As some of you know, who follow my blog, I have had trouble with a person, calling one of my items into question. I did a post on this back in November, or December, the second time it had come up.
Let me bring you up to speed with a bit of background if your unaware of the situation. I had an item reserved until I could prove authenticity. That was done to the best of my ability, and in the eyes of the site that I sell on, was accepted. It Should have been end of story. A month later, it was brought up again, and that was when I posted the 1st blog on this. Now the bottom line is, I still do not have a valid reason why this person is so adamant on my item being a fake. If I did, I could look into it further and possibly this person would be right. BUT, Because I do not, we are at an impasse.
Well, now we are on to round three. Here is the current situation. Because the item was deemed authentic, the person in question decided for themselves that this was un-true. They then went to a public forum and slandered me. I reported the slander, but because it was off the site that I sell on, again nothing could be done about it.
Several months have passed. On Monday of this week, I had a sale. At that time, my booth items dropped by one item. As they should. After getting the item ready and going and marking shipped, I look, and my booth items again dropped by one more.
HUH?? Well, because I have been busy, and because the site is relatively new, I thought nothing of it. May have been a glitch, which has happened before. A week passes. On Saturday, I go into my batch edit to use my mark down manager. I had decided to run a sale on china. THIS did not happen, because low and behold, there sits my item that I thought was no longer in question, with a big "SUSPENDED" next to it.
For those of you who know the site, you know that you can go in and report an item as fake. You use the "bomb" button. Each report is assigned a value so people do not take advantage of it. Meaning, if I report it, it is coming from my ISP address, I cannot then keep hitting that button. Well, I can, but it does no good.
Apparently, because of this, this person who originally thought my item to be fake, recruited a lot of people on different computers, to go in and "bomb" my listing. This to me tells me I am dealing with a mentality of a child and not a professional dealer.
I would hate to sell anything to anyone that is not what I think it is, however, if I am not provided the information to research it further, then I am stuck with what I have, and that is the item is real.
At this point in this on going saga, I have decided to keep it listed. Even though the public slander is creating doubts about my own ability, I refuse to allow anyone to control how I do business. I show integrity, and honestly in dealing with my customers, and that is all I can do.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
I said NAPS...............not CATS!
I will keep this relatively short.
So in the last several months, I have been going through some health issues. In a nut shell it came down to a test I had done last week. A bone marrow biopsy. Arrghh the pain. If any one of you find your self in this position, go for the blood work. It takes longer for results, less painful, and less expensive. Trust me, this was not fun.
Well, we got the results last night, but before I tell you them, I will tell you what lead up to this post. Everything was fine as far as my nerves go on this test. I knew what they were looking for, and had prepared my self for possible bad news. (I thought) Anyway, in the middle of this, we have a cat. She is pregnant, and so decides to go into false labor the day of my results. HA HA HA... I had been needing a distraction, because the closer the day came, the more nervous I got. Not sleeping well, and over tired. Well, I had a little chat with god, ya see, and asked for a distraction. He misunderstood.
I asked for a few NAPS, not a few CATS!
So, that was my distraction. God has a pretty weird sense of humor. My cat had false labor, I never got a nap, and the day was long.
The good news? The tests all came back negative. No rare blood cancer, no leukemia, no lymphoma. Back to the drawing board.
Still waiting on kittens to.
So in the last several months, I have been going through some health issues. In a nut shell it came down to a test I had done last week. A bone marrow biopsy. Arrghh the pain. If any one of you find your self in this position, go for the blood work. It takes longer for results, less painful, and less expensive. Trust me, this was not fun.
Well, we got the results last night, but before I tell you them, I will tell you what lead up to this post. Everything was fine as far as my nerves go on this test. I knew what they were looking for, and had prepared my self for possible bad news. (I thought) Anyway, in the middle of this, we have a cat. She is pregnant, and so decides to go into false labor the day of my results. HA HA HA... I had been needing a distraction, because the closer the day came, the more nervous I got. Not sleeping well, and over tired. Well, I had a little chat with god, ya see, and asked for a distraction. He misunderstood.
I asked for a few NAPS, not a few CATS!
So, that was my distraction. God has a pretty weird sense of humor. My cat had false labor, I never got a nap, and the day was long.
The good news? The tests all came back negative. No rare blood cancer, no leukemia, no lymphoma. Back to the drawing board.
Still waiting on kittens to.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Personal life and business.. when they conflict.
