Shopping And Product Reviews
How to Sell Jewelry at Home – Knowing the Market Value of Your Jewelry
December 30, 2011 | 
Author 
Many people have no idea how to sell their jewelry. They either do not bother to find out or had no need to sell until now. But, if you do wish to sell, it is very easy to do so. All you need is to take a little time out and educate yourself about the market. Your knowledge about the market will help you to make more of a profit from your sale.
There are many options in the market. You can visit either a jeweler or a pawnshop. Or else, you can just go online. Online is a good option to sell jewelry at home. If you have any gold coin or any coin made of any precious metal, then you can get a fair value for it. But if you want to sell your coins, you have to first find out the right value.
Visit your local coin dealers. But you might be cheated by them. A jeweler shop is also not a good option. Going online is a better alternative here. A simple search is recommended. It will help you get an idea of the value of your coin. eBay is also not a bad option. You can search the eBay site for information on similar coins. This will give you an idea of what to expect. If you want to sell jewelry at home, going online is the best option.
Another option is to visit coin forums. You can choose a forum online. These forums can also give you an idea of their value. The question and answer pages on these forums are quite helpful. These activities can help you get the right price for your coin. It will give you an advantage when you place it on the market.
By: Travis Thomason
Sony KDL32L4000 Bravia – Review of the Sony 32 Inch Flat Panel HDTV
The 32 inches Sony KDL32L4000 Bravia is a LCD flat panel HDTV that is part of the Sony range of LCD TVs in the market at remarkable value. It boasts of the Bravia Engine technology and a wide range of sockets: twin HDMI ports for HDTV and Blu-ray, two SCART, component and S-Video inputs.
It can also be used as a monitor for a personal computer because of its standard PC Input that allows it to become a dual use device. With this range of inputs, this LCD TV model enables the user to have five ways of getting high definition entertainment experience.
The Sony KDL32L4000 Bravia has a wide viewing angle and quick panel response time. No matter where a viewer is sitting on the room, he can experience maximum video entertainment. Concerning design, the KDL32L4000 has a beautiful and glossy black color, accented with chrome. In fact, all of the L series has this design, making them a sight to behold even when turned off.
Because of its built-in HDTV compatibility, it can display sharper and more realistic images compared to regular television, so long as its source is high definition. It has the ability to render standard-resolution digital TV broadcasts with ease and show the full resolution of DVD video in wide-screen.
This unit has a 3:2 pull down feature giving it the ability to reduce artifacts occurring when motion pictures are being transferred to digital formats like DVD.
The Sony KDL32L4000 can be appropriate for small up to medium-sized apartments or condominium living rooms. Its wide aspect display can be very suitable for DVD movies that have been recorded in popular 16:9 format and high definition programming.
By: Alex Bradbury
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | 
Tags: Alex Bradbury, Definition Programming, Digital Tv Broadcasts, Dual Use, Engine Technology, Hdtv Compatibility, Hdtv Sony, Lcd Flat Panel, Lcd Tvs, Panel Response, Pc Input, Realistic Images, Remarkable Value, Scart Component, Sony 32, Sony Hdtv, Sony Tvs, Tv Model, Video Entertainment, Video Inputs | 
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The Value of a Wristwatch – Factors Used by Experts to Determine the Price of a Watch
Wristwatch experts determine values by considering all of the internal and external components of the watch as well as the current market conditions and trends.
Elements that determine the value of a wristwatch:
BRAND
The manufacturer of the wrist watch is certainly one of the factors that determine value of the watch. The most popular and sought after wristwatch in the world is one by Patek Philippe of Geneva, Switzerland, with all other things being equal; that is: case style, metal, features, type, etc. Other important brand names, but not necessarily in the order of their importance, are A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Blancpain, Breguet, Breitling, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chopard, Concord, Chronoswiss, Corum, Ebel, F.P. Journe, France Muller, Gerald Genta, Girard-Perregaux, Glashutte, Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Panerai, Parmigiani, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Rolex, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron & Constantin and Zenith.
