posted on October 22, 2001 08:10:03 PMI would expect that is possibly why even residential mailboxes on a skin infected postal workers mail route are being tested.
They're testing the mailboxes, kiddo2, in the hopes of pinpointing the origin of the infected letters.
I am sorry that I do not subscribe to Ebay bucks no matter what the cost.
posted on October 22, 2001 08:27:13 PM
Are the terrorists putting a hallucinogenic substances in the soft drinks of this country? I swear...the only thing I have been drinking is canned coke and the only thing I have smoked is regular tobacco...but I seem to be having hallucinations!
I could swear Pocono said he agreed with me 100%...and we all know that CAN'T be true!!
Forget the anthrax...they have started putting "stuff" in our sodas. Danged teerorists, they really know how to hit us where it really will cripple us!!
posted on October 22, 2001 08:44:58 PM
Kiddo2..wanna buy 6000 round building bricks? I'll give you a good deal on them! They would be perfect for building that "terrorist shelter" you need.
Be the first one on your block to have his own personal "anthrax protecive shelter". And while you sit and twiddle your thumbs waiting for those little spores to go away you can chase the boredom away by listening to "La Boheme" starring Anna Moffo...or Strauss waltzes.
Act quickly and I will sell them to you for $1500 (includes shipping and detailed blueprints for building your personal antrhax shelter). But you have to be quick, I already have two other buyers interested.
posted on October 22, 2001 08:58:52 PM
It's surprising that online buyers even use checks and money orders anymore. You're buying from a total stranger, but will trust them and send a money order, but don't trust established online payment businesses? Just doesn't make sense.
posted on October 22, 2001 09:09:53 PM
to fountainhouse: It is not hypocrisy on my part..buyers know the risks and they decide to bid or not..Well, anyway, latest news I heard tonite on CNN "we do not "think" spores would adhere to mail to infect residential mail" Whew! Feel better now! Referencing the Brentwood postal workers deaths and the 10 day interim before testing the bldg, They also say they are learning every day, it is still "new" and they are doing their best to protect the public. I believe they are, but, we are dealing with a basically unknown and unseen enemy here and my not choosing to play Russian Roulette with my mailbox, when it is not necessary to do so, is a freedom I choose to utilize. I do not bungy jump either... I have lived next to an airport for thirty years with planes in and out all day right over my house...no fear there! One small plane landed in the road in front of my house once! Have seen the Blue Angels for twenty of those years close enough to see the pilots helmets, they fly so low over my house when they go in...I am right in the flight path. At least I could see what hit me if it ever did. Not like insidious invisible threats..since I am not a postal worker, I do not have to deal with it at all, so I guess I won't. I pay all my bills online so have no need for any mail now..I have sold on Ebay for over three years with over 1300 positive feedbacks and Ebay ain't what it used to be anyway!.. maybe I will just move on and find some new challenge in my life, a definate pre-anthrax thought. Just have not figured out yet what I want to do...something that involves excerise, I know that! I know, you will be all glad to see me go by the tone of the posts...I do what I can
posted on October 22, 2001 09:54:55 PMJust have not figured out yet what I want to do...something that involves excerise
Now the bad side of my brain is thinking that it would take a lot of exercise to build a bunker.
But the good side of me will say that I am sorry that you have fears, kiddo2. Please remember that so far the anthrax threats have been targeted at politicians and media, not at you.
Perhaps go outside and enjoy some of the "real world" and deal with the general public for awhile. Hopefully you will see that most are carrying on business as usual even if they also have fears.
And no, I will not be glad to see you go. I enjoy everyone's input here, whether I agree with them or not. I wish you the best.
posted on October 22, 2001 10:27:45 PM
[b]I'd LOVE to just get on line payments, and I encourage that as much as possible. It stops all sorts of problems, like late mail, MO's or Checks getting lost in the mail, and the endless e-mails regarding such. I haven't limited "mode of payment," but I'd like to."
In fact when I am buying I look for a site which accepts PayPal if possible.[/b]
posted on October 22, 2001 10:50:11 PM
Well, far be it from me to inject a dose of sanity in this debate; but I found this to be a fairly rational opinion of the situation.
posted on October 23, 2001 06:16:24 AM
REF:Please remember that so far the anthrax threats have been targeted at politicians and media, not at you.
For the ZILLIONTH time, I do not expect to be a target of the "LETTER" and I never said such!.. My concern is the POTENTIAL IMPROBABLE? risk of CROSS CONTAMINATION since no one is SURE yet what the capabilities are, especially since your average Joe would not necessarily interpet symptoms and not be told by the government to take cipcro since he did not work in a high risk area. Just where has that letter you receive in the mail been?? Do you know?? Do you think your bidder put it directly in your mailbox? Did you know that the letter to Argentina from Florida that tested positive for anthrax AFTER the targeted person contracted the disease was was not a letter at all, not even in an envelope? It was an open cruise line vacation brochure with anthrax spores PRESSED INTO THE PAPER! NOW, how many post offices, mail bins,postal workers and other letters being mailed to the general public did it infect on its journey? One of yours? Fear not, you should know within the up to 60 days gestation period.
