What are you thoughts?

If something at a yard sale is far more valuable than the posted price, do I have to let the seller know?

The Road to Amazon's Bestseller List Is Paved With Fake Reviews

by Bertis Brenford

When shopping for products online, many turn to retail giant Amazon.com for recommendations, but the website's reputation as a trustworthy source has been tarnished recently. Readers of Forbes, The New York Times, Huffington Post or the Consumerist have read multiple reports on the dirty secrets Amazon harbors. With fake book reviews, paid product reviews and other nasty tricks used by unscrupulous vendors on the website, how can a consumer trust the online retailer?

According to Bing Liu, a computer science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Amazon sellers are buying reviews because it is the cheapest way of marketing and it is very effective, since customers believe that they are reading authentic reviews.

Under the FTC's rules, when a reviewer benefits from posting a review in any way, they must clearly say so. This includes getting paid, being an owner or employee of the business and profiting from the sales generated by the review, getting free or discounted products for the review and more. That has gotten several companies in trouble so far, but for every company they catch in the act, there are many others who fly under the FTC's radar.

We ran an experiment to see what type of companies indulged the most in fake review writing on Amazon.com. Within the Health and Personal Care category only, we found dozens of vendors using deceitful practices, selling fake male enhancement pills, weightloss products, study aid supplements and more to unsuspecting consumers.

We bought several of these supposed health improvement products, each of which had hundreds if not thousands of positive reviews. Upon contacting Amazon to report over two dozen obvious fake reviews, complaints were ignored, and the fake reviews stayed on the website. What could be the reason?

It is not in Amazon's best interest to take down reviews that sell products, even if dubious in nature, because every sale brings much needed commissions. Wall Street made it all too clear recently that profit expectations for the retail giant remain sky high and the company knows that delivering on them will be increasingly hard. If keeping the share price high means deceiving the customer, be it.

The original king of Amazon fake reviews was VIP Deals, a now defunct company that found a surefire way of ranking products on top of the bestseller list. According to an article published in The New York Times titled "For $2 a Star, an Online Retailer Gets 5-Star Product Reviews," companies using VIP Deals' promotional services stooped as low as offering a refund to every single one of their customers in exchange for a 5* review. What is review tampering, if not that? They had amassed over 5,000 reviews for various products before the scheme came to an end after The New York Times article was published.

Recently a new disciple of VIP Deals appeared on Amazon. Ubervita, a company trying to break into the supplement industry using the same methods that VIP Deals used, has been offering customers full refunds in exchange for 5-star reviews. Ubervita has also posted hundreds of their own reviews from accounts that wrote exclusively abut Ubervita products. In a matter of months they have amassed over 1,700 reviews for their first product, W700 Thermogenic Hypermetabolizer, and they recently started getting hundreds of reviews for 4 of their other products too.

Ubervita has perfected the fake review scheme though, we found. Upon ordering their W700 fat burner, we received a bottle of mystery pills. There were no ingredients or instructions on the bottle other than to take the "proprietary blend" once a day. As expected, we saw no improvement after taking the product, except for the initial caffeine kick that wore off in four days. Three weeks after ordering the product, we received a postcard in the mail, asking for a review and promising a free bottle of UberSurge, in exchange. We were instructed to send an email to surge@ubervita.com to "collect our free bottle."

We emailed the company and their automatic response made it all too clear that a 5-star review was expected. They stated in bold, red letters that "If your experience was anything less than 5-star, PLEASE let us know how we can make it better. Merchants such as Amazon see 4 and 3 star reviews as the equivalent of a negative for us online." This is obviously not true, and a trick Ubervita used to get a portion of their 5-star reviews. As some commenters on the product's page stated, they would not have given W700 a 5-star rating if it weren't for the incentive, but most omitted that fact from their reviews.

