Cash, what need have we for stinkin' cash, we have IOUs isaacson@... wrote: > I hope Cali has enough cash on hand to pay any Guv's salary ;) > > -d > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rick Propas" <rickpropas@...> > To: "Michael Kirk" <mlkirk@...> > Cc: pens@... > Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 6:28:54 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > Subject: Re: [ZossPens] Reality Check Requested > > Every once in a while I buy on eBay from a seller who I do not know and > get ripped off about half the time. I rarely seek recourse, preferring > to think of it as a reminder to one who is not too bright (me) not to do > that any more. > > And I am proud to say that I have never sold a pen on eBay and hope and > trust I never will. > > But the good news is that if we in California play our cards right we > can have the person who gave us eBay ethics as our very own governor. > > Boy, am I excited. > > Michael Kirk wrote: > > This is precisely why I avoid eBay when it comes to selling. Buying > other stuff is another story. At risk of going off on a negative > dialog, I would simply recommend avoiding them and selling on Zoss > (taking care of Tom in the process), or FPN directly to pen > collectors. You can also get a table at a pen show bringing along your > best wares to sell. > > > > I used to be a fan of eBay but in light of their policies and rate > changes over the years, it is difficult to swallow now. If you sell a > lot, consider what David mentioned...create your own web site. > > > > YMMV. > > Best, > > Mike Kirk > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > >> From: 2zosspensdigest[at]gatof.net <2zosspensdigest@...> > >> To: pens@... > >> Sent: Sat, January 30, 2010 4:48:24 PM > >> Subject: [ZossPens] Reality Check Requested > >> > >> I hope this is not too far off topic. > >> > >> I've been trading off and on for 11 years on eBay (registered in '99). > >> It's been awhile since I sold anything, but recently put some > things up. > >> My experiences have been pretty bad. > >> > >> After selling some pens, Paypal w/out notice held up funds transfer for > >> 21+ days b/c they said that complaints in that category have led > them to a > >> new policy, that funds will only be released after the buyer > approves the > >> shipment (or after x-days w/no complaints). The buyer was delighted > with > >> the pens he bought and I was paid--but the experience rattled me. > Maybe > >> it's buried in the fine print that they can do that, but it came > >> unexpectedly. > >> > >> Then another buyer of non-pen merchandise, didn't like some > scratches on a > >> carrying case (very much normal wear for the item), and contested it, > >> declaring that the item was not as described. eBay sided with the buyer > >> (though pictures prove otherwise), and I'm out the shipping plus > hours of > >> time spent trying to resolve. > >> > >> There is no way to get a human on the phone at eBay to appeal their > >> decisions, and their buyer protection program seems to completely side > >> with the buyer. They protect the buyer by taking it from the seller. > >> > >> So if this sounds like I'm ranting, that's because I am. But I would > >> appreciate a reality check. Is this what eBay has become? I'm > finding that > >> prices have settled to low levels, decorum in the community is low-brow > >> flea mkt, and sellers get nickel and dimed with fees that end up > costing > >> around 15% of the selling price. Or am I naïve and need to load up my > >> offer with all kinds of disclaimers? My wife feels the whole thing has > >> become a scam; when buyers change their minds they cry "not as > advertised" > >> and the transaction collapses. > >> > >> I've got some great merchandise to sell, but fear it just isn't > worth it. > >> > >> Maybe it's me--so I am appealing for honest feedback from another > forum I > >> have been a member of for years. Quietly, I've done a lot of business > >> with many of you, so your feedback wd be appreciated. > >> > >> Thank you, Mark > >> > >> > >> > >> ====== BE SURE TO THANK AND SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS ======= > >> www.ConwayStewart.com- Conway Stewart - A Truly English Writing > Experience > >> www.SwisherPens.com - Fine Writing Instruments, Stationery and > Accessories > >> www.PhiladelphiaPenShow.com - January 22-24, 2010 - > bertramsinkwell.com > >> ====== > >> TO UNSUBSCRIBE send blank message to pens-unsubscribe@... > >> or pens-digest-unsubscribe@... - THANK YOU > >> > > > > > > ====== BE SURE TO THANK AND SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS ======= > > www.ConwayStewart.com- Conway Stewart - A Truly English Writing > Experience > > www.SwisherPens.com - Fine Writing Instruments, Stationery and > Accessories > > www.PhiladelphiaPenShow.com - January 22-24, 2010 - bertramsinkwell.com > > ====== > > TO UNSUBSCRIBE send blank message to pens-unsubscribe@... > > or pens-digest-unsubscribe@... - THANK YOU > > > > > > > > -- > CHECK OUT The PENguin BloG http://thepenguinpen.blogspot.com > VISIT the PENguin at http://www.thepenguinpen.com > > > ====== BE SURE TO THANK AND SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS ======= > www.ConwayStewart.com- Conway Stewart - A Truly English Writing Experience > www.SwisherPens.com - Fine Writing Instruments, Stationery and > Accessories > www.PhiladelphiaPenShow.com - January 22-24, 2010 - bertramsinkwell.com > ====== > TO UNSUBSCRIBE send blank message to pens-unsubscribe@... > or pens-digest-unsubscribe@... - THANK YOU > -- CHECK OUT The PENguin BloG http://thepenguinpen.blogspot.com VISIT the PENguin at http://www.thepenguinpen.com