Rant about buyers; eBay ones in particular!

Yep...I'm complaining about you BUYERS! Why would I complain about BUYERS???? That's my business, right? I mean, if it wasn't for you buyers, I'd have no business...right?

Well, I'm here to tell you a few home truths about selling online; especially eBay. I'm talking to and about buyers in particular. Why? OK, you asked!

The number one gripe I, and any other red blooded seller online have, is you do not read! Please, please, PLEASE!!!!! Read the whole, entire page...auction, advertisement; I don't care if it's for underwear...READ it!

Why? Soooo glad you asked! Because EVERYTHING you need to know about this item is IN THERE!! Need it sent overnight? Read the listing. Do you see where it says Shipping? Hmmmm! I'll just bet it tells you whether the seller can send it overnight. Need a size 60? Well, if you read the description, I bet ya it'll tell you what size(s) they have to offer.

Why am I ranting about reading the listing? Have you ever bought something and found out afterword that the seller can't send to Cambodia? BUT WHY? You scream in an email! I saw international...the problem was you did not read it ALL!

If you had read the listing, you would know if Aunt Myrtle could use it. If you had read the listing, you would have saw that the item had free shipping in the USA and Canada...not Great Britain!

Speaking of shipping and buyers: have YOU mailed any packages lately? What did it cost YOU?

My point is, we do not make the postal rules or set their prices...we just follow them. If it says 6.95 to go to Timbuktu...we'll be charging 6.95... And, when we state that we send out our packages within 24 hours of payment, that means we ship by then, IT DOES NOT MEAN you get it in 24 hours! I have heard so many folks complain about getting dinged on their5 stars just because their buyer was mad because their package was "late". What they call late is the Post Office's fault, not ours...the shipping star is for our time of shipping. Like mine, I say 5 business days. So, if I send it the day you bought it, but it does not get to you for 10 days? I should get my star! Why? Well, because I shipped well within my stated date. Go by the date it was taken to the PO...

This leads me to fees...now, folks, I hate to tell you this, but we are a BUSINESS! Yes, a real, honest to goodness BUSINESS...and we have overhead...just like any business. We have the typical sellers fees, (which, like everything else, has gone up), and then we have the costs incurred by buying, housing, packaging; (peanuts, bubble wrap, cotton candy...oops, paper, envelopes, note cards), sometimes insuring.

At times we need an item to be inspected, others need to be appraised. There are the fees for the Internet, electric, gasoline ( what, you think we walk the mile to the PO?), bookkeeping, helpers, listing on all venues...I could go on and on...

My point is this: I have heard buyers lamenting we are ripping them off. These folks accuse us sellers all the time of upping our shipping costs. You accuse us of leading you astray in our ads/listings. But, if you would just sit down and read the listing completely, you might see that the shipping fee you see at the top of the listing might be for 2 day or overnight. Not to mention, you can send us a question about any listing we have.

My last, and final point, is WE are human beings. With thoughts, feelings, and needs, just like you. We make mistakes, just like you. We get sick, just like you. So, would you want someone to judge you without them having all the info first? Then please, do not judge us!

I have read that people are now considering eBay sellers as the scum of the earth...nothing could be farther from the TRUTH! I know, I, and a lot of my friends, sell on eBay, or have. We are not scum, we are hard working human beings with a business that most of you take for granted!

Now, if you want to meet some very nice eBay folks, and sellers in general, stop by my blog tomorrow. Why? Because tomorrow, March 23, 2009, I will begin a week long set of interviews of sellers online. http://jimmyandmarshell.blogspot.com/

Come on, are you scared? The worst part is over! I'm done ranting!:>) I'll bet you you'll meet some great folks. I have...

Marshell

Announcing the DSR Virtual Tour

We are pleased to announce that on Monday March 23, 2009 we will be kicking off our FIRST ANNUAL DSR Virtual Tour.

Each day we will be interviewing different members from our Online Business Success Group on the blogs listed below!

Please join us on our whirlwind tour! We invite you to ask questions, add comments and enjoy learning more about the wonderful members of our group!!!

The week is sure to be filled with lots of fun and excitement! We look forward to seeing your there!!!!!



http://birdhousebooks.blogspot.com/
http://therivertheranchandthebay.com/
http://darsayre-theglassguru.blogspot.com/
http://onlinesellingforfunandprofit.blogspot.com/
http://sushiboofays.blogspot.com/
http://clovercitysells.blogspot.com
http://jimmyandmarshell.blogspot.com/
http://galleriagifts.blogspot.com/

Friday the 13th and The NICE kitty!

