, did the bra make her look like she had 4 boobs, and the briefs as though she had tight elastic bands pulled across her? Or, did it look saggy and baggy? Find one that you know looked right - no lumps and bumps, not too tight, not wrinkly and baggy. Check the size labels and buy those sizes. BIG Hint! Put her underwear drawer back EXACTLY as you found it!!
For night wear, check the size labels inside her dresses
Choose colours that compliment her eyes, and her hair colour and skin tone. If you are unsure, take a look at the colours she regularly buys, or, you could always choose black as this suits almost everybody. Unless she is already wearing red underwear steer clear for a first purchase.
Think about what the underwear is for - if it is only for bedroom wear, choose items that you know may be a bit daring, but that you know you will both like.
If it is for everyday wear, think about what she will be wearing it with:

Is she shy about having her bra show through her blouse? Choose plainer underwear - a white bra will actually show through a blouse more than a neutral, skin coloured one. Choose a skin coloured one for her
Or does she like to wear lacy, coloured underwear that can be clearly seen? Go for the more luxurious looking items. Quality and fit are what is most important here, so make sure you buy her something that will look good if it is going to be 'worn to be seen'
Does she like her straps on show? Look for underwear that has decorative lace, embroidery or even crystals on the cups and the straps.
Or is she coy? There are plenty of plain coloured, less lacy underwear items that are available that have quite delicate detailing, but that are still very pretty and will make her feel special

Don't choose something that is too over the top if you are buying for her for the first time. Choose something that is simple and classy and learn about her likes and dislikes for future purchases. Keep any receipts and return details just in case - but don't include them with the lingerie as it sort of takes the edge off the romance of the gift! If after all this you really are still stumped, you could always buy her some lingerie gift vouchers - that way you could both get to choose!

mamas and papas ziko

Hi,I know some people have had problems with there Ziko,but I have to say in my experience the Ziko has been the best buggy I have ever purchased,so much so that I have 2 in different colours(hot chocolate and mushy peas).


It has been the smoothest pushchair to push and the one that my son likes the best for comfort,I have had a maxi cosi(lovely but not very compact when folded down)and a maclaren triumph(too lightweight,falls backwards with the slightest weight on the handle bars even with a 2 year old in it).


The chasisand fabric is lovely and eye catching and also very tough.


I wouldrecomend the ZIKO to any of my friends wanting to buy a pushchair.


thanks for reading,hope this helps you make your mind up on your purchase.

20 BHP Tuning Chips Extra 5-20 BHP Stop Now

Do not bother buying one of these chips. They Knacker you engine and they cost about 3p each. It is a resistor that you can find on the circuit board in your PC TV Or Stereo. Do not buy as described Below.


I bought one out of interest and I got a small resistor as expected



Having been a member of various car forums and clubsand been asked whether these 'tuning chips' work a bazillion times by other members, and after seeing how many are being listed on Ebay, i thought it was time to set the record straight on what they are, and the harm they can do to your engine. Firstly, they neither chip or tune your engine - only a proper ECU chip, mapped to suit your car with the correct fuelling/air ratio can tune it (superchip, seb etc) and these are usually 100 pounds to buy and are a replacement EPROM for the board in your cars ecu, NOT a 3p resistor available from any branch of maplins or RS. So what doesthis resistor actually do? In a nutshell it cons your ecu by sending it false information about the temperature of the air going through the airflow meter or IAT sensor on your cars engine. It basically makes the ecu think the air is much colder than it actually is.The colder the air, the denser it becomesandits this information that is used by the ecu to adjust the amount of fuel needed for the conditions its sensing,and proper running of the engine, except with one of these resistors fitted, the fuel system of your vehicle is delivering fuel at a higher rate than the engine needs. Yes you might feel a small improvement, buttoo much or too little fuel is pretty serious as it can lead to detonation, lumpy idle, higher emissions, lower mpg and, in extreme cases,even melted pistons!! Anyone whose ever had their car in for repairs at a garage will know how costly in terms of inconvenience and money this can be. Please remember what your parents probably told you many times - if something seems too good to be true it most probably is!! There are very few tuning mods that deliver 20 BHP for a couple of quid.....if it was that simple to gain horsepower from an otherwise standard engine car manufacturers development costs would be a lot lower and everyone would own a racing team ;)


If you're serious about tuning your engine, join a forum that covers your make and model and speak to the people who have already done it. They will tell you what works and what doesn't, whats good value for money and whats a con, and you'll meet friendly,like minded people as an added bonus :)

Fudge Heaven Recipes


I make handmade fuffle! (Is it Fudge or Truffle?)Available in many different flavours and sizes.You can just eat it how it comes, but there are loads of other uses for it too!


Here are just a few ideas to get your tastebuds tingling.Coffee or Hot Chocolate.



Just add a teaspoon of your favourite flavour Fudgeheavenfuffle tocoffee or Hot Chocolate for a naughty treat.You'll never want an ordinary hot drink again!


Ice CreamSoften some Fudgeheavenfuffle in a microwave(do this gently in 5 - 10 second bursts to avoid over heating)Swirl into your favourite vanilla ice cream.Simple but gorgeous!


CookiesIngredients:4oz (110gms) butter3oz (75gms) demarara sugar)1dessert spoonGolden Syrup4oz (110gms) self raising flourpinch of saltFudgeheaven fuffle chunks (as many as you want)


Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3, 325F (170C).You will also need two baking sheets measuring 14 x 11 inches (35 x 28 cm), lightly greased with a flavourless oil.


Put the butter, sugar and syrup in a saucepan, place it ona lowheat and let it all dissolve, which will take 2-3 minutes.When the butter mixture has dissolved, take it off the heat.


In a large mixing bowl, sift in the flour and salt, then give this a quickstir before pouring in the butter mixture.


Mix everything together in the bowl until you have a nice dough.Divide the dough into 10 lumps, roll into balls and place on the baking trays. remember to leave plenty of space between them as they will flatten and spread in the oven.


Place on the middle shelf of the oven for 12 minutes.Do one tray at a time.


Meanwhile,chop up your favourite Fudgeheaven fuffle into chunks the size of marbles.


After 12 minutes, remove the cookies from the oven and gently press the truffle chunks into the tops of the cookies (about 3 per cookie).


Return to oven for 4 minutes.When they're all cooked, leave them to cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.


Billionaires Shortbread (better than Millionaires Shortbread!)Soften some Fudgeheavenfuffle in a microwave(do this gently in 5 - 10 second bursts to avoid over heating)Spread over a large piece of shortbread and leave to cool for 10 minutes


Please email if you have any other uses for it.


Best recipes get a free 500gm tub of your choice.

How To Play Top Trumps

This guide is an introduction to what the game of 'Top Trumps' is about and how toplay the card game.


Hugely popular in the UK and been around for many years,but becoming more appealing andcommercially available Worldwide.


Not come across the game of 'Top Trumps' before? Then read on for a guide to the World of Top Trumps!


Any number of people can play. Shuffle and deal all the cards face down. Each player holds their cards face up, in the palm of their hand. Players can only look at their top card.


The player to the dealer's left starts by reading out an item from the top card (eg, Fighting Skills 87). The other players then read out the same item. The one with the best or highest value wins and places all the top cards including their own to the bottom of their pile. It is then their turn again to choose an item from the next card.


If 2 or more cards share thetop value or no data is available for that particular subject then all the cards are placed in the middle and the same player chooses again from the next card. The winnerof the hand takes the cards in the middle as well.


The person with all the cards at the end is the winner!


Some packs produced by Winning Moves UK Ltd, the brand leader in the UK,can be played together, like Marvel Comic Heroes 1, 2 and 3 or Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel giving you a hugh game!


In the World of Top Trumps their is 5main types of packs produced which usually contain 30 playing cards:


Juniors -kid's favourites - i.e. Power Rangers andPostman Pat.


Classics - i.e. Predators, Sharks, Dinosaurs and World Football Stars.


Specials - packs suggested by you - i.e Doctor Who, The Simpsons, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Star Wars and Football Teams.


Limited Edition - for big kids - i.e Football Legends, 24 (TV Show)and Little Britain (TV Show).


