Re: New Question: E-bay / Marketing / Sales

Well, I do apologize for making it an inconvenience for some people, but I was being overwhelmed. Taking custom orders can be extremely draining from an artist's perspective. I may go back to accepting custom orders, and I amy even go back to putting some items directly on my site - it will all depend on timing and my energy levels. I was doing so many custom orders, that I could not keep up. And many people were asking for changes and additions and subtractions, etc. And it was akin to production - something which I don't do well. I need to be free to create and let my imagination go. I am still getting requests from people who haven't read the website, as well. It's not that I want to alienate potential customers - not at all - but I do need to do what's best for me. Right now, that's eBay.

And I for one am glad eBay asks for information. It makes it easier on the seller - there are a lot of buyers out there with no scruples whatsoever, and have no problem bidding and not paying. Our psycho bidder is a case in point.

And in brick and mortar stores, they DO ask for information when a customer pays by check, money order or credit card. That's what pin numbers, signatures and phone numbers are used for. Online, they don't have a way of obtaining a signature, and they don't use pin numbers. And they certainly don't recommend sending cash in the mail.

Giving out your information online to a huge corporation like eBay is no less secure than giving out your telephone number to the department store when you pay by check. Most merchants won't even take money orders. Heck, your whole address is on a check, as well as your bank's information. To me, it's the same thing.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Kandice Seeber" :

]Well, I do apologize for making it an inconvenience for some people, but I ]was being overwhelmed. ]but I do need to do what's best for me. Right now, that's eBay.

i can understand that. and i'm THRILLED for you that you are doing so well. honestly!

]And I for one am glad eBay asks for information. It makes it easier on the ]seller - there are a lot of buyers out there with no scruples whatsoever, ]and have no problem bidding and not paying. Our psycho bidder is a case in ]point.

i understand the problem. i'm just not comfortable with them. for me. not for you.

]And in brick and mortar stores, they DO ask for information when a customer ]pays by check, money order or credit card. That's what pin numbers, ]signatures and phone numbers are used for. Online, they don't have a way of ]obtaining a signature, and they don't use pin numbers. And they certainly ]don't recommend sending cash in the mail.

but offline, it isn't as likely to be abused - to my way of seeing things.

]Giving out your information online to a huge corporation like eBay is no ]less secure than giving out your telephone number to the department store ]when you pay by check. Most merchants won't even take money orders. Heck, ]your whole address is on a check, as well as your bank's information. To ]me, it's the same thing.

and for me, it's not. but that's me, and obviously, MANY people have no problem with it. honestly, i continue to "root" for you, and for Tink, and for Karen and Susan, and Nicole and other's whose lampwork i have been able to buy. maybe i should hang onto it and consider it an investment! i'm thrilled for all of you that are doing so well - even if it does put me in a position of not being able to buy them - for whatever reason. it was just a real shock when i came back here after several months and saw how things had changed.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

I used to feel that way about sharing information, but you know unless you are sophisticated and knowledgeable enough to hide information, most of that information is easily gotten anyway. I save my paranoia for the things that matter most. Like "choosing your battles".

Tina

Luckily, changes don't have to be permanent - at least for me. I change my mind all the time. :)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Kandice Seeber" :

]Luckily, changes don't have to be permanent - at least for me. I change my ]mind all the time. :)

**grin** but the important part is that you keep making pretty beads!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

In defense of Ebay and other online sites asking for addresses and phone numbers, I'll refer to the current mess with the creature many of us lampworkers have come to know as the Psycho Bidder From Hell (PBFH).

Thanks to Ebay's requiring that information, and sharing it by request only with a seller involved in a transaction, those of us trying to handle this ungodly situation have been able, time and time and time again to double check her contact info and find it fraudulent. It's just one of the ways that we've managed to successfully protect ourselves. Thank the gods for reverse directory sites like whitepages.com!

I completely understand the hesitation and resentment in giving information to a brick and mortar store for a CASH sale. However, when was the last time anyone paid by check or even Visa, when a backup ID wasn't requested? Visa and Mastercard strongly encourage ID verification and so do most banks for accepting personal checks. There's too much identity theft and fraud going on these days, on OR offline, to justify being any less cautious.

