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Post by Juliet on Jun 25, 2011 23:52:27 GMT 1
PS If you want to feel guilty about something, feel guilty about not offering to pay more for the book ... I mean, you bought it from a church, knowing they'd underpriced it! ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by Flumps on Jun 25, 2011 23:53:52 GMT 1
No, the next logical step is that anytime someone wants something you have, you give it to them. Which wouldn't be a good thing would it? Unless you;d like to move out of your house and give it to me please, because I'm a bit stressed and I'd really like a nice holiday home by the sea... Generosity of spirit is one thing, being a total pushover is quite another. And she wasn't starving, and it wasn't the only book of its kind in the whole world, and YOU DID NOTHING WRONG!
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Post by Flumps on Jun 26, 2011 0:15:04 GMT 1
Oh, and cross posted with Juliet but I think what she said (about starving children and sharing books) is very sensible.
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Post by janerowena on Jun 26, 2011 11:06:38 GMT 1
I agree with her too.
And one day you might find a starving child to share your last crust with.
Put it another way - if it had been Robert wanting a book, I would never have thought to look in it to see if it were a 1st edition, and also if he had just missed out on one and still wanted it a few days later I would simply get him one from Amazon or Ebay. It's the time delay by which I really know whether he wantes something or just fancies it with his money burning a hole in his pocket.
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 26, 2011 17:08:15 GMT 1
Okay, slept on that and no longer care. but then Juliet raises another issue... ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) Is it okay to buy a book from a charity when you might sell it for more? I'm afraid I have decided it is okay, because basically I wouldn't be buying anything from them if they were charging more. Some places like Oxfam have it all sussed out, so I don't even go in there, because they understand the value of stuff. At a village fete, I have wondered about it, but each time I buy something I take a risk as I don't know if it has any real value until I get home and look it up. I've got plenty of books I've bought that will be going back to charity shops again, because they are only worth what I paid for them. And, as proven above, if I don't buy the book for a quid, someone else will. Oh dear, I'm getting myself into a knot with all this. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ;D Basically yes, I do wonder whether it's ethical. But what should I do, always give the hypothetical profit - and let's face it, haven't done much of that yet, back to charity, when at the moment I really do need some dosh...or only shop at car boot sales, because they're not a charity. Nah, doesn't make sense.. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
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Post by Flumps on Jun 26, 2011 17:21:38 GMT 1
Well, look at it the other way - most charities would most defiinitely NOT tell you if you were inadvertently giving them something valuable. We know this for a fact, because unfortunately, Mr Flump's mum, havng agreed to store some of his stuff when he left home, one day decided she didn't want to store it anymore, and gave it to a charity shop. (I should add that she did this without consulting Mr flump, who, several years after the event reamins highly pissed off about it). I won't name the charity, but they were definitely one who, as you say, know the value of stuff. The stuff she was storing was vinyl records. Many of them were very rare, limited editions, and some of them were worth a mint. Which was why Mr Flump was storing them at his mum's in the first place, because he thought they'd be safe there (and actually it wasn't the money he was bothered about, because he never intended to part with them - he just knew that they were virtually irreplaceable). His mum of course had no idea, she just thought that they were worthless as no one playes vinyl anymore. In fact, she had a little joke about this with the shop person as she was handing them over. And in case you're thinking they were probably terribly innocent and didn't realise, let me ask how many people would see a brightly coloured record (I mean the record itself, not the sleeve) or a really old one but still sealed in its orignal packaging, and not think that just maybe this was something a bit special? So, they almost certainly knew they were getting something valuable, they most definitely knew the person handing it over hadn't a clue, and they said not a word. So no, I don't think it's wrong. I think that when charities start dealing fairly, then you should too - until then, it's just the way business goes. (And look at it the other way, if you were paying well over the odds for something they'd hardly tell you would they?) (And my friend is a professional fundraiser for another major charity, and she freely admits that they do the same in their shops. She reckons they can't afford to have too many scruples about it ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) )
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 26, 2011 20:36:42 GMT 1
Well I suppose in their defence, there is no reason why you shouldn't give something of great value to a charity. And I suppose it comes back to hurting no one, if the giver isn't aware of the value of something and thinks its a load of old rubbish. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) Do you remember that thing when people melted records to make fruit bowls out of them? Some of the records would be worth quite a lot now. Funnily enough, I saw one of the fruit bowls in a charity shop they wanted £12 for it. At the time you couldn't give them away. ;D The other side of it is that I am horrified as I may have said that two of my local charity shops have no idea what they are doing with their books and are recycling perfectly good stuff, because they get paid to recycle it. It has made me think that if I am giving something to charity which does have a value, you really need to put a note on it to say so, so someone doesn't just chuck it out. I feel for Mr Flumps though, that would be the sort of thing that would make me furious, I'm very anal about hanging on to things until I feel ready to part with them.
