:Forest Folk

The open framed motor for the majority of Brass Steam Locomotives and some Diesels have been with us since post World War II. They were a main stay to power the locomotive. These motors were all produced in Japan except for the Pitman Motor which was produced in the United States.

About thirty five years ago the industry began changing over to the can motor. The can motor was introduced in new locomotives to be sold to the hobbyist. It wasn’t until a few years later that the hobbyist could buy the can motor for personal use.

Why the sudden change to the can motor? What were the reasons for such a major overhaul? The following is a presentation of the reasons for those changes and the advantages as well.

The open frame motor was a nightmare to keep running. There were several reasons for this.

1. The brushes and armature are exposed to the atmosphere. This allows dust particles which are charged to accumulate on the armature and adhere to the brushes. This alone causes sever problems electrically. It takes more power to turn the motor which in most cases isn’t there. That is it creates a resistance which bogs done the motor.
2. The accumulation of static charged particles on the brushes causes them to be ground down and become useless. These particles also can cause scaring on the armature which can make the motor useless.
3. The open frame motor requires lubrication at each end of the motor where the bearings are located. The manufacturers would place a pad around the motor shaft next to the bearings. Here is where you would lubricate the motor. The problem is that these pads would get old and shrink thus eliminating the lubrication process.
4. At best you can tear down the motor and rebuild/replace the vital components except the armature. This can be a difficult process and very time consuming. It doesn’t mean the motor is going to run any better. These motors when left standing for any length of time usually did not run.

The can motor eliminated all of these problems and is far more sensitive to electrical input than the open framed motor. It was almost impossible run an open frame motor at low speeds where the can motor is suited for this type of operation.

The open frame motor is not really adaptable to the new DCC operations. This is the opposite for the can motor as it is suited for the running of locomotives which have the DCC decoders on board. The can motors are smaller than the open frame motors which made it easier for the hobbyist to install the new motor.

Joy Ball has been involved in the restoration and maintenance of a variety of Brass Model Locomotives. Through her years of expertise, Mrs. Ball has perfected the art of train restoration often spending countless hours preserving vintage Brass Locomotive to the running condition of even the newest Brass Model Replicas. It should be noted that the above article was written by Joy’s husband Michael Ball. Receive her free newsletter at http://www.brasslocomotiveworks.com.

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Rock climbing is an exhilarating sport and one that is growing in popularity. Today, people of all ages are taking up this fun but physically demanding activity. Many aspects of rock climbing appeal to those partaking in this sport, but one thing which stands out most is that this is an activity that can be done both indoors and out.

Man-made rock climbing walls are perfect for training and for when the weather conditions outside are less than desirable. Indoor rock climbing walls are a great way to learn the various rock climbing techniques while being under the careful watch of more experienced rock climbing professionals. Because they’re made to resemble the characteristics you’d find in a natural rock environment, many rock climbers never even venture outdoors. But for those who do, the outdoors experience is truly unique and awe-inspiring.

Countless rock climbing opportunities await those who do venture outdoors. Not all rocks though are optimum for the rock climber. First in importance is whether the rock face can be traversed horizontally or vertically. Equally important is that the rocks chosen for rock climbing must be solid rocks and they must be stable. Also look for locations where the weather is predictable, and where trails already exist.

Although this is a relatively safe activity if undertaken using the proper rock climbing equipment, rock climbing can be a dangerous sport, especially for those who venture far off the ground and away from more densely populated areas. It’s one thing to want to climb in an uncrowded area, but should an emergency situation develop, being close to others could mean the difference between getting timely help and not getting the help the injured party needs to survive.

Many people mistakenly believe that the majority of rock climbing injuries result from falling. This belief might simply result from the fact that rock climbers who fall get more attention from local authorities, rescue squads and even the media. However, most rock climbing injuries occur to the hands, tendons, elbows and shoulders and are caused by straining and overuse. Although these types of injuries are not preventable, their occurrence can be reduced by taking time to properly warm up and stretch out these body parts. Using the right rock climbing equipment for the journey ahead is also advisable.

