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Google now Reports Search Volume Statistics  - The Home-Based Business Blog
July 22
Google now includes search volume statistics in your Adwords account. This one-ups the long missing Yahoo Overture keyword tool.
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Got Blog Block? Start Here to Break Through  - Just for Small Business
July 19
If you've stopped posting to your business blog because you can't think of what to say, here's help.

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By: Sarah on
7/24/08 at 11:37 AM
Got Blog Block? Start Here to Break Through
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By: Sarah on
7/24/08 at 11:35 AM
Got Blog Block? Start Here to Break Through
Blujay used to be a site to sell on, but for the last couple of years things have been going downhill and getting worse! Blujay is a trainwreck waiting to happen!
*NO customer service; questions and emails to support are left unanswered for months and in some cases 1 or 2 years. Members are on their own other than the forum which cannot be taken seriously!
*Unsecure site, no SSL anywhere on the site. As stated above; a hacker's dream! Stores have already been hacked into and no explanation as to what happened given!
*Problems with google and not showing on the google search, probably because the site is overrun with illegal and disallowed listings.
*The site is a free for all, with all kinds of XXX porn, drugs, etc. being shown on the whole site in all categories! You will find sex toys among the childrens toys! Many stores that are in direct violation of TOS are there and some have been there for a very long time.
*Listings are covered with competitor ads, mostly for ebay! Ugly wide item pages with many ads!
*The forum is shameful with vulgar and TOS breaking posts overrunning the site! Nothing is done about this even though members have been pleading with owner for months! Unbelievable!! Spam is common! Trolls are welcome!
*Reports reporting violating items and posts are ignored! No customer service/support on the site and forum!
*Site has gone down several times with no explanation as to why! In one case for several days, while the members were in the dark as to what happened and still don't know why!
*Impossible to change your email address or store name, and there is NO way to close your store and/or account; very unusual!
*Blujay cheerleaders seem to be able to ignor all of these things and claim everything is just peachy keen!
They have their heads in the sand about what is really going on with Blujay! Blujay is in trouble and sinking fast!
By: Gem on
7/22/08 at 11:08 AM
Quick Review of Blujay
I have shoped at bj & e-crater,amazon and the rest of the ebay wannabies.

Main problem with bj is absent or slow ownership.
Unsecure site for the sellers loging into their account and buyers checking out, Hackers dream !
Say you want to ask a question on their fourm page you first have to sign up for a store that you don't want!
How crazy is that!
If youre a seller and want to close a store, you can't?
they say just remove your items and your closed!
Thats a solution there!

Lot of bogus stores in the electronic sector and ladies fashion merchandise.
Fake stores go unchecked, some scamer can open several stores and go un-noticed! (ask the above guy that lost $300)

Like all venues there are good honest stores but you better do your homework first or you will be like the guy that spent $300 and got nothing!

Why doesn't Google like Blujay? that may be the key!
Untill Google jumps aboard the Blujay ship, its just a whisper in the internet trading community.
No amount of rah-rah will change that from the store owners, its up to the mall owner to get the proper updates and fix the Google problem.

...
By: TALL PAUL on
7/22/08 at 9:45 AM
Quick Review of Blujay
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. My understanding of Blujay is that each store is operated by different people. I have had an experience similar to your only I had it on eBay. eBay also did nothing but PayPal did. That is the protection you need and get when buying on line. Use your credit card and buy through PayPal. You also have to do a little research first before you spend the big bucks. I'm not saying it is your fault you got the shaft from a seller, just that you have to be careful and not blame 400 stores for what one store did. That seems a little extreme. I still buy on eBay, Blujay, Amazon, eCrater and anywhere else I can find what I need. Sounds like you got your money back too so protection was in place. Plus you said the store was gone which would kind of seem like Blujay did or was doing something.
By: Dan on
7/22/08 at 12:29 AM
Quick Review of Blujay
I started listing items on Blujay back in January 2007. It was a good month before I had my 1st sale, but then things picked up and I've been very pleased with the sales that I've been able to make with No Fees..and no intrusion by a 'venue' -

You're right that these venue type websites do not get involved when there is a dispute between a buyer & a seller.. No Matter where you shop, if you are buying a $300 item, You should use a major credit card - no matter where! That is the only absolute consumer protection you can get because you will have chargeback rights, or at least the right to file a dispute.. And consumers need to be Smart.. If you plan to part ways with that much money, its just a good idea to spend 5 minutes, do your research and make sure you aren't 'the next victim of this seller..'

