eBay=feeBay

[Bree]

I agree with Banwell. Those who don't like EBay are free to market their products elsewhere if they think they can do it with less expense. Ebay is a business and they can and will charge whatever the market will bear.

It's called free enterprise. I like it that way. Because just as my customers no NO ENTITLEMENT to cheap prices on my work, EBay sellers and buyers have no entitlement to cheap fees. Ebay will charge as much as it possibly can and still keep people coming back for more. When they stop coming back, fees will drop... I can just about guarantee it. That's the nature of the beast.

[jbird]

Ray I am gratfull for you help and input yes it's true small amounts are killing me and you know I might just try to find some one who will to share a order with me and I am corecting the stitch issue as of yesterday the other thing holding me back is tools you know Douglas asks for instants and stuff like that but it takes time add I will get there when I make up my mind god willing I come through so with more help like what you offered today I will get there best of times and god bless

Josh

[UKRay]

It is currently 10.30pm here Tex and I'm enjoying the company of my friend Jose Cuevera... Cheers!

Okay, ebay are hardly Saints, they are simply a bunch of corporate suits doing what corporate suits do. Trying hard to shaft the rest of the world and retain their life on Easy Street... I don't even think that is up for discussion.

I might take issue with them being undehanded or decptive as they have made it quite clear what they are doing. Okay, they may have been 'economical' with the truth about why they have made payPal mandatory but I don't think there is a law anywhere in the world that says you have to badmouth your own business. Hey, there are plenty of folk all too ready to shout about anything that looks a little sniffy!

Safe transactions - hmmmm. I can see where you are coming from here. I don't have any problems paying cash but I have to say that PayPal has made it very easy and very safe for me to trade with folk in the US.

Why would they care? Good question - I think that comes under the heading of corporate social responsibility. They can't be seen by the community to making a fortune without making it obvious that they are protecting the people who use their service.

Sadly, not everyone is like you, Tex. A lot of people are, frankly, very vulnerable to internet fraud. They don't understand that there are just as many - probably more - wicked people online than there are in their own Main Street. These same poor suckers wouldn't walk around waving a wad of $100 bills but they are quite happy to give their bank details to anyone that asks for it. Those are the folk that benefit from PayPal - not guys like you.

I don't even think it is an issue of liability. They have been taking eBay fraud very seriously for quite a while. I was ripped off by a guy a while back (more than three years ago) but because I paid with PayPal I got all my money back - I can't argue with that kind of protection. If they can make money and still cover my ass I'm happy for them to do it

Firearms issues are another story and, like you, I feel they have gone waaaaay too far. However, as a British citizen living with some of the world's most draconian gun laws, I think you guys still have it pretty good. You still have the right to bear arms don't you? When my license came up for renewal I didn't have a specific reason for owning guns so the British police confiscated all my firearms and wouldn't even give me a receipt. I have been trying to recover them ever since. That was ten years ago.

eBay's attitude is just a reflection of the 'nanny state' that wants to tell us how to live our lives. Short of leaving the country or living outside the law I can't see a way round that.

Enough said, I need another Marguerita...

[Go2Tex]

I agree with Banwell. Those who don't like EBay are free to market their products elsewhere if they think they can do it with less expense. Ebay is a business and they can and will charge whatever the market will bear.

It's called free enterprise. I like it that way. Because just as my customers no NO ENTITLEMENT to cheap prices on my work, EBay sellers and buyers have no entitlement to cheap fees. Ebay will charge as much as it possibly can and still keep people coming back for more. When they stop coming back, fees will drop... I can just about guarantee it. That's the nature of the beast.

Can't argue with any of that either, Bree. But don't you agree that putting a hold on the payment because the seller doesn't sell much, eventhough the seller has a 100% positive feedback for many years is going a bit too far? Now, I can understand the reasoning behind that move, but at the same time they make that the only method of payment that you can accept. So, they put a hold on your funds and charge you $50-$100 for the privilege of using Paypal?

It may be free enterprise, and legal but is it ethical and good business practice? Your customers aren't entitled to cheap prices but they expect good service, don't they? And if they pay a fair price they deserve a fair deal. Ebay is taking advantage of their unique situation in the market place and I believe they are abusing it and lying about it too.

[UKRay]

Tex, I forgot to say how much I like the saddlebags on your website. Is there any chance you might post a few bigger pictures so the rest of the gang can see the high quality work you do? Ray

[Go2Tex]

It is currently 10.30pm here Tex and I'm enjoying the company of my friend Jose Cuevera... Cheers!

Bottoms up to you there, Ray! Mine is Gentleman Jack tonight. Can't afford the Glenlivet everynight. There's a recession on, ya know.

Sadly, not everyone is like you, Tex.

That's the first time anyone has said that to me. Usually they say, "fortunately, not everyone is like you."

I don't even think it is an issue of liability. They have been taking eBay fraud very seriously for quite a while. I was ripped off by a guy a while back (more than three years ago) but because I paid with PayPal I got all my money back - I can't argue with that kind of protection. If they can make money and still cover my ass I'm happy for them to do it

Paypal is great, if you want to pay to use it. The issue I have is the MANDATORY part. A lot of folks are just as afraid of Paypal as they are of any Internet transaction. Don't want to sign up for anything, give out bank info, etc. I work on the trust part. People read my feedback and are free to email me and get as many references as they need. I have a web presence, a real USA address and phone number.

Firearms issues are another story and, like you, I feel they have gone waaaaay too far. However, as a British citizen living with some of the world's most draconian gun laws, I think you guys still have it pretty good. You still have the right to bear arms don't you?

Last time I checked we did. That could change with the new "administration" and the Democrats being in control. I feel the gun grabbers chomping at the bit to start beating the old drumbeat of gun control. God save the Supreme Court!

[Go2Tex]

Tex, I forgot to say how much I like the saddlebags on your website. Is there any chance you might post a few bigger pictures so the rest of the gang can see the high quality work you do? Ray

Funny you should mention it. I just finished a pair. Check it out.

[celticleather]

Funny you should mention it. I just finished a pair. Check it out.

Exquisite work!

[Go2Tex]

I thank you, sir. It was a custom order from a really good repeat customer. She sent me the angora, or as has been suggested, Icelandic Sheep plate, and a picture off the Internet of what she had in mind. I took it from there. It matches her saddle that I made.

It gives me an idea for a set of bags using black angora.

[TrooperChuck]

Josh,

A dislexic friend of mine had this to say about his spelling... "Thomas Jefferson said it was a boring man who spelled his words the same way every time."

I kind of like that phrase.

Go2Tex,

Awesome work!!!