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 28, 2011 22:18:39 GMT 1
hurray, just sold another 4 books on ebay. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) These were ones which I had been advertising since I started doing it, so it shows that they may not go at first, but will in the end. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) And of course now I have my first star and some feedback, maybe people are happier to buy from me. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by Flumps on Jun 28, 2011 22:20:46 GMT 1
We've always thought you were a star Aspi ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 28, 2011 22:38:17 GMT 1
![:-*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/kiss.png) <why is she being nice is she after my picnic when we go to Harewood or something? ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) > ;D
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Post by janerowena on Jun 29, 2011 7:10:23 GMT 1
Of course!
So, are you rich yet? Are you a big bookselling magnet? ;D
How many have you sold now?
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 29, 2011 11:23:36 GMT 1
I think not. ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png) Sold about 15 now. Having a break from it now (retiring on my millions... ;D) as I'll be away shortly. All dosh will get ploughed back into buying more books... ;D and now I'm getting the hang of it, there are some other items I might try and sell, too... ;D
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Post by Nooj on Jun 29, 2011 12:27:29 GMT 1
We had a dealer round to look at our vinyl He was brilliant - he saw me look a bit dubious at some memories - and said -Don't sell it - you'll just regret it later. We sold him a job lot for fixed price and he rang later to say one was rare, so gave us more money. I'm sure he's not just a saint though - it's a very small world musically round here, and reputation is all.!
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Post by janerowena on Jun 30, 2011 10:32:16 GMT 1
![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png) I wish I hadn't got rid of all of mine, now. At the very least i could have made some plant pot holders!
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Post by Amazing on Jun 30, 2011 10:45:03 GMT 1
We've got loads but don't know if they are worth something or not.
His Nibs got a watch from a friend for his 60th birthday, it is not the sort of watch that he would ever wear, so am going to sell it on ebay.
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Post by janerowena on Jun 30, 2011 10:55:42 GMT 1
Paul was given a beautiful pocket watch that had belonged to his grandfather. He was so pleased to have it - then his Mum went and spoiled it all by saying -'We were going to hang on to it and sell it, but when we saw that an identical one went for only £15 on ebay we decided not to bother'. ;D
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Post by Amazing on Jun 30, 2011 10:59:22 GMT 1
This one is not worth a lot but His Nibs hates it. We might get £5 for it if we are lucky.
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 30, 2011 22:35:13 GMT 1
My feedback score is now visible and I have slightly under 100% for postage costs and item as described, so it looks like one person wasn't 100% happy. ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png) Can I find out who left the feedback, or don't you ever know the detail? ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) It's just I've tried really hard to be accurate with the descriptions and with the post costs, although an item I thought would go as a packet went as a letter the other day, so it cost less than originally thought. Should I have refunded them the difference? Which also leads me to, if you ever have to do a refund, is it easy to do it through paypal? Has anyone ever had to do it? ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
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Post by Aspidistra on Jun 30, 2011 23:07:38 GMT 1
Just read a feedback 'tutorial' and it says you can't find out who left the negative transaction comments. But it doesn't affect my 100% feedback rating, that's a separate thing. Hmm, a bit annoying though. ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) Another question. When do you leave feedback when you are selling? When they pay, or when the transaction is complete? I know it's up to the individual, just wondered what others do. I've been leaving it straight away, but actually if someone then does something weird you have no recourse if you do that, because you've already left your feedback.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 7:05:43 GMT 1
Most sellers send me a message saying that they will leave me my fedback once I have paid.
If you want to know your feedback, you will have to send me a link to one of your books, because I can read it but you can't read your own.
The only time I left a neagtive feedback for postage was when I was charged £4.55 for an item, and the parcel when it arrived had just over £2.00 on it! The item was a flatpack of very light plastic cloche and they sent out hundreds, so must have known what they were doing. I can't think that you would have been given a low rating for postage since yours are only likely to be a few pence out. Maybe some peope are just mean.
Ah, I've just spotted theletter post bit - that may well be it, they could have asked for a postage rtefund but maybe they aren't all that big a buyer so don't know?
I bought something once and needed a refund and she did it through paypal, it seemed to take her a little while before she got back to me - a whole couple of hours! ;D It was her first refund, but she said it was ok. I have never done it, nor has DBH.
Anyway, send me a link to you and then I can put you out of your misery.
