February 17, 2011
Trade in Gadgets for Cash — Gazelle Review
Review by Steven Barrymore

Selling stuff with an online listing, such as eBay, can be a challenge. The work involved in preparing the sale listing, posting the listing, waiting for a willing buyer to purchase at the price you want, waiting for payment, packaging and sending the item to the buyer can be overwhelming. And if the item does not sell the first time — then having to re-list and try again. It could take weeks just to try to sell an item.

When I wanted to sell a used iPod Touch, I considered an online listing but for the reasons mentioned, choose another option. Unable to find a friend to buy the iPod, I looked at online cash for trade programs. And after doing online research of multiple companies offering such programs, comparing price offered and customer feedback I found a service called Gazelle.

I went to the Gazelle.com website — did a search for the iPod Touch I wanted to sell, answered a few questions on the condition of the iPod and what would be sent in with the device (such as, cables, ac adapter, software, etc). Then was taken to a page showing what Gazelle would pay for the iPod based on my answers. The quote was good, but as much as selling to a private party, so I opted to try the service. Finished up the registration process with a few more questions; name, mailing address, email address, preferred payment method (paypal, check, merchant gift cards).

Logged into the email address I had given Gazelle and there waiting for me was a welcome email from Gazelle with a pre-paid address label (I choose US Priority mail as the send in method). Gazelle pays for shipping of the item to their facility in Boston, MA. I carefully packaged the iPod Touch like I was sending fine china to aunt Nellie and dropped the box off at the post office. I could then track the progress of the shipment online at usps.com.

I did not receive a delivery confirmation email from Gazelle after waiting for the package to arrive at their facility, so I logged on to my account and found that the iPod had been received and inspected. Gazelle’s inspection rated the iPod higher than I had listed in my pre-send questionnaire — offering a little extra cash for the device — kudos to Gazelle for their honesty. If Gazelle had rated the iPod lower and offered less I had the option of requesting that Gazelle send the device back at their expense — this is a nice peace of mind benefit.

Overall the process from shipment to Gazelle to me receiving payment took about 9 days. The process was easy. Though there was some lack of communication from Gazelle after receiving of the iPod on their end. The price offer, in my opinion, could have been higher. So on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I give the Gazelle.com trade in gadgets for cash program 4 stars. Have you used Gazelle or a similar service to sell your unwanted electronics?

August 4, 2010
Should Your Next Financial Advisor Be A Monkey?
posted by Steven Barrymore

Via: TED

July 21, 2010
Cars Giving Back to the Environment
written by Steven Barrymore

Justin Robertson of Enervate in New Zealand has developed a way for a vehicle to give back to the environment. The company’s PowerTread system is a series of fluid filled tubes fitted to a roadway. When a vehicle passes over the tubes the motion / weight of the vehicle forces the fluid into a turbine generating electricity.

An early prototype of the PowerTread system on a busy Malaysia-Singapore highway border successfully powered the lights and electricity of the border patrol booth for two days.

The company is experimenting at Singapore shopping mall with further road-testing of PowerTread’s ability to capture energy from passing vehicles. On an industrial scale PowerTread could generate 15KW an hour, enough to power 12 good-sized homes.

Bravo to the developer, and 5 stars ***** for concept and simple genius


Via: New Zealand Herald

July 21, 2010
EPA National Water Conservation Campaign Road Trip
written by Steven Barrymore

The EPA has launched the WaterSense program designed to encourage Americans to make better choices to save water. In partnership with American Water, the WaterSense program will go on a road trip across the country educating consumers about WaterSense products which can save about 20 percent water over standard non-conserving models.

The road trip kicked off in Los Angeles, California on July 14 and is scheduled to reach New York by July 30 after stopping in over a dozen cities across the nation.

The 2009 EPA WaterSense program helped consumers save more than 36 billion gallons of water. Learn more about the road trip and if it will be in a city near you: Road Trip.


Link: EPA

July 6, 2010
Blogger Comment – mental health funding
written by Steven Barrymore

For the last two months oil has been pouring into the gulf, affecting the people of the region financially and emotionally. British Petroleum (BP) has agreed to a $20bn payout fund for physical loss, but what is BP doing to financially assist the mental health services in these regions of the gulf? How are the people from the affected regions being helped with the stress and suffering from this ongoing mess? And who is going to pick up the tab for the cost to provide these services?

Mental health facilities from the gulf coast regions have made requests for funding from BP. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals requested $10 million on May 28 from BP, so far the LDHH request has not yielded action from the Oil Company. (LDHH story here)

These affected regions may have to use their own taxpayer dollars to provide mental health treatment and services. How is this further going to impact the economy in those regions?

Are we waiting for a mental meltdown before BP provides these needed funds? And is the wait going to be too long to deal with the long-term health affects? Will BP be slammed financially by lawsuits from those emotionally hurt in this situation?

Speak up, write to your Senators, Congress, British Petroleum BP — let them know, we as Americans are lost in this mess and we need action now.

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