[Cathybear]

I probably missed good information, so any questions, ask.
The time might come Lucas can do sites for other people but I expect he'll want to be PAID!

[Nerida]

Hi everyone,

Bo/Dawn - I am so glad you "came out" - I think it takes an element of bravery to display your designs and wares to such a discerning audience as the PGers! As I have said to you before, I think your pieces are just gorgeous, and I think it's fantastic that we know there are more great sellers out there. I use ebay for all sorts of stuff - reading feedback to see that it looks authentic, never buying from unknowns etc. I've bought pearls, my Lindstrom tools, electronics, theatre tickets, on ebay with only 1 kind of bad experience. Even that one wasn't so bad. Cathybear - I already love your website, have visited a few times, but didn't know you sold on ebay as well. Silversea it's good to see your things as well - it's great you have showed your hand too.

Thanks all for letting us see your stores, and for giving ebay a better reputation - I for one think it deserves it!

[Bodecia]

I probably missed good information, so any questions, ask.
The time might come Lucas can do sites for other people but I expect he'll want to be PAID!

Hi Cathybear,

I had been planning to contact you to ask a couple of questions. Now that we are out in the open I might as well do it here.

One I was planning to ask you how I find your prices on your site. I couldn't seem to negotiate it. Love your site by the way and your ebay site. Only had a quick look earlier at your ebay site but will have another look tonight.

The other question was just has you have mentioned. When do you think Lucas would be ready to do sites for others. Naturally paid. It must be a big job. But I for one would need it easy to use. I am not up on HMTL or is it HTML - that is how bad I am. I really want a nice web site but am hopeless with the codes and it would have to be almost idiot proof. As in talk to me like I am a 5 year old

Do you know of anyone else who does good site work if Lucas is not ready for it yet?

Thanks, Dawn

[Cathybear]

Hi Dawn,
The prices are to the left of the photo of each item, near the bottom, after all other details and above item number. Maybe your monitor is narrower than mine?? If you can't see we need to fix something.

I spoke to Lucas, I think he has the ability, but we have to work out how to go about it; he also would probably need to make a program for uploading, to keep it easy. Instead of html he has laid mine out so i just fill in the spaces (and don't need to keep asking him to fix it lol)
You could probably start by thinking about how you would like it to look , be laid out and what content you want. Best to know that whoever builds it.
Probably we should talk on the phone, I'll pm you my number, but not tonight!! lol. I think we're in the same time zone.
Oh! Do you string for Jamie??
Cathy

[Casey.R]

I'm an occasional ebay seller. But I don't sell pearls. Mostly womens vintage clothing and some baby items, a few vintage collectables... etc.

My mother is a pretty regular seller of vintage clothes.

[Bodecia]

Hi Nerida and all.

I am so glad I came out and I am sure it will show that more and more of us sell as well as buy and on ebay.

Thanks for you praise on our stores too. It does need an element of bravery as you said because PF members are discerning so it was un-nerving to think of what people might think of my and all of our offerings. I for one am an all rounder - well all jewellery but all prices. Which is why I also use Sterling and Vermeil etc. I love working with Gold in my designs and naturally love pearls but I like to offer prices for everyone. Also I will list things I am not in love with myself but everyone is different and people like different styles, stones, pearls etc. I love designing things I love, to my taste but I also design for other people too. I am sure most sellers from all walks and brick shops, online and ebay must do the same.

I have bought a camera on ebay as a back up for my best one, just in case :0 and it is a great little camera, was a good price and loads of software. I have bought clothes on ebay, secondhand :0 hell I never anywhere flash anyway and good quality secondhand clothes are sometimes much better than new so ebay is a good place to buy if not an Opportunity shop and I shop there too for clothes, toys & bedding for my dogs, well all kind of things.

My only gripe with eBay is that is growing so fast and so big that seller support is not there and they don't even bother to answer emails for the most part. I can't list via them and am going thru via Auctiva at the moment. But I do believe that most sellers try to do the right thing. Many make mistake but that is only natural and sometimes we pick up bargains because of it. And I don't mind helping out other sellers and giving advise if they are newbies or even not so new to it.

I don't have a gripe with ebay sellers, only the occasional one and I sort that out myself with the individuals. I hate to give bad feedback and rarely do. Very rarely. I don't fancy my Karma being damaged because of some shonky person. EBay or to be more precise eBay Sellers do get a bad rap for the most part that they DON'T deserve.

Bo - opps, Dawn - better get some work done soon. Will try to upload the photo of necklace that I love. Try that is.

