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Bakelite Kid page
Member since: Sunday, May 21, 2000
SquareTrade © AP6.0
Activity Update"Credit crunch" / "People haven't got the money...." - people have got the money, but are just too frightened to spend it! I wonder why people bid on secondhand / used, but current production cameras and end up buying them for around the same price (sometimes more) than a brand new one? 22/12/08 Just saw one of my items finish with no bids - yet there where 20 people watching it and 229 page hits, the start price was an absolute minimum of what the item would achieve, yet no one bid - amazing! I am finding it a cause for concern that potential buyers are not taking the time to fully read and understand my adverts as well as this page for my full terms and conditions.
The items that I sellI have a wide variety of items from the early 1900's onwards, that have been collected over a 30 plus year period. I am very fussy about condition, so rest assured that all the things I sell I have happily displayed or have used in my smoke free home. Age, composition, condition and origin of items are honestly described to the best of my ability and I take customer satisfaction very seriously. Where applicable, I also provide the usual measurements of height, width and depth and the items weight in both the metric and imperial systems - if I show a measurement in inches as 3.25 that is 3 and a quarter, 3.5 is 3 and a half and 3.75 is 3 and three quarters. I realise that I am probably stating the obvious here, like most E-Bay sellers, I reasonably expect to make a profit on items I sell - I do put a lot of effort into the advertisements. I believe that I place fair starting prices on my auctions, as there is no point in underselling top quality items - remember, these are starting prices only and the items that I sell are worth substantially more than this in terms of current market / replacement value. I provide high quality objects, honestly described and honestly sold - so you should find dealing with me a very pleasurable experience.
Please read the following sections very carefully.
Terms and ConditionsPlease remember that my intentions are to provide accurate descriptions, photographs and the customer with a pleasant transaction. The advertisements also include statements that are purely my own personal opinion of the item for sale. Ensure you study the photographs as they form part of the description and read the accompanying text carefully. If there is anything that you require help with, or are unsure about, please do not hesitate to send me a question ( do not leave it until the final day of the auction to ask!) and I will do my utmost to answer your queries as accurately and as quickly as possible. Your bid is a contract, so place a bid only if you're serious about buying. If you are the winner, you will enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from me (the seller) and to complete the transaction within 5 calendar days of auction closure. If the winning buyer backs out of payment (for non valid reasons as specified by E-Bay), I will, after 7 calendar days, take steps including having to initiate the Non Paying Bidder Program, no excuses, no exceptions. If I sell an item ‘as is’ that indicates that it is non-returnable, the customer is accepting the item with all plus, as well as all negative qualities, seen or unseen. I reserve the right to modify or withdraw any payment method or service advertised on any current or future auction without notice or reason. My Selling Policies Standard Auctions - PLEASE DO NOT PAY BEFORE RECEIVING MY INVOICE Payment My invoice is usually sent within 24 hours of auction closure (If you do not receive an invoice within 24 hours of auction closure, please contact me via e-mail). I would strongly appreciate a receipt of invoice acknowledgement and a payment progress update within 48 hours of auction closure (as I have had instances of buyers not receiving my invoices) If the auction is ‘Buy it Now’, then immediate payment is required. UK Buyers Your invoice includes Paypal (which must be to a confirmed / verified address) as my preferred payment method, for which I do not charge extra for using - you now do not have to have an account with Paypal to use it. Alternate methods such as:- Cash deposit directly into my account. BACS or telephone banking transfer into my account. Are available - but slower for you to receive your items. If the successful UK bidder requires one of these alternative payment methods, contact me via e-mail within 24 hours of auction closure. International buyers (Non UK) Your invoice will be with Paypal (which must be to a confirmed / verified address), for which I do not charge extra for using, as the only preferred payment method for international (non UK) buyers. The easiest way to pay is to have your credit / debit card ready, then use the 'Pay Now' button on the E-Bay item page - you now do not have to have a Paypal account to use it for payment. NOTE I do not accept Cheques (paper) or e-cheques (unless agreed in advance of auction end) Or Postal Orders (paper) Or Bank transfers from outside of the UK These methods all considerably lengthen the entire transaction process - there are quicker alternatives. I reasonably expect payment to be made within 5 calendar days of auction closure. I would strongly prefer sending the item to the buyers confirmed Paypal address, as that way Paypal cover my sales for insurance purposes. All payments in UK £ sterling only - I will not accept any other currency. HANDLING & PACKAGING FEES Postage is at cost, though I do levy a small handling and packaging fee of just £1.00 for every £20 or part thereof (which I believe is 5%) spent by the buyer, this is including the postage cost - please bear in mind that this cannot be calculated until the final hammer price