You know, funny thing, I was not so adament about my decision until this AW post because I just can not believe so many people have such narrow minded views on the subject not to mention using the forum for childish insults. One gentleman (enjoyed your interesting article link)referred to this board as a debate...Well, that was the intent but I rather see it as a bashing by most, an actual debate has focus and the parties actually listen to one another. This was never meant to be a panic call to be stamped out with big boots but a thought provoking idea thrown on the table for legitimate discussion. A forum to air even the slightest worries amongst your ebay peers with honesty and without fear of harsh reprisal. A forum to discuss priorities and alternatives. A debate is pros & cons. Contrary to the general consensus here, I am NOT dibilitated by fear, I know the remoteness of the probability of it reaching MY mailbox but I have chosen the path of least resistance because I can. My analytical mind asks such questions as why the postal authorities are sending EVERYONE a postcard on how to handle suspicious mail if not EVERYONE is a potential target? How hard would it be for a terrorist to incorporate mass boxholder mailings, such as "to resident"? What other agents might next be mailed? How many antrax cases have NOT reached the media in small towns across the world? How severe will the casualties be AFTER the maximum gestation periods? What are the latest dates of intercepted letters and packages since the middle of September or have they ceased to appear or doesn't anyone know? How effective will the cipcro really be? How long can this stuff lay dormant? Who knows, does anybody?
Asking questions does not a bunker build but, I suppose, if you build it, they will come. Not me! That constitutes giving up freedom I will not subscribe to, nor will I buy a gas mask or take antibiotics "just in case" I will not stop going to malls or flying to Colorado or any other thing I want or need to do. But... to reduce my incoming mail? Why not? Aleviate a little stress I do have some control over? Why not? Get off the mailing list of all PIA junk advertising mail? Why not? OHHHH...I see>>>I should just have it redirected to my bunker mail chute after it has passed through a big microwave..Oh yea...why didn't I think of that!
posted on October 23, 2001 06:24:41 AM
I agree. You'll lose sales.
I had someone send me a money order and when I got it, she had my name as Catherine instead of Christine. So I emailed her to see what to do (my bank said they wouldn't cash it) and she started going on about how she isn't going to buy on eBay any more because. . .why can't people just take a check since she has a rating of (400).
I explained to her that i only put MO only to make it easier and for those buyers that have a lower rating. . .since I don't want to have to wait to get the check, then wait for it to clear the bank, too much trouble.
I went ahead and told her to send me a check since she seemed very upset abou it.
And now I'm wondering how many others haven't bought from me since i don't have it stated that I accept checks.
posted on October 23, 2001 06:26:08 AM
I just offered to send a Canada Post money order to a seller in the USA and was told that if it wasn't in his hands within 14 days, I would lose my "winning bidder" status. In light of the facts that the only time I can get a money order from the post office is on a weekend, that mail doesn't move in Canada on the weekends, and that all mail in North America is being delayed as a result of 9-11 (which is probably going to get worse as a result of the deaths in Washington), there is no way I am going to buy a money order and mail it only to be told "too late - you lost your winning status"!
Maybe it's time for sellers to relax their insistence on having the money in their hands within an unreasonable time frame, at least until things get back to normal.
posted on October 23, 2001 07:36:47 AMI would lose my "winning bidder" status
I hope you put them on your "do not ever buy from again" list. I give my international customers (including Canada) 21 days & more if they need.
And since I'm asking my international customers to have patience w/receiving their packages (never know if the mail is moving & if it's going to get hung up in customs), then I can only extend them the same courtesy w/regard to getting their payment here.
posted on October 23, 2001 10:07:35 AM
(this said with a wink and a grin) The only really safe thing you can sell without touching anything is Porno - Now go do the right thing
posted on October 23, 2001 10:32:32 AM
I accept all kinds of payments, cash check, MO, credit card through yahoo, balance transfers through paypal, etc... And right now, I've still got 3 canadian payments I'm waiting for. It's been 4 weeks. They don't impress as deadbeats, so I'm waiting. They have emailed me a couple of times, I've got their address. It took a priority mail from Canada 10 days, so, we're just waiting.
posted on October 23, 2001 10:39:56 AM
anybody trying the microwave trick of frying each piece of mail before opening it? Is it legend or will it really kill anthrax and all bacteria? If yes, what setting do you use?
posted on October 23, 2001 10:40:12 AM
Osama Bin Laden is on the same level as Hitler and Stalin. Ultimately, he will lose big-time. But unfortunately he has won in the short term. When he masterminded his evil scheme he surely had no delusions about bringing down the US. What he wanted all along was to take away our way of life, make us change our lifestyle and ways of doing business. In the short term he has succeeded as evidenced by this thread.