Promo Packs - not available to buy in shops and usually produced for a specific brand or company - i.e Cool Brand Leaders, Helicopters and Mixxit.


Thereare also a 'Super Top Trump' card(s) available for some packs like 'The Avengers' for Marvel Comic Heroes 3, 'The Cannibals' for The Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Man Chest. These cardscan be found distributed withConsole Games, Film Releases in Cinemas, DVDs and Comics. Some packs have more than 1 'Super Top Trump' like The Da Vinci Code and Star Wars. Some of the older 'Super Top Trump' cards were only available to members of the Winning Moves Top Trump Club and their rarity and availability can differ.


The above information refers to the Winning Moves brand of Top Trumps.

Seeing Things In Miniature

The Miniaturists Eye

If you're into miniatures and dolls housing, don't be scared to try new things. Many items in your dolls house can be created yourself, with a cunning eye and a little imagination.

When I created my hat shop, I was at a loss on where to get several hatstands, at the right price, so I experimented. The uprights were miniature wooden candle sticks, the top part, 3/4 inch wooden candle cups. Painted up, and glued together, I had individual stylish hat-stands. that were uniquely my own.Again, when I was working on my new age scene, the crystal ball that the fortune teller reads, is a clear marble, placed on a fimo base.Tips To Start You Off1 - Always carry a tape measure. You never know when you'll see something that can be adapted for the hobby.2 - If you have a broken doll, carry that to. It's ideal for checking if something will fit the hand or foot.3 - Be prepared to experiment. They don't always work, but that's part of the fun. And when the experiments do work - the result will be unique to you.4 - If you are looking for a statue for your gallery or garden, look at resin gifts. Check the measurements - some can be used with no extra work.5 - Some keyrings have items that are 12th scale - keep an eye out for them, you might get lucky.

Gibson SG Special (Faded Edition) Review -Guitar

Gibson SG Special (Faded edition)



The Special series of the SG range is akin to the Studio make of the Les Paul offerings, simply put, they are the most affordable of the lot. Many would dismiss these entry levels as compromised guitars, but having tried them in person, I disagree.


The faded series will turn you off if you dislike Fender`s Highway1 guitars

Memory Foam Mattress

The smell often associated with Memory Foam mattresses is mainly attributed to the Fire retardency treatment.We have on occasion noticed some of the same product smelling more than another.We have spoken to manufacturers such as Myers and Silentnight who have assured us this soon disperses and is a result of the treatment drying time which can vary depending on the time of year and other unique situations.

Birkenstock VeRO, Unauthorised Sellers

This guide has been written to explain how to spot unauthorised sellers and to tell you more abut how misuse of the Birkenstock name and copying of the products can affect you as a consumer.


There are many Birkenstock suppliers on eBay - however it is important to understand that not all of these companies are legitimate sellers and that it might affect your rights as a consumer if you have a problem, but you also run the risk of purchasing fake goods. The Natural Shoe Store and Birkenstock UK can not accept returns purchased through another company.


The Birkenstock family of Bad Honnef, Germany, has been caring for feet since 1774. During the last decade of the 19th century, Konrad Birkenstock designed the first flexible arch support that mirrored the shape of the foot. In 1965, Karl Birkenstock took his family's foot bed concept a step further by introducing it as a sandal to the German market.


Central Trade ltd. has been in the shoe business for over 30 years and is the exclusive distributor of Birkenstock sandals, shoes, clogs and other footwear all over Britain. The Natural Shoe Store is the retail arm of the same company. Birkenstock as a brand in the UK has gained enormous popularity and has grown over the years to become a mainstream brand with widespread loyalty. Birkenstock owns a number of "intellectual property" rights, including registered trademarks and registered designs. These can only be used by Birkenstock or its licensees, and are needed to protect Birkenstock's products from unlawful copying. It is illegal to use Birkenstock's trademark (or anything similar to it) or infringe its design rights without Birkenstock's authority. In certain circumstances the deliberate use of a registered trademark may be classified as counterfeiting. This is a criminal offence, and criminal proceedings can be brought by the Police or Trading Standards Officers. Civil proceedings can also be brought by the trademark and design right owner, and this could result in any person found to be infringing Birkenstock's trademark and design rights having to pay legal costs and damages.


Central Trade is a member of the eBay VeRO(Verified Rights Owners's) programme and has produced this page to inform eBay users about auctions that contravene eBay's programme or Birkenstock's trademark and design rights.


Birkenstock and Central trade monitor eBay and the Internet on a daily basis. Unfortunately, potentially counterfeit and/or infringing footwear are regularly offered for sale by auction . It is unlawful to do so. Any users of eBay carrying on such wrongful activities will be pursued via the courts.


Indicators of potentially infringing items include the following descriptions and key phrases:


Similar to Birkenstock


Like Birkenstock


"Birkenstock Style"


"Birkenstock"


Birkenstock?


X's Birkenstock sandal


Birkenstock'ish


Similar 2/to Birkenstock


As Birkenstock


Not Birkenstock


Birkenstock replica


Birkenstock copy


Birkenstock type


Birkenstock inspired


Bxstock


Bstock


Authenticity not guaranteed


Authenticity not warranted our implied


Cannot guarantee authority


No guarantees or warranties


Faux


Fake


Imitation


Mock


Knock-off


Regrettably, any guarantee of authenticity from a seller is of itself no reliable assurance for items sold in their original boxes, with the original 'Made in Germany' tags attached. The tag consists of a comprehensive multicoloured booklet with information about Birkenstock in English and German.It is also worthwhile to note that it is against eBay rules and unlawful to sell items of different brands using the Birkenstock brand names in the listing titles.


Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q. Why was my auction ended or suspended?


A. Birkenstock and Central Trade polices eBay and the Internet daily and immediately notifies eBay of any auctions attempting to sell items that infringe Birkenstock's intellectual property rights. Your auction was probably ended or suspended because Birkenstock and Central Trade genuinely believed it violated eBay's VeRO programme as the merchandise you had on offer appeared to be counterfeit and/or otherwise infringed Birkenstock's rights and is thus unlawful.


Q. Why did eBay allow me to post my auction if it unlawful?


A. We understand from eBay that it is impractical to comprehensively pre-screen their auctions. Thus some infringing items are listed, and can only be discovered and removed after the listing.


Q. Why was my auction removed when I can see others that may also infringe Birkenstock's intellectual property rights?


A. We do our best to ensure that all such auctions are taken off eBay at the earliest opportunity, but sometimes it is not possible to address every counterfeit and/or unauthorised item before it sells. If Birkenstock and Central trade do not proceed against an infringing auction, this does not mean that it is not breaking the law.


Q. Does Birkenstock and Central Trade really care if just one single unauthorised item is sold?


A. YES! Absolutely. A great deal of time and money has been spent in building upBirkenstock's national and international reputation in producing distinctive Birkenstock footwear of the highest quality. Counterfeits or copies are inevitably poor, shoddy and inferior and this causes extensive damage to Birkenstock's image. Birkenstock will not tolerate anyone piggybacking off its well earned reputation.


Q. I think that the item I offered is geniune Birkenstock and not an imitation. How can I tell if it really real?


A. The only way to be absolutely sure that the item is a geniune Birkenstock is to buy from authorised Birkenstock dealers. If your auction was ended or suspended we are satisfied that the item you were offering for sale was an imitation of counterfeit product. In some cases we appreciate that you may not have realised that you were selling fake goods, and that someone else may have deceived you.


Q. Can I use Birkenstock's name and/or logo for the purposes of my auction even if I am not selling Birkenstock footwear? Or for making something at home?


A. No is the answer to both questions, to do so would deceive others when there is no legitimate connection between what you are selling and use of the Birkenstock trade mark. Nor are you permitted to reproduce, display or otherwise use our name or logo such as cutting and pasting images onto your auction title or description. Only Birkenstock and its authorised users may do so. This includes making anything at home.


Q. I think that my goods reported by Birkenstock to be imitation are nevertheless genuine. What rights do I have and how can I relist these goods for auction?