Also, please keep in mind that what you may view as an intrusion CAN, in some circumstances, actually be a protection to you as a buyer or seller.

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Store:

I'm just repeating this in case it gets buried elsewhere (sorry to be a PITA). Tante Lina is correct as far as CASH sales go. However, the moment you try to write a check or pay by plastic, you WILL (in nearly all cases) be asked for ID for verification. Most businesses ask for phone numbers with checks (I gave up and had mine printed on my check), and sometimes even for credit card transactions. It's a regrettably (but justifiably) paranoid world.

Deirdre

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Store:

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Karen_AZ" :

]pay by plastic, you WILL (in nearly all cases) ]be asked for ID for verification.

well, i am SELDOM asked for mine. they don't bother!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "laura" :

]that's why I don't hire out very often to do web design.

and why i quit!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Karen_AZ" :

]In defense of Ebay and other online sites asking for addresses and phone ]numbers, I'll refer to the current mess with the creature many of us ]lampworkers have come to know as the Psycho Bidder From Hell (PBFH).

yes, i do understand that.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Like Kandice said, I think the administrative work could be prohibitive. As well as finding a way to be recognized and found.

That's why things like Wet Canvas and the glass workers' guild, etc, seem like a good place to have such a list.

Tina

But in my experience, I've been ripped off several times by using my check or credit card in person -- and never online.<

I've been lucky, so far, but my Mom isn't as alert about "protection" and has gotten called twice because someone tried to use her Visa numbers in unlikely places. One was 3 months after she went to Italy. She used her Visa to buy a pair of Murano glass candlesticks (gaudy as sin and I've begged her to leave them to me in her will ). Someone got hold of her numbers and tried to charge a $3000 item! Luckily Visa spotted this and alerted her immediately. The same thing happened last year after she visited my niece in San Francisco.

This year she got wise. She's on a cruise in the Baltic, and loaded for bear with traveller's checks. She also alerted Visa that she would be travelling within specific dates so they could allow some sales. I didn't know you could do that!

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Store:

Oh, I know that 'live' transactions require identity verification, too. And I am about to get checks printed without my driver's license number on them, to force merchants to actually -look- at picture ID.

On the whole, I don't shop at auction because of the gestalt of

-auctions- more than any of eBay's particular policies.

But having said that, I also admit that I get a weird feeling from eBay in particular. Not eBay vendors, nor eBay buyers, but eBay itself. There is nothing about my undefined feeling of discomfort that people who elect to do business there should take personally or get defensive about, cuz this isn't in any way, shape or form about

-them-. Nor am I trying to warn anyone else off, or persuade them not to do business there.

There just seems to be some kind of 'chemistry' between eBay and me that doesn't work. On a somewhat larger scale than just the chemistry of -auctions- and me not working.

Deirdre

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. :

]But having said that, I also admit that I get a weird feeling from ]eBay in particular. Not eBay vendors, nor eBay buyers, but eBay ]itself. There is nothing about my undefined feeling of discomfort that ]people who elect to do business there should take personally or get ]defensive about, cuz this isn't in any way, shape or form about ]-them-. Nor am I trying to warn anyone else off, or persuade them not ]to do business there. ] ]There just seems to be some kind of 'chemistry' between eBay and me ]that doesn't work. On a somewhat larger scale than just the chemistry ]of -auctions- and me not working.

THANK you. i thought it was just ME.

and i don't have that happen at "JustBeads".

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Nor do I. Which is why I find the response I have to eBay auctions ... interesting ...

Deirdre

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. :

]Nor do I. Which is why I find the response I have to eBay auctions ... ]interesting ...

if you figure it out, let me know, would you?

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

:) And I probably will do that soon as well. :)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.compuppies (Dr. Sooz) :

]How do you know you don't like eBay, or that you have "bad chemistry" with it, ]if you've never used it?

i use it to view the auctions. i SEE it. i just don't participate. haven't gotten past the information they want you to give to register. the whole E-bay site bothers me. maybe it's their layout, or colors, or something. i have no idea. i don't get that "gut reaction" on JustBeads.

and that's separate from not wanting to participate in auctions.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Kandice Seeber" :

]:) And I probably will do that soon as well. :)

then i will definitely start "restocking" my checkbook.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.