posted on May 18, 2001 10:45:10 AM
My cats are in big trouble.
I recently listed a number of dresses on eBay. The nicest was a lovely 100% silk dress by a good name brand, and the bidding on it was great. All my dresses were hanging on a rack awaiting packaging, and I put this one in the back because I was afraid the cats would get to it (hanging fabric, what fun!)
Well, this morning I wrote to the buyer after receiving her payment yesterday, told her the dress would ship today, and left great feedback for her. Then I went downstairs to iron the dress and -- yikes! -- the cats had gotten to it and there was a snag and some claw holes at the bottom in the back!
I felt just sick because it was such a beautiful dress, it had sold for a good price, and now I was going to have to explain to the buyer what happened.
I wrote to her (again) explaining the situation and apologizing profusely, and I hope she's understanding about it. I'm sure she'll be disappointed, and I would be, too. I offered her a choice of either her money order back, or the dress and her money order back. I haven't heard back from her yet.
This is certainly my fault for leaving the dress where the cats could get to it at all, but I'm pretty mad at those little buggers. I love them to bits, but must they destroy the nicest dress I had for sale?
Has anyone else had any merchandise casualties due to the four-legged residents of your house? How did your buyers respond when you explained, and what was the item which was damaged or destroyed?
posted on May 18, 2001 10:49:54 AM
We have a golden who was only 6 mouths old. He brings the mail to the office every morning. One night my wife and i decided to go to the movies so we left dallas at the office. My ebay money orders and paypal papers were on the desk. When we came back from the movies , the papers were destoried. We spent 7 hours taping everything back together
posted on May 18, 2001 10:56:01 AM
The Beagle dog ate the nose off of a large stuffed alf figure that was on the dressser for "safe keeping" we refunded the money and explained the situation.
posted on May 18, 2001 10:58:29 AM
My kitties never were the cause of any problems...I have been though. Tipping over a wonderful victorian Urn and breaking off one handle. Dropping a salt shaker on the carpet, no problem til it bounced and hit a cast iron dutch oven that I was going to photograph (someday). Or cleaning a bronze bookend with a soft toothbrush before packing it to remove some polish residue from the previous owner...only to have the skin peel (low and behold-plated not solid)
People are usually very understanding when the explanation is immediate. The Urn was a loss, the bookends sold at Brimfield still made a profit and the customer wanted the salt shaker inspite of the chip cause she got the set so cheaply...Not too bad.
I really feel for you and your little guys...dey be sooo sweet and sooo dumb!!
edited to add.
RainyBear email her a picture of the two of them when they were little....she'll feel
better to see how darling they are.
posted on May 18, 2001 11:13:26 AM
I don't have any pets but I dohave stories about my neice who comes over once a year and damages or loses my items.
The first time it was really my fault because I had ths rare hallowen mask and had put it on to freak her out and she swiped at it and cracked it.
The second time she came over I had moved things out of her clumsy way, but she still managed to knock over a couple boxes, losing a vintage plastic ring that I just sold for $30.
She's due for a visit this July and I'm just bracing for it.
posted on May 18, 2001 11:23:12 AM
No, but (and this is a true story!), when I was placing a bid on an item last year, one of my Kitties decided she needed to give me some Fuzz Therapy, walked over my keyboard to reach me, and placed a huge bid on my behalf.
Thankfully the seller was very understanding!
btw, I ended up with the winning bid (albeit much more realistic), and, I still love my Kitties (brother and sister - just turned 5 in January of this year).
posted on May 18, 2001 11:23:12 AM
I have not one, but two cats and 110 dog that lives in the house.............they have never damaged one thing......knock on wood........but my two kids ~ that is another story ~ I have had to email people due to 5 pc place settings being knocked off the counter, I lost a $30.00 sell because they tore the door off a toy washing machine, and I can't tell you the hours we spent looking for a top to a thermos bottle ~ that was the only customer who was not understanding ~ she got this Mickey Mouse thermos really cheap ~ and it should have gone high ~ she demanded that it be shipped to her ~ finally found it on the 5th sweap of the playroom.