What to do.. what to do. For the 1st time in my life, there are some personal things happening, that may end up conflicting with my business. Hmm.... so what to do.
I am usually a very private person, and there are a select few who know me on that level. My business has always come 1st, but I now find my self in a position that may well end up making it 2nd.. or 3rd.
My customers are number one, however, I cannot take care of them, if I am not taking care of me. How do other business owners do this and still stay in business? I can't be the only one out there with some things to attend to. The problem is, it seems as if they may be on-going. Where is the balance? Acckk! It's making me nuts. I have always done well under pressure so this should be a no brain er right? Just schedule things to fit whats happening.
Well... on the internet, there are expectations that your available 24 hours a day. My god! How do people survive getting up at 3 am to answer a desperate email to see if you still have a particular product available? Where did this expectation come from? I would never presume my local deli mart to be open solely for my needs. I can wait until tomorrow. I can really. It's not a big deal.
So this is for those who need it right NOW. I am here, and I will get to you, and it will be as lovely as you need it to be, but, I will not answer 3am emails, I will not be here on weekends, and I will not jump because you say jump. Please understand that us business owners have a life also, and communication is key. We know your there, and will do our 100% best to get what you need, but our 100% has to be because we are 100%.
I love my business, it is one of the best decisions I ever made. I run it to the best of my ability. Your #1 when it comes to staying in business, but I am #1 when it comes to running it.
I am usually a very private person, and there are a select few who know me on that level. My business has always come 1st, but I now find my self in a position that may well end up making it 2nd.. or 3rd.
My customers are number one, however, I cannot take care of them, if I am not taking care of me. How do other business owners do this and still stay in business? I can't be the only one out there with some things to attend to. The problem is, it seems as if they may be on-going. Where is the balance? Acckk! It's making me nuts. I have always done well under pressure so this should be a no brain er right? Just schedule things to fit whats happening.
Well... on the internet, there are expectations that your available 24 hours a day. My god! How do people survive getting up at 3 am to answer a desperate email to see if you still have a particular product available? Where did this expectation come from? I would never presume my local deli mart to be open solely for my needs. I can wait until tomorrow. I can really. It's not a big deal.
So this is for those who need it right NOW. I am here, and I will get to you, and it will be as lovely as you need it to be, but, I will not answer 3am emails, I will not be here on weekends, and I will not jump because you say jump. Please understand that us business owners have a life also, and communication is key. We know your there, and will do our 100% best to get what you need, but our 100% has to be because we are 100%.
I love my business, it is one of the best decisions I ever made. I run it to the best of my ability. Your #1 when it comes to staying in business, but I am #1 when it comes to running it.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The internet, and rose colored glasses,.... has it become silent all of a sudden?
So for the last several weeks, I have slowly pulled away from the internet.
It used to be, (and this was only a year ago) that when I would log in, there was always something happening. Podcasts, forums, valuable blogs, tips on marketing, ect. All of a sudden of late, I no-longer hear that background chatter. I had my days and evenings booked, with calls, and events, chat's and webinar's. Groups and new people, now I do not.
I am not sure if this is because this is the beginning of the new year, or if this is just my perception, but it seems as if there is less and less information out there to be had, or at least less valuable. It is feeling cutthroat all of a sudden. I am no longer quit enamored of the people I meet, or interact with, because there seems to be a lack of engagement. No chat, no group meetings, no hey, how ya doing? Some one is always looking for something to benefit them, whether it be sales, or just the looky me mentality... but it has become quite the turn-off.
Oh...business is still good, goals are still in place, but I no longer find the mutual support amongst people, at least not in the manic manner in which it seems to have been prior to now.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy and benefit from some of that information that is out there, and from the people that it comes from, but not from behind rose colored glasses. Maybe this is part of growing in business and on-line, but in my opinion, it no-longer holds the power it did at 1st with me. Maybe I am wrong to think that who I have met and interacted with, learned from, and moved forward with should still be around for my needs, or my perceived needs, but one of the 1st things I was taught here was to support those who support you. I just don't see it happening. It's awful quiet out there.
What do you think?
It used to be, (and this was only a year ago) that when I would log in, there was always something happening. Podcasts, forums, valuable blogs, tips on marketing, ect. All of a sudden of late, I no-longer hear that background chatter. I had my days and evenings booked, with calls, and events, chat's and webinar's. Groups and new people, now I do not.
