You should understand how auction works. Many online auctions simply list items that people want to sell. They don't verify if merchandise actually exists, or if it is described accurately.

You should therefore check out seller. If it is a company, contact state or local consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau where you live, and also where company is located.

Many auctions have a feedback section for comments about seller. Be aware that a clean complaint record doesn't guaranty that someone is legitimate, and that glowing reports could be "planted" by seller.

You should know value of product before you bid. If product is brand new, check to see what price retailers are charging for it. If product is used or reconditioned, you will want to pay way less than retail value.

Be especially careful if seller is a private individual. Most consumer protection laws and government agencies that enforce them, don't deal with private sales, so if you have a problem, it could be impossible to resolve. Always get a physical address and other identifying information. You'll need seller's name, street address and telephone number to check them out, or follow up if there is a problem. Don't do business with sellers who won't provide that information.

You should ask about delivery, returns, warranties and service. Get a definite delivery time and insist that shipment is insured. Ask about return policy. If you're buying electronic goods or appliances, find out if there is a warranty and how to get service. Don't get caught up in a bidding war; you may end up paying more than product's worth.

It was to be expected and very predictable because far too many dot.com enterprises were riding high on investor cash infusions, were long on promises but produced little if any cash flow.

The promise of success never materialized and investors wisely refused to throw good money after bad.

No business can survive having expenses but no revenue. Not even on Internet.

That was "Old Internet" business model.

You could write down an idea for an Internet business on a cocktail napkin and get millions of dollars from eager investors. Reality has finally set in and once FREE businesses are changing their stripes and attempting to charge a fee for their content or services.

Enter "New Internet".

The first quarter of 2001 has seen a rash of companies jumping on "Now We Charge a FEE" bandwagon.

A wide variety of services and content that was once delivered for FREE are now being delivered ONLY if you pay a fee.

This includes such services as web hosting, web site content like current time, weather and date, stock quotes, music files and much more.

Those once FREE services and content were able to be provided because there was a strong advertiser base that paid for show we all enjoyed.

But advertising base has faltered.

Some of big names that now offer new premium services include Yahoo!, http://www.yahoo.com/, eBay, http://www.ebay.com/, and of course, new court ordered changes at Napster, http://www.napster.com/, which made it a legal necessity to charge a fee for their music services.

Bizland.com, http://www.bizland.com/, has always provided web-hosting sites for small businesses, as well as email forwarding, e-commerce packages and marketing tools.