She started the changes that led it to what it is today. garbage. Michael Farmer
Sent from my iPad On Nov 3, 2012, at 6:02 PM, Yinan Wang <[email protected]> wrote: > Dude, > > Meg Whitman joined eBay in 1997, turned it into a Titan and left in 2007. You > can't blame her for things that happened after she left. > > Peace! > Yinan > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Nov 2, 2012, at 6:23 PM, Michael Farmer <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Adam, I don't know why you have been having problems for last four years >> (they have been my best money making years). Perhaps eBay is your problem. I >> have abandoned eBay for the most part, because of rising costs and declining >> service and lack of protection for sellers. Sales on eBay collapsed three >> years ago and I stopped wasting my time there. Once Meg Whitman took over >> and decided that screwing the people who make you money (sellers) as hard as >> they could was a the good business decision, I told them very impolitely >> exactly what they could go do with themselves every time they called me >> begging me to come back and start listing again, You have to adapt to the >> new economy or it will crush you. Perhaps flying more than hundred thousand >> miles a year on meteorite hunts worldwide helps, if I relied on American >> falls and finds, I would be bankrupt by now, and if I hunted like NASA and >> SETI, I would have bankrupted a small state as well. >> >> >> Michael Farmer >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Nov 2, 2012, at 3:15 PM, "Galactic Stone & Ironworks" >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi Adam and List, >>> >>> When I first started collecting and dealing meteorites, someone said >>> "If you want to make a million dollars selling meteorites, start with >>> two million dollars.". I don't recall who said it, but the point was >>> clear - you won't get rich selling meteorites. And they were >>> absolutely right. Sure, a few people are probably doing well by >>> selling meteorites and the poorest of us might look at those people >>> and consider them "rich" - but they are "baby rich" (the term that the >>> super-wealthy use to describe the lesser millionaires underneath them >>> on the ladder). >>> >>> I swore off eBay a long time ago as a seller. The fees are ridiculous >>> and their buyer-centric policy enforcement is a major PITA. I saw the >>> writing on the wall when they stopped letting sellers leave negative >>> feedback for buyers. Frankly, I am quite surprised that some of you >>> other dealers still sell on eBay - but I am glad you do, because it is >>> indeed a buyer's market. >>> >>> This is for Adam - you said you were already hassled for Gold Basin. >>> What does this mean? Can you share your experience here on the List, >>> or in private off-list? I have some Gold Basin in my inventory and if >>> I am going to be "hassled" over it, I rather just stop offering it >>> entirely. I don't make enough money from Gold Basin for it to be >>> worth the trouble. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> >>> MikeG >>> >>> -- >>> ------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Web - http://www.galactic-stone.com >>> Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone >>> Twitter - http://twitter.com/GalacticStone >>> Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/galacticstone >>> RSS - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 >>> ------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> >>> >>> On 11/2/12, Adam Hupe <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Hi MikeG and List Members >>>> >>>> >>>> I refuse to get into politics or accounting too deeply here on the List >>>> unless it concerns meteorites in some way. My point is that the last four >>>> years have been the worst I have ever experienced from a financial >>>> standpoint and the low profits from meteorite sales are nearly wiped out >>>> due >>>> to heavy taxes and eBay/PayPal fees. >>>> >>>> Most of my friends have lost their homes and the cost of everything else >>>> has >>>> nearly doubled due to the price of gas and huge tax increases on the middle >>>> class. Last year was the first time I had to 1099 friends for mere few >>>> hundred dollars because they were trying earn a few bucks to hang onto >>>> their >>>> homes which they lost anyway. Collectable sales are way down from four >>>> years ago because they are not an absolute necessity. >>>> >>>> The good news is that there are a lot less people smoking cigarettes >>>> because >>>> they cannot afford them any more. Three of my friends quit a few years >>>> ago. Hurray for them! >>>> >>>> >>>> On this point, I will not be restocking U.S. meteorite finds because there >>>> is absolutely no margin left and the U.S. government is watching eBay for >>>> them. I have already been hassled over Gold Basin. Once they are gone, >>>> somebody else can risk supplying the market with them. It seems the U.S. >>>> market is going underground as predicted anyway due to mass hype in the >>>> media and unnecessary new governmental restrictions. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Happy Collecting, it is definitely a buyers market, >>>> >>>> Adam >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <[email protected]> >>>> To: Adam Hupe <[email protected]> >>>> Cc: Adam <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Friday, November 2, 2012 2:29 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] NASA SETI Misappropriation of Tax Payer Funds >>>> >>>> Hi Adam and List, >>>> >>>> It's always the poor and middle class that get hit the hardest. The >>>> super-rich have excellent accountants and financial advisors, and they >>>> take advantage of loopholes and grey areas that the average person is >>>> not aware of. >>>> >>>> Adam, are you taking full advantage of your allowed deductions? For >>>> example, if you have an area in your home that dedicated to your >>>> business, you can deduct tax burden based on the square footage of the >>>> home office. They actually assign a dollar value to each square foot >>>> of your office, so take advantage of that. >>>> >>>> The computer you are reading this on - deductible as a business >>>> expense. Also, if you computer is used for internet-based commerce, >>>> you can also deduct a portion of your internet provider fees. >>>> >>>> You can also shelter some of your profits by putting it into a trust >>>> for a grandchild or relative. >>>> >>>> Going to Walmart to buy packing materials? Not only can you write off >>>> the materials you buy, you can write off the gas you spent to drive >>>> there. >>>> >>>> Do you conduct business with dealers or collectors via telephone? If >>>> so, you can write off the phone bill as a