A. If you do beleive a mistake has been made, you should email the trademark department on trademark@boottree.co.uk. Please include:


1. Your eBay user ID


2. The auction number


3. The precise title and description used in the auction


4. Any pictures or other reproductions of the items listed in the ended/suspended auction - This is very important as our trademark team can only use the pictures to confirm the product's authenticity.


If we are satisfied that your auction was erroneously reported, we will email eBay asking them to restore your auction. However, the ultimate decision on whether or not to do so rests with eBay.


Any enquiries can be mailed to Central Trade Limited or emailed via trademark@boottree.co.uk. Please ensure your eBay user ID and auction number are included.


If you are aware of anyone offering for sale any footwear that infringes Birkenstock's intellectual property rights, please contact us as above.


Thank you!

Sellers - Be Careful When Accepting Offers!

Just a quick word to all sellers out there who allow Best Offers.I've found that some people try to trick you when putting in offers, taking advantage of how Ebay displays the offer information.When an offer comes in, the main focus of the screen shows you a TOTAL of the offer, not an individual price.For example, you have a football shirt listed at 18 or best offer. Some people may bid 8.50 for TWO items. As a result, the main screen for accepting offers shows an amount of 17 in quite a prominent way. It's quite easy to click on accept before you notice the offer is for two items. My advice is to always check the offers on the left of the screen. The font is smaller but it gives the individual offer amount, making it easier to see if someone is trying to trick you.

Fun Feedback

Fun Feedback To Copy



How many of you want some fun feedback tosent to your buyers or sellers but don't know how to do it? Hereis a list of some of mymost favourite feedback's that Iam willing to share with you! I have to admit feedback can get kind of boring, and if you are either buying lots of items, or selling them sometimes you get stuck in with what to say to that customer or seller! Here are some FUN solutions to your feedback problems!


ENJOY and Copy Whatever Feedback you wish


PERFECT,,EBAYER,,,THANK YOU,,SUPER,,RECOMMENDED



(`'.(`'.(`'. Thank You, Excellent Ebayer!.').').')



:::P::: :::E::: :::R::: :::F::: :::E::: :::C::: :::T:::



::-:*'""*:.-::-*SUPER *-::-:*'''''*:-::- THANK YOU -::-:*'""*



P...E...R...F...E...C...T -------o00o---(_)--o00o--------E...B...A...Y...E...R

The Staunton Chess game set : a brief history

The history of the Staunton style chess setTo find out more about our company before reading this guide click here A huge increase in the popularity of chess, particularly in international play during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, brought about a renewed demand for a more universal model of chess set. The variety and styles of the conventional form begun in the fifteenth century had expanded tremendously by the beginning of the nineteenth century. Some of the more common conventional types popular during the period included the St. George, English Barleycorn, the French Regence and the central European Selenus styles. Most pieces were tall, easily tipped over and cumbersome during play. But their largest downfall was the uniformity of the pieces within one set. A player's lack of familiarity with an opponent's pieces could tragically alter the outcome of a game. By the early decades of the nineteenth century it was all too clear that there was a great need for a chess set with pieces that were easy to use and universally recognized by players of diverse cultural backgrounds. The solution, first released in 1849 was to become known as the Staunton chess set after the Shakespearean scholar, author and the world champion, Howard Staunton ( 1810 - 1874 ).The pieces were symbols of "respectable" Victorian society: a distinguished bishops miter, a queen's coronet and king's crown, a knight carved as a stallion's head from the ancient Greek Elgin Marbles and a castle streamlined into clean classical lines, projecting an aura of strength and security. It has been said that the form of the pawns was based on the 'Freemasons square and compasses', however; another theory reflects the pawns form is derived from the balconies of London Victorian buildings. There were also practical innovations: for the first time a crown emblem was stamped onto a rook and knight of each side, to identify their positioning on to the king's side of the board. The key was the use of universally recognizable symbols atop conventional stems and bases. Moreover, the pieces were compact, well balanced and often weighted to provide a playing set that was as useful as it was understandable. Further to the design, the expensive ebony and boxwood sets were weighted with lead to provide added stability and the underside of each piece was covered with felt. The king sizes ranged from 3.5 inches to 4.5 inches and the sets typically came in a carved wooden box."A set of Chessmen, of a pattern combining elegance and solidity to a degree hitherto unknown, has recently appeared under the auspices of the celebrated player Mr. STAUNTON. A guiding principle has been to give by their form a signification to the various pieces - thus the king is represented by a crown, the Queen by a coronet. The pieces generally are fashioned with convenience to the hand; and it is to be remarked, that while there is so great an accession to elegance of form, it is not attained at the expense of practical utility. Mr. STAUNTON'S pattern adopts but elevates the conventional form; and the base of the Pieces being of a large diameter, they are more steady than ordinary sets." The Staunton as it became known, became available to the general public on September 29, 1849. The Staunton style chess set was soon the standard on which most tournament playing pieces have been made and used around the globe ever since. The low cost to produce the Staunton style chess set allowed the masses to purchase sets and helped to increase the popularity of the game of chess. The Staunton set obtained the stamp of approval of the World Chess Federation, when in 1924 it was selected as their choice of set, for use in all future international chess tournaments. For over a century and a half, this style has been cherished by players around the world. The superiority of the design lay in its well-balanced, easy to recognized pieces. Such was its success that it will be the style of choice for play to this day and hopefully many years into the future. I hope you have found this brief history interesting. To view and buy a number of different wooden chess sets at amazing prices please visit my ebay shop JDS Toys

Avoiding PayPal chargebacks. (For Sellers)

Quite quick and to the point, this one really. ITs not 100% guaranteed to work every time - nothing is, but it will greatly help you for the majority of charge-back attempts.


Trackable mail. NOT! Proof of postage!


All sellers have a different mode of operating. I'm going to tell you mine, so you know what I mean. Whether you decide to use my method, or adapt it to suit your own needs, then thats upto you - but this does help avoiding chargebacks. I have had one successful chargeback, and this was prior to my change to sending via a tracked service.


A charge back can be issued by any buyer, who has paid using PayPal - who states they have not received their item.


PayPal expect any seller to be able to prove delivery, when dealing with a customer charge back. Proof of postage is exactly that. It requires no signature, and cannot be proved to be delivered.


This is what I do when I've parcelled/sent my items.


Click my eBay


Click the transaction in question.


Click view PayPal payment


Add tracking information (at bottom of the payment page).


This brings up a few drop down boxes.


Item"In Process" or "Sent"


Enter the correctdelivery method. (I use Recorded, Special Delivery, and International Signed for).


Thats it! You've done all you can there. You have provided your trackable proof, to PayPal before they've even requested it. Thats your first step.


The only other thing you can do really now, is have the url of the tracking facility of the country your item is going to. IE:Royal Mail websitefor UK deliveries, orUSPSfor America, etc. If you are subject to a chargeback, and are asked any information by PayPal - add this information in even if they don't request it. It makes their job easier, perhaps they'll appreciate you for it!

Big R/C Tank

I bought one of the Heng Long Tiger tanks in 1/16th scale from HF Trade in Germany. I have read the guides written by people who have not had a good experience and thought you may like to read a positive one. I won the auction, they sent an invoice, I payed via paypal. They said when it was shipped. It arrived 10 days after the auction ended. Feedback was left by both parties, amd three months later I am still having great fun with "that bloody kids toy" as my wife calls it. (I must stop shooting at her with it) With most things in life there are good and bad, check feedback, nobody forces you to buy. If things are faulty, talk to the seller. A lot of Ebay sellers are not big firms, but garage sellers with normal full time jobs. Be patient, and most problems will be solved. Ebay is fun, I know hard earned money is involved, but enjoy................

Buying Software


These days you will find the best deals from small independent developers - see my software titles! You should expect to be able to download a FREE trial of the software you are thinking of purchasing, that way you can get a real idea before you part with your money.


Customer Support and service is very important to use and it is for that reason we are online for at least 12 hours a day - we even have LIVE support from my website.


A dedicated website should always be expectedfrom a serious software provider - after all, where do you go for the latest news etc?