Hello All,

Well, it's Friday the 13th and it isn't being a fun day so far. It started right before midnight last nite so someone's clocks were off a bit. Doug had put the girls out for one last bathroom call before we went to bed. When he came back in, he said "I think Cricket got sprayed by a SKUNK". By that time, she, Snickers and Doug had already gotten into the house, so now you can imagine how my kitchen and dining room are smelling...... Shall I say "P U"? Of all times, I'm surely glad my sinus's aren't working on the smelling part cause I don't smell it in the house now. Boy oh Boy, Doug sure can and he says it's about making him ill.

I'm assuming on how things happened last nite. Cricket possibly saw the skunk and thought it was a kitty cat and decided to chase it. Guess she found out that the nice kitty cat wasn't so nice. It seems that she got sprayed lightly in the face, thank goodness it wasn't any worse, but just enough for her to NOT forget that it happened. She wasn't a happy camper last nite either. So now, that part where I slept like a log last nite worked too BUT when I awoke, there was Cricket, between us on the BED. Now, I wasn't a happy camper cause I usually scoot her outta it. So now, yes, I need to clean the bed covers today. Geeze, never a dull moment when we are at the farm. From the beginning 22 1/2 years ago, we nicknamed it the three "F's". Standing for the Freeland's Funny Farm". Never a dull moment for us. I won't even get into the time when our Black Lab Shadow encountered a Porcupine. The poor thing was over two miles from the farm house and had to walk back with her hunting master......

Ok, enough drama for now. I will be getting the white vinegar out to make Crickie smell like a salad instead of an unwanted varmint........to be continued.

Oh, give me a home...

Hello folks!

As most of you know, Jimmy and I have been house hunting for a few years now. We thought we had found the perfect home; it was owned by a friend of the family, and he was going to sell it to us, rent to own.

The long and the short of it is, after he saw just how much money he'd have to put into it, he decided not to sell, but to rent. Since renting was what we are trying to get away from, and the house is in the city, we decided to continue our search.
I have some info for you all about what kins of loans are out there...and even how to avoid some of the pitfalls of buying.

The main thing I want to mention here, is don't get your hopes up. By this, I DO NOT mean to be pessimistic, what I DO mean is don't expect...see, evaluate, talk; but do not have preconceived expectations.

I don't care if your buying from your grandma!Do not have preconceived expectations.

And...always READ your contract before you sign. I don't care how long it takes you, and, if the person you are signing with hurries you, STOP! ask WHY they want you to sign away your life without reading everything. If they still rush you...LEAVE WITHOUT SIGNING!

I don't care if the house is one in a million. If they want to rush you, there's a reason they are not disclosing to you.

If they get a phone call and say they have an emergency? Same thing! Don't5 sign. Simply say" OK, we;ll leave this for another day, when I have time to go over the entire contract. DO NOT let them convince you to sign now and read later...remember, this is your life at stake. Once you sign that contract, your in it for the long haul...no turning back. Even if you took them to court, the judge would tell you there is nothing he/she can do...

Now, here are some ways you can buy a house:

RENT TO OWN: This is ideal for people that work from home, self-employed or single parents who are recently divorced. The great thing about it is that if the value of the home increases during the period of repayment, you won't pay more as the price is fixed the day you move in. It offers buyers and sellers the flexibility of a lease, but the feeling of having completed a sale and purchased a home.

Traditionally, FHA loans have helped military families who return from war, the elderly, handicapped, or lower-income families, but really, anyone can get an FHA loan - they are not just for first-time home buyers. Rates for FHA loans are set by Ginnie Mae securities; those who have been in bankruptcy as recently as two years ago may be eligible for a full loan. A loan officer or underwriter will require and explanation from you regarding the financial situation that damaged your credit and often a statement explaining that the situation is resolved and you are now prepared to move forward.


VA Loans are typically 15 year or 30 year loans. The maximum VA Loan term is 30 years and 32 days. VA loans do not have a cap on the amount of money that can be borrowed. The lender ultimately decides on the amount that they will lend. VA loans offer up to 100% financing�on the value of a home.

VA loans are restricted to individuals qualified by military service or other entitlements. There are limits to the size of FHA/VA loans, but they're generous enough to handle moderately priced homes anywhere in the country There are no mortgage insurance premiums on VA loans, and assumable mortgages are permitted. (Assumable mortgages are such that they can be transferred from one owner to another owner without any alteration in the terms of the loan.) Eligible areas are designated by the VA as housing credit shortage areas and are generally rural areas and small cities and towns not near metropolitan or commuting areas of large cities.

I hope this has helped even one person understand some of the Ins and outs of buying a home. Today's economy is bad, but it's also good if you are wanting a home of your own. I personally can not waite until we find the right home for us...but for now, back to the drawing board!

Here are a few resources you might want to check out:

My Miracle Loans

Free Government Grants And Loans

The Do-It-Yourself Loan Modification Kit

Marshell