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Buffington · Guru

I'm a Featured Artist!

p-chan · Veteran Member

Congrats! That's wonderful!
Hugs Lori

Poisonivy14 · Senior Member

wonderful, wonderful, you have so much wonderful talent! i knew you would win something like this soon! biggrin

Dee · Guru

Congrats Pat you deserve it, its nice to see you lol, keep up the good work.

Buffington · Guru

Thanks everyone! I'm really excited. hopefully I get some business out of this article. They said like 200,000 people look at them so maybe...!

ronelhamaty · Senior Member

Hi Pat it is nice to put a face to your name. It is absolutely FAB!!!! well done. Your article is great. Wishing you buckets full of money. Congratulations
welldone clap.gif

Buffington · Guru

Oh thank you Ronel! I wish everyone here buckets of money too! I have sent the link for the interview to Mr Secrist and also Mae at the office. I think Mae was even more excited for me than I was which was alot!
So now we'll wait and see what happens eh? :)

Tina W. · Guru

What wonderful news Pat! Congrats to you!!!!

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Congratulations, Pat!!!!! I'm soooooooo happy for you, and hope the exposure generates buckets of extra business and income.

Buffington · Guru

Thanks! That would be so nice if I got business! I got shorted by 2 weeks on my temp job at my college bookstore so I am about $350 short on paying tuition for this semester! OUCH! So my hubby had to cover it (and he wasn't a happy camper about it) so some business would be good about now.

Ronel, that pic was when I went to Michigan for teacher certification at Secrist. My friends say I look like Mrs Claus out of uniform, painting dollies for Santa! Must be the glasses huh? lol

ronelhamaty · Senior Member

Pat you made me laugh with your Mrs Claus story, you looked like a professor !!!! Still want to ask you, how did your dolly do on etsy?

Buffington · Guru

Well Ronel... that's kind of a sad state of affairs :(
I get over 150 lookers but not any bites! I did (for a moment) have one of my sets of 6" mini triplets by Danielle Zweers sold, until I notified the buyer that you had to paint the eyeballs (this was on set #1). She wanted her money back because I didn't say that at first in the ad (I no sooner put it on live etsy than she came along and bought it.) I didn't have time to proofread the ad first so I wrote her immediately. First she wanted to have 2 open-eyed babies from set 1 and 1 baby from set 3 and I told her they have to go as they are.
I had no problem refunding her paypal because I didn't list the paint the eyes part before she bought so I apologized and refunded her. Have not had a nibble since, but I now have about 7 people who heart my shop!

When I get time I will place one of the babies on ebay and see what happens. Maybe one of the triplet sets as they are all sold out now. We'll see what happens. Thanks for asking. Pretty sad eh?

babylover · Veteran Member

Congratulations on the newspaper article. It was just great, nice and long, good information and great pictures. Wishing you a ton of fame and fortune (at least $350 anyway). Sandy

Buffington · Guru

WOOHOO! Thanks Sandy :)
That would put me over the moon!
The students in my class are teasing me that they fell asleep reading the interview because it was sooooooo long. They said it was nearly a book in itself lol but they did congratulate me anyway hehehe

You know... I still get a laugh out of your avatar with that large cat laying on the little doll. That's one way to watch a baby!

ronelhamaty · Senior Member

Hi Pat I am sorry to hear that, uhhhhh you know that's why I prefer animals (LOL) Customers can be so difficult.. but I wish you best of luck!

Tina W. · Guru

At least you seemed to be able to resolve it reasonably. I have a lady on ebay who wants a total refund including her shipping PLUS pay her to ship it back ("beacuse it's not worth her time and gas it's sooo horrible") all because she wasn't fond on his coloring! Still battling that one. I have no problem refunding her for the baby but shipping?? both ways??? Thats a hard one to take esp after the horrible letter she wrote me letting me know about her dislike of him!

-- Edited by Tina W. on Monday 5th of October 2009 06:33:44 PM

Buffington · Guru

Oh! I guess I would tell her you are sorry she felt it necessary to take that action (with the disgruntled letter) but in all honesty she only gets back what she paid. And I would let her know that most companies would NEVER refund the shipping and handling she paid let alone give her extra to send it back to you!!!
I have never known of any businesses that give the money back for shipping the item back to the store if they don't "like" it. The fine print always says "less shipping and handling"
I think (IMHO) that its only fair to pay her what she paid you, nothing more. And I've been in biz for 20 years and that's how I have resolved those types of issues. She gets her money back or keeps the doll. Only 2 choices in my book hun. And were it me... I would be very straight with her to let her know (should you decide to do so) that you might refund her shipping but only what she has paid and that is against my policy. NEVER shipping both ways! Any attorney or judge would back me on that one hun.
Let us know how it gets resolved please :o

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Tina, what you are going through with this disgruntled buyer is just plain sad and hurtful. It just demonstrates that you can't please everyone.

Pat's return policy makes sense. I think I had better double check mine to make sure I have the proper wording that might prevent this kind of problem.