I am not sure if this is because this is the beginning of the new year, or if this is just my perception, but it seems as if there is less and less information out there to be had, or at least less valuable. It is feeling cutthroat all of a sudden. I am no longer quit enamored of the people I meet, or interact with, because there seems to be a lack of engagement. No chat, no group meetings, no hey, how ya doing? Some one is always looking for something to benefit them, whether it be sales, or just the looky me mentality... but it has become quite the turn-off.
Oh...business is still good, goals are still in place, but I no longer find the mutual support amongst people, at least not in the manic manner in which it seems to have been prior to now.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy and benefit from some of that information that is out there, and from the people that it comes from, but not from behind rose colored glasses. Maybe this is part of growing in business and on-line, but in my opinion, it no-longer holds the power it did at 1st with me. Maybe I am wrong to think that who I have met and interacted with, learned from, and moved forward with should still be around for my needs, or my perceived needs, but one of the 1st things I was taught here was to support those who support you. I just don't see it happening. It's awful quiet out there.
What do you think?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
When Bad Judgment leads to Self-Enjoyment
It is 4am on another sleepless night.
I have spent the last several months watching a business person make a complete fool of themselves. Why you ask? Well because I am a people watcher and one of my pet peeves is watching someone else build them self up by degrading another person. So this particular situation caught my eye.
Can I do anything about this? No, probably not, but I can give an example.
I am in antiques, so we will use an example from what I might sell.
Lets say one person has an autographed picture of someone famous, and another person does not believe the autograph to be real. So the person who does not believe this to be true, makes a report against the person who has it.
Well, that's good, because really who would want to buy something that is not what it says it is? Not me, and I would certainly want to know if what I thought I had was indeed not what it appeared to be. So.. ok, now the report has been made, there are emails, and verification, and then everything appears to be settled. In the ensuing weeks and months, all is quiet and the person selling the autograph is doing good, and going about their business.
Then all of a sudden, out of the blue this issue pops up again, on this same autograph. The one that has been verified. So what is this seller going to do? To stay professional and keep their reputation intact, they need to address this. So, off go some more emails and then.... poof... silence.
THEN, the bomb... it appears since the person who has done the reporting, based on little to no reasons, is now slamming this other person because they feel this person is being "protected". "protected"? From what you ask? Why does this person have such a stake in something that has already been verified?
So you may ask how I would handle this, or how you your self would handle this, but at this point, I think the best thing to do is let this person, who has NEVER contacted aforementioned seller, hang themselves.
I saw a blog post recently done by a very good friend of mine, Susan Leak, "Are you talking to me, YOU, taking to me"? Found here>>> http://rantsravesrenagade.blogspot.com/2010/01/are-you-talkin-to-me-you-talkin-to-me.html Well you should read it, because they are. All over the internet and it is very easy to track down someones reputation and see what they are saying about people that maybe they should not be saying. very bad for business, very bad.
and here's the thing.... now they know who you are!
Enough said. Here's the deal people, when you try to ruin someone else, you shoot yourself in the foot. It is bad business to talk about another seller in a bad light. If you have an issue, take it up with them in private. If it is not satisfied to your liking, then there is not much you can do about except to move on. Slamming the other person, and insinuating horrible things about them, only makes you look bad, not the person your trying to discredit. It can also lead to lawsuits, based on defamation of character. I don't think any of us wants that. Do you?
I have spent the last several months watching a business person make a complete fool of themselves. Why you ask? Well because I am a people watcher and one of my pet peeves is watching someone else build them self up by degrading another person. So this particular situation caught my eye.
Can I do anything about this? No, probably not, but I can give an example.
I am in antiques, so we will use an example from what I might sell.
Lets say one person has an autographed picture of someone famous, and another person does not believe the autograph to be real. So the person who does not believe this to be true, makes a report against the person who has it.
Well, that's good, because really who would want to buy something that is not what it says it is? Not me, and I would certainly want to know if what I thought I had was indeed not what it appeared to be. So.. ok, now the report has been made, there are emails, and verification, and then everything appears to be settled. In the ensuing weeks and months, all is quiet and the person selling the autograph is doing good, and going about their business.
Then all of a sudden, out of the blue this issue pops up again, on this same autograph. The one that has been verified. So what is this seller going to do? To stay professional and keep their reputation intact, they need to address this. So, off go some more emails and then.... poof... silence.