When buying Software make sure you buy from an authorised seller and not from a "Quick Quid" seller - some ebayers do buy genuine software and think they can sell it on to recoup their investment.. They DO NOT havean activation key which will work on somebody elses computer - most software developers use the same protection system as in this current climate of Piracy they feel that adequate protection is worth it's weight in gold.


Look out for FEEDBACK - thats always a good indicator of a good seller.


Lastly - Go with your "Gut" feeling on anything - thst's another good indicator.



Wishing you Prosperity- Nik Grey.

JustDeals, JustDiabolical

This is a personal review of the company JustDeals, who specialise in
selling various electrical goods at very competitive prices.

But thats about where the positive points end.

I bought a pair of Logitech Wireless Headphones for Ipod 4G about a
month ago (21/06/06). I had been after these particular headphones for
a while and could hardly wait to receive them. They arrived around a
week later in a small tidy box and plastic wrapping etc.

First thing that annoyed me: I paid 7.25 postage for a package that
could be sent first class for around 1.50 and would arrive in 1 or
maybe 2 working days.

Second thing: Although stated in the description in very small writing,
these headphones were not white as the pictures showed, but grey. Not
really worthy of an Ipod accessory if it's not white!

After working out how to use the headphones, I used them for around an hour or so, then they went dead. No sound whatsoever.

So I emailed justdeals for a replacement, and after a few days they
replied with details of how to go about getting one. I followed the
instructions and posted the box off the next day (for 1.50!).

After a few more weeks of processing and slow replies to my emails, I received my replacement. Eventually. (25/07/06)

Great! I thought, as I nearly tore the box to shreds to get to my headphones.

I unwrapped them and went to charge them right away. Then the earpiece
flopped away from me. The headband was snapped! Along with the wiring
that passed through which broke the circuit.

I have now requested a refund because this just doesn't deserve 3
strikes. Hopefully all will go well when they reply, with any luck
within the week (it's Tuesday now).

98.6% Positive Feedback, not bad I hear you say. But that 1.4% of
unhappy customers equates to nearly 1000 unhappy customers and
counting. Although I may be a tiny percentage on their feedback score,
please
try and avoid all this hassle if you want to receive quality goods.

It just goes to show that with a big company, comes big profits,
unnecessarily long processing times, and frankly, a general lack of
caring for the consumer.

I hope you can find an alternate seller!

Thanks for reading,
Karl.

The item I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem

Shipping items from the USA to the UK/EU

Shipping items from the USA to the UK/EU

I really want to educate people about shipping misconceptions and also give you a breakdown of what is what. You'd only know about this stuff if you ever lived here, and because I have invested a lot of time into selling to people internationally, I want you to be as informed as I.

Common methods of shipping to the UK and Europe

When you buy from an international seller, there are 4 commonly used companies for dispatching your items:

    USPSUPSFEDEXDHL
Of these 4 companies, all of them have tracking for packages sent. The only exception to this is the 1st option which has several other types of delivery that I will explain shortly.

Cds-Buying Compilation CD's containing 60's/70's Music

This is a rough guidefor buying Compilation Cd's from eBay sellers who include selling music of generally the 60's or 70's.


If your knowledge of this super period of music is pretty good,then no doubt you'll be sifting through all the eBay listings for certain records that you remember and like from this era.However I must warn buyers that there are quite a few Cd's around that aren't quite what you think they might be!.Often listings with- for example-no details in the 'label' catagory etc,and also that appear to be a bargain -often aren't .Few sellers will mention that the recordings on the Cd that they are selling are Re-Recordings (although this is usuallystated on the Cd insert) .These recordings are more often than not' inferior' performances from the artists and groups,andhavebeen recorded by the original artists (or some of them!) many years (often too many!)after they were famous.Some of the performances can be dire!,some can be passable.However it won't take you too long to realize when you're playing the Cd that it isn't quite the version you remember hearing all those years ago!. My advice is-be careful when looking for oldies -see if the seller mentions the Cd label -if it's one of the well known big company ones, then the recordings will be the original.If the word 'Remastered' appears -Yes!- originals.There are some good small companies that issue original material,however if in any doubt do email the seller and ask if they are the original recordings.In general the old saying 'you get what you pay for' does apply,although there are still bargains to be had at good prices.


if you feel this guide was helpful,please tick the 'yes' box - this way more people will get to see the guide.

Eaglemoss Lord of the Rings Collectors Models Listing

This is asimple and straight forward listing of the Eaglemoss Lord of the Rings Collector's Models series. These excellent metal figures (

Considerations before buying from abroad.....

There are many great bargains on ebay, many available from far aware shores...



Are they always a bargain though? Is that digital camera, mp3 player, or other electrical item going to work out cheap if you buy it from Singapore or America or elsewhereand have it shipped to the UK?


You need to ask the following questions before buying, or you may get burnt.


MAINS SUPPLY


Will it be compatible with the UK mains supply? Does it need a different power supply adapter, or mains plug adapter? Remember the USA and some other countries do NOT use our 3 pin 240v mains, they use other standards. CHECK before buying.


UNEXPECTED CHARGES


The seller may proclaim NO VAT, but make sure you wont get hit by a big charge from customs, it can and does happen. Also, what if the seller lies on the customs form, if they put the item down as USED and dont provide a receipt, what proof of purchase do you have?


WARRANTY


The warranty, will it be valid in the UK, often warranties are ONLY valid in the same country the item was purchased from, so unless you fancy a trip to hong kong to hand over your camera for repair, do your research, and ask the seller first - get it in writing if possible.


SHIPPING


Will it take weeks to arrive? Is it insured on route?


More importantly, watch out for sellers that have a really low starting price, and use shipping costs to avoid ebay fees. Whilst this may still mean you get a bargain, watch the small print - often they say in case of a problem they will only refund the item cost, NOT the shipping. So that 1p camera with 99 pound shipping, if it develops a fault, will mean only a 1p refund... BE CAREFUL.


DOCUMENTATION


Will you get a proof of purchase/receipt, and will the instructions be in English? Check before buying.



Good luck, and I hope you get a bargain.



Sellers bidding on their own item - (shill bidding).

LINK TO REPORTING FORM


Sellers bidding on their own item - (shill bidding). While looking for items to buy I have noticed the trend among some unscrupulous sellers of bidding on their own listing to drive up the price and avoid paying reserve fees. In so doing they are ripping us off by forcing prices up artificially and ripping off ebay for their fees. No one likes to be ripped off so I have written this guide to help you spot this type of activity and how to report it as there are various drop downs that have to be navigated to get to the ebay reporting form and they have not made it easy.


Spotting shill bidding -


Look at the bid history on the item, then check any other listings active by that seller to see if the fake bids are present on those listings. Cross reference this with the feedback history of both the seller and suspected shill bids. Quite often the fake bidding account will be of a low feedback score and made up mainly of feedback from the seller or low value item purchases. Anyway if you suspect you see a pattern, report it. Ebay have technical means of investigating these accounts that do not rely on the registration information provided.



Navigating to the reporting form -


You may try the link at the very top of this page or to do it manually follow the instructions below.


On youre my ebay page click on the safety centre link (bottom left)Click on report another problemClick on buying and findingClick on problems with a seller or purchaseClick on seller is bidding on their own item with another user id.Fill in the form, whew, dont make it easy do they?


Anyway maybe if enough of us bother to report this FRAUDULENTactivity then ebay might take it more seriously in future.