Rock climbing shoes are a must and help ensure a proper grip on the sometimes slippery surfaces. Helmets, which unfortunately aren’t worn by many climbers, are a good way to prevent serious head injury. A rock climbing harness that is in excellent condition with no frayed or worn out parts, climbing ropes, webbing, karabiners and belay devices are other essential pieces of rock climbing gear.

Keep the above rock climbing basics in mind before venturing out on your next rock climbing adventure and you’ll hopefully keep rock climbing accidents to a minimum.

Online Rock Climbing Resource

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Have you ever felt disappointment and dismay when trying a new marketing approach because it didn’t generate the response you expected? If so, you are certainly not alone. Perhaps in our impatience and high hopes to succeed we’ve forgotten the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” In fact repetition is the secret to visibility and attention. Whether it’s a sales letter, press release or copy in your direct mailings, the strategies you choose often take trial and error efforts to find the one that works best.

Getting Attention Requires Repetition!

Think about the many times you’ve seen something and considered its potential but did nothing about it. Then you saw it again and gave it another thought but you still didn’t act upon it. And finally after the third time, you decided to give it a try. That’s exactly how it works with any marketing material, press release, advertisement, article or sales letter. The people who receive or see your information need time to digest and ponder the idea of your product or service. The more they see it, the more inclined they’ll be to buy. In fact, repetition helps to build trust, therefore repetitive promotion of your product or service should be viewed as an investment and not as wasted expenditure.

Are They Really Mistakes?

Unfortunately or fortunately depending upon how you look at it, being in any type of business requires experimentation either with time or money. No matter how many so-called experts we follow, sometimes an endeavor will work immediately yet at other times very little seems to happen. That is the nature of the beast, and for most legitimate business ventures it is a necessary evil. The interpretation of these trial and error efforts may be considered as mistakes, but rather than viewing your attempts as mistakes, why not perceive them for what they really are? They’re opportunities to find what works and what doesn’t. When you reflect on the great geniuses and inventors of our time and how many efforts it took for these amazing discoveries to come to fruition, you have to recognize you’re in good company. These impressive geniuses kept trying until they hit on just the right niche or formula.

Believe in Your Product or Service!

As hard as it may seem at times, if you believe in your product or service you have to keep trying. When the article pulls visitors and finally draws tons of new clientele, the effort and attempts will be well worth it. And when the press release is acknowledged and you do start receiving many hits to your site you’ll be glad for all your efforts. Remember, just because the article didn’t get published today, doesn’t mean it won’t appear tomorrow. And just because the press release didn’t bring you thousands of hits to your web site, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good press release. It may just mean it needs another avenue for presentation.

Don’t Stop Short of Success!

Did you know that it could take up to five or seven repeats of exposure before someone responds to your communication? Whether you’re sending out introductory sales letters, or submitting a press release, often several tries are required before any acknowledgment is received. Just keep on going until you find the one method that works. Things may not always turn out exactly as you expected the first time around, but if your product or business has merit, repetition is the secret to visibility and attention.

Copyright 2005

Charlene Rashkow brings 15 years of experience as a Writing Stylist and Author to her creative efforts as a freelance business writer/consultant. To learn what her clients have to say about her go to http://www.allyourwritingneeds.com/clients.html

Charlene has successfully helped companies and individuals reach their objectives by writing outstanding web site content, press releases, bios, articles of interest, business plans, resumes and all other forms of marketing material. To learn more about Charlene you may visit her at http://www.allyourwritingneeds.com

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For men’s gold jewelry - individuality is the universal message. For a growing group of men, the only way to achieve individuality is to have their gold jewelry custom designed. Men like being involved in the design process, so they will end up with something totally unique. The new trend in men’s gold jewelry - whether custom designed or carefully selected - seems to boil down to individual taste and style.

Modern men want something more innovative in their wedding bands and rings particularly. Thanks to a growing group of artisans who are rethinking the design of men’s gold jewelry, men have more choice than ever before. The new wedding rings and bands run the gamut from modern, sculptural designs to turn-of-the century antiques. And the matte finishes on many of these rings and bands have an undeniable modernity.

Gold often has a special symbolic meaning, and men who prefer a lighter colored metal will find great choices in white gold wedding bands. While buying a white gold wedding bands, men need not worry about the cost since white gold tends to cost about the same as yellow gold.