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Post by Aspidistra on Jul 1, 2011 10:38:14 GMT 1
![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) No, I can read the feedback. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) It's to do with the star rating bit I'm talking about. Instead of '5' stars I have 4.7 for post and something like 4.9 for whatever the other thing was. So like I said, I've got 100% positive feedback and all the comments are extremely positive, it's the star rating bit I'm talking about. The star rating bit is anonymous, so I can't see who it was who left it. Re the post, I'd like to know who complained because I can't understand it. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) There was only one parcel I sent that I realised I had overcharged for, so when I got to the PO I put some stamps in with the parcel to compensate with a note explaining and the bloke said he was really pleased that I had been so honest. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) With the book, it would be useful to know which book it was they felt wasn't as described. ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png) With the post, at the moment I'm charging cost, plus 20p extra for the jiffy bag - packing. On some items I haven't charged for the jiffy bag at all.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 12:45:26 GMT 1
But I will be able to tell you which seller said what. I can read my own actually - I have just clicked on them and it says who said what.
Are you clicking on the number? The number next to your name and the star? It should come into a list, showing all your reviews and who left them.
Aha - it says that Mr Fantastic Fox thought I was perfect - shame I didn't think the same about him! ;D
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Post by Aspidistra on Jul 1, 2011 13:59:17 GMT 1
Nope, you're still not getting it. ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) At least I don't think you are. I'm not talking about the written feedback, I'm talking about the stars and percentage out of 5 that you get given. Its a separate thing. Am I being very dim, or are you? ;D Does anyone else understand what I mean? Its a thing that you don't get until you've got 10 sales. I don't mean the star by my name, I don't mean the comments by people...<she's never going to understand what I'm talking about smiley... ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png) > If you click on your feedback star thingy, it comes up with the feedback page, and on the right-hand side of the page, it says 'Detailed seller ratings'. There are five stars along each line. Two of my stars are not 100 per cent yellow. But I have read it all up now and I know that I can't find out who put that there because it's anonymous, so you wouldn't be able to know that either.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 17:09:44 GMT 1
;D <thicksmiley>
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 17:11:28 GMT 1
I will look up DBH's and see if I can read his.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 17:14:09 GMT 1
Bum, I can't, now he hasn't got anything to sell I can't see him.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 17:18:31 GMT 1
No, I've looked at a few people now and they are my favourites - many of them don't have perfect feedback, but i found them very good.
well, as long as the comments are good, I wouldn't worry too much. I do know that some people sit on the rating to the right and read them as they sell each item, so probably thech the percentages at the same time, because i remember reading the irate comments from a seller. Her stuff was delayed by the postal strike and the buyer marked her down!
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Post by Aspidistra on Jul 1, 2011 17:37:58 GMT 1
I'm not really that bothered about it, it just seems a bit rotten that someone can mark you down without you knowing a bit more about it, and exactly, things like something being struck in a post strike or something like that are not the seller's fault. I feel with the books that the prices I have charged reflect, having done my research, the condition as well as the inherent value. Maybe some people think that an old book will be spotless for 99p or something. ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) Actually something I am having to stop myself doing is buy books that are too tatty. ;D I don't mind tatty books, but I realise for online porpoises, you can't really do that, even if the book is mega-cheap they expect it to be in very good nick. I have always bought second-hand books for content, so I never noticed the condition of them really. ;D One book I sold was going for £50 in good condition and so I sold a slightly tatty one for a couple of quid, as a reading copy. I would have thought they'd be pleased with that, but maybe that's the person who marked me down. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) That's the only slightly tatty book I sold. ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) Oh well. I'll get it right yet. Found a signed first edition today... ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by janerowena on Jul 1, 2011 18:33:39 GMT 1
;D Let's hope that that makes your fortune, then.
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Post by Aspidistra on Jul 1, 2011 22:53:48 GMT 1
![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) somehow unlikely. ;D My worst buy of late has been a virtually new copy of a book called 'The Student Cookbook'. I bought it with a view to giving it to one of my friend's enfants, who are off to uni next year. But it is absolute rubbish. It is by someone called Miranda Shearer, who it turns out is Tamsin Day-Lewis's 18 year old daughter and it is full of the most smug, self-satisfied middle class rubbish...she goes on and on about how amazing her mum is, and that she is her idol... ![:-X](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/lipssealed.png) which, at the age of 18, I consider to be a total malfunction in any child. The book is just full of that sort of jolly, over exclamation-marked breathlessness! and that awful patronising tone that only the young can do so absurdly. And recipes which involve things like a touch of saffron or making your own stock for everything. Clearly she didn't live in the sort of student house I lived in, where would there be room for stock when you had to cram your food into a fridge with five other people? What you need as a student cookbook is stuff which you can make by opening a few cans. She doesn't even mention that you buy a can of beans for example - you are supposed to go through the thing of soaking them and then hogging the stove for an hour while you cook them. For goodness sake, just let them open a can, please. Sorry, I should be on things that annoy me thread, I have never been irritated by such a silly confection and by the fact that it obviously only got published because of her connections, she hasn't a clue how normal students live.
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