posted on January 1, 2007 10:38:57 AM new
German buyer bought ad on 11/15. Never responded to WBN, invoice, etc. So I filed a NPB on 12/7 thinking I would hear from him
No response to eBay and I receive the FVF back. Relist item and I move on.
So, today, I get an alert from eBay that someone has filed Item not received. It is this German guy leaving me a German message:
Artikel nicht erhalten: 1939 UK Ad Daimler Vogue Limousine Windovers Large (Artikelnummer 130033877703)
Zahlungsmethode: Barzahlung
Zahlungsdatum: Nov-26-2006
Basically it says he sent CASH on 11/26, where's his item.
No where do I say I accept cash. I have received cash on occasion and ALWAYS let the buyer know it arrived. I did not get any cash from this guy (maybe someone along the route did, IF he actually mailed it).
posted on January 1, 2007 10:45:06 AM new
U can bet a neg is coming and I wouldnt worry about it much. Ive stopped shipping to Germany because the last 3 transactions have ended badly and cost me money so no more selling to Germany.
Actually, I don't think you have a thing to worry about.
1) You filed a NPB and received a FVF, with the bidder never responding to the Unpaid Item Dispute. This means that your bidder has lost his feedback priviliges and can no longer leave you feedback (although you can leave feedback for them!)
2) The Item Not Received dispute will not hold up with eBay. There is no way for him to prove he sent payment, or that payment reached you (cash is untraceable). You are in the clear.
You've done everything right... don't worry about it!
******************************
posted on January 1, 2007 10:54:17 AM new
I experienced alot of this type of thing during this holiday selling period from US and international buyers. I think it was "in the air world wide) You did the right thing by doing nothing but responding to the ebay thing with the facts.
Look at the buyer's feedback and see if he has left negs for other sellers and why. That should give you an indication of what he may or may not do.
Do you state in your auctions an accepted time period when payment can be received? 10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks? If not, you may want to add that to all of your auction/store descriptions. I will protect you from things like this in the future.
posted on January 1, 2007 01:16:03 PM new
capolady wrote Ive stopped shipping to Germany because the last 3 transactions have ended badly and cost me money so no more selling to Germany.
I sympathize with your recent bad experience but I enjoy the opposite. I regularly sell to buyers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and it's almost always trouble free. Never have a payment problem and buyers usually pay by bank transfer within a few hours of getting my bank details. German, Austrian, and Swiss customers pay direct into our EUR or CHF bank account - and it costs them and us nothing in fees; also it's usually same day credited. The only problem is German/Austrian customs are occasionally backlogged and mail sits there for a few more days than expected. Still, most airmail arrives in 7 to 14 business days and it's even faster to Switzerland.
posted on January 1, 2007 07:44:13 PM newIS A NEG COMING???
Who cares? Bottom line is you didn't get paid and you still have the item. Quit losing sleep on what you cannot control and start selling more items to other people.
posted on January 2, 2007 10:35:37 AM newBottom line is you didn't get paid and you still have the item. Quit losing sleep on what you cannot control and start selling more items to other people.
posted on January 2, 2007 10:47:02 AM new
Okay, so let's talk about expanding your business. (No, I don't mean your web site!)
You claim that you sell only originals, never reproductions. Why? I can see that collectors will only want originals, but what about the nostalgia market? What about Granny whose eyes can no longer make out the detail in that 6 x 4 inch ad?
Or, how's this? Why not offer them the original small ad *and* an enlargement on top-quality acid-free archival paper?
Depending on the age of the ad... not all material is public domain. It would be copyright infringement to copy many of the ads for resale. Obtaining copyright permission to duplicate ads can be difficult, since the copyright may be owned by a) the company that owns the product, b) the advertising firm contracted for the ad, or c) the artist that designed the ad. Even older ads can have had their copyright renewed, (although this rarely happens) making it even more difficult to determine what is and is not public domain. The safest and most ethical business practice is to only sell originals.
******************************
posted on January 2, 2007 11:40:25 AM newAs long as you are selling the original ad along with an enlargement, I don't see a problem.