Some rings and bands are even a combination of precious metals: Jewelry designers are mixing metal colors - like yellow with white gold, or traces of once popular platinum. Platinum was the standard in the early 1960s but gradually the trend moved to white gold.

For some men, only a real heirloom jewelry will do - particularly for their wedding day. They want something steeped in history that symbolizes the long-term commitment they’re making. And here, too, the trend is toward that single gold band. The rich artistry of these pieces can easily substitute for the lack of precious gems in wedding bands.

If you are looking to buy cheap men’s wedding bands, then you should always remember that your wedding band is a piece of jewelry that you are going to wear all the time and therefore, it’s very important to choose a band that you really like. So, look for hottest styles in wedding bands and not just one that’s cheap.

It is also possible to design your own wedding band by combining multiple wedding band designs. You can select your own band shape, size and mix of colors. These can be combined together to make a unique wedding band that fits your personal style.

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit GiftBoxJewelry.com for an excellent selection of jewelry including wedding bands, and jewelry for men.

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Ukrainians love their numerous holidays and love to “celebrate”
those holidays in grandeous fashion. It’s not uncommon for
Westerners to be taken aback at just how many “days of note”
they observe, and the amount of fireworks and revelry that goes
along with them, not to mention the vast amount of spirits
consumed. Ukraines history that included Paganism and later
Christianity can be attributed to the evolution of many of her
current holidays and festivities.

1 January - New Year’s Day is one the most favorite of
all holidays in Ukraine. As in Western countries on Christmas
Eve, Ukrainians give “New Year” presents, Children receive their
presents under the New Year Tree on the morning of the 1st of
January. Traditionally just prior to midnight there’s a
Presidential speech broadcast nationally. When the clock strikes
Midnight, people pop open thier champaign bottles and raise a
toast. With the first glass they congratulate each other as the
clock strikes 12 times and fireworks fill the sky. The week
before the New Year is a busy one with shopping, parties at
work, decorating pine and fir-trees, and cooking the years most
delicious meals. The main folk heroes of this holiday are Father
Frost (Did Moroz) and his grand-daughter “Sniguron’ka” (The Snow
Girl). The tradition of predicting fortunes on this night is
very popular among young people.

A peculiar tradition includes writing down on a piece of paper
your wish for the coming year, then dropping it in to your
champagne and drinking it as the clock stikes twelve times.
Another “fun” folk tradition pacticed mainly in the villages on
New Year night is for the unmarried girls to go outside and
throw one of thier boots over the Hosts’ fence. Whichever way
the toe of the boot ends up pointing indicates where the future
husband will come from. Nearly all businesses remain closed from
December 31st to January 8th.

7 January - Orthodox Christmas The period from the 7th
until the 14th of January is Saint Christmas week. During this
week people go from one house to another, singing songs and
wishing good wishes to health, prosperity, etc. and just having
a good time. Most usually are dressed in folksy or carnival type
costumes. Such activity is called “Kolyaduvannya” and
“Schedruvannya”. The songs are called “kolyadky” and
“schedrivky”. When somebody is singing these songs and greeting
you, as a rule you should give them sweets or food or drinks or
whatever you have as a token of appreciation. . It is believed
that everything that the people have sung in their Kolyadka and
Schedrivka will come true.

Also during the new year holidays, up to the 14th of January it
is common for kids (and sometimes adults-in the villages) to go
from one house to another wishing the owner of the house new
year wishes, new happiness, health, etc. All those wishes are
usually said in rhymes and with the spreading of seeds, such as
wheat or other grains. This shows a wish of prosperity for the
house. This practice is called “Posivannya”. Some token, usualy
food, drink, sweets, or money, is usualy given in return.

14 January - Old Calendar New Year celebrated as a family
holiday. See more above under 7 January - Orthodox Christmas.

22 January - Ukrainian Unity Day (Den Sobornosti) is an
important historical event in Ukraine. It goes back to the date
when Eastern and Western Ukraine were united. On this day in
1919 the “Treaty of Unity” between Ukrainians was signed and the
unity of all Ukrainian lands previously belonging to the Russian
Empire (UNR) and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was solemnly
proclaimed on Sofijivska Square in Kyiv. “Den Sobornosti” is the
symbol of territorial and spiritual unity of Ukraine as a
unified sovereign state.

