Private Reviews

Here is a little video demonstrating BMW’s later feature, the Comfort Access System.

The comfort access system puts an end to searching for car keys in your handbag or pockets. Simply approach your BMW, open the door and press the Start button. Your unique key is recognized remotely by the comfort access sensors as soon as you come within 1.5 meters of your BMW, wherever you happen to be carrying it -- in your pocket, your handbag or briefcase. Touch the door handle and the door unlocks.
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World biggest Internet based auction eBay has finally started to realize what impact some of their policies have. Recently vice president of eBay has made and announcement that the company is changing policies to remove negative feedback left by customers for sellers because they would not mark item as a gift in order to avoid customs fees.

eBay will be removing feedback if listings meet Customs Requirements and seller gets negative feedback that talks about customs delays or customs fees. To qualify sellers must advise customers that customs fees and taxes are not included in price nor in shipping fee and those fees are buyers responsibility.

eBay also announced that it is going to include two competing online payment services Moneybookers and PayMate.

The feedback policy was on the list of most biggest frustrations for eBay sellers. Let’s see what else we have on that list so eBay could start working on it.

• CEO John Donahoe – many have commented negatively regarding him. The significant drop in eBay stock is associated with Mr. Donahoe being in the office. There is even a petition online to get john Donahoe resigned.
• eBay deal with buy.com – many small businesses just can not compete with huge corporation list buy.com
• Lack of communication and customer service.
• Payment policy practically eliminated any other option than PayPal. Many look at this is as unfair and just because the company also owns PayPal.
• High listing fees.
• Unwarranted Account Suspensions – they are a lot of complains that accounts were disabled simply because it looked like there was a security concern without any justification.
• Glitches and lack of innovation.

So if you have a eBay business what do you think about the changes? Do you feel like it is going to help you a lot or not?

via Ecommerce Journal

Two major insurance companies Allied and Nationwide announced new commercial auto product features with the Commercial Auto Plus Endorsement. It provides the following coverages:

New Vehicle Replacement Cost Coverage – can cover new private passenger vehicles, or pick up trucks up to 20,000 gross vehicle weight, without depreciation, if they are in an accident resulting in a total loss.

Hired Auto Physical Damage with Loss of Use Coverage – can cover rental vehicles for collision or comprehensive coverage, if the business also purchased hired auto liability coverage, and has collision & comprehensive coverages on owned vehicles.

Auto Loan or Lease Coverage – If a leased vehicle is a total loss because of an accident, Commercial Auto Plus Endorsement can cover the difference between the unpaid amount on the loan or lease and the actual cash value of the vehicle.

Expanded Towing – Standard business auto policies do not provide towing coverage for trucks. With Commercial Auto Plus Endorsement, Allied Insurance covers trucks and private passenger autos for the cost of towing, jump starts, and minor roadside repairs.

Rental Reimbursement – Standard business auto policies do not pay for a rental car, but Allied’s Commercial Auto Plus Endorsement makes sure that business owners are covered when they need a replacement vehicle.

Personal Effects of Insured and Property of Others – Commercial Auto Plus Endorsement provides $250 of coverage for property of others that is in a business’ custody or control while it is being transported. It also provides $500 for personal property of the insured that is lost or damaged while being transported, with no deductible.

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In case you missed it. There is some interesting article on WSJ web site, “Europeans Raise Pressure on Detroit”. According to the source US auto makers will face new stronger competition from European car manufacturers.

While US companies shorten production and facing cash flow troubles Volkswagen AG (further VW) and BMW AG are preparing the expansion of their US market share withing few years.

US small vehicle market historically is dominated by US and Asian auto makers. Autodata’s research from 2001 shows steady decline of US manufactures share and Asians and Europeans shares are steadily increasing.

VW is building their first US factory since they close their previous one in July of 1988 due to some quality problems and high cost of production with unionized labor.

This time VW is betting on non union workers. They plan to introduce several new models specifically designed for US market. VW get its optimism from other markets. For example VW has bigger market share in China than Toyota has. I would attributed that to centuries old tension between China and Japan so Chinese do not like to buy anything made in Japan in my opinion. New US factory is going to open in 2012 with production of 250000 cars a year. VW’s luxury unit Audi is also planning to increase its marketing spending. So we are going to see more Audi ads including on Super Bowl.

BMW is also planning to increase its market share by introducing more One  series cars and by selling more of their Mini cars. Although BWD has already increased prices for most of 2009 models. So unless hyperinflation really hits the US as most classic economics law suggests. It is going to a little harder for them to compete on price level  with other manufacturers when they start to clean up stock.