Amazon's rules state that incentivized fake reviews are not allowed, and that if a reviewer receives compensation in exchange for reviews they must say so. Ubervita has several hundred reviews that do not state that they were offered free product explicitly in exchange for fake 5-star ratings. There are threads about Ubervita's suspiciously huge number of similar sounding 5-star reviews on Amazon and other websites. Yet, Amazon has done nothing to stop the inflow of 30 or more fake reviews a day for W700.

This begs the question: how can UberVita, a fly-by-night company with no history in the weightloss industry successfully fool consumers into buying a useless product under Amazon's nose, when online shoppers are reporting daily what is happening? Is Amazon purposely ignoring the issue to avoid hurting its own bottomline?

Perhaps one day the growing backlash over fake reviews will force Amazon to put customer satisfaction above profits obtained through questionable standards just to live up to analyst expectations on Wall Street. It may happen once the FTC fines a few more of Amazon's deceitful vendors for their marketing practices. No one knows when the next crackdown on the supplement industry will happen. Until then, Amazon customers beware; the online store does not seem to care about your well-being, only their own profits.

http://goarticles.com/article/The-Road-to-Amazon-s-Bestseller-List-Is-Paved-With-Fake-Reviews/9075733/

Ponzi Schemes - How to Easily Recognize One

By Meini Listanti

Charles Ponzi is infamous for scamming people. It is for this reason that fake schemes are often named after him. Ponzi would collect money from individuals in the name of investing in his own business. He would then pay investors high interest payments using the money obtained from new investors.

This type of investment fraud was one of the first and possibly due to its simplicity soon gained immense popularity with scammers.

Today, there are many variations of the Ponzi schemes, but they can be pretty hard to identify. Many people have fallen victim to these financial entrapments. The schemes lead to huge financial losses to the unsuspecting interested investors.

This makes it very important to be skeptical about any investment opportunity that is being sold to you. This should include anything that a family member or friend is trying to get you into. When you are cautious enough to conduct a research, you will be sure about what exactly you are betting your money on. A few steps can help you in recognizing and avoiding a Ponzi scheme.

Check out Credentials

A background check of the individual approaching you with the investment idea is paramount in identifying a Ponzi scheme. You can look up the company details including registration and the years of existence. Brokers usually have business numbers and you can check them to see their records. It is a simple way to avoid being trapped by fraudulent schemes.

Use an Attorney

A contract is the most important document in any transaction or agreement. Since you might not be very familiar with everything entailing a contract, an attorney will help with the evaluation. It is important to avoid any transaction until your attorney has analyzed the contracts and given you the go ahead. A good attorney will pick anything fishy from the deal saving you lots of disappointments.

Be Cautious with Custodians

A broker who maintains investment accounts is referred to as a custodian. In a case where you are asked to direct a cheque in his name, you can be reasonably assured that something is wrong with the deal. A good deal will require you to direct a cheque to the rightful and legitimate custodial firm and not an individual.

Understand the Investment

Conmen (and women) are very clever with their words and investment explanations. You therefore need to be very careful in understanding the investment and how it works. If it appears too complicated for you to understand or if you feel it is being explained in a rush, then it could be a fake. You should only hand your money over when you are completely sure about the investment and how it will work for you.

Trust your Instincts

As soon as you feel uncomfortable about an investment idea being sold to you, walk away. When you feel something is wrong, then chances are that something is truly wrong. Many people fall victims to the Ponzi schemes for ignoring their first instincts. Always trust your gut feeling when making an investment.

Indonesia Private Investigation Agency (IPIA - http://indonesiadetective.com/ ) and our sister agency Bali Eye Private Investigation Agency (BEPIA - http://balidetective.com/ ) are fully registered agencies offering investigation services to the private and business sectors throughout Indonesia and South East Asia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meini_Listanti
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ponzi-Schemes---How-to-Easily-Recognize-One&id=8571008

Assertive Women: Are YOU Willing to Be One?