has been realised. Example calculations if your item (or items) final bid price(s) plus postage comes to a total of up to Any amount between 1 pence and £20.00 - the fee will be £1. Any amount between £20.01 and £40.00 - the fee will be £2, and so on. This is a poor attempt on my part to cover the items I have to buy, such as bubble wrap, parcel tape, other packaging materials, time for packing and travel expenses to and from the post office, and it does not even begin to cover time taken for item preparation, photography and the write up of the item or standing in the Post office queue, plus all the other admin / behind the scenes stuff! My time is a valuable commodity, and while it may be worthless to some buyers - it isn't to me! This fee is not optional or negotiable,In fact, if anything, I undercharge for this part of the service, as I absorb most of these costs into the final auction price. Please note that I will not send the item out without this payment being made, so please do not pay for your item until you receive my invoice. Whatever your item is worth, I will package it securely, so it should arrive in the same condition as it was sent. What packaging materials I see fit to use are my perogative, not the buyers. POSTAGE / SHIPPING I always try to find the most cost effective and safest route for the customer. I only use Royal Mail and Parcelforce services - I will only send to the buyer using as an absolute minimum, Recorded delivery (UK and International). For most standard UK postal options - e.g 1st and 2nd class or recorded, the insurance / compensation is only up to £36.00, so if the item is worth in excess of £36.00 and the buyer chooses these postal methods to receive their item, postal insurance will be compulsorily added to the postage, as follows. The current rates are; £1.00 for compensation up to £100.00 / £2.25 for compensation up to £250.00 / £3.50 for compensation up to £500.00. I normally post out on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. So if you want to catch; Tuesday's post - Pay me by no later than Monday night. Thursday's post - Pay me by no later than Wednesday night UK Postal Prices I provide estimated postage charges in the advert and if I find that once I have actually packed the item it is different to the quoted postage charge, I will send a revised invoice to the winner - with explanation of difference - and if I find that I have unintentionally overcharged you (which can sometimes happen, more often than not with international postings), I will always refund the difference. Posting Internationally Small Parcels I use as a minimum, Airmail International Signed for small packet service - if the parcel fits the Royal Mail size criteria (Length + Depth + Width = Maximum 900mm and is under 2kg in weight). I will not hesitate to use larger boxes if I feel the item requires more protection. Note that this service is only insured as standard, up to £36.00, so if an item is worth more, then £2.20 for insurance up to £500.00 will be compulsorily added - this insurance fee covers up to 97% of the countries in the world. Large Parcels / High Value items I will only use, as a minimum, Parcelforce Global Priority services for larger parcels or higher value items, as it is a tracked and insured (up to £150.00) service - I will not use any service that is not trackable or signed for. Note that Royal Mail and Parcelforce now also charge based on the dimensions of the box, as well as the weight. (Check www.royalmail.com or www.parcelforce.com for insurance exclusions). If you invest in more than one item, I will happily combine items into one package to reduce postage costs (weight and practicality allowing). Unless otherwise stated, I will post worldwide. I always get a 'Certificate (Proof) of Posting' receipt. I accept no responsibility for the item after posting, other than to make a claim on the buyers behalf for postal damage on arrival for which photographic proof is required or the item has been lost - this only applies to items that have been insured. International claims can take up to 3 months to resolve. I will forward via Paypal whatever monies have been reimbursed to me on the buyers behalf – and this will not be sent to the buyer before I have received it from the postal service. If the auction I have staged is a free postage in the UK one, I will, without exception, send all items won by this method using Royal Mail Second Class postage - with the item plus packaging weight up to a maximum of 1kg or £3.45 (current max UK 2nd class Recorded price as of April 2009) - Buyers will still have to pay the handling and packaging charge. Any item over that weight, I would have to send using First Class Recorded postage and I would, without exception, expect the buyer to pay the difference between the maximum 2nd Class Recorded postage price and the 1st Class Recorded postage price. International buyers will, without exception, pay the full International Signed for postage cost. I will not undervalue an item on the Customs Declaration, so please, do not ask. If there is not a 'Buy it Now' price stated in the auction, then there isn't going to be one! Please do not send me derisory offers or sob stories to sell to you at a cheap price, they will be treated with the contempt that they deserve - I prefer to let the auction run, where practical, to it's conclusion. Delivery If buyer has paid using Electronic money Services (such as Paypal) / Money deposited directly / Bank Funds Transfer (BACS - this can take up to 5 working days to clear) Posting of items will occur on Tuesdays or Thursdays only after payment has cleared. (If the buyer requires the item sent more urgently, I will do my best to help) How quickly it gets to you though, is entirely dependent on the postal service in your area / country. International Postings Royal Mail Standard International