Bo/Dawn - I am so glad you "came out" - I think it takes an element of bravery to display your designs and wares to such a discerning audience as the PGers! As I have said to you before, I think your pieces are just gorgeous, and I think it's fantastic that we know there are more great sellers out there. I use ebay for all sorts of stuff - reading feedback to see that it looks authentic, never buying from unknowns etc. I've bought pearls, my Lindstrom tools, electronics, theatre tickets, on ebay with only 1 kind of bad experience. Even that one wasn't so bad. Cathybear - I already love your website, have visited a few times, but didn't know you sold on ebay as well. Silversea it's good to see your things as well - it's great you have showed your hand too.

Thanks all for letting us see your stores, and for giving ebay a better reputation - I for one think it deserves it!

[Caitlin]

Hi All

I have bought a range of items on eBay and even sold about 25 things from my mother in law's estate. I think I'm up to about 79 stars now- over maybe 4 years. that is not much but it is enough to be fairly discerning.

We really do need more alternatives to some of those eBay pearl venders - often from China- that lie, cheat and steal. I hope other eBayers who are honest and willing to let us look at their offerings will also stop lurking and sign up with us. I sure would like to see our "short list" of good pearl sellers on eBay, expand a bit.

People who use other's photos or have any other unscrupulous tricks need not join, because they will be found out very quickly.

[Bodecia]

Hi Caitlin,

First I must thank you for your kind words on my "coming out", second for putting this into a thread that will be read by many and inform many that there are many honest pearl ebay sellers out here. I do thank you sincerely.

It was hard to come out but I knew I had to do it in respect for myself and my items. That by hiding I was downgrading myself and my designs. It also made me feel like a cheat which I am not. Recently I had a customer who had a Cortez mabe necklace fall apart on her. This after her leaving me great feedback - I never asked for photos. I looked her feedback up and found she was a trustworthy buyer and that what she said must have happened. I wanted her to be totally happy with her purchase so after finding out what she wanted, would like. I ended up sending here a new pendant for the necklace & a 14k gold chain for the Cortez to be hung on. Luckily when the MOP backing must have broken she had put her hand up to her beloved pearl and it dropped in her hand.

I did suggest her sending it back for me to fix but she didn't want to and I understood that. When we love something we don't want to part with it, especially half way across the world. I worked for a couple of weeks designing new pendants for her (all 22k gold pearls & rubies), found a suitable chain and sent photos. She approved. I made and sent and she was so very happy and has become one of my best customers.

I figured out that the Cortez pearl with MOP backing must have been drilled too close to the pearl and although, luckily the pearl was not damaged the MOP backing must have cracked for some reason. I don't know because I bought it that way, and never saw a problem or reason to think the drill hole was maybe too close. Actually didn't check on that, never thought to.

But at the time I wasn't even listing auctions again on eBay and it put me back a few dollars for sure, maybe $100 but that is customer service and follow up on items we sell and that is, I believe, what all sellers need to do. I am not saying that all buyers are honest, anymore than I say all sellers are honest but most are. Now, and I guess to a great degree of customer satisfaction follow up on my part, I have gained a wonderful new customer and she has two necklaces instead of one. She loves both and I am very happy too.

We really do need more alternatives to some of those eBay pearl venders - often from China- that lie, cheat and steal. I hope other eBayers who are honest and willing to let us look at their offerings will also stop lurking and sign up with us. I sure would like to see our "short list" of good pearl sellers on eBay, expand a bit.

People who use other's photos or have any other unscrupulous tricks need not join, because they will be found out very quickly.

Often when I have virtually insulted the Chinese sellers I have felt like I might be considered racist, which I am not. But there are far too many Chinese sellers taking advantage of a weak eBay system of control and I totally agree with you. I have received bad feedback twice under my buying name because I have given the cheating Chinese sellers the feedback they deserved. I knew I would be slammed back but I had to do it. Once again for my Karma. Some sellers make honest mistakes, some don't but are willing to rectify the problem but somehow there has to be a way to stop the bad sellers, especially the Chinese sellers from totally ripping off unknowing buyers. Some sellers can come across as very honest and their feedback might even be reasonable or good - for a while - i.e. people want to believe they are buying Tahitian pearls for a wonderful price even though they pay thru the nose for postage. But sooner or later it does catch up with most of them. Just not soon enough to stop these sellers lining their pockets and vendors thinking they are walking around with genuine SS or SS Tahitians on their necks or ears. I have bought Tahitians which turned out to be FW dyed pearls. I don't resell and Tahitians. I state exactly what I believe them to be. But as honest sellers we often suffer because people see Black FW pearls listed for a reasonable price and then compare it to the so called tahitians they can get from China. So as we are honest we can loose badly. But I know this now and try to be very careful. The photos these Chinese sellers list are not the pearls people get, although so many of them don't realise it.