business expense. >>>> >>>> If you don't already have one, get yourself a really good accountant >>>> who knows all of the loopholes and will help you take advantage of >>>> them. >>>> >>>> Or, as a last resort measure, do what the ultra-wealthy do : transfer >>>> some of your cash to an offshore or foreign bank. Or, stick a giant >>>> wad of cash into a safety deposit box and let it sit there - it won't >>>> gather interest, but it will be invisible for tax purposes. >>>> >>>> People talk about how high the tax rates are for businesses and >>>> corporations, but very few of the big companies pay anything close to >>>> the tax rate. The General Electric company recently got a REFUND and >>>> the last couple of years, their tax burden has been well under 10%. >>>> Try finding a company that pays the full tax rate - it's difficult to >>>> do, although many mom and pop small businesses have to pay. But >>>> generally speaking, the bigger the company, the bigger the money >>>> involved, the more they manipulate their finances to dodge their tax >>>> burden. Go down the list of Fortune 500 companies, and I would wager >>>> that only a small handful of them pay more than a 20% rate. Some of >>>> them pay nothing or next to nothing. >>>> >>>> The little guys have to pay so much, in part, because the big guys >>>> aren't paying their share - >>>> http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-36945095/top-25-corporate-tax-dodgers/ >>>> >>>> Read that linked article and you'll see what I mean. >>>> >>>> Back to meteorites - yes, the blimp/airship/whatever is a total waste >>>> of money. What is next? Are we going to bring Gary Powers back from >>>> the dead and have him fly a U2 over strewnfields? It's downright >>>> silly. Sure, you might be able to see a large impact crater from an >>>> airship, but it would have to be really BIG and such a feature could >>>> be easily spotted on the ground. I'll change my name to Nancyboy >>>> Fancypants if a single meteorite is found by using a blimp. >>>> >>>> I am generally very supportive of NASA and SETI. But this blimp >>>> nonsense seems like an attempt to garner media attention and not a >>>> method to find meteorites. >>>> >>>> Best regards and happy huntings, >>>> >>>> MikeG >>>> >>>> -- >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> Web - http://www.galactic-stone.com >>>> Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone >>>> Twitter - http://twitter.com/GalacticStone >>>> Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/galacticstone >>>> RSS - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> >>>> On 11/2/12, Adam Hupe <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> Yes, our tax burden is at record levels. 28% collectable capitol gains >>>>> plus >>>>> >>>>> 15% FICA plus multiple fees(taxes) attached to nearly everything >>>>> including >>>>> the water we drink; What an outrage! Remember this when you bid on >>>>> meteorites on >>>>> eBay. Since they are collectables like gold, silver and platinum, the >>>>> seller is being taxed at the highest possible capital gains tax rate >>>>> which is expected to go up depending on who is elected. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Who says the middle class isn't being squeezed harder than ever before? >>>>> To >>>>> see our hard earned money wasted on frivolous pursuits like blimp rides >>>>> under the name of science beyond ridiculous. >>>>> >>>>> Some of my thoughts as unlisted private home and cell phones are ringing >>>>> off >>>>> the hook incessantly with political robocalls trying to get my vote. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Adam >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: Greg Hupé <[email protected]> >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> Cc: >>>>> Sent: Friday, November 2, 2012 1:10 PM >>>>> Subject: [meteorite-list] NASA SETI Misappropriation of Tax Payer Funds >>>>> >>>>> To All Concerned US Tax Payers... >>>>> >>>>> I have been troubled by what is a clear misappropriation of US tax payer >>>>> funds by NASA/SETI. At a time of this country's financial crisis, this is >>>>> no >>>>> time to squander our tax dollars!! >>>>> >>>>> We have all seen and read about 'The Blimp" that was, as stated in the >>>>> article link below, "... a NASA-hired airship." Not only are they using a >>>>> privately owned "Blimp" for frivolous and far-fetched 'research', but >>>>> they >>>>> are also giving free joy rides to private citizens as stated from the >>>>> article, "Glenn Rivera [a private citizen] was invited by astronomers >>>>> [NASA/SETI] to hunt for more meteorite crash-landing sites from a >>>>> NASA-hired >>>>> airship." >>>>> >>>>> In recent conversations, I and many of my colleagues and some NASA >>>>> scientists (who wish to remain anonymous), have all concluded that >>>>> finding >>>>> meteorites [of any size] is completely impossible and a waste of tax >>>>> payer >>>>> dollars! How can one think you can spot a black rock the size of a dime, >>>>> a >>>>> golf ball or even a basketball from an altitude of 1000 feet? >>>>> >>>>> The only entity that benefits from these dream hunts is the private >>>>> company >>>>> who owns "The Blimp". They get paid by NASA for use of "The Blimp" and >>>>> they >>>>> also benefit from all of the free advertising with their logos and web >>>>> addresses emblazoned on the sides of "The Blimp"! >>>>> >>>>> As far as I am concerned, hunting for meteorites floating in the sky is >>>>> full >>>>> of hot air! >>>>> >>>>> Here is the link the the article I reference: >>>>> http://novato.patch.com/articles/hunt-goes-on-for-more-meteorites#photo-12000260 >>>>> >>>>> Best Regards, >>>>> Greg >>>>> >>>>> ==================== >>>>> Greg Hupé >>>>> The Hupé Collection >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> www.LunarRock.com >>>>> NaturesVault (eBay & Facebook) >>>>> http://www.facebook.com/NaturesVault >>>>> IMCA 3163 >>>>> ==================== >>>>> Click here for my current eBay auctions: >>>>> http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZnaturesvault >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________________________ >>>>> >>>>> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >>>>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________________________ >>>>> >>>>> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >>>>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________ >>>> >>>> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >>>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >>> ______________________________________________ >>> >>> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >> ______________________________________________ >> >> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
