Would you post negative comments outside your Brick & Mortar Store?

[shoplineca]

I posted something on a thread about fee increases. What I basically said is that if I ran a busines outside of eBay in the same manner as I am expected run my eBay business, that business would not be successful.

Case in point, if you ran a brick and mortar retail store would you post negative comments on your store windows that customers leave you, especially those who NEVER bought anything from you, who NEVER intended to buy anything, that cost you money in the transaction?

Of course you wouldnt. They were NEVER customers as they never bought anything so what right would they have making any comment anyway, let alone why would you post anything negative about your business for other potential customers to see?

Same thing if they did purchase from you but decided what they bought they didnt like, or they found another one for less money afterwards and wanted to return yours contrary to your policy. What did you do wrong to deserve a negative comment? Probably nothing and you wouldnt really care about them being upset BUT would you post that negative letter they sent you (IN RED) outside of your store window by your entrance door for potential customers to see? I doubt it.

There are so many things about running an eBay business that are contrary to running a sucessful business in the real world that I think for those of us that have operated or do operate business outside of eBay, eBay is more of a perplexing place for us to survive without raising alot of objections alot of the time as to why are we expected to do it this way.

In fact is I were to describe how eBay operates, I would suggest it looks like its rules of conduct and methodology for selling that are imposed on us was written by government employees, totally void of what commerce is all about.

Malcolm

[zarzuella]

Interesting comment, Malcolm - and one I personally agree with.

The closest example I can think of in the 'real world' is the Toronto Health Dept. practice of requiring health & safety inspection results to be posted outside restaurants.
Not always fair.

Ann

[shoplineca]

Ann
Health Department findings is far different from people's negative comments about service or food.

eBay gives us little icons and symbols to display that tell customers we adhere to the policies of eBay and are contributing members, positive forces behind eBay's success etc etc etc, and those would be similar to a Health Department finding on a restaurant's cleanliness.

But how about posting negative letters on your restaurant windows from people who have never eaten at your restaurant, yet that is what a high percentage of the negs are that Sellers have highlighting their business on eBay.

How about posting negative comments at your restaurant from people who wanted a seafood dish but you sell pizzas and so they hold you responsible for not having what they wanted?

Getting back to operating a business within eBay and that business having to be so different from running a business in the real world:

What brick & mortar business would survive if someone said they were interested in an item you were selling and you took that item down from your shelves for several weeks while trying to collect from that person?

In the meantime, you have paid commission (FVF) for it being sold and only after you have exhausted all avenues, you eventually get some of your money (FVF) back but are still out the listing fees.

I might devote some time to think about the number of differences that could only work within an eBay environment and fail a business should they follow those rules and procedures in the real world.

Malcolm

[systemagic]

What's been bothering me about my recent Christmas neg from a psycho is that it's libellous, eBay know that it's libellous, and the only way to undertake to have it removed, short of a oourt order, is to pay $20 USD to Square Trade. How many other businesses charge a fee for common ethical behaviour?

[shoplineca]

systemagic
Only in the unreal world of doing business on eBay is it possible to allow libellous statments be made about a Seller that are boldly and predominently posted with a big red mark next to it and the Seller is fined $20 by eBay (ST) for them to attempt to have it removed from their site PROVIDING the person who left the libellous statement/remark agrees to allowing it to be removed.

OH yes the condry of unethical business ethics abound in this cyber-commerce world of profits and losses, loosers and lawsuits.

Malcolm

[muminlaw]

Sorry Malcolm - I can usually figure out what word you meant to use but this time I can't :--
OH yes the condry of unethical
Wouldn't it be super if our fingers kept pace with our brains and all our spelling came out the way we know it should??!!!!!!

Glenda

[muminlaw]

Oooops -- there's a perfect example! I didn't close the italics!! Sorry .....

Glendz

[shoplineca]

Glenda
My previous problem was a wireless keyboard that would input different letters when the batteries were wearing down which was surprisingly often.

My new Christmas keyboard that my son bought me is verging on a mini keyboard that one would use with a PDA.

In the few weeks I have had it, several of the letters have already worn off so I have to guess which letter I am hitting.

Usually I dont bother as I am so darn busy I just type what I am thinking and keep my fingers croosed.

Or is it that I am typing with my fingers crossed that is the problem?

I think more than anything else it is the freedom I am enjoying from not having to prepare legal documents with everything having to be perfect that when I post something here I just feel FREE to type em as I see em or as I think em or something like that...

