Light the blue touch paper..... and run !!

To those who know me well I am quite a happy , calm person. I very rarely moan,  groan or lose my temper. I love my job being a brocanteuse and truffling for shabby vintage treasures but, today,a rare event. I am about to get on my soap box...............................

So, if you are of a nervous nature or delicate disposition you may wish to look away now!

So, you must be thinking, what has upset me?

I have been selling on the Ebay auction site for well over 10 years and it suits my business. I work very hard at it and if I am not photographing - I am listing; if I am not listing - I am packaging;  and if I am not packaging then I am out truffling for treasures. It is full time and I put everything into it.

The "feedback which is left by my buyers reflects, in my view, my reputation and service - and I am very proud of it. I have had many, many regular buyers based worldwide who, over the years, have become wonderful friends too. I love to welcome new clients and the chateau gates are always open to them.

When I lived in the UK I sold both at antiques fairs and in my shops - and loved to meet customers face to face - soemthing which, regrettably, cannot happen when distance-selling on Ebay. So, unable to talk directly, I make my auction descriptions as full as possible, as if I am describing the item in person to the buyer. I try to miss nothing out right down to the tiniest of details.

The only thing which I have no control over, of course, when distance-selling is the postage system, and how long it can actually take for a parcel to reach its destination once it leaves my hands. We package carefully and post off as soon as practically possible after payment has been received. The French postal system -  La Poste - can be a little slow at times but really no slower than most other postal services and, with international parcels, customs checks can also result in a delays in delivery time. Other factors also greatly affect delivery dates: excessively bad weather closing airports ( like at Xmas in the UK last year) or increased security measures. [Thank goodness I have no parcels bound for Egypt at the present time!!]. But if someone is awaiting a parcel longer than normal I literally turn myself inside out to help track a package and give them my full attention.

If someone decides an item is not for them; perhaps the wrong colour or the wrong size when put it in place, I immediately ask that the item be returned and arrange a return. Never any problems;  the customer is always right.

But.......not this week! One parcel has not arrived at its destination ( in the USA) and the buyer, quite understandably, was becoming more and more concerned as to its whereabouts and sent me two emails - both of which I responded to. But, before I was able to start the tracking process between France and the USA .........wham!  The buyer had decided that the delay must have been my fault - and had left me negative feedback on the two items she had bought. Absolutely unfair for something that is out of  my control.  I really have seen red as I was not given a chance to sort it out or even arrange a refund for a possible lost item.  I have politely asked the buyer to kindly withdraw the feedback whilst I sort out the parcel problem but I have received a curt "NO". Ebay, unhelpfully, have said that there is nothing I can do.

 Today I have felt like giving up selling on Ebay completely -  and simply selling from my own website. But I have let my head rule my heart on this occasion!

And so to this particular Ebayer I say this..................

Madam, the gates to the chateau will remain firmly closed to you!

Okay. Rant over....get over yourself woman and move on!
Moving on as we speak.