By Loral Lee Portenier, PhD

Bitch or doormat. That covers a lot of territory. Where does assertiveness lie on this continuum?

Many times assertiveness is confused with aggressiveness. A dog that growls a warning when being played with too roughly is being assertive, while one that attacks with no apparent cause or warning is being aggressive. Similarly, an assertive woman will give warning when her boundaries are being crossed (and finally walk away or bite if necessary), while an aggressive woman will pick fights and belittle or demean others without warning.

Most of us tend to avoid aggressive people of either gender. Consequently, a lot of women would rather be too sweet than too aggressive. Relationships are very important to our wellbeing and we may have a tendency to be too sweet, to give too much, to set too few limits in order to avoid the risk of alienating people.

A woman I once knew did that. From where to eat on a date to what type of car she should drive, this woman allowed her husband to "be the man" in the mistaken notion that she was making him feel needed and strong. It backfired. Her husband lost all respect for her and began treating her with contempt that edged into abuse. After their divorce, he got involved with a woman who knew what she wanted and didn't hesitate to let him know her preferences, nor hesitate to growl at him if he stepped over the line. He loved it. Finally he had found a woman who was willing to push back when he tried to push her too far. His respect for her grew, and with that respect, his passion and fascination.

Weak men want weak women. Vacuous doormats. But strong men want women who won't let themselves be treated disrespectfully. Who know their own minds and are willing to ask for what they want, yet are also willing to be flexible and gracious when it's needed. A strong man realizes that a woman who is capable of taking care of herself and seeing that her needs are met is also capable of having his back when the chips are down. If she can be relied on to be assertive and not allow herself to be a chokingly sweet little doormat, then he knows she is strong enough to be there for him when the world is baying at his heels and he needs succor and support.

Therefore, it is in your best interests to become adept at the skill of assertiveness. Be the gracious queen, not the wicked witch nor the scullery maid. And if that is too strong for him, then he is too weak for you.

Dr. Loral Lee Portenier, transformational psychologist and coach, works with women who are tired, hurting, or confused to help them reclaim their power, renew their passion, and revive their purpose for living. She teaches people how to turn life transitions into transformations instead of disasters as they learn how to live their dreams. Discover more about how she can help you at http://SacredDreamsCoaching.com.

Request your complimentary Discovery Session now! Soaring@SacredDreamsCoaching.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Loral_Lee_Portenier,_PhD
http://EzineArticles.com/?Assertive-Women:-Are-YOU-Willing-to-Be-One?&id=8575214

Does Money Provide Personal Contentment?

By Alice Stella Musoke

Imagine you are a billionaire and have everything that money can buy... big chunks of land, mansions overlooking the sea, the most expensive boats, fancy cars, a personal jet, adventures, even beautiful women... just to mention a few. Does this guarantee personal contentment or true happiness?

It is a fact that people need money to survive. You sell goods and services for money and use it to buy what you want. Without money, there is no trade! The whole world revolves around money and it takes talent and ability to use it well. Money is important and it's for that reason that we strive to get or create jobs that earn us a good income. Hence we can:

1. Meet all our personal expenses, loans and pay taxes.
2. Invest and save it for our own future use or the next generation.
3. Enjoy the basic needs of life and live a healthy life style.
4. Get value and status in society which boosts our self esteem.
5. Save and Change lives, provide education and charity to those in need.

Reasons for uses of money are endless. I have heard many people say that "... with money I am financially secure, confident and content". Yes, you can achieve some amount of happiness butwhen is the money trap so bad that it sucks all personal contentment out of us?

I honour and admire the first female British Prime Minister's, quote as the best answer "... Too much love of money for its own sake"

Did you know that too much love of money can make you lose track of things that meant so much in your life to the extent that you only mind about yourself and money. Yes... it even gets worse when you start seeing people as objects for your own use. At this level, your personal intentions of uses of money have been corrupted instead of the pure and true motives that bring real value to life. So we ask ourselves: Is money all there is?