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Acne Laser Treatment - How You Can Now “Do It Yourself” at
Home for a Fraction of the Price, and Get the Same Results

There are always new ways to treat acne coming out as the latest
and greatest method to treat acne and smooth the skin out to its
pre-acne days. Some of these methods are really not effective,
and cause consumers to just pour their money down the drain, so
to speak, in hopes of finally finding the answer to their acne
woes.

Others, like acne laser treatment, are a truly effective and
proven way to clear acne, help mend the skin, and help heal
scarring and existing acne lesions.

How Does Acne Laser Treatment Treat Scarring and Acne at the
Same Time

Lasers work by using various “soft pulsing light” wavelengths
and intensities to help “reshape” scar tissue, making raised
scars go down, and reducing the redness of the skin around
healed acne postules. Home acne lasers actually emit a low,
constant frequency of red light which helps to stimulate
collagen, making scarring less visible, and helping to stimulate
the healing of existing acne, and speed the whole recovery
process.

The low light acne home laser does not emit heat and does not
hurt or burn your tissues - quite the contrary, you will feel
like you’ve just had a refreshing facial after you use it each
time - I did. Not only that, if you have any fine lines or
wrinkles, you will notice that they soften with the use of this
laser as well.

One particular medical grade home acne laser treatment that
uses this technology had the following to report:

1. The home laser device was found to be an effective treatment
for acne in the inflammatory stage.

2. Subjects typically would see positive results within 3-6
weeks of starting treatment. The positive results depended
largely on consistency and continuity of treatment. Especially
in the first few weeks, consistency is key if you want to see
real results from a home laser

3. After 6 Weeks of Laser Treatment:

20% of the patients were completely healed.

50% of the patients showed major improvement.

20% of the patients showed minor improvement.

These are pretty compelling statistics, and I’d say very
promising for anyone looking to treat their acne and reduce acne
scarring effectively, without countless visits to the
dermatologist or a plastic surgeons office for essentially the
same treatment.

If You REALLY Want to Get Astounding Results, Take it a Step
Further and Combine Laser Therapy with a Natural Oral Remedy

You can achieve even greater and faster success when combining
an oral remedy for acne and the laser. This fights acne from
both a scarring and healing aspect on the outside, and from an
internal standpoint, eradicating impurities and hormonal
imbalances which cause the acne in the first place.

Many dermatologists take this two pronged approach, and they
will combine a microdermabrasion or laser therapy with an oral
antibiotic for maximum results for their patients. Why can’t you
do the same and get identical results, or even better results
than doctor’s office treatments?

The fact is, there are other options that are less expensive
over the long haul and many times even more effective than
medications or special in-office treatments can be. Why not take
advantage of this advanced technology?

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Another offering by the father of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, the 1876 Mont-Royal Park is his only creation outside of the United States. It features trademark twisting paths that lead gently to the top of 765-foot Mont-Royal. The mountain, from which the city takes it name, was climbed by Jacques Cartier in 1535.

At the summit, reached via Douglas MacArthur Bridge from Jefferson Avenue, are
views of downtown Montreal and across the St. Lawrence River into New York’s
Adirondack Mountains. You can leave the wide paved trails and explore dirt paths in
the upper regions of the park that pass through light woods. At the base of the
mountain are plenty of grassy lawns to sprawl with your dog.

About one-half hour north is Chemin de la Presqu’le. Long ago, “Chemin de la
Presqu’le” was the name of the horse and buggy road that linked Mascouche and
Repentigny. To commemorate the road that led citizens to Repentigy lands recessed
between Assomption river and the Saint-Lawrence, Jean-Marie Desrosiers decided
to give the same name to the vast network of trails he created in Le Gardeur in
1978.

The Presqu’le Trail boasts a network of four well-marked, pleasing hiking trails
ranging from a little over a mile to about 3 miles. Since the early 1990s, dogs have
been welcome on the park trails and can even be walked without a leash.

The canine hiking is at an easy clip on the flat trails along the Le Gardeur section,
however the hike becomes more challenging along the undulating loops that meet
the Mascouche section. Small ponds provide a spot for dogs to cool off but also
bring squadrons of mosquitoes. Bring plenty of insect repellent for you and your
dog - the females get so hungry for a blood meal that hikers are not charged
admission in summer.