My store there is called NameBrandDealz.
Feel free to look it up... I've had well over 150 successfully closed invoices on Blujay (most with multiple items on one invoice..) and I truly enjoy selling on the site..
I hope this one shopper doesn't turn folks away who might have otherwise been interested in the site.. Its a good site, and the price is Right!

http://NameBrandDealz.blujay.com
...
By: CJ on
7/22/08 at 12:15 AM
Quick Review of Blujay
blujay is an on line shopping mall.As such, the site itself is not responsible for the individual sellers actions. And as for EBay protecting their customers, I'm afraid you can get as badly taken there as any other on line site. And I was one of them. blujay does have a forum to check out sellers, and more customers should take advantage of it before making a major purchase like this individual did. And the sellers actually encourage the buyers to do just that, the reputable ones anyway.
If a buyer is going to lay out a large amount of cash to an on line seller, they should definitely be checking the seller out first. For me personally, if I'm going to spend more than about $10.00 on something I check them before buying. EBay's on line bank, PayPal can only get funds back for you if the seller has those funds available, if not, EBay is not going to take the $$$ out of their pockets to reimburse you and you'd be in the same postion this person is.
blujay has some awesome sellers and some really neat stuff on it's site. And the prices are great
Stores I would reccomend are
http://renegadesrelics.blujay.com
http://rayvensrarities.blujay.com
http://101koko.blujay.com
http://pzerbe.blujay.com
and these are just a few.
Great items, super store owners and nice people to deal with.
Be smart when buying on line, especially with major purchases ...
By: Katherine on
7/21/08 at 11:34 PM
Quick Review of Blujay
I have only been on blujay a few months...but many many years on the big site...e***. I left there and do not need to give the reasons it was all over the net for months with the changes. But for you to slam blujay for the same thing that happens from what I read on Seller Central on ebay there are scammers on that site. If you had problems with not receiving your item.. you should have gone to the forums. ALL the sellers there would have made an effort to find contact the seller you purchased from.
Unfortunately there ARE scammers everywhere... there are a lot of dedicated sellers on blujay.. so I just happened on this site tonight and read your post.

You really should have checked into the forums.. they have a forum there Buyer Seller check. And anyone who hears of .. or had non-performance of a seller on blujay will post there.
Just not fair to be so critical of the site.. I do feel badly that you lost your money. Did you pay via paypal? You should have had the same protection purchasing on blujay.com as the big guy...e***.

Also before purchasing on blujay.com you are invited to go to the forum and ask about a seller if you find you cannot navigate. Everyone is very tuned in to keep scammers and cheats off the site.
...
By: Jessieca on
7/21/08 at 10:58 PM
Quick Review of Blujay
I cover these important issues in my book -- Small Business Cash Flow: Strategies for Making Your Business a Financial Success.

One of the best ways to ensure cash flow stays on track is to use a cash flow budget worksheet. Your readers can pick up a free cash flow budget template at http://link-url.com/cashflowbudget ...
By: Denise O'Berry on
7/20/08 at 2:03 PM
Cash Flow as a Measurement for your Home Business
Frank -- Really great advice about a professional email address for evey small business. And I agree that the freebies are useful for peripheral activities. I also want to add that there's no place in business for an aol.com address either. Just don't do it.
By: Denise O'Berry on
7/19/08 at 8:32 PM
Are Free Email Addresses of any Use?
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