There are, of course, many quality brands other than these, but for those seeking the very finest watches in the world, these manufacturers are at the top. Values are always based on what someone is willing to pay. For these fine watches, collectors and others who value fine craftsmanship are willing to pay more than a million dollars for the finest luxury wristwatch.
STYLE:
Public popularity, fads, and fashion determine which contemporary style is preferred at any given time.
Today, ladies are wearing larger style watches…even men’s watches like the Rolex Daytona, Datejust, Submariner and Yacht-Master. The large Cartier Tank Americaine is very popular now, as is Cartier Ballon Bleu. Glam and glitz ladies like diamond watches …the Chanel J-12, the Chopard Ice Cube, the Patek Philippe Twenty-4, and the Piaget Protocole. Always popular is the classic ladies Rolex President as well as the Rolex Pearlmaster .
Men are wearing the A. Lange &Sohne ref. 1815, the Patek Philippe, ref. 3919, as well as the Breitling Bentley and Panerai Ferrari models. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in rose gold is highly sought after and of course Rolex continues to be popular, particularly the 2-tone, steel and gold, blue dial Rolex Submariner.
UTILITY:
A wristwatch has the advantage over most other collectibles-It is useful. This single factor puts the wrist watch at the top of the list of vintage collectibles both for enjoyment in wearing as well as for future long-term investment. An originally expensive wrist watch will always have some value. Commercial grade “junk” will always be junk.
THE CASE:
Case Metal: The intrinsic value of the case metal is the only value that some vintage watches have. Many metals and materials have been used for cases of the years including platinum, 9-10-14-18-22karat gold, silver, gold-filled, gold plated, nickel, stainless steel, plastic and ceramic. The Patek Philippe watch in platinum is one of the most sought after contemporary timepieces today.
Case Markings: Many vintage wristwatches by makers and jewelers such as Patek Philippe, Cartier, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Tiffany, Hamilton, etc., were cased, boxed and timed at the factory. These watches, in their original marked cases, are worth much more than watches in unmarked cases. All wrist watch companies, making movements, at one time or another and sometimes for the entire life of the company, sold movements ONLY, with dials marked according to the specifications of the buyer, which were then cased in custom made or standard cases supplied by many American and European casemakers. These are sometimes described as “Contract Cases.”
Case Style: The style of the case of both the contemporary watch as well as the vintage timepiece plays a part in determining its value. Hinged lugs, curved cases, enamel cases, “Art Deco” style cases all make the vintage piece stand out from the others, thus increasing the value to collectors. Style and shape of the contemporary piece are factors in today’s price based on current popular trends.
CONDITION:
Here are some things that are particularly important when pricing a watch:
Dial: Is the dial original? Most wrist watches have metal dials. If it is metal, has it been refinished or does it need to be? Is the dial bent or scratched? Are there any damaged or missing markers? Are the hands damaged? Is there discoloration? The move valuable the watch, the more valuable the dial.
Case: Notice the amount of wear. If a gold case, is it bent or dented from rough or has the gold been worn through. Have the lugs been bent, damaged or replaced? Are the spring-bar holes worn? Initials or other inscriptions usually diminish the desirability and value of the watch.
Bracelet: If you are buying a watch with a permanently attached bracelet, be sure that the bracelet is the correct length. Some types, particularly mesh-type bracelets, are costly to have shortened and even more expensive to have lengthened. Leather strap bands show wear, but are usually replaceable. A generic strap will cost considerably less than a factory-made strap. Does it have a tang buckle or a deployant clasp?
Crown: The original crown is important when they were marked, such as Patek or Rolex.
Movement: Whether the movement is original or not and whether it is in good running condition and complete without botched repairs are factors in pricing the watch. The finish should be good with no corrosion, rust or scratches.
Of course, there are several other factors involved in pricing vintage and contemporary watches, which will be included in future articles. In general, the true value of a watch is the price that a collector or investor, who wants the wristwatch and has the money, will pay another collector or dealer, who knows the value.