Good luck with your ebaying


The economy of the truth and paypal's involvement

I listed some items in mid March and when they completed this one american guy had bought two of them in one go. I was pleasead and offered him discounted single item shipping rates. He said he wanted them expressed shipped at any cost so I got him a fair but reflective price for shipping 3kg to USA in 4 days and he said I was trying to rob him so I sent him the link to the shipping website and said it was actual rate. Then he went silent for TWO weeks during which I asked repeatedly to pay up or say he was not interested. I knew I was going on holiday at the beginning of April so I said he must pay by then or its all off. he paid on the mornring I was flying out and said he wanted his stuff dealt with pronto!! No can do at such a late hour! When I got back I contacted him and shipped the stuff ASAP. HE then complained to Paypal saying I had taken four weeks to turn them around!! They found in his favour and he continued to say they had not been shipped or received. When asked for proof I faxed them ths customs and shipping forms with all the right numbers and stamps (what more can you ask for?). They took one look at it and ignored me. Later I find he has won the dispute and paypal have blocked ME!! I tracked the items and he has them but is denying it and paypal say it must be trackable (!?!?!?! which it is, was and the stuff is with him!?!?!). Sonow this guy has the items, the money and paypal have blocked me on the strength of this lying barefaced thief. So my advice is when you say three days mean three days for payment but when paypal say trackable they obviously have a SPECIAL list of companies they agree with and others they ignore. Make sure you are using one of their chosen ones!! Oh! and avoid a guy in Florida called Owen Igbinoba as he knows damn well what he is doing and is very good at lying and playing tough and denying received items which HE HAS SIGNED FOR!!!

Hiking Poles. A not too definitive guide.

The purpose of this guide is toadvise in the selection of Hiking Poles so that you have an informed choice and be able to sort through the wonderful sales information.


We start with the concept of Poles their uses and benefits. The use of Hiking Poles is not new as we have been using and selling them for the last 15 years. Theyhavenot been introduced for the the elderly despite the obvious benefits for them. End users range from casual day walkers to altitude mountaineers. The main benefits of Hiking Poles is reduced body stress and the arms can be used to transfer loads to the poles wether that be on the uphill, downhill or on the flat. When using rucksacks you gain a higher center of gravity and also less stability. This problem get worse as the terrain steepens or gets rougher. As well as reducing the physical body stress the use of Hiking Poles will also help us regain this stability and control. When all said Hiking Poleshave many other uses being the construction of wind breaks and shelters for meal breaks,crossingstreams with slippy rocks are only a few practical examples. Poles are best used in pairs.


Nordic Poles


Nordic walking walking poles tend to be lighter single or two section.The walker does not need to grip the pole at all, it travels via the strap/glove. A true nordic walking pole does not havethe usual hikinggrip that flares at the bottom of the hand, as that hampers releasing the grip at the back of each arm swing. Flared bottom grips are used in trekking poles where the hiker may bear down on them. Nordic walking grips are usually streamlined and very narrow.


The following relates to materials used in your choice of Pole and its merits.


Materials


Handles:


A lot of choice of the types of handles is available Starting with:


Foam- This type is very comfortable to hold and is great on the cold and wet days as it feels warmer. This is not to say it cannot be used during warmer periods but hands will be a little bit more sweaty. There is a difference between the types of foam being used. Softer foam is lower grade and not as durable, i would sooner recomend harder high grade foams on the main branded poles.


Cork- A nice compromise will still feel a bit warmer than rubber but not quite as warm as foam. Its lightness is another of its advantages.


Rubber- The mostcommon of the materials used in hiking poles and durable also of lower cost.


T Grip- Good for over hand use and good on downhills and are comfortable. Many prefer the ski pole handle for its versatility in uphill downhill and on the flat.


Handle Compasses- To be quite frank they serve little purpose. Their size gives little accuracy and most tend to be so inaccurate to start with.All of the poles i have seen use steel screws rather than non-ferrous screws holding thestraps to thehandle.These screwsaredirectly under the compass. This creates a magnetic field giving compass deviation.



Pole Shafts


An array of materials are used in the manufacture with a series of figures often being used to describe them but what do they mean? Most poles are made of various grades of Aluminium alloys mainly for their lightness and thesomealloys havebetter corrosion resistance. This is important as the sections are lesslikely to stickPoorly maintained poles will stick no matter what materials are used but more of this later. The following are some of the materials we are more familiar with in our Poles


6061 Alloy is often used as it is light weight and used in marine environments and aircraft manufacture, a good choice.


7075 Alloy is weight for weight stronger so its thickness can be reduced to give a lighter pole with similar strengths to 6061. You can expect to pay more for this weight saving.


Duraluminum is another Aluminium materialoften associated with bike frames and aviation,has copper and magnesium added, very strong and light and again very corrosion resistant.


Pole Fittings


Very important, often overlooked and is what makes the pole function. Each section of the pole slides inside another section. To lock it at the desired height we turn each section clockwise to operate a plastic expander which presses against next internal section which should provide a secure grip. Turn anti-clockwise and the expander loosens allowing height adjustment.


The plastic expanders used are the making of the pole and i have seen some terrible materials used. All expanders are made from plastic. There are as many types of plastic as there are composite of metals. All i can say on this matter is that the use of White Nylon 6 and black nylonhas been of good success for us. Other plastics we have used have been too hard and have not bedded in as well to grip the internal of the pole.


Baskets


This is the important bit that screws onto the pole tips and should be replaceable. There are the larger Snow Baskets that are similar to the ski types and unless they are used in snow are not of added benefit. The smaller mud baskets come with all poles and prevent the pole sinking into soft ground.


Pole Tips


Steel- Good enough but if you use the pole often it will wear more quickly.


Tungsten- A better choice for regular users and is an extremelytough material that will not corrode.


Carbide- Personally i have not noticed much of the benefits of this material but it is used for tool manufacture and is a harder material.


Rubber Boots


I have used a few types but it is best to look for the ones with metal washers inside. Their benefit is to prevent the tip from prematurelypoking through. Be aware the boots are a consumable item and will wear.


Pole lengths


The proper pole length is approx. 70% of your body height. Multiply your height in inches or in centimeters by 0.7 to get your pole length in the same units. The pole can then be adjusted to length.


Care


Minimal care is required for poles and is basicallyif wet pull each section out and dry also rinse any debris off. It would be best not to reassembleuntil throughly dry topreventthe sections sticking.Should the pole be stored wet electrolytic corrosion will happen between the metals creating oxidization. This is where a quality anodised coating is also best.


It would be bestnot allow oils or grease onto the sections as the sections will not lock, if this has been done on your current poles its not a problemas washing in soapy hot water will cure it.


Conclusion


The above guide is by no means complete, new manufacturing processes and materials will change. Your choice of pole can only be made by you when you decide your requirements.


When using poles on the first outing give yourselftime, some find them a little awkward until that flow comes, which will not take long.I suggest placing the pole tips a little bit to each side until you get used to them to avoid tripping over them. On downhills its best not to use the wrist straps, should you fall you may not be able to use your hands properly to break your fall.







Lipsy

Lipsy has been going for more than 15 yrs, Lipsy is home to the fashion industry and you will always see famous stars in Lipsy clothing, they either buy an item of Lipsy clothing or Lipsy will bring out a matching item that usually flys of the shelf, Lipsy is branded mainly in M/L but the ,main sizes are 8,10,12,14, with the occasional size 6, 16,18. Lipsy is now being sold in most major catalogues

CREATINE GUIDE

Click here to see our ''Creatine'' products.

Creatine is the most popular and commonly used sports supplement available today. There are numerous studies backed by anecdotal evidence that support the efficacy of creatine supplementation. For the majority of the population, including both elite athletes and untrained individuals, creatine supplementation increases fat free mass and improves anaerobic and possibly aerobic performance. While the effectiveness of creatine is well known, the most effective way to take creatine is not known. In order to design an "optimal" cycle for creatine, a number of factors must be considered.

ALRI CR2 CREATINE IS CURRENTLY THE MOST POTENT AND EFFECTIVE ON THE MARKET TODAY!!

What Is Creatine?

A French scientist discovered creatine in 1835. Creatine is a natural constituent of meat, mainly found in red meat. Creatine is manufactured naturally in the body from the amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. This process takes place in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. Approximately 40% of the body's creatine stores are free creatine (Cr), while the remaining 60% is stored in form of creatine phosphate (CP). The typical male adult processes 2 grams of creatine per day, and replaces that amount through dietary intake and fabrication within the body.



