UKRay

I'm having a bit of a struggle this week. Essentially I'm struggling to stop myself getting in my car and driving 200 miles to choke the living sh*t out of a guy who has virtually shut my online business down by making a spiteful (and wholly unjustified) complaint to PayPal. Essentially I sold the creep an amplifier and a few bits of musical tat including a foot pedal/switch thingie on eBay. He complained about the delivery costs so I offered to deliver- free of charge - next time I went to his area. I handed the amp and stuff over and he grumbled about the way I had described one of the foot pedals and said he had expected an effects pedal not a switch pedal. I told him that if he wasn't happy I'd gladly take the stuff away again but no, he wanted the amplifier and agreed to accept the delivery. He took the amp out of my car and carried it to his own vehicle - this man wasn't under any pressure to accept the deal. I got back home two days later to find an email that said he had changed his mind about the deal and if I didn't give him a £25 refund because of the 'poor description' he would make a complaint to PayPal. This was far too close to extortion to please me, so I told him to do as he pleased but the deal had been agreed and it stood. Next thing I know he actually made the complaint and PayPal have frozen all the funds in my account. £250 quid's worth. I was furious and fired off a spate of complaints to PayPal including a complaint about the jerk who caused all the problems. I tried to resolve matters by offering him his money back as long as the goods were returned to me but he said he wanted to keep the amplifier... but he still wanted a £25 refund. At this point the jerk has my amplifier and PayPal has all the money - two weeks later nothing has changed. This is what PayPal wrote back today (yup, almost two weeks after the event they finally wrote me an email): Dear Ray, Thank you for contacting us in relation to the status of your Buyer Complaint case ***********. First let me begin by apologising for any inadequacy or inconsistency of service you feel you have received to date. I realise that you are not satisfied with the way this dispute has been handled and I can confirm that our policy to hold funds that are disputed. Please note that this policy was approved by you at the time when you opened your PayPal account and it is a standard measure in the buyer complaint resolution process. The money will be released into the buyer's account once we can verify that the item in question was returned back to you. I understand your frustration regarding this matter and regret any inconvenience it might have caused you. Sincerely, Marek Protection Services Department PayPal, an eBay Company That would have been bad enough if I hadn't already had an email from the pompous little jerk a few days ago as follows: That was four days ago and the claim is still in place... I am furious, frustrated and fit to cause all kinds of mayhem.How would you have dealt with this guy and how would you deal with PayPal given that I need PayPal to run my online business. Ray

Is that what a poundo board is for, Dave? I have had one for years and never really worked out what to do with it. I punch my holes and belt tips on a lead block. Johnny - My big old granite slab just sits on the bench without any padding under it. It works like a dream that way so I'm not about to change it. Ray

I think it is great to see young people getting involved in leatherwork of any kind. Trinity obviously has the enthusiasm, patience and family support to do well. I'd like to see a few more pieces from this young lady. If this is her first project, who knows what she is capable of? Nice job! Ray

Thanks Bruce - I'm pleased to say I've now seen so many goat roping and barrel racing films that I feel something of an afficionado! Having watched a whole evening of YouTube videos I have nothing but respect for all those completely crazy, but incredibly brave folk who ride in rodeos. I was only joking about the big bucks, I'm sorry if that wasn't picked up. Nobody would do that stuff just for the money... I just wish I had a chance to see it for real.

Job done, Cousin Luke. Those pre-cut oval shapes the Badger wanted are in a mailing bag waiting for the post office to open!

I learn something new and exciting every day I come here! LOL Although I have watched a few videos of bull riding and suchlike I never imagined tying up goats could be a popular spectator/participant sport... Amazing! I'm off to YouTube to find some video of goat tying... if you have any recommended viewing I'd be pleased to hear about it. Are there rules? Love this place... Ray edit - almost 40 mins later Okay, so I watched the goat roping. Hmmmm. Not sure what I made of that... I also watched some guy riding a mad horse bareback and some equally crazy dude getting kicked up in the air and gored by a bull. You guys do all this for fun? - Nah, somebody has to be getting paid a whole lotta money for doing this stuff.... No wonder you can all afford to buy Barry King's tools!

Yup - I've got a knife for that one, Karl. Give me a call.

