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Pardon our dust........
This page is under construction. It needs it!
Background, Education...
and some "media hype" too!
Scroll all the way down to learn how to choose an eBay teacher
Before you hire an eBay consultant or take a class, you should find out exactly who the expert is, and why he/she's qualified to teach you. I'm happy to share my background with you so you can be assured that your time will be well-spent (and you'll have fun too!)
Education:
- BA, Kalamazoo College (foreign languages, teaching certificate, foreign study in France).
- MBA, Keller Graduate School of Management, Chicago (finance)
Employment:
- Assistant Vice President, Industry Analysis Division, The First National Bank of Chicago. Other banking jobs along the way included supervising an international check clearing operation. Resigned to be a mom.
- Freelance business writer specializing in writing corporate training. For fun, published articles in "Cat Fancy" and "Country Woman" magazines.
Why am I now "The eBay Lady"? What are my qualifications to teach you how to use this amazing site? Well...
My business combines things I love: teaching, writing and the "thrill of the hunt". I became an instant addict when I realized that on eBay I can both find amazing bargains and "turn trash into cash". My banking experience brings a fraud-prevention perspective. I hope to show you how to "have fun and trade safely" as I have been doing since 1998!
My classes are unique. I teach you how to "think about" eBay and use it wisely vs. just how to "point and click". You'll be able to customize what you learn in class to meet your specific goals, whether buying or selling, business or personal. I demonstrate everything live-time on eBay and upload new auctions in every class. You'll leave with a take-home package for reference... and, I hope, with a smile on your face.
I created my own curriculum for each class based on the things I've learned in 7.5 years of eBaying. Unlike "canned" programs others can buy to be able to call themselves instant teachers, my classes show students the real tried-and-true essentials that work. The things I teach you do not become obsolete with the latest rounds of site updates. You'll even learn some money-saving tricks! And those are the differences between success and failure!
Please keep reading to find out what the media says about me...
Newspaper & Magazine Features:
The *BIG* Stories
The Philadelphia Inquirer 9/12/04 "BUY! SELL!" by Jeff Gammage
(the link no longer works but it's reprinted 2 other places)
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=4&display=rednews/2004/09/28/build/technology/25-ebay.inc
http://www.hrmarketer.com/home/newsviewer.php?ppa=6prjo%60ZjrngornUUie'%40%3E%20bfej%5Bv
The Detroit News, 1/16/04 "eBay Made Easy" by Susan Pollack
http://www.detnews.com/2004/homelife/0401/16/c01-37154.htm
Photo courtesy of "The Detroit News"
Photographer Brandy Baker caught me in action during class... Wake-up call that I needed a haircut!
The Detroit Jewish News, 10/17/03 "The eBay Way: Educator Helps Nonprofits, Individuals Turn 'Trash Into Cash' With Online Auctions"
Writer Alan Stamm is also an "eBayer"
http://www.detroitjewishnews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=901
The Detroit Free Press, Tech Writer Mike Wendland's column, 9/22/03, where I got my nickname "Lots of People Sign Up To Learn From The eBay Lady"
http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend22_20030922.htm
Smaller stories and announcements
The Detroit News 1/16/05 "Gift Cards Trade For Cash On eBay"
http://www.detnews.com/2005/technology/0501/16/C01-60791.htm
The Lansing State Journal 10/20/04 "Ready To Sell? eBay Experts Tell You How"
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041020/LIFE/410200302&SearchID=73187457212987
The Lansing State Journal 10/17/04 "Expert on eBay Hosts Session at East Lansing Library"
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041017/NEWS01/410170334&SearchID=73187457677354
The Saline Reporter 10/07/04 "Library To Host eBay FAQ"
http://www.salinereporter.com/news/20041007R17INAB.asp?ID=134
The Detroit News 10/06/04 "Free eBay Presentation Tells How To Declutter Home"
http://www.detnews.com/2004/nnnorthville/0410/12/q03-295850.htm
C & G News 7/21/04 "The ABC's of eBay"
http://www.candgnews.com/editorial/2004/july/21/extra/ebay.html
The Detroit News 7/16/04 "Metro Entrepreneurs Add eBay Into Business Plans"