By: Joe DeMesy
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | Tags: Cartier Tank Americaine, Classic Ladies, F P Journe, Fads And Fashion, Fine Watches, Finest Watches, Geneva Switzerland, Gerald Genta, Girard Perregaux, Jaeger Lecoultre, Parmigiani, Patek Philippe Twenty 4, Roger Dubuis, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Pearlmaster, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Watches Rolex, Wristwatch Style, Yacht Master | No Comments »
Canon PowerShot SD780IS – The Biggest and Smallest Camera on the Market
Overview
The biggest value in digital cameras on the market is the smallest camera ever made, the Canon PowerShot SD780IS. Smaller than an average wallet, the approximate height and width of a credit card (though.7 inches thick), this camera slips easily into a shirt pocket.
The tiny Canon PowerShot SD780IS Digital ELPH, nevertheless, packs an impressive array of cutting edge features while remaining easy enough to use for complete beginners.
Not only can you quickly take continuous still shots, it also provides high definition video recording, video clip editing, image stabilization on stills and video, blink detection, extremely quick startup, an easy-to-read LCD screen and a scene detection mode.
First Things First – Using the Canon PowerShot SD780IS
Your pictures will consistently turn out as you expect, consistently clear and in focus and the video quality is as sharp or sharper than other cameras in its class. For quick, easy, ultra-portable, everyday picture taking and HD video, the Canon PowerShot SD780IS is a joy to use.
For such a tiny camera, it performs exceedingly well in low light and the sound quality in video mode is excellent. Image stabilization provides clear images without motion blurring and the scene detection feature provides focus and clarity in nearly every shooting condition automatically. It even has a mini-HDMI output connector so you can display your images directly on your HDTV or other monitor with the appropriate cable (the HDMI cable is not included).
Who should purchase the Canon PowerShot SD780IS?
The Canon PowerShot SD780IS camera makes it about as easy as possible to take reliably sharp photos and videos in a skin so small and light you can forget you have it with you.
If you want an ultra-portable camera you can slip in your pocket or purse and then take photos with in a matter of seconds then this may well be the camera you’re looking for.
What’s Wrong With It?
Okay, nothing’s perfect. The Canon PowerShot SD780IS does have a few warts.
While some have commented that the sound quality when recording video is excellent for a recorder this small, others have complained it sounds a little monotone. This might have a lot to do with background noise, number of people talking, the types of sounds being recorded and distance from the camera.
Another limitation of the Canon PowerShot SD780IS typically cited is that you can’t use the optical zoom when you’re recording video. You can use digital zoom only.
Another drawback of such a miniaturized camera system is that you’re limited to an optical zoom of only 3x. I thought I was going to miss the 12x of my larger camera but in actual use I rarely think of it. There are, of course, some distance shots I don’t even think to try with it, but it doesn’t seem to bother me as most of the pictures I take don’t require a powerful zoom.
The view finder, though usable, is tiny. Some find this annoying. Others are impressed Canon managed to squeeze in an optical view finder at all.
Some users complain about noise or graininess at ISO’s higher than ISO400 but it doesn’t seem noticeably worse than most other compact cameras.
Probably the biggest thing to watch out for with the Canon PowerShot SD780IS, or any sophisticated electronic technology for that matter, is that you don’t get a “lemon”. A few people have purchased cameras that didn’t work right from day one, or after a few months’ use. Make sure to purchase from reputable suppliers in case you’re one of the few to experience this problem.
What’s so Good About It?
The Canon PowerShot SD780IS has an amazing number of features in an exceptionally small package at a very affordable price. You can record beautiful high definition video and play your movies and still photos on your HDTV using the mini-HDMI connector and the images will look great even on a big screen.
The Canon PowerShot SD780IS will select the proper settings automatically when using the smart auto mode and will also detect faces. In fact, there’s a face detection self-timer so you can step into the frame before the picture shoots and it will wait until it detects your face before snapping the shot.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a tiny portable camera that allows you to shoot consistently sharp photos quickly, plus HD video at 720p resolution with an HDMI output connector… this is the camera for you.