The dog-friendly park is located in Le Gardeur and reached from Highway 40 or
640, Exit 97.

Doug Gelbert is the author of over 20 books, including The Canine Hiker’s Bible.
To subscribe to his FREE Newsletter on hiking with your dog and receive a copy
of Rules for Dogs in 100 of the Most Popular National Park Service Lands, visit
http://www.hikewithyourdog.com In the warmer months he leads canine hikes
for hikewithyourdog.com tours, guiding packs of dogs and humans on hiking
adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day explorations, visit
parks, historical sites and beaches.

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Be passionate about your topic! I know beginning speakers who are so eager to be hired to speak that they tell prospective clients that they can speak on everything just give them a topic. Not so! Yes, most intelligent people can pull together an informative presentation by reading and researching, but if you are not truly excited and turned on about the topic you are going to present, you will not make a lasting impression on audience members or move them to take any action. If, however, you speak about a topic that excites you, a topic that you know and live, you will excite those hearing you. Pick a topic that will make a difference.

Develop your mission. Once you have picked the topic you plan to present, you will have a good deal of work to do to develop that topic into a powerful presentation. The first step is to develop your mission. Every topic is loaded with information, but if you don’t have a plan for the overall mission of your presentation, you will just add to the information overload most people are experiencing today. Ask yourself early in the planning process: What do I want them to remember and do three months from now? Take out a blank sheet of paper and write in one clear, concise sentence the mission of your presentation.

Pick your theme. Now work on your presentation’s theme, which should also be stated in one concise statement. A theme, often a statement of the three most important points to be covered, keeps the presentation “on track.” For example, when giving a presentation on the topic “Newsletters” my mission would be to lead audience members to “Create Dynamic Newsletters that People Love to Read” and my theme would be “ways to produce newsletters that are appealing visually, extremely readable, and loaded with the information needed and wanted by the target readers.”

Develop the topic. The difficult, but most important, part of the development has been accomplished. By this time, I have my outline of the three points I want to make from my theme. There are many different ways to gather and organize the material. The main tip to keep in mind is that any material that doesn’t fit the mission and the theme’s three points should be saved for a future presentation.

Test your topic. I like to test my topic before presenting it to paying clients and companies. There are many organizations like Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis clubs, non-profit associations, and business schools that welcome speakers who will give a free speech. Try out your presentation on several of these occasions to find out how well received it is and if it makes a difference. I also teach Continuing Education classes, so will suggest my topic and title as a class selection. If many sign up and respond favorably, I know I have a “winner.”

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. Sign up for her eclectic E-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, at http://www.PowerfulPresentations.net You will find her information-packed E-book How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE! at http://www.OutrageouslyPowerfulPresenter.com and her business website at http://www.CreativeKeys.biz

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If you have always wanted to make your own candles but never had the time to research the steps and buy all the supplies you need to get started, there is good news. There are candle-making kits available. There are kits designed for grownups and even kids who want to get creative and make candles. The following are some of the popular kits available in stores today.

Gel Candle Making Kit. Gel candles are very hot these days. You too can easily make your own gel candles with kits that usually contain candle gel tubes (there are about eight or so in one kit), twelve bags of wax candle chips, and twelve clear glass candle jars. You can create translucent visual treats that are perfect as home décor or as gifts to special people.

Beeswax Candles Kit. There are a lot of beeswax kits on the market. There are adult kits that allow you to create professional candles out of preprocessed beeswax, and there are also beeswax candle making kits for kids that educate them about bees as they create candles. Note that children’s kits are for 5 years old and older.

Marbled Candle Kit. Ever thought that those candles with fancy marbled designs are hard to do? With marbled candle kits, you just pour once; wait for the wax to cool, and you have your very own spectacular marbled candle.

There are many other candle making kits available either in specialty stores or over the Internet. Just browse around and you will find one that suits your taste and personality. Remember that candle making need not be a lot of work. Buy your candle making kits now and start making beautiful candles for yourself, your family and your friends.