Creatine is used for the resynthesis of ATP. ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is the "power" that drives muscular energetics. When a muscle is required to contract, the bonds in the ATP molecule are split, yielding ADP (adenosine-diphosphate). The energy released by breaking this bond powers the contraction of the muscle. When ATP is depleted within the cell, the cell can no longer contract. There are several methods by which the body rebuilds ATP. The fastest method, without oxygen, is through CP. Creatine phosphate is "split" to yield the phosphate portion of the molecule. This phosphate portion bonds to the ADP, turning it back to ATP. Once CP stores within the cell are depleted, the body must use other methods to replenish ATP.

Supplementation with creatine increases Cr and CP within the muscle, allowing further capacity to regenerate ATP. In other words, the creatine enhances the ability of the muscle to maintain power output during brief periods of high-intensity exercise. The periods are brief because the ability of a cell to store CP is limited, therefore the body will quickly move to other methods of replenishing ATP.

The majority of studies regarding creatine supplementation have used creatine monohydrate, the form of creatine bound to a water molecule. Some studies suggest that the combination of creatine and carbohydrate will enhance absorption or "uptake" of creatine. Science shows that creatine is unstable in liquid form, meaning that serum or liquid delivery systems are currently not supported by scientific literature.

The creatine rapidly degrades to creatinine, which is not useable by the body. There is very little support for the notion that creatine in any type of mixture, including an effervescent mixture, is absorbed more efficiently by the body. A company known as Albion Laboratories, Inc. claims to have found an effective delivery mechanism by chelating creatine to magnesium (a chelate is an organic compound that is typically absorbed more readily by the body than individual elements).

What Is The Most Effective Creatine Dose?

Effective doses will be examined later in this article. Current studies tend to follow a very standard protocol:



20 g / d for 5 - 7 days ("loading phase")


5 g / d for remainder of cycle ("maintenance phase")

A more customized approach is to determine dose based on mass. A common formula is:

0.3 g / kg / d for 5 - 7 days

0.03 g / kg / d for remainder of cycle


Thus, an individual weighing two-hundred (200) pounds would require 200 lb * (1 lb / 2.2 kg) * 0.3 g = 27 grams per day for the loading phase, then 2.7 grams per day for the maintenance phase. Calculate this for yourself below. It is known that creatine supplementation increases intramuscular creatine stores. To base creatine dose on total weight, therefore, seems inaccurate. A 200 lb individual with 20% body fat would have less lean mass than a 200 lb individual with 8% body fat.


We hope you find this information useful..... HAPPY TRAINING!!


www.stores.ebay.co.uk/rhinosupplements

Motorcycle Alarms

This is a little bit of advice which may save you money.


If you're considering an alarm for your bike, make sure it is Thatcham approved. Quiz the supplier for the Thatcham part number and the classification (C1, C2 etc.,) If they can't (or won't) provide it, then save your money for a real one. If they give you a part number, you can check it on Thatcham's website,and you can download a .pdf file which has all the approved alarms listed.


Bear in mind, "UKAS Approved" , "ISO 9000", "CE Approved" and other titles they give them are MEANINGLESS! Without Thatcham approval you won't get a reduction on your insurance.


If you just want one for your own peace of mind, then fine, but remember, you get what you pay for, and, as always, CAVEAT EMPTOR! Buyer, Beware!


Steve.

PAYPAL ACCOUNT SCAMMERS WATCHOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has been going on for about 2 years and getting worse. If you get an email telling you to log into your paypal account via email, DO NOT click on the link in the email! Most likely this is a scam. The email will appear to come from paypal due to forged headers. However, if you view the source of the email you will see that the link does not go to paypal but some other site like paypal.domain.com (as a subdomain) or paypal(s).com (with an s) or paypa(1).com (with a 1) or some other variation of the paypal domain. What is ironic is that paypal sends it's lawyers after us on our paypal domains (and loses!) but they don't seem to be doing anything about these scammers.


To the point: IF you have a paypal account, ONLY log into it by typing into your browser window www.paypal.com. If you are on a website and click on a link, be SURE the address is really paypal's in the address bar. Otherwise you will be giving your paypal account information to a scammer.

Get an eBay related question answered in minutes!

Have you ever searched the internet for hours on end searching for the answer to an eBay related question and come up with absolutely nothing? Well let me tell you I have been in that exact same position until I found 2 links that changed my knowledge of eBay forever.


The first link I found by complete accident but now i don't know how i ever survived on eBay wthout it. Allow me to explain what these links is all about, The first link a great website which holds a number of eBay tools including:


Misspell search (allows you to search misspelled items when the correct spelling is put in)Negative feedback checker (displays negative

A GUIDE TO GOLF EQUIPMENT BY FALCON ONLINE

A guide to Golf Equipment from Falcon Golf.


FOR THE BEST DEALS ON EBAY FOR GOLF CLICK HERE




Golf is a great game: sometimes rewarding, often frustrating but highly addictive. Getting started in it is actually not so difficult with the right golf equipment, and hopefully this article can help you avoid some of the pitfalls and point you in the direction of a lifetime of fun (and frustration).


The very first steps.


The biggest mistake by people wanting to start in golf is to rush out and buy a brand new set of shiny and expensive golf equipment While they are nice to look at you should keep in mind that today's golf equipment comes in great varieties to cater for different golfing types and abilities. Since you're just starting out you do not know which set of golf equipment fits you best.


Just imagine the envious looks you get at the driving range when you come with your 2000 worth of golf equipment, and the subsequent laughter when you try and just 'hack away' - not worth the embarrassment! Once you spend a few hundred or even thousand on your golf equipment that doesn't suit your style you're stuck with it or you have to sell it to somebody else at a loss.


If you feel you want your own golf equipment get a half golf set. This generally comprises five golf irons and perhaps two golf woods and a golf putter. Usually the golf irons are the odd numbers 3,5,7,9 and wedge. These golf clubs are more than enough to get you started alternatively: most Golf Driving Ranges will have golf equipment for hire, so you can try out a few different sets of golf equipment. You can also borrow one or two golf clubs from a friend. The shortest golf iron (nine iron) or a wedge are the best golf equipment to start, practicing with it will give you the feeling of hitting the golf ball in the air and should be fairly straight forward.


Most Golf Equipment Pro shops and golf driving ranges sell second golf equipment. They will also be able to offer you advice and let you try some golf equipment out. Alternatively, nearly all golf driving ranges will have golf equipment for hire if you want to have a go without committing to a golf set until you get the hang of it. Or ask other people at the golf driving range, you will soon find out that many have another set of golf equipment at home because they made the exact same mistakes I mentioned above. Make sure you try before you buy, if they fit (and only if they fit!) you can often get them for a steal. Or try advertising in some classified sites for second hand golf equipment.


As hard as it will be to contain yourself, don't even contemplate going anywhere near a golf course. Golf is technically quite demanding, and without at least some basic training you'll end up with a lot of frustration. You've seen the top players on TV loosing their cool in frustration, imagine how you will feel if not even a single golf shot goes where you want it to. As a beginner at the great game of golf, start off at a golf driving range with a trial set of golf equipment, take at least four or five lessons, learn the fundamentals, progress to a 9 hole golf course and eventually venture out into the great unknown of an 18 hole golf course. Believe me, it will be a lot more fun for you and those around you if you follow this path.


You will meet plenty of people at the golf driving range who will teach you the 'innermost secrets' of golf. Fact is that most of them have started playing golf not long before you. So the answer to the above question is: go to a Golf Professional. As you have seen on TV, even the world's top golf players have a coach. Tiger Woods, probably the best golfer the world, still takes lessons. Certified Golf Professionals are the only people qualified to teach you how to play the game of golf. Lessons from a Golf Pro will cost you money but will be the best investment you'll ever make.


Taking the advise from the 'know-it-all' people at the range will likely screw-up your golf game at the very early stage, and it will take a long time to correct the faults later. The two places to get golf lessons are at golf driving ranges and golf clubs. You don't have to be a member of a golf club to get a lesson from the Golf Pro. You bring in money, so they will be glad to help.


The usual cost is about 25-40 per 45 min, but you will get reductions for a block booking. If you are a bit on the budget see if they do group bookings, those are also cheaper than individual lessons. Support your lessons by watching some instructional golf video or CD.