http://www.detnews.com/2004/business/0407/16/b01-214325.htm
The Detroit News 5/26/04 "eBay Lady Teaches Art of Online Selling"
http://www.detnews.com/2004/nnlivonia/0405/26/j05-162160.htm
Detroit Home Magazine, April/May issue, 2004 "Domestic Culture: eBay It Ain't So"
(featured in an article about how eBay affects the antiques market)
Best of Times Magazine, March 2004
(featuring my library presentations as interesting classes)
The Oakland Press, 3/18/04 "Birmingham Resident Gives Back Through eBay"
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/031804/loc_20040318027.shtml
See photo to the left, courtesy of
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March 4, 2004. -The Daily Oakland Press / VAUGHN GURGANIAN |
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The Birmingham Eccentric, 1/11/04 "New Class Teaches Charities How To Use eBay"
The Mirror, 12/18/03 "Turning Trash Into Cash With eBay"
The Detroit Free Press, 12/18/03 "Center To Host Classes on Basics of eBay"
http://www.freep.com/news/cfp/13/scomm18_20031218.htm
The Detroit Free Press, 9/26/03 "Auction Interest"
Mike's follow-up to the amazing publicity 9/26/03
http://mikesejournal.com/archives/002242.php
The eBay Education Specialist Program - and why I'm not a part of it!
eBay runs an "Education Specialist Program" in which I do not participate. If you're tempted to sign up for one of those, you might want to be aware of some facts. Some teachers are excellent. Many are not! Be sure to check out the teacher's eBay experience and feedback, because eBay does not. Some of those "experts" teaching you how to sell do not have any selling experience! Scary, but true. If your Education Specialist is a Powerseller, he/she should have some great experience.
All information quoted below comes directly from http://www.poweru.net/ebay/instructor/insFAQs.asp
eBay's answer - "To become an Education Specialist, you must be an eBay Member in good standing, have good knowledge of how to sell on eBay and, ideally, have taught others to use the site successfully. [...] it is not necessary to have taught in a formal classroom."
eBay's answer - "The best way to start teaching is to start small. Perhaps start at your local Public Library and offer a course there. Senior or Community Centers are another good option. After you gain more experience, you can inquire at local community colleges and continuing education facilities."
eBay's answer -"You will learn to teach “The Basics of eBay Selling.” This is the curriculum that was developed by eBay to teach “The Basics” at eBay University."
How to evaluate an "Education Specialist"?
1) When you find the "teacher" on eBay, look up his/her username.
2) Go to "Advanced Search" on www.ebay.com. Click Search By Seller. Enter the teacher's username and click "Completed Auctions".
3) Click on the teacher's auctions and evaluate:
- Does he/she have any listings? Astonishingly, some Education Specialists have never sold a single thing on eBay. It is not a qualification to join the program.
- If no current auctions, have there been any in the past 30 days?
- If so, how many have been successful sales?
- How do the auctions look? Are they well-presented such as you would like to learn to do? Friendly? Successful?
4) Click on the teacher's feedback: that little number in parentheses behind the name. Evaluate:
- When did the teacher register for eBay? There is no time requirement in order to be certified as an "Education Specialist".
- Does the teacher have very much feedback? The more feedback = more transactions = more experience. In my opinion, people with more experience actually using eBay will be better qualified to teach.
- How is the feedback? Excellent? Anything less does not speak well.
Bottom Line:
I've learned enough about this program to see that there is a wide range of individuals in the program. I've chatted with active Powersellers who are very long-term users with thousands of sales under their belts who have gone on to become Education Specialists. I would trust them.
Similarly, I've randomly scanned the database of teachers and found people with absolutely no - and I mean literally - no - experience whatsoever who want to sell you a class.
Before you take a class or hire a teacher, insist on seeing that person's eBay listings and feedback. Some "teachers" barely know more than the student.
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