There are many honest ebay sellers, selling pearls on ebay as has been demonstrated in the last few days. What I don't think many people realise many of us have bought from China (Chinese ebay sellers) and been ripped off many times. We DO NOT pass this one. We win it and wear it and list items for what they really are and sometimes take a huge loss. That is the only way to keep our good name and that is all we have. That is the only reason that we can be in the eBay business for years. Our good name is everything.

Truly Caitlin, the short list would not be so short if more of our lurking and existing ebay sellers fessed up to being just that. Many of us fund our love of pearls selling on ebay. Or so I think. Not all of us can be totally highgrade sellers, as we have to balance and cater for all pockets but that does not mean we don't have top grade pearls for sale too.

Bo - Dawn

[akoya]

Bo I would like to thank you for voicing out the problems that professional sellers confront not only on Ebay but in all areas of marketing. Standing behind your products,creations and services 100% makes the diferrence.
Thank you for making such a strong statement!!In addittion to the necklace you posted last for the PGers I love your amethyst- briolette- keshi pearl necklace too.
Akoya

[Sueki]

Wow, what a great thread !
It's like Christmas, opening all these new pearl sites.....
Thanks to Bo and Silversea - your shops are added to my favourites page... Some lovely pieces, kudos to you both.
There are so many good and honest ebay sellers, whose work is made doubly hard by the awful reputation that ebay has as a whole.
I have often thought about suggesting some kind of kudos thread on this forum, as I have had so many good buys from ebay and, in addition to the actual goods purchased, have made new friends too.
My pearl-related purchases have included pearls, beading supplies, tools, books, findings, etc.
I even found this forum through ebay....
Buying on ebay does require some diligent research and asking relevant questions of the sellers, and a little more care than usual.
Power to your elbow, Bodecia and Silversea.

[Bodecia]

Hi akoya,

Thank you very much akoya. Please if you win or buy anything let me know it is you.

Dawn

Bodecia hi,
First I would like to thank Caitlin for taking the effort to post your ebay store. I love all your pcs. They have such flare and sensitivity. I am waiting for my ebay account to be activated so I could make a bit on a couple of your necklaces. Keep up the inspiration.
Akoya

[Bodecia]

I want to let everyone know that I intend to make a list of How to Make Searches on eBay for that special something you want - well pearls of course.

Also try to advise Sellers, especially newbies to it all of the best ways to offer your pearls and other jewellery or whatever you sell. Things to do and things not to do.

I have been meaning to get to it but am so very busy and need to catch up with some listing of my own so I can buy some more pearls myself
and Gold findings for same.

I will try and make up a list of do's and don'ts as soon as I get the time.
I am not an expert but do have some experience on eBay both as a Buyer and a Seller.

I also want to thank everyone for there kind words and praise on my site - dawncee333 - And also for all the praise for other sellers who have recently, on this thread said they too sell. Many of us have looked at the sites and loved what we saw. I still want to find the time to properly look at all that has been said and all the sites properly.

So many things to do and so many sites to see and just not enough time. Also so many emails to answer. I will get to them. ASAP

Thanks All, Bo, Bodecia, Dawn

[jerin]

Dawn,

you haven´t forgotten your chinese person, have you?

[Bodecia]

Hi Jerin,

No, I haven't forgotten my Chinese person. Actually I have done enough work tonight so I might do a search for you now. Searching is fun. You should really learn the ropes. But then again, I forgot you don't speak English - Giggle, giggle.

Dawn

[Mervione]

I´ve actually started to sell on eBay myself. No feedback at all so no one have bought from me yet. Have only had my single listing up for a couple of days though, so it´s very much expected. I´m very surprised with how fast I´ve learnt how to make nice things, that I´m actually feeling good enough to sell already. I´ve bought some things from Druzy that I´ll use in future designs, so you can all expect my jewelry to be quite special... I bidded on some baroque tahitians and some golden SS keshi pearls earlier today but got overbid with a few USD, meh.

I´ve already gotten some business actually. Someone asked me to make a pair like in my listing for his daughters birthday. How cool isn´t that?!

(Not sure I´m confident enough to post a link to my listing here yet... It feels like you´re all so professional!)