By: Frank Gaines
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | Tags: Approximate Height, Canon Elph, Canon Powershot, Digital Cameras, Digital Elph, Edge Features, Hdmi Cable, High Definition, Image Stabilization, Impressive Array, Market Overview, Output Connector, Perf, Smallest Camera, Sound Quality, Tiny Camera, Video Blink, Video Mode, Video Quality, Video Recording | No Comments »
Assessing The Value Of Jewellery
Carat (ct) : In the world of jewellery, carat has two measures; mass and purity of gold. First of all I will explain the mass part.
Carat (mass):
In terms of mass, if your jewellery weighs one carat, it is equivalent to the amount of 200 milligrams (0.2g). The higher amount of carat the jewellery has, or the heavier the jewellery is, the more expensive it will be. This is because more gold is used to make the jewellery, so as the weight increases, so will the price. However, this is not always true. Mass is also dependent on purity (the other type of carat).
Carat (purity):
In terms of gold, purity and mass go hand-in-hand. For example, you may have bought a piece of jewellery that weighed 10 grams (50 carats) for ?25 and you may have thought you had grabbed yourself a bargain. The truth is you were probably conned for its value. The jeweller might have used cheap metals such as steel or iron and painted it gold to yield an easy profit. Or he might have put 0.01 carats of gold into the jewellery (2 mg) and the rest were worthless metals. To test gold you can buy gold analysers which will measure the weight of your gold and the purity of it too.
Cubic Zirconia (C/Z):
Cubic Zirconia (abbr: C/Z), is an extremely rare mineral that is often used to simulate the appearance of diamonds. It is usually hard, optically flawless and colourless and you would usually see advertised as costume jewellery and not real diamonds. It is a very good way of looking pretty without having to pay outrageous prices. It is usually quite expensive because it is a rare mineral but it definitely beats the cost of having to pay for pure gold.
An Investment in gold:
If you have a bit of spare cash (?10k+), you might want to invest in gold. The price of gold is increasing as we speak. Due to the ongoing extraction of gold, the amount of gold in the world keeps decreasing. If you can get your hands on some gold now, you are sure to get a profitable return in a few months time and a very profitable return in a year.
By: Syed Abedin
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | Tags: 200 Milligrams, Appearance, Carat, Carats, Costume Jewellery, Cubic Zirconia, Diamonds, Extraction Of Gold, Gold Jewellery, Gold Price, Gold Purity, Jeweller, Metals, Outrageous Prices, Price Of Gold, Profitable Return, Pure Gold, Rare Mineral, True Mass, Weight Increases | No Comments »
Property Scout Training Manual
What exactly is a commercial property scout? Basically, this is a person who is on the look out for ‘promising’ real estate. The process looks like this:
1. You learn the techniques from the Property Scout Training Manual.
2. Then, you search through local ads and observe the real-estate developments in the neighborhood.
3. When you see something that looks like a business opportunity, you contact the investors.
4. They assess whether the real estate meets their criteria.
5. If it does, they make an offer to the owner.
6. If the owner agrees to the offer, the investors buy the property in question.
7. The same real estate is later on sold at a higher price.
8. The property scout gets the share of the profit.
There are several ways a property scout is paid. How you get paid, depends on the timing of the payment. You can get paid immediately after the investor group decides to make an offer and they mail the Letter of intend. If you do so, you get $300, regardless if the property is later bought or not. Or, you can decide to collect your money after the acquisition. In this case, you are going to receive $15.000 within 10 days of transaction. But if you are willing to wait till the property is bought and resold, you will get 3% of the total profit. The later option can prove to be the most profitable as the profits are often very high, but it is also the most risky. Maverick Group lets you decide how much and when you want to get paid based on your personal preferences.