Let's examine what happens when too much money gets a holdover you:

1. Rarely can you build good and solid relationships because you have devoted all your time to "Almighty Dollar"! Depending on the job you do, devoting less time for family which demands love, care and attention, will personally take away your happiness. You may not have a lasting relationship so you have to strike a balance between the two.

2. You can become a mean and deceptive person when you use money to control and divide people. Take note that when money is used in this way, it becomes an illusion and in the end it exercises power over you... because it is your god. Such people lose out on morality and cease to be men of good character in society. No place for personal contentment in this type of person.

3. You can become a very lonesome person because you lack genuine friends. Now that you have become a millionaire, many will get attracted to your money but not the inner person you really are. Everyone will want to relate and be seen with a rich and glamorous person who the world portrays as a gentleman. But deep in the heart of this millionaire is a person who wants to be seen as normal human being, down to earth individual and with a yearning to be accepted for who he really is. If this millionaire hits the bottom of his finances... where will all his friends be?

That why I love and agree with the famous media proprietor's, Oprah Winfrey when she quotes that " Everyone wants to ride with you in a limo, but what you want is someone who will take a bus with you when the limo breaks down". Goodness wasn't she right!

4. On a global level, too much love of money has caused greed, competition for power and a scramble for more resources in want for more wealth. This has caused suspicions, wars, economic instability and corruption in the world we live in today. Where there is no peace, there cannot be contentment.

5. Unless you exercise daily, adapt to a healthy diet, and keep on renewing your mind often with positive affirmations and sayings, unless you learn to control your mind, those possessing too much money are prone to suffer from anxiety or depression. Why? Because they are guilty of worrying so much about their own safety and that of their money.

In conclusion:

You can banish away all miseries that accompany the possession too much money by learning and practicing the Art of Giving because it is good for your spirit. When you spread your wealth in form of donations to those in need and give back to God His share, you are more content and can enjoy a reduction in taxes. Such people are usually satisfied when they see that their funds have accomplished something or made a difference in someone's life. This inspires their creative ability to make more wealth. A good example is the Microsoft Founder and Billionaire, Mr. Bill Gates doing good for the world. It's not surprising that he is getting wealthier everyday! The Bible scripture principle is correct: "As we give, we receive". The late, Erich Fromm (German Social Psychologist 1900- 1980) still supports the saying that "not he who has much is rich but he who gives much." These pure and true motives are of so much value to personal contentment and true happiness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Stella_Musoke
http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-Money-Provide-Personal-Contentment?&id=8185331

I Had Been Touched When I Did Not Invite Such Intimacy in the Workplace

By Selina M Shapland

Have you ever had a manager or a co-worker cross the Employee/Employer line with sexually inappropriate touching?

I have. It was traumatic.

A number of years ago, I worked in a small family run business and I was put into a position where the Manager not only made me feel uncomfortable, but also took me out into the warehouse alone and proceeded to tell me that 'nothing was going to happen,' which, of course freaked me out!

I remember panicking. My breathing became very shallow and I was frantically looking for an escape route.

That day, I was hysterical and could hardly talk, as the Manger not only took me by the hand and led me into the back of the warehouse to 'go through some filing' but he also put his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him when I was helping him in his office.

Quite frankly, I was terrified that day. I needed my job because I had rent to pay and bills but that day was pivotal for me as I knew I could no longer work in that particular culture. That day, I remember running into the tea room crying hysterically and my old Supervisor came in to see what had happened. When I told him that I had been touched by the Manager (who was related to him through family), he said, "oh come on Selina, he was just being friendly."

I was struck dumb at the time. I couldn't believe that this person did not believe me. It was horrible.

I remember sitting at my desk and calling my partner at the time, sobbing to him that I had been touched when I did not invite such intimacy. He told me he was coming to get me. After we hung up, I called my counsellor who very calmly told me that I needed to leave the office immediately and come straight to her office. I was in such a state.