The problem is it's illegal and punishable up to $100,000 per infringement. You'd better believe that companies like Disney, Coca-Cola, John Deere, etc... would have BIG problems with large blow-ups of their vintage ads (regardless of whether or not it's sold with the original). These companies make some decent money by selling their own reproductions of these ads (ever been in a Cracker Barrel store?). All it takes is one unhappy customer to complain and turn you in to one of these companies legal departments... and you're out of business.
******************************
posted on January 2, 2007 01:01:51 PM new
Jeez...I was just sharing a story Fluff and Stone, don't go postal! I'm not perseverating or turning to the bottle over it. Just sharing a story guys, lighten up.
As for repros: First, others are doing that already, including a couple on ebay. I watched closely as two of my best sellers: Pinehurst little golfer and Harley Davidson are two of the most popular repros out there. One person is now naru'd and the other has limited eBay success from what I can gather. The really old Mucha, art deco, etc. ads are already being sold for posters on the big poster sites. AND, check out that Hearst, New Yorker and other magazines are now selling repros of their covers and vintage ads by well known illustrators(waiting for them to vero everyone on eBay??; I doubt it)
Second, I already do repros with interior designers. The ads are too small for the restaurants and homes and so they get blown up by a company I use in San Antonio. I have provided decor for everything from laundry mats to Abercrombie and Fitch home office.
Third, eauction is right, check out ad access at duke university for the copyright issues. One of my clients will only purchase ads prior to 1929 due to copyright concerns. She incorporates my ads into her collages. She is on the internet: http://galeriecollagia.com/. I have Pagoda Head hanging in my office as we speak. She is another long-time client. I have many artists, ad agencys, students, etc. buy the ads for projects.
Fourth, there are a lot of ways to make money with the ads. For example, I have ads of famous Texas hotels, car dealerships, stores and restaurants that go back to the early 1900's. I have had notecards made of the ads, the hotels buy them and sell them in their gift stores. Other companies buy them for gifts.
One of the largest orders I had was from Prudential. They wanted 100 ads to frame for gifts for agents. I do a lot of special order work.
Anyway, I am always open and welcome for business ideas, so shoot em out!! Thank you.
posted on January 2, 2007 01:29:41 PM new
"Lighten up."
I'm sorry. I forgot I wasn't talking to other entrepreneurs.
It's a mistake I frequently make on eBay boards...assuming that people who sell are actually interested in making money rather than grousing.
Obviously I'm wrong because over at that other place there is yet another thread on feedback (I leave it first! I don't!)
Oh, my bad.
As far as copyright issues go, one possible out is the one the couponers use. They aren't allowed to sell coupons. What they sell is their time in finding, clipping and listing. I see absolutely no difference between making an enlargement of ad art to include with a purchase for the purchaser's use and that purchaser taking the ad to Staples to have them do it. You are providing a service along with the product (the original ad).
But hey, just keep on doing what you've always done. It's all eBay's fault, anyway.
fLufF
--
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Jan 2, 2007 01:34 PM ]
I think I can speak for both myself and Beth when I say that we are in this business to make money. We're just not willing to engage in illegal activities. You obviously do not understand copyright law. I do. I have studied it extensively, and am are of the limitations involved. It does not necessarily mean that I AGREE with all the copyright laws... but I do abide by them. Staples is SUPPOSED to, too... but it just depends on how well they've trained their employees. If Staples makes the copy for their customer... then THEY can be held liable up to $100,000 per infringement. No ones blaming the copyright issues on eBay... it's our legal system that has developed the copyright laws. Ignorance is not a defense against a law... you either abide by the law, or you run the risk of being prosecuted. That is why I make sure that I have a full understanding of copyright. I'd suggest that you do the same before you recommend others engage in illegal activities.
******************************
posted on January 4, 2007 07:57:52 AM new
As an ad seller myself for 7 years, I know about the grappling with copyright issues. The Pinehurst people will be all over anyone reproducing the "little golfer" ad in a New York minute. I assume you are referring to the ad with the little black boy in it. Not exactly the image Pinehurst wants.
fluffy as usual enjoys instructing others, even when they have way more experience and knowledge than she does.
