Category Archives: Business

How to Fix the Mail Queue Bug in SMF 2.1.5 and 2.1.6

Fixing the Mail Queue Bug in SMF 2.1.5 and 2.1.6

The Problem

After upgrading your Simple Machines Forum (SMF) to version 2.1.5 or 2.1.6, you may have noticed that emails are getting stuck in the mail queue and never sending. This affects:

Registration confirmation emails
Password reset emails
Topic notifications
Private message notifications
Forum newsletters

When you check Admin → Maintenance → Mail → Browse Queue, emails just sit there. Clicking “Send Mail Queue Now” does nothing. There are no error messages in your error log, making this bug particularly frustrating to troubleshoot.… Click here to continue reading this article

Nochex Acquired by PAYSTRAX: A New Chapter or Just a Fresh Logo?

So Nochex has been bought by PAYSTRAX. Let’s delve into that and what it means if you are a Nochex customer.

Back in 2011, I wrote a fairly candid review of Nochex after some mixed experiences with their seller and merchant accounts. To their credit, they engaged with me at the time, sorted things out, and we have kept a Nochex seller account ever since as a backup provider on some of our sites, and on Romancart for bespoke orders.… Click here to continue reading this article

Disable RSS Feeds in WordPress: Why and How (2025 Guide)

Should You Disable RSS Feeds on Your WordPress Blog?

RSS feeds were once seen as the future of online publishing. Back in the early 2000s, people subscribed to blogs in feed readers and pulled in updates without ever visiting a site. That era has long passed. By 2025 hardly anybody uses RSS, yet WordPress still enables feeds by default on every blog.

So the question is, should you leave them on or turn them off?

What RSS Feeds Do in WordPress

WordPress automatically creates feeds for your posts, categories, tags, and comments.… Click here to continue reading this article

Getty Images Demand Letters UK: A Guide for Website Owners

Clown surprised by Getty Images demand letter, satirical illustration.

Getty Images Demand Letters in the UK: what they are, how to avoid them, and what to do if one lands

If you run a website in the UK, there is a fair chance you will see a copyright demand letter sooner or later. Many small site owners open an email that looks very official, full of legal language, and demanding hundreds or even thousands of pounds for a single image. Getty Images letters are the most talked about.

On the surface, it feels like do not argue, just pay. The reality is messier.… Click here to continue reading this article

Poor Neutrals, Cable Failures, and Substandard Repairs in the Electrical Trade

This article looks at some of the problems we keep seeing in electrical work today — and how poor cables, lazy installs, and ignored safety checks are putting people at risk.

There’s growing concern in the electrical trade about the standard of some of the work being carried out. From poor-quality wiring and substandard appliance cables to unqualified contractors bodging repairs, it’s clear that corners are being cut in ways that could be dangerous.

One issue that’s coming up more often is poor workmanship around neutral connections.… Click here to continue reading this article

Local SEO: Google Business & Hyperlocal Tips

How to Future-Proof Your Local SEO Strategy

Whether you’re running a nationwide franchise or a single-location business, local SEO is moving fast — and staying visible in search means staying ahead of the curve. From Google’s evolving use of AI to the rise of alternative search engines like Perplexity and ChatGPT, here’s how to stay competitive now and in the years ahead.

What’s Changing in Local SEO and Search?

Google is already experimenting with AI-generated overviews in some local search queries, and while these haven’t rolled out everywhere yet, it’s clear where things are heading.… Click here to continue reading this article

What to Do After Uploading a YouTube Video – The Complete Guide to Boosting Views and Growth

You’re looking to grow your YouTube channel. If you’re a small or growing YouTuber, you already know the effort it takes to create a great video. But what you do after hitting “publish” is just as important as the video itself.

Far too many creators upload a video, share it once, and simply hope for the best. Then they wonder why their views stall at 17. If that sounds familiar, this guide is for you.