THEN, the bomb... it appears since the person who has done the reporting, based on little to no reasons, is now slamming this other person because they feel this person is being "protected". "protected"? From what you ask? Why does this person have such a stake in something that has already been verified?
So you may ask how I would handle this, or how you your self would handle this, but at this point, I think the best thing to do is let this person, who has NEVER contacted aforementioned seller, hang themselves.
I saw a blog post recently done by a very good friend of mine, Susan Leak, "Are you talking to me, YOU, taking to me"? Found here>>> http://rantsravesrenagade.blogspot.com/2010/01/are-you-talkin-to-me-you-talkin-to-me.html Well you should read it, because they are. All over the internet and it is very easy to track down someones reputation and see what they are saying about people that maybe they should not be saying. very bad for business, very bad.
and here's the thing.... now they know who you are!
Enough said. Here's the deal people, when you try to ruin someone else, you shoot yourself in the foot. It is bad business to talk about another seller in a bad light. If you have an issue, take it up with them in private. If it is not satisfied to your liking, then there is not much you can do about except to move on. Slamming the other person, and insinuating horrible things about them, only makes you look bad, not the person your trying to discredit. It can also lead to lawsuits, based on defamation of character. I don't think any of us wants that. Do you?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
What makes you an expert?
In the past year, I have learned many things about on-line selling and marketing. Most good, but some has been questionable. So here's the question: What makes YOU an expert.
I follow many blogs, forums, groups, pod-casts, and other media tools to learn how to market myself. I have joined social media sites, and gone to webinars, that have given me value for my business. I also have google alerts set up. Google alerts tell me whats happening around me, when I can not fit in to my schedule all the things I think I would find value in, so I can go to my alerts later when I do have the time, and read to my hearts content.
One of the alerts that come up is on forums. I have set mine up generically, so I sometimes get forums I do not read or follow. Remember here, I am looking for content in my business, ie, Antiques and collectibles. However I do get the odd piece in once and awhile so need more than just the antiques category's. So I do read some of the forums I would not normally turn to for research value.
A lot of the forums, I question, not because I think they may not be reputable, but I see comments come in to my alerts, fairly often when a person is basing thier expertise on a sellers, feedback or how much they may be selling the item for. Now personally, I have only sold on-line for a year, so my feedback is going to be lower than people who have done this for 10 years or more.
Here is just an example: I have some LLadro's listed in my store. My prices are market prices. However, I could conceivably list way below that if I paid way below that.... get the idea here? If I purchase a "lot" of ephemera at auction for re-sale, I can lower my price, based on what I paid. I want to make money, not have a store house full of items I can not sell because some may be to high priced, or for that matter to "low" priced and a potential customer believes it may be fake.
My point is there are many people out there who claim to be experts, but who are really only giving an opinion based on sellers feedback and price. This practice is arbitrary and can do damage to someone starting out, new to on-line, but has been in business, and has integrity and honesty in dealing with people.
Advice? Be careful who your giving "opinions" to. Talk to the person, find out who they are, find out their history and area of expertise before you possibly put someone out of business because you may not agree with pricing or feedback.
SO, what makes YOU an expert?
I follow many blogs, forums, groups, pod-casts, and other media tools to learn how to market myself. I have joined social media sites, and gone to webinars, that have given me value for my business. I also have google alerts set up. Google alerts tell me whats happening around me, when I can not fit in to my schedule all the things I think I would find value in, so I can go to my alerts later when I do have the time, and read to my hearts content.
One of the alerts that come up is on forums. I have set mine up generically, so I sometimes get forums I do not read or follow. Remember here, I am looking for content in my business, ie, Antiques and collectibles. However I do get the odd piece in once and awhile so need more than just the antiques category's. So I do read some of the forums I would not normally turn to for research value.
A lot of the forums, I question, not because I think they may not be reputable, but I see comments come in to my alerts, fairly often when a person is basing thier expertise on a sellers, feedback or how much they may be selling the item for. Now personally, I have only sold on-line for a year, so my feedback is going to be lower than people who have done this for 10 years or more.
Here is just an example: I have some LLadro's listed in my store. My prices are market prices. However, I could conceivably list way below that if I paid way below that.... get the idea here? If I purchase a "lot" of ephemera at auction for re-sale, I can lower my price, based on what I paid. I want to make money, not have a store house full of items I can not sell because some may be to high priced, or for that matter to "low" priced and a potential customer believes it may be fake.