Wish I made enough to hire a secretary!

Malcolm

[muminlaw]

But I still don't know what you were saying with this statement: --
OH yes the condry of unethical business ethics abound in this cyber-commerce world of profits and losses, loosers and lawsuits.

What is "condry"?????

My mind has gone blank to figure out what word fits there! (maybe it's because I'm working overtime at bringing our year-end books up to date and I'm a procrastinator of the first order!! (I'm all the way up to August!!!!)

Glenda

[auctiondropnship]

systemagic

The recent Neg you got could also be caused Becuase you told the bidder about the retracting bid situation. Causing them confusion, ultimatly making them think they were scamed. Leading them too Neg you

If someone retracts a bid, I just chose not to contact the bidder and explain why it happened

And if they wanted me to explain the situation reguarding why the other bidder retracted. I would have encourage them to contact the bidder that retracted the bid

Please do not read into this , everyone does things different . I am just commenting ...generally

[thebidwatcher]

My comment about this one kind of showed up in your other thread - it was a 2 for one special.

Cheers!

[systemagic]

Todd,

I don't want to turn this thread into a dialogue about this unpleasant episode. Nonetheless:

I didn't offer any information to the NPB about the withdrawal. He saw it in the item history, couldn't figure it out, and didn't believe the truth when I responded to his inquiry. I also encouraged him to contact the other bidder, or eBay, regarding the truth of the situation but he showed no indication of doing so. This is just one reason I believe he is clinically psychotic. I don't think he could contemplate or comprehend any other truth than his imaginings.
He indicated no genuine confusion regarding my having any shill involvement. Rather he threatened to leave this feedback, knowing that there was no shilling, when I told him that I always leave a neg for non-payment. Perhaps the reason he's still around after 5 incidents of non-payment is because his extremely offensive nature and threats of reprisals have caused sellers to retreat in the past.
I never read anything too critical into what you have to say Todd. Rather I value and respect your opinion and am always happy to hear from you.
It's all very 'oondry'.

Marty

[shoplineca]

"Quandary" is what was supposed to come out.

You know, like the "dilema" or the "perplexing problem or issue about" ..., etc etc etc.

You are right about the mind working faster than the typing speed. I have developed the bad habit of typing as quickly as I think and sometimes I can even make out the spelling or the meaning of what I typed because of the spelling.

There are times even 1 letter off and it throws the whole word off such that I am unable to figure it out and then the meaning of what I was saying becomes totally lost.

Such a condry we live in! (In this way, the spelling can be taken 2 ways "quandary" or "country")

I think I am developing a new language, sounds the same but spelled completely different. Could be alot of fun.

Malcolm

[muminlaw]

Malcolm - don't you dare!!!

We already correspond with one person who is a firm follower of "alternate" spelling, mostly phonetic but with almost as many rules as the English they feel is too complicated. Anyhow, most of her notes have to be read out loud as they are almost impossible to decipher silently!

Thanks for clarifying - quandary makes sense (let's see, how would that friend spell it - maybe kwonderee?)

Glenda

[shoplineca]

Glenda
I know a song that goes like that "kwondereeeee, kwondera, Kwonderee, Kwonder ah ha ha ha ha ha ha, I wish I was a wandering, along the ..."

Come on lets all join in now!

Malcolm

[systemagic]

I think that we need to ensure that we're all on the same page and speaking the same language - otherwise our attempts at communications will degenerate into choas. Here are a few standard definitions that I think we can all agree to abide by so we each know what we're talking about:

Aaaack: Utterance upon running face first into a spider web - and realizing that you don't know where the spider is now.
Aardvark: The honest way to make money.  
Abash: A great party.
Abdominal: Legendary snowman.
Abominable: What you have when a male bovine swallows dynamite.
Abort: To correct a misconception.
Abortion: Loves Labor Lost.
Absentee: Missing golf accessory.
Abstract Logic: 1. See definition two. 2. See definition one. 
Abundance: Big party held in a bakery.
Abundunce: A dumb bunny.  
Acclaim: Something a good insurance agent knows how to handle.
Accordion: Pleated bagpipe.
Accordianated: Ability to drive and refold a road map at the same time.
Accountant: 1) Person who feels good when things are looking black. 2) One who uses your books to figure his profit.
Accrue: People who run a ship.
Accumulate: Slang way of asking, "Why are you tardy?"
Acetone: 1) That’s the sound when you pick up the phone. 2) What you do in exercise class.  
Acme: Pimples on the tip of your nose.
Acoustic: What you play pool with.
Acquit: Fed-up employee statement. (or eBay seller statement)
Acupuncture: A jab well done.
Adamant: The first insect.
Address: Attire worn by some females.  
Adolescence:  When children start bringing up their parents.
Adultery: Putting yourself in someone else's position.
Adventure: Somewhere between entertainment and panic.
After dinner mint: Funds required upon receipt of check.
Aftermath: Period following algebra.
Air pollution: Mist demeanor.
Airplane: A lot of parts flying in close formation.
Alarm clock: Machine that scares the daylights into people without kids.  
Alarms: What an octopus is. 
Alas: Early Victorian for ‘Oh Hell’
Alcoholic: A person who drinks more than his physician. 
Algebra: What the Little Mermaid wears.
Alimony: 1) Fee for name-dropping. 2) Bye now, pay later. 3) Bounty after the mutiny. 4) The high cost of leaving. 5) The billing without the cooing.
Aloha: Reduce volume; ‘please speak in aloha voice.’
Alone: What the bank leaves you.
Alphabet: Fifty percent of a wager.
All: A cooking or mechanical lubricant in the south.
Allure: See Debate.
Alp: A European skier’s shout for assistance. Ambidextrose: Able to put sugar in coffee with both hands.
Amenable: A prayer. 
America: One nation, under God, with liberty, large fries, and a Coke to go.
Amidst: Thick fog.
Amoebit: Amoeba/rabbit cross (able to multiply and divide at the same time).
Anaerobic: Unwilling to exercise.
Anally: Occurring yearly.
Anatomy: A college class that sounds vaguely risque until you find out what it really involves. 
Anomaly: My typical custom. “Anomaly don’t read this stuff.”
Anno Domini (AD): No more dominoes.
Antacid: Hallucinogenic drugs used by little bugs.
Ants: People who marry uncles.
Antiquarian: Ant born between Jan 21-Feb 23.
Antelope: A type of family scandal.
Apathy: Who cares?
Apex: Former spouse of a gorilla.
Apparent: One's mother or father.
Apricot: Where a baby gorilla sleeps.
Aquarium: Interactive television for cats.  
Arachnoleptic Fit: The frantic dance performed just after accidentally walking through a spider web.
Arbitrator: A cook that leaves Arby's to work at McDonald's.
Archaic: What we eat after ar dinner.
Archaeologist: 1) Ghoul with credentials. 2) Person whose career lies in ruins.
Armadillo: 1) Possum on the half-shell. 2) Texas speed bump.
Armageddon: I am getting. ie. Armageddon tard o' this already.
Aroma: Whisper heard by nose.
Aromatic: Automatic longbow.
Arson: Not ar daughter.
Array: What comes out of Buck Roger's gun.  
Arrays: What you demand from your boss.
Arrears: Our two organs of hearing.
Arteologist: One who digs old paintings.
Artery: Study of paintings.
Artifact: Something only an art major would know.
Artistic License: You're looking at it.  
Aspiration: Butt sweat.  
Aspire:  Where dead donkeys are cremated.
Aspirin: Having great ambitions.
Asset: A little donkey.
Astronaut: Whirled traveler.
Astronomer: Night watchman.
Atheism: 1) A deep religious faith in the non-existence of God. 2) A non-prophet organization.
Atheist: One with no invisible means of support.
Atlas: Finally
Atomizer: Cheapskate who hoards microscopic particles.  
Attitude: Surfer's contraction for "A Breast Man".
Attorney: Major sporting event.
Audiophile: Stereotype.
Authorize: What writers see with.
Automobile:  A four-wheeled vehicle that runs up hills and down pedestrians.
Autumn: When nature goes baroque.
Awestruck: Feeling when your team loses unexpectedly.
Avail: A piece of cloth hiding a woman's face.
Avoidable: What a bullfighter does.
Axe: Inquire

[shoplineca]

systemagic
The two phrases that I hate most in the New English language are "Axe" and "Do you know what I mean?".

Not quite following your line of definitions but something similar that comes to mind:
What is the definition of Dragon Milk?
Thats a cow with short legs!

Malcolm

[systemagic]

I used to publish short lists of these definitions in my cafe-distributed publication. I think that I'm just longing for more light-hearted times. Y'know what I'm sayin'?

Marty

[shoplineca]

Marty
That is why I had started the Daily Quotes Thread.

Malcolm

[auctiondropnship]

ok