For example, we purchased a large spill-proof water bowl to bring in car when we take dogs. For $30, it ought to work(!), and it does.

But...

It is nearly impossible to remove lid for cleaning. It is very well made of heavy plastic, with a perfect 'snap' fit. Oh, illustration shows that it CAN be removed but not HOW, so if there is some special trick to it, I have no way of knowing. I believe that it is not possible to remove lid without hurting yourself or plastic.

Don't these people use their own product????? If they did, they would know of this major shortcoming.

I am also reminded of a brush that my wife purchased for cleaning out tubs that we use for horses. They have little tiny handles which are actually loops molded into plastic, but who has hands that small? You'd never get a 10-year-old to do that kind of work! We both end up with scraped or sore knuckles every time we use it. Again, don't these people use their own products? Maybe they are made in Japan, where people tend to be smaller, but even that's no excuse in my opinion.

© 2002 Elena Fawkner

I received an email during week from a reader of a recent article "The 10 Most Popular Myths About Running A Home-Based Business Online" (http://www.ahbbo.com op10.html). That article was, I admit, something of a vent which was long overdue and it struck a chord with many readers who wrote in to let me know that it described their experiences to a T.

One Internet-experienced reader wrote: "People ask most amazing questions, such as 'I put up a web site. When do I start getting money and where does it come from?'"

Amazing but true. I kid you not, I get emails like this all time. They're what prompted article in first place. So, in this article, rather than venting, I'll be a little more constructive and actually answer question: Just how exactly DO you make money on Internet?

1. The simplest - join an affiliate program (hell, join LOTS of affiliate programs) and spend your time and money advertising and promoting it to drive traffic to you-beaut self-replicating website every other affiliate gets. A la Amazon.com.

This is a VERY inefficient way of trying to make money online. And it will cost you a fortune before it yields a return. If it ever really does. If you're VERY lucky, you MIGHT just cover your costs.

(If you don't know what an affiliate program is, read "Affiliate Programs ... A Not THAT Easy Start To Your Own Online Business" at http://www.ahbbo.com/affiliateprograms.html.)

2. Create a content-based website, get traffic to it and use it to promote your affiliate programs. The trick here is to sign up for affiliate programs related to subject matter you choose for your website. The idea is that, by creating a content-based website, you will attract targeted REPEAT traffic, thereby increasing odds that someone will buy one of your affiliate program products. This is a MUCH better option than #1. and will save you a fortune on advertising.

3. Create a content-based website, get traffic to it and use it to sell your own products. Anything that can be delivered digitally is a good bet - software, e-books etc.

4. Do #3. above and establish your OWN affiliate program so other people can also sell your product in exchange for a commission.