Things will never be the same in America when compared to the time before September 11. But the changes will make us stronger and the terrorists weaker.
That being said, I have no intention of changing the way I do business. I will most certainly exercise due care and be diligent in my efforts to protect myself, my family, my business, and my country. But I will NOT give in to fear. To do so is to send a clear message to Osama and his ilk that tactics like those used on New York and D.C. work. I refuse to send him such a message. I'll keep flying (for business AND pleasure). I'll accept payments through them mail. I'll attend sporting events, concerts, and any other large gathering that interests me. Might I get killed in the process? Of course, but not likely. Every breath that I take on this earth will be taken as a proud American. If I live my life in fear and change my lifestyle to Osama's liking, I'll no longer be living a free life. I would rather die (seriously) than live in fear holed up and avoiding the American way of life.
Will I be diligent? Yes.
Will I make adjustments to help assure safety? Of course?
Will I let Osama completely change my way of life? Never.
posted on October 23, 2001 10:52:51 AM
kiddo, if you are worried about crosscontamination in the mail, well, you better stay inside.
A scenario for you:
You go to the grocery store, and are happily tossing goodies in your cart.
Unknown to you, a postal worker is at the store too. THis postal worker got dusted with spores at work and doesnt know it.
He has just handled a box of hamburger helper and left spores all over it.
And YOU just held the same box up to your face to read the nutrient label... and inhaled 12,347 spores!!!!
Which is just about as likely as crosscontamination from a buyer's payment.
posted on October 23, 2001 10:58:47 AM
I agree with Holdenrex. Accepting different forms of payment actually makes it easier for me, since they don't all arrive at the same time, and I don't have to get all those packages shipped at once. I know the guys at the post office or at Fed Ex would rather see me come in with 3 or 4 packages at a time instead of 20! So would all those people standing in line behind me.
I'll take payment anyway they want to send it to me - cash, money order, personal check, PayPal, Paydirect, BidPay, etc.
I am at greater risk of contracting some nasty bug at the hospital I work at than of getting a letter with anthrax spores in it.
Hospitals are crawling with germs! HIV, TB, the flesh eating strep bacterium, a really nasty one called MRSA that is resistant to almost every antibiotic on the market, pneumonia, flu viruses, etc., but I still haul my happy b--- off to work everyday, despite the risks. We don't always know which patients have infectious diseases for several days because we have to wait for cultures to come back. By simply being careful (namely frequent handwashing), I have never gotten an infection from anyone I cared for.
This, by the way, is the reason you shouldn't take young children to visit at hospitals! If you must take a child to visit at the hospital, keep that kid on your lap at all times. Whatever you do, don't let the kid crawl around on the floor!
Send your bidders to me! I'll take their business!
If we are afraid of getting mail from buyers, shouldn't the reverse be true? Should buyers be afraid to get mail from us?
posted on October 23, 2001 10:59:34 AManybody trying the microwave trick of frying each piece of mail before opening it?
Ironing will also kill it. But if won't iron my husband's shirts, I'll be derned if I'm going to iron his mail.
WAIT! What a brilliant flash I just had for a new service...I'll collect & sanitize your mail for you..for a daily price. In this day & time, you wait & see if someone doesn't come up w/this sales pitch.
[ edited by Eventer on Oct 23, 2001 11:00 AM ]
posted on October 23, 2001 11:34:07 AMI hope you put them on your "do not ever buy from again" list. I give my international customers (including Canada) 21 days & more if they need
I didn't have to! The seller emailed me and understood my problem. The deal will be completed even if it takes month for my money order to get from here to California.
btw, this was a Carnaby buy, not eBay, but the issue (delay in mail and impatient sellers)is the same on all venues. This reminds me of the "good old days" in tape trading, before email and even FAX machines. Trades were negotiated via snail mail and LD telephone calls ... waiting 6 months for a tape was not unusual.
To all you impatient sellers: Go to Jamaica Man and order a beer. Soon come man ...
posted on October 23, 2001 11:46:31 AMOsama Bin Laden is on the same level as Hitler and Stalin. Ultimately, he will lose big-time. But unfortunately he has won in the short term
I think most of his current "winning" is the result of the way the US is reacting to his tactics. Take the recent Anthrax deaths for example. Already NBC is stirring up the pot by suggesting that the government cares more about their Senators than it does about the postal workers. Soon, the Senators will be arguing with the Postmaster General and the Union leaders and all the other players. The best way to turn a country upside down is from within, and with all due respect to my US friends, I believe many US residents are taking the bait hook, line and sinker.
