The Real Me

I'm a health care risk manager who spends a lot of time dealing with patient complaints, attorney legalese and health care providers to try to improve processes so medical error is reduced and patient safety improved. Everyone collects something. For me, it's DVD movies, lighthouses, hand carved wooden bowls and designer handbags, especially KOOBAs.

I signed up as a buyer several years ago. So far, I've bought lots of items.  Although I've encountered some shysters, for the most part I've been pleased with quality and service of sellers. My first attempt at auction selling was a time share in Hilton Head, SC. That venture didn't go so well - I still have it. When my handbag collection took over my closet, I gave auction selling another try. My bags have been well received and I've had such fun listing them, watching the auctions and meeting new people through the process. And, I even made "Power Seller", which certainly was not something I was trying to do - just needed to free up closet shelf space by selling a bunch of bags in a spurt. I now sell bags on a part-time basis and hope fellow ebayers will continue to want them. I am always buying bags since I can never resist the new styles and continually watch out for those by the new and rising designers. Which means that in addition to bags I carefully select and purchase to offer for sale to fellow ebayers, my listings will also include prime specimens from my personal collection that I sell to make room and provide funding for the new ones I buy (to support my fetish, so to speak - my husband says it's a "disease"). I'm passionately against the practice of replicating and abetting counterfeiters by selling their products. I will never intentionally sell a fake bag and buy mine only from what I believe to be reputable sources. I do all I possibly can to ensure they are authentic and stand behind them 100%. Were someone to buy one of my bags and it found to not be authentic - the horror - no one will be more surprised or mortified than me. Unfortunately, the counterfeiters keep getting better and smarter. Even the best of us occasionally get duped - has happened to me only twice in the past and one of those fooled even the manager at a well known department store who sells high end bags. But, you can always buy with confidence from me as should such a situation arise, I will absolutely, positively respond to you quickly, refund your money 100% and also pay the shipping cost for you to return it to me. Then, I'm going full steam after the retailer from whom I acquired it myself (retail store or fellow ebayer). So, I hope you'll check out my listings and indulge your bag fantasies! 

So you'll know what to expect if you deal with me, my philosophy is as follows:

To prospective sellers - I will always pay quickly and expect to receive the item as advertised. (Ex: if you say it's genuine or "authentic", then it needs to be the real deal). If shipping is going to be delayed, just give me the courtesy of letting me know and I'll understand; within reason, of course. I'm always willing to try and work out differences before leaving feedback.

To people who use "ask seller a question" on my listings to send solicitations, consider this a warning. I am not interested in replicas no matter how real they look or what paperwork comes with them. I only sell genuine bags manufactured by the name brand company. This activity is NOT appreciated by me, is a waste of your and my time and against ebay rules. Sending me unwanted solicitations in this underhanded manner is offensive to me and an effort in futility on your part. I will NEVER, I repeat NEVER buy a bag from you. In case you didn't know, counterfeiting or abetting counterfeiters by selling their products is against the law worldwide. I am a proud member of the purse forum, who is passionate against replication. I have and will continue to forward all such messages on to ebay security.

To prospective buyers - ebay selling is not my livelihood. I am employed full time by the University of Florida but unfortunately have a serious bag addiction so purchase them to sell part time to finance my "habit" and also include ones from my personal collection when I perform periodic collection downsizes or need to finance something I want more. I am honest, forthright, not a con artist and will always offer you quality items at a reasonable price; no fakes for this gal! 

Shipping Charges:  I do not charge for insured UPS ground shipping within the USA. To ensure the bag is received by the person at the address specified on the PayPal payment, I must require a signature for delivery. I know that is inconvenient if you work full time like me, but I no longer have a choice. I will be happy to ship it to your work address or to another location of your choice as long as that address appears on the PayPal payment, which can be done on any PayPal payment you make. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to absorb the higher costs for USPS insured, signature required delivery nor for my international clients. My estimate is based upon the weight of the bag inside the shipping box with adequate packing to hopefully ensure safe delivery. International shipments include up to $100 of insurance, depending on value declaration (the maximum amount the USA will allow me to purchase). I will do all possible to "facilitate" customs clearance for you. If the charges for USPS domestic or international shipping turn out to be less than my estimate, I will refund you back the difference. I firmly believe no one should have to pay more for shipping that it actually costs me. Please check my feedback for shipping speed and cost; it speaks for itself. If you use a knife or other sharp object to open the package, please be very careful not to let the blade slip inside the package or it could penetrate the dust bag and cut the bag. Shipping insurance will not cover that type of damage. If by chance the carrier loses or damages your bag, be sure to keep all the packing, including the shipping box as it will be required to submit an insurance claim.