There is no investment on your part (except for the initial sign-up fee that covers the cost of the Property Scout Training Manual). All you need to put in is some time and willingness to learn and observe.
By: Andrea Logan
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | Tags: Acquisition, Andrea, Business Opportunity, Estate Developments, Initial Sign, Investor Group, Investors, Logan, Maverick Group, Money, Neighborhood, Personal Preferences, Profits, Property Scout, Real Estate, Scout Training, Several Ways, Willingness | No Comments »
Market America Review – A Real Business Opportunity Or Just a Scam?
Market America is an online shopping portal. Their unique selling point comes in the fact that the products they sell are customized for their clients.
Market America offers normal people a business opportunity in the form of marketing the products that they sell. According to the site, this gives people the chance to earn a residual income. The Market America opportunity is marketed as an ‘un-franchise’ because it comes with all the usual benefits of a franchise but without the traditional overheads that come with it.
Since you are marketing the Market America products it makes sense that you only earn a percentage of each sale. However, Market America makes use of an interesting points scheme (which are known as ‘business volume’). You gain points every time that you make a sale, and eventually can trade points in for a set cash value. However, you cannot start to earn business volume points until you recruit other users to market products alongside you.
Is Market America A Scam?
Market America sells real products to its customers around the world. Though Market America is an MLM (multi-level-marketing) scheme, it is legal since it is based on real products which range from beauty products to toys and a lot more.
MLM, or network marketing, is often criticised online due to the fact that when you join you need to recruit as many members as you can. Those who do manage to do so (i.e. those at the top of the pyramid) will be able to make money, but the majority of people are left at the bottom and simply lose money.
The definition of an illegal MLM program is one that puts more importance on recruiting members than actually selling the products. Market America is technically legal on these grounds, but it does include its own element of recruiting.
Is Market America A Worthwhile Opportunity?
When you become an independent distributor of Market America products you will need to buy around $1000 worth of their products every quarter, and you will gain a percentage of their value for each product you sell.
It has been reported that Market America products are hard to sell, and therefore it becomes hard to make money with the scheme. It has the characteristics of an illegal MLM due to the fact that you will need to recruit members – and you should view the program with caution.
By: Lucie Delacy
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | Tags: Beauty Products, Business Opportunity, Business Volume, Element, Franchise, Gain Points, Independent Distributor, Market America Products, Mlm Marketing, Mlm Program, Multi Level Marketing, Network Marketing, Online Shopping, Overheads, Pyramid, Residual Income, Shopping Portal, Unique Selling Point, Volume Points, Worthwhile Opportunity | No Comments »
Should I Buy a New 2009 High Definition LCD TV?
Previous HDTV models such as those from 2007 and 2008 are already premium HDTVs. They were among the best and are already good value for money. But with the ever-improving advancement in technology, is your current High Definition Liquid Crystal Display television equipped with the most recent LCD TV system?
If your answer is no, would you consider buying a new one? But should you really, really get a 2009 HD LCD TV model?
Of course, manufacturers will always come up with new and exciting features to add to their latest TV models. This is how their business and marketing works. Take for example the Samsung PN-B550 which is a new model for 2009. It is equipped with low energy consumption feature making your power consumption cut to half. This new plasma HDTV is slimmer and thinner giving you a width of less than an inch.
Another range of latest TV innovation is that from Panasonic. Their new plasma televisions are incorporated with NEO PDP panels and shows off an “infinite” black level. Similar with the Samsung one, this plasma HDTV also consumes 50% less electricity. To add more interesting models to Panasonic 2009 lineup, they have the Z1 series which are inch thick wireless plasma TVs.
Sony, of course, will not be left behind. There is the Sony Z-series boasting internet widgets and a superb 240Hz refresh rate. To add to that marvelous refresh rate is the LED backlighting that is now gaining popularity among LCD TV manufacturers.
The improvements are without a doubt superb. But if we will take into consideration the time we have to wait and the cash we need to shell out, previous LCD TV models pass as already outstanding LCD TVs. Even if they are from the 2007 or 2008 line, the fact that they come from reputable brands like Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung, they are excellent enough and can match even the latest 2009 models.