In this article, we’ll walk through the complete post-upload strategy that helped drive millions of views across multiple videos.… Click here to continue reading this article

Taking Amazon to County Court: Settling and Getting Paid – Part 5

Taking Amazon to County Court: Settling, Getting Paid and What Happens If You End Up in Court

This is part five of a guide for Amazon UK FBA or FBM sellers on taking Amazon to County Court. Part one is here: How to Sue Amazon UK as a Seller – Part 1

As we covered in Part Four and earlier in this series, Amazon and Eversheds will leave everything to the last minute. That is their standard playbook. But the chances are, after a few weeks of back and forth and just a few days before the scheduled mediation, you will have come down a bit, and they will have come up a bit.… Click here to continue reading this article

Taking Amazon to Small Claims Court as a UK Seller – Part 4

Are you an Amazon UK seller looking to take them to the Small Claims Court? This is part four of a guide for Amazon UK FBA or FBM sellers on taking Amazon to County Court. Part one is here: How to Sue Amazon UK as a Seller – Part 1

Negotiating a Settlement and Completing the Directions Questionnaire

In Part One, we covered gathering evidence and sending a Notice Before Action.
In Part Two, we covered filing your claim.
In Part Three, we explored Amazon’s defence and the opening of communications with Eversheds.… Click here to continue reading this article

Taking Amazon to County Court: A UK Seller Guide – Part 3

Now you get to meet Amazon’s cadre of corporate lawyers: Eversheds.

So you are a seller on Amazon UK and want to take them to County Court? This is part three of a guide for Amazon UK FBA or FBM sellers on taking Amazon to County Court. Part one is here: How to Sue Amazon UK as a Seller – Part 1

We discussed evidence collection and serving your “Notice Before Action” in part one. We discussed filing your claim in part two. Here we will discuss what happens next.

The first thing to remember is that the lawyers you are about to encounter are just doing their job.… Click here to continue reading this article

How to Take Amazon UK to County Court as a Seller – Part 2

So you want to sue Amazon? This is part two of a guide for Amazon UK FBA or FBM sellers on taking Amazon to County Court. Part one is here: How to Sue Amazon UK as a Seller – Part 1

We discussed evidence collection and serving your “Notice Before Action” in part one. Here we will discuss what is likely to happen next.

When Amazon receives your Notice Before Action, assuming they don’t just ignore it (which they certainly will if you named the wrong entity – see part one), they may have someone from a department called Executive Escalations reach out to you to see if they can solve the issue.… Click here to continue reading this article

How to Sue Amazon UK as a Seller – Part 1

So you want to know how to sue Amazon? If you’re a seller on Amazon UK and need guidance on taking legal action in the County Court against Amazon, you’re in the right place. We’ve been through the process ourselves – and won.

If you are reasonably literate and your case is relatively straightforward, such as withheld stock or funds, you can likely handle it yourself without a solicitor. More complex cases may require legal assistance later, or even a barrister for a hearing. However, many disputes with Amazon UK can be resolved before reaching a hearing or arbitration.… Click here to continue reading this article

The PICC Starfire Plasma Arc Hob: The Future of Electric Cooking?

The world of kitchen appliances is constantly evolving, and the PICC Starfire plasma arc hob is one of the most exciting innovations to hit the market in recent years. While plasma technology is still relatively new, particularly outside of China, it’s making waves in the cooking world with its unique approach to heating. In this article, we’ll explore what makes the Starfire plasma hob stand out and whether it might be the future of electric cooking for those seeking the best of both worlds: control and efficiency.

A Unique Blend of Gas and Electric Cooking

For years, kitchen enthusiasts have debated gas and electric cooking.… Click here to continue reading this article

Using Wise Cards in the USA: How to Avoid ATM Fees

How to get fee-free ATM withdrawals in the USA with a Wise card.

Travelling abroad can be a fun experience, but nobody likes to be ripped off, especially when it comes to accessing your funds. For many, using a Wise card (formerly Transferwise) has become a convenient solution for managing finances across borders.

