People are buying high-ticket items on eBay, filing returns, then sending back thank-you cards instead of the product. Sellers are reporting the scam (with proof the return label is on a tiny envelope) but get stuck in an endless appeals process. Good luck getting eBay on the phone to help. I’d steer clear for now.
Haven't logged into LinkedIn lately? 5 reasons you really should be using it
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How much do you know about LinkedIn? Sure, you probably understand it’s a social network for professionals, but it’s so much more.
Unlike most social networks that are used to share the latest vacation pictures, LinkedIn was designed for more important reasons. It can help you make connections, share work experience and find or post jobs.
Your LinkedIn profile can be set up to look like a resume, complete with accomplishments and referrals from colleagues. If you’ve never experienced the power of LinkedIn, we can help. Here are five smart ways to use LinkedIn to network, poach employees, boast and more.
Visit LinkedIn.com/Kim and post a job for free.
1. Sales prospecting
If you’re wondering what sales prospecting is, it’s exactly what it sounds like — sorting through tons of companies and individuals to find prospects who will most likely turn into paying customers.
This can take a lot of time and effort and relies on knowing where to look. In the past, sales prospecting mainly consisted of cold calling and following up with every potential lead.
Now that we live in a digital world, those days are gone. Most buyers make decisions online. That’s where LinkedIn comes into play.
With about 1 billion members, LinkedIn is a leader in connecting buyers and sellers. One of the most important sales techniques is understanding how buyers behave, making prospecting easier with greater success.
An IDC social buying study revealed:
- 75% of B2B buyers use social media to make buying decisions.
- 50% of B2B buyers use LinkedIn to make purchasing decisions.
- 76% of B2B buyers prefer to work with recommendations from their professional network.
Those numbers prove how important LinkedIn is when it comes to sales prospecting. Information is power and LinkedIn is packed with information buyers are looking for.
Light on the wallet, big on value
💰 These picks will upgrade your life for under $20.
- Bottle-emptying caps ($16) are reusable and get every drop of liquid out of plastic bottles. No more wasted dish soap!
- Got a new pair of boots for Christmas? Use a shoe-stretch spray ($10) and say bye-bye to blisters and sore toes.
- The only thing able to ruin a cute black dress? Deodorant stains. Use these sponges ($9) to scrub them away.
- These coffee filter pods ($16) let you use your own coffee in a Keurig instead of buying K-Cup pods.
- Washing machine descaler pods ($18 off, $19) break down gunk and grime buildup that make your clothes smell funky. Bonus: Dishwasher version!
🪇 Amazon has a name for products going viral: Movers and Shakers. Hit this page to see what folks are loving. Neat, an emergency weather radio is tops in electronics.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Why you can’t trust Zillow’s home values
Zestimates might look like the gold standard, but they’re often way off. Here’s what you need to know before buying or selling.
😳 I pass gas: Auto software provider Cariad leaked the location data for 800,000 electric vehicles. We’re talking owners’ names and the movements of politicians, cops and business big-shots driving Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda EVs — all wide open for months. They say nothing was accessed before they patched it, but I’m not buying it.
Things NOT to buy on FB Marketplace
I love saving money as much as the next person, and buying big-ticket items used is a good way to do it. Facebook Marketplace is a super easy way to score deals near you … but there are certain things you should stay far away from.
It’s grillin’ and savin’ season
Jump on these limited-time discounts before they’re gone! These are grillin’, sizzlin’ steals.
- Oil sprayer bottle – $7.39 (57% off now): This high-quality glass bottle sprays and pours oil, so it’s great for dressings, griddles and grilling, roasting, and baking. No more buying expensive Pam! This is refillable and reusable. Nice.
- Instant thermometer – $14.99 (40% off now): This thermometer is easy to read, with a large 3-inch dial and backlighting with a three-second response time. You can use it with meats, grilling, baking, liquids, deep frying and candy making.
- Kitchen dishcloths – $9.99 (23% off now): This six-pack of super-absorbent waffle-weave dish towels is a steal! Don’t forget to check the coupon box for an additional 40% off. I sure did!
- All-purpose KitchenAid scissors – $8.09 (33% off now): Every kitchen (and household!) needs a great pair of safe, stainless-steel scissors. These are dishwasher-safe, too.
- 10-in-1 food and vegetable dicer and slicer – $29.99 (40% off now): This eight-blade vegetable chopper, onion mincer, cutter, dicer, egg slicer — you name it — is a kitchen must‑have.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stolen phone checker
Thinking about buying a used smartphone to save money? Be careful — if it’s reported stolen, it could be locked and totally useless.
🦻🏻 Social media is buzzing with a wild theory: Conspiracy theorists suggest Vice President Kamala Harris wore wireless earphones disguised as pearl earrings during her September presidential debate against Donald Trump — specifically, $650 Nova H1 earrings, which feature tiny mics for crystal-clear calls. I’m not buying it; Harris’ pair looks more like these $2,000 Tiffany’s earrings to me.
3 ways grocery stores track you
You’re not just buying dinner — retailers are watching your every move, from your purchases to your location.
🎮 Don’t buy a Switch: A new version of the handheld Nintendo console is rumored for early next year (paywall link). The 2017 model is the third-bestselling console of all time, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Mario is mad at Peach; he caught her going through his Bowser history.
🗓️ Wait two weeks: Don’t buy any Google tech right now; they’re revealing a bunch of new tech at their Made by Google event on Aug. 13. That includes the Pixel 9 lineup, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and new Pixel Watch 3. Then comes the race to offload old inventory at cheaper prices …
🛒 Attention, Costco shoppers: Their prices are often higher online than in stores. A bouclé swivel chair, for instance, is $249 in the warehouse, compared to $399.99 on their site. The reason? “Free” shipping. You’re better off renting a U-Haul for $19.95 an hour if you buy something big.
The generation of new car deniers
The average age of cars in the U.S. is now over twelve and a half years, the oldest ever. I’ll explain why people aren’t buying new ones. Plus, police using AI for surveillance, a warning about AirTag stalking, and how to use your Amazon Echo as an intercom.
The new generation of car deniers
Beyond the high cost of buying a new car, there are other reasons people are moving away from car ownership altogether. Here’s the story.
Buy a Tesla truck and you're stuck
Thinking about buying the new stainless steel Cybertruck? Here’s why reselling it might not be so easy.
More bad news for EVs
The news just kept getting worse for the electric vehicle industry. Here’s why customers aren’t buying.
Reason for buying (or not) an EV right now
Thinking about going electric? Figure out if it’s the right time to buy an EV!
How digital marketplaces trick you into buying more
Feel the pressure to buy something online? Here’s why that might not be all you, in one minute.