Especially now that prices of 2008 models have decreased because of the introduction of newer models, acquiring the latest HDTV model may not be an ideal move. Last year’s models are capable of delivering first-rate image quality and sound performance. Past and new LCD TV differences seem to be quite unnoticeable at this point that getting a bargain from a 2008 LCD TV model would be more worth it.
By: Frank C. Jameson
Posted in Shopping And Product Reviews | Tags: Advancement In Technology, Definition Lcd, Energy Consumption, Hdtvs, Latest Tv, Lcd Tvs, Led Backlighting, Liquid Crystal Display, Marketing Works, Panasonic Plasma, Panasonic Sony, Plasma Hdtv, Plasma Televisions, Plasma Tvs, Power Consumption, Reputable Brands, Tv Innovation, Tv Manufacturers, Tv Model, Tv Models | No Comments »
Get the Facts on Shell Pearls
The Definition of Shell Pearls
A shell pearl is a bead formed from the shell of certain aquatic species; these include, but are not limited to, mollusks and oysters. While the world truly values pearls – which are formed within such creatures, there is also a solid market for shell pearls. Also known as mother of pearls, they serve the niche of alternative jewelry. It is worn mostly for visual aesthetic than material value since true value lies with actual pearls. Being a substitute material however, does not make it any less desired. This is also due to the fact that actual pearls are very expensive and shell ones provide something similar for a more reasonable cost.
Manufacturers and jewelers who use and create shell pearls consider them as a better commodity. While actual pearls are truly rare and a sight to behold, not to mention really expensive, they are not as feasible to use as the shell counterpart. Since real pearls are made by nature, there is always that uncontrolled element that could make the production of pearls inconsistent. Even pearl farms cannot consistently produce pearls of the same size or color. Being a natural product, the pearl holds its appeal for its natural rarity and one of a kind beauty. This is good from the stand point of consumers. However, in a business, the lack of consistency from supply is not a good thing.
What Makes Shell Pearls a Good Alternative?
The process of creating a shell pearl bead is all done with scientific methods designed to produce consistent and accurate results. This allows manufacturers to be able to supply large quantities of them without worrying about their own source of supply. Also, the processes allow manufacturers to customize the color, shape and size of the shell beads. These are not applicable with actual pearls. This level of customization and alteration creates a larger range of options for suppliers. While the overall costs of pearls are more expensive, there is more profit to be made from them thanks to its larger consumer base.
The cost of a shell pearl is significantly lower than that of an actual pearl. Though some of them can cost quite a lot due to size, quality and other features, it is still much more affordable than buying a real pearl. Thanks to the different colors available in mother of pearls, there is a greater variety in the kinds of jewelry that can be made from them.
How to Buy a Shell Pearl
The shell pearl is made to be a substitute for actual pearls. This is why buyers should be wary of them being sold off as actual pearls. It is hard to determine whether a bead is a real pearl of a shell one since they both respond similarly to tests that grade the authenticity of the beads such as a the rubbing test. One good idea is to contact the local dealer group and check if the seller has certification. Another is to consult with experts to determine what you should look for when buying pearls.
By: Tina Ko
Market America Scam Or Legal?
Is Market America a scam or is it legal?
Market America has been getting a lot of attention recently. Online forums are a buzz as to whether or not Market America is a Scam. The quick and simple answer is no…it is not a scam. However, after doing my research on this company I have found several troubling issues.
What exactly is Market America?
According to Market America they are “a product brokerage and Internet marketing company that specializes in One-to-One Marketing.” What is One-to-One Marketing? Just a fancy term for MLM or Multi-Level Marketing. And what exactly is a product brokerage? A fancy word for a wholesaler. They provide what they call an “unfranchise” to their members which allows the members to recruit more members and get paid commissions on their purchases.
What do they sell?