Counterfeit goods and eBay

I won a item which was discribed as being a service manual for my car. It warned about others selling scanned in images of haynes so it sounded good the seller had good feedback from many past happy customers.The CD arrived and on opening the package I was worried as it was a inkjet printed cd label on the CD I installed and looked over it, it was clearly a pirate copy of the org software I called the company to confirm this, which they did.I reported the seller for selling pirate / counterfeit software and his other listings where removed to protect buyers and the company which had I guess invested heavy into there product.I contact PayPal as I had paid via them who refunded my money.A day later I got a non paying buyer alert from eBay... I explained and told them I had contacted PayPal and they had awarded me a refund as the software should have not even been listed on eBay and the seller had no right to copy of offer it for sale.About 3 days later I got a email from eBay saying I had not paid the seller and now I was getting a non paying buyer strike!!!! They seller was also awarded his listing fee back!!!! Again I contacted eBay about this and have heard nothing.The seller has left me bad feedback, calling me a freeloader and saying I tried to blackmail them!!! as a result and I have once again contacted eBay reguarding this matter......recieved the default email about feedback rules..So abiding by the rules of ebay your not protected!The Thief who sells stolen copyrighted software seems to be the winner... 1. Gets his listing fee refunded.2. Not removed from eBay3. Able to sell stolen copyrighted software at a later date.Innocent party (Me)1. Gets Left bad feedback2. Gets refunded by PayPal which is part of eBay3. Wasted time in trying to clear name as eBay just dont seem to care.4. eBay give a non paying buyer strike.So who gets the better deal here....My advise to anyone purchasing any kind of software from any seller is to think twice...is it worth the bad feedback / counterfeit / and a non paying strike from eBay.....

STOLEN CB500

My Honda CB500 has been stolen, so if you are buying any major parts such as an engine (done 13,000 miles) or a frame, then please check for the number to protect yourself from handling stolen parts, and maybe even help catch the tw*t that has just robbed me of my one little peice of freedom from this cr*ppy world!


Engine Number: PC26E2509612


Frame Number: ZDCPC32A0YF227243


Many thanks,


Neil

Friday, July 23, 2010

beware paypal as a buyer!

I want to warn buyers using paypal that it is by no means a safe and fullproof way of paying for goods on e-bay. I had a payment taken off my account 3x instead of once!!! The seller claimed that she only received one payment so i had to wait to check my bank statement. It showed the amount taken out of my account 3x!


I reported the matter to paypal who failed to resolve the case! As a result i lost out and paypal seem to be accountable to nobody!! So beware of this happening to you.

TO STRIKE OR NOT TO STRIKE (To neg or not to neg)

This is my first time to write a sort of guide; the main reason being; I think the feedback system can be a bit unfair to say the least;especially tofairly new E-Bayers( SORRY E-BAY) NB: I MIGHT GOROUNDTHE HOUSES A BIT, BUT I WILL GET TO SOME SORT OF POINT IN THE END AS YOU NEED TO HEAR THE FULL STORY !


A short while agoIplaced on auctionseveral 1960's football programmes signed by 2 football legends, I describedthem as tatty but rare due to the 2 autographs ( I included a v/good scan

How to increase store visitors and sales.

Right, it doesn't take a genius to work this formula out. More eBay store visitors = more sales.
Make sure you provide a link to your store in every auction. Don't just
expect people to click on the link eBay provides. Make a link and ask
people to click on it and they will. How many times have you seen the
term 'please view my other auctions' or 'visit my eBay store for more
bargains' I bet you've clicked on those links sometimes too? I know I
have. Its all about encouraging the person viewing your auction to do
what you want. After all, if they don't click on your link what have
you lost? Nothing.

Another way to generate visitors to your eBay store is through email.
You should include a signature in your emails. Something like the one
below. In outlook express go to tools, options then signatures and set
one up.

================================================
Get 100s of fantastic items starting at only 1p at my eBay store.
Simply visit http://stores.ebay.co.uk/PlanetSMS
================================================

Notice how I use = as a border, this makes your signature stand out.
Always mention you have other items in your store and always provide a direct link at the start or end of each listing.
Also, use the auto invoice eBay selling manager or PayPal provides (use
one or the other, not both), again mention you have more items for sale
in your store. Also mention this in your winning buyer emails.
If you can set up an auto responder. Have it say something like:-
Hi. Thanks for getting in touch, I have received your email and will respond soon. Then include your signature.

***********************************************************************
Get 100s of fantastic items starting at 1p at my eBay store.
Simply visit http://stores.ebay.co.uk/PlanetSMS
***********************************************************************

Notice this one has stars (shift 8) Experiment and find out what you like best.
Under no circumstances should you spam any past customers. I'm pretty
sure you hate receiving spam (unsolicited emails) and so will your past
customers, and by spamming them you will probably have the opposite
effect of gaining more custom. You may also be reported to your
internet service provider or eBay.

Fly Wasp Insect Killers

PLEASE CLICK TO VOTE IF MY STORY INTERESTED YOU.BUTTON IS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.

I bought asingle 20watt tubeUV fly/insect killer a couple of months ago on eBay, supposidly 80 retail price, and it was 29.99 p

SEARCHING FOR AND FINDING ITEMS WITH WRONG SPELLINGS

You can put sellers' spelling mistakes to your advantage, and win items that other people will not even know about!Some of the spellings you'll have seen in item titles and descriptions are truly awful which is where these two search tools come into their own:http://www.fatfingers.co.uk andhttp://www.misspelledbargainfinder.comGo to either website and type in the item name as it should be spelled, then set them to search eBay for mis-spellings associated with that item. The results can be surprising and chances are you might then be the only person to locate the item, in which case you might bag a bargain.For example, here's what they will search for if Nintendo has been mis-spelled:nntendo, nitendo, ninendo, nintndo, nintedo, ninteno, nnintendo, niintendo, ninntendo, ninttendo, ninteendo, nintenndo, nintenddo, nintendoo, inntendo, nnitendo, nitnendo, ninetndo, nintnedo, nintedno, nintenod, bintendo, mintendo, nuntendo, nontendo, nibtendo, nimtendo, ninrendo, ninyendo, nintwndIt came up with these items:Nintndo DSNintedno DSiNiintendo DS which I would not have found using eBay's own search tool!TIP:When the search is completed, save it by clicking the 'Save this search' link. That way, you will receive an alert each time one of the mis-spells appears in a listing.If you have found this guide of help/interest, please click the YES button now. Thank you.

BRABANTIA REPLACEMENT LIDS ARE FREE

You do not need to pay to receive a new bin lid. Call Brabantia on their new number - 0844 873 5848 and provided your binis less than 10 years oldthey will send you a new lid free of charge.

Rc cars

okay. i just read a guide on here about rc cars that was kinda crappy so here goes.... ive run both nitro and electric.


ELECTRIC


most electrics are 1:10th scale cars, powered by a 540 size motor and a 6 cell nicad or nimh battery packs. What your looking for in an electric is an ESC firstly rather than an MSC and esc is an electronic speed controller, you get a smoother adjustment to the throttle. theyre more reliable. they last longer. whereas an msc you dont usually get more than 3 or 4 settings, they can burn out and are generally old news. Other things your looking for are oil filled shocks - this is a big one as the car wont drive like a pogo stick on wheels. the rest is realy up to you.... onroad cars have quick acceleration, high speeds and look like the cars you would see on a racetrack or on the roads. Offroad have big tyres, squishy suspension and the ability to go just about anywhere! personally i find offroad a lot more fun. if your looking for an offroad electric i would reccomend the evader BX - i own one myself.... 25mph top speed VERY rapid, sharp handling, very forgiving....a real drivers car! plus as standard equipment you get a souped up motor, an ESC, threaded aluminum shocks (this makes a lot of difference if your planning to race), adjustable turnbuckles (again very important if you want to race). I added a 30 trinity co27 motor to mine and its currently running faster than my nitro rush evo.... The evader is also pretty good on the track to start with. All in all its a solid car and one that i personally love and would reccomend wholeheartedly to anyone. i picked mine up second hand for 45 quid so theyre very cheap indeed. Other buggies you may want to consider would be the associated B4 (one of the very if not THE best 2wd buggy around) i forgot to mention: there are 2wd and 4wd buggies...the difference being (other than the obvious) 4wds are more expensive, more complicated and handle a lot better and are easier to drive than 2wd. 2wd are cheaper, good fun if your not going to race as you can do little tricks like doughnuts, and driftingthem round corners sideways....but not as fast on the racetrack, and take a lot more driver skill not to spin out. however, a 2wd is probbably better for the beginner as you will learn throttle control better and heck, its generally more fun! Onroad the solid pick would be the associated TC3/TC4. i would personally avoid tamiya cars as they normally dont have the oil filled shocks and normally have MSC's. spend that little extra and get a TC3 :)