...and the bit about goats? How might they fit in? LOL

Most times I understand at least part of what is said in a post but I totally concede defeat with this one. The great UK-US language barrier came down with a clang and left me looking blank. :wtf: Lefty, Righty, SOL, tying dummies, tied his foot, goat tying, WTF is all this about, guys? It sounds like it ought to be in the adult section! LOL

Is this before you clean your teeth or afterwards, Jim? LOL

Welcome to the forum, Mike. Your design work looks very attractive but I'm sure that you will learn a lot from the clever folks that post here. My only suggestion is that you take more time to get the tool positioning right when you bevel your edges. Scrappy bevelling is the curse of the beginner - and lots of people who have had plenty of time to perfect their technique too! LOL The temptation is to rush at a project when enthusiasm gets the better of you. Just take your time and make sure you bevel the swivel knife cut - not alongside it because that leads to an unsightly thin sliver of leather instead of a crisp cut line. Practice, practice and more practice and you'll be a lot happier with your work. Ray

Checking out the competition is an essential part of any marketing exercise. How people choose to do that is entirely up to the individual. IMHO it is underhand to pretend to buy goods to use and then, having stolen the intellectual property, return them for refund. You say this was not your intention - then so be it. I don't know you or your intentions so have no reason either to disbelieve or believe you. The way I read RDB's post was that he felt much the same. It wasn't a personal attack on anyone, just a simple stating of the facts and asking some extremely pertinent, if rhetorical, questions. Getting a good replacement for shoddy goods is always acceptable, but, IMHO a cash refund is better! Ray

Okay, point made; better light output, lighter weight and smaller size? Sounds like a winner to me apart from the cost factor. Who buys this sort of thing outside law enforcement and security guards? Ray

Steve, It is a contact adhesive. Available through Tandy UK - or was... Much like Evo-Stick but a tad tougher. Thixofix is similar. Thanks muchly for the needles - the package arrived this morning. I'll give them a try when I get home tonight. Ray

I like to have plenty of stuff hanging up in plain view so people can see it easily. Little neck purses have done well for me so far this year and I'm about to make another batch... lots of different colors and both soft and hard leather seem to sell well. I have a purse tree - one of those heavy garden umbrella stands as a base with a nice branch stuck in it to hang things on. It works for jewellery, purses, wristbands - all kinds of stuff. A smaller version sits on the table top loaded with keyrings. Ray

I asked the fish leather guy to get in touch - it looks very interesting. Thanks Bob. Many thanks, Ricky. I'll keep an eye open for his listings.

You will possibly consider the question silly but how do these flashlights compare to a MagLite? Right now, as far as I am concerned, it doesn't get any better than a Maglite - or does it? Ray

I'm with you Bree - I've got a couple of gallons of original formula Barge stashed away and will re-appraise the situation when that runs out.

Yup - I have to agree with you, Dave. There is always a price to pay for any research. I suspect you just found out what it is...

I hate to say this, but I learned to stitch with a bristle waxed to a linen thread... does that make me an old timer or just authentic?

Been there and done that, Mike. They have some... and frankly it isn't wonderful. I reckon you guys get the best stuff in the US!

The important thing is to have a pretty good idea of what, and how much you are going to cut before you invest the money. What size pieces of leather and what thickness - both will directly influence the machine you eventually choose. I have gone through a costing exercise and decided that the amount of leather I need cut doesn't warrant me owning a machine - especialy when I can get my cutting done by Steve in Devon at a very competitive price (and I get to sit in his amazing workshop and chat about leather whilst he does it). IMHO You ought to do the same exercise yourself before spending a fortune on a machine that could sit idle for quite a bit of its lifetime... Ray

The plastic fronts from presentation folders work really well for this - I found a load that were about to be thrown out and spent a happy half hour cutting the usable plastic from them. Perfect - and free! Thanks Terry - a really useful tip.

I'm looking to buy well tanned snakeskin to make knife sheaths and inlayed belts. I'm not too picky about what sort of snake (rattlesnake or whipsnake would be excellent) but would like to work with something that is reasonably 'fresh' so no 30 year old pythons please. Happy to pay a reasonable price plus shipping to the UK for the right skin/s. PayPal only. Quantity is unimportant as I'm quite happy to buy one skin but quality is essential. This request might suit someone who has tried using exotics and has some large (project sized) pieces left over. I don't need whole skins. I am also interested in any other large pieces of exotic leather - tell me what you have in a PM please. Thanks guys, Ray

Having looked at the things you are considering re-working I can't see that you would have any problems. Your design won't be exacly the same as the original and the materials you use will doubtless be different. Make up a few prototypes and see how you get on. Ray