Me in 2000 (before my injury)

Who I Am & What I Do!

This year, on August 13, 2006, I celebrated my 60th Birthday!  I don't know where the years have gone but I sure have had a lot fun throughout all of them.  So many memories of travels, people and learning experiences with still more being created every day for future use!

Since age 54 I have been totally disabled and being on-line has become a means through which I maintain some level of sanity.  The other wonderful things that keeps me going are my great friends, some family and my little dog, Tazz.

I was born in Berlin, Germany in 1946 and emmigrated to the U.S.A. when I was just about two years old.  My Father had been stationed in Berlin with the U.S. Army during WW II and that's where he met my Mother.  I was "the baby" of our family and have three older brothers plus many nieces, nephews and quite a few grands now.  I also have a daughter, a terrific son-in-law and the cutest Grandson in my world!

I was raised in both the retail and restaurant businesses and went on to become a fairly well known Hairstylist (in the Suburban NYC area).  Tiring of the pace and crazy ladies I decided to venture forth and do whatever suited me through the years.  Hence, I've been a placement counselor for 2 NYC agencies, Bell System Telephone Operator, Computer Operations Office Manager, Honeywell & IBM Computer Operator and Back-up Specialist, John Hancock Insurance Sales Consultant, a "Ramp Rat" for T.W.A. as well as Field Operations Manager (A 13 Year Gig!), Waitperson & Catering Staff Trainer (on & off), Manager of a Guest House in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Private Investigator Operative, Process Server, Owned and Operated a Voortman Cookie Route via Canada in the NY/CT market and was a Sales/Portrait Consultant for a major company who does business across the USA! At one time I even drove Airport Pick-up Drop-off for a Private Car Service serving the Metro NYC areas from the Suburbs!  Oh, I almost forgot this one...during my initial years at TWA, I was laid off every Winter.  During those months I was an interior painter and wallpaperer with many repeat customers and recommendations!

  As you can see, it's been a pretty interesting book of careers!

Then came the "rub" of my life.  I was injured in 1985 and again in 2000 and am totally disabled. Now I lead a fairly simple life because of my injuries and the fact that I am on a fixed income with little chance of ever working again.

  Then, as Al Gore once claimed to have invented, the Internet came into my life and I've never been the same since!

Me & My Grandson - Christmas of 2004

I'm a Buyer & a Seller!

Back in 2001 a friend recommended I look for a film on eBay because I simply  couldn't find it elsewhere.  To my utter surprise, I found it here!  While I was at it I  bought a few more things and promptly forgot about the larger picture eBay presents people for Buying & Selling to everyone and for everyone.

Recently another friend was looking for a brass item, something like a spitoon, that he could use as an ashtray outside of his home near the front door.  Eureka! I thought of eBay right away and said..."eBay here I come!"   I bid on five items and won them all!  What was I going to do with all this brass?  Who knows!  I gave him one as a housewarming gift and kept the rest.  I had no idea I would win all that so the ashtray end up being pretty costly! 

One of the things I noticed was how quickly I received my items and how well they were all packaged.  I also was very impressed by the way the sellers kept in touch with me through the process.  They created shipping labels immediately and told me I could track the packages through PayPal or eBay.  I felt safe and secure knowing my money wasn't being ripped off because I could SEE where my package was at any time!  When I became a seller, just after this last birthday, I remembered those nice people, what they did and how they did it.  I decided to do the very same thing as they had done to keep my buyers as safe and secure in their transactions as I had been in mine.

Having said all of that, there are some buyers and sellers that are pretty crazy people.  I learned that very early on over these past few weeks in bidding, winning and getting ripped off twice in one week as a buyer! 

Don't get ripped off here or anywhere else on the net!  Tell your seller what you expect for your hard earned money and most especially if they are unresponsive to your winning bid!  This is a place of business and it should also be fun to do business here.  No buyer should have to worry about not receiving their merchandise after a seller has their money!  While I realize that shipping services can be delayed, a seller should never create further delays unless he or she contacts you and has YOUR permission for that delay! 

Be careful, be safe and if someone rips you off, leave the necessary feedback to warn other buyers.  After all, you probably looked at that feedback before you bid!  It's best to tell the truth and know the truth before you buy than be hurt by a transaction after the horse is out of the barn!

  Judge others feedback fairly, and by that I mean, was it just a vindictive measure because you left something negative for them (believe me, it happens all too often!)  Look at time frame and also how many negatives the seller negotiated themselves out of in order for them to be withdrawn.  Finally look at buyers vs. sellers.  All good on one side and a couple of bad on the other might tell you the negative may have been undeserved.  Just use your own good judgement in these matters.  Feedback is a dirty word here on eBay.  No one wants a negative and they will do anything they can to avoid it!  My personal opinion is that if the buyer wins and pays...and the seller ships without delay or notification thereof, one should never have to leave a negative!

A Note to My Buyers

I package everything I sell in heavy corrugated boxes with appropriate packing materials to hold things in place for their journey to you.  I then use a very wide packaging tape and strapping tape to seal each package I ship to you.  Most of the time my great USPS Carrier picks up my packages right here from my home.  If I ship UPS,  I go to the UPS store to drop it off.  It's right down the street and convenient for me!  If I'm lucky that day, my UPS person will take it with them so it can get to you even quicker!

 A lot of my items include the cost of Insurance, especially if an item is new.  If you feel you'd like your item insured no matter what, you always have the option to do so by choosing UPS or paying for the insurance if the USPS is the carrier of your choice.  Just check the box when you pay for your item.  If any of you have an idea or better way to save on Shipping Costs, please feel free to let me know.  I would be most grateful and so will my buyers!

So That's How I do Business!

...and if you ever have a question or concern, feel free to leave me a message here on eBay and I'll respond as quickly as I can!

Happy Selling and Happy Buying to you all!