However, one persistent challenge faced by users is finding ATMs (cash machines) in the USA where they can withdraw cash without incurring hefty fees. Most US banks impose charges ranging from $2 to $4 for withdrawals made with cards outside their network.… Click here to continue reading this article

essentialphoto.co.uk Discount Code – 10% Voucher Code

Get an essentialphoto.co.uk 10% discount voucher code that actually works! No voucher sites, no “click here to reveal” nonsense, no affiliate links. Just a 10% code. For free.

Looking to elevate your photography or filmmaking game? Discover PiXAPRO, your go-to destination for top-quality studio lighting equipment and accessories. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic beginner, PiXAPRO has everything you need to bring your creative vision to life.

With a diverse range of products including flash units, continuous LED lighting, modifiers, stands, backgrounds, and video solutions, PiXAPRO caters to the needs of photographers, filmmakers, and content creators alike.… Click here to continue reading this article

The Amazon Base Reserve Policy Cash Grab: Amazon’s Seller Stranglehold

The Amazon Base Reserve Policy Cash Grab: Amazon’s Seller Stranglehold

Have you had the “Changes to your Base Reserve policy” email from Amazon?

Amazon, the titan of the online retail landscape, has instigated a policy change that reverberates profoundly throughout its vast seller community. This new policy involves holding onto a reserve of sellers’ money for over a week on a rolling basis, under the guise of a Delivery Date Based Reserve policy.

For veteran Amazon sellers, this policy represents not only a potential financial setback but also a concerning indication of Amazon’s increasing self-interest.… Click here to continue reading this article

De-dollarization Picks up Pace Amid Bigger Yuan Role

Since the start of 2023, many “de-dollarization” events have taken place.

Russia and Iran jointly announced the launch of cryptocurrencies for international trade. Saudi Arabia gave approval for selling oil in currencies other than the US dollar. Argentina and Brazil planned to establish common currencies. Brazil and China agreed to stop using the US dollar as an intermediate currency.

The term “de-dollarization” has become worthy of some real focus, especially at a time when the globalization of the Chinese renminbi is on an uptrend.

Heating up

There are two key short-term reasons why de-dollarization has picked up pace.… Click here to continue reading this article

Cheaper Than Amazon and eBay: Private Retailer Websites

Cheaper Than Amazon and eBay: If you want to shop cheaper than Amazon or eBay, you need to remove the intermediary.

Online shopping nowadays is cleverly set up to put an intermediary between the buyer and the seller. That intermediary might be Amazon, eBay, another shopping platform, or an advertising portal like Google.

With food, it’s Uber Eats or Deliveroo. With taxis it’s Uber. With groceries it’s Getir. There’s always someone who wants to put themselves between buyer and seller at your expense.

However you wrap that up, somebody in between the buyer and the seller is looking to make a profit there, and that profit must be included in the price that you pay.… Click here to continue reading this article

How to Send Money to Ukraine Fast

If you want to send money to Ukraine, there are ways to do it way faster and cheaper than your bank and with fewer hoops to jump through.

There are several reasons why people might want to send money to Ukraine. Here are a few common ones:

Family support: many people have family members living in Ukraine whom they wish to support financially. This could include sending money for living expenses, education, healthcare, or other essential needs.
Humanitarian aid: in certain situations, people may want to provide financial assistance to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, such as disaster relief, poverty alleviation, or helping vulnerable populations.

… Click here to continue reading this article

Where to Buy Gtech Battery Chargers Trade – In 10s

Where to Buy Gtech Battery Chargers Trade

If you’re in the vacuum cleaner repair trade and you work on Gtech machines, you already know the score. You buy raw stock and half of it turns up missing chargers. Or the charger is there but it’s bent, cracked, or has a dodgy plug. You can’t resell a vacuum without a charger, and customers don’t want to pay for a repair if they’ve got no way to charge it.

We started buying Gtech-compatible chargers by the ten. Not the horrible black square ones you see all over Amazon, but grey ones that look like the originals.… Click here to continue reading this article