My point is there are many people out there who claim to be experts, but who are really only giving an opinion based on sellers feedback and price. This practice is arbitrary and can do damage to someone starting out, new to on-line, but has been in business, and has integrity and honesty in dealing with people.
Advice? Be careful who your giving "opinions" to. Talk to the person, find out who they are, find out their history and area of expertise before you possibly put someone out of business because you may not agree with pricing or feedback.
SO, what makes YOU an expert?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2009....in a nutshell
This is going to be a short post..... I think.
WOW, it's been a whole year in e-commerce, and an exciting one. So, a list of peeps I have gotten to know and love. (my influences.. I stalk them)
First though, I have to say, I have learned a lot about internet marketing, social marketing and met amazing people who have helped me along the way, but, I have not learned nearly enough. I am looking forward to the new year, and attending some up-coming events, that will help me with networking and business. Main one will be the ECMCA/PESA conference in Vegas. That is the goal of 2010
My other goal, is re-vamping my business, and hopefully getting my .com off the ground, but that will be another blog post.
Roy Baker >> a wonderful blogger, and you can also find him at http://wooferblog-2woofers.blogspot.com/
John Lawson (The King) found here>> http://www.colderICE.com and at http://www.3rdpoweroutlet.com and his latest accomplishment, found here >> Posted this, so he does not feel left out. :P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP0Oe82t66k
Alex Mohamed, who has been on my facebook page for sometime, and I am just now getting to know him, and graciously offered help with my .com, I have to mention. A great guy, and funny as all get out, but serious in business. He can be found here>> http://www.GuruOfSales.com a guy to keep your eye on. He is going places.
Quick edit and apology to Marsha, I had her and Marlene's, (Gavins) links mixed up.... so sorry, fixed now.
Marsha Collier, another amazing lady that I have done some networking with, and I am now getting to know more and more. Truly a beautiful person, smart, intelligent, and gives with all her heart. The author of Ebay for dummies, she can be found here>> http://www.google.com/profiles/101540468776840533944
Phaedra Stockstill of attheboutique
Susan Leak of renagadesrelics
Rodger Hujlstrom of Booksbelow
David White from ebayandbeyond
Walt Kolenda aka auctionwally
and the list goes on.. so many that I have and have not mentioned, that have touched me in ways that make me strive to be a better business person and to be successful.
So many old and new people popping up on my radar, and all have made my 1st year in on-line sales just wonderful!
Merry Christmas to everyone!
WOW, it's been a whole year in e-commerce, and an exciting one. So, a list of peeps I have gotten to know and love. (my influences.. I stalk them)
First though, I have to say, I have learned a lot about internet marketing, social marketing and met amazing people who have helped me along the way, but, I have not learned nearly enough. I am looking forward to the new year, and attending some up-coming events, that will help me with networking and business. Main one will be the ECMCA/PESA conference in Vegas. That is the goal of 2010
My other goal, is re-vamping my business, and hopefully getting my .com off the ground, but that will be another blog post.
Roy Baker >> a wonderful blogger, and you can also find him at http://wooferblog-2woofers.blogspot.com/
John Lawson (The King) found here>> http://www.colderICE.com and at http://www.3rdpoweroutlet.com and his latest accomplishment, found here >> Posted this, so he does not feel left out. :P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP0Oe82t66k
Alex Mohamed, who has been on my facebook page for sometime, and I am just now getting to know him, and graciously offered help with my .com, I have to mention. A great guy, and funny as all get out, but serious in business. He can be found here>> http://www.GuruOfSales.com a guy to keep your eye on. He is going places.
Quick edit and apology to Marsha, I had her and Marlene's, (Gavins) links mixed up.... so sorry, fixed now.
Marsha Collier, another amazing lady that I have done some networking with, and I am now getting to know more and more. Truly a beautiful person, smart, intelligent, and gives with all her heart. The author of Ebay for dummies, she can be found here>> http://www.google.com/profiles/101540468776840533944
Phaedra Stockstill of attheboutique
Susan Leak of renagadesrelics
Rodger Hujlstrom of Booksbelow
David White from ebayandbeyond
Walt Kolenda aka auctionwally
and the list goes on.. so many that I have and have not mentioned, that have touched me in ways that make me strive to be a better business person and to be successful.
So many old and new people popping up on my radar, and all have made my 1st year in on-line sales just wonderful!
Merry Christmas to everyone!
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