This is an overview of my experience in buying quality items from the Uunited States.

The period covered is from DEC 2005 to End JAN 2006.

I have found this experience very exciting; and have received some very high quality items paid for with PAYPAL in US$ converted to £sterling.

Be prepared to have many sleepless nights; and keep a watch on the exchange rate.

The US dealer I chose had an excellent site; with remarkable graphics, video and digital quality sound.  This effect is startling and when I opened to view the items, the production technique used was very high tech. This attracted me instantly; and after a while I added the site to my favourites; I chose to receive email alerts from the site with similar listed items and very quickly got hooked which resulted in me stretching my finances.

The long nights turned into round the clock activity, snatched meals and frequent visits to my bank to raise finance for this passion to buy-buy-buy!!

PHEW!!

I nearly made myself ill; becoming dehadrated in my warm office environment, then frozen by day racing from one appointment to another in Taxis surviving on Bolti food, shiskebabs bargees and samosas. I suffered a blockage in my house sewerage system during the exercise and found myself reluctantly leaving my office to taxi to the gym if only to get a shower and sauna; this relieved the tension somewhat and I found myself using the gym facilities twice a day - 06:30 and 18:00. I lost 14Kg and now have a cholesterol of 2.2.

GOOD POINTS

• You can buy quality goods in most categories either by auction or buy now from  dealers in excess USA stock.
• You can make good profits possibly by reselling in the UK - (Have not tried this so untested!!)

WARNINGS

• Ensure that the dealer will ship to UK and be prepared for high postal costs and insurance.
• It is wise not to calculate these yourself but ask the dealer to advise shipping costs
• The US Postal service is poor especially between DEC and JANUARY; so be prepared to wait for the goods.
• ONLY USE PAYPAL as method of payment; i.e ensure that you get protection againt scams.
• Remember that PAYPAL only guarantees up to $1000; so if you get a scam on a high value item, you can lose a lot of money.
• Ensure that your computer system is adequately protcted by a good anti virus software and Firewall to include Spyware.

Finally, beware of getting hooked!! research - research- research! and start off with low value items circa £4.99 (approx £3.00), these items usually are offered to include free post and pckg.

If you wish to make a business out of it, you may like to create a web site and will need advanced experience. It is my hobby and I have computer operations/system analyst experience. i.e a bit of a computer tecci, with an office in my home equipped with the latest hardware; software and printer-Fax-Scanner-Copier, stereo sound system and 17" plasma VDU, LCD 17" laptop all Bluetooth, with an advanced quad band mobile or two.

GOOD LUCK.

keith9149doggyblue