services (Airmail etc) do not have a guaranteed delivery time. Royal Mail will not consider an international parcel as lost until 25 days after the date of posting. If the parcel does not arrive within the 25 day time limit - please notify me via e-mail on the 26th day. I will lodge a claim for you - see POSTING / SHIPPING section above for more details. REFUNDS If a major error or omission was made in the items description, e-mail me in the first instance, so that we may try and find a solution. If we cannot, then I will refund your payment as follows:- If an electronic money service (Such as Paypal) was used for payment, it will be Minus the electronic money service (Such as Paypal) refund fee (yes, they charge to refund money as well). Minus the E-Bay Listing fee and my handling fee. If a BACS transfer or money was deposited into my account Minus the E-Bay Listing fee and my handling fee. I do not refund postal fees - this is money the buyer agrees to pay to the mail company, for their services. In either case, there will also be an administration fee of 5% of the total price deducted. If the Buyer has a genuine reason ( besides purchased in error / remorse ) for cancelling the transaction, we must both mutually agree to withdraw from the transaction using the eBay process (which I will commence upon notification from the buyer), before a refund is made. RETURNS The item must be returned by the buyer in the same condition and standard of packaging, as sent by me, the seller. After auction closure, refunds can be requested for UK buyers - up to 20 calendar days International buyers - up to 30 calendar days I will not accept returns because the buyer has:- Changed their mind Or Made a 'buying error' Only if a major error or omission was made in the description.
The selling of old electrical itemsI have checked with Consumer Direct, (which is funded by the DTI) on the issues surrounding old electrical items - their website is www.consumerdirect.gov.uk I have been advised that if I say an item as working when it is not, or gives a shock when touched and I say it is safe, then I am responsible. Also as the majority of the electrical items I sell are very old, unless I state otherwise, the wiring will not conform to current British Safety Standards and should be replaced by a qualified electrician.
The selling of Vinyl - Records - LP's - Singles - EP's - 78'sUnless otherwise stated in the advert, condition grading is based upon a visual inspection, as I do not have the time available to play every record I own. I have been collecting vinyl for over 30 years (I own thousands of records and latterly, CD's etc) and have a very good eye, oodles of experience and I consider myself an excellent cleaner of 'platters' where required. Handy tip - never, ever hold a record by its playing surfaces, as you will transfer grease and grime from your hands into the grooves. As records tend to attract dust due to static electricity, the dust will then stick to the grease in the grooves and will impair the sound quality. This usually will then entail that an unecessary cleaning job has to be carried out, and all because you could not hold the record properly - so do the right thing by your vinyl and it will give you many years of listening pleasure! The correct method for holding a record is a follows: Slip your hand into the paper sleeve (keeping your hand away from the record), ensuring your middle and third fingers are placed on the central label and that your thumb is on the outer edge of the record, then gently remove from the sleeve - easy really!
Traders / BuyersAny traders / buyers with less than 98% positive feedback or with 100% positive, but with 0-10 transactions or under a new trader name, or you have your feedback set to private, please contact me prior to bidding, or your bids will be cancelled.
Payment or Technical Problems?If you experience any technical problems, or are going on holiday or a business trip, please let me know via an e-mail (e.g you can always visit an internet cafe ) the worst thing, is no (apparent) communication. With all the modern technical means available, there are no excuses for late payment, bear in mind that the quality of the feedback will reflect this. Please ensure you contact me quickly if there is a problem, unless I hear from you, I will assume that everything is going smoothly and I will receive payment within timescale (See below) I reserve the right to re-list an item if no payment is received within 5 to 7 days, unless you have contacted me with a progress report within that time. Please ensure that your e-mail address and contact details are regularly updated on E-Bay and on Paypal, as these are the only ways I have of contacting you. I would strongly appreciate it if you could adhere to the following timescales - these are to ensure a fast and smooth transaction 1 I will invoice the successful bidder within 24 hours of auction closure, please do not pay before receiving my invoice. 2 Successful bidder should e-mail me, within 24 hours with an acknowledgement of invoice receipt and a payment progress update. If an alternative invoice and / or payment method is required, there are some (slower) alternatives available. 3 Successful bidder to make payment within 5 calendar days of auction closure, I cannot make this any clearer, I reasonably expect all payments to be made within 5 calendar days of auction closure, if you do not feel that you can do this, then please do not bid. 4 Seller sends item on satisfactory funds clearance (Postage days are Tuesday and Thursday - unless of course the buyer has an urgent request for it to be sent sooner than this, for which I will do my best to accommodate). 5 I will notify you that I have sent your item - please let me know that you have received it safely by providing feedback - if there is a problem, please contact me first.