I have also spent hours looking for little people ~ my three year old just loves them and dollhouse stuff...........it just disappears..........out of the plastic bag off the top shelf even.........weeks later she will bring it to me and tell me this is my little man that she "found" in the playroom.
posted on May 18, 2001 11:28:41 AM
My 1-yr old Miniature Pinscher has eaten a beautiful Evan-Picone business skirt suit I had already taken pictures of and was about ready to list.
I had a "brand new with tags" business skirt suit by Casual Corner, retailed at over $150. She ate the tags that were attached - including the little packet of "extra buttons" and destroyed them to bits.
I had some "silly slammer" balls that talked or made noises when you slam them or throw them. I had about 20 of them and I was going to list them on ebay. They were all brand new with tags. Next thing I know, I can hear the balls talking in the other room and I KNEW they were not doing it by themselves! I ended up letting her have all of them and they are now her toys (what's left of them anyways - once the beads start pouring out they go in the garbage!)
posted on May 18, 2001 11:38:05 AM
Well, I heard back from my buyer and she understands. Luckily, she has furry babies too! I'll be sending her the dress and her money order and I hope she'll be able to use it despite the damage. Whew, what a relief! I still feel bad, but I'm glad she's not angry.
Zilvy, I like your idea about sending her a picture of the cute little culprits. I do have them on my "About Me" page so maybe she's already peeked at them.
posted on May 18, 2001 11:57:33 AM
My cat Cassie, went inside a drawer and ripped up some sewing patterns I had listed.
She loves to rip paper. You can't keep any important papers laying around. To keep her happy and out of trouble we have a box of throw-a-way computer paper for her to rip. Now she has a job as the offical Paper Shredder.
On two separate occasions, my tabby cat, Mr. Pablo, scratched a new high-end leather bag worth $200+. I store all my items, so he got to them while they were out being photographed (he has a thing for good leather). The scratches were minor, yet noticeable. I mentioned the flaws, and how they came to be flawed, in the descriptions, and added a picture of the "offender" and "2-time offender." Not only did both bags do well, but I got a lot of emails from cat owners, and did some extra business because of it.
posted on May 18, 2001 12:37:19 PM
great thread, rainybear!
not actually destroyed :knocking on wood: but last winter i sold two black vintage cashmere sweaters. usually i put my beloved cat o-u-t-side when i'm packing, but either i forgot or she somehow sneaked back in. anyway, i was busy locating the tissue paper and doing labels when i turned back to them, only to find kitty curled up on *both* sweaters, blissfully slumbering. an hour and many sticky roller sheets later, they were more or less de-haired. i emailed the buyers and told them what happened, so if they happened to find a stray hair or two, i just hope they understood, but to know i'd done my best. both buyers were very understanding, and said they didn't find any cat hair on their sweaters
posted on May 18, 2001 12:41:19 PM
LOL ybriknik! You knew I'd have to respond here.
No pets, but how about a kid destroyer?!
My infant decided to spit up all over a Ralph Lauren shirt I had sold. Didn't think much of it and just put it in the laundry that night. Apparently I was too late with the Tide! Big huge blotches of stain on it. I was just sick!
Fortunately the buyer understood (I thought maybe she'd think I was lying!) and even left me positive feedback after I had refunded her money.
Sometimes the kid can be as bad as the pets! No babies by my inventory anymore...
posted on May 18, 2001 01:06:42 PM
Febreeze or Fabreeze available in the cleaning section of the supermarket is an amazing product safe on most surfaces (fabric) simply spray according to directions and you are home free..as long as you don't have a stain. It attacks (absorbs) odors nor perfumed cover up.
posted on May 18, 2001 02:02:03 PM
I had a huge tv box full of ebay stuff to list. My 18 year old cat Sam jumped inside and clawed a real Chanel purse- the only great item I had to list at the time. She then proceded to wet on everything!
posted on May 18, 2001 08:30:09 PM
Once listed a Mennonite linen apron in perfect condition. The cat decided that was unacceptable and put tiny claw holes on the bottom (should NOT have left it hanging in the open) emailed the bidder and told her if she wanted to cancel that would be fine. She still wanted it and I sent it, along with the book
"101 Uses For A Dead Cat"
She is now bought many items from me and I consider her one of my best customers.
The cat looks decidedly smug.