Good luck on the resolution. I've seen your work so don't really believe there is a thing wrong with your doll. Maybe the buyer has other problems and needed an excuse for a refund?

Tina W. · Guru

Thank you both for your support. I did email her stating exactly the same thing you both said and even e bay. I told her I would gladly refund her money once I receive the doll back safe and sound. She told me to send her the refund and she'd return the doll. I again told her nicely thats not how it works so long story short she's returning him back and I clearly told her the amount I would refund her. But now I await the dreaded negative feedback (it will be my first if she decides to give it to me) I hate ebays feedback policy and told them so. It's totally unfair to the buyers!!

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

This is exactly why I hate ebay! It just takes one person to mess up your score! You can just hope she won't leave negative feedback, but if she does, at least you can respond and hopefully buyers will take the time to check your feedback and comments. Stuff like this makes me so hesitant to sell on ebay. I've sold other things on ebay that I didn't make and had problems with a few buyers. Makes ya just wanna give up sometimes! Good luck with this. Let us know how it turns out.
Hugs, Melinda

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Ditto to what Melinda said. I am really afraid of eBay for exactly the same reason. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, what's the recourse if you are involved in a transaction with someone who cannot be reasoned with? I dealt with a couple people years ago who were complete mental cases. I ended up paying $25.00 to a mediation service to resolve the problems and get my good rating back. These people were so out of touch, intimidated, or their conscience finally got the best of them that they never even responded. I'm not sure they have that service any longer, but it's hard to make a profit on eBay if you encounter too many people like that.

mama duck · Newbie

Ebay can be a mess I set a reserve and some how it didnt go through and I was stuck suplying 20 diapers for 4.00 Handmade and shipping cost I ENDED UP LOSING 6.00 instead of making any

sara zata · Guru

I read your story Pat, and gave you the green thumbs up. But I don't want to live to 150,How old and ugly would I be by then. But you have real enthusiasm, going to school for so long. I let people like you teach me something new everyday, even if it is only one thing at a time. I think that is all by brain can hold at the moment. LOL. Best Wishes, and what a lovely story. XXXXX June

Tina W. · Guru

Thank you all for your support. I think I'm done with e bay. Its ashame, they aren't very supportive to buyers at all, you can never get in touch with them when there's a problem. If I paid shipping both ways I would be losing money.

Abby · Senior Member

Congratulations on your fab article buffi, how does it feel to be famous?
Tina, that sucks :( Bad enough to have to deal with a horrible ebayer but even worse if they attack your work. I'm sure your buyer probably has some other issue like lack of money or something, no need to be mean tho is there.

Buffington · Guru

Thanks for the green thumbs up June. Hope Sam is still on the mend or better!

Thank you Abby. Am I famous now lol? Sure would like the money that us "supposed" to go with fame, maybe that'll come later? hehehe

Ya, I don't like evilbay for that reason either. They're all for the buyer and the seller has not really any recourse in their eyes. Too bad they have to be that way. Hopefully you can add a comment after that mean person adds their negative. If nothing else maybe it'll give you a neutral instead of a neg. I always look at why the neg is a neg. Makes a diff to me!

Tina W. · Guru

Thanks Pat,
Still awaiting her reply. She's was quick enough to involve ebay though when I didn't reply the next day! She still hasn't sent the doll back yet or even let me know when she will. Oh well there are always a few like that huh?

Buffington · Guru

I would put a "time limit" on getting the doll back hun. Otherwise sounds like she might take forever just to make you wait! I know people like that.

(darned forum, I had allllll this other stuff and suggestions typed in here and it only gave me 2 lines!) Ok well maybe I can remember what else I had in here...

Let the customer and ebay know of your time limit. That way there is no question of why you kept the money after that limit has passed. Also let her know (if you haven't already) that everything must be exactly as you shipped it to her (doll, accessories, etc) or she won't get her money back.

Also, try to find out "how" she shipped the doll back to you. I had a customer who said she shipped something to me first class and should take 2 weeks from overseas. Well, she sent it book rate and I got it "7 weeks" later!!! She said she couldn't afford the first class (and "I" paid for the postage!!).

Then, don't refund her money as soon as you get the doll back. Take some time to check out the doll and stuff that went with it to make sure it's just as you sent it to her. Don't over-look anything! People are funny (not haha) when dealing with money and returns.

I have been in business for 20 years and seen almost everything. Some of it wasn't pretty. I'm not saying this customer would do anything but you never know. Just be aware hun.
I had one customer who found a similar doll (not as well done) for cheaper after she bought mine and came back to me wanting her money back. When I refused she through the doll at me and said she'd sue me! Poor doll!

So just keep this stuff in mind hun. :) I'm hoping all works out for you!

-- Edited by Buffington on Monday 12th of October 2009 02:02:54 PM

Tina W. · Guru

Thanks Pat I will!

Buffington · Guru

You're welcome Tina. Have you heard anything yet from anyone on this issue? It's been a few days...