| Most Recent Posts Peonies and Vintage JewelleryPosted 17-Aug-08 21:25:31 BST Updated 17-Aug-08 23:16:05 BST A while ago I wrote about my searching for some peonies, and I finally found them. The arrived a few days ago, and every time I look at them my heart pounds a bit. They're just so beautiful and big and peony-y. Shades of pink, and each flower head measures a good 8" across. Have taken a world of photos and am just trying to figure out whether we can add pictures to this bloggy thing. I really don't think anyone is interested in my peonies (or, indeed, whether anyone actually reads any of this... I wrote it, and I barely read it) but I guess I want a record of them in case I lose them or something. Bizarre - being afraid of losing some peonies that are safe and sound in the bedroom. Also, have been thinking a lot about vintage jewellery recently. Partly because that's become the focus of my eBayness... but mostly because I love it so much. I sometimes catch myself daydreaming about the things it will have seen; the necks it's adorned; the places it's been. Vintage jewellery has survived wars, being sold, being handed down, being lost and found, being broken and repaired, being tucked away and forgotten about for decades, and am so fascinated by it all. The stories it could tell if it could speak to us. And I guess in some ways it can, really. Just not in any way we understand. But I recently came across two sellers that was listing obviously new jewellery, and both are trying to pass it off as vintage. There's an awful lot of that on eBay (I guess it's an inevitable pitfall) but in these cases, virtually every item was fake, and one of them has thousands of feedback. Have seen the Czech seller they buy it all from, and they'll buy a set for £20 and sell it on for £50. It just doesn't sit right. The other sells, for example, enamel flower brooches (along with other jewellery, some of which is definitely old) and claims each one is from the 60s, and unworn... and yet the same brooches will come up again and again and again. Am sad for the people who are being conned; am annoyed at someone being so pathologically dishonest, and am frustrated on behalf of us sellers who invest time and care and money into finding actual vintage jewellery - the pieces that do have those amazing stories to tell. The thing is, it's absolutely none of my business. I totally know that. It's just, surely being honest and having integrity is more important than making a quick buck? How can it not be? Honesty and integrity will serve us for a lifetime; a quick profit made dishonestly will trickle and slip through the fingers like sand. I just really think it matters, for some reason. Being conned is a horrible horrible feeling, and it shouldn't be happening. If you want to know how to spot fakes, here's everything eBay has on it all. These are all the guides and reviews from eBayers who know their stuff, and there's so much helpful information in here. Good people, I think :o) http://search.reviews.ebay.com/Fake-Jewelry_Jewelry-Watches_W0QQucatZ281QQuqtZg Being a seller on eBayPosted 19-Jul-08 19:24:17 BST Updated 20-Jul-08 02:25:20 BST I just wrote about how blessed I feel to have been working with such lovely people, and that's absolutely the case. And yet being a seller here is kind of unpleasant sometimes because we're now at the mercy of buyers - a few of whom aren't fair. I had 3 5s and a 4.9 for postage earlier today; now am on 4.9 for description and 4.8 for shipping. I, if anything, talk *down* my items because I want people to be pleasantly surprised when they open up their packages, and shipping is postage only. If the buyer has paid 20p more than they should, I refund it. Often, I actually lose money. So, am sort of gutted. I was recently speaking to a bidder whose feedback was private, and it made me wary, so we emailed a little and, actually, they turned out to be a wonderful lovely woman. But they said that it's good that sellers now can't hold the buyers to ransom with the threat of retaliatory feedback. I agree... except what if you're not the sort of person who would ever leave retaliatory feedback? So now, sellers are being held to ransom by the buyers (both in terms of actual feedback, and when it comes to our actual marks), and if we come across a buyer who is less than fair, it makes this entire process feel mean. I know that losing a 5 shouldn't be a big deal, but it is one. It's hurt my feelings dreadfully because I put so much time into doing this right, and I put so much energy and care into being a fair and honest person to buy from. So when someone marks you down simply because they can... I dunno. It just feels really unpleasant. Sometimes I wonder if the only way to approach eBay is very business-like and mechanical. That way being marked down isn't hurtful in any way. But then you can't add the personal touches, or send the friendly emails or sweeties, and it becomes less nice for the buyers. I think eBay have made this a worse place, for all of us. I know some sellers gave all of us a bad name, and their conduct has been appalling, but I don't really understand why action wasn't taken against them specifically. Instead, all sellers are in a precarious position. But if we then stop caring in order to make it all less horrid, the kind, honest buyers will inevitably suffer. So it's pretty lose lose. Yes, it's voluntary being here. I understand that, and if I don't want to deal with unfair people, I can just go elsewhere. The only thing is, realistically, eBay have utterly cornered the market, and any other auction site that gets too big for its boots is quickly bought by eBay... so options are severely limited. I think a part of it is, I would never leave someone bad marks. The one time there's been a problem, I emailed them and approached them honestly and we've sorted it out - in fact, we ended it by sending hugs to one another. But people being able to score us anonymously feels a little like being bullied, and because I'd never do it to someone else, it throws me when it's done to me. I guess I just wish eBay was full of kind people, and none of us ever had to deal with people who are mean, or dishonest, or simply unfair. Or, even better, I just wish eBay was fair. There are bigger problems, I know. In the grand scheme of things, being on a 4.9/4.8 isn't a big issue. But, rightly or wrongly, this upset me, so putting it all on "paper" means I won't obsess about it. But on the off chance that anyone read this, apologies for being boring. FlowersPosted 13-Jul-08 20:48:28 BST I'll never really understand how flowers can be so impossibly magical and beautiful. Recently, have grown utterly obsessed with peonies. Huge, velvety, rich, decadent, gentle, candy-pink peonies. Am amazed at their beauty, really. I wish I was the size of Thumbelina, or Titania's Peaseblossom: I'd sleep at the centre of a peony every single night completely hidden in its folds, and wake up surrounded by soft downy petals and a scent that reminds me of honeysuckle. It's a little surprising that there's so few peony things on eBay. Have taken to searching on a daily basis. Have never been a big fan of artifical flowers, but finding some wonderfulamazingbeautiful peonies would make my stomch fizzy. Will have another look after this... Lastly, have been so blessed recently in dealing with just the loveliest people here. Has been such a tonic, and just in case any of you ever read this, thank you very, very much. A thousand hugs and fairy sparkles are on their way to you even I type. NnnngghPosted 19-Mar-08 19:35:20 GMT Must get my purple star. Must get my purple star. Must get my purple star. Must get my purple star. Mustgetmypurplestar. May have to buy more stuff. When auctions go bad...Posted 19-Mar-08 01:44:29 GMT Updated 20-Mar-08 15:03:42 GMT That should be the new sensationalist programme some cretin-y tv channel options. Channel 5, maybe? Men and Motors? They could chronicle the disappointment of the seller, and play Barber's Adagio in the background. Mood music. Fill yer boots. |
) 
 About eBay | Announcements | Safety Centre | Partner Centre | VeRO Protecting IP | Policies | Feedback Forum | Site Map | Help | |
Copyright © 1995-2008 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
| |