Candle Making provides detailed information on Candle Making, Candle Making Supplies, Candle Making Instructions, Candle Making Kits and more. Candle Making is affiliated with Discount Candle Making Supplies.

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The online auction world was shocked by the biggest eBay fraud
in its seven year history. What made it even more astonishing is
the fact that the crooked seller has a five history of
successful sales on eBay, accompanied by thousands of glowing
testimonials from satisfied buyers.

Stewart Richardson, owner of a Michigan store called Retired
Figurine Exchange Inc., sold small figurines to eBay collectors,
some of them costing thousands of dollars. The heart of eBay’s
seller-honesty system is “Feedback”, which allows buyers and
sellers to rate each other. Mr. Richardson earned 6,185 positive
feedback points since he started selling on eBay in 1997, with
an additional 58 negative and 56 neutral ratings from buyers who
bought from him. These scores mean that 98% of the sales Mr.
Richardson made resulted in satisfied buyers.

Richardson posted large numbers of auctions which concluded
early in January, supposedly selling hundreds of figurines from
an estate sale. He apparently sold items he didn’t possess,
listed the same item multiple times and even contacted losers in
the auctions, informing them that the winners didn’t pay and
offering them the opportunity to buy. Then on January 17, he
left for lunch and hasn’t been seen since. Estimates of his
stolen money range from $225,000-$400,000. Investigators later
discovered that Richardson spent a total of about eight years in
prison during the late 1950s and 1960s for a number of felonies,
the most serious of which was assault with intent to commit
murder.

Nor is he the only high-profile crook. Brian D. Wildman was
convicted of wire and mail fraud for selling valuable sports
card sets ? but not delivering them as promised. Other sellers
were indicted for attempting to sell a fake painting for
$135,805. In another case, sellers themselves turned into a
vigilante group, seeking justice from a 35 year old man who sold
computers and then failed to deliver. The angry buyers
apparently broke the law in their attempts to retrieve their
money back from the dishonest seller.

You and I are damaged by these reports. There are many people
who are uneasy about internet sales in general, and these kinds
of high-profile stories make it tougher for honest people. In
truth, eBay claims that fraud includes only .01% of its
transactions, but that isn’t reassuring to a nervous buyer.

What can we do?

1. Plaster your identity everywhere. Put full contact
information where all potential buyers can see it. Give as many
ways to contact you as possible. Include your picture (and
perhaps the dog and cat. Choose anything that will let
buyers see you as a real person with a stable life.

If you have testimonials and feedback from happy customers, tell
the world. It’s true that Richardson had these advantages, too,
but he is newsworthy simply because he is an exception and not
the rule. Generally, the feedback system works very well.

If you have special credentials, let buyers know. For example,
perhaps you are a nurse who sells nutritional supplements or you
are an antique dealer who has been in the business for 30 years
and can prove it.

This kind of credibility is much more reassuring than a one page
website and a free hotmail address.

2. Credit cards are the safest way to purchase anything. These
days, it is possible for most entrepreneurs to accept credit
cards through the auction sites or 3rd party processors, even if
they don’t have their own merchant account. Go even further and
explain the safety of credit cards to your buyers.

In my one and only personal experience with auction fraud, there
were dozens of other sellers who never received their
merchandise. Those who paid by credit card, like I did, received
their money back. Those who paid with cash or cashier’s checks
simply lost their money.

eBay has fraud protection, but it only covers $175.

3. Escrow is a great safeguard, although it is most practical
for higher priced sales. It works like this:

a. The buyer sends the purchase price to the escrow company, who
then verifies the funds b. The escrow company notifies the
seller who ships the merchandise to the buyer c. When the buyer
is satisfied, the money is released to the seller d. If the
buyer isn’t satisfied, he can return the merchandise to the
seller and receive his money back. These kinds of conditions are
usually specified in advance. That is, “I changed my mind”
usually isn’t grounds for return of the merchandise. It normally
has to be misrepresented in some way for a buyer return.

According to news stories, one of Richardson’s buyers sent a
registered check for $20,000. That money is lost for good. If
the buyer had been careful enough to use an escrow company that
loss would not have occurred. If you sell expensive items,
always mention this option to buyers. Even if they choose not to
use it, they will know you have nothing to hide.

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