I did as she said and my partner took me to her office where she helped me to calm down and provided me with the support and strategies I needed to make a very big change in my life.

She told me, "Selina, what your Manager has done has crossed the Employee/Employer boundaries and it is totally inappropriate. You must face him and tell him this."

I was terrified. I didn't want to go back, but I knew I would have to return for a couple of weeks to hand in my notice and prepare to be unemployed.

The next day, I did not return to the office. My Manager rang me at home to say that he "was just being friendly and comforting me because he knew that my father had passed away recently." This was one of the most difficult telephone calls I have ever had to be a party to.

I told him, "You have crossed the Employer/Employee boundaries and destroyed any trust that I had in our working relationship. I can no longer work for your organisation and will be handing in my resignation when I return."

He was in shock that what he did was taken so seriously by me and he spent a great deal of time, once I had returned to the organisation for my last weeks, trying to justify his actions.

I remember telling him that he should never touch someone like that because, although he thought he was being friendly and comforting, he does not know what I have been through in my past or how I would react to such and intimate touch. We had to agree to disagree that his touching me was totally and utterly inappropriate. He never once took responsibility for his actions I am sad to say.

At that time in my career, I was shocked and desperate to get out of there. I was that frightened. The business was toxic to me and a number of the men who worked in this environment would stand very close to me, lean over me and look down my top - a lot. As time passed, I went from wearing short skirts and tops with a V-neck to jeans, joggers and cover up tops so that they could not see down my shirt. The culture was sick because it continued to allow this kind of behaviour and I saw management actively look the other way on numerous occasions. It was such bad practice.

In those days I did not have access to an onsite Health and Safety Officer or an Equity/Sexual Harassment organisation. Even if I had access, I was too frightened to approach them regarding what had happened. I endured in silence and even though my counsellor encouraged me to report the incident, I could not bring myself to do so. It was that traumatic for me.

I often wonder how many people in the workforce have undergone sexual harassment and been in a similar situation where they have not been able to get the help they needed for the fear of losing their livelihood? I know that was certainly the case for me.

Leaving that job was the best decision I made, even though I was unemployed and emotionally scared, I was safe. It took at least three months before I was emotionally ready to enter another work environment. I had to heal emotionally and find my professional feet again. I joined a regular Wing Chun Kung Fu club and learned some self-defence. That action did wonders for my self-esteem and I highly recommend martial arts for any woman who wants to feel secure and able to handle herself in these life situations. Just knowing that you can defend yourself is enough to stop a would-be sexual harassment opportunist from making a silly error in touching you. I don't advocate that you take them down, but I do encourage you to be self-protective and self-confident so that they know they have no power over you.

I eventually found myself another role, part-time, in a new office environment. It was a fantastic job!

They had a fabulous culture and I was truly cared for by the people in that environment. I was respected and treated like an integral part of their team. It was a 180 degree shift from what I had been through in the previous role and I will be forever grateful to them for the way they treated me, as they never knew what an awful work environment I had come from.

I have never publicly shared this experience until now, however, I wanted to share what happened to encourage anyone who has been put into a similar traumatic situation to stand tall and to know that this is not your fault. You are awesome and they made an error in personal and professional judgement by crossing a line. So stand up and feel empowered as you have been forged by the fires into steel and you are magnificent.

Never forget how amazing you are!

Selina Shapland is an Australian Artist, Founder of Manage Your Boss, Co-author of Dave - The Bird Dude, a Small Business Reviewer and Podcast Interviewer. She specialises in building positive relationships and encouraging you to live your dreams in life and your career.

Visit her blog: http://manageyourboss.selinashapland.com.au for articles on managing your boss through building your sense of self-esteem and professionalism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Selina_M_Shapland
http://EzineArticles.com/?I-Had-Been-Touched-When-I-Did-Not-Invite-Such-Intimacy-in-the-Workplace&id=8386428