New Question: E-bay / Marketing / Sales

Hi, Doll - good to see you again.

Dr. Sooz wrote:
Hi, honey!

Hi Sooz and Moonfancy - I finally came back. It's a lot different
here than three years ago.


~~
Sooz
-------
Let the beauty we love be what we do. --Rumi
I'm not a hamster, and life's not a wheel. --Sooz
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

"Deirdre S." wrote in message
...
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.

I have a personal thing about any large institution that controls a lot of
money. The ebay/paypal thing gives me the heebie jeebies. I still do
business on ebay but the bigger they get the less comfortable I am about it
from a purely gut level.

This has nothing to do with personal info on the web, but more to do with
not being happy dealing with any institution that has such wide reach.
Maybe something about potential abuse of power, I don't know for sure.

Laura

Well, yeah, there is that. Unfortunately, to even be online, I have to deal
with a crappy huge corporation - namely comcast. I don't like big business
either, for those exact reasons.

But I will deal with them if it helps me in my goal of becoming the GREATEST
LAMPWORKER EVER KNOWN!! Kidding. Just kidding. LOL Inside joke.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

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.

I have a personal thing about any large institution that controls a lot of
money. The ebay/paypal thing gives me the heebie jeebies. I still do
business on ebay but the bigger they get the less comfortable I am about
it
from a purely gut level.

This has nothing to do with personal info on the web, but more to do with
not being happy dealing with any institution that has such wide reach.
Maybe something about potential abuse of power, I don't know for sure.

Laura

Kathy, you are the Best Mom on the Planet, possibly even the entire
Universe. That is what you're really really good at.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net


But I will deal with them if it helps me in my goal of becoming the
GREATEST
LAMPWORKER EVER KNOWN!! Kidding. Just kidding. LOL Inside joke.



Yeah, but you actually have a chance of making it, because you have Mad
Skilz!

;-)

God only knows what I'm great at - maybe the person who drinks the most
Diet
Coke without croaking. I truly impressed DD by informing her that I gave
up
Diet Coke 3 months before becoming pregnant, and not drinking any soft
drinks
while I was expecting her.

Slackjawed, she said "Wow. You must really love me!"

Damn straight!

Kathy N-V

Obligatory Bead Reference: I'm just finishing up a couple of pieces I
made
for the annual CP charity auction. I'll be posting photos within the next
day or so - and I think you guys will really like what I've done.

Yes. I'm probably someplace in the middle. I give out my P O Box, but not
my physical address. I don't do surveys or sign up for freebies, etc.

The paranoia comment referred to someone in my past who was indeed paranoid,
and went to great lengths to hide things that were easily available, but got
himself on lists that could compromise him. I do not think prudence and
privacy are the same as paranoia.

Tina


"Tante Lina" wrote in message
.net...
Christina Peterson wrote in message 1060636241.874002@prawn...
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".

I don't see it as paranoia. I see it as prudence. Although someone may
easily find my information if they look for it, giving out is generally
considered to be an invitation. I choose not to issue that invitation.

I inform my bank and credit card companies, and anyone else I do business
with, that I don't want my information shared. I don't enter contests
that
require me to give personal information, nor do I buy things that require
mail-in rebates.

I get almost no telemarketing calls or junk mail, and it only takes a bit
of
self-restraint to keep it that way. It's also a form of socially
conscious
investing - aka, voting with my pocketbook.

* TL *

Two things. I do prefer to deal with cash locally, even going to the bank
to pay out thousands for airline tickets ($1500 or more for the two of us to
go Outside). Locally I seldom have to produce ID because Fairbanks has a
fairly small population, and I've been here for 15 years. I have very few
places I pay with plastic, just a few suppliers, but I do use PayPal,
especially for self employed artists.

It's part of how I choose my battles.

Tina


"vj" wrote in message
news
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) http://www.booksnbytes.com
(Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com
-----------
The Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.
Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Is your bad feeling from eBay due to its pervasiveness? I distrust strong
centralization, especially since 9-11.

As for cheques, all I have is my name (and Pete's), and PO Box. Got into
that habit when I was single, and din't want the added vulnerability of
having too much info on cheques.

Tina


"Deirdre S." wrote in message
...
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


On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 14:53:51 -0700, "Karen_AZ"
wrote:

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.

An interesting point...

Deirdre

On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 19:14:09 GMT, "Tante Lina"
wrote:

Can you imagine if brick-and-mortar stores refused to let you buy unless
you
gave them detailed information? People would be up in arms! But
they'll
stand for it online.

While my son was in Peace Corp in Ukraine someone stole one of those credit
cards that gets sent in the mail. They activated it and charged a porn site
to it (monthly fee). I finally opened one of the junk mail credit card
offers sent to him and discovered a bill for several hundred dollars. I
couldn't access the site that was charging him to cancel the charges because
I didn't have the password (nor did Roger of course; he was in Ukraine with
very limited computer access at Cyberkafe). Eventually had to just pay it.
EBay and phone orders have never been a problem for me.

Tina


"Karen_AZ" wrote in message
news:nlUZa.41266$Bp2.24134@fed1read07...
That's your opinion, and certainly you're entitled to feel how ever you
feel.
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 G). 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
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/
Ebay Sto http://www.stores.ebay.com/desertdreamerdesigns
JustBeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer

It seems to me, there is a consumer group of educated and appreciative
buyers for glass art beads, like the people in this newsgroup. And by the
way, I said "serious" because it includes skilled hobbyists. I think there
are some trusted sites these customers would be inclined to look to find a
list artists' sites.

About Wet Canvas, yes I understand that it is only the participation that
requires invitation. All the better. Without the invitation, a customer
could educate themselves there, and then could check out some sites.

I only use WC as an example because I hear of them here.

Tina


"Karen_AZ" wrote in message
news:h8NZa.41205$Bp2.10364@fed1read07...
It would seem to me that a place like Wet Canvas would be a central place
where serious artists could be accessed. I guess you have to be invited
into the group. But even if they had a list of participants it would give
access to a list of artists known to be serious, and who make their own
beads.

WetCanvas isn't "invitational". Anyone can go there and read messages on
any
of the forums. You have to register (which is free or with voluntary
donation) to post or to participate in the projects. And yes, I suppose
there is a level of exposure there, but it's not exactly a gallery like
most
artists' websites.

I have to chuckle at the word "serious". I think there are many hobbyists
out there who do exquisite work. WC has all levels, from newbies to
dabblers
to those trying to make a living from this.


--
KarenK
Desert Dreamer Designs
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/
Ebay Sto http://www.stores.ebay.com/desertdreamerdesigns
JustBeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer

Thank you.

Tina

"Magik" wrote in message
...

"Christina Peterson" wrote in message
news:1060585550.182281@prawn...
I prefer looking on JustBeads because it's not so overwhelming. I can
actually see what's coming up in the next days, instead of having to
really
work to get through eBay's next 24 hours.

Is there a way I can remove specific seller when I look on eBay? The
ones
who sell Indian lampwork.

Go to Search. Click on the By Seller tab. The Search Title section will
allow you to include or exclude certain sellers (maximum of 10).