Market America sells everything from shoes to financial lending. They do seem to really push their lines of generic health, personal care and anti-aging products. However, you don’t have to buy them and there are name brand products available as well.
What is the Market America Compensation plan?
The compensation plan is just plain confusing…either they don’t do a good job describing it or they purposefully made it confusing to hide what your real profits will be. So I did more research to find out exactly what their compensation plan is and what their real payouts are. This is where it gets scary folks.
So I went to the Market America main site (not an affiliate site) and I could not find any detailed information on their payout structure. Hmmm…I wonder why? So I started a chat session with someone named Alex who kept telling me to call their field office to answer my questions (yeah right!…like I am going to fall for that one just to end up on a hard sales call). After a lot of persistence Alex finally told me that I could find a presentation on an affiliate website, but that some affiliates choose to turn the presentation off. I wonder why they would do that? So I did several searches and finally found an affiliate site that had a presentation and wow did my head start to spin. I had to view the payout structure several times to understand what they were talking about. Now I know why most affiliates choose not to show the presentation.
First in order to qualify to start making money you must purchase 200 BV (Business Volume) worth of product.
What is BV you ask? Yeah me too. So back to friendly but frustrated Alex at the chat center, and again I am continually told to contact their field office to answer what BV is. Well not entirely Alex does give me some rehearsed definition of what BV is but can’t or maybe won’t answer how much BV relates to in dollars…you know the funny green stuff us humans use down here on planet earth. So I went back to the forums and search engines looking everywhere for the elusive BV. Finally, I found it on some regional Market America Challenge site…it seems like they challenge their members to buy specific products and if you win the challenge you get preferred seats to their conference (that you still have to pay for). The BV exchange rate is variable and depends on the products sold. BV is approximately 60-90% of the dollar value of the product. Most products seem to have a BV value of around or just under 80% to the dollar. So to qualify you must buy approximately $250 worth of products…hmmm that’s not bad I wonder why it’s so secret?
Next refer two people to qualify.
To start making money you need to refer two people (who both buy 200 BV worth of product) to your right and left business line.
Start making money!
You make money based on the GBV (Group BV) and you are limited to only two business lines…but wait you can add an additional two business lines by doing something they call “Re-Entry”. What’s Re-Entry you ask? I have no clue and frankly I am tired of searching to find out how to translate Market America terms and acronyms. Once both legs of your business line generates 5000 GBV each then you receive $1500. So if BV equals approximately 80% and you need 10,000 BV to earn $1500 that means your business lines need to buy or sell approximately $12,500 worth of product. And that means that you receive approximately 12% commissions. Sorry for the algebra problem.
But wait it gets better…
There is also something called IBV. I know you are going to ask so here is what Market America defines IBV as “IBV (Incentive Business Volume) is the Unit (Point) Value assigned to an IBV Product/Service to calculate IBV Commissions”. Are you confused yet…yeah me too. Also, now you can make even more money by signing up for a Market America credit card and using it on all your MA purchases! WooHoo!
So how much can I make?
The Market America presentation will show you how easy it is to make $10,800 a week or $561,600 a year! Ok…you want the truth right? The truth is that based off of the earnings statement for the Canadian version of the presentation only 2.07% of members make more than $80,000 and 65.75% of members make $3000 or less and 44.89% make $1000 or less per year. Tip: always view the Canadian version of a business opportunity presentation because in Canada network marketing companies must disclose the actual earnings of their members. So do you want to spend your time, money and effort the promote a program that has an average earnings of $1000 or less for almost half of their members?
In Conclusion: Is Market America Scam or Legal?
Market America is not a scam and is legal. However, their payout structure is very confusing and the average members success rate is not very good. They do seem to carry a wide range of products that should be able to entice most online shoppers. If you are going to join Market America do so for the products they offer not the business opportunity. Any business opportunity where you only make $1500 commission off of $12,500 in sales is not very good in my opinion. So my advice is to keep looking and just shop because you want to shop, not to make money.
Written By: Dustin Drummond
By: Dustin Drummond