Batteries wise your going to want GP3300 cells - i buy them on here at about 10-12 a pack as they will give you longer and more consistant runs...id swear by them. Then as for a charger what you need to look at is the ampage it charges at (it affects how long its going to take your batteries to charge) Id reccomend something about 4 amps or more...make SURE it can charge Nicad and Nimh cells - the GP3300's are nimh and also make sure it is a PEAK charger. a peak charger charges the battery to the maximum and turns off rather than a non peakwhich charges....and charges....and charges untill the batteries blow up! ive made that mistake once. it wasent pretty and it cost a lot. I use a duratrax pirannah charger i bought on here for about 20. your batteries and charger are going to be the most expensive bit. spending the bit extra now could save you money in upgrades in 4 months time when you feel you want to race tho...


initial set up costs are high....but once you have the kit theres no 50 odd quid engine rebuild bills and 40 a month in fuel asyou get with nitro. they are easier for a beginner...and a helluva lot of fun for the experts.



NITRO


Nitro cars smell more realistic, sound more realistic, are more complicated, harder to run, less reliable and MUCH more expensive to run than an electric. They are insanely fast...even the basic models reaching speeds of 40mph and more. again you get onroad offroad, 2wd and 4wd for the offroad.same as before with the driveability, looks etc. to start in nitro you will need a glostart(15),****a starter boxis only neededif the car doesent have a pullstart and cost about 40 or more***glow wrench(5-15), glow fuel (15 for 2.5 litres)(% nitro depends on the engine). glow fuel nitro content is a case of how long you want your engine to live. a .12 .15 or .18 shoulnt be run on more than 20% and run just nicely on 16% (id reccomend tornado 16) ive seen a perfectly healthy 12 engine die in one day after running 25% fuel in it... a .21 engine wants 25-30% nitro and bigger engines will use the same. offroad good choices would be: 2wd- rush evo (my first rc car - great but the maintinance cost way too much.) the mt2 - a 4wd version of the rush and if you want a monster truck the hpi savages or traxxas t-maxx or revo. onroad...the NTC3 or Hpi Rs4 3 evo - the tc3 is going to be better if your gonna race it, if your not then go for the rs4 as parts are more easily availible.


So overall the initial setup costs for nitro are cheaper...the cars are more expensive, the maininance is VERY expenisve ( youll probbably need a new piston and liner kit at least once a year at a cost of 50...sometimes more for better engines) pullstarts break at a cost of 20. my rush evo cost me so much money in maintinance i had to give her up...she now sits in a box in bits where i caniballised parts for my electric. If you have the money to pay for the upkeep of a nitro then by all means they are amazingly good fun! but definately not for beginners, or older kids who cant afford 30+ in maintiance a week.



Hopefully the guide has helped you, if you want more information hit google and try searching for the brca, hpi racing, team associated, traxxas, or rc car action


if you have any problems or questions then e-mail pyromaniac_yeti @ hotmail.co.uk (without the spaces, it wont let me add my email to this otherwise) and ill do my best to answer them



Iain



by the way.. was just sitting here and something else occured to me: SPARES. make sure your hobby shop, or one near it can get you parts easily, or have a mail order supplier that always stocks parts for your car.... i went through hell on earth trying to find some evader wheels...two months of searching!! (stick associated B4 front wheels on it. no matter what the shop says they WILL fit an evader)

Daihatsu Hijet Parts Breakers, Unscrupulous people!

Here is a quick note on how not to get ripped off by these Car parts breakers. I bought some Spares off one of these people (Lets call this person SparesKyle) He breaks various cars including Daihatsu Hijet Van parts.Theylist their item for say 0.01p and then charge 55 postage so as you do not bid . They do not have to pay anyfees as the item did not sell through E bay. They give amobile a phone number for you to contact them and see what they have. The guy i dealt with asked for a postal order for addedspeed as i needed the goods quickly. He then claimed to have sent them by Parcelforce but they did not have any account of this. Days later andi do not have the item and i am nearly 60 out of pocket. He does not return any calls or e mails. Avoid anyone who does not do this! Make them do a buy it now for your parts and then you are protected by either paypal or E bay. Make sure you get a landline number as well. These peoplealso register as private sellers when they are really Business sellers. Check out the other items that they are selling. If they have several cars/vans for breaking they are most likely a business.This is breaking the law avoid them.

Buying a Hob (Electric or Gas)


Hobs are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes with varying functionality. There are two major fuel types used in hobs; Gas and Electric. Important functions and features are listed below to help you make an educated purchase.
Electric
These units use electrical power to produce heat. There are four major types in domestic use today.
- Radiant Spiral.
Sheathed electrical coils wound into a spiral element are used to provide heat. Very common, but now being replaced by the solid plate hobs.
- Solid Plate.
Solid hotplates are usually made from cast iron and have a sealed electric element inside.

- Halogen Hob.
The heat comes from halogen lamps under the glass which efficiently transmit heat and light upwards.

- Induction Hob.
Induction is a new method, completely different from all other cooking technologies. It does not involve generating heat which is then transferred to the cooking vessel, it makes the cooking vessel itself the original generator of the cooking heat. A high frequency induction coil located under the ceramic cook surface heats the magnetic cookware by producing an alternating magnetic field which flows through the cooking utensil. The molecules in the cookware alternate quickly to heat the utensil and cook the food.

Gas
A gas hob simply burns the gas to provide the heat needed for cooking.

Features To Look For
- Surface Type. Gas and electric hobs will either have enamel, stainless steel or ceramic surfaces. Ceramic surfaces are available for gas hobs but are mainly used for electric hobs. A ceramic or glass surface is easy to clean, and looks professional.

- Heat Indicator. A heat indicator is a means of the hob indicating that the cooking surface is hot. This can be a very basic system as with gas or halogen hobs where it is quite obvious if heat is being generated i.e. a flame for gas hobs and lights for halogen hobs. The more advanced cookers have an additional feature of residual heat indicator lights. These will contain a digital display, which will indicate if the cooking zones are above or below a certain temperature.

- Safety.
-- Some hobs include a mechanism which ensures that the hob cannot be switched on easily by a child.
-- Flame failure is a useful gas hob feature. Its sensors detect when no heat is being generated and will automatically switch off the gas flow.

- Controls. There are two main options; manual and touch controls.
-- Touch controls tend to be used on ceramic surfaces where the controls are placed under the glass. These are activated through the light pressure being applied by placing a finger on them.
-- If you are left handed, go for front rather than right hand side controls as this eliminates the risk of reaching across the heat.

- Efficiency. Looking specifically at heat transfer, from hob to cooking utensils.
-- Gas 55%
-- Spiral Ring 65%
-- Solid Plate 65%
-- Halogen 70%
-- Induction 80 to 90%

- Ignition Type. This applies to Gas Hobs only. There are two basic ignition types which are:
-- Automatic. As soon as gas is switched on the burners light automatically.
-- Integral. One can light the burners by pushing an ignition button or through the use of a control knob.

- Colour. Hobs with enamel surfaces are available in a variety of colours. Ceramic hobs have a black surface but their frames are available in a wide selection of colours. Stainless steel surfaces do not offer variety in terms of colour although the stainless steel may be brushed which offers two alternative effects.

- Number of Plates / Heating Zones. The standard number of plates for both electric and gas hobs is four. There are hobs though, which can have the number of plates ranging from one to six.