Payment Methods:  I'm sorry that the "Buy it Now" auctions contain immediate PayPal payment requirements but I was getting "hit" by bad people creating bogus accounts or using other members' accounts without their knowledge to make fradulent purchases. Ebay recommended to me that I do this and it has virtually stopped that activity on my listings. However, if this won't work for you, just contact me and I'll work with you so it's possible for you to purchase the item another way. I also had to block bidding from people who have 0 feedback and have bid on two or more of my items simultaneously or have more than 2 prior nonpayment strikes. Of the nonpayment disputes I've had to file, it was always because of one of these ebayer categories. I know that everyone is new with no feedback until they start buying things and establish a record. So, if this applies to you, just contact me and I can remove the block if I believe you are serious and will pay for the item if the auction winner. 

I'm also sorry that the only form of payment I can accept is PayPal but you can use their service to make your payment via an existing debit or credit card without having to create a PayPal account.

Returns:  As all of my bags have been obtained from reputable sources, are 100% authentic, exactly as represented and contain complete descriptions as to condition, color, features, size (with modeling photos and information as to height/weight of the model), there should be no surprises when you open the package. I also strongly recommend that you measure a bag you already have and compare those measurements to the ones in my listing. You should then be able to determine whether or not the size of the bag will work for you. It's what I myself do when considering an online bag purchase and it always works for me. Please ask questions up front before you bid/buy. I always recommend that you copy/paste the link to the brand specific or general authentication thread on the Purse Forum (www.purseforum.com) and ask members there to comment on authenticity. Although not professional authenticators, members there have special expertise in recognizing authentic bags versus replicas and will provide their learned opinions for free. My TPF co-members have never steered me wrong when I've called upon them for assistance. I make certain that my listings always contain the items they (and I when I do authentications) want to see. If by some remote chance I missed a subtle flaw in my three examinations (at time of purchase, during listing and finally, while packaging for shipment to the auction winner), just contact me to advise me what's wrong. If after examining the bag yourself you doubt authenticity, I'd truly appreciate your taking it to a reputable retailer in your area (if there is one) that sells that bag brand and having them put into writing the reasons the bag doesn't pass inspection as being authentic, and their contact information. I will need that information to have a "serious" discussion with the retailer from whom I purchased the bag. As long as the tags are still intact, the bag unused and all of the accompanying information present, I will approve return and once received and examined by me to ensure it is the same bag as sent and all the aforementioned items present, I will issue a refund. (Sorry, but I have to protect myself from those who practice "bait and take" and "modeling".) I will also specify a method of shipment at my expense. Sorry but I cannot accept returns because you changed your mind, it's bigger or smaller than you thought, the color doesn't match a pair of shoes you bought sight unseen to go with the bag, or you've gotten a case of "buyer's remorse". I know my listings are very detailed but I've purposely included the things I myself would want to know so you can make an informed decision whether or not to bid/buy.

With the sale comes the service:  I will keep you informed throughout the process and always add a "personal touch" to the transaction. What you see/read in my listings is exactly what you'll get. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. I'll package your item well and ship timely using a method you can track. I will always make sure you're pleased before closing out a transaction. I always treat my clients the way I would like other sellers to treat me. You can find some wonderful bargains on ebay and meet some truly fabulous people, but even with all of the extra precautions and rule changes ebay has implemented over the past 1-2 years and constant surveillance of listings, you must be cautious. If the price of something seems "almost too good to be true", it probably is.

If you've decided to bid on or buy one of my gorgeous bags, Good luck and thanks. I really appreciate the fact that you are trusting me to be honest and deliver as promised. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations. If you are displeased with product quality or service, I will always do everything reasonable to make you happy. So, please contact me first before leaving negative feedback or filing an ebay or PayPal dispute. Obviously I cannot fix something if I don't know it's broken.  So, please let me know first if you're not happy so I can try to make it right. Thanks and may your garden of life be filled with roses. :-)

Larke