Bakelite Kid as a BuyerI pay very quickly (usually within minutes / the same hour / day) so I would appreciate the item being sent promptly. If I suggest a quicker and safer method of making payment, such as bank transfer or cash deposit, and these are not something that you currently offer, please do not think that I am out to steal your money or your identity. I am just trying to suggest a safer and quicker way for you to receive your payment - do you really think that I would ruin my hard earned reputation, built up over 9 years, by not paying? I use my ID for buying and selling, as I have nothing to hide - unlike several of the 'split personalities' on e-Bay who have more than one ID, so they can purchase something very cheaply with one ID then try to sell it at an extortionate price with another...... Please check my feedback to verify my honesty and trustworthiness. It is also very easy to set up a separate bank account to deal with buyers payments - this really helps you as a seller to check your balance sheet and gives your buyers another payment option! Speaking of Feedback - I always provide feedback promptly on satisfactory receipt of an item - it would be fantastic if all sellers could do the same..... If you have a spare couple of minutes, take a look at a guide I have written called "What a Bakelite collector wants to know" which is in the "Reviews and Guides' above, it is aimed at buyers and sellers and, if you have found it useful (or not, as the case may be) I would appreciate your vote - Thank you for your time.
Bakelite Kid as a BrowserI would expect the item to be as described, for example:- "Mint" - means 'as new condition' "Perfect" - means being entirely without fault or defect, flawless. (Look them up in a dictionary if you do not believe me!) If I ask you a question(s) via 'Ask the Seller a question' link, it usually means that I am very interested, and if you answer my questions and satisfy my curiousity, I will very strongly bid for your item. So even if I do not win, I will substantially increase your final auction price, so please do not ignore me! - I am also aware of the fact that sometimes the message does not always get to you via e-Bay, so check your Spam / Junk Mail folders too please! Sellers using stock photos of the item does not inspire confidence in that seller, it smacks of laziness and also beggars the question, "Do you actually have the item?" When I am searching for items of interest, I often spot items that miscategorised, or are incorrectly described, for example, Art Deco when they are actually Art Nouveau in style is one fairly regular occurrence. Being a helpful sort of chap I contact the seller and politely point out the problem, most of the time I get a polite reply and the advert is corrected, sometimes I get a polite reply and the advert is not corrected, sometimes I get an abusive reply and the item is not corrected, sometimes I get no reply and no correction. This leads me to think that some sellers cannot be bothered to do the right thing, which actually is shooting themselves in the foot, as they usually find out when their item does not sell! Another problem is sellers loading photographs and not bothering to rotate the shot to its correct orientation - it only takes seconds to do! Photographs should be clear (if possible, use a tripod) and cropped (so that you cannot see the kitchen kettle at the back) so the item is the centre of attention and minimal to no distractions in the background. If an item is described as "Antique" that means it was made in excess of 100 years ago (i.e. currently prior to 1909), "Antique Art Deco" is in my opinion, a total contradiction in terminology - it is either one or the other, it cannot be both, so why use it? In my opinion there is one word that is the most overused on eBay..........the word is 'Rare'. 9 times out of 10 you will always find a couple of others on e-Bay of the item that you are selling - if used sparingly, it is a great word! There is a new "classic" phrase that some less than scrupulous sellers are using now, it is "Good condition for it's age" - which is a subtle way of not saying that it is in really cr*p condition - the other one that does the same job is "Shabby chic". So if you see this in an advert, press the seller to give a definitive description of condition, mind you, I have done this with a few items and I was still misled (as I found when I received the item), so I think I will be steering well clear of anyone who uses this phrase in the future, as they are con artists. And finally, whats with ALL THE CAPITALS - please learn to take the 'Caps Lock' key off when typing up your descriptions - it is very tiring on the eyes!!!
Feedback from BuyersIt would be strongly appreciated if you can let me know that your item has arrived safely and you are happy by providing feedback, I will then respond in kind - if you are not interested / bothered about providing feedback then neither will I be.
If there are any problems with the item, such as non receipt or postal damage, please please please let me know before giving feedback, as stated earlier in 'Posting items' section - I will do my best to help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my About Me page, drop by any time!Here is a small gallery of some of the items I have owned and sold on e-Bay - I trust that you will enjoy the pictures as much as I have enjoyed owning the items.
Art Deco 2 arm Torchiere chandelier with amber catalin sections
Art Deco Odeon Mantle Clock
Gadeware Art Deco Bakelite double inkwell
Carvacraft Small double inkwell
(I retain copyright in all the pictures - so no copying please!)
© Text and Photographs - Bakelite Kid 2008
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